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Fantasy and Science Fiction April 2021
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Into the Light
by David Weber
What it's about: The Shongairi conquered Earth. In mere minutes, half the human race died, and its cities lay in shattered ruins. But the Shongairi didn't expect the survivors' tenacity. And, crucially, they didn't know that Earth harbored two species of intelligent, tool-using bipeds. Earth is once again ours. Aided by the advanced tech the aliens left behind, we're rebuilding as fast as we can. While a select few of our blood-drinking immortals are on their way to the Shongairi homeworld, having commandeered one of their starships...the planet-busting kind
Series alert: This is the follow-up to Out of the Dark.
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A History of What Comes Next
by Sylvain Neuvel
What it's about: Mia and Sarah are Kibsu, aliens that work in mother-daughter pairs to push humankind towards the goal of space exploration while avoiding the Trackers that threaten to undo their efforts.
Why you might like it: This well-researched series opener by the author of the Themis Files trilogy includes appearances by historical figures such as Wernher Von Braun and Sergei Korolev.
For fans of: the richly detailed alternate history of the Space Race presented in Mary Robinette Kowal's Lady Astronaut novels; the rival factions of Annalee Newitz's The Future of Another Timeline.
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| A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady MartineWhat it is: the sequel to the Hugo Award-winning novel A Memory Called Empire.
What happens: Shortly after returning to Lsel Station, ambassador Mahit Dzmare reunites with asekreta Three Seagrass when both are dispatched by yaotlek Nine Hibiscus to negotiate with a hostile alien armada at the edges of Teixcalaanli space.
Read it for: extensive and detailed world-building, and an intricately layered plot rife with political intrigue. |
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Unconquerable Sun
by Kate Elliott
What it is: a sweeping, action-packed space opera inspired by the life of Alexander the Great.
Starring: 20-year-old Princess Sun, daughter of Queen-Marshal Eirene of the Republic of Chaonia; who, aided by her loyal Companions, must dodge assassination attempts while battling the Phene Empire.
Why you might like it: The novel's diverse ensemble cast includes multiple narrators, who provide different perspectives on the action (copious) and intrigue (thorny).
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Focus on: Late Capitalism
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| FKA USA by Reed KingWhat it's about: Sixteen-year-old factory worker Truckee Wallace is on a top-secret mission to transport a talking goat named Barnaby across what's left of the United States.
Is it for you? Presented as Truckee's memoir, this satirical apocalyptic road novel contains abundant footnotes from a book called The Grifter's Guide To The Territories FKA USA.
Reviewers say: "a weird, loud, violent, funny, profane journey across the blasted ruin of our future" (NPR). |
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| QualityLand by Marc-Uwe Kling; translated by Jamie Lee SearleWelcome to... QualityLand, the greatest country in the world, where proprietary algorithms dictate every single aspect of human life.
Where you'll meet: Peter Jobless, dumped by his girlfriend, unfriended by everyone else, and determined to return (against seemingly insurmountable odds) an item that he didn't order to the all-seeing e-commerce behemoth that delivered it to him.
For fans of: the darkly humorous explorations of surveillance capitalism found in Rob Hart's The Warehouse, Joanna Kavenna's Zed, or Nick Harkaway's Gnomon. |
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| Severance by Ling MaWhat it is: a mixture of apocalyptic world-building (a plague has ravaged New York and the rest of the world), anti-capitalist satire, and...the coming-of-age of a millennial blogger?
What happens: When a strange virus turns people into routine-driven automatons, professionally unfulfilled Candace initially doesn't notice. However, once she's one of a handful of survivors, she joins an odd little band headed west.
Read if for: an engaging and entertaining story that illuminates the hypocrisy and flaws of capitalism. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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