Yup. It’s totally 100% true. Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy is totally awesome. Imagine if J.J. Abrams, Margaret Atwood, and Alan Weisman collaborated on a novel…the books are futuristic supernatural thrillers, part science fiction, part dystopian, part horror, all amazing. Stephen King is a big fan and the New York Times Book Review recently gave […]
Tag: SF
LOCK IN lands on the August 2014 LibraryReads list!
FANTASTIC NEWS! LOCK IN by John Scalzi is #4 on the August 2014 LibraryReads list! In Hugo Award-winning author Scalzi’s latest sci-fi novel, a meningitis-like virus known as “Haden’s syndrome” has swept the globe, leaving nearly 5 million people “locked in” fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. Locked-in Haden’s survivors […]
Summer SF/Fantasy
Greetings, SF/fantasy fans! Here are a few books hitting the shelves this summer that we think you'll love:
CALIFORNIA BONES by Greg Van Eekhout
Available Now
“This wonderfully imaginative story is set in an alternate-reality Los Angeles that will seem both familiar (the author mentions Topanga Canyon and Rhino Records) and weirdly unusual (the city has an elaborate canal system, like that in Venice, for example). In this world, the bones of magical creatures contain remnants of their powers; if you consume these ancient bones, or the bones of magical people living today, you acquire their magical properties (when the Hierarch killed Daniel’s father, he, um, ate him). The story is structured like a caper novel, and fans of stories about heists will enjoy it, but its fantastical elements make it an absolute must for urban-fantasy readers, too.” — Booklist, starred & boxed review
UNWEPT: Book One of The Nightbirds by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman
On Sale: July 1, 2014
In this start to a spellbinding new trilogy by the bestselling co-creators of Dragonlance and Ravenloft, unknown events have robbed Ellis Harkington of her memory. Concerned individuals, who claim to be friends and loved ones, insist that she simply needs to recuperate, yet they refuse to divulge what has brought her to this state. “A gothic, unsettling, and eerie beginning to the new trilogy from the Hickmans. Creepy imagery and the withholding of information from both Ellis and the reader keep the pages turning.” — Library Journal
LOCK IN by John Scalzi
On Sale: August 26, 2014
In Hugo Award-winning author Scalzi’s latest sci-fi novel, a virus known as “Haden's syndrome” has swept the globe, creating the largest medical crisis in history with nearly 5 million people “locked in”—fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. In this new world, rookie FBI agent Chris Shane and veteran agent Leslie Vann must investigate a Haden-related murder that may have much larger implications in this new society.
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Super Sci-Fi/Fantasy!
Booklist recently announced their Best SF/Fantasy/Horror picks for 2014 and surprise, surprise, Macmillan made the list:
THE BONE SEASON by Samantha Shannon
The first in a series of seven novels, in which we find ourselves in a totalitarian state in England around 2059, is a dazzlingly brainy, witty, and bewitching tale of courage and freedom.
THE KRAKEN PROJECT by Douglas Preston
The Kraken Project is a NASA initiative to send a probe to Titan, a large moon of Saturn; the author sells his premise by sheer force of will and with compelling characters and persuasive storytelling.
ON THE RAZOR'S EDGE by Michael Flynn
This magnificent and satisfyingly open-ended conclusion to the tale of the civil war between the Shadows of the Names is a beautifully told story with colorful characters out of the epic tradition.
What's that you say? You've read these and want even MORE sci-fi/fantasy? Your wish is our command!
THE TIME TRAVELER'S ALMANAC by Ann VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer
On the heels of the World Fantasy Award–winning THE WEIRD, the next genre-defining anthology from Ann and Jeff VanderMeer explores the popular world of time travel fiction. “The VanderMeers' latest giant anthology does the genre a great service, reaching back through that history for classics as well as newer pieces readers might have missed.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
THE REVOLUTIONS by Felix Gilman
Gilman pens a sweeping stand-alone tale of Victorian science fiction, arcane exploration, and planetary romance. “Gilman pulls one surprise after another out of his hat, winking slyly as he does so, and floods of action never let readers come up for air. A remarkable, hugely enjoyable performance.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton
Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Walton delivers a powerful tale of one woman who lived two lives, each with their own loves and losses. “Walton is a beautiful writer... The subtle nature of the 'what if?' could make this book a hit with literary fiction fans who enjoyed Kate Atkinson's LIFE AFTER LIFE.” — Library Journal
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Kirkus April SF picks!
We're so excited to see so many of our titles included in Kirkus Reviews's April Best Bets for Speculative Fiction!
STELES OF THE SKY by Elizabeth Bear
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Having amassed an army of warriors and teamed with a wizard, an exiled heir to the Great Khan finally stakes his claim to the rule the Khaganate and defeat the evil that threatens all the lands with war.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: The previous books in The Eternal Sky trilogy, RANGE OF GHOSTS and SHATTERED PILLARS, were met with wide acclaim and deservedly so. Its depiction of magic, politics and war set amongst diverse cultures makes for great reading.
SHIPSTAR by Gregory Benford & Larry Nevin
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Human space exploration is thrown into uncertainty when a massive artifact—an enormous bowl-shaped object that encompasses a star and contains a habitable area equivalent to many millions of Earths—is found to be headed toward the same system that Humans are trying to colonize.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: Two science fiction masters team up for a classic space story filled with sense of wonder? A better question would be: Why wouldn't you read it?
TRANSHUMAN by Ben Bova
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: A brilliant cellular biologist named Luke Abramson abducts his granddaughter from the hospital to circumvent the red tape that would allow him to cure her brain tumor with a new experimental enzyme. But the clock is ticking: Abramson has lung cancer and it's spreading rapidly, despite injecting himself with another experimental enzyme that reverses his aging.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: Bova's premise is enticing and his books are grounded in realistic science.
THE REVOLUTIONS by Felix Gilman
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Set amongst spiritualist and occult societies of 1893 London, a young journalist-turned-accountant fights to save his fiance, who is fighting for her own survival somewhere in the vicinity of Mars.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: This standalone Victorian science fiction story is a throwback to planetary romances of yesteryear where the emphasis is on adventure and fun.
AFTERPARTY by Daryl Gregory
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Technology meets Big Pharma in a story where anybody with an Internet connection can download recipes and print their own drugs—even if those drugs turn out to be deadly.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: Science fiction excels at asking "What if?" questions and this merging of mind-altering drugs with easily accessible technology is a great platform that does just that.
VALOUR AND VANITY by Mary Robinette Kowal
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Set in a world where illusionary magic is possible, a couple who fell victim to a scam that cleaned them out of all their money devise a scheme to get it all back. Think: old-fashioned heist with magic.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: Unlike sprawling epic fantasies where the fate of the word is at stake, Mary Robinette Kowal's quaint Regency stories are more intimate and personal, and thus quite refreshing.
THE FOREVER WATCH by David Ramirez
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: The last survivors of humanity—on a 1,000-year journey across the stars to find a new planet to call home—are all aboard one generation starship...and one of them is a dangerous serial killer.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: This mystery-in-space story features a woman who is a gifted psychic and finds purpose in her life again after she serves her society-mandated Breeding Duty.
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We Love Books About Books
Who can resist books about books and libraries? We can't! Here's just a few of the latest titles we're into (Caution: some books may include kittens):
WHY I READ: The Serious Pleasure of Books by Wendy Lesser
Founder of the Threepenny Review, Lesser's "delectably sophisticated inquiry into why reading is a constant source of pleasure and provocation" (Booklist) is as much a memoir as it is about the craft of literature. Written in "erudite, beautiful passages," WHY I READ "will speak to booklovers of all types." – Publishers Weekly, starred review. If you're attending ALA Midwinter, make sure to meet Wendy Lesser in booth #622!
WHAT MAKE THIS BOOK SO GREAT by Jo Walton
This collection of Tor.com blog posts from Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Walton about her favorites works of sci-fi and fantasy is "...akin to a genre version of Nancy Pearl's BOOK LUST." (Library Journal, starred review) "For readers unschooled in the history of SF/F, this book is a treasure trove; for those who recognize every title, Walton evokes the joy of returning to a well-worn favorite." – Publishers Weekly, starred review
THE SHELF: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose
No, this isn't reading while rappelling down a mountain like we hoped, but it is still an extreme library sport: to read through an entire shelf of library books. In Rose's case, her randomly chosen shelf of fiction from LEQ to LES contained a classic she has not read, a remarkable variety of authors, and a range of literary styles from mystery to humor. Perhaps it'll inspire similar challenges in your library!
Now that we're thinking about cats, here are 21 cats who are secretly excellent readers!
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Stars for Tor Books!
It's only fitting that Tor Books has so many starred reviews, since many are set in outer space!
More seriously though, whether set on distant planets or in fantasy lands, here are our favorite Science Fiction & Fantasy titles that have already received terrific early praise:
THE EMPEROR’S BLADES by Brian Staveley
“In this epic fantasy debut, Staveley has created a complex and richly detailed world filled with elite soldier-assassins, mystic warrior monks, serpentine politics, and ancient secrets. Readers of Sara Douglass's Wayfarer novels and George R.R. Martin's 'Song of Ice and Fire' series should enjoy this opener.” – Library Journal, starred review and Debut of the Month selection
YEAR’S BEST SF 18 edited by David G. Hartwell
“One of the best collections of the year, without a weak tale in its list, this is highly recommended for fans of the short story and of SF in general.” – Library Journal, starred review
“Almost uniformly excellent—but then when was an anthology from Hartwell ever less?” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
FIDDLEHEAD by Cherie Priest
“This is a compelling finale to a fantastic series. The good guys are complex and sympathetic; the villains are suitably clever and malign. The action rattles along at breakneck speed, and the reader can't resist coming along for the wild ride, which includes a climactic battle featuring a wheelchair-bound Abe Lincoln and a temporarily sober Ulysses S. Grant. Highly recommended for all readers of fantasy and steampunk.” – Library Journal, starred review
A DARKLING SEA by James Cambias (THREE starred reviews!)
“An exceptionally thoughtful, searching and intriguing debut.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Like [Robert] Silverberg, who developed fully realized alien societies in such novels as Downward to the Earth…Cambias makes the Sholen and Ilmataran people and cultures as real as the more familiar human component. Beautifully written, with a story that captures the imagination the way SF should.” – Booklist, starred review
“Cambias writes with a light touch and occasional flashes of humor, and the science supporting his novel is sound and unobtrusive. This is an impressive debut by a gifted writer.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review