This week in new hardcovers: An alternate reality in which 9/11 involved Arab targets; a land of djenn and ghuls spoiling for internal conflict; meta-humans hunt a shadowy pseudo-Nazi cabal bent on enslaving the universe; dragons and humans form a new bond as the dragons recover their ancient city -- while other dragons rediscover their primeval savagery.
Newly released hardcover books in science-fiction and fantasy this week include:
- The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas,
- City of Dragons by Robin Hobb,
- Space Family Robinson Volume 3 by Gaylord DuBois, Dan Spiegle,
- The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell,
- The Mirage by Matt Ruff,
- Throne of the Crescent Moon Crescent Moon Kingdoms by Saladin Ahmed,
- Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom by Peter S. Beagle, Jonathan Maberry, Catherynne M. Valente, Tobias S. Buckell, Joe R. Lansdale, Robin Wasserman, Austin Grossman, and Garth Nix,
- World Divided by Mercedes Lackey, Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, and Veronica Giguere, and
- Pure by Julianna Baggott.
The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas
Book 3 of the Memory of Flames series. "Having survived Jehal's betrayal, former Queen Zafir is determined to take back control of the kingdom. To that end, she seizes Jehal's wife and son as hostages. Desperate to save his queen and his heir, Jehal makes a tentative peace with the dragons of the north, and prepares to fly against his enemies. But as politics throw the realms of men into turmoil, a far greater danger threatens. The dragons are awakening from the spells cast upon them, and returning to their native fury. They are out for revenge. And that revenge will be brutal." Roc Hardcover, 368 pages, Feb 7.
City of Dragons by Robin Hobb
Book 3 of the Rain Wilds Chronicles. "Once, dragons ruled the Rain Wilds, tended by privileged human servants known as Elderlings. But a series of cataclysmic eruptions nearly drove these magnificent creatures to extinction. Born weak and deformed, the last of their kind had one hope for survival: to return to their ancient city of Kelsingra. Accompanied by a disparate crew of untested young keepers, the dragons embarked on a harsh journey into the unknown along the toxic Rain Wild River. Battling starvation, a hostile climate, and treacherous enemies, dragons and humans began to forge magical connections, bonds that have wrought astonishing transformations for them all. And though Kelsingra is finally near, their odyssey has only begun." Harper Voyager, 352 pages, Feb 7.
Space Family Robinson Volume 3 by Gaylord DuBois, Dan Spiegle
"Between the fourteen-legged metal eaters, a prison break of shape-shifting Dreephars, and flying manta ray like creatures, life is never dull for America''s first outer-space family! But while the lost Robinsons continue their interstellar journey to return home, swords and sorcery meet science fiction as the familial explorers team up with medieval knights and return to Earth - in the twelth century!" Dark Horse, 216 pages, Feb 7.
The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell
Book 9 of the Ciaphas Cain series. "Imperial commissar Ciaphas Cain returns to Nusquam Fundumentibus to crush the ork attacks which have been plaguing the frozen planet. But when his ship crashes into the wastelands outside the capital it disturbs a far greater enemy, one which has lain dormant under the permafrost since long before the Imperium came to this world, and could now threaten the whole sector. Faced with ongoing greenskin raids and keeping an over-enthusiastic novice commissar under control, Cain must rally his men and confront whatever emerges from beneath the rapidly melting ice." Games Workshop, 320 pages, Feb 7.
The Mirage by Matt Ruff
"11/9/2001: Christian fundamentalists hijack four jetliners. They fly two into the Tigris & Euphrates World Trade Towers in Baghdad, and a third into the Arab Defense Ministry in Riyadh. The fourth plane, believed to be bound for Mecca, is brought down by its passengers. The United Arab States declares a War on Terror. Arabian and Persian troops invade the Eastern Seaboard and establish a Green Zone in Washington, D.C. Summer, 2009: Arab Homeland Security agent Mustafa al Baghdadi interrogates a captured suicide bomber. The prisoner claims that the world they are living in is a mirage-in the real world, America is a superpower, and the Arab states are just a collection of "backward third-world countries." A search of the bomber's apartment turns up a copy of The New York Times, dated September 12, 2001, that appears to support his claim. Other captured terrorists have been telling the same story. The president wants answers, but Mustafa soon discovers he's not the only interested party." Harper, 432 pages, Feb 7.
Throne of the Crescent Moon Crescent Moon Kingdoms by Saladin Ahmed
First book in the Crescent Moon Kingdoms series. "The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, land of djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, Khalifs and killers, is at the boiling point of a power struggle between the iron-fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince. In the midst of this brewing rebellion a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. It is up to a handful of heroes to learn the truth behind these killings." DAW Hardcover, 288 pages, Feb 7.
Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom by Peter S. Beagle, Jonathan Maberry, Catherynne M. Valente, Tobias S. Buckell, Joe R. Lansdale, Robin Wasserman, Austin Grossman, Garth Nix, John Joseph Adams (Editor), various artists (Illustrator)
Note: not authorized by the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs. "Celebrate 100 years of John Carter of Mars with this all-new collection of original stories and art!Readers of all ages have read and loved Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series since the first book, A Princess of Mars, was published in 1912. Now, in time for the 100th anniversary of that seminal work, comes an anthology of original stories featuring John Carter of Mars in brand-new adventures. Collected by veteran anthology editor John Joseph Adams, this anthology features stories from titans of literature such as Peter S. Beagle and Garth Nix and original art from Mark Zug, Charles Vess, and many more-plus an introduction by Tamora Pierce and a glossary of Mars by Richard A. Lupoff. Illustrations are by prominent artists Meinert Hansen, Charles Vess, John Picacio, and more." Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 368 pages, Feb 7.
World Divided by Mercedes Lackey, Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, Veronica Giguere
Book Two of the Secret World Chronicle. "After an Earth-scarring apocalyptic battle, the meta-humans have turned back a massive invasion of super-science powered Nazi war machines-and at least driven whoever is in ultimate control of them to pause and regroup. Now meta-hero organizations Echo and sometime Russian ally CCCP must go on the offense and battle back. Task one: to hunt down the secret puppet masters behind the Nazi robot invasion, the Thule Society. To do so, the heroes of Echo, led by Bulwark and Red Djinni, face the guardians of a hidden trove of Nazi armor. Meanwhile, a sadistic genius super villain arises who is determined to defeat both heroes and Thulians alike-a villain who just may have the wealth and cunning to pull it off. It's "go time" once again for the meta-heroes, including fire-bender John Murdock, techno-witch Vicki Nagy, healer Belladona Blue, super-quick Mercurye, chameleon Red Djinni-and for their ghostly ally, The Seraphym. Somehow they must unite in the fight against the evil and slavery that is fast descending upon the entire universe!" Baen, 432 pages, Feb 7.
Pure by Julianna Baggott
"Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run." Grand Central Publishing, 448 pages, Feb 8.
