Science Fiction & Fantasy from the 2015 Winter Newsletter

First, I will admit that I have a certain weakness for fantastic political plots and sassy talking cats. Add to that magic-powered airships and kick-ass characters, and I really stand no chance. Fans of Butcher will recognize the whip-smart dialogue and engaging characters, while more general fans of fantasy and steampunk will appreciate the rich world building. I absolutely loved every moment, from the deep political intrigue to the heart-racing airship battles. You do not want to miss this!  --Jax

It’s a rags-to-riches story, a commentary on YouTube, consumer culture, the media, human enhancement, and the importance of a cat’s diet to its stench. Wong moves effortlessly from boisterously satirical moments to absolute horror to heart-stopping action. As someone who loved John Dies at the End, I thought I knew better than to have expectations for this book. Let me tell you, I was still not prepared for this epic and wild ride.  --Jax

Night Vale is a quiet town in the middle of the desert. It’s just like every other town. Every other town run by a Vague Yet Menacing Government Agency and librarians who are out to get you. Just like every other town except when it’s not. Fans of the podcast will recognize fun in-jokes, but there is plenty to enjoy even if you’ve never heard Night Vale. Darkly funny, a great read for lovers of Lovecraftian horror.  --Ivy

Every so often there are authors who challenge the genre, who push the limits of the stories that can be told in the realms of science fiction and fantasy. Valente is such an author, and her work continues to inspire and surprise me. She explores the nature of storytelling in an alternative past where the golden age of Hollywood rubs elbows with space travel. This is one that you will savor as you read.  --Jax

An awesome historical Dao fantasy, this is a kung fu movie on paper. As the Industrial Revolution brings changes both great and terrible, opposing tongs quietly wrestle for control of San Francisco’s Chinatown. The widow Li-lin, the exorcist’s daughter, finds herself at the center of a plot that runs from China to the Spirit World, with only her martial arts and ghost-seeing yin eyes to prevent the destruction of all she still holds dear.  --Jocelyn

I’m a sucker for fast-paced sci-fi thrillers, and Departure delivers a story I couldn’t put down. The point of view shifts between the various survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island where not everything is as it seems. Time travel and the race for survival kept me guessing, and the characters were all distinctive and engaging. Riddle published this originally on her own to great success, and fans of Lost will definitely enjoy.  --Jax

I am excitedly awaiting the release of George R. R. Martin’s compilation of three novellas (previously published independently of each other), which features the adventures of Aegon Targaryen and other heroes of Westeros 90 years before the events that take place in Martin’s masterpiece A Game of Thrones. This book, which includes 160 impressive illustrations by the artist Gary Gianni, will surely be a necessary addition to your Ice and Fire collection.  --Ashley

The incredibly popular Best American series finally has a science fiction and fantasy version! Drawing from multiple sources, the inaugural edition includes the best stories in the field of 2014, from well-known authors (::coughcoughNeilGaiman::) and those of quieter fame. The editors for this year are horror and graphic novelist Joe Hill and series editor John Joseph Adams. I can’t wait to start a yearly tradition of discovering SFF’s best!  --Jocelyn