matrix: the news and media magazine of the british science fiction association
Issue 188
July 2008
- home
- guest editorial
FEATURES
- bruce sterling interview
- snatched moments
- steaming celluloid
- the sound of steampunk
- true brit
- best sf movies ever!...1950s
- seduction of the innocent 10
- ...friend or foe?
REVIEWS
- kung fu panda
- doomsday
- outpost
- 10,000 bc
- in the name of the king
- the happening
- the incredible hulk
- indiana jones
- Iron Man
NEWS
- And the Winners Are…
- zombiecon
- BSFA and SFF AGMS
- the sunny side of science fiction
- ken slater honoured
- arthur c. clarke awards, 2008
- world of science
- It's All a Question of Endings
EVENTS
- gencon oz
- london film & comic con
- denvention 3
- FrightFest
- Mecon
- Kumoricon
- ...all events
DVD RELEASES
- spiderwick chronicles
- batman begins/gotham night
- national treasure
- the orphanage
- doctor who s 4
- stargate
- ...view all
BOOK RELEASES
- the digital plague
- house of suns
- kethani
- iron angel
- first born
- ...view all
MUSIC RELEASES
- coldplay
- mostly autumn
- offspring
- judas priest
- motley crue
- seth lakeman
- ...view all
ARCHIVE
- Matrix 187 - Mar 2008

 

 

LATEST RELEASES: BOOKS

by Ian Whates

THE DIGITAL PLAGUE – Jeff Somers


THE DIGITAL PLAGUE – Jeff Somers


Published by Orbit

In this high-octane sequel to last year’s The Electric Church, humanity is careering towards extinction and Avery Cates, the ‘Criminal King’ of New York, finds he will either be the executioner or saviour of the whole world. As the author’s UK editor Bella Paigan explains: “Jeff is a fiercely talented author, who writes a distinctive fusion of near-future SF and noirish thriller. The Digital Plague is a high-action triumph, set in a dingy and dystopian New York littered with strange tech and Orwellian System Police. His anti-hero provides a suitably deadpan commentary on his life and times – when he's not dealing death or escaping execution that is!”

HOUSE OF SUNS – Alastair Reynolds


HOUSE OF SUNS – Alastair Reynolds


Published by Gollancz

Space opera on a grand scale; classic in its intentions, modern in its execution. Six million years ago, at the very dawn of the starfaring era, Abigail Gentian fractured herself into a thousand male and female clones: the shatterlings. Sent out into the galaxy, these shatterlings have stood aloof as they document the rise and fall of countless human empires. But now something is trying to destroy them and they have to find out who or what it is before their ancient line is wiped out.

KETHANI – Eric Brown


KETHANI – Eric Brown


Published by Solaris

It takes an alien race to show us what humanity truly is. This is the irony faced by a group of friends whose lives are changed forever when the mysterious alien race known as the Kéthani come to Earth bearing a dubious but amazing gift: immortality.
Powerful themes underpin this novel’s rich narrative, as world-changing events are reduced to a very personal level, making them intimate and poignant without sacrificing any of the drama.

IRON ANGEL – Alan Campbell


IRON ANGEL – Alan Campbell


Published by Tor

In this action-packed and absorbing follow-up to his epic Scar Night, Alan Campbell propels readers back into the world of Deepgate, the chained city which is now in ruins and battling for its own survival – and that of humankind. Set in a world of deities and demons, fallen angels, gods and deadly Spine assassins, Iron Angel follows the journey of Rachel and Dill, who have survived the city’s fall. A stunning sequel to Campbell’s acclaimed debut novel.

FIRST BORN – Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter


FIRST BORN – Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter


Published by Gollancz

The third and concluding volume of ‘A Time Odyssey’ brings us classic SF adventure from two of the biggest names in the genre. A heady combination of high concept SF, big engineering projects and human drama, in an epic tale of altered histories and different Earths. Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter scale new heights of ambition and sheer story telling brio in what will presumably be the last ever release of original fiction to bear Sir Arthur’s name.

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