Sci Friday: Coming Soon to a Wormhole Near You

~post by Tommy

Ah October, winter is theoretically around the corner and fall is supposedly in the air. October is a month for the spooky and scary and this month’s books bring some of that to the table. We see another adventure from Thomas Covenant, take a trip to the red planet, and witness the triumphant return of the Gentlemen Bastards.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

On a forgotten ice world at the edge of the galaxy an old soldier plots her revenge. Long ago Breq was an artificial intelligence that controlled a giant warship, but now it’s been trapped in a single body with a single desire: Revenge. Leckie’s debut is a classic of the space opera genre, yet at the same time an inversion as well. Going beyond the simple concepts of white and black, good and evil, us and them, Leckie uses her heroine to examine the concepts of individuality vs the hive mind and the nature of humanity, all framed as a classic space opera adventure tale that doesn’t disappoint. Ancillary Justice was released Tuesday, October 1st.

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch

The Gentlemen Bastards return! Locke Lamora and his ever-present ally Jean Tannen return in the long awaited sequel to 2008’s Red Seas Under Red Skies. At the end of their previous adventure, Locke & Jean are alive but not in the best of shape. Their fortune is mostly gone and Locke is poisoned and is slowly on his way to the grave. A mysterious magi offers them the chance to cure Locke if they do him a dangerous favor that would bring Locke back into contact with a ghost from his past: Sabetha. The woman who once held Locke’s heart may now hold his future, as well. Scott Lynch created a pair of wonderfully memorable characters with Locke and Jean (think Clooney and Pitt from Ocean’s 11 in a medieval fantasy world) and I’m incredibly excited that they’re back for another round. High fantasy heist at it’s very best! Republic of Thieves will be released Tuesday,October 8th.

Old Mars edited by George Martin and Gardner Dozois

Yes, that George Martin. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about Mars. Mars has always sparked the imagination of mankind and science fiction writers have heard the siren’s call of Mars for more than a hundred years. This volume of short stories pays tribute to the classic tales of martian Sci Fi with stories such as Princess of Mars and The Martian Chronicles. With 15 brand new stories, including tales from Michael Moorcock, Joe Landsdale, S.M. Stirling, and James S.A. Corey, Old Mars celebrates the sense of high adventure and mysteriousness that is inherent in the fourth planet from the sun, a place that mankind has ever wondered about and will always dream of. Old Mars will be released Tuesday, October 8th.

The Last Dark by Stephen Donaldson

At last the journey of Thomas Covenant comes to a close. Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery have reunited and must turn their considerable strength to saving the magical world known only as The Land. Yet the enemy they face is a being so powerful that it can unmake time itself. Outclassed and outnumbered, the two heroes must restore hope to a broken land and dig deep to fight one last battle to save the world that has become their true home. After thirty six years, and now ten books, Thomas Covenant’s story will finally end and, though I’m sad that it is, I can’t wait to see what happens. With Thomas, Donaldson created a relatable hero and one whose journey should be read by any lover of epic fantasy. The Last Dark will be released Tuesday, October 15th.

Those are October’s big new releases, but there are also a few honorable mentions this month. A new version of the Hobbit was released this past Tuesday with illustrations by Jemima Caitlin. George R.R. Martin is giving fans more of their favorite character with the release of The Wit & Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister. Charlaine Harris finally answers all of the questions fans have had since the end of the Sookie Stackhouse series with After Dead, a what-happened-next coda that gives details on all of the characters’ (happy or not) endings. Anne Rice continues her werewolf series with the Wolves of Midwinter, the second in her Wolf Gift Chronicles. Lastly, speaking of Mr. Martin, his fifth Song of Ice and Fire novel: A Dance With Dragons should be coming out in paperback near the end of this month. That’s October for you, see you guys on the other side of the wormhole in November.

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Sci Friday is a weekly post focusing on all things Sci Fi. Booksellers Tommy and Marie are you intrepid leaders on this journey through awesome new books; the best and worst of what’s come before; Sci Fi film adaptations and more. Check back next Friday for more!