|
Fantasy and Science Fiction October 2017
|
|
|
|
| The Massacre of Mankind: A Sequel to the War of the Worlds by Stephen BaxterScience Fiction. In this authorized sequel to H.G. Wells' classic novel The War of the Worlds, Earth prepares for a second Martian invasion. Having survived the previous conflict, humanity is confident that they can handle whatever Mars throws at them. However, the Martians have spent the past 14 years learning from their mistakes. Treating Wells' story as a factual account, The Massacre of Mankind proceeds to develop an alternative 20th-century history that aligns with that book's internal chronology. |
|
| The Stone Sky by N.K. JemisinEpic Fantasy. In this concluding volume of N.K. Jemisin's acclaimed Broken Earth trilogy, orogene Essun and her daughter Nassun find themselves on opposite sides of an ideological battle for the future of the Stillness. Like its predecessors, this novel boasts a vivid apocalyptic setting and thoughtful explorations of the nature of personhood and the ways in which systems of oppression operate. Due to the complexity of the story, newcomers should start with The Fifth Season, followed by The Obelisk Gate. |
|
Focus on: Humorous SF and Fantasy
|
|
| The Outsorcerer's Apprentice: A Novel of Overlords, Underlings, and Inhuman Resources by Tom HoltHumorous Fantasy. How many woodcutters can a country support? And who's buying all that wood, anyway? If you've ever wondered about the economics of a fairy tale kingdom, this is the book for you. Centering on a showdown between an entrepreneurial wizard and an eccentric prince who arrives on the scene via transdimensional portal (see the author's Doughnut for more on how this works), this novel may appeal to fans of Diana Wynne Jones' Dark Lord of Derkholm, which also involves corporate interests exploiting fantasy realms. |
|
| Helen & Troy's Epic Road Quest by A. Lee MartinezHumorous Fantasy. Road trip! To lift the curse placed on them by a hamburger god-in-exile, fast-food worker Helen Nicolaides (who suffers from a rare condition known as minotaurism) and her friend, Troy Kawakami, set out on a cross-country quest to recover magical artifacts. As they navigate dangerous tourist traps and mythical motorcycle gangs, Helen and Troy must also deal with the National Bureau of Questing and their complicated feelings for each other. |
|
| Raising Steam: A Discworld Novel by Terry PratchettHumorous Fantasy. Inventor Dick Simnel has just built Discworld's first steam engine. In need of a wealthy backer, he brings his invention to Ankh-Morpork, which ushers in an industrial revolution...and a predictable amount of comedic chaos. A stand-alone novel in the perennially popular Discworld series, Raising Steam nevertheless features several familiar characters, including benevolent dictator Lord Vetinari and criminal-turned-fixer Moist von Lipwig. |
|
| Redshirts by John ScalziHumorous SF. Thrilled to be aboard the Universal Union starship Intrepid, Ensign Andrew Dahl can't understand why his shipmates aren't as excited as he is about away missions. That is, until he realizes that crew members who are chosen to go planetside don't live long or prosper. This affectionately wry, pitch-perfect homage to TV's original Star Trek series will please avid Trek fans and readers who enjoy author John Scalzi's lighter SF, such as Fuzzy Nation. |
|
| Crosstalk by Connie WillisHumorous SF. When her boyfriend Trent asks her to get an EED ("even better than getting engaged," gushes a coworker), telecommunications executive Briddey Flannigan undergoes the "minor procedure," thinking that the neurological enhancement will strengthen their relationship. Instead, she ends up telepathically linked to a coworker, her company's (sub-)basement-dwelling misanthrope C.B. Schwartz. Madcap romantic comedy combined with a satirical look at modern technology makes this offering from multi-award-winning author Connie Willis a must-read. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Cherry Hill Public Library 1100 Kings Highway North Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034 856-667-0300www.chplnj.org |
|
|
|