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Other Realities: Fantasy & Science Fiction April 2017
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| In Calabria by Peter S. BeagleContemporary Fantasy. Claudio Bianchi, farmer and (secret) poet, lives alone on a ramshackle farm in Calabria, Italy, where he tends to his animals and finds solace in books. But his solitary routine is upended when he discovers a pregnant unicorn on his land. The arrival of this seemingly impossible creature attracts visitors from nearby and abroad, forcing Claudio to venture out into society once more -- and come to terms with past experiences that led him to retire from the world. In Calabria is a gentle, lyrical fable of love, forgiveness, and second chances by the author of The Last Unicorn. |
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| Etched in Bone: A Novel of the Others by Anne BishopDark Fantasy. Following the events of Marked in Flesh, a fragile peace holds in the Lakeside Courtyard. For now. Can the terra indigene coexist with humans, the two-legged predators that have long tried to destroy them? Shapeshifter Simon Wolfgard and human blood prophet Meg Corbyn believe that their species can live together and that their integrated community is proof of this. However, an unexpected arrival threatens to undo all of their hard work. Readers who have kept up with the Courtyards of the Others series will notice an emphasis on interpersonal relationships in comparison to previous books' more action-oriented plots. Newcomers will want to start with Written in Red. |
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| Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline CareyHistorical Fantasy. Miranda lives on an island with her magician father Prospero, whose lust for power and obsession with revenge make him a less-than-attentive parent. Alone and lonely, Miranda befriends a strange boy named Caliban, the orphaned son of the witch Sycorax. As they grow up, their friendship turns to romance, inciting the ire of Prospero and setting in motion a series of events that can only end in tragedy. Readers who enjoy a lush and richly detailed tale of star-crossed lovers will want to check out this retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest by the author of the Kushiel's Legacy series. |
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| Amberlough by Lara Elena DonnellyFantasy. Cosmopolitan Amberlough City is home to intelligence operative Cyril DePaul and his lover, Aristide Makricosta, whose role as emcee at the Bumble Bee Cabaret serves as a front for his criminal activities. But perhaps not for much longer, due to the rise of the authoritarian One State Party. If you've ever wished Christopher Isherwood had written political fantasy, Amberlough -- with its well-drawn characters and a vivid setting reminiscent of the Weimar Republic -- is the book for you. Those who enjoy the way this atmospheric fantasy novel shines a spotlight on a decadent demimonde, you may also like Kathe Koje's Under the Poppy. |
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| The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death by Kim HarrisonUrban Fantasy. This prequel to Kim Harrison's bestselling Hollows series reveals the origins of the Turn, a plague that wiped out most of humanity and gave rise to a society dominated by supernatural races. The story begins in the 1960s as a rivalry between geneticists Trisk Cambri and Trenton "Kal" Kalamack escalates into an apocalyptic scenario. Having inadvertently placed humans on the path to extinction, Trisk and Kal must work together to save the survivors from the pandemic, as well as from paranormal leaders who believe that the new world order has no place for "weak" humans. |
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| A Conjuring of Light: A Novel by V.E. SchwabFantasy. In this conclusion to the trilogy that began with A Darker Shade of Magic, the conclusion of the Essen Tasch -- or "Element Games," a multidimensional tournament of magic -- only serves to exacerbate long-standing conflicts that embroil the four versions of London: Red, White, Grey, and Black. To say much more risks revealing spoilers, but fans of the series can look forward to the return of Antari magician Kell as well as street thief and erstwhile pirate Delilah Bard. |
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New & Notable: Science Fiction
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Galactic empires
by Neil Clarke
Neil Clarke, publisher of the award-winning Clarkesworld magazine, presents a collection of thought-provoking and galaxy-spanning array of galactic short science fiction. From E. E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman, to George Lucas' Star Wars, the politics and process of Empire have been a major subject of science fiction's galaxy-spanning fictions. What social, political, and economic issues do the organizing structure of "empire" address? Often the size, shape, and fates of empires are determined not only by individuals, but by geography, natural forces, and technology. As the speed of travel and rates of effective communication increase, so too does the size and reach of an Imperial bureaucracy. At the beginning of the twentieth century, writers such as Kipling and Twain were at the forefront of these kinds of narrative observations, but as the century drew to a close, it was writers like Iain M. Banks who helped make science fiction relevant. That tradition continues today, with award-winning writers like Ann Leckie, Brandon Sanderson, Neal Asher, and Naomi Novik.
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New York 2140
by Kim Stanley Robinson
When a New York City of the near future is submerged by rising waters, the residents rapidly adapt the thriving metropolis until it becomes a vibrant, though permanently changed, canal region of island skyscrapers and remarkable inhabitants.
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The collapsing empire
by John Scalzi
When humanity discovers the existence of an extra-dimensional field capable of transporting travelers to different worlds instantly, a significantly depopulated Earth is threatened by a subsequent finding that the field is unstable and may be cutting travelers off on the wrong side of Earth-friendly worlds.
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Star wars, aftermath : life debt
by Chuck Wendig
Set between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, a next entry in the best-selling trilogy continues the story of a galactic civil war under the leadership of Wedge Antilles, Admiral Ackbar and other beloved characters after the destruction of the second Death Star. Movie tie-in.
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Revenger
by Alastair Reynolds
Joining the crew of Captain Rackamore—who, in a galaxy that has seen great empires rise and fall, believes there are vast fortunes to be made if you know where to find them—Adrana and Fura Ness, determined to save their family from bankruptcy, soon discover that there might be more waiting for them in space than adventure and fortune. Original. 75,000 first printing.
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The wanderers
by Meg Howrey
Auditioning for the first-ever mission to Mars, three astronauts share experiences that push the boundary between the real and surreal while irrevocably changing their relationships and familial bonds.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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