October Publications
In previous installments of David Weber's bestselling space opera series featuring the intrepid Honor Harrington, she's won the sometimes unwilling admiration of friend and foe alike in her battles with the brutal and corrupt People's Republic of Haven. In her 10th outing, War of Honor, the People's Republic is no more, but Lady Admiral Harrington, following in the best tradition of C.S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian and Robert A. Heinlein, faces her most dangerous adversary yet: a new government in her own star kingdom run by the petty, venal and stupid former Opposition, who proceed to squander the hard-fought victory. (Baen, $26 864p ISBN 0-7434-3545-1)
The Colour Out of Space: Tales of Cosmic Horror, selected by D. Thin, collects a dozen otherworldly stories by authors ranging from Edgar Allan Poe ("MS. Found in a Bottle") to H.P. Lovecraft (the title tale). This choice anthology should help persuade skeptical mainstream readers that some horror fiction merits the label of "literature." (nyrb [www.nybooks.com], $13.95 paper 354p ISBN 1-59017-026-1)
The Last Oblivion: Best Fantastic Poems of Clark Ashton Smith, edited by S.T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, will please fans of the late bard of Auburndale. This popular edition includes all the scholarly apparatus one has come to expect from these editors, including a glossary, bibliography, index of titles and index of first lines, plus two color illustrations of Smith paintings. (Hippocampus [www.hippocampuspress.com], $15 paper 196p ISBN 0-9673215-5-7)
Smith aficionados will also appreciate the first publication of a juvenile Arabian Nights adventure novel, The Black Diamonds, edited by S.T. Joshi and illustrated by J.C. Eckhardt. (Hippocampus, $15 paper 182p ISBN 0-9673215-2-2)
Correction: The bibliographic information for Poppy Z. Brite's Lost Souls (Forecasts, Sept. 30) is Edge [www.gauntletpress.com], $50 512p ISBN 1-887368-59-0.