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Book Review: Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold

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You and your husband have been at the center of a lot of events in history over the last few decades, especially involving a tricky succession and regency that nearly blew up an entire planet more than a few times. But all that is in the past. Sadly and tragically, your husband is now dead. Your former charge is now a secure Emperor on his throne, and you yourself are Vicereine of a colony. Your son is now firmly in the Ducal seat that your late husband held, and is doing well. More so, thanks to Betan genetic engineering and breeding, you are pretty sure that you have many decades of productive life left. So, what do you do *now* — especially if you are Cordelia Vorkosigan? Not go to Disneyland, that’s for sure. And definitely not fade away.

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Book Review: Revisionary by Jim C Hines

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After the game-changing events of Unbound, where the existence of magic and magical creatures were revealed to the world at large, what does one do for an encore? Isaac Vainio’s announcement and the blowing open of centuries-old secrets are, as it turns out, the beginning. Even as Isaac works to try and keep paranoid government agencies and a disturbed public from freaking out, elements from within and without the magic community see the revelation of magic to the world as a chance to advance their own agendas. In this new world order where magic exists, it’s going to take fast feet and thinking, as well as book smarts, for Isaac and his companions to keep the world together. Revisionary is the fourth and capstone book in the Magic Ex Libris series.

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The Disquieting Guest — Universal Monsters and the Passing of the Gothic

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Another week, another story on the attempt by Universal Studios to create a “Monsterverse,” leading to another bit of fretting on my part. I agree with the points in this piece, and I’ve already written about why I think the approach is misguided (at best), but after some online conversation with some friends, I am increasingly of the opinion that Universal’s project would be doomed no matter what the approach. Much as it pains me to admit it, we may be past the era in which any revival of these characters would stand a chance.

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Book Review: Patchwerk by David Tallerman

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Dran Florrian’s latest invention, the capstone of his scientific career, sits in the hold of the transcontinental airship he is traveling in. Palimpsest, a way to access parallel universes, is a powerful invention, powerful enough that a rival of his, and an ex-lover, would do anything to get it. In short order, the scientist is learning that espionage and feats of daring aboard an airship, and damage to Palimpsest itself, soon mean that it’s not just Dran that is fighting for the object with his antagonists, but his own counterparts in parallel universes are struggling with their counterparts in other worlds. And Palimpsest itself may have ideas about its, and Dran’s, future. Patchwerk, by David Tallerman is a novella from the Tor.com novella publishing program.

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Book Review: Swords and Scoundrels by Julia Knight

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Vocho and Kasha are duelists, or were, once upon a time. In these less enlightened times, not only are they no longer in the Duellists Guild, the Guild itself isn’t quite the institution it once was, after the fall of a King and the rise of a new order. Vocho and Kasha take whatever jobs they can to survive, and those jobs often involve the liberation of goods and funds from the more well off. However, the problem of being highwaymen is that sometimes you wind up with a cargo far beyond what you bargained for, a cargo that several factions are looking to capture, or destroy, with the fate of cities and even a kingdom in the balance. Now, with such a hot potato, the pasts of Vocho and Kasha seems poised to catch up with their present. Swords and Scoundrels is the first in the Duellists Trilogy from Julia Knight. Julia Knight, under the name Francis Knight,  is also known for writing the Fade to Black series.

Torture Cinema Polls

Torture Cinema Poll for February 2016: What should we watch next?

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The new season begins soon, and that means more Torture Cinema!  We haven’t asked you to vote since before our Childhood Destruction editions of the TC feature.  Now, we’re back to the listener-voted format. You know the drill.  VOTE! As always, if you want to suggest a movie for us to discuss on this feature or Shoot the WISB, a topic for general discussion, a guest to include, and so on, you can let us know on our Suggest a Topic page!

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