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• Nina Harper Explains It All For You: What Is A Succubus?
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It's always a shock when the gift-giving holidays come around, and one finds one has forgotten several important people—one's co-workers, one's great-aunt Geriatria, that sort of thing. And of course, in this hypothetical situation, one inevitably realizes that the whole gift-buying budget has already been blown, embarrassingly, on a brand new warhorse or a 500-thread-count set of matching heraldry napkins.

In the face of it, the only possible solution is that grand ould pastime, re-gifting. Fortunately, my chambers are consistently filled with a myriad of tiny treasures I have received in past years, and I managed to scrummage for odds and ends. However, after allocating all the possible bits and bobs, I realized there was still one loathsome name left on my list—one of those people to whom one is absolutely obligated to give a gift, though one likes them not at all. I had only one choice: The Holy Fruitcake.

As the legend tells us, The Holy Fruitcake Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. [NOTE: Details of The Holy Fruitcake have been redacted due to violence, language, and general nasty goings-on. No need to ruin a perfectly good holiday with this sort of thing. —Ed.]

Fortunately, dear readers, you shan't find yourselves in my position, for the holiday season has brought us all sorts of goodies, chief among which is The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, which lives up to its name in sleek, full-color glory. There's also a new omnibus of stories, essays and other work starring Michael Moorcock's Elric, this time illustrated by Steve Ellis; a further Succubus adventure (and if you don't know what a succubus is, do please see the sidebar); and the rousing conclusion of the Starfist: Force Recon mini-series. I especially enjoyed The Engine's Child by Holly Phillips, a lush, mysterious tale of a world ruined by magical excess. Do give it a look.

Have a wonderful winter break, dear readers, and as always,

Read well and be merry,

Sir Kaitlin
kheller@randomhouse.com

NINA HARPER EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR YOU: WHAT IS A SUCCUBUS?



What is a Succubus? (And why write about one?)

Female demons who use sex as a weapon have appeared in mythology from the Babylonian lititu, the Sumerian Belili, and the Slavic Rusilka. The medieval succubus was a demon thought to have intercourse with pious men, most especially monks, and steal seed and pieces of their soul. At various times these creatures were thought to steal the souls of men, to kill them and send them to Hell, or to steal the essence of their personalities or creativity.

Until the mid-20th century (and even now in some parts of the world), men have seen women's sexuality as a possession—their possession. A woman's virginity was a large measure of her value. In old English law, for example, if a virgin was raped her assailant would be hanged if he were married, but if he were single he would be made to marry the woman he raped. The notion of a woman who possessed her own sexuality was incomprehensible. A woman's sexual nature belonged to her father to be bartered away and then to her husband to produce progeny.

The image of a sexually powerful and aware female who did not suffer for her sexuality was both horrifying and alluring. She was the ultimate "bad girl" who never feared pregnancy or being without a male protector, and for the men in power at that time this was a terrifying image. Such a woman could only be a demon, something damned, something that was the greatest possible threat.

Today we can look at the idea of the succubus and think of a powerful woman who revels in her sexual identity. She is a threat to men simply because she does not belong to any man. She belongs only to herself.

The Star Wars universe, much like our own, is constantly expanding. In the ten years since the publication of the Star Wars Encyclopedia, a lot has happened in that galaxy far, far away: four new feature films, a host of official original novels, comics, video games, and more. Now, thirty years of information on all things Star Wars-ranging from science and technology to history and geography, culture and biography to ecology and cosmology-has been supplemented with an entire decade's worth of all-new material. Abundantly illustrated with full-color artwork and photos, and now in a new three-volume edition to accommodate its wealth of detailed entries, the Star Wars Encyclopedia encompasses the full measure of George Lucas's creation.

Here's just a sampling of what's inside:
* character portraits of both the renowned (Luke Skywalker, Queen Amidala, Darth Vader) and the obscure (Tnun Bdu, Tycho Celchu, Bib Fortuna)
* the natives and customs of planets as diverse as Tatooine and Hoth, Dagobah and Kashyyyk
* the rituals, secrets, and traditions of Jedi Knights and Sith Lords
* a timeline of major events in Star Wars history, from the Clone Wars and the inception of the Empire to the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker and the invasion of the monstrous Yuuzhan Vong

The near extermination of the Jedi order cleared the way for Palpatine—power-hungry Senator and Sith Lord—to seize control of the Republic, declare himself Emperor, and usher in a fearsome, totalitarian regime. But even with the dreaded Darth Vader enforcing Palpatine's sinister will, the threat of rebellion still looms. And the Emperor knows that only abject fear—and the ability to punish dissent with devastating consequences—can ensure his unchallenged control of the galaxy. Enter ambitious and ruthless government official Wilhuff Tarkin, architect of the Emperor's terrifying dream come true.

From inception to completion, construction of the unprecedented Death Star is awash in the intrigues, hidden agendas, unexpected revelations, and daring gambits of those involved on every level. The brightest minds and boldest egos, the most ambitious and corrupt, the desperate and the devious, all have a stake in the Death Star—and its potential to control the fate of the galaxy. Soldiers and slaves, loyalists and Rebels, spies and avengers, the innocent and the evil—all their paths and fates will cross and intertwine as the Death Star moves from its maiden voyage to its final showdown. And a shadowy chapter of Star Wars history is stunningly illuminated in a thrilling, unforgettable adventure.

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Lily loves working for Satan—and being one of Her Chosen means a gig filled with fashion, food, and the best supernatural gal pals a succubus could imagine. Still, being dumped by the first mortal she'd fallen in love with in the last two thousand years has put her in a serious funk. Nathan Coleman bolted because he couldn't handle Lily's inner demon, but blond, buff, blue-eyed Marten is a delicious distraction, and he's one of her own kind. Only Lily's not sure she can trust him. Especially when her best friend's demon boyfriend is kidnapped, the ranks of the Hierarchy of Hell are gunning for her downfall, and Lily's dashing P.I. beau is back on the scene, rekindling flames. Two men, too much temptation, and assassins closing in--if Lily survives, who claims her heart?

Fear is the fastest-growing crop on Haulover, a newly colonized planet where someone-or something-is destroying isolated farmhouses. The unseen enemy strikes without warning, then disappears, leaving no stone standing, no trace of families or farm animals. When the Confederation receives a desperate plea for help, it's time to send in the Marines. Impossible missions are a matter of course for Fourth Force Recon's second platoon squads, and the situation at Haulover-with no witnesses and few clues-is no exception. But this assignment turns out to be even tougher and bloodier than usual because the devastation is a ploy-to lure the nine Marines into a trap, and to force them to bust the Confederation's terrible secret wide open. And as for the Skinks lying in ambush on Haulover, they have no idea what trouble is . . . until they go up against a few good Marines.

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It's 1957, and the Cold War is heating up. A ruthless squad of Russian soldiers crashes Indiana Jones's latest expedition and forces the unwilling Indy along as they brazenly invade American soil, massacre U.S. soldiers, and plunder a top-secret government warehouse. Commanded by a sword-wielding colonel who's as sinister as she is stunning, the menacing Reds have one objective: a relic even more precious-and powerful-than the mythic Ark of the Covenant, capable of unlocking secrets beyond human comprehension. Quick thinking and some high-speed maneuvers help Indy narrowly escape certain death. But the Russians are unrelenting, and their next move leads Indy into the depths of the Amazon on a desperate rescue mission. With a hotheaded teenage biker as his unlikely wing man and his vengeful new Russian nemesis waiting for a rematch, Indy's back in the game-playing for a prize all the wonders of the world could never rival.

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Lanterns and flickering bulbs light the shadowy world of the rasnan, the island at the edge of a world-spanning ocean that harbors, in its ivory towers and mossy temples, the descendants of men and women who long ago fled a world ruined by magical and technological excess. But not all the island's inhabitants are resigned to exile. A mysterious brotherhood seeks to pry open doors that lead back to their damaged, dangerous homeland. Others risk the even greater danger of flight, seeking new lands and new freedoms in the vast, uncharted sea.

Amid a web of conspiracy and betrayal, three people threaten to shatter this fragile world. Scheming Lord Ghar, faithful to lost gods and forbidden lore, plays an intricate power game; Lady Vashmarna, an iron-willed ruler, conceals a guilty secret behind her noble facade; and Moth, a poor, irreverent novice, holds perhaps the darkest power of all: a mysterious link to a shadowy force that may prove to be humanity's final hope—or its ultimate doom.

Elric of Melnibone. Traitor. Savior. Lover. Thief. Last king of a fallen empire whose cruelty was surpassed only by its beauty. Sustained by drugs and the vampiric powers of his black sword, Stormbringer, haunted by visions of a tragic past and a doomed future, Elric wanders the world in quest of oblivion. But the great lords of Law and Chaos have other plans for this tormented adventurer. This volume is the third of Del Rey's definitive collections featuring the tales of Elric and other aspects of Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion, along with essays, a selection of classic artwork, and new material never seen in book form. Gorgeously illustrated by Steve Ellis, and featuring a foreword by Holly Black, The Sleeping Sorceress is a must-have for all lovers of fantasy.

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For the first time in one magical volume—the three exciting novels of David Eddings's epic heroic fantasy The Tamuli.

Danger stalks Queen Ehlana's realm. Peasants whisper of the heroes of old who will rise again. Outlaw bands ravage the hill country. Then comes an ambassador from the far-off Tamuli empire, requesting aid: Tamuli is being torn apart by monsters, ancient warriors, and foul magics. Queen Ehlana turns to the great knight Sparhawk, and the two begin the perilous trek to the distant empire of the east, toward a glittering court seething with corruption and treachery.

This tale of rousing adventure, glory, and betrayal is fantasy at its best, as told by one of the finest storytellers of our time.

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