22 new SF/F books to distract you from a terrible November
Books about saving the world from doom, dealing with the changes life brings, and more to add to your TBR
Well, this week hasn't been the best ever, has it? It's a reminder that the world and society require constant work, and I often find that when we're in the midst of bleak times, I can find some good inspiration from the stories I read. They don't necessarily have to offer a roadmap, solution, or fix for my problems, but a good story can brighten even the darkest of days.
November (with a couple of holdovers from October) brings a ton of new books about people saving the world from doom, dealing with the changes that inevitably come, and the tough decisions that characters have to make to accomplish their goals. As always, you can find the prior lists through the Book List tag.
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I usually do two lists a month, but this time around, I've gotten everything into a single list: here are 22 new SF/F books to check out this month:
Star Wars: Solo Command by Aaron Allston (November 5th)
Random House Worlds continues its re-release series of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. The latest is Solo Command, the final installment of Aaron Allston's arc following the zany Wraith Squadron as they work to take down Imperial warlord Zsinj and his flagship Iron Fist. To do that, they need some help from a familiar face: Han Solo. These books are funny, heartfelt, and excellent. I'm glad to see that they're getting a refresh and can find new audiences.
Also rereleased: Sean Williams' novelization of The Force Unleashed and Brian Daley's collected The Han Solo Adventures.
Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov (November 12th)
Minister Shea Ashcroft is banished from his kingdom after refusing an order from the queen to kill a crowd of protesters. He's exiled to the border where he's to oversee the construction of a new defensive tower. When he arrives, he discovers that it's utilizing some new technologies that'll make it dangerous to the locals. When someone tries to kill him, he needs to confront his own convictions, an ancient legend, and a portal to a dead world in order to survive and come through with his sanity intact.
Breath of Oblivion by Maurice Broaddus (November 12th)
Maurice Broaddus follows up his 2022 novel Sweep of Stars, with Breath of Oblivion. The latter was an ambitious and exciting space opera about a handful of people in the Muungano Empire – a breakaway government from old Earth that's created a coalition of states across the solar system. In it, a young leader had to contend with power plays to figure out the direction of their people, a soldier and her unit fought on a distant world, and a starship captain charted a new course to help find a path forward for her and her friends.
In this sequel, Broaddus picks up the various story threads following a range of characters as they try and chart the course for the diaspora on Earth and far beyond, facing off enemies familiar and alien.
Publishers Weekly says that "Broaddus continues to center Black people and culture within his vibrant transglobalist future, creating a vast and immersive galaxy and probing the transformative philosophy of Muungano society. The results allow for deeper explorations of the nature of empire and the costs of exodus, without veering into didacticism."
Usurpation by Sue Burke (October 29th)
A number of years ago, I picked up Sue Burke's debut novel Semiosis and was blown away by it (here's my review from when it was published.) It was an excellent exploration of colonization and the nature of extraterrestrial intelligence. She continued the series in a followup installment, Interference, and now has a new sequel, Usurpation, which I'm eager to check out.
In the first book, colonists from Earth reached the planet Pax and encountered its strange, plant-based lifeforms there, including Stevland, a dominant, highly-intelligent entity, which secretly sent some of its offspring to Earth to explore and report back. They found a world in chaos: rebellions, uprisings, and pandemics have upended social order, and as the violence spreads, Stevland's children have begun working in the background to try and bring humanity's behavior under control.
The Incubations by Ramsey Campbell (November 26th)
Ramsey Campell is a well-known and prolific horror author and critic, and his latest novel is The Incubations, which follows a man named Leo Parker. He's been staying in the idyllic Alphafen, but when he leaves, the world becomes strange: the airport becomes a labyrinth, his photographs contain strange creatures, and his own words have become treacherous and lethal. He seems to have picked up some sort of strange entity and as he begins to understand what he's brought back with him, he has to now figure out how to overcome it.
The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso (November 19th)
An investigator named Kembral Thorne just got a much-needed break from her newborn child, and is trying to enjoy herself at a New Year's party. When people start dropping dead, she discovers that there's a mysterious force that's taking people through different levels of reality, each one increasingly more dangerous. To survive and save her city, she'll have to partner with a notorious thief.
Writing for Locus Magazine, Liz Bourke says "This is a gorgeous, witty, fast-paced and atmospheric novel. Caruso gives Kem, with her first-person narrative, a wry and compelling voice with very relatable concerns, and her complicated, fraught, awkward, semi-adversarial relationship with Rika adds an extra layer of emotional complexity to Kem’s very trying evening."
Dead Girls Don't Dream by Nino Cipri (November 12th)
As a former mall worker, I was drawn to Finna, Nino Cipri's slim novella about retail drudgery and multiverses, and their latest, Dead Girls Don't Dream looks like it'll be just as interesting.
Cipri tells the story of Riley Walcott who knows better than to wander alone and after dark in Voynich Woods. When her younger sister Sam sets off to track down a local legend in the woods, she discovers a knife-wielding assailant. She's killed in a ritual but is soon resurrected by Madelyn, who lives in the forest under her mother's strict rules. The pair of rule-breakers are thrown in together and together, discover ways to confront the nature of the world around them.
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, saying "Cipri’s young adult debut is a coming-of-age tale that’s dripping with dark magic, steeped in mother-child trauma, and brimming with feminine power. Readers get a strong sense of place and characters from the text, which candidly reveals the two protagonists’ complicated inner emotional lives."
Andrew Liptak
Steel Lobsters: Crown, Commonwealth, and the Last Knights in England by Myke Cole (November 5th)
I've been a fan of Myke Cole's recent military histories, such as Legion Versus Phalanx: The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World, The Bronze Lie: Shattering the Myth of Spartan Warrior Supremacy, and The Killing Ground: A Biography of Thermopylae. His latest looks just as intriguing: an examination of Sir Arthur Hesilrige and his Regiment of Horse, the last, fully-armored knights who served in England in the 17th century, exploring how the evolution of warfare meant that Hesilrige and his men had to eventually shed their armor.
The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes (November 12th)
J.S. Dewes continues her series The Divide with a third installment (preceded by The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet), in which Adequin Rake has rallied the the Sentinels under her command, while Cavalon Mercer has discovered that his grandfather is about to unleash some horrifying genetic experiments on the outer colonies. The pair will need to collect all of their allies in order to save the universe once more, and this time, it might not be enough.
Believe: The Untold Story behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way Into Our Hearts by Jeremy Egner (November 12th)
I've covered Apple's streaming service, Apple TV+ for a while here, and one of its huge, breakout successes was Ted Lasso, a heart-felt, optimistic fish-out-of-water series about an American football coach who was hired to coach an English football league.
This book, written by The New York Times' TV editor Jeremy Egner, features interviews from a ton of people involved in the series to see how the story went from zany commercial to blockbuster TV show, and how and why it captured the hearts of audiences.
Kirkus Reviews says "striving to go beyond straightforward hagiography, Egner catches up with just about every relevant figure on the show, arguing that the show’s animating spirit of optimism was reflected in its leads."
Black Days by Jackson Ellis (October 22nd)
I'm always excited to see a new book from a Vermont writer: in this case, it's Black Days by Jackson Ellis, which takes some inspiration from a local legend, the “Frozen Hill People” from the 19th century.
In it, Daniel Fassett crashes into the Mad River in December 1992 and while he survives, falls into a coma and loses out on his pension. Depressed and desperate, he enlists the services of a local doctor to get him to hibernate through the long Vermont winter in a casket, and while he tries to keep this scheme a secret, word soon leaks out, causing all sorts of issues.
Kirkus Reviews says that "this is a strange and marvelously unpredictable tale, one that raises provocative questions about the tension between scientific progress and moral goodness. The narrative is intelligently conceived and executed, and refreshingly original."
The Legacy of Arniston House by T.L. Huchu (November 12th)
I really enjoyed T.L. Huchu's debut novel The Library of the Dead, a fantastic urban fantasy set in a near-future Scotland, following a ghostalker named Ropa Moyo who discovers that someone has been bewitching children. He's published a couple of other installments, Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments and The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, and now continues the series with a fourth installment.
Ropa is still training to become a magician and is now an intern, working for the English Sorcerer Royal, only to have her world upended when an enemy reveals an old secret about her Gran. When she arrives home, she finds her grandmother murdered, and that she's the prime suspect. She has to race against time to stop an cult from resurrecting an ancient power to save the world and clear her name. .
The Republic of Salt by Ariel Kaplan (October 22nd)
Ariel Kaplan follows up her novel The Pomegranate Gate with a sequel, The Republic of Salt. In the first book, she followed a woman named Toba Peres in a fantasy inspired by Jewish folklore and the Spanish Inquisition. In this installment, Toba and Asmel have been trapped on the human side of a magical gate, pursued by the Courser and an Insuisitor. On the other side in the realm of Mazik, Naftaly has been getting increasingly frightening visions of the city of Zayit being overrun for its supply of salt – a toxin to the inhabitants of the magical realm.
Kirkus Reviews notes that "the plotting of this Jewish-inflected trilogy’s middle volume is complex and almost defies summary, given the intricate backstory. And, as is the curse of most middle volumes, this is clearly the setup for the series conclusion, and so very little gets resolved. But the chase is thrilling, the worldbuilding is unique, and characters are an intriguingly gray-shaded bunch who must constantly weigh principle against expedience.
The Poppy War (Collector's Edition) by R.F. Kuang (November 26th)
With books like Yellowface and Babel, R.F. Kuang has rocketed into the forefront of literary stardom from already lofty heights from her first trilogy of books. She's now returning to her debut novel The Poppy War with a new collector's edition that looks like it's worth picking up. She announced this back in April, noting that it's got a new cover that better depicts her characters, while every chapter has illustrations from artist Rola Chang.
Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (November 5th)
This looks like quite a bit of fun based on the cover alone: Saras Kaveri steps off of a star freighter from Earth with just her clothes and personal robot with her as she accepts an invitation to compete in the galaxy's most-watched cooking show, Interstellar MegaChef.
She's the first person from Earth allowed to compete in the series, and she happens to meet an inventor named Serenity Ko, who wants to start a new project: a food simulation, and needs to find someone to teach her how to cook. Their meeting sparks a fruitful conversation, one that could change the future of food – and their lives – forever.
Seaborne by Michael Livingston (October 1st)
For centuries, the seven houses of the Seaborn have traded between the Fair Isles for centuries, dealing with pirates and other problems. When a new enemy, the Windborn, appear, Shae, the first mate of the Bone Pirate, launches a plan to board one of the enemy ships, who discovers that the captain is a man.
Along with another woman, Bela, they soon learn that the Windborn and Seaborn are descended from the same people, broken apart by a magical ritual enacted by a race of mechanical men who betrayed their makes. Now the three must undertake a desperate journey to fix the world.
The Shiver Tree by Holly Searcy (November 12th)
The land of Amarra was once guided by five Druid orders: Jade, Ice, Spirit, Sky, and Sun. Those protectors have long since broken apart, leaving the world vulnerable to blights, monsters, and pirates. Kiana Paletine believes that if the orders can be brought back, the world can return to its peaceful state, and sets off to try and enlist the help of her estranged sister, Ravaini.
When she learns of an ancient artifact called the Shiver Seed, which has fallen into the wrong hands. If she can recover it, maybe she'll have a chance to save the world.
Library Journal says "Searcy’s debut novel is a fun romp that will feel nostalgic to players of Dungeons & Dragons, as it seems to be the first adventure in a larger campaign."
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri (November 12th)
Tasha Suri brings her Burning Kingdoms trilogy (preceded by The Jasmine Throne and The Oleander Sword) to a close with The Lotus Empire. Malini has reclaimed her title as the Empress of Parijatdvipa as foretold, and she now must try and win over the priesthood who remain loyal to her predecessor. Do to that, she has to make a terrible bargain: claim the throne and burn, or find someone else.
At the same time, Priya has survived the deathless waters and is now imbued with magic in her veins, and when she encounters a spirit under the waters that promises protection for Ahiranya, it comes at a cost: Priya has to offer up a sacrifice. As Priya and Malini stand against one another, they'll have to find themselves working together to defeat a common enemy in order to save their kingdoms and their lives.
Publishers Weekly gave this a starred review, saying "The pitch-perfect balance of action and sapphic romance will keep readers eagerly turning the pages until the remarkable conclusion. This sends the series out on a high note."
Firefly: Aim to Misbehave by Rosiee Thor (November 12th)
Firefly the series might be long over, but Titan Books has been steadily bringing out new adventures in book form. The latest is Rosiee Thor's Aim to Misbehave, which follows the crew of Serenity after they're paid in geese for their latest job, effectively stranding them without fuel on the planet Brome.
Fortunately, the foreman of a local refinery, Lyle Horne, is willing to help them, if they give him a hand. A local authority known as The Governess has been kidnapping his workers and wants the crew to help him. Unfortunately, Lyle and Shepherd Book share a past that neither want to talk much about. They hatch a plan to retrieve the workers, but as is wont to happen, the plan never quite works.
And the Mighty Will Fall by K.B. Wagers (November 19th)
K.B. Wagers continues their NeoG series with And the Mighty Will Fall (preceded by A Pale Light in the Black, Hold Fast Through Fire, and The Ghosts of Trappist) in which Commander Maxine Carmichael and Lieutenant Commander Saqib Vahid of the Near Earth Orbital Guard are operating above Mars to hand control of the Mars Orbital Station to civilian hands, and have to contend with extreme factions from the Martian independence movement. An attack against them kicks off a chain of events that could shatter the fragile peace that they've worked hard to forge.
Library Journal gave the book a starred review, saying "With the found family of Zuma’s Ghost as the foundation of the series, the internal conflicts are just as compelling as the external high-stakes action."
Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells (November 19th)
After updating and re-releasing her novel City of Bones and The Book of Ile-Rien in the last year, Martha Wells has a new novel for you to rediscover: Wheel of the Infinite. Originally published in 2000, it follows Maskelle, a murderer and traitor who has been summoned back to help put the world in order: the Wheel of the Infinite must be carefully remade every century to ensure that the Celestial Empire remains in balance. A black storm has been spreading across the wheel, threatening the stability of the world. Along with a mysterious swordsman named Rian, the two must figure out a way to find the source of the problems, or watch the world come to an end.
Kirkus Reviews said in its 2000 starred review for the original edition: "in a field teeming with clones, retreads, and solipsistic doorstoppers, Wells dares—and, gloriously, succeeds—to be different. What more do you need?"
The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn (November 1st)
I've been a big fan of Carrie Vaughn's short fiction and recent novels, and this one looks particularly interesting. In 1880, Beth Stanley's husband Harry dies, putting her life's work into jeopardy: the field of Arcane Taxonomy is one in practitioners label every natural thing, thus tapping into some of their unique powers. But only men are permitted to operate here, and Beth, who worked with her husband in the field, is suddenly cut off.
At the same time, taxonomists Brandon West and Anton Torrance are working to set up an expedition to the South Pole, where they hope to be able to tap into the world's magnetic forces. Harry would have been useful on the endeavor, but when they begin to look into his work, they discover that it was Beth's all along. They have to find a way to bring her along and in doing so, confront the forces in the world that would lay claim to her potential and knowledge.
Publishers Weekly says "Vaughn spins a moving tale about the hardships that women faced in the late 19th century, while also introducing an inventive magic system that hinges on the pursuit of knowledge. The result is an adept and provocative feminist fantasy."