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Fantasy and Science Fiction April 2019
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| The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane AndersWhat it's about: The planet January boasts two politically opposed cities capable of sustaining human life -- and disgraced student Sophie is in neither of them, instead exiled in the wilderness among January's original inhabitants.
About the author: i09 cofounder Charlie Jane Anders made a splash with her debut, All the Birds in the Sky.
For fans of: Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness. |
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| Ancestral Night by Elizabeth BearWhat it's about: A space salvage crew discovers advanced technology that shouldn't exist -- along with evidence of a crime. On the run from the (corrupt) authorities, they encounter space pirates.
Starring: Self-medicating salvage operator Haimey Dz, augmented pilot Connla, and ship's AI Singer. (Also, two cats.)
Expanded universe: Ancestral Night is set in the world of the author's Jacob's Ladder trilogy, although it takes place well after the events of that series. |
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| The Women's War by Jenna GlassThe premise: Thanks to an enchantment, women living in a patriarchal society suddenly gain control over their own fertility, thus igniting a revolution.
Is it for you? This debut, which ends on a cliffhanger, contains depictions of sexual violence and suicide.
For fans of: the retribution-driven plot of Naomi Alderman's The Power. |
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| Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation by Ken LiuWhat it is: an anthology of Chinese science fiction edited and translated by Ken Liu, who provides brief introductions to each featured author.
Contains: 16 stories by 14 authors, including by Cixin Liu, Chen Qiufan, and others whose work has been translated into English for the first time.
For fans of: Invisible Planets, Liu's previous anthology of Chinese SF. |
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| The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha ShannonWhat it is: a lush epic fantasy saga by the author of The Bone Season.
Why you might like it: In addition to detailed world-building and an intricate plot, this standalone saga boasts a predominantly female cast of queens, mages, alchemists, warriors, assassins, and dragon riders.
You might also like: Sofia Samatar's The Winged Histories, another gynocentric fantasy novel told from the perspectives of LGBTQIA-diverse viewpoint characters. |
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| The Bird King by G. Willow WilsonWhat it's about: The arrival of the Inquisition in the royal court of Granada sends concubine Fatima and her friend, magically gifted mapmaker Hassan, on a quest to the island of the Bird King.
Why you might like it: Set during the Reconquista, this lush and leisurely paced novel by the author of Alif the Unseen draws on Sufi literature to present a richly detailed recreation of Muslim Spain.
You might also like: Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al-Rassan. |
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| Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees BrennanWhat it is: a fantasy adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, in which light and dark magic divide a near-future New York City.
Introducing: dark side refugee Lucie Manette; her privileged boyfriend Ethan; and Ethan's dark magic-created doppelganger, Carwyn.
Want a taste? "Rich people think like that about slumming it, putting on other peoples' lives like a disguise at a party. It is fun only because they can cast off the mask at any time." |
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| Carnivalesque by Neil JordanWhat it's about: After a visit to a carnival leaves 14-year-old Dublin resident Andy trapped in a funhouse mirror, he takes the name Dany and adjusts to his new life -- while his reflection navigates the outside world.
For fans of: Keith Donoghue's The Stolen Child, another atmospheric modern-day changeling tale; John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things, which also presents a phantasmagorical coming-of-age story. |
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| Six Wakes by Mur LaffertyWhat it is: a locked-room mystery set aboard a generation ship crewed by clones.
Reviewers say: a "taut, nerve-tingling, interstellar murder mystery with a deeply human heart" (NPR).
For fans of: the psychological suspense of James Smythe's deep space-set Anomaly Quartet; the puzzle-box format of Adam Roberts' Jack Glass. |
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| Foe: A Novel by Iain ReidThe premise: Selected by lottery for a space settlement, rural farmer Junior prepares for his mission while his wife, Henrietta, receives a replacement in the form of Junior's doppelganger.
Why you might like it: This eerie near-future psychological thriller by the author of I'm Thinking of Ending Things emphasizes the complexities of human relationships over science and technology.
For fans of: the pull-the-rug-out-from-under-you twists of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Kendall Young Library 1201 Willson Ave Webster City, Iowa 50595 |
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