Keeping It Real

March 15, 2007
The world changed in 2015, when the Quantum Bomb tore a hole in the fabric of reality and opened doors to other dimensions, including Alfheim, or Elfland. When undercover agent Lila Black, part human and part combat machine, is hired as a bodyguard for an elven rock star, she gets caught up in an elaborate game that affects not only relations between Otopia (the Earth) and Alfheim, but the other quantum realms as well. The author ofSilver Screen skillfully builds a seamless connection between sf and fantasy in this fast-paced series opener featuring a strong, action-oriented heroine and a unique world setting. With appeal to fans of contemporary culture and mature YAs, her latest effort belongs in most libraries.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2007
Robson lets loose and has fun with this tale, a rock 'n' roll saga including elves, magic, and cyborgs. After the Quantum Bomb of 2015, Earth proper has coexisted with alternate dimensions peopled by elves, demons, elementals, faeries, and the dead. Government agent Lila Black was nearly killed by elves while on a diplomatic mission, and now she is mostly machine. She has been assigned to guard the legendary band the No-Shows, especially lead singer Zal, who's precisely opposed to every elf stereotype out there, first and foremost in his music. Lila becomes trapped with him in a game caused by wild magic and, in the process of protecting him, discovers some of the complicated plots swirling just under the surface of Alfheim, the elves' dimension. Robson creates fascinating characters and worlds for them to inhabit, meanwhile sacrificing none of her other strengths and not once succumbing to the easy genre cliches, at least not without keen irony.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)