Doctor Adoulla is an older man who is an accomplished but weary ghul hunter. At his side is a young dervish filled with religious zeal and energy. Joining them is Zamia, a shape-shifter who is passionately seeking revenge for the murder of her Bedouin tribe by ghuls that were created by the evil magician Adoulla is seeking. Phil Gigante’s narration is fast and rich as the three come together in their mission to save their kingdom—but not without dramatic clashes between them. Gigante’s artful presentation gives the characters dimension and delivers the suspense in the brisk action sequences. He’s equally adroit with the humor that lightens the mood and with the story’s political intrigue. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Editor’s note: Joel is reading his way through the finalists for the 2012 Nebula Award for best sci-fi/fantasy novel. Read his introduction here. N.K. Jemisin has made a name for herself in the fantasy field by bucking the trend. In 2011, just as gritty quasi-European-set fantasies like A Song of Ice and Fire and The […]
Science fiction and fantasy writers outdo everyone else at the bookstore when it comes to doorstop-sized epic narratives. Whether the stories span several generations, focus on the completion of a quest, or just spin a good yarn, the best are the kind any reader can dig into, regardless of their experience with the genres. Here are […]
The Octavia Project might be the coolest thing I’ve ever heard of. Starting this summer, girls from underserved neighborhoods in Brooklyn will have the chance to combine an interest in science fiction with hands-on STEM education, honing their SF writing and world-building skills while simultaneously working with guest experts to learn about programming, architecture, electronics, or game design. The […]
The Nebula Awards are one of my favorite dorky events of the year.