SF/Fantasy

In a future of rising water levels, bioengineered plagues, widespread food shortages, and retrotechnology, calories have become currency and the rediscovery of foods thought to be extinct leads to commercial success or spectacular failure. An encounter between Anderson Lake, AgriGen's "calorie man" in Bangkok, and Emiko, a genetically engineered member of the New People, sets off a cataclysmic chain of events. VERDICT This first novel by the Locus Award-winning author of Pump Six and Other Stories provides a captivating look at a dystopic future that seems all too possible. East meets West in a clash of cultures brilliantly portrayed in razor-sharp images, tension-building pacing, and sharply etched characters. Fans of the sf techno-fiction of China Miéville and Neal Stephenson should flock to this cautionary thriller.

An apocalyptic spell, cast by members of the mercenary group called The Raven, has saved the world from one threat only to open it up to another. Barclay's sequel to Dawnthief serves not only as the transitional "middle" book of a fantasy epic trilogy but also delivers vivid battle scenes, dragons that live up to their fearsome image, and characters that are both colorful and believable. VERDICT A perfect choice for readers who miss Glen Cook's tales of the Black Company.

A man awakens in a pool of blood on the floor of a house in Budapest. Though he has no memories of his past, or even his name, he pursues mysterious clues that lead him first to a stranger who seems to know about him and, ultimately, to the knowledge that will reveal to him a terrible truth. VERDICT First novelist Bell captures the first-person feel of a diary of the damned in this intimate confessional story, which should resonate with fans of H.P. Lovecraft's epistolary novels and of contemporary supernatural horror that relies more on psychological suspense than physical gore for its eerie effects.

Suffering under the oppressive rule of their Mokaddian conquerors, the Koramites hide ancient magics that draw power from a person's "days," thus shortening the lives of the donors. A young boy becomes caught up in a personal and political struggle when one of the Divines who knows how to wield this power disappears. Brown's first novel, the opener in a new fantasy series, creates an elaborate new world with a rich and deep spiritual and political background. VERDICT Reminiscent of L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s "Recluce" novels and David Drake's "Lord of the Isles" series and David Farland's "Runelords" books, this well-wrought tale of families in conflict against both politics and religion represents a welcome addition to large-scale fantasy.

The Pax Umana rules the stars with its firm but somewhat benevolent imperial fist, confining the most violent race, the shape-shifting Sagathi, to their home planet. When a fugitive shape-shifter escapes aboard a ship bound for Sagatha, Xeno Corps Section Leader Jak Cato goes on the hunt and gets caught in a conspiracy on the imperial planet Dantha. Dietz (Galactic Bounty) writes fast-paced military sf, filling his stories with more action than character development but satisfying readers who like fast-paced space operas with flawed but likable heroes. VERDICT With a setting reminiscent of Imperial Rome brought into the far future, Dietz's first title in a new duology should please his many followers as well as fans of Steve Perry's "Matador" series and the novels of Michael Stackpole.

Raised by the man who ousted her father from the throne, Corinn has fought her way to the rulership of the Known World and now seeks to expand her territory. Her brother Dariel travels on an exploratory mission to the Other Lands, discovering a heretofore unknown threat to his home, while warrior sister Mena fights monsters for a queen she does not truly believe in. Durham continues the epic fantasy begun in Acacia: The War with the Mein. VERDICT This should appeal especially to fans of large-scale, multigenerational epic fantasy in the style of George R.R. Martin and David Drake.

Melbourne's hidden world of supernaturals includes vampire mobsters, demon crime lords, troll bouncers, and glitteringly brittle fairies. When Jade, a succubus in thrall to a sadistic demon, seeks her freedom, she risks not only her life but the possibility of love with the one person who could deny her the thing she wants most. Australian author Hayes's debut and series opener exemplifies erotic urban fantasy at its most visceral, illuminating the splendor and squalor of life on the edge. VERDICT Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry novels and Caitlin Kittredge Nocturne City books should enjoy this tale of sex, violence, and the supernatural, but it may be a little too graphic for those who enjoy more romantic urban fantasy.

The assassination of the President by a child is quickly followed by the abduction of seven very different men—all unknown to one another and all identical clones. Tapped by a secret government organization to find the man behind the assassination, the seven clones embark on a journey into the mind of a criminal and into their own past. VERDICT Initially released as a downloadable podcast and in print for the first time, this opener launches an action-packed trilogy that combines political conspiracy and tomorrow's bioengineering to create an accessible package for fans of conspiracy theories and high-tech speculative fiction. Backed by major online publisher promotion, including original songs recorded under the name of one of the characters, this should also appeal to fans of multimedia fiction.

The secret peace treaty between Earth and the Black World, a realm of demons and shape-changers, is up for renewal, and forces from the other dimension seeking free access to the mortal world oppose its renewal. Only the Black Guard, elite warriors from both dimensions, stand between the Earth and its doom. First published in Japan, this first title in a ten-volume epic by the author of Demon City Shinjuku features a rapidly paced first-person narrative that sets the tone for the interdimensional struggle that lies ahead. VERDICT Fans of Japanese manga who enjoy swift, often darkly erotic, and always gorily violent storytelling will want to follow this series from the beginning. Excessive sex and gore make this an X-rated read. [A live-action Hollywood film is currently in preproduction.—Ed.]

In the 27th century, refugee species from the explosion at the galactic core flee toward the Fleet of Worlds. A hyperintelligent manipulative race of Puppeteers has the means to meet this threat but prefers to use its unknowing human "puppets" on the newly independent world of New Terra to defend the worlds of Known Space. Set two centuries before the discovery of Ringworld, this conclusion to the authors' trilogy (Fleet of Worlds; Juggler of Worlds) combines sparkling wit and "old school" hard sf with masterly storytelling and cosmic vision. VERDICT Fans of veteran sf authors Niven (the "Ringworld" novels) and Lerner (Probe) will enjoy the return of good, old-fashioned sf, packed with ideas, philosophical musings, and plenty of space action.

At the end of World War II, translator and would-be sf writer Konstantin Andreiovich Skvorecky, along with several colleagues, meets secretly with Soviet leader Josef Stalin to create a fictional "alien attack" in the hopes of uniting the disparate groups within the Communist Party against a common foe. Forty years later, the attack seems to be coming true. British sf author Roberts (Gradisil) demonstrates his knack for quirkily speculative fiction, with elegant plot twists, seriocomic passages, and a suitably gullible protagonist whose instincts see him through to the end. VERDICT Wildly imaginative yet delivering the absurdist punch associated with Kafka and Orwell, this novel of high spirits disguised as fact provides a field day for the literary enthusiast as well as the UFO fan.

Four new novellas, each set in one of Shinn's original world backgrounds, make up this volume by one of fantasy's most prolific and versatile writers. "Flight" returns to the world of Shinn's Samaria novels, where "angels" dwell among mortals and one woman faces her greatest betrayal. The novels Heart of Gold and Summers at Castle Auburn provide the settings for "Blood" and "Gold," respectively, while "Flame" tells the tale of one of the Twelve Houses series' most intriguing characters. VERDICT The author's large following should enjoy these reminders of Shinn's storytelling skill and her ability to create real people in imaginary worlds.

When he was a child, Ellis lost his mother and older brother in a car accident. Another car crash in adolescence endows him with miraculous powers that include apparent immortality and the ability to regrow body parts. Eventually, Ellis learns that he is a Harbinger, and his spiritual journey lasts for centuries as he shifts through time and space, discovering the outer world and his inner self. VERDICT Skillingstead (Are You There and Other Stories) re-creates the atmosphere of old-style Vonnegut and the ingenuity of Philip K. Dick in a tale that holds its greatest appeal for readers who enjoy contemplating eternal truths in fictional form.

When the young scholar Anrel Murneau returns home from his studies, he finds that his parents, both powerful sorcerers, along with his childhood friends, are ruled by the corrupt local lord, himself a wizard of dark powers. Without magic, Anrel is barred from the nobility, yet he does not lack resources to attempt to bring an unjust ruler to heel. VERDICT Veteran author Watt-Evans ("The Obsidian Chronicles") launches a new series featuring a hero who must rely on his wits and his swordsmanship rather than magic to accomplish great deeds. He writes to his strengths and takes his many fans on an entertaining journey.

Fans of Armstrong's fabulous "Women of the Otherworld" series will be delighted to see the long-awaited return of Elena Michaels, the world's only female werewolf. We first fell in love with Elena in the 2001 series debut Bitten, and she was the heroine of two other titles in the series (Stolen and Broken). This time, while chasing a runaway werewolf to Alaska, Elena and husband Clay encounter rogue werewolves and mysterious mammoth creatures that have them running for their lives. But Elena, always a strong female protagonist, has no intention of backing down, especially when her crazy, able-bodied mate is by her side. Armstrong remains at the top of her game with nonstop action and interesting new characters. VERDICT While the violence and sexual content may bother some readers, this book is still highly recommended for all fans of paranormal fiction. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/09.]—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta

You may already know the Dashwood sisters: Marianne, who is ruled by her emotions, is a strong swimmer with excellent lung capacity. Elinor, the older, more controlled sister, is a fine carver of driftwood and an expert on the dangers of marine animals large and small. The two sisters, both of marriageable age, encounter various suitors, including the dashing Willoughby, the honorable Edward Ferrars, and the monstrously tentacled Colonel Brandon. Whether in their cottage on Pestilent Isle or in the social whirl of Sub-Marine Station Beta, they never lack for excitement and danger, and despite the depredations of the hideous Devonshire Fang-Beast, nearly everyone lives happily ever after. The effect is strangely entertaining, like a Weird Al version of an opera aria, and Eugene Smith's amusing illustrations add an extra touch of bizarre hilarity. VERDICT Austen fans will be either delighted or horrified, and those who haven't read Sense and Sensibility will be confused. But readers of Jasper Fforde and other literary in-joke writers will enjoy this follow-up to the best-selling Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.—Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib.