Raymond's Reviews #134

%T The High Crusade
%A Poul Anderson
%I Baen Books
%D August 1991
%O paperback, US$3.95
%P 181
%G ISBN 0-671-72024-0

This reissue of a minor classic from 1960 by Poul Anderson wears its age pretty well. Hostile aliens land in medieval England expecting an easy conquest and are promptly shot full of crossbow bolts. Sir Roger de Tourneville and his knights and, indeed, the whole town of Ansby board the ship, thinking to liberate Jerusalem this year. But the alien prisoner they've forced to pilot tricks them, and they are lost in a big galaxy. How will Earthly steel fare against alien technology? Read and see. Silly but fun, and a must for every collector's library.

%T ME
%A Thomas T. Thomas
%I Baen Books
%D August 1991
%O paperback, US$4.95
%P 341
%G ISBN 0-671-72073-X

I'm badly handicapped in reviewing near-future AI-program-comes-to-life stories, because I have the background to spot gaping holes where less knowledgeable readers would see only plausible segues. So all I'll say about this one is that it's an improvement on the last major example of the type, Marc Stiegler and Joseph Delaney's Valentina. If you're up for lots of fanciful descriptions of a self-aware program exploring and occasionally fighting its way through the world's networks, you'll enjoy this book.

%T A Bad Spell in Yurt
%A C. Dale Brittain
%I Baen Books
%D August 1991
%O paperback, US$4.95
%P 314
%G ISBN0-671-72075-9

This light, slight, but amusing fantasy pits a wizard just out of thaumaturgical school against demonic influences gathering in the idyllic little Kingdom of Yurt. Unfortunately, Daimbert spent most of his college years partying hearty and, though a nice guy, is a little shaky on actual spellcasting. Fortunately, he's a resourceful sort, and manages to make things come right in the end. This is strictly low-calorie mind candy, suitable for the beach.

%T Sauron Dominion
%S War World
%V Book III
%E Jerry Pournelle
%E John F. Carr
%I Baen
%D August 1991
%O paperback, US$4.95
%P 356
%G ISBN 0-671-72072-4

More generic military/adventure fiction by the usual suspects. No surprise that the best writing is by S. M. Stirling, Harry Turtledove, and Susan Shwartz.