Relics – Pip Vaughan-Hughes
Hachette Livre Orion, 2007
276 pages
RRP: AU$22.95
ISBN: 978-0-7528-8124-9

Reviewed by Cat Sparks

“Every drunk is a magician,” states the opening line of this novel and in the case of Relics by Pip Vaughan-Hughes, the magic is all in the prose. The setting of this story is familiar enough to regular readers of fantasy. We begin with a tavern, drunken friends, the lure of gold coins, and a mysterious stranger. Novice monk Brother Petroc (Patch to his friends) is framed for the murder of a deacon by a sinister Templar Knight. He is forced to flee across rough country with his best friend, Will, at his side and a creepy relic, the hand of Saint Euphemia, stuffed inside his shirt. But Sir Hugh de Kervezey, the murdering Templar, is hot on their trail. When Will is slain, a terrified Petroc stumbles onwards, running first to his old Abbey, and then onwards again as he learns that his safe old life has been destroyed forever. Only one man can help him now, a Frenchman who collects precious curios and sails on a ship called the Cormaran.

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Once Bitten, Twice Shy – Jennifer Rardin
Hachette Livre Orbit, 2008
312 pages
RRP: AU$19.99
ISBN: 978-1-84149-637-5

Another One Bites the Dust – Jennifer Rardin
Hachette Livre Orbit, 2008
318 pages
RRP: AU$19.99
ISBN: 978-184-149639-9

Reviewed by Liz Grzyb

Once Bitten, Twice Shy is the first in a series by Jennifer Rardin, about a CIA operative Jaz Parks, whose partner/boss Vayl, happens to be a vampire. It’s paranormal action chick-lit, with butt-kicking left, right and centre. Imagine Buffy crossed with Alias and you’d be pretty close.

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Full Moon Rising – Keri Arthur
Hachette Livre Piatkus, 2007
357 pages
RRP: AU$19.95
ISBN: 978-074-993813-0

Reviewed by Liz Grzyb

Full Moon Rising almost sits in the paranormal romance genre, but leans a little too far into erotica for my taste. Keri Arthur categorises this series as “dark urban fantasy”, which almost fits, but really, it runs closer to “vampire porn”.

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Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said – Philip K. Dick
Hachette Livre Gollancz, 2007 (reprint)
247 pages
RRP: AU$22.95
ISBN: 978-0-575-07995-3

Reviewed by Lev Lafayette

It is pleasing to see that Gollancz has released yet another reprint of Philip K. Dick’s Flow, My Tears, the Policeman Said, one of his more famous and accessible short novels, receiving the Campbell Award in 1975, and being nominated for a Hugo and Nebula in the same year. One wonders given the adaptation of Dick’s novels to film (A Scanner Darkly, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Minority Report etc), whether this will also be the case – there is little doubt that it could make an excellent film, although the theatre adaptation in Boston apparently received mixed reviews.

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Dragon Ball Volume 16 – Akira Toriyama
Hachette Livre Gollancz Manga, 2007
208 pages
RRP: AU$12.95
ISBN: 13-9-780-57508-008-9

Review by Nicolee Baxter

It is the final of the 23rd strongest-under-the-heavens martial arts tournament. Goku prepares to face his last opponent – the great demon king, Piccolo. But it is not just the title of the tournament that is in contention. If Goku loses, his life and the freedom of the world are also at stake. Goku will need all his extraordinary fighting abilities just to survive.

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The Atrocity Archives – Charles Stross
Hachette Livre Orbit, 2007
319 pages
RRP: AU$19.95
ISBN: 978-1-84149-569-9

Reviewed by Jacinta Rosielle.

Zombies, gorgons, and lamias. Hi-tech spy gadgetry and blood-daubed pentacles. Charles Stross has created a world in which the occult, the supernatural, history and science fiction weave together to form a bizarre re-working of our current reality.

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The Last Wish – Andrzej Sapkowski
Hachette Livre Gollancz, 2007
280 pages
RRP: AU$32.95 (tpbk), AU$22.95 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-575-07782-9

Reviewed by Kate Smith

The Last Wish is a beautifully constructed story that is a joy to read. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read and leads the reader gently towards its message. While it is a difficult novel to put down, the manner in which the tale has been constructed allows for this and it is very easy to come back to after some time away.

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