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New & Notable Books
April

Peter S. Beagle
Jedediah Berry
Jane Frank
Cecelia Holland
Caitlin R. Kiernan
George Mann
Jack McDevitt
Ian McDonald
Farah Mendlesohn
T.A. Pratt
Ken Scholes
Dan Simmons
Bruce Sterling
Catherynne M. Valente
Roger Zelazny





 

Mark Bould & Andrew M. Butler, Adam Roberts & Sherryl Vint, eds., The Routledge Companion to Science Fiction (Routledge Mar 2009)

This hefty non-fiction guide covers science fiction from its historical roots to current issues, themes, sub-genres, and treatment in various media, with 56 articles by authors including Adam Roberts, Farah Mendlesohn, Gwyneth Jones, Andy Sawyer, and China Miéville.



Javier Calvo, Wonderful World (Harper Mar 2009)

Critics acclaim this surreal literary mystery about an antiques dealer, the mob, and a 12-year-old girl obsessed with Stephen King. Originally published in Spanish, this is the author's first work to be translated to English.



Cassandra Clare, City of Glass (Simon & Schuster/McElderry Mar 2009)

The third volume in this celebrated YA urban fantasy series finds Clary determined to use her powers to illegally enter the City of Glass to find a cure for her mother, despite Jace's opposition.



Charles de Lint, The Mystery of Grace (Tor Mar 2009)

The American Southwest provides the setting for the latest contemporary fantasy by the acclaimed author. One Halloween an artist falls for a tattooed woman who literally disappears.



Maggie Furey, Heritage of the Xandim (Gollancz Feb 2009)

The first book in a new fantasy series set in the same world as Aurian, but in the distant past, following the Xandim, human/horse shapeshifters, enslaved and trapped in their equine forms by the Phaerie.



Peter F. Hamilton, The Temporal Void (Ballantine Del Rey Apr 2009)

The second book in the sweeping space opera Void trilogy (set in the Hamilton's Commonwealth universe) finds the Void expanding and devouring everything in its path, while those who dream of a microverse within are determined to enter on a pilgrimage — and the true nature of the Void is finally revealed. Originally published by Tor UK (10/08).



Stephen Hunt, The Rise of the Iron Moon (HarperVoyager Feb 2009)

The third standalone fantasy adventure set in Hunt's delightfully strange post-apocalyptic Victorian-style world of the Kingdom of Jackals finds spunky orphan Purity Drake on the run from the Royal Breeding House, even as an Army of Shadows threatens the land.



Alexander C. Irvine, Buyout (Ballantine Del Rey Apr 2009)

This near-future thriller centers on a new government cost-cutting program that offers cash buyouts to prisoners with life sentences who volunteer for immediate execution. An edgy exploration of justice, revenge, and the danger of placing a dollar value on human life.



Christopher Miller, The Cardboard Universe: A Guide to the World of Phoebus K. Dank (HarperPerennial Apr 2009)

The life and work of Philip K. Dick provides a springboard for this satire of writers and academia, a novel disguised as a guide to the works of fictional SF writer Phoebus K. Dank, written by two feuding friends of Dank. "It would be a mistake to view the novel as merely a cruel parody of Dick's life and work.... There's also an emerging portrait of a kind of writer who isn't Philip K. Dick at all, but who may hit fairly close to home for SF readers and cultural meteorologists. Plus, a lot of the jokes are very funny." [Gary K. Wolfe]



Sharyn November, ed., Firebirds Soaring (Firebird Mar 2009)

The third anthology in the acclaimed series for young adults (and the young at heart) presents 19 original stories by authors including Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Jo Walton, Margo Lanagan, Chris Roberson, and Nancy Farmer.



Christopher Priest, "It" Came from Outer Space (GrimGrin Jan 2009)

The noted author offers a selection of his non-fiction from over 35 years of writing, some autobiographical, most about books and writers.



Darrell Schweitzer, The Fantastic Horizon (Borgo Press Mar 2009)

Noted SF writer, editor, agent, and critic Schweitzer presents his latest non-fiction in this collection of 30 articles and reviews focusing on fantasy and pulp fiction, many first published in the New York Review of Science Fiction and Weird Tales.



Lucius Shepard, Vacancy & Ariel (Subterranean Press May 2009)

One of the field's best authors shows his talent for the darker side with two award-winning novellas: Asimov's Reader Poll winner "Ariel" (SF) and Shirley Jackson Award winner "Vacancy" (dark fantasy).



Allen Steele, Coyote Horizon (Ace Mar 2009)

The seventh volume in Steele's popular Coyote series finds the colony planet facing new crises thanks to an influx of refugees from Earth, the development of telepathy in the population, and a newly introduced alien religion.




May 2009 Issue
New & Notable Books

posted 13 May 2009




Cover Design: Arnie Fenner



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