And from our science desk...

Scientists find nothing in the void where the Bang caused the hole in the middle of it all.  Too bad Carl isn't here to make beelyuns and beelyuns.

(Seriously, the story is about a "cold spot" in the cosmic microwave background which matches up with an area of deep sky with almost nothing in it, apparently billions of light years across.  Which, assuming the observations are confirmed, should give astrophysicists and SF writers something to chew on for years to come.)

Book review: Fortune's Fool

Today's book review is Fortune's Fool by Mercedes Lackey.

This is the latest in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series.  Although a couple of minor characters carry over from earlier books, it stands alone.  A new reader might be a little fuzzy about The Tradition, which is explained better in The Fairy Godmother, but the story would make sense.

This is basically a feel-good story.  The plot is a relatively unusual mix of familiar fairy-tale elements from different cultures, but the overall story doesn't have any surprises, and doesn't even give the reader much cause to worry that things won't actually turn out right in the end.  The characters are pleasant and likable, if a little shallow, and Lackey's world is comfortable and welcoming.  It's fun to read through, but once it's over it doesn't leave you with much.  There's one rather pornographic sex scene, but other than that, it seems to be aimed at 14 year olds.

It's cotton candy.  If that's what you want in a book, you should enjoy it.  7 out of 10.

( plot summary )