January Publications

In Ordermaster, the picaresque 13th entry in L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s Saga of Recluce and the immediate sequel to Wellspring of Chaos (2004), Kharl the cooper, now lord of Cantyl, successfully battles chaos-wielding white wizards, turns a whole mountain into glass, quashes a rebellion and studies law. Spiked with the author's customary pop psychology and propelled by rapid-fire plot spurts, this tale of a humble artisan's rise to mageship will likely leave YA fantasy readers hungry for more. (Tor, $27.95 480p ISBN 0-765-31213-1)

Dark Terrors 6: The Gollancz Book of Horror, an all-original anthology edited by Stephen Jones and David Sutton, showcases 32 creepy tales by British and American masters of the genre, including Ramsey Campbell, Joel Lane, Glen Hirshberg and Jeff VanderMeer. (Gollancz [Trafalgar Sq., dist.], $12.95 paper 560p ISBN 0-575-07407-8)