Martha Wells's Blog, page 79
March 20, 2017
New Book Tuesday on Monday
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer
In a future of near-instantaneous global travel, of abundant provision for the needs of all, a future in which no one living can remember an actual war…a long era of stability threatens to come to an abrupt end.
* The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi
When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand—a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik’s cube—they know it’s up to them to defeat the game’s diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed. But first they have to figure out how.
* Lotus Blue by Cat Sparks
Seventeen-year-old Star and her sister Nene are orphans, part of a thirteen-wagon caravan of nomadic traders living hard lives travelling the Sand Road. Their route cuts through a particularly dangerous and unforgiving section of the Dead Red Heart, a war-ravaged desert landscape plagued by rogue semi-sentient machinery and other monsters from a bygone age.
* The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories edited by Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin
* Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells
The strange planet known as Tanegawa’s World is owned by TransRifts Inc, the company with the absolute monopoly on interstellar travel. Hob landed there ten years ago, a penniless orphan left behind by a rift ship. She was taken in by Nick Ravani and quickly became a member of his mercenary biker troop, the Ghost Wolves.
* The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling unwitting Ottoman nobles. But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass—a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.
My Books
The hardcover of The Edge of Worlds is only $16.99 on Amazon right now, probably because the trade paperback will be out on April 25.
comments
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer
In a future of near-instantaneous global travel, of abundant provision for the needs of all, a future in which no one living can remember an actual war…a long era of stability threatens to come to an abrupt end.
* The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi
When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand—a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik’s cube—they know it’s up to them to defeat the game’s diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed. But first they have to figure out how.
* Lotus Blue by Cat Sparks
Seventeen-year-old Star and her sister Nene are orphans, part of a thirteen-wagon caravan of nomadic traders living hard lives travelling the Sand Road. Their route cuts through a particularly dangerous and unforgiving section of the Dead Red Heart, a war-ravaged desert landscape plagued by rogue semi-sentient machinery and other monsters from a bygone age.
* The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories edited by Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin
* Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells
The strange planet known as Tanegawa’s World is owned by TransRifts Inc, the company with the absolute monopoly on interstellar travel. Hob landed there ten years ago, a penniless orphan left behind by a rift ship. She was taken in by Nick Ravani and quickly became a member of his mercenary biker troop, the Ghost Wolves.
* The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling unwitting Ottoman nobles. But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass—a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.
My Books
The hardcover of The Edge of Worlds is only $16.99 on Amazon right now, probably because the trade paperback will be out on April 25.
comments
March 8, 2017
International Women's Day Book Recs
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
Short Stories:
* Tor.com God Product by Alyssa Wong
On International Women’s Day, several of the best writers in SF/F today reveal new stories inspired by the phrase “Nevertheless, she persisted”, raising their voice in response to a phrase originally meant to silence.
Losing Heart Among the Tall by A.M. Dellamonica
* Uncanny Magazine: Resistance 101: Basics of Community Organizing for SF/F Creators & Consumers, Volume One: Protest Tips and Tricks by Sam J. Miller
* Auspicium Melioris Aevi by JY Yang
* Kindle: The Bone Knife by Intisar Khanani
Books:
* Degree of Resistance by Nicola M. Cameron
Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her long-lost love Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him.
* Preorder: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
* Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond
When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.
* Rocket Romance by Sophia Chester
In Rocket Romance, you will explore futuristic worlds of outer space, where untraditional relationships are not always easy!
* Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales edited by Ellen Datlow
* Predator by Gail Z. Martin
A Deadly Curiosities Adventure #18. Shifters are vanishing in Charleston and the packs are too mistrustful of each other to work together. Sorren, Cassidy, and Teag step in to stop the killings, only to discover that dark magic and obsession lie behind the disappearances, and someone has them in the crosshairs.
* Preorder: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
The remarkable conclusion to the post-apocalyptic and highly acclaimed trilogy that began with the multi-award-nominated The Fifth Season.
* Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
A space adventure set on a lone ship where the clones of a murdered crew must find their murderer -- before they kill again.
* The Bone Queen by Alison Croggon
After being seduced into sorcery by an agent of the Dark, the promising Bard Cadvan of Lirigon recklessly unleashed the terrible Bone Queen, bringing destruction down upon Annar. Cast out of the Schools of Barding for his crime, Cadvan now lives in exile, burdened by memories of his dealings with the Dark. At his former home, Cadvan’s mentor, Nelac, and his rival, Dernhil, begin to suspect that the Bone Queen may yet lurk in Annar, and a young Bard named Selmana is plagued by an ominous presence and an unsettling new ability to step between worlds.
comments
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
Short Stories:
* Tor.com God Product by Alyssa Wong
On International Women’s Day, several of the best writers in SF/F today reveal new stories inspired by the phrase “Nevertheless, she persisted”, raising their voice in response to a phrase originally meant to silence.
Losing Heart Among the Tall by A.M. Dellamonica
* Uncanny Magazine: Resistance 101: Basics of Community Organizing for SF/F Creators & Consumers, Volume One: Protest Tips and Tricks by Sam J. Miller
* Auspicium Melioris Aevi by JY Yang
* Kindle: The Bone Knife by Intisar Khanani
Books:
* Degree of Resistance by Nicola M. Cameron
Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her long-lost love Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him.
* Preorder: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
* Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond
When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.
* Rocket Romance by Sophia Chester
In Rocket Romance, you will explore futuristic worlds of outer space, where untraditional relationships are not always easy!
* Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales edited by Ellen Datlow
* Predator by Gail Z. Martin
A Deadly Curiosities Adventure #18. Shifters are vanishing in Charleston and the packs are too mistrustful of each other to work together. Sorren, Cassidy, and Teag step in to stop the killings, only to discover that dark magic and obsession lie behind the disappearances, and someone has them in the crosshairs.
* Preorder: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
The remarkable conclusion to the post-apocalyptic and highly acclaimed trilogy that began with the multi-award-nominated The Fifth Season.
* Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
A space adventure set on a lone ship where the clones of a murdered crew must find their murderer -- before they kill again.
* The Bone Queen by Alison Croggon
After being seduced into sorcery by an agent of the Dark, the promising Bard Cadvan of Lirigon recklessly unleashed the terrible Bone Queen, bringing destruction down upon Annar. Cast out of the Schools of Barding for his crime, Cadvan now lives in exile, burdened by memories of his dealings with the Dark. At his former home, Cadvan’s mentor, Nelac, and his rival, Dernhil, begin to suspect that the Bone Queen may yet lurk in Annar, and a young Bard named Selmana is plagued by an ominous presence and an unsettling new ability to step between worlds.
comments
International Women's Day Book Recs Post
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
Short Stories:
* Tor.com God Product by Alyssa Wong
On International Women’s Day, several of the best writers in SF/F today reveal new stories inspired by the phrase “Nevertheless, she persisted”, raising their voice in response to a phrase originally meant to silence.
Losing Heart Among the Tall by A.M. Dellamonica
* Uncanny Magazine: Resistance 101: Basics of Community Organizing for SF/F Creators & Consumers, Volume One: Protest Tips and Tricks by Sam J. Miller
* Auspicium Melioris Aevi by JY Yang
* Kindle: The Bone Knife by Intisar Khanani
Books:
* Degree of Resistance by Nicola M. Cameron
Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her long-lost love Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him.
* Preorder: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
* Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond
When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.
* Rocket Romance by Sophia Chester
In Rocket Romance, you will explore futuristic worlds of outer space, where untraditional relationships are not always easy!
* Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales edited by Ellen Datlow
* Predator by Gail Z. Martin
A Deadly Curiosities Adventure #18. Shifters are vanishing in Charleston and the packs are too mistrustful of each other to work together. Sorren, Cassidy, and Teag step in to stop the killings, only to discover that dark magic and obsession lie behind the disappearances, and someone has them in the crosshairs.
* Preorder: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
The remarkable conclusion to the post-apocalyptic and highly acclaimed trilogy that began with the multi-award-nominated The Fifth Season.
* Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
A space adventure set on a lone ship where the clones of a murdered crew must find their murderer -- before they kill again.
* The Bone Queen by Alison Croggon
After being seduced into sorcery by an agent of the Dark, the promising Bard Cadvan of Lirigon recklessly unleashed the terrible Bone Queen, bringing destruction down upon Annar. Cast out of the Schools of Barding for his crime, Cadvan now lives in exile, burdened by memories of his dealings with the Dark. At his former home, Cadvan’s mentor, Nelac, and his rival, Dernhil, begin to suspect that the Bone Queen may yet lurk in Annar, and a young Bard named Selmana is plagued by an ominous presence and an unsettling new ability to step between worlds.
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
Short Stories:
* Tor.com God Product by Alyssa Wong
On International Women’s Day, several of the best writers in SF/F today reveal new stories inspired by the phrase “Nevertheless, she persisted”, raising their voice in response to a phrase originally meant to silence.
Losing Heart Among the Tall by A.M. Dellamonica
* Uncanny Magazine: Resistance 101: Basics of Community Organizing for SF/F Creators & Consumers, Volume One: Protest Tips and Tricks by Sam J. Miller
* Auspicium Melioris Aevi by JY Yang
* Kindle: The Bone Knife by Intisar Khanani
Books:
* Degree of Resistance by Nicola M. Cameron
Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her long-lost love Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him.
* Preorder: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
* Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond
When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.
* Rocket Romance by Sophia Chester
In Rocket Romance, you will explore futuristic worlds of outer space, where untraditional relationships are not always easy!
* Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales edited by Ellen Datlow
* Predator by Gail Z. Martin
A Deadly Curiosities Adventure #18. Shifters are vanishing in Charleston and the packs are too mistrustful of each other to work together. Sorren, Cassidy, and Teag step in to stop the killings, only to discover that dark magic and obsession lie behind the disappearances, and someone has them in the crosshairs.
* Preorder: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
The remarkable conclusion to the post-apocalyptic and highly acclaimed trilogy that began with the multi-award-nominated The Fifth Season.
* Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
A space adventure set on a lone ship where the clones of a murdered crew must find their murderer -- before they kill again.
* The Bone Queen by Alison Croggon
After being seduced into sorcery by an agent of the Dark, the promising Bard Cadvan of Lirigon recklessly unleashed the terrible Bone Queen, bringing destruction down upon Annar. Cast out of the Schools of Barding for his crime, Cadvan now lives in exile, burdened by memories of his dealings with the Dark. At his former home, Cadvan’s mentor, Nelac, and his rival, Dernhil, begin to suspect that the Bone Queen may yet lurk in Annar, and a young Bard named Selmana is plagued by an ominous presence and an unsettling new ability to step between worlds.
March 3, 2017
The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red
Look what I got today! (The cat was already here.)
It’s up for preorder worldwide in ebook and paperback and it’ll be released May 2, from Tor.com.
comments
February 22, 2017
New Book Wednesday!
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Free Story: Extracurricular Activities by Yoon Ha Lee
A space opera adventure set in a distant future where an undercover agent has to go behind enemy lines to recover a lost ship and a possible traitor.
* The White Road of the Moon by Rachel Neumeier
Imagine you live with your aunt, who hates you so much she’s going to sell you into a dreadful apprenticeship. Imagine you run away before that can happen. Imagine that you can see ghosts—and talk with the dead. People like you are feared, even shunned.
* Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
Packed with dark magic and thrilling action, Beasts Made of Night is a gritty Nigerian-influenced fantasy perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi and Nnedi Okorafor. In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts – lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt. Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but 17-year-old Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family.
* The Song of the Dead by Carrie Patel
Finally, the lost histories of the Catastrophe will be revealed and with them the ultimate fate of the buried city of Recoletta in thedramatic conclusion to Carrie Patel’s trilogy. With Ruthers dead and the Library Accord signed by Recoletta, its neighbours, and its farming communes, Inspector Malone and her partner Laundress Jane Lin are in limbo as the city leaders around them vie for power.
* The Truth About Cats and Wolves by Alethea Kontis
Like many paranormals of Greek descent, Kai Xanthopoulos will not know her true nature until her young powers fully manifest. Unlike her parents—and much to the dismay of her stray cat best friend—Kai has chosen not to spend the rest of her life at the diner in Nocturne Falls. She takes a job at Delaney’s Delectables instead, a decision that puts her directly in the path of a fugitive werewolf that could change her destiny...
* Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny.... Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.
* The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard
The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings continues her Dominion of the Fallen saga as Paris endures the aftermath of a devastating arcane war.... As the city rebuilds from the onslaught of sorcery that nearly destroyed it, the great Houses of Paris, ruled by Fallen angels, still contest one another for control over the capital. House Silverspires was once the most powerful, but just as it sought to rise again, an ancient evil brought it low. Phillippe, an immortal who escaped the carnage, has a singular goal—to resurrect someone he lost. But the cost of such magic might be more than he can bear.
* The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho
A tale of first love, bad theology and robot reincarnation in the Chinese afterlife. In the tenth court of hell, spirits wealthy enough to bribe the bureaucrats of the underworld can avoid both the torments of hell and the irreversible change of reincarnation.
* With Blood Upon the Sand by Bradley Beaulieu
Çeda, now a Blade Maiden in service to the kings of Sharakhai, trains as one of their elite warriors, gleaning secrets even as they send her on covert missions to further their rule. She knows the dark history of the asirim—that hundreds of years ago they were enslaved to the kings against their will—but when she bonds with them as a Maiden, chaining them to her, she feels their pain as if her own. They hunger for release, they demand it, but with the power of the gods compelling them, they find their chains unbreakable.
* Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due
Stephen King says, "Ms. Due accomplishes the hardest thing of all with deceptive ease, creating characters we care about on their most human level." Whether weaving family life and history into dark fiction or writing speculative Afrofuturism, American Book Award winner and Essence bestselling author Tananarive Due's work is both riveting and enlightening. In her debut collection of short fiction, Due takes us to Gracetown, a small Florida town that has both literal and figurative ghost; into future scenarios that seem all too real; and provides empathetic portraits of those whose lives are touched by Otherness. Featuring an award-winning novella and fifteen stories-one of which has never been published before-GHOST SUMMER: STORIES, is sure to both haunt and delight.
Art rec: Beautiful ink and watercolor paintings by Likhain
Barnes and Noble Blog: The 2016 Nebula Award Nominees Show Us Diverse New Worlds
comments
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Free Story: Extracurricular Activities by Yoon Ha Lee
A space opera adventure set in a distant future where an undercover agent has to go behind enemy lines to recover a lost ship and a possible traitor.
* The White Road of the Moon by Rachel Neumeier
Imagine you live with your aunt, who hates you so much she’s going to sell you into a dreadful apprenticeship. Imagine you run away before that can happen. Imagine that you can see ghosts—and talk with the dead. People like you are feared, even shunned.
* Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
Packed with dark magic and thrilling action, Beasts Made of Night is a gritty Nigerian-influenced fantasy perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi and Nnedi Okorafor. In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts – lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt. Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but 17-year-old Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family.
* The Song of the Dead by Carrie Patel
Finally, the lost histories of the Catastrophe will be revealed and with them the ultimate fate of the buried city of Recoletta in thedramatic conclusion to Carrie Patel’s trilogy. With Ruthers dead and the Library Accord signed by Recoletta, its neighbours, and its farming communes, Inspector Malone and her partner Laundress Jane Lin are in limbo as the city leaders around them vie for power.
* The Truth About Cats and Wolves by Alethea Kontis
Like many paranormals of Greek descent, Kai Xanthopoulos will not know her true nature until her young powers fully manifest. Unlike her parents—and much to the dismay of her stray cat best friend—Kai has chosen not to spend the rest of her life at the diner in Nocturne Falls. She takes a job at Delaney’s Delectables instead, a decision that puts her directly in the path of a fugitive werewolf that could change her destiny...
* Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny.... Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.
* The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard
The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings continues her Dominion of the Fallen saga as Paris endures the aftermath of a devastating arcane war.... As the city rebuilds from the onslaught of sorcery that nearly destroyed it, the great Houses of Paris, ruled by Fallen angels, still contest one another for control over the capital. House Silverspires was once the most powerful, but just as it sought to rise again, an ancient evil brought it low. Phillippe, an immortal who escaped the carnage, has a singular goal—to resurrect someone he lost. But the cost of such magic might be more than he can bear.
* The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho
A tale of first love, bad theology and robot reincarnation in the Chinese afterlife. In the tenth court of hell, spirits wealthy enough to bribe the bureaucrats of the underworld can avoid both the torments of hell and the irreversible change of reincarnation.
* With Blood Upon the Sand by Bradley Beaulieu
Çeda, now a Blade Maiden in service to the kings of Sharakhai, trains as one of their elite warriors, gleaning secrets even as they send her on covert missions to further their rule. She knows the dark history of the asirim—that hundreds of years ago they were enslaved to the kings against their will—but when she bonds with them as a Maiden, chaining them to her, she feels their pain as if her own. They hunger for release, they demand it, but with the power of the gods compelling them, they find their chains unbreakable.
* Ghost Summer by Tananarive Due
Stephen King says, "Ms. Due accomplishes the hardest thing of all with deceptive ease, creating characters we care about on their most human level." Whether weaving family life and history into dark fiction or writing speculative Afrofuturism, American Book Award winner and Essence bestselling author Tananarive Due's work is both riveting and enlightening. In her debut collection of short fiction, Due takes us to Gracetown, a small Florida town that has both literal and figurative ghost; into future scenarios that seem all too real; and provides empathetic portraits of those whose lives are touched by Otherness. Featuring an award-winning novella and fifteen stories-one of which has never been published before-GHOST SUMMER: STORIES, is sure to both haunt and delight.
Art rec: Beautiful ink and watercolor paintings by Likhain
Barnes and Noble Blog: The 2016 Nebula Award Nominees Show Us Diverse New Worlds
comments
February 14, 2017
Paperback of The Harbors of the Sun
The The Harbors of the Sun is going to be released simultaneously on July 4 in paperback, hardcover, and ebook. The paperbacks are now up for preorder at discount on Barnes & Noble and at regular price (so far) at Amazon.
Hardcovers and ebooks are available for preorder at:
Barnes and Noble, Amazon US, Powells, Mysterious Galaxy, Chapters Indigo, Books a Million, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon France, Amazon Germany, Amazon Spain, all other Amazons, and Indiebound.
Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, iTunes, Kindle UK, Kindle Canada, Kindle France, Kindle Germany, Kindle Spain, and all other Amazon Kindles.
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The Edge of Worlds is coming out in paperback in March and is available for preorder at Barnes & Noble and Amazon
It's already out in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook:
Amazon US, Powell's, Barnes and Noble, Chapters Indigo, Mysterious Galaxy, Books-a-Million, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon France, Amazon Germany, Amazon Spain and all the other Amazons. Order it locally in the US from an independent bookseller through Indiebound.
Amazon US, Barnes & Noble Nookbook, Kobo, iBooks, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon France, Amazon Germany, Amazon Spain, and all other Amazons.
[image error] comments
February 9, 2017
ConDFW Schedule
My schedule for ConDFW this weekend: http://www.condfw.org/
Saturday
PROGRAMMING 2
Saturday, 11am: Don’t Feed the Inner Gremlins!
Panelists: Martha Wells (M), Larry Atchley Jr., Seth Skorkowsky, Dantzel Cherry, Scott Cupp, Paul Black
It’s late at night. You have a deadline looming, and all you can think about is ooh squirrel! How do you keep on track and stay focused? How do you keep those inner gremlins at bay? Our resident writers and artists talk about ways they use to keep on task, and things to avoid – like feeding the gremlins after midnight!
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 1pm: The Logistics of Space Travel
Panelists: Chris Donahue (M), T.M. Hunter, Adrian Simmons, Martha Wells, William C. Seigler, Karl K. Gallagher
It’s easy to dream about flying between the stars. But what do you need to stock to be able to make it back home? Somehow I think crates of MREs will get old after a while... Our panelists debate what is needed to travel the stars in traditional Space Opera...and what needs to be included when writing about it.
AUTOGRAPHS
Saturday, 3pm:
Carole Nelson Douglas, Martha Wells
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 4pm: A Flat Perspective: Looking Back at the Discworld
Panelists: Mel White (M), Chris Donahue, Martha Wells, Teresa Patterson, Michael Ashleigh Finn
The last book is published, and the pen is put down. Left by Sir Pratchett’s departure is a myriad of books in multiple universes, but his most famous and enduring legacy will always be the Discworld. Our panelists talk about how this unique take on life has changed the world for the better.
READING
Saturday, 6pm:
Dusty Rainbolt, Martha Wells
Saturday
PROGRAMMING 2
Saturday, 11am: Don’t Feed the Inner Gremlins!
Panelists: Martha Wells (M), Larry Atchley Jr., Seth Skorkowsky, Dantzel Cherry, Scott Cupp, Paul Black
It’s late at night. You have a deadline looming, and all you can think about is ooh squirrel! How do you keep on track and stay focused? How do you keep those inner gremlins at bay? Our resident writers and artists talk about ways they use to keep on task, and things to avoid – like feeding the gremlins after midnight!
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 1pm: The Logistics of Space Travel
Panelists: Chris Donahue (M), T.M. Hunter, Adrian Simmons, Martha Wells, William C. Seigler, Karl K. Gallagher
It’s easy to dream about flying between the stars. But what do you need to stock to be able to make it back home? Somehow I think crates of MREs will get old after a while... Our panelists debate what is needed to travel the stars in traditional Space Opera...and what needs to be included when writing about it.
AUTOGRAPHS
Saturday, 3pm:
Carole Nelson Douglas, Martha Wells
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 4pm: A Flat Perspective: Looking Back at the Discworld
Panelists: Mel White (M), Chris Donahue, Martha Wells, Teresa Patterson, Michael Ashleigh Finn
The last book is published, and the pen is put down. Left by Sir Pratchett’s departure is a myriad of books in multiple universes, but his most famous and enduring legacy will always be the Discworld. Our panelists talk about how this unique take on life has changed the world for the better.
READING
Saturday, 6pm:
Dusty Rainbolt, Martha Wells
ConDFW Schedule
My schedule for ConDFW this weekend: http://www.condfw.org/
Saturday
PROGRAMMING 2
Saturday, 11am: Don’t Feed the Inner Gremlins!
Panelists: Martha Wells (M), Larry Atchley Jr., Seth Skorkowsky, Dantzel Cherry, Scott Cupp, Paul Black
It’s late at night. You have a deadline looming, and all you can think about is ooh squirrel! How do you keep on track and stay focused? How do you keep those inner gremlins at bay? Our resident writers and artists talk about ways they use to keep on task, and things to avoid – like feeding the gremlins after midnight!
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 1pm: The Logistics of Space Travel
Panelists: Chris Donahue (M), T.M. Hunter, Adrian Simmons, Martha Wells, William C. Seigler, Karl K. Gallagher
It’s easy to dream about flying between the stars. But what do you need to stock to be able to make it back home? Somehow I think crates of MREs will get old after a while... Our panelists debate what is needed to travel the stars in traditional Space Opera...and what needs to be included when writing about it.
AUTOGRAPHS
Saturday, 3pm:
Carole Nelson Douglas, Martha Wells
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 4pm: A Flat Perspective: Looking Back at the Discworld
Panelists: Mel White (M), Chris Donahue, Martha Wells, Teresa Patterson, Michael Ashleigh Finn
The last book is published, and the pen is put down. Left by Sir Pratchett’s departure is a myriad of books in multiple universes, but his most famous and enduring legacy will always be the Discworld. Our panelists talk about how this unique take on life has changed the world for the better.
READING
Saturday, 6pm:
Dusty Rainbolt, Martha Wells
comments
Saturday
PROGRAMMING 2
Saturday, 11am: Don’t Feed the Inner Gremlins!
Panelists: Martha Wells (M), Larry Atchley Jr., Seth Skorkowsky, Dantzel Cherry, Scott Cupp, Paul Black
It’s late at night. You have a deadline looming, and all you can think about is ooh squirrel! How do you keep on track and stay focused? How do you keep those inner gremlins at bay? Our resident writers and artists talk about ways they use to keep on task, and things to avoid – like feeding the gremlins after midnight!
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 1pm: The Logistics of Space Travel
Panelists: Chris Donahue (M), T.M. Hunter, Adrian Simmons, Martha Wells, William C. Seigler, Karl K. Gallagher
It’s easy to dream about flying between the stars. But what do you need to stock to be able to make it back home? Somehow I think crates of MREs will get old after a while... Our panelists debate what is needed to travel the stars in traditional Space Opera...and what needs to be included when writing about it.
AUTOGRAPHS
Saturday, 3pm:
Carole Nelson Douglas, Martha Wells
PROGRAMMING 3
Saturday, 4pm: A Flat Perspective: Looking Back at the Discworld
Panelists: Mel White (M), Chris Donahue, Martha Wells, Teresa Patterson, Michael Ashleigh Finn
The last book is published, and the pen is put down. Left by Sir Pratchett’s departure is a myriad of books in multiple universes, but his most famous and enduring legacy will always be the Discworld. Our panelists talk about how this unique take on life has changed the world for the better.
READING
Saturday, 6pm:
Dusty Rainbolt, Martha Wells
comments
February 8, 2017
New Book Wednesday!
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Zero Saints by Gabino Iglesias
Enforcer and drug dealer Fernando has seen better days. On his way home from work, some heavily-tattooed gangsters throw him in the back of a car and take him to an abandoned house, where they saw off his friend's head and feed the kid's fingers to...something. Their message is clear: this is their territory, now. But Fernando isn't put down that easily. Using the assistance of a Santeria priestess, an insane Puerto Rican pop sensation, a very human dog, and a Russian hitman, he'll build the courage (and firepower) he'll need to fight a gangbanger who's a bit more than human...
* Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.
* Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor
It’s been a year since Binti and Okwu enrolled at Oomza University. A year since Binti was declared a hero for uniting two warring planets. A year since she found friendship in the unlikeliest of places. And now she must return home to her people...
* Out of This World: Queer Speculative Fiction Stories by Catherine Lundoff
Eleven tales of the queer fantastic by award-winning author Catherine Lundoff. A bookstore clerk goes on a quest for the Norns while a couple of mercenaries wake up to some big surprises at their favorite inn. Shakespeare’s sister, Judith, forms an alliance with playwright Christopher Marlowe. A witch attempts the wrong love spell and a young prince meets an irresistible monster. Swordswomen, ghosts, the Queen of the Fay, the occasional gentleman of the evening and other unforgettable characters populate these stories rich and strange. Includes the Gaylactic Spectrum Award finalist “At the Roots of the World Tree” as well as several other stories not previously collected.
* Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke
A pirate princess and a cursed assassin find their fates intertwined in this gorgeous and thrilling adventure. Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an ally pirate clan. She wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to a handsome and clueless man. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns that her fiancé’s clan has sent an assassin after her.
* The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley
Zan wakes with no memory, prisoner of a people who say they are her family. She is told she is their salvation - the only person capable of boarding the Mokshi, a world-ship with the power to leave the Legion. But Zan's new family is not the only one desperate to gain control of the prized ship. Zan finds that she must choose sides in a genocidal campaign that will take her from the edges of the Legion's gravity well to the very belly of the world.
* Latin@ Rising An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Matthew David Goodwin
Latin@ Rising is the first anthology of science fiction and fantasy written by Latinos/as living in the United States. The book gives an overview to the field of Latino/a speculative literature, showing the great variety of stories being told by Latino/a writers. Fifty years ago the Latin American "Boom" introduced magical realism to the world; Latin@ Rising is the literature that has risen from the explosion that gave us García Márquez, Jorge Amado, Carlos Fuentes and others. The 21st century writers and artists of Latin@ Rising help us to imagine a Latino/a past, present, and future which have not been whitewashed by mainstream perspectives.
* Of Oysters Pearls and Magic by Joyce Chng
Enter the world of Mirra. She is a magic user, but her gift is scorned by the menfolk in her village. Men are allowed to use magic; women are not. So, after a tumultuous event, Mirra decides to leave and heads for the City to continue her own self-journey. This is her tale.
* Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer
Unar dreams of greatness. Determined but destitute, she escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery. Now she serves in the Garden of the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. But when Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a reincarnated newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves.
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Zero Saints by Gabino Iglesias
Enforcer and drug dealer Fernando has seen better days. On his way home from work, some heavily-tattooed gangsters throw him in the back of a car and take him to an abandoned house, where they saw off his friend's head and feed the kid's fingers to...something. Their message is clear: this is their territory, now. But Fernando isn't put down that easily. Using the assistance of a Santeria priestess, an insane Puerto Rican pop sensation, a very human dog, and a Russian hitman, he'll build the courage (and firepower) he'll need to fight a gangbanger who's a bit more than human...
* Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.
* Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor
It’s been a year since Binti and Okwu enrolled at Oomza University. A year since Binti was declared a hero for uniting two warring planets. A year since she found friendship in the unlikeliest of places. And now she must return home to her people...
* Out of This World: Queer Speculative Fiction Stories by Catherine Lundoff
Eleven tales of the queer fantastic by award-winning author Catherine Lundoff. A bookstore clerk goes on a quest for the Norns while a couple of mercenaries wake up to some big surprises at their favorite inn. Shakespeare’s sister, Judith, forms an alliance with playwright Christopher Marlowe. A witch attempts the wrong love spell and a young prince meets an irresistible monster. Swordswomen, ghosts, the Queen of the Fay, the occasional gentleman of the evening and other unforgettable characters populate these stories rich and strange. Includes the Gaylactic Spectrum Award finalist “At the Roots of the World Tree” as well as several other stories not previously collected.
* Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke
A pirate princess and a cursed assassin find their fates intertwined in this gorgeous and thrilling adventure. Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an ally pirate clan. She wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to a handsome and clueless man. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns that her fiancé’s clan has sent an assassin after her.
* The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley
Zan wakes with no memory, prisoner of a people who say they are her family. She is told she is their salvation - the only person capable of boarding the Mokshi, a world-ship with the power to leave the Legion. But Zan's new family is not the only one desperate to gain control of the prized ship. Zan finds that she must choose sides in a genocidal campaign that will take her from the edges of the Legion's gravity well to the very belly of the world.
* Latin@ Rising An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Matthew David Goodwin
Latin@ Rising is the first anthology of science fiction and fantasy written by Latinos/as living in the United States. The book gives an overview to the field of Latino/a speculative literature, showing the great variety of stories being told by Latino/a writers. Fifty years ago the Latin American "Boom" introduced magical realism to the world; Latin@ Rising is the literature that has risen from the explosion that gave us García Márquez, Jorge Amado, Carlos Fuentes and others. The 21st century writers and artists of Latin@ Rising help us to imagine a Latino/a past, present, and future which have not been whitewashed by mainstream perspectives.
* Of Oysters Pearls and Magic by Joyce Chng
Enter the world of Mirra. She is a magic user, but her gift is scorned by the menfolk in her village. Men are allowed to use magic; women are not. So, after a tumultuous event, Mirra decides to leave and heads for the City to continue her own self-journey. This is her tale.
* Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer
Unar dreams of greatness. Determined but destitute, she escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery. Now she serves in the Garden of the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. But when Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a reincarnated newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves.
New Book Wednesday!
(If you've been following my book rec and new book listing posts for a while, you may have noticed this already, but while most book lists emphasize books by popular straight white men, this one emphasizes everybody else. I include books by straight white men, but in about the same percentage that other book lists include everybody else. I also try to highlight books that are less well known.)
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Zero Saints by Gabino Iglesias
Enforcer and drug dealer Fernando has seen better days. On his way home from work, some heavily-tattooed gangsters throw him in the back of a car and take him to an abandoned house, where they saw off his friend's head and feed the kid's fingers to...something. Their message is clear: this is their territory, now. But Fernando isn't put down that easily. Using the assistance of a Santeria priestess, an insane Puerto Rican pop sensation, a very human dog, and a Russian hitman, he'll build the courage (and firepower) he'll need to fight a gangbanger who's a bit more than human...
* Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.
* Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor
It’s been a year since Binti and Okwu enrolled at Oomza University. A year since Binti was declared a hero for uniting two warring planets. A year since she found friendship in the unlikeliest of places. And now she must return home to her people...
* Out of This World: Queer Speculative Fiction Stories by Catherine Lundoff
Eleven tales of the queer fantastic by award-winning author Catherine Lundoff. A bookstore clerk goes on a quest for the Norns while a couple of mercenaries wake up to some big surprises at their favorite inn. Shakespeare’s sister, Judith, forms an alliance with playwright Christopher Marlowe. A witch attempts the wrong love spell and a young prince meets an irresistible monster. Swordswomen, ghosts, the Queen of the Fay, the occasional gentleman of the evening and other unforgettable characters populate these stories rich and strange. Includes the Gaylactic Spectrum Award finalist “At the Roots of the World Tree” as well as several other stories not previously collected.
* Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke
A pirate princess and a cursed assassin find their fates intertwined in this gorgeous and thrilling adventure. Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an ally pirate clan. She wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to a handsome and clueless man. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns that her fiancé’s clan has sent an assassin after her.
* The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley
Zan wakes with no memory, prisoner of a people who say they are her family. She is told she is their salvation - the only person capable of boarding the Mokshi, a world-ship with the power to leave the Legion. But Zan's new family is not the only one desperate to gain control of the prized ship. Zan finds that she must choose sides in a genocidal campaign that will take her from the edges of the Legion's gravity well to the very belly of the world.
* Latin@ Rising An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Matthew David Goodwin
Latin@ Rising is the first anthology of science fiction and fantasy written by Latinos/as living in the United States. The book gives an overview to the field of Latino/a speculative literature, showing the great variety of stories being told by Latino/a writers. Fifty years ago the Latin American "Boom" introduced magical realism to the world; Latin@ Rising is the literature that has risen from the explosion that gave us García Márquez, Jorge Amado, Carlos Fuentes and others. The 21st century writers and artists of Latin@ Rising help us to imagine a Latino/a past, present, and future which have not been whitewashed by mainstream perspectives.
* Of Oysters Pearls and Magic by Joyce Chng
Enter the world of Mirra. She is a magic user, but her gift is scorned by the menfolk in her village. Men are allowed to use magic; women are not. So, after a tumultuous event, Mirra decides to leave and heads for the City to continue her own self-journey. This is her tale.
* Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer
Unar dreams of greatness. Determined but destitute, she escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery. Now she serves in the Garden of the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. But when Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a reincarnated newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves.
comments
(I only link to one retail outlet in the book's listing, but most books are available at multiple outlets, like Kobo, iBooks, international Amazons, Barnes & Noble, etc. The short stories are usually on free online magazines.)
* Zero Saints by Gabino Iglesias
Enforcer and drug dealer Fernando has seen better days. On his way home from work, some heavily-tattooed gangsters throw him in the back of a car and take him to an abandoned house, where they saw off his friend's head and feed the kid's fingers to...something. Their message is clear: this is their territory, now. But Fernando isn't put down that easily. Using the assistance of a Santeria priestess, an insane Puerto Rican pop sensation, a very human dog, and a Russian hitman, he'll build the courage (and firepower) he'll need to fight a gangbanger who's a bit more than human...
* Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.
* Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor
It’s been a year since Binti and Okwu enrolled at Oomza University. A year since Binti was declared a hero for uniting two warring planets. A year since she found friendship in the unlikeliest of places. And now she must return home to her people...
* Out of This World: Queer Speculative Fiction Stories by Catherine Lundoff
Eleven tales of the queer fantastic by award-winning author Catherine Lundoff. A bookstore clerk goes on a quest for the Norns while a couple of mercenaries wake up to some big surprises at their favorite inn. Shakespeare’s sister, Judith, forms an alliance with playwright Christopher Marlowe. A witch attempts the wrong love spell and a young prince meets an irresistible monster. Swordswomen, ghosts, the Queen of the Fay, the occasional gentleman of the evening and other unforgettable characters populate these stories rich and strange. Includes the Gaylactic Spectrum Award finalist “At the Roots of the World Tree” as well as several other stories not previously collected.
* Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke
A pirate princess and a cursed assassin find their fates intertwined in this gorgeous and thrilling adventure. Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an ally pirate clan. She wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to a handsome and clueless man. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns that her fiancé’s clan has sent an assassin after her.
* The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley
Zan wakes with no memory, prisoner of a people who say they are her family. She is told she is their salvation - the only person capable of boarding the Mokshi, a world-ship with the power to leave the Legion. But Zan's new family is not the only one desperate to gain control of the prized ship. Zan finds that she must choose sides in a genocidal campaign that will take her from the edges of the Legion's gravity well to the very belly of the world.
* Latin@ Rising An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Matthew David Goodwin
Latin@ Rising is the first anthology of science fiction and fantasy written by Latinos/as living in the United States. The book gives an overview to the field of Latino/a speculative literature, showing the great variety of stories being told by Latino/a writers. Fifty years ago the Latin American "Boom" introduced magical realism to the world; Latin@ Rising is the literature that has risen from the explosion that gave us García Márquez, Jorge Amado, Carlos Fuentes and others. The 21st century writers and artists of Latin@ Rising help us to imagine a Latino/a past, present, and future which have not been whitewashed by mainstream perspectives.
* Of Oysters Pearls and Magic by Joyce Chng
Enter the world of Mirra. She is a magic user, but her gift is scorned by the menfolk in her village. Men are allowed to use magic; women are not. So, after a tumultuous event, Mirra decides to leave and heads for the City to continue her own self-journey. This is her tale.
* Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer
Unar dreams of greatness. Determined but destitute, she escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery. Now she serves in the Garden of the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. But when Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a reincarnated newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves.
comments
