> Here's a little game. Below is a list of the books in the last BAM election, but this time I have included the little blurb under the title on the cover. After having read the "hook", NOW which book would you have voted for?
>
> _The Bane of Kanthos_ "Was he Lansing of the Amazon--or Rocar, master of sword-and-sorcery?"

"But as he's the star of a Generic Fantasy Story, nobody really cares, so let's move on!"

> _Kalin_ "Finding needles in haystacks hardly compares with hunting diamonds in dinosaurs!"

Ah, just what I'd want to read. A novel about someone ripping apart a huge animal's carcass. If it's something about scientists mucking around with DNA, then it might be worth looking into.

> _Cradle of the Sun_ "Was the world's last coward mankind's final champion?"

Probably, but this doesn't tell me anything about the story. Pass.

> _The Wizards of Senchuria_ "Hide-and-seek on an infinite gameboard."

This could be interesting, but it probably reads exactly like my BAM. I still can't tell if "wizards" means someone who's really good at something or if it means someone who can cast a level six fireball. Pass on this one as well.

> _Dark Planet_ "Step Two was the Space Navy's Siberia--until one man learned of a third step."

Ah. The "Space Navy". Okay, okay, I was wrong. Instead of defeating the Daleks, the Doctor defeats the Cybermen, right?

> _The Herod Men_ "Planned death vs. unwanted birth in the Overpop Era."

This is the one I'd vote for. While the others appear to be fantasy fluff or silly space opera with ray-guns, _The Herod Men_ seems like it would play more with politics. Perhaps it's analogous to policies in modern-day China. Political intrigue, I like.

I like some science in my science fiction. Too often, there are science fiction books that just have ray-guns. _Kalin_ might deal with science (if the diamond is metaphorical). That would be my second choice.

> -- Dave

-Faux "" Pas