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Mages, post-apocalyptia, space slaves, armies of aliens and bows and arrows. Escape into the fantastic with these new additions to our catalogue!

Perfect people / Peter James.
“When a young couple join a fertility programme run by a clinic in America they little suspect that the happy day that follows is the last day of mankind’s evolutionary supremacy. Mankind is facing its greatest challenge: obsolescence.” – (adapted from Syndetics Summary)

Citadel / John Ringo.
“The second novel in the new military science fiction series by a “New York Times”-bestselling author. Once the Earth has been freed, how can the former conquerors be kept from returning to reclaim the planet–or even destroy it?” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The hot gate / John Ringo.
“The fight to free the Earth from alien domination began in “Live Free or Die,” and continued in “Citadel.” Now Tyler Vernon and his troops aboard the gigantic battle station “Troy” face a desperate battle with the forces of galactic tyranny.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The High King of Montival : a novel of the change / S.M. Stirling.
“In this post-apocalyptic series chronicling a modern world without technology, Rudi Mackenzie returns to Montival in the Pacific Northwest, where he will face the legions of the Prophet. To achieve victory, he must assemble a coalition of those who had been his enemies a few months before and forge them into an army that will rescue his homeland.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Legacy of kings / Celia Friedman.
“The young peasant woman Kamala has proven strong and determined enough to claim the most powerful Magister sorcery for herself-but now the Magisters hunt her for killing one of their own. Her only hope of survival lies in the northern Protectorates, where spells are warped by a curse called the Wrath that even the Magisters fear.” – (adapted from Syndetics Summary)

Scholar / L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
“The scholar Quaeryt, friend of young King Bhayar, ruler of Telaryn, accepts a royal mission to journey to the land of Tilbor, conquered by Bhayar’s father ten years earlier, to assess the possibility of reducing the occupation forces. Concealing the fact that he is also an imager, a mage who can create mental images and endow them with material being, Quaeryt weathers pirates and a shipwreck on his journey to Tilbor. Once there, he faces more subtle political dangers as his suspicions grow concerning a conspiracy that could throw Telaryn into chaos. Set in the time before the events of the first book of the “Imager Portfolio” (Imager; Imager’s Challenge; Imager’s Intrigue), Modesitt’s latest addition to his fantasy saga focuses on the complex character of its hero, an unlikely combination of serious scholar and, when need be, ruthless opponent. The author excels in creating worlds that are believable down to the last detail and characters whose vitality expresses itself in actions that have resounding consequences. VERDICT Fans of the author’s “Recluce” novels and the works of Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, and Raymond E. Feist should enjoy the elaborate world-building and believable characterizations.” – (adapted from Library Journal review)

The sacred band / David Anthony Durham.
“In a conclusion to the trilogy that includes The Other Lands, Queen Corinn masters spells found in the ancient Book of Elenet, while her younger brother embarks on a perilous mission to the Other Lands and her sister travels north to confront an invasion by the fearsome Auldek.” – (adapted from Syndetics Summary)

Ashes of a black frost / Chris Evans.
“Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this all-new epic adventure from acclaimed author Evans. Packed with wit, high adventure, and political intrigue, “Ashes of a Black Frost” will hook readers on this bold and exciting series.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Vengeance / Ian Irvine.
“In Cython’s underground slave camps, only the timid and obedient survive but Tali is neither of these. In Cython, having magic means the death penalty, and Tali’s gift is swelling out of her control.Though no slave has ever escaped, Tali must, for she has sworn to bring her mother’s killers to justice.” – (adapted from Syndetics Summary)

The kingdom of gods / N.K. Jemisin.
“Finally freed from their enslavement by the ruling Arameri, the gods and godlings of the world still find themselves influenced by the shifting loyalties, loves, and hates of mortals. When Sieh, the god of childhood, gives his friendship to two Arameri children, Shahar and her brother Dekarta, his godhood slips from him and changes the course of the world forever. Jemisin’s brilliant conclusion to her award-winning trilogy (after The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms; The Broken Kingdom) explores the human desire for the divine as well as the gods’ need for the mortals who worship them. VERDICT Masterly storytelling and compelling characters make this a standout selection for fantasy lovers.” – (adapted from Library Journal review)

Check out the latest from your favourite sci-fi author, or discover a new one!

The Guardian / Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dream-Hunter Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions: to descend into the Nether realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill her and her kind. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm’s most vicious guardian. – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Oracle’s fire / Mary Victoria.
The Tree is all the world. And that world is dying … After Samiha is thrown from the docks in Argos city, Tymon is condemned to a life of slavery in a Tree-mine. During his ordeals, he glimpses a vision of his love and becomes obsessed by the thought that she is still alive. When disaster strikes the mine, he is left wandering the tunnels at the heart of the Tree, clinging to the hope that he might find her once again. Meanwhile, the Saint’s crusade is tearing the Four Canopies apart, and Lace and his Masters pursue their own deadly plans. Even as Tymon travels deep into the Tree, the Envoy’s acolytes are sent out on a mission to Lacuna, the legendary World Below. – (adapted from Publisher’s website)

The Tuloriad / John Ringo and Tom Kratman.
Of the once innumerable battle clans of the Posleen only a handful survive. And that on the sufferance of a group of despised Indowy and Himmit. Plucked from the maelstrom on Earth they are cast out into the eternal blackness of the stars with only a slightly insane Indowy and a computer virus to guide them. What follows is a trail of tears and remembrance as the Posleen retrace the footsteps of their ancestors in a search for their homeworld. A search to determine if the Posleen posess the one thing no Human would give them credit for: A soul. Returned to their beginnings, the question remains: Is there a new path for the Tular Posleen? – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

All men of genius / Lev AC Rosen.
Scientifically brilliant yet socially awkward 17-year-old Violet Adams aspires to attend Illyria College in London, the preeminent school for scientists in Victorian England seeking to build a better automaton or improve creatures’ genetic potential by splicing their parts across species. Since the school does not admit women, Violet plots with her twin brother, Ashton, to attend under his name. “Ashton” is accepted and quickly comes to the attention of the headmaster, Ernest, the son of the late Duke Illyria, and his ward, Cecily. Violet’s friend Jack is aware of her ruse and her growing feelings for Ernest, while Jack’s own feelings toward Cecily are thwarted by her obsession with Ashton. While Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night inspired the use of Illyria as a setting and the conflicting gender identities, and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest inspired the dual identity roles and several character names, Rosen blends his own voice into a steampunk comedy of manners featuring not-so-petty jealousies, killer automatons running amok, genetic tinkering, blackmail, and a final exam involving the Queen. VERDICT This debut literary steampunk novel fits well on the shelf with Gail Carriger’s “Parasol Protectorate” series (Heartless), with broad crossover appeal to fans of sf, historical romance, and young adult fiction.-Melanie C. Duncan, Shurling Lib., Macon, GA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. – (adapted from Library Journal summary).

Well-tempered clavicle / Piers Anthony.
As they wander through Xanth searching for something worthwhile in which to take part, walking skeletons Picka Bones and his sister Joy’nt encounter a trio of former pets from Mundania-the nonmagical world outside Xanth-that are also looking for a way to pass the time. The siblings’ adventures with Tweeter the bird, Midrange the cat, and Woofer the dog include encounters with the Princesses Dawn and Eve, a confrontation with Attila the Pun, and the search for Pundora’s Box. Written during a difficult time in his life, the 35th installment of Anthony’s beloved fantasy series exudes his characteristic gusto for life and celebration of the silliness and verbal acrobatics found in the simple pun. VERDICT This whimsical fantasy should please Xanthophiles and fans of the author. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. – (adapted from Library Journal summary).

The cold commands / Richard Morgan. Ringil Eskiath, scarred wielder of the kiriath-forged broadsword Ravensfriend, is a man on the run from his past and the family who have disowned him, from the slave trade magnates of Trelayne who want him dead, and apparently from the dark gods themselves, who are taking an interest but making no more sense than they ever have. Outlawed and exiled from his ancestral home in the north, Ringil has only one place left to turn Yhelteth, city heart of the southern Empire, where perhaps he can seek asylum with the kiriath half-breed Archeth Indamaninarmal, former war comrade and now high-up advisor to the Emperor Jhiral Khimran II. But Archeth Indamaninarmal has problems of her own to contend with, as does her house guest, bodyguard and one time steppe nomad Egar the Dragonbane. And far from gaining the respite he is seeks, Ringil will instead find himself implicated in fresh schemes and doubtful allegiances no safer than those he has left behind. Old enemies are stirring, the old order is rotted through and crumbling, and though no-one yet knows it, the city of Yhelteth is about to explode.. (Global Books in Print summary).

Spellbound / Blake Charlton.
“Debut novelist Charlton creates a complex world in which magical abilities depend on the ability to handle words. Apprentice wizard Nicodemus Weal was once thought to be the prophesied Halcyon, but his inability to control spells sends him to the bottom of the pecking order. When murders and strange activities coincide with the Convocation at Starhaven, visiting wizards and druids begin to wonder whether Nicodemus might in fact be the anti-Halcyon. While the magic system is intriguing and carefully described, the setting is never fully realized, and Nicodemus’s interactions with other teachers and students seem to take place in a world bereft of supporting characters. Charlton’s baroque prose perfectly mirrors the central role of language and the byzantine politics surrounding the Convocation and the potential prophecy, and the innovative spell craft will please fantasy readers weary of more traditional magics. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. (Publisher Weekly).

The mechanical messiah and other marvels of the modern age / Robert Rankin. Colonel Katterfelto has returned to London, having departed America under something of a cloud—of smoke, issuing from his Spiritual Laboratory, which the townsfolk of Wormcast, Arizona, marched upon with their flaming torches. This catastrophic conflagration caused considerable concern to the pious colonel, who had been engaged in the creation of “Heaven’s last and best gift to Mankind,” The Mechanical Messiah—he was, after all, being guided in this Great Work by holy angels, communicating to him through his monkey butler, Darwin. It is 1897, the British Empire encompasses Mars, and an uneasy peace exists between the peoples of Venus, Jupiter, and Earth. In London the marvels of the modern age to be experienced include The Electric Alhambra Music Hall, where crowds thrill to The Earl Grey Whistle Test—a musical extravaganza featuring such top turns as Hayward’s Acrobatic Kiwis, The Travelling Formbys, and the newly-arrived Colonel Katterfelto’s Clockwork Minstrels. But all is far from well in old Whitechapel, where a monster is once more abroad in the night-time streets, committing hideous acts of murder. Can this be the return of Jack the Ripper, or has something altogether unearthly and Hellishly evil materialized? Famed consulting detective Cameron Bell is already on the case, but it may take nothing less than the New Messiah Himself to save London, The Empire, and all of the solar system from the impending apocalypse! (Amazon summary).

11/22/63 / Stephen King.
High school English teacher Jake Epping has his work cut out for him in King’s entertaining SF romantic thriller. Al Templeton, the proprietor of Al’s Diner in Lisbon Falls, Maine, has discovered a temporal “rabbit hole” in the diner’s storage room that leads to a point in the past-11:58 a.m. September 9, 1958, to be precise. Each time you go through the rabbit hole, according to Al, only two minutes have elapsed when you return to 2011, no matter how long your stay; furthermore, history resets itself each time you return to that morning 53 years ago. Al persuades Jake to take a brief, exploratory trip through the rabbit hole into 1958 Lisbon Falls…” (Publisher Weekly)

Welcome to the Fiction newsletter. Another selection of great reading from across all fiction genres.

No matter what your taste, there is bound to be something in this selection that will keep you entertained.

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Anne McCaffrey has died aged 85. Born in America in 1926, she emigrated to Ireland in 1970. Creator of the hugely popular Pern series of books about a symbiotic relationship between dragons and humans, she was the first woman writer to receive both the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1968 and the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 1969. Both these awards were for stories that began the Dragonriders of Pern series. She had published 52 novels since 1967 and co-authored 28 works, with authors such as Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Jody Lynn Nye and her son Todd McCaffrey. Her novel, The White Dragon published in 1979, was the first science fiction book to be placed on the New York Times bestseller list.

Space, fairytales, genetic engineering, post apocalypse, magic… these recent picks have it all! Something to tickle every sci-fi fancy.

Beauty and the werewolf / Mercedes Lackey.
“The eldest daughter is often doomed in fairy tales. But Bella vows to escape the usual pitfalls. She dons a red cloak and ventures into the forbidden forest to consult with “Granny,” the local wisewoman. On the way home she’s attacked by a wolf– who turns out to be a cursed nobleman! Secluded in his castle, Bella is torn between her family and this strange man who creates marvelous inventions and makes her laugh– when he isn’t howling at the moon.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

When we have wings / Claire Corbett.
“In a world divided into fliers and non-fliers, how far would you go to be able to fly? How much would you sacrifice – perhaps your own child? A beautifully written and compellingly original novel of sacrifice, betrayal and love. Flight – you’ll dream about it. ‘She had never seen the sky in all her life before. How high could she fly? What was the limit? She was already so high the earth was no longer real. Only her in the sky. Every spiral pure joy. This was Flight. It was for this she’d risked and endured so much. It had to be worth it.’ The dream of being able to fly is now physical reality but only the rich and powerful can afford the surgery, drugs, and gene manipulation to become fliers. Peri, a poor girl from the regions, will sacrifice anything to get her wings and join this elite but the price is higher than she could have imagined. So why then does she throw it all away? Feel the exhilaration and terror of flight – over vertiginous skyscrapers, into wild storms and across hypnotic wilderness – in this beautiful and daringly imaginative novel that explores the limits of self-transformation.” – (adapted from Global Books summary)

Equations of life / Simon Morden.
Equations of life is book 1 of the trilogy and the library has all three books!
“Samuil Petrovitch is a survivor. He survived the nuclear fallout in St. Petersburg and hid in the London Metrozone – the last city in England. He’s lived this long because he’s a man of rules and logic. For example, getting involved = a bad idea. But when he stumbles into a kidnapping in progress, he acts without even thinking. Before he can stop himself, he’s saved the daughter of the most dangerous man in London. And clearly saving the girl = getting involved. Now, the equation of Petrovitch’s life is looking increasingly complex. Russian mobsters + Yakuza + something called the New Machine Jihad = one dead Petrovitch. But Petrovitch has a plan – he always has a plan – he’s just not sure it’s a good one.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Prince of Thorns / Mark Lawrence.
“When he was nine, he watched his mother and brother killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king… It’s time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what’s rightfully his. Since the day he was hung on the thorns of a briar patch and forced to watch Count Renar’s men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him-and he has nothing left to lose. But treachery awaits him in his father’s castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce, can the will of one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The measure of the magic / Terry Brooks.
This is the second book in the Legends of Shannara series. “Panterra Qu, a newly anointed Knight of the Word who has been entrusted with the last black staff and its powers, must protect thousands of lives that are put in danger when centuries of protective magic disappears.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

SpacEscape / Larry Nelson.
“He would become a warrior for the twenty-first century. He would journey where no Maori had ever gone before. Set in both 1999 and 2075, SpacEscape is about deep-space but more importantly it is about escapism. Video games guru and petty thief, Tama, and the future Scott, a nodule-growing rebel and intended victim of the giant dragon/arachnid, The Korn, join forces across time to overcome the weak hand in life that each has been dealt. Meanwhile, Tony Robertson from the discredited 2060’s starship project, Schmitt One, risks falling prey to hardened farmers of human livestock to meet his date and love of his life, Karin Carlton. Tama has his strong-minded and compassionate Emma. Scott has the virtual Mandy. All three have one slim chance for love and freedom but only if Scott and Tama can discover in time the true nature of the enigmatic creature that assaults Scott’s tortured mind and becomes the symbol for his escapism – The Korn.” – (Summary and Image from Fishpond).

The tempering of men / Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear.
“Bear and Monette follow 2007’s Companion to Wolves with another tale of the frozen northern lands of Iskryne inhabited by Wolfcarls and their telepathically bonded trellwolves. When wolves mate, so do their humans-leaving thoroughly heterosexual Isolfr, the bond-mate of Queen-wolf Viradechtis, in an uncomfortable position with Skjaldwulf and Vethulf, men bonded to Viradechtis’s consorts. The Wolfcarls have at long last vanquished the trolls who plagued Iskryne, but without a common enemy, their tenuous alliance with the mysterious Svartalfar has become even more fragile, while the nearby Rhean Empire turns its ambitions northwards. Vethulf and Skjaldwulf must forge a new path for their people and a new understanding in their relationship if either of them is to survive. This well-wrought tale serves as an exciting adventure as well as a thought-provoking and often disturbing deconstruction of companion animal fantasies.” – (Summary from Publisher Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

The children of the sky / Vernor Vinge.
“Ten years have passed on Tines World, where Ravna Bergnsdot and a number of human children ended up after a disaster that nearly obliterated humankind throughout the galaxy. Ravna and the pack animals for which the planet is named have survived a war, and Ravna has saved more than one hundred children who were in cold-sleep aboard the vessel that brought them. While there is peace among the Tines, there are those among them–and among the humans–who seek power…and no matter the cost, these malcontents are determined to overturn the fledgling civilization that has taken root since the humans landed. On a world of fascinating wonders and terrifying dangers, Vernor Vinge has created a powerful novel of adventure and discovery that will entrance the many readers of A Fire Upon the Deep. Filled with the inventiveness, excitement, and human drama that have become hallmarks of his work, this new novel is sure to become another great milestone in Vinge’s already stellar career. ” – (Summary from publisher, courtesy of Syndetics).

Soul stealers / Andy Remic.
“The land of Falanor has fallen. The renegade hero Kell is being hunted by the machine-vampires, the Vachine. On his way to recruit reinforcements to launch the counterattack, the mighty hero finds himself the prey of two beautiful but deadly vampire assassins, in this second book in the Clockwork Vampires. Original.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Welcome to the Fiction newsletter. Another month has passed and another selection of exiting, great new fiction is avaliable for your reading pleasure.

Remember you can reserve items that are on issue to other patrons and you can suggest items you wish us to consider for purchase.

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Check out these recent picks from our latest sci-fi novels!

The founding / Dan Abnett.
“This omnibus edition of the first three Gaunt’s Ghosts novels follows the story of the Tanith First-and-Only regiment (nicknamed the Ghosts) and their charismatic commissar, Ibram Gaunt. As they travel from warzone to warzone in the Chaos-infested Sabbat Worlds system, the Ghosts must not only carry out the most dangerous of missions but also survive the deady politics of the Imperial Guard.” (Summary from Global Books In Print)

Journey by night / Kim Falconer.
“A fast-paced story of fantasy and occult adventure, astrology and martial arts … Kreshkali works the streets of a future Earth, rejecting her heritage and hating her life. When she discovers the portal to Gaela, she crosses over vowing never to return. There, as Nellion Paree, she trains at Treeon Temple, meets a young An’ Lawrence, fights in the temple wars and conceives a child. When captured by trackers her genetic memories awaken and she decides to go back. But, after so many years away, she has no idea of what dangers await her there…” Book 3 in the Quantum Encyption Series. (Summary from Global Books In Print)

Ghost ship : a new Liaden Universe novel / Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
“The new Liaden Universe book continues the story of Theo Waitley as she finally contacts her father and discovers her place in the notorious Clan Korval. Theo contracts for her first solo pilot work, only to find out that her old friend and lover, Win Ton, has nearly been killed by mysterious agents who want access to a strange old tech ship he discovered on a scout mission. Theo’s only chance to save him is to contact the sentient ship and take on the role of pilot. But there is a great deal of danger and intrigue along the way, as the Department of the Interior plots to bring down Korval and all its pilots, including Theo, making for an engaging and fast-paced story that will thrill space-opera fans. As some of the story lines tie in closely with previous Liaden titles (Plan B, 1999, and I Dare, 2002), only readers who have been following this saga will be able to appreciate the multiple layers Lee and Miller pull together. Make sure to suggest this series to fans of Elizabeth Moon and Catherine Asaro.–Moyer, Jessic. Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Roadkill : a Cal Leandros novel / Rob Thurman.
“Once, while half-human Cal Leandros and his brother Niko had been working on a case, an ancient gypsy queen had given them a good old-fashioned backstabbing. Now, just as their P.I. business hits a slow patch, the old crone shows up with a job for them. Original.” (Summary from Syndetics)

The river of shadows / Robert V.S. Redick.
“From the mysterious River of Shadows to the Infernal Forest, to the Island Wilderness Pazel and his companions face a phantasmagoric journey through altered realities, a nightmare journey which offers glimpses of what might have been while taking them into the terror of what is to come. Will Arunis use the cursed Nilstone to end the world?” (Summary from Syndetics).

Prospero regained / L. Jagi Lamplighter.
“After accidentally summoning the wind and scattering her siblings across Hell, Miranda, Gregory, and Mephisto must journey through Hell’s many layers and geographies to rescue their stranded loved ones and return to their original mission: rescue Prospero from the evil Queen of Fae. Readers who have followed the quest of the Prospero family through the previous two titles (Prospero Lost, 2009, and Prospero in Hell, 2010) will be pleased to see that the heroes are coming closer to the end of their quest. Equally appealing this time is watching Miranda gain deeper understanding of herself and her origins. Unfortunately, despite the urgency of the rescue mission, the pace of this installment often drags the journeys across Hell can seem interminable and the overly extended climax includes a few too many revelations. Still, the series has its devoted fans, and they will stick with it to the conclusion.”–Moyer, Jessica Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

The departure / Neal Asher.
“Visible in the night sky the Argus Station, its twin smelting plants like glowing eyes, looks down on nightmare Earth. From Argus the Committee keep an oppressive control: citizens are watched by cams systems and political officers, it’s a world inhabited by shepherds, reader guns, razor birds and the brutal Inspectorate with its white tiled cells and pain inducers. Soon the Committee will have the power to edit human minds, but not yet, twelve billion human being need to die before Earth can be stabilized, but by turning large portions of Earth into concentration camps this is achievable, especially when the Argus satellite laser network comes fully online . . .This is the world Alan Saul wakes to in his crate on the conveyor to the Calais incinerator. How he got there he does not know, but he does remember the pain and the face of his interrogator. Informed by Janus, through the hardware implanted in his skull, about the world as it is now Saul is determined to destroy it, just as soon as he has found out who he was, and killed his interrogator . . .” (Summary from Global Books In Print)

Peter & Max : a Fables novel / by Bill Willingham ; with illustrations by Steve Leialoha.
“Based on the long-running and award-winning comic book series “Fables, Peter & Max” spans medieval times to the present day as Peter Piper and his older brother encounter ominous forces in the deepest dark of The Black Forest.” (Summary from Syndetics).

The lost fleet : beyond the frontier : dreadnaught / Jack Campbell.
“The Alliance woke Captain John “Black Jack” Geary from cryogenic sleep to take command of the fleet in the century-long conflict against the Syndicate Worlds. Now Admiral Geary’s victory has earned him the adoration of the people–and the enmity of politicians convinced that a living hero can be a very inconvenient thing. The war may be over, but Geary and his newly christened First Fleet have been ordered back into action to investigate the aliens occupying the far side of Syndic space and to determine how much of a threat they represent to the Alliance. And while the Syndic Worlds are no longer united, individually they may be more dangerous than ever before. Geary knows that members of the military high command and the government question his loyalty to the Alliance and fear his staging a coup–so he can’t help but wonder if the fleet is being deliberately sent on a suicide mission.”–” (Syndetics summary)

The magician king : a novel / Lev Grossman.
“It’s been two years since Quentin, Eliot, Janet, and Julia have become kings and queens of the magical utopia of Fillory, but Quentin is becoming bored with his seemingly idyllic existence. Spurred on by a dark prophecy of the “Seeing Hare,” “one of the Unique Beasts of Fillory,” he and Julia decide to embark on a trip to a faraway island, but their voyage turns out to be more perilous than expected and they end up back on Earth. With no apparent means to return to their home at Castle Whitespire, they must somehow find a way back to Fillory and save their realm from imminent destruction. Grossman effortlessly injects innumerable pop culture and literary references (Monty Python, Harry Potter, Pink Floyd, the Lorax, the Teletubbies, etc.) into the fantastical storyline. Mainstream fiction and fantasy fans alike will find this fairy tale for adults rewarding.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

Welcome to the Fiction newsletter. We have selected some terrific fiction, brilliant reading from all genres for your enjoyment. With the Rugby World Cup nearing the final few games, hopefully some relaxed reading time will soon be avaliable. Remember you can reserve these titles and even suggest titles you would like us to buy.

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This new selection of science fiction and fantasy novels takes the reader to fabulous new worlds, in the past and the future, where suspense, murder and even romance can be are found.

Directive 51 / John Barnes.
“The first book in a new post-apocalyptic trilogy. When seemingly random events are actually part of a group’s plan to destroy modern civilization,a plan that will eliminate America’s top government personnel, the nation has no choice but to implement its emergency contingency program: Directive 51.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Victorious / Jack Campbell.
“The Lost Fleet continues its perilous journey home, in this sixth book of the series. As war continues to rage between the Alliance and Syndicate Worlds, Captain ‘Black Jack’ Geary is promoted to admiral-even though the ruling council fears he may stage a military coup. His new rank gives him the authority to negotiate with the Syndics, who may finally be willing to end the war. But an even greater alien threat lurks on the far side of the Syndic occupied space.” (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

The remembering / Steve Cash. “For thousands of years the Meq have existed side by side with humanity—appearing as twelve-year-old children, unsusceptible to wounds and disease, dying only by extraordinary means. They have survived through the rise and fall of empires and emperors, through explorations, expansions, and war. Five sacred stones give a few of them mystical powers, but not the power to understand a long-destined event called the Remembering. In the aftermath of the nuclear bombing of Japan in 1945, Zianno Zezen finds himself alone, while the fate of the other Meq and his beloved Opari, carrier of the Stone of Blood, is unknown. But Z’s archenemy, the Fleur-du-Mal, survives. In the next half century Z will reunite with far-flung friends both Meq and human, as American and Soviet spies vie to steal and harness the powers and mysteries of the timeless children. With the day of the Remembering rapidly approaching, Z must interpret the strange writing on an ancient etched stone sphere.” (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

The omen Machine / by Terry Goodkind. “This is a new Kahlan and Richard fantasy novel. An accident leads to the discovery of a mysterious machine that has rested hidden deep underground for countless millennia. The machine awakens to begin issuing a series of increasingly alarming, if minor, omens. The omens turn out to be astonishingly accurate, and ever more ominous. As Zedd tries to figure out how to destroy the sinister device, the machine issues a cataclysmic omen involving Richard and Kahlan, foretelling an impending event beyond anyone’s ability to stop. As catastrophe approaches, the machine then reveals that it is within its power to withdraw the omen, in exchange for an impossible demand.” (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

Entangled / Graham Hancock.
” Leoni, a troubled teen from 21st Century Los Angeles, finds everything she’s ever known thrown into disarray when a drug overdose catapults her into a parallel dimension. There she meets Ria, who is also suspended on the edge of time. Ria’s world is violent and desolate in a way Leoni has never experienced, but only together can they stop the powerful demon Sulpa, the Eater of Souls. The embodiment of pure evil, Sulpa is preparing to perpetrate one final, horrific act of unspeakable wickedness, after which nothing will be able to stand in the way of his ultimate goal: the annihilation of mankind. Only Leoni and Ria can stop him.” (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

Hellhole / Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
” Only the most desperate would ever dare to make a new home on Hellhole, a planet ravaged by natural disasters. Persistent volcanic eruptions, destructive storms and recent damage inflicted by asteroid impact make the planet a dumping ground for undesirables, misfits and charlatans. But its location out on the wild frontiers of the Constellation, among the Deep Zone worlds, makes it the final refuge for those fleeing from the rule of Diadem Michella Duchenet , a tyrant with a sweet face, but a dark and hardened heart. General Adolphus, the military leader exiled to the planet when he was defeated in the first revolution against the Diadem, is determined to transform Hellhole into a place of opportunity.” (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

Up against it / M.J. Locke.
“Managing utilities on a future asteroid colony, bureaucrat-engineer Jane discovers that a water crisis may have been orchestrated by the Martian mafia and that the colony is also being threatened by a rogue artificial intelligence and a transhumanist cult.” (adapted from Book cover)

Late eclipses : an October Daye novel / Seanan McGuire.
“October “Toby” Daye is half-human, half-fae, the only changeling who’s earned knighthood. But when someone begins targeting her nearest and dearest, it becomes clear that Toby is being set up to take the fall for everything that’s happening.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Honeyed words / J. A. Pitts.
” Blacksmith Sarah Beauhall is still processing the revelation that the world is filled with magic and dominated by secretive and powerful dragons. Sarah soon discovers she is being spied on by mysterious siblings Skella and Gletts, while her new blacksmith mentor, Anzeka, turns out to be deeply and destructively entangled with magic and plagued by a particularly malevolent ex-boyfriend. Skella and Gletts prove to be the sympathetic pawns of ambitious but foolishly greedy dwarves, and once again Sarah finds herself compelled to protect an unsuspecting world while allied with those who should by all rights be her enemies.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Empire in black and gold / Adrian Tchaikovsky.
“The Wasp Empire of winged armies now wages a campaign of conquest and destruction along the borders of the Lowlands. Occupying themselves with competitive games and trade, the Lowlands city-states refuse to hear the words of artificer and spymaster Stenwold Maker, who senses the danger posed by the Wasp Empire.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The raven queen / Jules Watson.
” She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will through marriage, her own desires always thwarted. Her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of its greedy lords and her husband Conor’s forces. Maeve knows she must at last come into her own power to save it. With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence and stealth, she learns the strategies, and sacrifices, of ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. She has to draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods. Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself and put her at war with both her duty and her fate.” (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

…with our selection of new Science Fiction and Fantasy novels

Magic slays / Ilona Andrews.
“Kate Daniels has quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but starting her own business isn’t easy when the Order starts disparaging her good name, and being the mate of the Beast Lord doesn’t bring in the customers, either. So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead asks for help with a vampire, Kate jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, this is one case where Kate should have looked before she leapt.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Halo : cryptum / Greg Bear.
“Book 1 of the Forerunner saga.100,000 years ago, the galaxy was populated by a great variety of beings. But one species, eons beyond all others in both technology and knowledge achieved dominance, they ruled in peace but met opposition with quick and brutal effectiveness. They were the Forerunners, the keepers of the Mantle, the next stage of life in the Universe’s Living Time. Then they vanished. This is their story.’ (adapted from Amazon.com)

Born of shadows / Sherrilyn Kenyon. “For Caillen Dagan, a defiant soldier of fortune, survival isn’t a right, it’s a brutal daily battle. Moving through the Ichidaian universe like a wraith, his brushes with the law and death are legendary. But when an act of rare heroism reveals his hidden birthright, he’s forced into a world much more dangerous and cold-hearted than the bloody streets where he was raised, one of obscene wealth and lethal politics.” (adapted from Amazon.com)

The ragged man / Tom Lloyd.
“The furious and costly battle for the Land progresses in the ongoing Twilight Reign series. King Emin continues to chip away at the massive forces Kastan Syrax throws at him, even as he puzzles at how to defeat the Land’s nearly indestructible champion. Count Vesna, who has been imbued with the Aspect of the God of War, finds himself fighting Lord Isak’s war without the backing of his Duke, his followers, or even his beloved Tila. Meanwhile, the shadowy presence of the Azaer continues to grow.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A local habitation / Seanan McGuire.
“Toby Daye, a half-human, half-fae changeling, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating to a “normal” life. Unfortunately for her, the fae world has other ideas.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A dance with dragons / George R.R. Martin.A Dance with Dragons
“In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again, beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times three thousand enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind. To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone, a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet, for he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.” (adapted from Amazon.com)

The ale boy’s feast : a novel / Jeffrey Overstreet.
“ Hopes are failing across The Expanse. The forests, once beautiful, are now haunted and bloodthirsty. House Abascar’s persecuted people risk their lives to journey through those predatory trees. They seek a mythic city, Abascar’s last, best hope for refuge, where they might find the source of Auralia’s colors. They journey without their king. During a calamitous attempt to rescue some of his subjects from slavery, Cal-raven vanished. But his helper, the ale boy, falling through a crack in the earth, has discovered a slender thread of hope in the dark.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Watch / Robert J. Sawyer.
“Born blind, 16-year-old Caitlin Decter is able to see thanks to a computerized retinal implant that also makes her able to “see” the data streams that flow along the Internet. Her gift enables her to awaken a conscious entity that calls itself Webmind. Even as her bond with her new friend strengthens, government agencies seek to eliminate what they perceive as a security threat. “ (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Rule 34 / Charles Stross.
“In the mid-2020s, the police monitor the Internet full-time to prevent crime. In Edinburgh, this job falls to DI Liz Kavanaugh’s Rule 34 Squad (whose name refers to the Internet truism that “if it exists, there’s porn about it”). Kavanaugh views the position as a demotion, but she has a chance to get her once-promising career back on track when she is called to supervise the inquiry into the death of drug dealer Michael Blair, who was found dead on his bathroom floor, decked out in s & m garb.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Son of heaven / David Wingrove.”The year is 2085, two decades after the great economic collapse that destroyed Western civilization. With its power broken and its cities ruined, life in the West continues in scattered communities. In rural Dorset Jake Reed lives with his 14-year-old son and memories of the great collapse. For 22 years he has lived in fear of the future, and finally it is coming, quite literally, across the plain towards him. Chinese airships are in the skies and a strange, glacial structure has begun to dominate the horizon. Jake finds himself forcibly incorporated into the ever-expanding ‘World of Levels’ a global city of some 34 billion souls, where social status is reflected by how far above the ground you live. Here, under the rule of the mighty Tsao Ch’un, a resurgent China is seeking to abolish the past and bring about world peace through rigidly enforced order. But a civil war looms, and Jake will find himself at the heart of the struggle for the future.”(adapted from Amazon.com)