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An artist discovers that he can pull things out of his paintings
into the real world. Unfortunately, another artist with the same
ability does not want any competitors. This is modern fantasy
with a science fiction sensibility.
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The faerie folk are going to war for the soul of modern
Minneapolis. Will it stay alive with music and art or become a
drab grey place of the downtrodden? The fey and their war are
unknown to the "real" world, but a few humans are drawn into the
fight. A character-driven story full of emotion and life.
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The Vorkosigan's infant son Miles is threatened by the eruption
of civil war on Barrayar. Aral leads the loyalist forces while
Cordelia goes behind enemy lines to rescue him. This is powerful
drama with a leavening of humor.
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Harry Dresden, is listed in the Chicago yellow pages under "Wizard".
Usually he's hired by a client with a paranormal problem, but this
time he's being blackmailed by a former enemy. He has to find a
magical book before a group of insane necromancers use it to gain
godlike power. And that means fighting his way through their hordes
of zombies. A character-driven story with a smart-ass hero.
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Tim Cahill
Road Fever
The author travels from the bottom of South America to the top
of North America by road in a successful attempt to set a new
record. But this story is about the people, places, and customs
encountered along the way. Much of it is very funny; some of it
is sad or touching; all of it is interesting.
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Alan Garner
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
The British countryside becomes strange and threatening when two
children discover that an heirloom bracelet is magical. They are
harried by crows, pursued by goblins, and aided by dwarves as
they try to escape through wooded hills and abandoned mines.
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An adolescent boy escapes from his abusive father when he
discovers he can teleport. Setting out to make it on his own, he
has to learn how to use his power to survive in the real world.
This is a strong comingofage novel.
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A young wizard learns his craft and goes out to practice it, but
finds that his worst fear is searching for him. In the end he
must chase his fear to the edge of the world to find peace. This
is a beautifully told story of a magical island world.
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R.A. MacAvoy
Tea With the Black Dragon
An ancient Chinese dragon wanders the world in human form
searching for the master who can restore him. Instead he finds a
friend, a mystery to solve, and all the pains and joys of being
human. This charming story is full of fascinating characters,
good humor, unexpected revelations, and Zen.
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Robert B. Parker
Double Deuce
Boston detective Spenser is asked by his friend Hawk, a
professional hit man and enforcer, to help drive a gang out of a
housing project. This novel explores the relationship between
the two men and the realities of ghetto life while presenting a
most unusual murder mystery. Parker is a brilliant writer who is
at the top of his craft here.
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Steve Perry
The Machiavelli Interface
The Matadors are the best bodyguards in all the worlds, but they
also have an agenda. When the oppressive central government
decides that they are protecting too many of the wrong people it
precipitates the revolution for which the Matadors have been
training. Strong characters and convoluted plotting both drive
this story.
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Conrad, the Director of Antiquities for Earth is something of an
antiquity himself. He has fought to preserve his planet against
the indifference of its own people and against the demeaning
tourism of the aliens who bought it after a nuclear war. Now a
prominent alien has come to tour the ruins with the fate of the
planet resting on his report. Conrad must figure out whether to
kill him or to protect him from those who say he must die.
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