All the books you should check out this July
19 new science fiction and fantasy books to check out this month
I've written and re-written this introduction a couple of times now: first it was extreme heat at the end of June going into July, and now, we've been inundated with some of the worst flooding that Vermont's seen in nearly a century.
I wrote a bit about it last week, but it's worth reaffirming that the family, chickens, and house are fine. Our neighbors were hit a lot harder: at least one building on our street has been condemned, and the cleanup in Barre and Montpelier is going to take weeks, if not months, to complete.
If you're in Vermont, please consider volunteering to help some of our neighbors recover in Montpelier, Barre, and other places around the state. If you're so inclined, the Vermont Community Foundation has set up a fundraiser. Please consider giving: every little bit helps. Vermont Public also has a good list of resources to assist.
For this book list, if you see something that catches your eye, please consider ordering from Bear Pond Books of Montpelier. While they were able to move some of their books upstairs, they lost something like 20 percent of their inventory, as well as their floors and shelves. You can also donate to them as well. Thanks in advance for considering.
There's only going to be one book list this month. As usual, links to Bookshop.org are affiliates, and any purchases you make through them might yield a small commission to Transfer Orbit.
Here we go:
Blade of Dream by Daniel Abraham (July 18th)
I read Daniel Abraham's Age of Ash last year. I've long been a fan of his work on the Expanse series, and after hearing rave reviews for his earlier fantasy, I was eager to check it out. I found it to be a deliberate, thoughtful book about human nature: how someone maintains their moral compass in a complicated world. I'm interested to see what happens in his next installment of the series, Blade of Dream.
Set in the same city of Kithamar, it follows a new story and character: Garreth, the son and heir of one of the city's major merchant families. His life has already been planned out for him: he'll learn all about the family business, enter an arranged marriage, and keep his lineage wealthy and secure. When he encounters a stranger and falls in love with her, he upends his life to try and find her, potentially setting the city on a new path.
Kirkus Reviews loved the novel, saying in its starred review that "This parallel book both fills in the noticeable gaps in the previous volume and continues to highlight a favorite Abraham theme: the complex outcomes stemming from personal choice," and that "great character work and interesting plot development make this an exceptional middle volume."
The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan (July 11th)
The first in a new trilogy, The Judas Blossom reimagines the Mongolian invasion of Persia in the 1200s, and follows a range of characters as they contend with the changing events: Hulagu Khan the grandson of Gengis Khan, who's looking to continue to take over as much of the world as he can. There's his youngest son Temujin, who's failed at everything in his life, and after given one more chance to succeed, begins to tap into a mysterious power. The Blue Princess Kokochin one of the Khan's wives and the last of her tribe, and tries to find some purpose to her life. Finally, there's Kaivon, a Persian rebel who's resisting the Mongolian Empire with everything at his disposal, and when he's offered the chance to train under Hulagu, he jumps at the chance to strike at the Empire.
Library Journal says "Written with heart and cunning, this is a gripping tale of revenge with complex political intrigue, harrowing battles, and masterful infiltration."
The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa (July 11th)
After a failed war between the Holy Vaalbaran Empire and the Ominirish Republic grinds to a halt, the Emperor's capitulation doesn't mean much to a low-level scribe named Enitan Ijebu, who just wants to establish her own business and move on with life.
That changes when her partner is killed and her sibling is kidnapped. The actions prompts Enitan to depart for the imperial capital, where she works to find a way to save her sibling and extract some form of vengeance.
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, saying "Ashing-Giwa constructs a sweeping backdrop for her characters' plights to play out against. The Vaalbarans' personal and political oppression of the Korikese calls to mind European conquests across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania."
Light Bringer by Pierce Brown (July 25th)
Pierce Brown has returned to the world of his Red Rising trilogy with Light Bringer, which finishes off the trilogy started with 2018's Iron Gold and 2019's Dark Age. This trilogy was set about a decade after the first, in an inhabited solar system with a rigid social structure that saw a devastating revolution led by a Martian named Darrow.
In Dark Age, the Society and Darrow were engaged in a massive fight, and in this new installment, he's stranded far from home after a defeat. He's fighting to return home to Mars to return to his wife, Virginia and to protect Mars from Lysander, a tyrant bent on restoring the former caste system.
Implacable by Jack Campbell (July 4th)
Jack Campbell brings out a third installment of his Lost Fleet: Outlands series (following Boundless and Resolute), following Admiral John Greary and the Alliance Fleet as they protect a diplomatic mission in deep space. They're in territory claimed by an alien species, and their work is becoming complicated as other human actor try and engage with or exploit the civilization – a tricky prospect, given that their technology far outstrips humanity's.
When Greary's given orders that seem to contradict his mission and the goals of the alliance, he has to figure out how to proceed: destroying everything he' worked for, or stand with his principles.
Star Wars: Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson (July 18th)
Delilah S. Dawson is back with a new Star Wars novel (she also wrote Phasma and Black Spire), Inquisitor. It follows a Jedi Padawan named Iskat Akaris, who's something of an outcast within the Jedi Order, and when her master is killed during the Clone Wars, she begins to question her past and her loyalties. When Order 66 is given and the Jedi are almost entirely wiped out, she sees it as an opportunity, and becomes an inquisitor under the new Empire.
Counterweight by Djuna, translated by Anton Hur (July 18th)
In the near future, a major Korean conglomerate called LK has begun construction on a space elevator on a remote island called Patusan. It's a structure that'll revolutionize humanity's access to space, but the native Patusans aren't a fan of the project. There's also a secret: in the ton of space junk that's holding the space elevator up in orbit is a data trove that could determine the future of the company, and it's become the target of a number of people who're looking to get their hands on it.
Novelist Hari Kunzru reviewed the book for The New York Times, saying "The novel’s speculations about human agency resonate in the current moment, when American tech C.E.O.s oscillate between issuing sonorous warnings about the existential risks of the A.I. systems they’re developing and breathless hype about brain-computer interfaces."
The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec (July 25th)
Two children, Oddny and Gunnhild, meet as children in 10th Century Norway. They're each very different: the former is quiet and reserved, while the latter desires power and an escape from her mother. Along with Oddny's sister Signy, they make a pact to always help one another after learning of a prophesy involving Oddny.
When Signy is kidnapped by Vikings, Oddny finds herself unmoored, wanting to rescue her sister while also trying to avoid falling for one of the raiders, while Gunnhild has escaped to learn witchcraft.
Library Journal says that "Gornichec showcases her knowledge of Icelandic folklore and history, while her storytelling reveals the complex and engrossing lives and emotions of her characters."
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei (July 18th)
Earth has collapsed under the weight of ecological disaster and in a last-ditch effort, eighty humans are dispatched into deep space on a single ship, The Phoenix. Halfway to their destination, a bomb kills three crewmembers and sends the ship off course. Asuka, who survived the attack, becomes one of the primary suspects, and as the book progresses, we learn more, little by little, about how she came to join the crew and what she left behind. To clear her name, she has to find out who the real saboteur is, before they strike again.
Donna Edwards of the AP reviewed the book, saying it's "a smart, emotionally mature, quick-paced climate fiction space whodunit that I already wanted to read again before I even finished it."
Thick as Thieves by M.J. Kuhn (July 25th)
M.J. Kuhn follows up last year's Among Thieves with a new installment of her Tales of Thamorr series, Thick as Thieves. In the first installment, we met Ryia Cautella, a woman who's earned a reputation as skilled fighter with a secret: she's been trying to escape from the Guildmaster, the ruler of the five kingdoms of Thamorr, and works her way into his stronghold to try and take him down.
Now, she and hew crew of rogues and pirates have succeeded in carrying out a heist, only to bring down a load of consequences on them: the leader of a criminal gang known as the Saints, Callum Clem, has gotten his hands on a powerful tool that allows him to control magical Adepts, and Ryia has to gather up her crew together to stop him.
Publishers Weekly says "Kuhn keeps the pages flying with twists and double crosses galore as royals and brigands alike concoct elaborate schemes to claim the Quill. This fast-paced, nail-biting romp will have readers hooked from the first page.
Wild Cards: Pairing Up: An Anthology edited by George R.R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass (July 11th)
George R.R. Martin might be best known for his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, but he's also been heading up a shared-universe superhero series for decades: Wild Cards. In this 31st installment, Pairing Up, he and his co-editor Melinda M. Snodgrass round up stories from Kevin Andrew Murphy, Christopher Rowe, Marko Kloos, Bradley Denton, Walter Simons, Gwenda Bond & Peter Newman, and David Anthony Durham with a lineup of stories about love.
There's also a graphic novel, Wild Cards: Now & Then, which hit stores on July 18th.
Firefly: Coup de Grâce by Una McCormack (July 25th)
The cult TV series Firefly lasted only a season, but there's been a steady stream of new comics and novels set in the world that have been continuing the adventures of the crew of the Serenity. In this latest installment, the crew travels to Yell City on the moon of Abel, where they're hired by a Annie, the daughter of a murdered lawyer, to tracking down her father's killers.
The job turns out to be more complicated than it seems: Annie's father wasn't gunned down by a local gang, but was targeted by some of the city's wealthy and powerful, and when the Serenity is impounded, the crew finds themselves in deeper trouble than they expected.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (July 18th)
Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become a favorite of mine in recent years: her novel Mexican Gothic was outstanding, and Signal To Noise was a fascinating blend of fantasy and magic. (I still need to read The Daughter of Doctor Moreau). Her latest is Silver Nitrate, set in 1990s Mexico City.
Montserrat is a sound editor in the country's film industry, and she's continually overlooked in her job, especially to her friend, Tristán, a star of a soap opera. She he learns that a neighbor is a cult horror director named Abel Urueta, he tells them an outlandish tale about how he's been cursed: a film he was working on was enchanted by a Nazi occultist, and he was never able to finish the project. They jump at the chance to help him complete the project, only to realize that a dark presence has begun following them.
Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review, saying that "Moreno-Garcia effortlessly ties explorations of misogyny, addiction, antisemitism, and racism into a plot that never falters from its breakneck pace. The narrative shifts effortlessly between fantasy, horror, and romance, helmed by a well-shaded cast."
Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making by Anna Ploszajski (June 27th)
This is a book that caught my eye immediately when I saw the cover. Coming off of writing Cosplay: A History (and being a cosplayer myself), I'm a big advocate for learning how to use tools, building stuff on your own, tearing things apart, and learning how things work. This looks like a really fun, engrossing read.
Doom Guy: A Life in First Person by John Romero (July 18th)
It's hard to think of a video game that's more iconic than the likes of Doom, Wolfenstein, or Quake, and in this autobiography, their creator, John Romero, delves into his life and career and the journey that took him from difficult childhood to videogame stardom. I've been listening to the audiobook for a couple of days, and it's very engaging thus far.
Kirkus Reviews notes that Romero "is candid in his discussion of the Columbine shooters, who were addicts of his blood-soaked scenarios, rejecting the commonplace accusation that violent games lead to violence in real life. Confessing failures as well as triumphs, Romero counsels, “Don’t hype what you don’t have,” and “never insult your fans, even in jest.”
Worlds Beyond Time: Sci-Fi Art of the 1970s by Adam Rowe (July 25th)
This is probably one of my most anticipated books of the summer. Adam Rowe's the guy behind the super-popular 70s Sci-Fi Art Twitter feed, which injects a regular stream of sci-fi art from the 1970s. It's worth a follow, and he's been hard at work on a book that showcases the dazzling covers and artwork that helped define the look and feel of the genre.
Publishers Weekly says "Rowe’s obvious love for the form animates the volume, and makes a powerful case for how this period continues to influence the genre’s aesthetic."
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (July 18th)
Chuck Tingle has made a name for himself with his "tinglers" – short, self-published erotica books bearing titles such as "Space Raptor Butt Invasion" and "Trans Wizard Harriet Porber And The Bad Boy Parasaurolophus: An Adult Romance Novel." (You can read up a bit more about him here.) Camp Damascus is something a little different: a horror novel about a woman named Rose who's part of a churge that runs an LGBTQ+ conversion camp. When she has a strange encounter at the edge of the camp, she's sent down a path that has her questioning everything she's been taught.
Library Journal awarded the book a starred review: "Tingle meticulously unfolds a plot that introduces distrust and confusion, building a pervasive discomfort and laying more and more pressure on Rose until it literally bursts, threatening to destroy everything she holds dear."
The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay (July 11th)
I've been a fan of Paul Tremblay's horror novels for a while now: I still think about the events of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts a bit more often than is healthy.
His latest is a new collection of his short fiction, The Beast You Are, his latest such collection after Growing Things. It should be chalk-full of stories that'll keep you up at night.
The Rain by Joseph A. Turkot (July 18th)
In this post-apocalyptic future, a series of catastrophic rains flooded the world two decades ago, prompting the survivors of the flooding to take some drastic measures to save what was left of civilization. A teenager named Tanner grows up in this new world with her adopted guardian, and together, they're trying to make it to a refuge in Colorado, trying to avoid dangers along the way. At the same time, a meteorologist named Rook Wallace, joined a group called Yasper that's been working to help survivors between the island communities. When he discovers some chilling secrets about his employer, it'll change his life as he knows it.
Publishers Weekly says that Turkot "credibly extrapolates the horrifying consequences of his tale’s ecological nightmare. Readers will appreciate his refusal to commit to an upbeat outcome for this harrowing adventure."
As always, thanks for reading. Let me know: what catches your eye this month, and what do you have on your TBR pile?
Andrew