Drawing on worldwide myths and legends, Australian author Williams (The Resurrected Man
) expertly twists the familiar into the grotesque in this deeply spooky story, the first in a new fantasy series. When Seth Castillo is stabbed and killed, his spirit is whisked away to the Second Realm, a literally inside-out place full of hideous monsters, while his mirror twin, Hadrian, remains in the First Realm of the living. Their psychic link draws the two realms together, precipitating a world-warping cataclysm that the alien Yod hopes will let him conquer the First Realm as he has the Second. The twins' gaping bewilderment drives their supernatural guides to provide loads of flat exposition, and it's never clear why Hadrian doesn't simply kill himself to destroy the cross-realm link, but as protagonists rather than heroes they serve well enough. Future volumes will hopefully focus less on the magnificent scenery and more on the political intrigues only hinted at here. (Apr.)
