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Fantasy and Science Fiction January 2021
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Universal Love: stories
by Alexander Weinstein
The award-winning author of Children of the New World presents an anthology of speculative fiction about compassion, love and human resilience in a near-future world of increasingly invasive technological activity.
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| Ready Player Two by Ernest ClineWhat it is: the long-awaited sequel to Ready Player One, as steeped in geek lore and 1980s pop culture nostalgia as its predecessor.
The situation: After winning the treasure hunt that his hero, eccentric tech titan James Halliday, hid in the virtual world of OASIS, Wade Watts now holds the keys to the kingdom -- and is about to embark on another quest that will reveal more of Halliday's secrets.
Reviewers say: Fans of the first book "will enjoy revisiting old friends and meeting new ones" (Booklist). |
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Deathless Divide
by Justina Ireland
A sequel to the best-selling Dread Nation finds a devastating loss throwing everything Jane believes into question, before encounters with familiar faces in Summerland enmeshes her in a maelstrom of deception and private demons.
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Prosper's Demon
by K. J. Parker
"An exorcist's methods aren't delicate but they're undeniably effective: he'll get the demon out--he just doesn't particularyly care what happens to the person. His tarte, Prosper of Schanz, is a man of science, determined to raise the world's first philosopher-king, reared according to the purest principles. Too bad he is possessed." "In this pietch-dark, witty fantasy, Parker deftly creates a world with vivid, unbending rules, seething with demons, broken faith, and bad men. Prosper's Demon cheerfully and acidly excavates some of Western literature's deepest tropes--from Plato's philosopher-king to Marlowe and Goethe on Doctor Faustus and Mephistopheles--with infernal flair."
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The Will and the Wilds
by Charlie N. Holmberg
"A story of truce and trickery from the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician series. Enna knows to fear the mystings that roam the wildwood near her home. When one tries to kill her to obtain an enchanted stone, Enna takes a huge risk: fighting back with a mysting of her own. Maekallus's help isn't free. His price? A kiss. One with the power to steal her soul. But their deal leaves Maekallus bound to the mortal realm, which begins eating him alive. Only Enna's kiss, given willingly, can save him from immediate destruction. It's a temporary salvation for Maekallus and a lingering doom for Enna. Part of her soul now burns bright inside Maekallus, making him feel for the first time. Enna shares Maekallus's suffering, but her small sacrifice won't last long. If she and Maekallus can't break the spell binding him to the mortal realm, Maekallus will be consumed completely-and Enna's soul with him." |
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1Q84
by Haruki Murakami
An ode to George Orwell's "1984" told in alternating male and female voices relates the stories of Aomame, an assassin for a secret organization who discovers that she has been transported to an alternate reality, and Tengo, a mathematics lecturer and novice writer
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| Witchmark by C.L. PolkStarring: former army officer Dr. Miles Singer, who's hiding from his powerful family while concealing his magical powers from society; and Tristan Hunter, the mysterious gentleman who convinces Miles to join his investigation into baffling crimes involving veterans.
Book buzz: In addition to winning the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, this debut was also a finalist for the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Lammy Award.
Series alert: Set in a world reminiscent of Edwardian England, Witchmark is the opening installment of the Kingston Cycle, followed by Stormsong and the forthcoming Soulstar. |
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| The Sol Majestic by Ferrett SteinmetzStarring: itinerant teen philosopher Kenna, whose answer to the question "Why do you love food?" wins him a life-changing free dinner at The Sol Majestic, the galaxy's most renowned restaurant.
What happens: Kenna bonds with the staff, falls in love with a cute boy, escapes his parents' toxic belief system, and confronts a deep moral quandary while working to save the place he's come to call home.
Read it for: a heartwarming coming-of-age story, the diverse members of Kenna's found family, and mouthwatering descriptions of food. |
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Nevernight
by Jay Kristoff
Training as an assassin to avenge the destruction of her family in a world of near-perpetual sunlight, Mia uses her gift for speaking with the shadows to find a place among a group of deadly killers who test her survival and determination to exact revenge. By the award-winning author of the Lotus War series.
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| Chilling Effect by Valerie ValdesWhat it's about: Captain Eva Innocente of La Sirena Negra and her crew must take on dangerous secret missions to raise the ransom money to save Eva's sister, Mari, from crime syndicate The Fridge.
For fans of: the appealing characters in Becky Chambers' The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; the spacefaring capers of Mike Brooks' Keiko novels.
Series alert: Chilling Effect is the 1st in the same-named series, followed by Prime Deceptions. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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