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Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead (Titan, £12.99)
Langmead made his debut in 2015 with the iambic pentameter science fiction/noir detective novel Dark Star. Following his two science fiction novels in prose, he returned to full-length poetry with this epic tale depicting a daring plan to biotechnically build a new homeland for humanity. Rochelle wakes up from cryogenic sleep aboard the spaceship Calypso, but is distraught when she discovers that the other engineers are missing from the pod. She finds Catherine, a specialist with powers that are more magical than technological, and learns that a war broke out while she was asleep. The Secessionists have established themselves on the new planet’s moon, but their original plan to plant the world richly and turn it into a paradise for the still-sleeping colonists continues to move forward. Devoted Christian Rochelle is invited on the voyage by Sigmund, the man behind the plan, as he disagrees with much of the philosophy behind the plan, and a discussion with him will bring about the necessary balance, he says. insisted. Both the style and the story are fresh and exciting, reminiscent of the heady days of the ’60s New Wave, and suggest that the genre can offer more than the standard space opera.
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (Arcadia, £20)
This debut fantasy from an award-winning short story writer is a novel narrated by a monster that offers a critical perspective from an outsider on human attitudes and morals. This monster is Shesheshen, known to the locals as the terrifying man-eating “flying dragon”, but is actually a shapeshifter who can change his human form (very useful for getting closer to his prey) is. She befriends the kind-hearted Homily, who turns out to be part of a family of monster hunters who believe they are under a curse that can only be broken by killing the worm. By that time, it was too late for Shesheshen to run and hide. The monster fell in love. This unusual queer girlfriend romance is a heartwarming fable about disability and the possibility of reconciling conflicting needs through love and understanding.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (Viking, £20)
The latest work from the author of The Ninth House and other best-selling series is an independent historical fantasy set in late 16th century Spain. Luzia worked as a helper in a house in Madrid, lightening her household chores with some magic she learned from her aunt, but taking advantage of the talents of her mistress, a servant who was caught in the act. He is captured by an ambitious woman who sees an opportunity to make a lot of money. Luzia is immediately thrust into the fast-paced and dangerous world of competing for her position in the court of Philip II. Ever since the armada was destroyed, the king has been yearning for a miracle. Will Luzia be considered an instrument of God, or will her Jewish ancestry come to light and be burned at the stake by the Spanish Inquisition? She is attracted to the mysterious Santangel, but will he sacrifice her girlfriend for his own purposes? A compelling, well-researched, and vividly written story of magic and desire.
The Underhistory by Karlon Warren (Viper, £16.99)
The Shirley Jackson Award-winning author’s sixth novel is set in a haunted house where owner Pera Sinclair is holding her final haunted tour of the season. Although she doesn’t believe in ghosts, she is haunted by the tragedies that have shaped her life, and she knows how to spin a good spooky yarn. When a group of desperate criminals who have just broken out of prison arrive before her tour ends, Pera sees their threat and is determined to keep her innocent tourists safe, leaving Scheherazade’s Let them piece together their own stories. She is far from the helpless old woman she seems. Eerie and atmospheric, full of suspense and surprises, this is a masterfully constructed suspenseful Gothic tale.
‘The Universe Delivers the Enemy You Need’ by Adam Malek (Comma, £10.99)
In the story “Am I to Beame for the Fall of Driverless Humans?,” the narrator refers to science fiction writers as “the risk assessors of the future” and says: Of course, fiction is about when things don’t go well. ” Although Marek writes about unforeseen problems caused by new technologies, he is not in the business of prediction. These 20 short stories take a variety of approaches, sometimes absurdist or metafictional, but always insightful and moving reflections on relationships and the human condition. I am.
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