Seeing Stars

What do these 5 books have in common? They’ve all received more than one starred review!

BORNE by Jeff VanderMeer — 3 stars!
“VanderMeer, author of the acclaimed Southern Reach trilogy, has made a career out of eluding genre classifications, and with BORNE he essentially invents a new one. Reading like a dispatch from a world lodged somewhere between science fiction, myth, and a video game, the textures of BORNE shift as freely as those of the titular whatsit.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“VanderMeer’s deep talent for worldbuilding takes him into realms more reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD than of the Shire. Superb: a protagonist and a tale sure to please fans of smart, literate fantasy and science fiction.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“VanderMeer marries bildungsroman, domestic drama, love story, and survival thriller into one compelling, intelligent story centered not around the gee-whiz novelty of a flying bear but around complex, vulnerable characters struggling with what it means to be a person. VanderMeer’s talent for immersive world-building and stunning imagery is on display in this weird, challenging, but always heartfelt novel.” — Booklist, starred review

A SINGLE SPY by William Christie
“With detailed historical events, compelling characters, and plenty of heart-grabbing moments, this novel is intensely engaging from the first page. Christie’s fabulous novel of historical espionage will appeal to both World War II fiction buffs and spy novel/thriller aficionados. Extremely well done.” — Library Journal, starred & boxed review

“Part bildungsroman, part history lesson, part political exposé, Christie’s enthralling novel defies expectations while striking all the chords that make spy fiction so enjoyable.” — Kirkus Review, starred review

THE ABOMINABLE MR. SEABROOK by Joe Ollmann
“Comprising 10 years of painstaking research, this graphic biography details the life of obscure writer, occultist, traveler, and bondage fanatic William Seabrook… As both a narrative and a story in pictures, this is an early candidate for the year’s best graphic biography.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Including high adventure, sorrowful drama, and cameos by historical stars such as Man Ray, Aldous Huxley, and Gertrude Stein, this one has all the hallmarks of a classic work of biography and is an early contender for one of the best releases in 2017.” — Library Journal, starred review

LENIN ON THE TRAIN by Catherine Merridale
“British historian Merridale fills a lacuna in the canonical record of Soviet communism. A superbly written narrative history that draws together and makes sense of scattered data, anecdotes, and minor episodes, affording us a bigger picture of events that we now understand to be transformative.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The result is a gripping narrative with first-hand accounts and sources of Russian history that make the rich, intricate story of the Bolsheviks’ journey feel close at hand. This book should be read by anyone interested in war-time history or the history of Russia and the Soviet Union; there is much to be learned here.” — Library Journal, starred review

MIRANDA AND CALIBAN by Jacqueline Carey
“The foreordained pattern of the play mixes beautifully with Carey’s intricate characterization and eye for sensory detail, building mercilessly to dazzling, and devastating, tragic effect.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Carey evokes the same stunning worldbuilding and imagery of her ‘Kushiel’s Legacy’ and ‘Sundering’ series, as she stirs new emotions from an old story and reveals another side to Shakespeare’s epic play.” — Library Journal, starred review