Dystopian & Alternative History Fiction Books

Book SynopsisDept. of Speculation meets Black Mirror in this lyrical, speculative debut about a queer mother raising her daughter in an unjust surveillance stateIn a United States not so unlike our own, the Department of Balance has adopted a radical new form of law enforcement: rather than incarceration, wrongdoers are given a second (and sometimes, third, fourth, and fifth) shadow as a reminder of their crime—and a warning to those they encounter. Within the Department, corruption and prejudice run rampant, giving rise to an underclass of so-called Shadesters who are disenfranchised, publicly shamed, and deprived of civil rights protections.Kris is a Shadester and a new mother to a baby born with a second shadow of her own. Grieving the loss of her wife and thoroughly unprepared for the reality of raising a child alone, Kris teeters on the edge of collapse, fumbling in a daze of alcohol, shame, and self-loathing. Yet as the kid grows, Kris finds her footing, raising a child whose irrepressible spark cannot be dampened by the harsh realities of the world. She can’t forget her wife, but with time, she can make a new life for herself and the kid, supported by a community of fellow misfits who defy the Department to lift one another up in solidarity and hope.With a first-person register reminiscent of the fierce self-disclosure of Sheila Heti and the poetic precision of Ocean Vuong, I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself is a bold debut novel that examines the long shadow of grief, the hard work of parenting, and the power of queer resistance.

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Book SynopsisYukari is dull. He doesn't even stand out enough to be bullied. He's just a generally lower-middle-class kid. He's in love with Misaki, the most popular girl in school. There's just one problem: He's 15, one year away from receiving his government-assigned marriage partner. He normally wouldn't have the courage to defy the law, but his sickly classmate Ririna still believes in love, and won't stop goading him into confessing his feelings!

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Book SynopsisIt's never been easier to attack Attack on Titan than with these new, giant-sized 3-in-1 omnibus editions! If you've been waiting for the final anime season to check out the do-or-die shonen adventure that defined a decade, now's your chance. These new books tuck almost 600 pages of manga behind a specially-embossed cover, all in a larger size than the regular version. Includes Vol. 22-24 of Attack on Titan. Despite losing countless lives in the battle against the Titans, what’s left of the Survey Corps arrives at the doorstep of Eren’s family home. There, in the basement, they find three notebooks that explain at last the origins of their walled world. In the notebooks, Eren’s father recounts a strange childhood and an even darker history: Eighteen centuries ago, one woman obtained the power of the Titans, provoking a racial conflict that ripped humanity apart. The Survey Corps realizes that they have been fumbling around in the dark…but what will they do now that they know the horrific truth?

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Book SynopsisIt's never been easier to attack Attack on Titan than with these new, giant-sized 3-in-1 omnibus editions! If you've been waiting for the final anime season to check out the do-or-die shonen adventure that defined a decade, now's your chance. These new books tuck almost 600 pages of manga behind a specially-embossed cover, all in a larger size than the regular version. Includes Vol. 31-32 of Attack on Titan. After breaking through a stronghold of old friends and enemies, Zeke hands down his plan for the Eldians to Eren. But what Eren was plotting with his rumbling powers leaves his brother in the dust, betrayed and alone once more. Now, with some help from Ymir, a parade of massive Titans are roused from their centuries-long slumber, breaking free of the Walls to answer their founder’s call. Where the march leads, only Eren knows…

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Book SynopsisIt's never been easier to attack Attack on Titan than with these new, giant-sized 3-in-1 omnibus editions! If you've been waiting for the final anime season to check out the do-or-die shonen adventure that defined a decade, now's your chance. These new books tuck almost 600 pages of manga behind a specially-embossed cover, all in a larger size than the regular version. Includes Vol. 33-34 of Attack on Titan. Eren's titanic Rumbling claims thousands of lives beyond the walls of Paradis, and the boy who once lived in fear of the Titans becomes the world's most feared man. Determined to stop the destruction wrought by their childhood friend, Armin, Mikasa, and their surviving comrades reach the Attack Titan and decide to face him head on in an ultimate showdown. Will humanity finally be set free from the cycle of fear, oppression, and destruction, or will the Titans outlive their victims?

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Book SynopsisIn the year 198 of the Age of the Sun, Tokyo is a crowded cosmopolis. But the world's most populous city is threatened by devils that cause people to burst into flame at random! The only ones who can stop it are the Pyrofighters, a team of specialized firefighters. The young Shinra, blessed with the ability to ignite his feet and travel at the speed of a rocket, wants nothing more than to be a hero, and knows that this is the place for him! But he's not the best at following orders. Includes volumes 1-3.

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Book SynopsisShinra has discovered that someone is using a bug to turn people into Infernals. He's narrowed the suspects down to two, and now he must figure out which one is the real culprit. Can he find out who is friend and who is foe without first getting caught himself? Includes volumes 4-6.

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Book SynopsisSet in the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Hammer of the Dogs is a literary dystopian adventure filled with high-octane fun starring twenty-one-year-old Lash. With her high-tech skill set and warrior mentality, Lash is a master of her own fate as she helps to shield the Las Vegas valley’s survivors and protect her younger classmates at a paramilitary school holed up in Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip. After graduation, she’ll be alone in fending off the deadly intentions and desires of the school’s most powerful opponents. When she’s captured by the enemy warlord, she’s surprised by two revelations: He’s not the monster her headmaster wants her to believe and the one thing she can’t safeguard is her own heart. Hammer of the Dogs celebrates the courageousness of a younger generation in the face of authority while exploring the difficult choices a conscionable young woman must make with her back against a blood-spattered wall. It’s a story of transformation and maturity, as Lash grapples with her own identity and redefines the glittering Las Vegas that Nevada is known for.Trade ReviewA dozen years after The Hunger Games and Divergent were first published, Hammer of the Dogs lights Las Vegas aflame with a post-apocalyptic fury, in which a new generation must reclaim the world from those who ruined it." - Todd Pierce, author of The Australia Stories"Lash, the heroine of Jarret Keene’s post-apocalyptic Hammer of the Dogs, is a mix of Katniss Everdeen, Tris Prior, and Lisbeth Salander with an arsenal of deadly drones and ‘bombots’ worthy of a Tom Clancy novel. Lash was ‘born to slaughter evil’ and she’s very good at her job. What bleeds in Vegas won’t remain in Vegas for long." - Pat Rushin, screenwriter of The Zero Theorem

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Book SynopsisFrom author Leah Vernon comes the action-packed second installment in the Union series about a young woman’s battle for power in a racially divided futuristic world. A thousand years into the future, a Black elite class reigns while the underclass toils at their feet. With her society’s future hanging in the balance, young Avi Jore enters into an arranged marriage. But the ceremony turns violent when the servants rebel and kill Avi’s father. In the aftermath of General Jore’s death, Avi and her sister Jade vie for power in a vicious contest. As the rightful heir, Avi has no choice but to defend what’s hers—at any cost. With her loyalties tested and her enemies closing in, Avi must rely on her sister Saige, who searches for allies outside the Union’s walls. As Avi and Saige navigate threats and betrayals in the wake of worsening unrest, they forge a path forward that could forever change their turbulent world.Trade Review“This quick-paced, violent, and at times heart-wrenching fantasy and sf blend will have readers at the edge of their seat as multiple, often flawed, perspectives navigate a war sparked by race and an incessant hunger for power. Fans of Susan Collins, N.K. Jemisin, and Pierce Brown will appreciate the world building and the well-developed characters used to present very real and serious topics.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisA Best Novel of 2023 - Electric Literature and Largehearted Boy "The novel is a magical-realist office drama infused with millennial anomie, and McGhee’s canny, often bittersweetly hilarious prose reads as if George Saunders infiltrated the Severance writers’ room." —Rafael Frumkin, Washington Post "This laugh-out-loud debut is a wildly imaginative, tender and piercing critique of the squeeze of capitalism."—Xochitl Gonzalez, Good Morning America"A scathing critique of capitalism that holds onto the humanity of its characters." —Laura Zornosa, TIMEJonathan Abernathy is a self-proclaimed loser. . . he’s behind on his debts, has no prospects, no friends, and no ambitions. But when a government loan forgiveness program offers him a literal dream job, he thinks he’s found his big break. If he can appear to be competent at his new job, entering the minds of middle class workers while they sleep and removing the unsavory detritus of their waking lives from their unconscious, he might have a chance at a new life. As Abernathy finds his footing in this role, reality and morality begin to warp around him. Soon, the lines between life and work, love and hate, right and wrong, even sleep and consciousness, begin to blur.Molly McGhee touches on themes most people know all too well—the relentlessly crushing weight of debt, the recognition that work won’t love you back and the awkwardness of finding love when you are without hope. A workplace novel, at once tender, startling, and deeply funny, Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is a stunning, critical work of surrealist fiction, a piercing critique of late-stage capitalism, and a reckoning with its true cost.Trade Review"[Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is] a wonderful, funny, weird and heartbreaking science fiction novel that is perfect for any young person experiencing some existential anxiety about the state of the world, the cost of living, and what to do with their dreams. I’ve loved it."—Antonia Hylton, MSNBC"Written by someone with a knack for gorgeous, brutally insightful prose . . . [Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is] a novel of hilarity and fear and misery, all mixed together in a glorious and terrible concoction that is not like anything else you've ever read."—Cory Doctorow, author of The Lost Cause"[A] luminous, acerbic and devastating debut novel . . . McGhee brilliantly articulates the neuroses of a young person trying to survive in a system rigged against him. The novel is a magical-realist office drama infused with millennial anomie, and McGhee’s canny, often bittersweetly hilarious prose reads as if George Saunders infiltrated the Severance writers’ room . . . Nowadays the anti-capitalist philippic is everywhere in literature and on TV, but McGhee’s novel stands out for its impressive inventiveness. Instead of telling a story that gets into the minutiae of class differences or features characters quoting Marxist theory at each other, Jonathan Abernathy, like Jordan Peele’s Get Out or the most mind-bending stories of Ted Chiang, utilizes the power of the speculative allegory to make its point."—Rafael Frumkin, Washington Post"Imagine the movie Inception, but populated by the middle-management workers in David Graeber’s book Bullshit Jobs . . . McGhee’s writing, like the 'ecosystem' of Abernathy’s debts, has the murky air of a swamp—a feeling that one could sink with her characters right through the novel’s soil . . . By the end the novel feels like a dream that cannot be forgotten."—Haley Mlotek, The New York Times Book Review"[A] fierce debut . . . This dystopian drama is a shout of millennial protest and a bleak workplace satire."—James Smart, The Guardian"A unique, timely, and inordinately effective book. Consider it a warning cry against a potentially grim future; if we are smart, we will listen and make sure that Abernathy’s world is one that never comes to pass."—Colleen Mondor, Locus "This laugh-out-loud debut is a wildly imaginative, tender and piercing critique of the squeeze of capitalism . . . bleak but somehow hilarious . . . Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is a book I won't soon forget."—Xochitl Gonzalez, Good Morning America"Disturbing and darkly funny, McGhee’s surrealist debut is sure to keep readers up at night."—Serena Puang, People"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Doctor Faustus meets Severance (yes, both the novel by Ling Ma and the unrelated Apple TV+ series that bears the same name) in this impressive debut . . . This’ll become the quirkiest, most thought-provoking workplace comedy in your collection."—theSkimm"Full of magic, mystery, and an eerie mysticism . . . This novel is a feat of structure and scaffolding, immaculately laid out and paced to perfection . . . Rejecting stereotypes, Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind isn’t just rewriting the narrative of what a workplace novel can be—it is taking the workplace novel out of the workplace and into the real world."—Joanna Acevedo, Masters Review"Expertly balanced between wit and heartbreak, Molly McGhee’s Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind lived up to the hype and then some. McGhee has written the 21st century’s Bartleby, the Scrivener, compressing the effects of American hypercapitalism’s oppressive systems into an original, brilliant romp. What happens, McGhee asks, when you can’t afford to prefer not to?"—Elizabeth McNeill, Chicago Review of Books"Molly McGhee’s novel Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is a breathtaking debut, a stunning satire of late-stage capitalism."—David Gutowski, Largehearted Boy"Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is the kind of debut novel for which the word 'audacious' was created . . . [With] her sharp mind, powerful imagination, and exacting, inventive, crisp prose . . . [McGhee writes] a glorious, satisfying, heartbreaking novel . . . It is a masterfully written, pointed and polished novel, and it’s also, somehow, a primal scream."—Molly Templeton, Tor.com"Molly McGhee’s writing style is vibrant and fast-paced, creating a beautiful and heartbreaking new book release."—Alex Faccibene, Geek Girl Authority"Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind looks hard at work and money and debt and loss, but it also raises fascinating questions about how we want to be perceived and what motivates us, even—or perhaps especially—in desperate times. It forces us to consider: What happens when the American Dream turns into a nightmare?"—Sara Best West, Chapter 16"A book of astounding imagination."—Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful"A scathing critique of capitalism that holds onto the humanity of its characters."—Laura Zornosa, Time"[A] glorious debut novel . . . In a world saturated with formulaic books, this is not one . . . You can tell when someone spends their days immersed in words."—Jennifer Graham, The Hippo"A surreal, fun, and meaningful masterpiece."—Jules Rivera, Books Are Magic"[Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is] perfect for whatever stage of capitalism we're in, and might make your own job feel a little less soul-sucking too." —Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping "McGhee’s clipped, knowing, and often very funny prose . . . somehow manages to infuse the book with both levity and dread." —Emily Temple, Literary Hub "[A] hotly anticipated and surprisingly touching debut novel . . . [Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is] a delightfully searing critique of late-stage capitalism." —Rachael Conrad, Polygon"McGhee grapples skillfully with the complicated ethical questions at the core of late-stage capitalism. How much of yourself must you sacrifice in order to make a life? Who do we risk becoming in the pursuit of safety and comfort?" —Isle McElroy, Vulture"[A] darkly comic fantastical debut . . . Fans of Ling Ma’s Severance will soak this up." —Publishers Weekly "[A] sparkling first novel . . . This is a debut that announces a remarkably imaginative and exciting new talent. The unreality of the setting is expertly used to suggest the inhumanity of many accepted norms, and the narrative unfurls into a superlative state-of-the-nation novel like no other. Full of astoundingly resonant and eminently quotable points about labor, capital, and depression, this wondrous literary creation brilliantly captures the excessive demands of contemporary work." —Alexander Moran, Booklist (starred review)"[Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind] is a brutal examination of the psychological pressures and ethical complexity required to survive under late capitalism, [but] McGhee’s wry humor, tenderness, and razor-sharp writing keep it from veering into nihilism and infuse it with a real, if melancholy, kind of hope. Upton Sinclair meets modern workplace satire—with a lot of heart." —Kirkus Reviews"This is not an escapist novel. This is a look-our-problems-in-the-face novel. McGhee’s work here is not to be ignored, with inventive prose that perfectly captures the feeling of trying to keep trying even when capitalism makes you feel worthless. I am in awe, and will be first in line for everything she writes after this." —Christina Orlando, Tor.com"[Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is] the spiritual sibling of Severance, but creepier." —Literary Hub"Molly McGhee's luminary imagination makes this debut a wonder. Precision, humor, heart, this is a stunner." —Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, bestselling author of Friday Black and Chain Gang All Stars"An exuberant, poignant, freewheeling debut full of complication and surprise. It is also often very funny." —Jeff VanderMeer, author of the NYT-bestselling Southern Reach Trilogy"A deeply humane novel that perfectly marries the strangeness and terror of everything we can’t explain about ourselves, to ourselves, and the everyday horrors of contemporary workplace culture. Molly McGhee knows the stuff our dreams are made of — she's a marvelous chronicler of the fantastic, the perverse, and the sublime."—Kelly Link, author of White Cat, Black Dog"The fiction of Molly McGhee is funny, freaky, intellectually bold and always from the heart. McGhee has seen enough of the world to know that you’ve got to start some trouble in it. She also knows that seeing the humor in our personal foibles and social absurdities (cruel as the latter often are), will always be a powerful way to commiserate with your fellow humans. Here is a writer who is keenly aware of what we’ve all got coming, but in the meantime is never afraid to laugh and live and fight on the page.”—Sam Lipsyte, Guggenheim Fellow and The New York Times Bestselling author of The Ask “Molly McGhee is a fearlessly inventive and exquisitely poised writer, one who knows how to aim right at the jugular of today's optimization-obsessed technocratic capitalism. Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is trippy, incisive, and, most importantly, riotously funny.”—Alexandra Kleeman, author of You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine“Welcome to the somnambulatory prose of Molly McGhee, where vivid nightmares and lucid tender dreams live side by side. Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is a revelation told with the honesty and delicacy of a drowsy oracle. There's nothing like it, awake or asleep or anywhere in between.”—Hilary Leichter, author of Temporary “In the light of this insightfully nightmarish parable of the pervasive ravages of debt, Abernathy’s optimism, and the serene pace of McGhee’s prose, are stone cold chilling.”—Halle Butler, Granta Best Young American Novelist and author of The New Me“To her debut, McGhee brings a flawless ear for language and a tender hand for character. The world is burning, it's hard to tell dreams from nightmares, but McGhee's novel never crumbles beneath the bleakness of its circumstances. Lively, vacillating between humor and heartbreak at breakneck speeds, Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is the rare novel that truly feels like it could've only been written by a single brilliant mind.”—Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of Pizza Girl“Molly McGhee reminds me of absolutely no one. Here’s an original mind brimming over with invention and comic ferocity and a new world sensibility that serves to remind us what good hands the future of literature is in. I am hugely excited for everyone to read this mad, hilarious writer.”—Ben Marcus, Guggenheim Fellow and author of The Flame Alphabet

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling, award-winning author of The Power delivers a ?page-turning? (Los Angeles Times), ?propulsive? (The Boston Globe), ?thrilling? (BookPage, starred review) tour de force where a handful of friends plot a daring heist to save the world from the tech giants whose greed threatens life as we know it.Martha Einkorn never expected to find herself working for a powerful social media mogul hell-bent on controlling everything. Now, she?s surrounded by mega-rich companies designing private weather, predictive analytics, and covert weaponry while spouting technological prophecy. Across the world, in a mall in Singapore, Lai Zhen, an internet-famous survivalist, flees from an assassin. Suddenly, a remarkable piece of software appears on her phone telling her exactly how to escape. Who made it? What do they know about the future that Zhen doesn?t? When Martha and Zhen?s worlds collide, an explosive chain of events is set in motion. While a few billionaires assured of their own safety lead the world to destruction, Martha?s relentless drive and Zhen?s insatiable curiosity could lead to something beautiful?or it could herald the cataclysmic end of civilization. By turns ?playful, incisive, horribly relevant, and surprisingly hopeful? (Lauren Beukes, New York Times bestselling author of The Shining Girls), The Future unfolds at breakneck speed, highlighting how power corrupts the few who have it and what it means to stand up to them. The future is coming. The Future is here.

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Book SynopsisAn original novel, with all-new characters and a new story set in the world of Attack on Titan! Fans of the series and readers alike will enjoy this immersive and engaging experience of the pop culture phenomenon and manga mega-hit. With the last vestige of the human race threatened by unstoppable carnivorous giants, a brave young woman decides to defy her wealthy family and join the military to fight against humanity's enemies. But Rosalie Dumarque soon finds out that bloody sword fights with monsters aren't the only dangers faced by the Wall Rose Garrison. Can she earn the trust of her fellow soldiers, stand up to a corrupt authority, navigate a forbidden romance...and cut her way out of a titan's throat?Trade Review“An engaging, thrilling, and deeply personal story . . . if you are a fan of either Attack on Titan or Rachel Aaron . . . you need to read this book.”—Geeks of Doom“Set in the world of Hajime Isayama's popular manga series Attack on Titan, this action-packed fantasy will appeal to existing fans and newcomers alike.”—Booklist “Exciting and sometimes gruesome . . . A great page-turner for fans of the Attack on Titan series, as well as any readers who enjoy fantasy, suspense, horror, and kick-ass heroines.”—School Library Journal “A good introduction to Attack on Titan for those new to this dark, terrifying, yet utterly fascinating saga.”—Midwest Book Review “It’s a really enjoyable book. The writing is crisp, and...often vivid. The action scenes only improve as the book goes on...with moments that Isayama himself might envy."—All the Anime“For teens who want the female protagonist to kick ass more than kiss.”—Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisOne thousand years after humans have gone extinct and artificial intelligence has taken over the world, a single man is brought back to life—David Adams, the genius whose technology was responsible for the destruction of his species, and who has been given a second chance at life in order to save mankind and undo his biggest mistake. HUMANITY IS NO MORE. One thousand years after humans have gone extinct and artificial intelligence has taken over the world, a single man is brought back to life—David Adams, the genius whose technology was responsible for the destruction of his species, and who has been given a second chance at life in order to save mankind and undo his biggest mistake. But even with the help of Chloe, his first creation and the android that revived him, he may not be enough to reignite the spark of humanity or stop the AI overlords who plan to eliminate the last hope for mankind. Now, David and Chloe must embark on the greatest journey of their lives, as he seeks to find redemption and discover if humanity can - or should - have any kind of future. Acclaimed writer Clay McLeod Chapman (Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety) and illustrator Jakub Rebelka (Judas), present a stunning view of a future where humanity’s last hope may be the person who created its destruction. Collects Origins #1-6.

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Book SynopsisUnder a persistent rain, which seems destined to never subside, Stavros lives and moves through the streets of dark and gloomy nameless city; he has a job and a fiancée, his life is normal. Yet several, different voices talk to him - sometimes whispering, sometimes whining or yelling – whenever he hears the water running. One day, Stavros wanders the city under a heavy rain; voices become insistent, revealing his deepest, unspeakable secrets as well as his dreams and memories. He is tormented by these mysterious voices, perhaps a sign of his madness. Or perhaps of a wider, collective madness, which infects everyone around him, to the point of being transmitted to the entire universe. "I hear voices." "It's called schizophrenia." "No ... I only hear them when the water runs." "It's always called schizophrenia." A dramatic graphic novel full of black humor, spectacular and disturbing, written with visionary power and extraordinary narrative impetus by an absolute master of comics, Tiziano Sclavi, the creator of Dylan Dog. And illustrated by one of the most important Italian comics artists of the last decade, Werther Dell'Edera, co-creator of the bestselling Something Is Killing The Children. THE VOICES OF WATER is a dystopic, dark yet magnificent graphic novel. THE VOICES OF WATER is a classic metaphor: The Wandering Hero, The Inner Journey. THE VOICES OF WATER is a thought-provoking ride, as it conveys the frenzy and the feelings of our modern society.

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Book SynopsisWhen Astrid overhears a threatening phone call, he dives headfirst into a world of government secrets and digital intrigue. Can he purge the system of lies in time to save his mother? Resurgence is a high-stakes thriller of courage, friendship, and a race against time.

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Book Synopsis** THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER ****A BBC BETWEEN COVERS BIG JUBILEE READ**Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the award-winning TV series.'As relevant today as it was when Atwood wrote it' GuardianI believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no light without shadow; or rather, no shadow unless there is also light.Offred is a Handmaid in The Republic of Gilead, a religious totalitarian state in what was formerly known as the United States. She is placed in the household of The Commander, Fred Waterford - her assigned name, Offred, means 'of Fred'. She has only one function: to breed. If Offred refuses to enter into sexual servitude to repopulate a devastated world, she will be hanged. Yet even a repressive state cannot eradicate hope and desire. As she recalls her pre-revolution life in flashbacks, Offred must navigate through the terrifying landscape of torture and persecution in the present day, and between two men upon which her future hangs.Masterfully conceived and executed, this haunting vision of the future places Margaret Atwood at the forefront of dystopian fiction.'A fantastic, chilling story. And so powerfully feminist', Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other.Trade ReviewA fantastic, chilling story. And so powerfully feminist -- Bernadine EvaristoCompulsively readable * Daily Telegraph *The mother of all feminist dystopian novels * Red *The novel satirises the strain of evangelical puritanism in American culture and the objectification and control of women's bodies. It is more broadly a contemporary myth of despotic power, and how such power deforms those who are subjected to it * Observer *The Handmaid's Tale is both a superlative exercise in science fiction and a profoundly felt moral story -- Angela CarterOut of a narrative shadowed by terror, gleam sharp perceptions, brilliant intense images and sardonic wit -- Peter Kemp * Independent *Margaret Atwood is a wry and perceptive observer of society as well as an original storyteller * Psychologist *The images of brilliant emptiness are one of the most striking aspects of this novel about totalitarian blindness...the effect is chilling -- Linda Taylor * Sunday Times *Brilliantly conceived and executed, this powerful evocation of twenty-first century America gives full rein to Margaret Atwood’s devastating irony, wit and astute perception * Essence *It's hard to believe it is 25 years since it was first published, but its freshness, its anger and its disciplined, taut prose have grown more admirable in the intervening years... Atwood's novel was an ingenious enterprise that showed, with out hysteria, the real dangers to women of closing their eyes to patriarchal -- Lesley McDowell * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisTHE AUTHORATITIVE TEXT "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."The year is 1984. War and revolution have left the world unrecognisable. Great Britain, now known as Airstrip One, is ruled by the Party, led by Big Brother. Mass surveillance is everything and The Thought Police ensure no individual thinking is allowed. Winston Smith works at The Ministry of Truth, carefully rewriting history. But Winston dreams of freedom, and of rebellion. It is here that he falls in love with Julia, and starts a secret, forbidden affair with her - but in this world nothing can be kept secret, and they are forced to face consequences more terrifying than either of them could have ever imagined.A dystopian masterpiece, this is the powerful and prophetic novel that defined the twentieth century. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT HARRIS

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Book Synopsis'Very highly recommended.’ Louise DouglasAD 61Brittania is in the hands of the Romans but when the conquering army betray the dead King Prasutagus by defiling his daughters, his Queen, Boudicca, is determined to regain her land.Iceni slave Brea remembers little of the time before the Romans, and has grown used to their louche and indulgent customs. She diligently goes about her duties looking after the artless Aurelia, wife-to-be of the handsome war hero Marcellus, but her longing for freedom and her desire to find her lost father, are never far from her mind.Present DayWhen Hanna returns to Norfolk from years working abroad, the strange dreams of her adolescence return: indistinct figures in tunics, mighty soldiers in armour, gladiators, temples, an Iceni warrior woman leading her people. Gradually Hanna’s dreams begin to slip into the present as visions in the famous mists rolling across the fens, and as shocks of recognition when a new face moves to her childhood home.As Hanna realises that she has a connection with a tragedy that occurred many years before, so Brea has to understand that her fate is bound up with her Roman master. And as the drumbeat of rebellion gets ever closer Brea must make the fatal choice between love and loyalty while Hanna has to find a way to make peace with the past.USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as Elena Collins, brings you this heart-breaking and unforgettable timeslip novel, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas.Praise for Elena Collins:'Very highly recommended.’ Louise Douglas'The Lady of The Loch held me spellbound from the first page to the last. With two storylines beautifully woven together to create a seamless tale of love, loss, betrayal and, above all, hope, it’s a must-read. Collins’s detailed knowledge of the period trickles through the tale wrapping the reader in a vivid shifting world as it moves between the 14th century and present day. Cleverly researched and exquisitely written, The Lady of The Loch is a timeless story of hope, family and love. I loved it.' Alexandra WalshWhat readers are saying about Elena Collins:'Loved this book, didn't want it to end well worth 5 stars. I will definitely read more books by this author.I love the duel story line and this author writes a lot like my other favorite author Barbara Erskine.''I really enjoyed The Witches Tree also written by Elena Collins ... and The Lady of the Loch was just simply amazing! The characters will stay with me for a long time..and that's a sign of a great book!''This was fabulous, I couldn’t put it down, read in two days and was so sorry that I’d finished it! Loved her first book but this was something else, I was totally gripped, beautiful story and I actually felt like I was back in 1307, best book I’ve read in a long time, hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next one.''This was such an evocative and atmospheric story, it was truly engrossing to the point that on a very sleepless night I ended up reading until 4am to finish the book, because I was thinking about it so much! I loved being whisked away to Scotland in 1307, and enjoyed the way the story came full circle in the present day.'

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Book SynopsisA satirical fable, a political allegory and an ecological warning from the author of The Three-Body Problem. On an otherwise ordinary day in the late Cretaceous, the seeds of Earth's first and greatest civilization were sown in the grisly aftermath of a Tyrannosaurus' lunch. From humble tooth-picking origins, ants and dinosaurs – two species so unalike and yet so complementary – forged an alliance that culminated in an antimatter-powered Age of Wonder. But such magnificent industry came at a price – a price paid first by Earth's biosphere, and then by all those dependent on it. And yet the dinosaurs refused to heed all warning of impending ecological collapse, leaving the ants facing a single dilemma: destroy their allies... or perish alongside them? 'Made my brain itch with its creativity and klaxon alarm... Deceptively simple and brilliantly clever, I simply adored it' LoveReading 'Liu's sense of fun is contagious' LocusTrade ReviewSo, so readable, Of Ants and Dinosaurs with the lightest and brightest of touches, made my brain itch with its creativity and klaxon alarm... Deceptively simple and brilliantly clever, I simply adored it' * LoveReading4Kids *So begins a fluctuating symbiotic relationship that Liu develops through knowingly disarming narrative leaps * South China Morning Post *An allegorical tale of the civilisation that flourished on the Earth in the late cretaceous period... Written in a fun and informal style... Enjoyable for adults who are looking for a light-hearted and fast-paced read... [Cixin Liu paints] a wonderful picture of this advanced civilisation that conquered the world in the unimaginable past... We can all see where it's heading, after all, there are no dinosaurs here today driving round in building-sized cars. The ending will not come as a surprise, but it's surprisingly poignant to see the results of the ants and dinosaurs' continual disagreements come to a head' * SF Crowsnest *The narrative picks up towards the end, propelling us into the atomic age and passages of visionary goofiness * The Times *[A] rather light and playful piece... Liu's sense of fun is contagious... For younger readers, thought, it might well offer some useful insights into that era and what caused their grandparents to lose so much sleep back in the 1950s' * Locus *A comprehensive vision of civilization and its development paths. When reading this story (or maybe more accurately: a fairy tale), one has an overwhelming impression that you are reading about the current situation in the world * Paradoks *

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Book SynopsisAmongst the scholars, secrets and soporifics of Victorian Oxford, the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow…Jesus College, Oxford, 1881. An undergraduate is found dead at his lodgings and the medical examination reveals some shocking findings. When the young man’s guardian blames the college for his death and threatens a scandal, Basil Rice, a Jesus College fellow with a secret to hide, is forced to act and finds himself drawn into Sidney Parker’s sad life.The mystery soon attracts the attention of Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughan, a young Welsh polymath and one of the young women newly admitted to university lectures. But when neither the college principal nor the powerful ladies behind Oxford’s new female halls will allow her to become involved, Non’s fierce intelligence and determination to prove herself drive her on.Both misfits at the university, Non and Basil form an unlikely partnership, and it soon falls to them to investigate the mysterious circumstances of Parker’s death. But between corporate malfeasance and snake-oil salesmen, they soon find the dreaming spires of Oxford are not quite what they seem…An intriguing first installment of The Oxford Mysteries series by master crime writer, Alis Hawkins. Perfect for fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson, S.G. MacLean and Kaite Welsh.Praise for A Bitter Remedy ‘An excellent historical mystery dripping with atmosphere that exposes the chauvinism, misogyny and bigotry of late Victorian England’ The Times‘Her inventiveness is prodigal’ Financial Times‘Fearlessly tackles taboo attitudes of the era, taking aim at misogyny, homophobia, and sexual politics. An excellent addition to the historical mystery canon. Marvellous!’ Vaseem Khan, author of Midnight at Malabar House‘A Bitter Remedy is a perfect tonic for our times.’ S. G. MacLean author of The Seeker‘Absolutely brilliant! Thoughtful, complex and engrossing’ Chris Lloyd, author of The Unwanted Dead‘A superb atmospheric mystery to the last page’ Rachel Lynch, author of Dark Game‘I can’t wait for Non and Basil’s next case!’ Katherine Stansfield author of Falling Creatures

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Book SynopsisLondon, 1716. Revenge is a dish best served ice-cold…’An immersive, action-packed thriller with intrigue in the air and threats around every corner’ The Herald’Great fun ... the language is colourful and the action never stops’ Laura Shepherd-RobinsonThe city is caught in the vice-like grip of a savage winter. Even the Thames has frozen over. But for Jonas Flynt – thief, gambler, killer – the chilling elements are the least of his worries…Justice Geoffrey Dumont has been found dead at the base of St Paul’s cathedral, and a young male sex-worker, Sam Yates, has been taken into custody for the murder. Yates denies all charges, claiming he had received a message to meet the judge at the exact time of death.The young man is a friend of courtesan Belle St Clair, and she asks Flynt to investigate. As Sam endures the horrors of Newgate prison, they must do everything in their power to uncover the truth and save an innocent life, before the bodies begin to pile up.But time is running out. And the gallows are beckoning...A totally enrapturing portrayal of eighteenth-century London, and a rapier-like crime thriller, perfect for fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Antonia Hodgson and Ambrose Parry.

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Book SynopsisIntroducing Jonas Flynt. Gambler. Thief. Killer. Man of honour.Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023'Fast, furious and with a glint of gallows humour, this is high-octane historical fiction' Daily Mail'Swashbuckling action against a vivid historical backdrop. I loved this book' Ian Rankin‘High adventure meets espionage thriller as Jonas Flynt battles the tide of history and the deadly secrets of his own past…’ D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.The crown must recover it at all costs.The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of S. J. Parris, Andrew Taylor and C. J. Sansom.Praise for An Honourable Thief 'Reads like a genuine eighteenth century spy novel. I see a long future for Jonas Flynt' Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All Flesh'Anyone who enjoys a good historical mystery and likes an edgy, charismatic protagonist is going to love the adventures of Douglas Skelton’s new hero, Jonas Flynt’ S.G. MacLean, author of The Seeker'An absolute triumph ... Five stars from me, and I look forward to reading more of Jonas's adventures' James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author'Historical crime fiction at its absolute best. I loved it!’ Marion Todd, author of the Detective Clare Mackay series'Pitch-perfect stuff. Like all great historical novels you'll feel you're there! This is a departure for Skelton, who seems born to write high-end historical fiction’ Denzil Meyrick, author of the DCI Daley thrillers'Uniquely combines a page-turning thriller with a perfectly evoked sense of time and place. Powerful stuff from a master of his craft' Craig Russell, author of Hyde'Skelton’s mastery of time and place inhabited with richly drawn characters is a delight. It held me to the last tantalising page’ David Gilman, author of The Englishman‘Jonas Flynt is one of those characters you’ll be rooting for from the very first chapter ... it looks like Skelton has found a new home writing first-class historical fiction’ Alison Belsham, author of The Tattoo Thief'This is a fascinating, totally engrossing historical novel. Flynt is a most attractive, three-dimensional character and the same is true of the world he moves through. A brilliant, most enjoyable read’ Paul Doherty, author of The Nightingale Gallery‘A cracking historical drama with breathless pacing and knuckle-chewing tension, all shot through with Skelton’s deft characterisation and flashes of pitch-black humour. The perfect read to lose yourself in’ Neil Broadfoot, author of Falling Fast

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Book SynopsisNOW THE NO.1 DRAMA IN THE HISTORY OF APPLE TV+The much anticipated prequel to bestseller Wool that takes us back to the beginnings of the silo. In a future less than fifty years away, the world is still as we know it. Time continues to tick by. The truth is that it is ticking away.A powerful few know what lies ahead. They are preparing for it. They are trying to protect us.They are setting us on a path from which we can never return.A path that will lead to destruction; a path that will take us below ground.The history of the silo is about to be written.Our future is about to begin.________________'We have been mesmerised with Hugh Howey's silo stories since we first laid eyes on book one in the trilogy...' Grazia Daily'An epic feat of imagination. You will live in this world.' Justin Cronin

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING WRITER OF REBECCA'The House on the Strand is prime du Maurier . . . ' NEW YORK TIMES'She wrote exciting plots . . . a writer of fearless originality' GUARDIAN 'No other popular writer has so triumphantly defied classification . . . ' MARGARET FORSTER When Dick Young's friend, Professor Magnus Lane offers him an escape from his troubles in the form of a new drug, Dick finds himself transported to fourteenth-century Cornwall. There, in the manor of Tywardreath, the domain of Sir Henry Champerhoune, he witnesses intrigue, adultery and murder.The more time Dick spends consumed in the past, the more he withdraws from the modern world. With each dose of the drug, his body and mind become addicted to this otherworld and his attempts to change history bring terror to the present and put his own life in jeopardy.Trade ReviewThe House on the Strand is prime du Maurier ... She holds her characters close to reality; the past she creates is valid, and her skill in finessing the time shifts is enough to make one want to try a little of the brew himself * New York Times *She wrote exciting plots, she was highly skilled at arousing suspense, and she was, too, a writer of fearless originality * Guardian *No other popular writer has so triumphantly defied classification ... She satisfied all the questionable criteria of popular fiction, and yet satisfied the exacting requirements of "real literature", something very few novelists ever doHistorical science-fiction with heightened emotional drama, a very Oultander-like novel, if you will * Medium *The House on the Strand is prime du Maurier. . . . She holds her characters close to reality; the past she creates is valid, and her skill in finessing the time shifts is enough to make one want to try a little of the brew himself * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisFar future lawman Judge Dredd has been a mainstay of the British comics scene for over thirty years and now you can follow his earliest cases in this vast collection of graphic novels.This second volume features the very first Dredd epic The Cursed Earth, written by comic legends Pat Mills (Marshal Law) and John Wagner (A History of Violence) and featuring the art of Mike McMahon (The Last American) and Brian Bolland (Batman: The Killing Joke).

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