From Huxley's Brave New World in 1932 to The Hunger Games, our fascination with the speculative & extreme never dwindles
Dystopian & Alternative History Fiction Books
HarperCollins Publishers Aurora
Book SynopsisSoon to be a film from Netflix and Oscar-winning director of The Hurt Locker Kathryn Bigelow.Fantastic story, a real page-turner. Impossible to put down' Stephen KingForget a good night's sleep. Aurora is epic' Linwood BarclayWhen the lights go out no one is safeWhen a solar storm hits the earth, electrical power is knocked out across the planet, and the blackout could last for years. Soon food becomes scarce, and the rule of law begins to collapse. In their small community, Aubrey and her teenage stepson now face the biggest challenge of their lives.Across the country, Aubrey's estranged brother Thom, a self-made billionaire, retreats to a desert bunker where he can ride out the crisis in perfect luxury. But the complicated history between the siblings is far from over.As Aubrey struggles to live, what feels like the end of the world is just the beginning of a long-overdue reckoning , and not everyone can surviveTrade Review‘Fantastic story, a real page-turner. Impossible to put down’ Stephen King 'Forget a good night’s sleep. Aurora is epic, but personal and poignant, horrifying and darkly funny, and flat-out suspenseful’ Linwood Barclay ‘With Aurora, David Koepp has firmly staked his ground as one of the best thriller writers working today’ Blake Crouch ‘Aurora contains two great narratives on a collision course. When, where and how they collide will you keep you turning pages right up to The End’ Brian De Palma ‘David Koepp does it again! Mixing humour, terror, and an all-too-believable doomsday scenario, Aurora is at the top of my list this year’ Christina Dalcher ‘There’s a reason David Koepp is the most successful screenwriter of all time. It’s because he’s one of the greatest storytellers of all time. Aurora is up there with his best: scary, funny, and thought provoking. Buy it immediately’ Scott Frank, writer and director of The Queen’s Gambit ‘Everything a great novel, and great thriller, should be . . . Frightening, surprising, wildly entertaining, but also full of heart’ Mike Lupica, co-author of The Horsewoman with James Patterson, and Robert B. Parker’s Revenge Tour ‘Terrifyingly plausible, this apocalyptic tale focusses on one family and their trials and triumphs in the face of horrifying odds. Moving, thrilling, and thoughtful, it's a high-velocity thriller with heart and soul.’ Tim Lebbon, author of The Last Storm ‘This techno-thriller is a real page-turner: diving into the devastating consequences of an all-too-plausible “end of life as we know it” event… Koepp keeps the reader in constant suspense while making the fall-out of these epic events both relatable and poignant… you won't be able to put it down!’ Ally Wilkes, author of All the White Spaces
£8.54
Quercus Publishing The Coral Bones: The breathtaking novel
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the British Science Fiction Association award for best novel, and the Kitschies Red TentacleMarine biologist Hana Ishikawa is racing against time to save the coral of the Great Barrier Reef, but struggles to fight for a future in a world where so much has already been lost.Seventeen-year-old Judith Holliman escapes the monotony of Sydney Town during the nineteenth century, when her naval captain father lets her accompany him on a voyage, unaware of the wonders and dangers she will soon encounter.Telma Velasco is hunting for a miracle in a world ravaged by global heating: a leafy seadragon, long believed extinct, has been sighted. But as Telma investigates, she finds hope in unexpected places.Past, present and future collide in this powerful elegy to a disappearing world - and vision of a more hopeful future.Trade ReviewA rich and brilliant novel about the connectedness of humanity in itself and with its world: beautifully written and compellingly drawn, layering history, present day and the future with brilliancy and power. It's a novel about the climate crisis, but it's a naturalist's novel too, with some wonderfully, vividly observed writing about sealife from coral to sharks and seahorses. Just marvellous * Adam Roberts, author of The Thing Itself *A beautifully crafted love letter to our endangered coral reefs. E.J. Swift confirms her reputation for writing elegant, heartfelt and compelling eco-fiction * Anne Charnock, Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Dreams Before the Start and Bridge 108 *Beautifully realised, vivid versions of past, present and future combine in The Coral Bones to powerful effect. It gave me much to think about. I won't forget it * Aliya Whiteley, author of Skyward Inn and The Loosening Skin *E.J. Swift pulls no punches in this beautiful and terrifying yet boldly hopeful novel. The wonder of the Great Barrier Reef is laid out for us via a vivid multi-dimensional tour through the lenses of past, present and future' * Vicki Jarrett, author of Always North *A thoughtful, immersive, very human story that speaks to current fears and hopes for our world * Guardian *E.J. Swift's The Coral Bones is a piercing and acute novel which cannot leave you indifferent. It rages like a stormy ocean, but it also offers you a serene picture of the world's beauty - something not to be lost * British Fantasy Society *
£9.49
Kodansha America, Inc NO. 6 Manga Omnibus 2 (Vol. 4-6)
Book SynopsisShion accidentally learns that his childhood friend Safu is under arrest-and all because of him! Not wanting to get Rat involved, Shion sets out alone to save her. But how can he possibly infiltrate No. 6's secure correctional facility and escape with a high-priority prisoner all on his own? Includes volumes 4-6.
£21.24
HarperCollins Publishers The Complete Short Stories
Book SynopsisFirst in a two volume collection of short stories by the acclaimed author of Empire of the Sun', Crash' and Super-Cannes'. The new edition is introduced by Adam Thirwell.With eighteen novels over four decades from The Drowned World' in 1962 to his final novel Kingdom Come' in 2006 J.G. Ballard is known as one of Britain's most celebrated and original novelists.However, during his long career he was also a prolific writer of short stories; in fact, many people consider that he is at his best in the short-story format. These highly influential stories have appeared in magazines such as New Worlds, Amazing Stories and Interzone, and in several separate collections, including The Terminal Beach', The Venus Hunters', Vermilion Sands', Low-Flying Aircraft' and Myths of the Near Future'.Set out in the original order of publication and frequently the point of conception for ideas he further developed in his novels, these stories provide an unprecedented opportunity to see the imagination of Trade Review‘More than one thousand compelling pages from one of the most haunting, cogent and individual imaginations in contemporary literature’ William Boyd ‘A marvel … there is something a little shaming in reading Ballard: you have to face the fact that there exist writers with such fresh imaginations they can’t write five pages without stumbling on an alternate world’ Zadie Smith ‘Simply a master story writer – the maker of unforgettable artefacts in words’ Jonathan Lethem ‘Indispensable … probably the most original English writer of the last century’ China Miéville
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers The Armies of Daylight Book 3 Darwath Trilogy
Book SynopsisA whirlwind fantasy classic set in the richest world imaginable, with unforgettable characters and the highest stakes The Armies of Daylight is the third and final book in Barbara Hambly's epic Darwath Trilogy.Since the Dark Ones returned, the world has been laid to waste.The wizards have been slaughtered, cities destroyed, and people have scattered in terror.Few have witnessed more of the destruction than Rudy and Gil two ordinary Californians who found their way across the Void, and took up arms in defence of a strange and magical world. She learned the ways of war, while he found within himself the powers of a great wizard. Both of them will need all their strength to survive this final challenge. Ingold, the master wizard, has devised a spell to hide the user from the deathly stare of the Dark, and he intends to use it to strike at their very heart.Finally, Rudy, Gil, and the rest of mankind's survivors will take the offensive, bringing an end to this terrible war, for better or Trade ReviewPraise for Barbara Hambly: ‘Wondrous’Brandon Sanderson ‘This is literary alchemy of the highest order, and it confirms Hambly’s place as one of the best new fantasists’Locus ‘An enviable and intricate talent’Janny Wurts
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Secrets of the Starcrossed An unforgettable new
Book SynopsisAn absolute must-read for fans of Shadow and BoneIn a world where the Roman Empire never fell, two starcrossed lovers fight to ignite the spark of rebellionLondinium, the last stronghold of the Romans left in Britannia, remains in a delicate state of peace with the ancient kingdoms that surround it. As the only daughter of a powerful merchant, Cassandra is betrothed to Marcus, the most eligible bachelor in the city.But then she meets Devyn, the boy with the strange midnight eyes searching for a girl with magic in her blood.A boy who will make her believe in soulmatesWhen a mysterious sickness starts to leech the life from citizens with Celtic power lying dormant in their veins, the imperial council sets their schemes in motion. And so Cassandra must make a choice: the Code or Chaos, science or sorcery, Marcus or Devyn?Panem meets the Grishaverse in this explosive new YA trilogy perfect for readers of Sarah J Maas, Holly Black, and Cassandra Clare.Praise for The Once and Future Queen SeTrade ReviewPraise for The Once and Future Queen Series: ‘OH MY HEART AND SOUL … I am still reeling … seriously I would put this series up with the big ones, like Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince’ Richelle, 5* NetGalley review ‘OMG. I will forever be in love with this series … this author has me as a fan for life’ Penelope, 5* NetGalley review ‘Beautifully written and one of the best dystopian novels I’ve read … an epic journey you won’t forget. I would love to see this made into a film’ Zoe, 5* NetGalley review ‘I couldn’t put it down. There were times when I gasped, when I cried and when I felt my jaw drop. The world Clara O’Connor has woven together is so intricate and real and the storytelling is flawless. Absolutely my favourite series I have read this year’ Jessica, 5* NetGalley review ‘If you want to immerse yourself in an Arthurian-inspired fantasy world, you need to look no further than this immersive, emotional, and wondrous one’ Tessa, 5* NetGalley review
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Listeners
Book Synopsis Fans of The Power will love this addictive novel’ Stylist A masterful speculative novel exploring the fine lines between faith, conspiracy, and mania in contemporary America. Trade ReviewPraise for The Listeners: ‘Fantastic on conspiracy theories, cults, faith and mania and stuffed full of engaging characters’ Daily Mail ‘The Listeners starts as a little hum in your ear and ends up blowing the top off your head. A deeply plausible, funny, horrifying story of a journey right off the rails’ Emma Donoghue, author of The Pull of the Stars ‘I loved this book. Tannahill is such a skilled prose stylist that this book manages to be both a page-turning unravelling of a family and a manic, fully-alive monologue of a woman going over the edge’ Zoe Whittall, author of The Spectacular ‘One of those rare novels that entered my soul, rearranged my brain cells and then my world view. Tannahill writes with theheat and wisdom of a God’ Claudia Dey, author of Heartbreaker and Stunt ‘Breathtakingly timely. It’s an enigmatic story of 21st-century melancholia motored by sentences at once propulsive and erudite (that beautiful synthesis). Everyone’s going to be talking about this book’ Billy-Ray Belcourt, author of A History of My Brief Body ‘Tannahill has written an engaging, shocking and hilarious story about how a woman's search for deeper meaning leads to an entire town being in crisis. It is a testament to the revulsion and horror an ordinary person can inspire when they decide to simply peek outside of the box’ Heather O’Neill, author of The Lonely Hearts Hotel ‘A breathtakingly, breathholdingly good novel from one of the most original writers in this country. Tannahill serves up enormous ideas in delicious slices. What’s truth? Who do we trust? Is skepticism better than belief? He has a playwright’s ear and a director’s eye. I didn’t so much read the novel as watch it unfold’ Ian Williams, author of Reproduction
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Lost Army Of Cambyses
Book SynopsisThis gripping, captivating and wonderfully evocative archeological thriller by bestselling author Paul Sussman is a must read for fans of Clive Cussler and Wilbur Smith.A tremendous adventure, one of the most intriguing mysteries of the past, a great novel masterfully written - VALERIO MASSIMO MANFREDIOne of the best writers of international suspense in the business - STEVE BERRYStylish writing and deep research - GUARDIANAn excellent book full of twists and turns. -- ***** Reader reviewEnthralling -- ***** Reader reviewWOW what a brilliant book and enjoyed every bit of it. No hesitation in giving it 5 stars. -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************MURDER, INTRIGUE, VIOLENCE, BETRAYAL AND A RACE TO SOLVE ONE OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD...523 BC: the Persian pharaoh CambysesTrade Review'At last, at thriller that gets away from the hackneyed old "curse of Tut" stuff...the fast paced plot is one among many good things in this very assured first novel' * Scotland on Sunday *A tremendous adventure, one of the most intriguing mysteries of the past, a great novel masterfully written -- VALERIO MASSIMO MANFREDI
£9.99
Faber & Faber Palace of the Peacock Faber Editions
Book SynopsisThe visionary masterpiece, tracing a riverboat crew''s dreamlike jungle voyage ...''My new all time favourite book ... A magnificent, breathtaking and terrifying novel.'' Tsitsi Dangarembga''An exhilarating experience ... Makes visions real and reality visions ... Genius.'' Jamaica Kincaid''A masterpiece: I love this book for its language, adventure and wisdoms.' Monique Roffey''Revel in the inviolate, ever-deepening mystery of Wilson Harris's work.'' Jeet Thayil''The Guyanese William Blake Such poetic intensity.'' Angela CarterI dreamt I awoke with one dead seeing eye and one living closed eye ...A crew of men are embarking on a voyage up a turbulent river through the rainforests of Guyana. Their domineering leader, Donne, is the spirit of a conquistador, obsessed with hunting for a mysterious woman and exploiting indigenous people as plantation labour. But their expedition is plagu
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group The Black Pearl
Book Synopsis1659: Cromwell''s protectorate is drawing to a close, and the restoration of the monarchy can only improve the fortunes of the Morland family.The years of civil war and their aftermath have left Morland Place in dire straits, but with the return of the King, Ralph Morland believes he can rebuild the family estates. For his beautiful and ambitious cousin, Annunciata, the Restoration means a journey to London - one that leads to the amours and intrigues of Charles''s court and to the unlocking of her mysterious past.A new and kinder age is dawning - a time for healing wounds - but more uncertainty, conflict and sorrow await both Ralph and Annunciata before they can find peace and forgiveness...
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group The Coven
Book Synopsis''A compelling, prescient tale of an alternate world with far too many scary similarities to our own.'' Angela ClarkeLet me repeat myself, so we can be very clear. Women are not the enemy. We must protect them from themselves, just as much as we must protect ourselves.Imagine a world in which witchcraft is real. In which mothers hand down power to their daughters, power that is used harmlessly and peacefully.Then imagine that the US President is a populist demagogue who decides that all witches must be imprisoned for their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them - creating a world in which to be female is one step away from being criminal...As witches across the world are rounded up, one young woman discovers a power she did not know she had. It''s a dangerous force and it puts her top of the list in a global witch hunt.But she - and the women around her - won''t givTrade ReviewA gripping and vividly drawn dystopian fantasy about the power and potential of women which feels easier to enjoy now Trump has gone. * Heat *Vivid and urgent... an immersive and fast-paced must for fans of The Power and The Handmaid's Tale * Woman & Home *A chase thriller with magical elements, and good fun it is too * Morning Star *A great read ... you'll be glad you picked up a copy * Independent *
£8.99
Oneworld Publications A True Account
Book SynopsisTrade Review'An absolute page turner, full of unexpected twists and turns. I really could not put it down.' Celia Rees, author of Pirates!'A story of seafaring derring-do with a wonderful twist.' Mail on Sunday'Irresistible... A breathless adventure that will stay with you long after the final page has been read.' Julie Walker, author of Bonny & Read'A feast for the sea-loving senses... This is more than just a pirate's tale: it's a story of abandoning convention in favour of self-discovery and exploring the sort of freedoms only the sea can offer.' Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary'A wild ride. I loved this book.' Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles'A True Account is a compelling tale of pirates, treasure hunting and wild adventure, wonderfully told in vivid detail. Sailing the high seas with Hannah Masury was an absolute thrill!' Sophie Keetch, author of Morgan is My Name'Hannah Masury’s pirate tale reads like a fever dream, told in a voice so authentic and with such vivid, authoritative detail, it compels belief that this must indeed be a true account.' Peter Nichols, author of A Voyage for Madmen'Katherine Howe richly evokes the social world of docks, ships, and seafaring outlaws, producing, in my view, one of the best 'pirate novels' ever written ― even better than ones by Daniel Defoe!' Marcus Rediker, author of Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age'Right from the very start of this book, I found myself caught up in Hannah's world. It is so vivid… I certainly felt like I'd been on a wild adventure whilst reading it [and] I really enjoyed the ride.' Bookbag'A fiendish twist pulls its strands apart and braids them back together with the burnished patina of real historic discovery... A True Account belongs on the shelf beside Treasure Island.’ Lit Hub'Dazzlingly fun historical fiction... A wild voyage of satisfying twists and an even more satisfying ending.' ABC News 'A suspenseful, swashbuckling adventure filled with fiendish characters and historical detail.' Library Journal'Never less than intriguing. One of the real strengths of the novel is the portrait of two complex and powerful women. This is an insightful and thought-provoking feminist retelling of history.' CrimeTime FM'There is no one I trust more with historical fiction than Katherine Howe, whose work always manages to capture not only the prosaic details of the past, but the lived experience of it… [a] swashbuckling story.' CrimeReads, 'Best Historical Fiction of 2023'
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd All Our Wrong Todays
Book Synopsis''A witty, time-travelling romance'' Maria Semple, author of Where''d You Go, Bernadette This is a love story that could only happen because of an accident of time travel. Tom and Penny belong to a world so perfect there''s no war, no poverty, no under-ripe avocados. But when something awful happens to Penny, and Tom tries to make it right, he accidentally destroys everything, waking up in our broken, dysfunctional world. Only here, Penny and Tom have a second chance. Should Tom go back to his brilliant but loveless existence, or risk everything by staying in our messy, complicated world for his one and only chance at true love? ''Thrilling and refreshingly optimistic'' Andy Weir, author of The Martian ''Sharp and funny'' Daily Mail ''It''s a Wonderful Life meets The Jetsons'' Buzzfeed''All Our Wrong Todays is an entertaining romp thatTrade ReviewAll Our Wrong Todays is an entertaining romp that should appeal to fans The Time Traveler's Wife -- Best recent science fiction * The Guardian *Sharp, funny writing in a mind-bending, time-travelling junket of a novel * Daily Mail *A mind-bending time travel caper * Guardian * Elan Mastai manages the [time-travel] genre masterfully in his debut novel -- Olivia Ovenden * Esquire *A thrilling tale of time travel and alternate timelines with a refreshingly optimistic view of humanity's future -- Andy Weir, author of international bestseller * The Martian *A novel about time travel has no right to be this engaging. A novel this engaging has no right to be this smart. And a novel this smart has no right to be this funny. Or insightful. Or immersive. Basically, this novel has no right to exist." * Jonathan Tropper, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Where I Leave You and One Last Thing Before I Go *Elan Mastai has conjured up a witty and freewheeling time-traveling romance that packs an emotional wallop. All Our Wrong Todays is a page-turning delight -- Maria Semple, author of * Where’d You Go, Bernadette *All Our Wrong Todays is elaborately constructed and incredibly emotionally intelligent; it's a story with super high stakes that genuinely makes you feel every part of Tom's awful predicament * SciFiNow *Witty, original, funny, charming - a great story! * Joe Haddow, BBC Radio 2 Book Club *It's all very clever, but it's also not really the point. Because as well as being an intelligent sci-fi story, it's also a love story, and kind of a monomyth, and also just an incredibly relatable, insightful story about being in your 30s, feeling like you haven't achieved anything, and figuring out what's next * SciFiNow UK *A timeless, if mind-bending, story about the journeys we take, populated by friends, family, lovers and others, that show us who we might be, could be - and maybe never should be - that eventually leads us to who we are * USA Today *Mastai has a penchant for exuberant plot, a quick dash of character and fearlessly funny storytelling * The Washington Post *All Our Wrong Todays is the mind-bending science fiction romance you need to read * Mashable *This lovely new novel is It's a Wonderful Life meets The Jetsons. Tom who lives in an alternate 2016 where all the sci-fi fantasies of the 1950s are a reality, suddenly finds himself stranded in our 2016, where he rediscovers his family, friends, and self. * Buzzfeed *Imagine a world where 2016 was glorious: no Bowie, Brexit, Bake-Off, Bannon. That's where All Our Wrong Todays begins... Ambitious, funny, wry and philosophical, it's not surprising that author Mastai started off his life as a screenwriter (All Our Wrong Todays has already been picked up by uber-producer Amy Pascal) because this a book that has the grand scope of sweeping cinema peppered throughout * Emerald Street *Sharp, funny writing is married to complex plotting that whisks through various alternative realities in this mind-bending, time-travelling junket of a novel * Daily Mail *
£10.44
Cornerstone The Sanctuary: the gripping must-read thriller by
Book SynopsisPre-order Andrew Hunter Murray's brilliantly entertaining new thriller A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering coming May 2024!There's no way back from paradise. From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Day, this high-concept thriller will provoke and grip you from the very first page . . .'Sucks you in and doesn't let you leave until the very last page' Anthony Horowitz'Smoothly written, thought provoking ... with an effective shocker of an ending' Guardian'Absolutely brilliant. I'm thinking it needs to be made into a movie!' Zoe Ball___________________Sanctuary Rock is a perfect place.A remote island, owned by a wealthy philanthropist who is building a brand-new world on the ruins of the old one.Ben only came to the island to bring his fiancée Cara home. But when he arrives, he is rapidly seduced by the vision of a better way of life, as described by the charismatic and mysterious Sir John.Before long, he decides to stay.But the island holds darker secrets than he could ever have suspected.Then he learns the only route back to the mainland is about to close for good.And his own life may be in terrible danger . . .___________________'The considerable pleasure of this novel is in the getting from here to there' The Times'Gripping, unsettling and original. Andrew Hunter Murray is a fabulous storyteller.' Tim Harford'Rich in imagination and stylishly written ... Totally absorbing.' Paul Burke, Crime Time FM___________________Readers can't get enough of The Sanctuary . . .***** 'A thoughtful, impressive science fiction thriller.'***** 'I hope AHM keeps writing books because they are *chef's kiss* perfection.'***** 'Some great twists, turns and surprises! Thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking.'***** 'I like Andrew Hunter Murray's style ... It was a brilliant read.'***** 'This book took a totally different turn to what I was expecting! Really enjoyable, stayed up late to finish it as the story was so tense towards the end.'
£9.49
Image Comics Paper Girls Volume 5
Book SynopsisBrian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang’s Eisner Award winning series Paper Girls is coming Amazon Prime Video in July 2022! Can anyone escape fate? That's what Mac and her fellow newspaper delivery girls must discover as they escape the year 2000 and travel to the distant future. Plus, the truth behind the mysterious "old-timers" is finally revealed. Collects PAPER GIRLS #21-25
£13.29
Amazon Publishing The Dissent
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
£8.54
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. The Relentless Moon: A Lady Astronaut Novel
Book SynopsisThe Third in the Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award-Winning SeriesTwo worlds. One humanity.It’s 1963, and riots and sabotage plague the space program. The climate change caused by the Meteor is becoming more and more clear, but tensions are rising, and the IAC’s goal of getting humanity off Earth is threatened.Astronaut Nicole Wargin lives two lives; one as a politican’s smiling wife on Earth, and the other as an astronaut on the newly-established Moon Base. But when sabotage strikes, she finds that her two worlds are colliding – with deadly consequences.‘The Lady Astronaut series might be set in an alternate past, but they’re cutting-edge SF novels that speak volumes about the present.’ -The Verge
£8.99
Pushkin Press The Trials of Lila Dalton
Book SynopsisAn inventive and ambitious speculative courtroom thriller - Shutter Island meets The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle 'I look up to find twelve strangers staring back at me... I realise I'm the one they're waiting for.' Lila Dalton has no memory of how she got to this courtroom. The man in the docks is accused of mass murder, and she's his barrister - but she can't remember anything about the case. She can't remember anything at all. Lila is stranded on an island hundreds of miles from the UK, where the most serious crimes go to trial. The next plane out doesn't leave for days. And she's being watched. Someone keeps breaking into her hotel room to leave cryptic notes, threatening her with deadly consequences if she doesn't get her client off... Can Lila Dalton win her case and solve the mystery of her own identity?Trade Review'I found this book unputdownable from the first page. As the mystery deepens, readers will be on the edge of their seats, desperate to know what happens next' - Sophie Hannah'Stuart Turton meets Agatha Christie - a locked room puzzle with hints of the supernatural, brilliantly told through the lens of the judicial system. A truly intriguing and intelligent mystery which had me gripped from the start. Totally recommend.' - Sarah Moorhead, author of The Treatment'A strikingly clever debut and high concept legal thriller which grips from the first page and never lets up. The claustrophobic setting and fast-paced narrative make for a great story' - Guy Morpuss'Original and feverishly compulsive' - Sabine Durrant, author of Finders, Keepers'Inventive, bold and insightful, The Trials of Lila Dalton is a captivating exploration of the nature of truth. L. J. Shepherd's gripping debut transcends crime fiction and presents a speculative tale that challenges our notions of justice' - Adam Hamdy, author of The Other Side of Night
£15.29
Canongate Books My Name Is Monster
Book Synopsis'Strikingly beautiful' Guardian'Tough and tender' Joanne HarrisAfter the Sickness has killed off her parents, and the bombs have fallen on the last safe cities, Monster emerges from the Arctic vault which has kept her alive. When she washes up on the coast of Scotland, everyone she knows is dead, and she believes she is alone in an empty world.Slowly, piece by piece, she begins to rebuild a life. Until, one day, she finds a girl: another survivor, feral, and ready to be taught all that Monster knows. But as the lonely days pass, the lessons the girl learns are not always the ones Monster means to teach . . .Trade ReviewFresh and powerful . . . Hale's writing is assured and . . . strikingly beautiful . . . Most of all, the book has a great generosity and empathy for monsterdom, and refreshingly allows its characters to find happiness without becoming more ordinary . . . Hale is certainly a skilful writer with a compelling voice, and her ideas are bold and promising * * Guardian * *A terrific piece of writing; tough and tender and insightful. Loved it -- JOANNE HARRISA complex, accomplished debut. The prose dazzles while the themes of feminism, power and fertility sneak in for a gut-punch. It kept me gripped from the first page, and the characters continue to live and breathe in my imagination -- KIRSTY LOGAN, author of THE GRACEKEEPERSTaut, tough and sensitive, the narrative conjures up a devastated world, inhabited by two intriguing characters, with precision and real atmosphere * * Daily Mail * *Katie Hale has written two fascinating, flawed and compelling characters and, with only two people and an empty world, has created a novel that is gripping, insightful and unique -- CLAIRE FULLER, author of OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYSIn a novel in which the entire planet has been devastated, Hale, a poet, narrows her focus right down to the inner lives of her two protagonists and their relationship with each other, dissecting each layer as it is uncovered with delicacy and lyricism * * Herald * *A riveting and disturbing novel, part twisted fairy tale and part dystopian nightmare, in which the primal human need to find meaning and love shines through the darkness of a ruined world -- MICK KITSON, author of SALPowerful and unflinching . . . This is a humane, tender and often painful exploration of the ways in which daughters consider themselves to be braver, smarter and more independent than their mothers, as well as the strength of love and hope in an empty world. Hale has crafted a gripping and intense dystopian fairytale . . . Beautifully written . . . A must-read * * The Skinny * *Held together by skilful, well-crafted prose . . . Keep[s] the reader hooked to the last page . . . Her writing is superb * * Wee Review * *A gripping study of loneliness and what it can do to your psyche . . . Hale's style means we'll be interested in what she writes next * * Herald * *
£8.54
Flame Tree Publishing The Roamers
Book SynopsisThe pulldogs, a group of people at the twilight of Western civilisation, undergo an anthropological transformation caused by the dissemination of nanites (nanorobots capable of assembling molecules to create matter). This technology changes the way they eat and gives rise to a culture which, while reminiscent of an ancient nomadic society, is creative and new. Liberation from the imperative of food, combined with the ability to 3D print objects and use cloud computing, makes it possible for the pulldogs to make a choice that seems impossible and anachronistic – a new life, but is it really an Arcadia? FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress.Trade ReviewThis is exciting stuff and is first rate futurism.” James Patrick Kelly, Nebula, Locus and Hugo Award winner"Our world is closing in. We're in danger of becoming parochial and tribal. This is why Francesco Verso is such an important voice in SF. Here's a writer and publisher from outside the anglosphere, not just reminding us that SFF is a global literature and a global language but working in tireless support of writers and literature from all across the planet. Listen to what he has to say." -- Ian McDonald"The Roamers is an urgent, impassioned work for our times that cements Francesco Verso’s place at the forefront of European SF writers working today. Not to be missed!" -- Lavie Tidhar
£11.66
Titan Books Ltd Axiom's End
Book SynopsisAn alternate history first contact adventure set in the early 2000's, pitched as Arrival meets The Three-Body Problem, by video essayist Lindsay Ellis. By the fall of 2007, one well-timed leak revealing that the U.S. government might have engaged in first contact has sent the country into turmoil, and it is all Cora Sabino can do to avoid the whole mess. The force driving this controversy is Cora's whistleblower father, and even though she hasn't spoken to him in years, his celebrity has caught the attention of the press, the Internet, the paparazzi, and the government and redirected it to her. She neither knows nor cares whether her father's leaks are a hoax, and wants nothing to do with him until she learns just how deeply entrenched her family is in the cover-up, and that an extraterrestrial presence has been on Earth for decades. To save her own life, she offers her services as an interpreter to a monster, and the monster accepts. Learning the extent to which both she and the public have been lied to, she sets out to gather as much information as she can, and finds that the best way for her to find the truth is not as a whistleblower, but as an intermediary. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. But in becoming an interpreter, she begins to realize that she has become the voice for a being she cannot ever truly know or understand, and starts to question who she's speaking for and what future she's setting up for all of humanity.
£9.49
Profile Books Ltd Jungle House: 'A brilliant AI mystery' the
Book SynopsisA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 'Stylish, beautiful and strange' Jessie Greengrass As featured on BBC Open Book: 'poses questions about whether we can love AI and whether AI could love us ... I couldn't help but develop a soft spot for Mother' -- Johny Pitts Lena has always lived in the jungle with Mother. There they look after a holiday home in surroundings that burst with colour and crawl with danger. Lena's only other friend is Isabella, who once visited regularly with her wealthy parents and security drone, Anton. But Isabella and her family haven't been seen in years. Mother is not like other mothers. She gets angry when Lena draws her with a face. When Lena challenges her to portray herself, she paints a tiny yellow dot surrounded by swirling black. She is a bastion of light, she says, against an army of darkness. Outside, rebels are fighting to take over the country. Mother is determined nothing will change inside the security fence, nothing to threaten her bond with Lena, or endanger the family. But there are secrets that need to emerge. How did Lena end up here? And what has happened to the family who no longer visit? What has Mother been planning, and what is gathering around them to change their lives forever?Trade ReviewInsightful and very alive ... Pachico's alternative universe is a world of its own here, animated beyond what is possible in most fiction now * Guardian *An affecting AI mystery * i weekend *A bewildering and compelling novel that explores the tensions between town and country, danger and safety, rich and poor, and above all the human and the non-human... like Lord of the Flies fed through an episode of Black Mirror * Literary Review *Skilfully plotted * Telegraph *'Dazling and horrifying - this is Louise Bourgeois' Maman in a novel for the age of AI. Spectacular punchy prose and big thinking on the emotions of machines. We need writers like Pachico to help us think into the future -- Anna Metcalfe, author of ChrysalisCompelling, atmospheric and sultry -- Olivia Sudjic, author of Asylum RoadThe robots are here, and they're touchy and insecure. At least, that's so in Julianne Pachico's brilliant AI mystery, Jungle House. With its remote setting, survival theme, and exploration of the possibilities and limitations of technology, it's a harmonious counterpoint to Naomi Alderman's apocalypse thriller, The Future -- Madeleine Feeny * the Bookseller, Editor's Pick *Jungle House is excellent at suspense, constantly weaving terror through beguiling descriptions of the tropical landscape, and delivering well-earned plot twists throughout ... A fresh, darkly witty reminder that technology and nature still have some kinks to work out * Strong Words Magazine *One of the most talked-about releases this month and it's easy to see why ... a highly imaginative concept novel for our AI age * The Gloss, Irish Times *Jungle House is extraordinary, a charming and ominous and utterly riveting story that reads partly like a fable, and partly like a premonition of our future -- Phil Klay, author of RedeploymentStylish, beautiful and strange, Jungle House looks with clear eyes at the complicated nature of embodiment, at our relationships both to ourselves and to others, and the delicate balance of love -- Jessie Greengrass, author of The High HouseAs enchanting as a fairy tale, and equally sinister, Jungle House takes us to the primordial forest and a future where AI manages the every need of a wealthy elite. Pachico's captivating novel is both a provocative conjuring of a future that's almost upon us, and a moving exploration of the mother-daughter bond -- Victoria Gosling, author of Bliss and BlunderConstantly seems to pose questions about whether we can love AI and whether AI could love us ... I couldn't help but develop a soft spot for Mother -- Johny Pitts, author of AfropeanJulianne Pachico's smart plotting means you're never quite certain what's going to happen next but you're left rooting for Mother and Lena, 2023's unlikeliest literary duo. Intriguing and beautifully written, Jungle House is totally recommended * the Crack *Tense, poignant and atmospheric * the Bookseller, Editor's Pick *Intense and insightful ... a superb imagining on a topical subject matter - one which will leave you questioning developments about the impact of artificial intelligence, and its future * Buzz Magazine *This AI mystery is one to watch ... Gripping * Sunday Post *Well written with strong characters ... if The Jungle Book was about an abandoned baby girl who was looked after by two robots and an all-seeing, all-hearing and all-knowing "Mother", instead of a lovable black bear and a grumpy panther * Birmingham Mail *Thought-provoking and hauntingly atmospheric, Pachico's second novel is a gripping account of unravelling domestic dystopia and a timely reflection on what it means to be human in a world increasingly run by machines * Mail on Sunday *There's an element of Hal 9000 transported to terra firma in Pachico's latest ... a smart novel that mines fearmongering about the dangers of AI for bleak satire * Irish Times *Praise for Julianne Pachico * : *A millennial's view of the complexities of Colombia, full of existential angst and funny details ... Go to Pachico's Colombia * The New York Times *Superb * Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble *Pachico is a gripping writer * The Times *Thrilling ... remarkably inventive * Atlantic *Pachico lays bare the trauma of life in post-peace Columbia * Ingrid Persaud, author of Love after Love *
£13.49
Everyman The Handmaid's Tale
Book SynopsisThe Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed . If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs...Trade Review'Moving, vivid and terrifying. I only hope it's not prophetic' Conor Cruise O'Brien, The Listener'The Handmaid's Tale is both a superlative exercise in science fiction and a profoundly felt moral story' Angela Carter'Our of a narrative shadowed by terror, gleam sharp perceptions, brilliant intense images and sardonic wit' Peter Kemp, Independent'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'Powerful...admirable' Robert Irwin, Time Out
£12.34
Unicorn Publishing Group The Scapegoat: Ovid’s Journey Out of Exile
Book SynopsisPublius Ovidius Naso (43BC – 17/18AD), known as Ovid, was known as much for his disgrace as for his poetry. By pleasing his contemporaries, befriending patricians and subtly mocking the emperor Augustus, he was transformed from a provincial outsider to Rome’s darling – and, for some, its corrupter. Banished without trial to a remote port on the Black Sea, he continued to write. It is fortunate that most of his work has not been lost. The transformation stories of his masterpiece – The Metamorphoses – inspired not just Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton, but have been a major influence on European culture. His handbooks of erotic love taught men and women the art of dealing with the opposite sex. They brought him instant literary glory and notable adversaries. His works were banned by the emperor Augustus, by Savonarola, by the Bishop’s Ban, by the Vatican and eventually by the US Custom Office; this latter only lifted in 1930. To discover who was Ovid the man, Michael Solomon travelled in his footsteps, seeking the same landscapes today that Ovid found two thousand years ago.Trade Review"For any Classics lovers this is the perfect exploration into the life of such an influential poet. ...It is profound and well-written, and fully captivates you, bringing you into Ovid’s journey out of exile. If you love Ancient Greece/Ancient Rome or just love the symbolism in Ovid’s poetry then this will bring you into a new dimension of understanding." Inside Out Reviews "The Scapegoat is a thrilling novel with an intriguing character study that is sure to please those interested in the Roman Empire." Historic Chronicles "The Scapegoat is a thoughtful and interesting novel, with a good historical background research and unique take on historical facts. A long yet heartly recommended weekend read." Wild Writing Life "Sardonic, clever, and descriptive, this novel takes the reader not only into the life of the infamous Ovid but also into the heart of 1st century Rome with all of its political intrigue and artifice." Ellen Z Reads "The ending has a twist to it that leaves you with a smile on your face" From the Book Elf "An interesting and unusual read" The Library Door
£9.50
Double 9 Booksllp The Good Soldier
Book Synopsis
£12.59
Pan Macmillan Never
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Thriller of the Month'Stunning . . . one of the most compelling reads of the year' – Daily ExpressExpertly researched and visionary in scale, international number one bestseller Ken Follett’s Never is more than a thriller. It imagines a scenario we all hope never comes true, one which will keep you transfixed until the final page . . .A stolen US army drone.A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert.A secret stash of deadly chemicals.Each is a threat to global stability. Each can be overcome with only the highest levels of diplomacy. But when those in charge disagree and refuse to back down, an international chain reaction kicks off with potentially catastrophic consequences: a world edging closer to war . . .Now three people must work with the utmost skill to stop that from happening:A spy working undercover with jihadis.A brilliant Chinese spymaster.A US president beleaguered by a populist rival for the next election.The only question is – in a game of brinksmanship, can the inevitable ever be stopped?'Bold in scale and meticulously researched' – Sunday Times'His best yet' - Stephen KingUrgent and fiercely compelling’ – The Washington PostMore than 175 million copies sold worldwide. Published in over 80 territories and 37 languages. The international no.1 bestselling phenomenon returns.Trade ReviewKen Follett has never been short of ambition. And it’s the global scope and vast multinational cast that chiefly impress in Never, his return to contemporary storytelling . . . Bold in scale and meticulously researched, Never makes other international spy novels appear timid, lazy and parochial -- Sunday Times Thriller of the Month November 2021I couldn't put it down . . . terrifying read . . . masterful detail . . . It's a stunning thriller and one of the most compelling reads of the year. It's not quite The Godfather, but it comes pretty close -- Daily ExpressA master storyteller, Follett has created a tale vast in scale, yet richly detailed, exploring the consequences of international power plays and the chilling imminence of global catastrophe. * The i *An ambitious and compelling narrative, exploring the consequences of international power plays and the chilling imminence of global catastrophe -- Press Association syndicated reviewUrgent and fiercely compelling . . . Never is first-rate entertainment that has something important to say. It deserves the popular success it will almost certainly achieve -- Washington PostSuperstar novelist Ken Follett’s what-if political thriller . . . is so exciting – and so plausible – you won’t want to look away -- Apple Books Best Book of the MonthSettle in for a thrilling ride -- CNN.comFollett’s story captivates -- Christian Science MonitorA complex, scary thriller that feels too plausible for comfort. You’ll be so absorbed in the story threads that you’ll follow them anywhere – and you’ll suddenly realize you’ve read hundreds of pages . . . On one level, it’s great entertainment; on another, a window into a sobering possibility -- Kirkus Reviews starred reviewAbsolutely compelling . . . A smart, scary, and all-too-plausible thriller -- BooklistTerrific . . . A powerful, commanding performance from one of the top writers in the genre -- Publishers Weekly starred review[Follett] weaves a web of intrigue . . . Shocking to the very last page * Sunday Express *Taking readers on a thrilling, rollercoaster ride through 800 pages of dazzling storytelling, Follett brings his extraordinary visionary talents to this powerful and far-reaching novel. * Lancashire Evening Post *A pacey, character-driven thriller set against the backdrop of an imminent Third World War * Choice Magazine *Told in Follett's hallmark widescreen style, the blockbuster thriller is packed with memorable characters and global politics, it's a nail-biting ride! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *
£17.68
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Waste Tide
Book SynopsisA Guardian Science Fiction Book of the Year. Mimi is drowning in the world's trash. She's a 'waste girl', a scavenger picking through towering heaps of hazardous electronic detritus. Along with thousands of other migrant workers, she was lured to Silicon Isle, off the southern coast of China, by the promise of steady work and a better life. But Silicon Isle is where the rotten fruits of capitalism and consumer culture come to their toxic end. The land is hopelessly polluted, the workers utterly at the mercy of those in power. And now a storm is gathering, as ruthless local gangs skirmish for control, eco-terrorists conspire, investors hunger for profit, and a Chinese-American interpreter searches for his roots. As these forces collide, conflict erupts – a war between rich and poor, a battle between past and future. Mimi must decide if she will remain a pawn... or change the rules of the game altogether. 'An accomplished eco-techno-thriller with heart and soul' DAVID MITCHELL. 'Waste Tide is a work of spoiled and toxic beauty... It's more than a timely eco-thriller; it's a dark mirror held up to our selves' SIMON INGS. Trade ReviewAn accomplished eco-techno-thriller with heart and soul as well as brain. Chen Qiufan is an astute observer, both of the present world and of the future that the next generation is in danger of inheriting -- David MitchellThe pinnacle of near-future SF writing -- Cixin LiuSomething startlingly new... an action-packed story that's full of moral complexity' -- Charlie Jane AndersA hard-hitting, uncompromising look at the near future -- Adrian TchaikovskyA stunning tale of greed [that] deftly exposes all the hidden contours of the human heart -- Maggie Shen KingA work of spoiled and toxic beauty... It's more than a timely eco-thriller; it's a dark mirror held up to our selves' -- Simon IngsChinese author Chen Quifan's debut novel Waste Tide is all too true to life * SFX *A cracking science fiction novel by Chen Qiufan suggests humanity's future may be even stranger than its past * New Scientist *Chen's portrait of industry and society alike is caustically bleak – life is short and cheap – and the cultural impact of his future tech well thought through * SFX. *A crop of younger writers are now emerging in the duo's wake [Cixin Liu and Han Song]. Waste Tide takes place on an island devoted to electronics refuse in a fictionalised South China Sea... The setting is not too far divorced from parts of real-life China, in which the by-products of the electronics industry create uninhabitably toxic environments' * Economist. *This chilling eco-techno tale, well translated by Ken Liu, illustrates that the eternal conflict of good and evil remains alive in our "brave new world" * The Tablet *There's an old school cyberpunk quality to the book, a compelling reflection on a world defined by its waste * Guardian *
£8.54
Humanoids, Inc Weapons of the Metabaron
Book SynopsisThe seminal series' spin-off story recounting how the mightiest warrior in the universe built his arsenal of war. The creative trio of Jodorowsky, Charest, and Janjetov bring us a tale of how No Name, the most ruthless mercenary in the Caste of the Metabarons, assembled the galaxy’s most powerful and destructive weapons in an effort to secure his position as the universe’s ultimate warrior. This limited edition collects the entire story in Deluxe Oversized format for the first time ever, allowing a closer look at the iconic, cinematic art styles of both Travis Charest and Zoran Janjetov. This edition is limited to its first printing.
£21.24
Kodansha America, Inc Tsugumi Project 1
Book SynopsisIn the western Pacific Ocean floats an island archipelago, cut off from the world and full of mysteries: scientific secrets that some believe are best forgotten, decaying monuments to an era of human decadence two centuries gone, and strange, radioactive monsters that tear apart any human beings foolish enough to set foot there. Its name, spoken only in whispers: Japan. It's illegal to go near this dangerous place-but, after being torn from his family and convicted on a false charge, that's exactly where Leon has been sent. An experienced soldier of fortune, Leon is tasked with retrieving a powerful weapon called Tsugumi. Can they stay alive long enough to find this Tsugumi? Just what the hell is it, anyway, if that's even the right question? And does it have anything to do with the quiet, brutal girl with taloned feet who swoops in to save Leon's life?
£11.69
Viz Media, Subs. of Shogakukan Inc Children of the Whales, Vol. 18
Book SynopsisIn this postapocalyptic fantasy, a sea of sand swallows everything but the past.In an endless sea of sand drifts the Mud Whale, a floating island city of clay and magic. In its chambers a small community clings to survival, cut off from its own history by the shadows of the past.The Mud Whale has been overrun with tárichos, a virulent parasitic growth that turns everyone it touches into mindless husks controlled by the Nous Geráki. The only way to stop the spread of the tárichos is to destroy the Nous, but that won’t be an easy task—or one without sacrifice.
£9.49
Atlantic Books Reamde
Book SynopsisAcross the globe, millions of computer screens flicker with the artfully coded world of T'Rain - an addictive internet role-playing game of fantasy and adventure. But backstreet hackers in China have just unleashed a contagious virus called Reamde, and as it rampages through the gaming world spreading from player to player - holding hard drives hostage in the process - the computer of one powerful and dangerous man is infected, causing the carefully mediated violence of the on-line world to spill over into reality. A fast-talking, internet-addicted mafia accountant is brutally silenced by his Russian employers, and Zula - a talented young T'Rain computer programmer - is abducted and bundled on to a private jet. As she is flown across the skies in the company of the terrified boyfriend she broke up with hours before, and a brilliant Hungarian hacker who may be her only hope, she finds herself sucked into a whirl of Chinese Secret Service agents and gun-toting American Survivalists; the Russian criminal underground and an al-Qaeda cell led by a charismatic Welshman; each a strand of a connected world that devastatingly converges in T'Rain. An inimitable and compelling thriller that careers from British Columbia to South-West China via Russia and the fantasy world of T'Rain, Reamde is an irresistible epic from the unique imagination of one of today's most individual writers.Trade ReviewFantastic * Sunday Times *Like Stephenson's most critically acclaimed novel, Cryptonomicon, Reamde combines meticulous observation of the stranger socio-economic effects wrought by technology with rousing fusillade adventure... Outrageously entertaining... a joyride * Guardian *Sometimes when you're reading Neal Stephenson, he doesn't just seem like one of the best novelists writing in English right now; he seems like the only one * Time *
£21.25
Canongate Books Anna
Book SynopsisIt is four years since the virus came, killing every adult in its path. Not long after that the electricity failed. Food and water started running out. Fires raged across the country. Now Anna cares for her brother alone in a house hidden in the woods, keeping him safe from 'the Outside'. But, when the time comes, Anna knows they must leave their world and find another. By turns luminous and tender, gripping and horrifying, Anna is a haunting parable of love and loneliness; of the stories we tell to sustain us, and the lengths we will go to in order to stay alive.Trade ReviewAmmaniti sets a new standard in post-apocalyptic fiction . . . This story of children running wild in Sicily brilliantly manipulates the usual models even as it transcends their limits . . . In the midst of wonderfully detailed disorder, one girl named Anna struggles to survive, fighting off feral dogs and crazed children and enduring one of recent literature's most nightmarish visions of hell on earth as she tries to feed and protect her young brother, Astor -- John Burnside * * Guardian * *From The Lord of the Flies to The Road, we do love a dystopian tale of survival. And it's apt that in these uncertain modern times, here comes arguably the best one yet . . . Complex, moving and scary, this one will stay with you long after the last page * * Sunday Telegraph * *Ammaniti's Italian bestseller has been compared to . . . Lord Of The Flies and The Road . . . It's a powerfully disturbing and thought-provoking read * * Daily Mail * *One of Italy's foremost literary talents . . . Combines the wayward fantasy of J.G. Ballard with comic-strip adventure . . . Ammaniti has lost none of his gift for landscape description -- Ian Thomson * * Times Literary Supplement * *Brave and uncompromising writing . . . A brutal but moving post-apocalyptic tale set in a world where adults have all been wiped out . . . reminiscent of Lord of the Flies or Cormac McCarthy's The Road . . . written with such heart and compassion for the plight of the characters that you can't help but get sucked in and root for them. Compelling and moving writing -- Doug Johnstone * * Big Issue * *Unbeatable storytelling - an immediate and engaging study of humanity at its best and worst * * Financial Times * *A gripping tale of resilience, friendship and sibling love in a brutal and dangerous world. I loved it! -- MEGAN BRADBURY, author of EVERYONE IS WATCHINGAmmaniti won the Italian Strega Prize for I'm Not Scared, and Anna has the same taut narrative, with straight-from-the-bow suspense, but its mark is philosophical . . . concerned not only with the will to live but also with what makes us alive * * Irish Times * *Ammaniti has an enviable ability to keep readers thoroughly absorbed * * The Herald * *Anna has pretty much everything you could hope for from a post-apocalyptic picaresque adventure story * * London Review of Books * *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group Crusoes Daughter
Book SynopsisIn 1904, when she was six, Polly Flint went to live with her two holy aunts at the yellow house by the marsh - so close to the sea that it seemed to toss like a ship, so isolated that she might have been marooned on an island. And there she stayed for eighty-one years, while the century raged around her, while lamplight and Victorian order became chaos and nuclear dred. Crusoe''s Daughter, ambitious, moving and wholly original, is her story.Trade ReviewShe does fiction as it should be done, with confidence and insight -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie * Observer *
£8.99
Headline Publishing Group Gather the Daughters
Book Synopsis''An exceptional debut'' Sunday Telegraph''Obsessed with The Handmaid''s Tale? This brilliant book is the one for you'' Stylist''An intriguing, gorgeously realised and written novel which inexorably draws you into its dark heart'' Kate HamerOn a small isolated island, there''s a community that lives by its own rules. Boys grow up knowing they will one day take charge, while girls know they will be married and pregnant within moments of hitting womanhood. But before that time comes, a ritual offers children an exhilarating reprieve. Every summer they are turned out onto their doorsteps, to roam the island, sleep on the beach and build camps in trees. To be free. At the end of one of such summer, one of the younger girls sees something she was never supposed to see. And she returns home with a truth that could bring their island world to its knees.''A skilful novel full of suspense'' Trade ReviewAn intriguing, gorgeously realised and written novel which inexorably draws you into its dark heart -- Kate HamerIt's a richly envisioned world, the strange isolation of which Melamed is excellent at teasing out slowly * Independent *An exceptional debut * Sunday Telegraph *A skilful novel full of suspense * Guardian *An assured, lyrical and vivid debut * Irish Independent *An obvious comparison is Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and Melamed is more than equal a writer. Her prose is exact, the premise chilling and her characters all too plausible * Daily Mail, top debuts of 2017 *Obsessed with The Handmaid's Tale? This brilliant book is the one for you * Stylist *[A] dark, compelling debut... At a time when it feels as if women's rights around the world are being slowly eroded this absorbing novel is both gripping and to-the-bone chilling. Melamed is definitely a talent to watch. * Daily Express *Gather the Daughters is an always-compelling and sometimes-shocking read as the horrific secrets of the island are slowly revealed. I read it in one sleep-deprived sitting * Red Magazine *Gather The Daughters is extraordinary, powerful, and harrowing-and yet hopeful in its portrait of the human spirit and the endurance of love. This is a visceral book on all levels and it is haunting me still -- Julie CohenA terrifying work of speculative fiction ... Melamed is a masterful writer, and she establishes a hauntingly vivid atmosphere....This is a haunting work in the spirit of The Handmaid's Tale-but Melamed more than holds her own. Fearsome, vivid, and raw * Kirkus Reviews *Melamed's haunting and powerful debut blazes a fresh path in the tradition of classic dystopian works...a searing portrayal of a utopian society gone wrong...Melamed's prose is taut and precise. Her nuanced characters and honest examination of the crueler sides of human nature establish her as a formidable author in the vein of Shirley Jackson and Margaret Atwood * Publishers Weekly *At times harrowing in its depiction of cruelty, at other times joy-filled and buoyed by the spirit of liberated girlhood, this is an exhilarating, feminist cry-out, which I hope finds a wide readership * The Big Issue *A chilling, vividly realised feminist novel that propels the reader into the dark heart of a cruelly repressive and sinister society * Daily Mail *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC In Persuasion Nation
Book SynopsisAn American short-story writer of intimidating talent'' Zadie SmithDark, concerned, confused and funny, all at the same time ... Like so much of Saunders'' brilliant, crazy writing it''s relevant, but not too relevant'' The TimesFrom the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the 2017 Man Booker Prize winner Lincoln in the BardoA breathtaking collection of strange, surreal, and utterly human short stories from the celebrated master of the form.Talking candy bars, baby geniuses, disappointed mothers, castrated dogs, interned teenagers, and moral fables all in this hilarious and heartbreaking collection by George Saunders, this generation''s literary voice of wisdom and humour, for a time when we need it most.Trade Review‘An American short-story writer of intimidating talent' * Zadie Smith *‘Graceful, dark, authentic and funny' * Thomas Pynchon *‘Dark, concerned, confused and funny, all at the same time ... Like so much of Saunders' brilliant, crazy writing it's relevant, but not too relevant' * The Times *‘You do not read Saunders' stories so much as watch them detonate on the page in front of you, like a firecracker some joker has slipped into your pudding' * New Statesman *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Zero K
Book SynopsisJeffrey Lockhart has been summoned to The Convergence: a remote and secret compound where death is exquisitely, cryogenically controlled.He is there to say goodbye to his stepmother, Artis, who has chosen to surrender her dying body; preserving it until a future time when biomedical advances and new technologies can return her to a life of transcendent promise. And his healthy father, Ross, might join her.Hypnotic and seductive, Don DeLillo's Zero K is a visionary novel about the legacies we leave, the nobility of death, and the ultimate worth of 'the mingled astonishments of our time, here, on earth.'Trade ReviewBoth beautiful and profound, certainly DeLillo's best since Underworld, it forces us to confront the spectre of our own mortality, to ask deep questions of our motives in wishing to prolong our span on Earth. We finish the novel with a sudden recognition of the kindness of death, the balm of a bounded life * Observer *DeLillo is one of urban life's most perceptive chroniclers * Independent *DeLillo's 16th novel takes a sanguine and, as usual, perceptive look at life as it is now, beset by wars, terrorism and the catastrophic results of climate change, and balances them against the beauty and joy that can be involved in being human * Daily Mail *Humanly moving . . . sentence by sentence brilliance of phrasing and cadence * Literary Review *A kind of greatest-hits compilation of earlier motifs and gestures * London Review of Books *Haunting. . . Simultaneously terrifying yet beautifully told with a real tenderness for the everyday details of life in New York. . . certainly not to be missed * GQ *Very moving . . . his optimism is a welcome gift in this intense and deeply considered book * Prospect *A visionary novel of ideas that remembers even visionary novels are read by living, breathing humans * Independent *As he approaches 80, Don DeLillo is still producing work that channels America's tensions. . . supple and sad and oddly compassionate too; his most fully realised work in more than a decade * Guardian *DeLillo's spare eloquence and the cosmic depression underlying it makes this emptiest of novels a rich reading experience * The Times *Time has done nothing to diminish this writer's casually epigraphic style, his daring narrative choreography nor his sensitivity to the swelling fears of our age . . . truly provocative' * The Washington Post *[DeLillo's] most persuasive [novel] since his astonishing 1997 masterpiece, Underworld . . . Zero K reminds us of Mr. DeLillo's almost Day-Glo powers as a writer and his understanding of the strange, contorted shapes that eternal human concerns (with mortality and time) can take in the new millennium' -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *Brilliant in its imaginative scope * The Atlantic *Among DeLillo's finest work . . . DeLillo sneaks a heartbreaking story of a son attempting to reconnect with his father into his thought-provoking novel * Publishers Weekly *Sentence by sentence, DeLillo magically slips the knot of criticism and gives his readers what Nabokov maintained was all that mattered in life and art: individual genius. Sentence by sentence, DeLillo seduces . . . DeLillo has written a handful of the past half-century's finest novels. Now, as he approaches 80, he gives us one more, written distinctly for the 21st -- Joshua Ferris * New York Times *A return to full realization for DeLillo. . .Deserves to win old and new readers alike. A marvellous blend of DeLillo's enormous gifts; his bleak humour and edged insight, the alertness and vitality of his prose, the vast, poetic extrapolations are all evident. So is the visceral quickness and wit in the sentences -- Sam LipsyteAs ever, DeLillo explores the depths of an edgy, timely topic, completely resisting cliché, and emerges with something both fresh and universal * The Huffington Post *The reigning poet of unease, DeLillo has always understood the greatest disquiet — our mortality — and how our sense of it coats the surfaces of day-to-day life with a film, something DeLillo peels back at last in this bravura new novel about cryogenic life extension, family, and the losses we can’t overcome * Boston Globe *An eerie descent into a secret collective that seeks to elude death through cryonic freezing. It blends DeLillo's typical mix of introspection and creeping dread with something else — a menacing sense of the absurd, borrowed from Kafka. Combine this with a wry sense of humor and you've got a dive into the murky boundary between life and death that's as amusing as it is alarming * NPR *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Silence
'An apocalyptic novel for our times' – Guardian'Horrifyingly resonant' – ObserverSuperbowl Sunday, 2022. A couple wait in their Manhattan apartment for their final dinner guests to arrive. The game is about it start. The missing guests' flight from Paris should have landed by now.Suddenly, screens go blank. Phones are dead. Is this the end of civilization? All anybody can do is wait.From one of America’s greatest writers, The Silence is a timely and compelling novel about what happens when an unpredictable crisis strikes.'The Silence is Don DeLillo distilled . . . a straight shot of the good stuff' – Spectator
£8.99
Pan Macmillan Gingerbread
Book Synopsis‘A writer of sentences so elegant that they gleam’ - Ali Smith, author of How to be BothInfluenced by the mysterious place gingerbread holds in classic children's stories - equal parts wholesome and uncanny - beloved novelist Helen Oyeyemi invites readers into a delightful tale of a surprising family legacy, in which the inheritance is a recipe. Perdita Lee and her mother Harriet may appear your average schoolgirl and working mother but they are anything but. For one thing, their home is a gold-painted seventh-floor flat with some surprisingly verbal vegetation. And then there's the gingerbread. As we follow the Lees through encounters with jealousy, ambition, family grudges, work and wealth, gingerbread seems to be the one thing that holds a constant value . . . Endlessly surprising and satisfying, written with Helen Oyeyemi's inimitable style and imagination, Gingerbread is a true feast for the reader.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Legend of the Lakes
Book SynopsisAn absolute must-read for fans of Shadow and BoneCassandra stands silent upon a ravaged battlefield, watching as the druids prepare the dead for the pyres, embers drifting up into the still winter darkness. She can barely breathe through the agony of her grief, but she cannot waste another second on tears.Because Londinium, the Caesar, the empire all of it is still out there. The empire whose code she had followed, whose prince she had promised to marry, whose schemes she had been swept up in since birth.They tried to use her magic against her. To silence her.So she will use her magic against them. To silence them. Forever.The third and final chapter of The Once and Future Queen trilogy, this epic scifi fantasy adventure set in a dystopian world where the Romans still rule will enchant fans of Sarah J Maas and Cassandra Clare.Praise for The Once and Future Queen Series:OH MY HEART AND SOUL I am still reeling seriously I would put this series up with the big ones, like Throne of GlassTrade ReviewPraise for The Once and Future Queen Series: ‘OH MY HEART AND SOUL … I am still reeling … seriously I would put this series up with the big ones, like Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince’ Richelle, 5* NetGalley review ‘OMG. I will forever be in love with this series … this author has me as a fan for life’ Penelope, 5* NetGalley review ‘Beautifully written and one of the best dystopian novels I’ve read … an epic journey you won’t forget. I would love to see this made into a film’ Zoe, 5* NetGalley review ‘I couldn’t put it down. There were times when I gasped, when I cried and when I felt my jaw drop. The world Clara O’Connor has woven together is so intricate and real and the storytelling is flawless. Absolutely my favourite series I have read this year’ Jessica, 5* NetGalley review ‘If you want to immerse yourself in an Arthurian-inspired fantasy world, you need to look no further than this immersive, emotional, and wondrous one’ Tessa, 5* NetGalley review
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Impossible The No.1 Kindle bestseller and
Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the 2022 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction**Shortlisted for the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel 2023**Shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2023*Discover the love story of the yearUtterly delightful' NEW YORK TIMESI feel the same way as when I first read One Day' EMMA GANNON[A] humdinger of a love story' SUNHoly s***' GILLIAN MCALLISTERThe book with the IMPOSSIBLE twist read it to believe it _____________________________________________________________One day, NICK and BEE cross paths over a misdirected email. The connection is instant, electric, they feel like they've known each other forever.Nick buys a new suit, gets on a train. Bee steadies her nerves, gets a pep talk from her best friend Leila. This is it.Except it isn't.Because as they prepare to meet under the clock at Euston station, the universe throws in a twist you'd never see coming . . .*JOIN THE OBSESSION NOW**Number 1 Kindle bestseller the w/e 02/05/2022*Readers are falling for ITrade Review‘Holy s***. This book. I loved everything about it. The zingy dialogue, the romance, the suspense. The alternate history . . . It’s a love story of the greatest kind’ GILLIAN MCALLISTER ‘Some books become cultural touchstones that people bond over for years, like One Day or The Time Traveller’s Wife. You remember where you were when you read them, and how you felt. Impossible is one of those books’ LAURA PEARSON 'What an absolute joy of a book! Witty, engaging and so emotionally resonant, IMPOSSIBLE is the book we all need right now!’ SARAH PINBOROUGH ‘It is amazing, NEVER EVER EVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I WISHED I’D WRITTEN A BOOK SO MUCH. I am BAWLING. Bawling. An actual masterpiece’ ANSTEY HARRIS ‘Brilliant! I devoured every page. Warm, witty and original’ SARAH MORGAN ‘An absolutely addictive read . . . I was swept away by Bee and Nick’s impossible love story and I was utterly hooked from the start. Genuinely unputdownable’ JENNIFER SAINT ‘I have DEVOURED Impossible and I'm going to go as far as to say I think it's one of the best rom coms I have ever read. It's so funny, so original, so beautifully mad – I am seething with envy that I didn't write it myself’ SOPHIE COUSENS ‘It is indeed amazing. It has twisted my brain – in a good way – and made me wonder how much of it could be true. Ingenious and beautifully executed’ JILL MANSELL ‘Oh my goodness . . . Funny, unique, moving and complex – Lotz has taken an utterly fascinating premise and placed two wonderfully witty people at its heart’ CESCA MAJOR ‘My mind is officially blown . . . What a book! Breathtakingly original, clever and unputdownable. A work of total genius’ SARAH J HARRIS ‘It knocked my socks off! Such a ridiculously clever, hilarious read with characters so real, I'll never forget them. One of the best, most original love stories I ever read’ JESSICA RYN
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Last Beekeeper
Book SynopsisReminds me of Khaled Hosseini, poignant and heartwarming Simply a beautiful story that had me reading until 3:30 in the morning' Sarah, NetGalleyI am a friend of the bees. Like you.'So, you have been waiting for me?'The forest has been waiting for you.'Pakistan, 1974: The secret-wreathed trees of Harikaya have always called to Hassan. He knows if he doesn't find the last beekeeper and salvage a precious jar of his mythical black honey before the floods come, his mother will lose her sight.But then he wins a scholarship to study with the state governor in Karachi amidst a brewing storm of political turmoil and simmering espionage.His entire world is turned upside down when he meets Maryam, the governor's niece visiting from London.All the while the fate of his mother and his promise to the bees calls him back to the forest, and so he must decide: Maryam or the beekeeper, England or Pakistan, his head or his heart.One of the most exciting debuts of 2021, this is a lyrical historical noveTrade Review‘Reminds me of Khaled Hosseini, poignant and heartwarming… Simply a beautiful story that had me reading it until 3:30 in the morning’ Sarah, NetGalley ‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really appreciate the representation it gives my community’ Resham, NetGalley ‘An absolutely beautifully written novel’ Eszter, NetGalley ‘Magnificent! Perfect for a long summer’s day spent in a hammock’ Literary Redhead, NetGalley ‘A beautiful story of finding hope’ Zoe, NetGalley ‘This is Siya Turabi’s debut novel… I fell in love with her lyrical writing, her vivid descriptions and her tale of family and friendship as well as her love of nature and the expression of its magic’ Norma, NetGalley ‘The story has a lot of magical elements and sort of a fairy tale feeling at times as poetry and the bees envelop Hassan’ Sara, NetGalley
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Purgatory Poisoning An utterly gripping crime
Book SynopsisA fabulously funny celestial crime caper, full of wit, warmth and heart.' Helen LedererHow do you solve your own murder when you're already dead?Purgatory (noun):1. Where the dead are sent to atone.2. A place of suffering or torment.3. A youth hostel where the occupants play Scrabble and the mattresses are paper thin.When Dave wakes up in his own personal purgatory (St Ives Youth Hostel circa 1992), he's shocked to discover he's dead. And worse he was murdered.Heaven doesn't know who did it so with the help of two rogue angels, Dave must uncover the truth.As divine forces from both sides start to play the game, can Dave get out of this alive? Or at the very least, with his soul intact?An utterly gripping and page-turning mystery for fans of Murder Before Evensong and The Appeal from the winner of the Comedy Women in Print Unpublished Prize!.Readers LOVE The Purgatory PoisoningVery original, very funny, and very well written. I loved it!' NetGalley reviewer ?????A hilarious story I liTrade Review.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind
Book SynopsisTrippy, incisive, riotously funny' ALEXANDRA KLEEMAN[An] insightfully nightmarish parable '' HALLE BUTLER''A stunner' NANA KWAME ADJEI-BRENYAHLuminous as if George Saunders infiltrated the Severance writers' room' WASHINGTON POSTA work place novel. A love story. A dream you can't wake fromJonathan Abernathy is a loser. Unemployed and behind on his student loan repayments, the only thing Abernathy has in abundance is debt.When a secretive government loan forgiveness programme offers him a job he can literally do in his sleep, Abernathy thinks he's found his big break. Hired as a dream auditor, he finds himself entering the dreams of white-collar workers to flag their anxieties for removal at night so they''ll be more productive in the day. If Abernathy can at least appear competent, might he have a chance at a new life?As Abernathy tries to find his footing in this new gig, reality and morality begin to warp around him. Soon, the lines between life and work, right and wrong, and even sTrade Review‘McGhee brilliantly articulates the neuroses of a young person trying to survive in a system rigged against him … 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’ Washington Post ' Imagine the movie Inception, but populated by the middle-management workers in David Graeber’s book Bullshit Jobs ' New York Times ‘Fearlessly inventive and exquisitely poised … trippy, incisive, and, most importantly, riotously funny’ Alexandra Kleeman, author of You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine ‘An original mind brimming over with invention and comic ferocity’ Ben Marcus, author of The Flame Alphabet 'An excitingly original writer, inventing much needed and killingly funny satires for contemporary work and dreams of success' Holly Pester, author of The Lodgers ‘Precision, humour, heart … a stunner’ Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, author of Chain-Gang All-Stars ‘[An] insightfully nightmarish parable of the pervasive ravages of debt’ Halle Butler, author of The New Me ‘An exuberant, poignant, freewheeling debut’ Jeff VanderMeer, author of Annihilation ‘Funny, freaky, intellectually bold and always from the heart’ Sam Lipsyte, author of The Ask ‘A revelation … There's nothing like it, awake or asleep’ Hilary Leichter, author of Temporary ‘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 ‘A marvellous chronicler of the fantastic, the perverse, and the sublime’ Kelly Link, author of White Cat, Black Dog ‘Debt can take on a life of it’s own, but when it’s really good – like Jonathan Abernathy – so can art’ Electric Lit
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Virtual History
Book SynopsisEdited by Niall Ferguson, Virtual History applies ''counterfactual'' arguments to decisive moments in modern history.What if Britain had stayed out of the First World War?What if Germany had invaded Britain in 1940?What if Nazi Germany had defeated the Soviet Union?How would England look if there had been no Cromwell?What if there had been no American Revolution?And what if John F. Kennedy had lived?In this acclaimed book, leading historians from Andrew Roberts to Michael Burleigh challenge the complacency of traditional accounts, exploring what might have been if nine of the most decisive moments in modern history had never happened.''Quite brilliant, inspiring for the layman and an enviable tour de force for the informed reader ... A wonderful book ... lucid, exciting and easy to read'' - Literary Review''Ferguson constructs an entire scenario starting with Charles I''s defeat of the Covenanters, running through three revolutions that did not happen and climaxing with the collapse of the West, ruled by an Anglo-American empire, in the face of a mighty transcontinental, tsarist Russian imperium ... A welcome, optimistic assault on an intellectual heresy'' - Sunday Times''A talented and imaginative team who tackle with counterfactual verve a series of turning points'' - Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewQuite brilliant, inspiring for the layman and an enviable tour de force for the informed reader ... A wonderful book ... lucid, exciting and easy to read * Literary Review *Ferguson constructs an entire scenario starting with Charles I's defeat of the Covenanters, running through three revolutions that did not happen and climaxing with the collapse of the West, ruled by an Anglo-American empire, in the face of a mighty transcontinental, tsarist Russian imperium ... A welcome, optimistic assault on an intellectual heresy * Sunday Times *A talented and imaginative team who tackle with counterfactual verve a series of turning points * Daily Telegraph *
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd Cursed Bread
Book SynopsisGRANTA BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH NOVELISTSLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE 2023LONGLISTED FOR THE NOTA BENE PRIZE 2024From the Booker Prize-nominated author of The Water Cure comes a chilling new feminist fable based on the true story of an unsolved mystery . . .''A shimmering fever-dream of a novel'' TelegraphSpring, 1951. Four people meet in a small French town: the baker and his wife; the ambassador and his wife. Two belong to the town, two are outsiders.Some time later, strange things start happening. Horses drop dead in the fields. Children grow wild and unbiddable. Ghosts are sighted after dark. Someone is playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse but who is the predator and who their prey?Audacious and mesmerizing, Cursed Bread is a darkly erotic mystery about a town gripped by madness, envy like poison in the blood, and desire that burns and consumes.''A dreamy sapphic romp'' The Times''Gauzy [and] gripping, a quietly rich maturation of Mackintosh''s skill'' GuardianThe Spectator Book of the Year 2023Trade ReviewA shimmering fever-dream of a novel, teasing the reader [..] while finding a fresh narrative framework for the relationship between monotonous small-town life and repressed female desire. Cursed Bread contains more riches than many a novel twice its length * Telegraph *A quietly rich maturation of Mackintosh's skill... This is a book about the power desire and greed exert over reality and memory... Mackintosh has entered a brilliant new stage of writing * Guardian *Nimble, terrifying... Mackintosh is a wonderful prose stylist and she uses many of the resources that served her well in her Booker prize-nominated debut, The Water Cure: the slow unravelling of sanity, the isolated and mysterious setting, that feeling of panting, crawling, unfulfilled desire... A dreamy sapphic romp * The Times *Remarkable, sensuous, thrillingly written . . . Mackintosh's evocation of desire is so tangible that you can smell the aroma of illicit sex * Observer *A richly atmospheric tale of greed, desire and vainglorious ambition, the plot centres around Elodie, wife of the village baker, who projects the wants and desires from her own unfulfilling marriage onto the arrival of two glamorous newcomers to the village... Shimmering with an almost hallucinatory quality throughout, closing its pages at The End feels like waking up from a fever dream. Fascinating. * Marie Claire *A sun-scorched fever dream . . . Mackintosh's top-notch phrasemaking and knack for forming uncanny images generate a baleful atmosphere of lust and dread in this splendidly peculiar tale * Daily Mail *Sensual, luminous, transcendent... This tale of obsession, desire and betrayal has a timeless, dreamlike quality. It confirms Mackintosh as one of our finest young writers * The Bookseller, Editor's Choice *As in her previous novels, Mackintosh's prose is eerie but minimalist - dreamlike yet grounded. Her style elevates plot to the status of fable or allegory without resorting to straightforward metaphor. This a story shrouded in mist, thick with meaning * New Statesman *This novel is a masterclass in observation, of fracturing personalities but also in its tight and nuanced portrait of the rituals and minutiae of small-town life. Afterwards, you'll want to devour it all over again * Independent *Mackintosh's dark imagination and precision as a prose stylist combine to devastating effect, as unsettling as it is unpredictable * Financial Times *Sensual, brilliant... This strange fable takes place in a 20th-century French village (and, remarkably, is based on a true story). It is the sort of tale that you will want to sneak a chapter of at the dinner table before food is served. The book details the progress of a maddening, hot summer... Be warned: you will never look at a boulangerie in the same way again * Daily Telegraph (Summer Reads) *A thrilling and subversive fable * i-D *Distinctive, cool, sparse... An eerie ambiguity fills Cursed Bread * i *Intoxicating, sumptuous and savage, Cursed Bread has a gothic sensibility that is entirely original. In Mackintosh's hands, the strange, compulsive machinations of desire become luminous and ghastly all at once -- Alexandra Kleeman, author of 'You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine'Sensuous and haunted, like Madame Bovary reworked as a ghost story - an incredible book about desire, pleasure, beauty. Sophie's fiction always has a gauzy quality, filled with strange, languid images, which rise to a narrative crescendo like clues in a detective novel. She makes it look effortless -- Jo Hamya, author of 'Three Rooms'Cursed Bread floored me on the first page and didn't let up for the rest of the journey. It always feels like a true privilege to spend time with Sophie Mackintosh's brilliant mind and she is only getting better and weirder and wilder. A knockout -- Megan Nolan, author of 'Acts of Desperation'Macabre and sensuous... [It] packs a punch * Mail on Sunday *Her writing is so sleek, the characters mysterious and yet indelible - a taut, seductive, thrilling gem of a novel -- Olivia Sudjic, author of 'Asylum Road'Sophie Mackintosh takes a true story and asks what any of us really know about what is true? Our desires poison us. Shame and longing intertwine. We hide even from ourselves... This novel is subtle and devouring; reading it is like being slowly swallowed by the night -- Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of 'Starling Days'Vivid and shocking, written with stunning, incantatory prose, Cursed Bread is the kind of book that upends your nervous system -- Julia May Jonas , author of VladimirBloody, sexy, sinister, strange. This book will take hold of you -- Saba Sams, author of 'Send Nudes'Everything Sophie Mackintosh is so febrile and tactile, when you read her books you feel as if you live in them. The world felt so eerie after finishing Cursed Bread. I didn't feel quite the same as I was before, but in the best way -- Annie Lord, author of 'Notes on Heartbreak'A story of love, lust and appetite . . . a book I haven’t been able to stop thinking about * The Spectator 'Best Books of 2023' *Pristine, visceral & wild. She's a master. You won't be disappointed -- Sarah Rose Etter, author of 'The Book of X'Gorgeously atmospheric and feverishly compulsive [on] amorphous longings and desires, and the hot shame of wanting more than you deserve -- Lara Williams, author of 'Supper Club'Sophie Mackintosh has given her strange and intriguing imagination the opportunity to flourish. There is tension on every page * Prospect *A thrilling and feverish fable of secret desire * Monocle *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Sister to Sister the perfect addictive read for
Book Synopsis''Rich people behaving badly'' BooklistThe battle lines are drawn . . .Following the scandalous revelations about his love life, disgraced media mogul Harry Rose is searching for redemption. His daughters - bright, winsome Eliza and dark, difficult Maria - have taken over his beloved company and are making some major changes. Guided by Harry, Eliza navigates life as Rose Corp''s new queen. But Maria is standing in her way. And then there''s the distraction of Eliza''s childhood playmate, the twinkly-eyed Rob Studley, and the unresolved death of her mother . . . After a stellar start, things take a turn for the worse and ultimately Eliza will have to make a choice: career, or love?Loosely based on the turbulent reigns of Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth, this is a scandalous tale of love, power and betrayal . . .Praise for Olivia Hayfield ''Ingenious and addictive'' Francesca Hornak 'Trade ReviewRacy & pacy! -- Nicky Pellegrino, bestselling author of A Dream of ItalyA fun and entertaining read . . . non-stop Tudor intrigue! * An Historian About Town *Even if you're not an aficionado of Tudor history, there is lots to love in this racy romp about the lives of the rich and fabulous. The historical factor is fun though, and adds another layer to an addictively readable novel ... if you're a fan of Jilly Cooper or something of a history buff, then you're really not going to want to miss out * New Zealand Woman’s Weekly *The skill of Hayfield in creating a believable modern storyline that maintains the essence of the historical characters and events makes this book more than simply a light-hearted version of the television show Succession . . . in a turbulent summer, Sister to Sister is the perfect escape * The Listener *The ingenious way Hayfield re-casts and contemporises the Tudor court gives her a chance to have some fun but there remain perceptive observations of modern life, from the influence of the religious right to the relationship problems caused by family dysfunction . . . an amusing, smart and oddly thought-provoking read with glamour and great heart -- Kete: New Books from AotearoaA must-read for history buffs * Woman’s Day *A fun read but also packed quite an emotional punch for me (I'm not too proud to admit I cried my eyes out!) * Royalcentral.co.uk *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group Notes from the Burning Age
Book Synopsis''ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I''VE READ IN RECENT YEARS . . . PACKS A HELL OF AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH'' Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of TimeFrom one of the most imaginative writers of her generation comes an extraordinary vision of the future.Ven was once a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age - a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven''s world, such material must be closely guarded, so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated.But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he''s willing to go to save this new world, and how much he is willing to lose.Notes from the Burning AgeTrade ReviewOne of the best books I've read in recent years. Thought provoking, imaginative and packs a hell of an emotional punch * Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of CHILDREN OF TIME *A gripping, utterly involving, dystopian eco-thriller that balances the intimacies of betrayal against global climate collapse * DAILY MAIL *A riveting tale . . . North's convincing view of post-apocalyptic society captivates, and the political intrigues will keep readers hooked right up until the explosive close * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *An impassioned, urgent and compelling new work that burns as bright as the fires of our own burning age. This is not to be missed -- Lavie Tidhar, World Fantasy Award-winning authorClaire North depicts a startling, richly developed postapocalyptic world in this beautiful and riveting novel * BUZZFEED *Notes is compelling because it is beautiful . . . It felt seamless . . . When North was done and Notes reached its explosive conclusion, I just wasn't ready to leave. Her world was such a fragile, beautiful, doomed place, I felt like I should stick around just to make sure it would all be okay * NPR *A passionate and committed vision of what we do to nature, and what it can do to us * LOCUS *Mesmeric, terrifying and wonderful. North is practically her own genre at this point. -- M. R. Carey, author of THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTSAn irresistible, haunting thrill * Joe Hill, author of HORNS and LOCKE AND KEY *A clever and thought-provoking conceit * GUARDIAN *North's latest once again displays her mastery of lyrical prose . . . The author presents a fascinating testament to humanity's fallibility and tendency towards denial, merged with the potency of truth and the power of love * BOOKLIST *Claire North's most ambitious novel to date * LOCUS *Remarkable . . . one of the most moving, horrifying and gut-wrenching novels of the year * NPR *A suspenseful tale of the truths that lie hidden in the human heart . . . This is a world-spanning cat-and-mouse chase that tackles big questions about the nature of truth and whether we can ever really know one another or ourselves. True love, life, and death, what's worth dying - or killing - for: It's all here in this gripping, bloody, and haunting novel * KIRKUS *In rich, compelling prose, North weaves together the threads of imperial control, ideological conviction, love and the thrill of power . . . A lyrical and sometimes surreal approach to espionage and its thrills * SHELF AWARENESS *North's talent shines out -- SUNDAY TIMESClaire North is a true original, a master of ingenious plotting and feats of imagination -- Alex Marwood, author of THE WICKED GIRLSClaire North's writing is terrific, smart and entertaining -- Patrick NessNorth demonstrates skill in creating a terrifying setting that feels rooted to the present day . . . Every aspect of life in Theo's Britain is imbued with a menace that feels both recognizable and urgent, and the decisions the characters make as a result feel uncomfortably real. * RT BOOK REVIEWS on 84K *The truly scary thing about 84K is how convincing this dark, brutal class-divided Britain is * SFX (4 1/2 stars) *North is an original and even dazzling writer, and fans of her work will enjoy this grim tale of capitalism taken to a terrifying extreme * KIRKUS on 84K *Another captivating novel from one of the most intriguing and genre-bending novelists * BOOKLIST on 84K *An extraordinary novel that stands with the best of dystopian fiction, with echoes of The Handmaid's Tale -- Cory Doctorow on 84K
£17.09
Faber & Faber Hav
Book SynopsisHav gives us Jan Morris at her most delightful and most suggestive. The city is a magical place - yet behind its arcane splendours are darker implications. The traditional Roof Race is peculiarly exciting, the waterfront is picturesque, the wistful call of a trumpeter from a distant rampart is wonderfully evocative, and every street corner is haunted by memories of illustrious visitors - Freud, Diaghilev, Marco Polo, Lawrence of Arabia and countless others. But Morris''s visit ends in flight when an unidentified enemy arrives to seize control.When Jan Morris returns to Hav, some twenty years later, she finds that her account of her earlier visit is banned - and discovers a place that has rebuilt itself, transformed by a new energy and now dominated by a totemic tower 2000 feet tall. But as the old Hav was in many ways an allegory of the last century, so the city in its new incarnation offers no less elusive hints, echoes and portents of our 21st century world. As a deTrade Review"'A deeply civilised and civilising book.' The Times"
£10.44
