Dystopian & Alternative History Fiction Books

Book Synopsis1501: the turbulence of Henry VIII''s reign brings passion and pain to the Morlands as they achieve ever greater wealth and prestige.Paul, great-grandsom of Elanor Morland, has inherited the Morland estates, and his own Amyas is set to be his heir. But Paul fathers a beloved illigitimate son, and bitter jealousy causes a destructive rift between the two half-brothers which will lead to death.Paul''s niece, Nanette, becomes a maid-in-waiting to Anne Bolyen, and at the court of Henry VIII she becomes embroiled in the King''s bitter feud with Rome.Through birth and death, love and hatred, triumph and heartbreak, the Morlands continue proudly to claim their place amongst England''s aristocracy.

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Book Synopsis1558: Elizabeth I is on the throne, though still challenged by Mary, and her Protestant faith threatens the Catholic Morland family.The reign of Elizabeth I means that the Morlands must seek new spheres of influence to restore their fortunes. John, heir to Morland Place, rides north to wed the daughter of Black Will Percy, the Borders cattle lord, and learns that the way to win her heart is through blood and battle. His gentle sister, Lettice, has also travelled north to marry the ruthless Scottish baron, Lord Robert Hamilton, and in the treacherous court of Mary, Queen of Scots, she has to learn the bleak and bitter lessons of survival...

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Book Synopsis1630: after long years of peace the reign of Charles I brings brutal civil war to England.The clash between King and Parliament is echoed at Morland Place when Richard brings home a Puritan bride while his brother, Kit, joins Prince Rupert and the Royalist cavalry, leaving their father Edmund desperately trying to steer a middle course between the fighting factions.As the war grinds on, bitterness and disillusion replace the early fervour, and the schisms between husband and wife, father and son, grow deeper. Edmund struggles grimly through it all in an attempt to keep the Morland fortune intact, but he is thwarted by the estrangement between his sons and then alienated from his beloved wife, Mary.

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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...

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Book SynopsisThe sixth book in the epic Morland Dynasty series

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Book Synopsis1720: political intrigue besets the kingdom as the Stuarts try to claim the throne occupied by the Hanoverians and the Morlands have to use all their wiles to keep their fortunes intact.Jeremy Morland, sole heir to his father''s will, has no option but to marry to cold-hearted Lady Mary to secure Hanoverian protection and safeguard his inheritance. Then the rebellion of ''45 and the bloody massacre at Culloden thrust his daughter Jemima into the spotlight as the saviour of the family. Independent, single-minded, and a rare beauty, Jemima is a capable caretaker of the Morland heritage. Although Morland Place and its lands suffer from the excesses of her dissolute husband, Jemima''s quiet courage earns her an abiding love and loyalty...

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Book Synopsis1772: Althought George III reigns over a peaceful England, his colonies in the Americas are claiming independence and a tide of revolutionary fervour is gripping France.Allen Morland and his beloved wife Jemimas work unstintingly to bring Morland Palace back to its former glory. Their seven children often bring them heartache, but they are sustained by their love of each other.The Mordland adventurer, Charles, emingrates to Maryland in persuit of the heiress Eugenie, but finds himself in the midst of the American claim for indepdence. Meanwhile, Henry, the family''s bastard offshoot, pursues pleasure relentlessly but pennilessly until he finds a niche for himself in the fashionable Parisian salons, whilst outside revolution creeps closer...

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Book Synopsis1795: the shadow of Bonaparte has fallen across Europe and touches each member of the far-flung Morland family.As the century draws to a close, Jemima Morland wearily ackowledges that her life is also nearing its end, but she has scant peace as her unpredictable children behave ever more incomprehensibly: James''s marriage to Mary Ann is closer to falling apart; Lucy''s marriage de convenance is in the balance - her affair with Lieutenant Watson is an open scandal.Mary bears a daughter on board her husband''s ship during the battle of the Nile; and William supports a mistress whose marriage cannot be dissolved.Jemima''s death appears to unite the family but, as ever with the Morlands, the future holds more peril than hope.

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Book SynopsisThe thirteenth book in the ever-popular Morland Dynasty series

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Book Synopsis1815: Napoleon''s escape from Elba and the preparations for battle entangle the Morland family in a web of romance and heartbreak.The Allied Army is gathering in Flanders, and where the army is, the fashionable world must go- so London society hastens to Brussels to enjoy the most exhilarating Season ever.For Heloise it brings a renewed acquaintance with her former suitor, to Duc de Veslne-d''Estienne; while Rosamund must finally come to terms with her feelings for her cousin Marcus; and for Sophie, a meeting with an enigmatic French major could well alter her future.But as romance flourishes in a warlike atmosphere, the looming shadow of battle only makes the dancers whirl more feverishly. And when the Army marches out to face the might of the French at Waterloo, one question is in every heart: which of them will not come back?

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Book Synopsis''A howl of feminist rage, but also one that is pure fun'' StylistThe wives here are different. They are living proof that women can have it all: successful careers, loving families, beautiful homes.Their husbands are different too. They are living proof that men can do just as much as women. They can remember the kids'' schedules, use an iron and notice when the house needs dusting.Nora thinks she''s found the perfect new home for her family. But when she agrees to get involved in a wrongful death case in the neighbourhood, Nora becomes convinced that there''s a dark secret at the heart of this perfect world.For these women, it seems the secret to having it all is worth killing for . . .''This gender-swapping Stepford Wives story is as creepy as it is delicious'' Good HousekeepingTrade ReviewChandler Baker, queen of the feminist thriller, has delivered once again! The Husbands is a poignant exploration of what it would take for women to have it all ... and it's as sobering as you might imagine. My head is still spinning. I can already hear the book club discussions! -- Sally HepworthEvery weary wife needs to read this book. You'll belly laugh in recognition, sob in recognition - but ultimately, The Husbands may just save your marriage -- Celia WaldenIncredible. . . The Husbands expresses a truth that needed to be articulated, that will resonate with every woman I know. It made me angry in the best way. -- Jessica MoorEvery once in a while there's a book that stays with you - whether the subject resonates, makes you think or quite simply shocks. The Husbands does all that, and more. * Woman & Home *Soon to become a film, this clever novel is well worth a read and perfect for book clubs * Belfast Telegraph *An utterly addictive page-turner * Daily Mail *The deviously dark twists keep the reader hooked until the shocking climax * Candis *This gender-swapping Stepford Wives story is as creepy as it is delicious * Good Housekeeping *

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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 *

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Book SynopsisFrom highly acclaimed author Inga Simpson - twice nominated for Australia's most prestigious literary award - comes a stunning a terrifying novel for fans of STATION ELEVEN, BIRDBOX and A QUIET PLACE.Trade ReviewThe Last Woman in the World layers precise nature writing with a conspiratorial tone for our times, turning in a gripping apocalyptic thriller that infects the sublime features of the landscape with primal fear * Guardian *Creepy and chilling * Observer *Each page is shaped with an impressive, world-building cinematic scope so that I was reminded of the thrilling paralysis I felt as I watched The Quiet Place, mixed with the frightening torment of the creepiest scenes in I Am Legend * Sydney Morning Herald *Inga Simpson deftly combines horror and hope in this necessary read that is sure to set the literary world on fire. The Last Woman in the World will grab you and not let go * Christina Dalcher *As terrifying as Bird Box or A Quiet Place but full of the most beautiful writing about nature. An absolute must-read * Mark Edwards *The Last Woman in the World is a novel of fear, fire and an uncertain future. A powerful narrative in Inga Simpson's own unique voice. Horrifying, yet humane and ultimately hopeful - a masterwork * Angela Slatter *A heart-racing, page-turning, hiding under the doona stuff. Will read anything this woman writes, did not expect to be so terrified * Kate Mildenhall *Chilling . . . powerful * Good Reading Magazine *

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Book SynopsisMary Robinette Kowal's science fiction debut explores the premise behind her award-winning 'Lady Astronaut of Mars'

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Book SynopsisKatherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor, returns with The Angel of the Crows, a fantasy novel of alternate 1880s London, where killers stalk the night and the ultimate power is naming.This is not the story you think it is. These are not the characters you think they are. This is not the book you are expecting.In an alternate 1880s London, angels inhabit every public building, and vampires and werewolves walk the streets with human beings in a well-regulated truce. A fantastic utopia, except for a few things: Angels can Fall, and that Fall is like a nuclear bomb in both the physical and metaphysical worlds. And human beings remain human, with all their kindness and greed and passions and murderous intent. Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of this London too. But this London has an Angel. The Angel of the Crows.

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Book SynopsisA boxed set (three trade paperbacks) of the internationally celebrated speculative fiction trilogy from one of the most visionary authors of our time, Margaret Atwood. Across three stunning novels—Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood, and Maddaddam—the best-selling, Booker Prize-winning novelist projects us into a near future that is both all too familiar and beyond our imagining. In Oryx and Crake, a man struggles to survive in a world where he may be the last human. In search of answers, he embarks on a journey through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride. In The Year of the Flood the long-feared waterless flood has occurred, altering Earth as we know it and obliterating most human life. And in Maddaddam a small group of survivors band together with the Children of Crake: the gentle, bioengineered quasi-huma

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Book SynopsisWinner of 2018 National Book Award in Translated Literature Library Journal Best Books of 2018 Yoko Tawada’s new novel is a breathtakingly light-hearted meditation on mortality and fully displays what Rivka Galchen has called her “brilliant, shimmering, magnificent strangeness”Trade Review"Near-future Japan has been cut off from the outside world, leaving 108-year-old Yoshiro trapped with his great-grandson Mumei in a spartan "temporary" house. The population is divided between those born before the calamity—whose life spans have been mysteriously lengthened—and those enfeebled by it: "The aged could not die; along with the gift of everlasting life, they were burdened with the terrible task of watching their great-grandchildren die." Tawada’s novel is infused with the anxieties of a 'society changing at the speed of pebbles rolling down a steep hill,' yet she imagines a ruined world with humor and grace." -- Publishers Weekly"Tawada, who writes in both Japanese and German, uses a light tone that frequently leans into gentle abstraction and wry humor, producing a slim novel that charms as much as it provokes reflection." -- Kiri Falls - The Japan News"Recessive, lunar beauty [with] a high sheen. Her language has never been so arresting—flickering brilliance." -- Parul Sehgal - The New York Times"Persistent mystery is what is so enchanting about Tawada’s writing. Her penetrating irony and deadpan surrealism fray our notions of home and combine to deliver another offbeat tale. An absorbing work from a fascinating mind." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"The Emissary carries us beyond the limits of what is it is to be human, in order to remind us of what we must hold dearest in our conflicted world, our humanity." -- Sjón"A mini-epic of eco-terror, family drama and speculative fiction. Tawada’s interest is satirical as much as tragic, with public holidays chosen by popular vote (Labour Day becomes Being Alive Is Enough Day) and a privatized police force whose activities now centre on its brass band. It’s this askew way of looking at things amid the ostensibly grim premise, and a sprightly use of language that makes The Emissary a book unlike any other." -- Guardian""Like sashimono woodwork, Tawada needs no exposition to nail down her dystopia. The Emissary achieves a technically impossible balance of open-hearted fable and cold-blooded satire."" -- Financial Times"An airily beautiful dystopian novella about mortality. Tawada’s quirky style and ability to jump from realism to abstraction manages to both chastise humanity for the path we are taking towards destruction and look hopefully toward an unknown future." -- Enobong Essien - Booklist"A phantasmagoric representation of humanity’s fraught relationship with technology and the natural world." -- Brian Haman - Asian Review of Books"Charming, light, and unapologetically strange...There’s an impish delight in [each] sentence that energizes what is otherwise a despairing note. Tawada finds a way to make a story of old men trapped in unending life and children fated to die before their time joyful, comic, and—frankly—a huge comfort." -- J.W. McCormack - BOMB"A Hieronymus Bosch–like painting in novel form. Tawada's charming surrealism imparts an off-kilter quality to her work that would make it feel slight, if it weren’t for the density, precision, and uniqueness of her mind. A slim and beguiling novel in Margaret Mitsutani’s enchanting and flawless translation." -- Marie Mutsuki Mockett - Public Books""Everywhere in the Japan of Yoko Tawada’s The Emissary, strange mutations unfold. In the years (perhaps decades, or perhaps generations) since an environmental catastrophe, the basic tenets of biology have broken down. Children are born weak, with birdlike bones and soft teeth. The elderly, in turn, are youthful, athletic, seem to have been ‘robbed of death’. Men begin to experience menopausal symptoms as they age. Everyone’s sex changes inexplicably and at random at least once in their lives...Tawada has gifted us a quiet new magical realism for the Anthropocene."" -- Rebecca Bates - The White Review

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Book SynopsisSet in an imagined future where anti-Muslim sentiment and political pressure lead to a community being cut off from the rest of society, this stunningly fresh dystopian novel depicts the very real consequences of tensions between majority populations and Muslim minorities in the Western world.

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Book SynopsisHaunting and beautifully written first novel by the award-winning author of Battleborn, set among a cult of survivors in a dystopian American desert''A Mad Max world painted with a finer brush'' Elle''An unforgettable journey into a hauntingly imagined near-future'' Ruth Ozeki''Set in a drought-ravaged Southern California trolled by scavengers, Gold Fame Citrus burns with a dizzying, scorching genius'' Vanity Fair Desert sands have laid waste to the south-west of America. Las Vegas is buried. California - and anyone still there - is stranded. Any way out is severely restricted. But Luz and Ray are not leaving. They survive on water rations, black market fruit and each other''s need. Luz needs Ray, and Ray must be needed. But then they cross paths with a mysterious child, who needs them more than anything - and the thirst for a better life begins.Claire Vaye Watkins''sTrade ReviewAn extraordinary novel: relentlessly brilliant, utterly fearless, and often savagely funny. Watkins explores the maze of human thirst in all its forms. Here's a love story that tracks the mutating hopes of two lost souls, in prose that is fever-bright and ferociously assured. More confirmation that Watkins is one of the brightest stars in our firmament * Karen Russell, author of Swamplandia and Vampires in the Lemon Grove *A tour-de-force first novel blisters with drought, myth, and originality . . . Praised for writing landscape, Watkins' grasp of the body is just as rousing . . . Critics will reference Annie Proulx's bite and Joan Didion's hypnotic West, but Watkins is magnificently original * Kirkus *A gripping, audacious novel, plausibly imagined in all its remarkable details. With Claire Vaye Watkins there was never promise: it was achievement from the start, and this book repays her admirers in spades * Thomas McGuane *An unforgettable journey into a hauntingly imagined near-future. With her mind-bending vision, breathtaking storytelling and utterly original voice, Claire Vaye Watkins is one of my favorite writers * Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being *Set in an increasingly plausible-seeming future in which drought has transformed Southern California into a howling wasteland, this debut novel by the author of the prize-winning story collection Battleborn finds two refugees of the water wars holed up in a starlet's abandoned mansion in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon. Seeking lusher landscape, the pair head east, risking attack by patrolling authorities, roving desperadoes, and the unrelenting sun * The Millions - most anticipated books of 2015 *Exhilarating, upsetting, delirious, bold, Gold Fame Citrus is a head rush of a novel and establishes Claire Vaye Watkins as an important new voice in American literature * Louise Erdrich, author of The Round House *A sun-hammered fever dream, not unlike the shimmering, sweltering southwest it depicts. Your heart will be wrung out by the journey of Luz, Raymond, and Ig. Your imagination will feast on the assured depiction of a near-future that is burnt to a crisp. And you'll hope it's all a mirage as Watkins renders a hot and very plausible future the frightening force of a burning inevitability * Smith Henderson, author of Fourth of July Creek *The book is packed with persuasive detail, luminous writing, and a grasp of the history (popular, political, natural and imagined) needed to tell a story that is original yet familiar, strange yet all too believable * Publisher's Weekly *American odyssey: Set in a drought-ravaged Southern California trolled by scavengers, Gold Fame Citrus burns with a dizzying, scorching genius * Vanity Fair *Watkins brings a gorgeous sense of language and a native desert-dweller's understanding of California to her audacious and dystopian first novel . . . The drought, the desperation and the fantasy built by the guru all feel disturbingly real * BBC *She's sharp, at times merciless, and never above a little fun . . . The book is instantly entrancing, alluring as a mirage, and filled with peril, mystery, sandstorms, the occult, and a cast of nuanced characters * Los Angeles Magazine *Extraordinary power and beauty . . . A great pleasure of the book is Watkins's fearlessness * New York Times *Like the best stories in her 2013 Dylan Thomas Prize-winning collection Battleborn, the narrative focuses on left-behind people and left-behind places - those who exist at the periphery of destructive events . . . Which may make it surprising to say that this book is also funny. It's funny in the way that a Joy Williams or Mary Gaitskill or Flannery O'Connor story is funny. It's laughter in the dark, the comedy of unending struggle . . . The sentences in Gold Fame Citrus are alive in ways the sun-blasted landscape isn't, and therein lies the hope -- Jonathan Lee * Financial Times *Watkins's apocalyptic new novel seems a revisionist refit of McCarthy's The Road . . . that (unlike The Road) puts female characters centre-stage in a geographically vivid setting. The style hits you first . . . Formidably wrought -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Telegraph *Watkins writes with grace, wit and imagination in her first novel . . . Watkins's writing engrosses because she is mainly concerned with how people behave in extreme circumstances; no matter how strange the background, her characters stay believable -- Kate Saunders * The Times *The empty swimming pools and intense light conjure JG Ballard's environmental dystopias as well as Margaret Atwood's . . . Both nail-biting and digressive, at times lushly overwritten, at times wryly incisive, but always powerful . . . Vaye Watkins' portrait of Levi, the leader of the sand dune colony, is a tour de force: chilling, beguiling, paranoid, convincing and pathetic by turns. . . Her novel certainly cuts deep in its vision of overwhelming natural power . . . most of all in her extraordinary creation of the dune sea . . . too vast for human comprehension, yet at the same time a tabula rasa for each fragile individual's desires, it's a classic example of the Romantic sublime, as mesmerising as it is deadly -- Justine Jordan * Guardian *A wild book conveying the allure of people improvising, as well as the strange charm of the landscape . . . Vaye Watkins is well versed in the region's seductive myths . . . It is hard not to read the demise of idealogy as well as collapsing ecology as the driving force [ . . .] a contemporary distrust of power, whoever wields it [. . .] even her pleasure in language reflects back a suspicion of rhetoric that seeks to persuade . . . The complexities of emotion and power is probed so intelligently -- Kate Webb * Times Literary Supplement *California has always been the place where they went to start it big. Lured by 'gold, fame, citrus' as a character puts it, a phrase on which her book is a fascinating, dystopian fugue . . . Like McCarthy, her desert landscapes are dense as well as barren, not just in the physical detail with which they're rendered, but the significance with which characters imbue them . . . A powerful portrait of an apocalypse less the result of external catastrophe, than familiar human failings -- Sam Kitchener * Independent *A Mad Max world painted with a finer brush . . . beautiful and profoundly unsettling * Elle *

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Book SynopsisA young woman returns home with her child, to her ghost-haunted father, while a religious extremist hunts the storm-ridden territory to find the girl who may hold the key to the region's apocalyptic future. At once elegiac and profound, Salvage This World asks how we keep going - what do we hold onto - in a land where God has...Trade ReviewWith a cast of fierce, masterfully drawn characters set loose in gorgeous, hurricane-blasted landscapes, Salvage this World by Michael Farris Smith is riveting: I couldn't put it down -- Laird Hunt * Author of Zorrie and Neverhome *Audaciously prophetic. Here's a near-future and all too plausible southern noir in which the lawlessness already creeping into American democracy has become the norm and in which preachers have abandoned Christ and instead are searching for the new climate Messiah, and the line between good and evil is not only very thin but completely effaced. A rollicking good (dark) read -- Brian Evenson * Author of LAST DAYS *An exceptional storyteller in top form * Kirkus *Smith (Nick) melds fire and brimstone with the ravages of hurricanes in this evocative noir of the Mississippi Delta * Publishers weekly *Man, did I like this one. Southern, wet and gritty. Storm-filled and laced with fear and tension, as well as realistic and engaging characters, this world is grimly enticing. -- Joe Landsdale

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Book SynopsisFrom renowned theoretical physicist, broadcaster and author Jim Al-Khalili, comes this thrilling debut novel drawing on cutting-edge science and set in a near-future full of dazzling technologies. 2041 and the world as we know it grinds to a halt. Our planet seems to be turning against itself - it would appear that the magnetic field, that protects life on Earth from deadly radiation from space, is failing . . . Desperate to quell the mass hysteria that would surely follow, world governments have concealed this rapidly emerging Armageddon. But a young Iranian hacktivist stumbles across the truth, and it becomes a race against time to reactivate the earth''s core using beams of dark matter. As a small team of brave and brilliant scientists battle to find a way of transforming theory into practice, they face a fanatical group intent on pursuing their own endgame agenda: for they believe mankind to be a plague upon this earth and will do anything, commit Trade ReviewExcellent, exactly how good science fiction should be: gripping story, beautifully told, while at the same time being scientifically well-informed. -- PROFESSOR RICHARD DAWKINSReminiscent of vintage Arthur C. Clarke . . . has a chilling, nail-biting authenticity. -- James Lovegrove * FINANCIAL TIMES *The Day After Tomorrow meets Neuromancer . . . When the planet's magnetic field fails, the naked sun threatens to deliver an extinction level event now – and every century – unless a high-tech near future humanity can save itself. Sunfall is sizzling stuff. And the best informed techno-thriller you are ever likely to read. -- STEPHEN BAXTER, author of the Xeelee sequenceWith its well-crafted world-building, cutting-edge science, and believable, engaging characters caught in a desperate race to stave off the end of the world, this fast-paced near-future thriller is an impressive debut novel from one of our foremost science communicators. Brilliant! -- Professor IAN STEWART, co-author of The Science of Discworld seriesA thrilling futuristic page-turner of a novel in which the future of science, and the technology that underpins it, is as gripping as the plot. -- Professor MARK MIODOWNIK, author of Stuff Matters

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Book SynopsisJames has a scar in the back of his head. It’s where he was wounded in the Battle of Suvla Bay in August 1915. Or is the scar the mark of his implant that allows the Process to fill his mind with its own reality?In IF, the people of a small English town cling on after an economic collapse under the protection of the Process. But sometimes people must be evicted from the town. That’s the job of James, the bailiff. While on patrol, James discovers the replica of a soldier from the First World War wandering the South Downs. This strange meeting begins a new cycle of evictions in the town, while out on the rolling downland, the Process is methodically growing the soldiers and building the weapons required to relive a long lost battle.In THEN, it is August 1915, at the Battle of Suvla Bay in the Dardanelles campaign. Compared to the thousands of allied soldiers landing on this foreign beach, the men of the 32nd Field Ambulance are misfits Trade Review“Sumptuously written, with prose that glitters with a dark lustre like a Damien Hirst fly collage. intricately plotted, and a satirical point as sharp and and accurate as the scalpel of a brain surgeon: De Abaitua operates on the smiling face of the present to reveal the grimacing skull of the future.” – Will Self“This is the kind of post-apocalypse, after-it-all-changed novel – with clever codicils – that the Brits do with so much more classy, idiosyncratic style than anyone else. It is full of magisterial weirdness, logical surrealism, melancholy joy and hopeful terror. If I begin to toss out names like Adam Roberts, Brian Aldiss, Keith Roberts, and J. G. Ballard, I will not be lavishing undue praise.” – Paul Di Filippo, for Locus Magazine“If Then may be one of the most important works of British SF to appear in recent years. It is stunningly original and superbly well written. For those who care about such things, it is firmly of SF, not the literary mainstream – yet it is technically as complex and well executed as any modernist novel you may meet on your Booker travels. I hope this book will be discussed and debated and praised, for it deserves all three sorts of attention in generous measure. If Then is the opposite of the literature of reassurance, it is everything science fiction should be aiming for, and it is wonderful to see de Abaitua back on the scene.” – Nina Allan“I cannot praise (If Then) highly enough: eloquent, intelligent, brilliant.” – Elsa Bouet, Shoreline of Infinity“I can’t recommend this book more highly. It’s slipstream fiction for polymaths. If Then flips off expectations of genre and leaves me feeling like I’m riding its shockwave into the future of literature.” – Boldly Read“De Abaitua builds on the promise he demonstrated in The Red Men in this intellectual science fiction novel, whose ambition is matched by its execution. The author’s thoughtful world-building is enhanced by a cast of relatable characters.” – Publishers Weekly“The alternating viewpoints set in a modern town and during World War I will have you itching to know what’s really going on.” – Kirkus Reviews“One of the most intriguing and disturbing near-future speculations published for some years.” – Strange Horizons“This is a powerful novel, both in its portrayal of the horrors of World War I, the wasteful loss of life, the dreadful conditions, the failures of those who let the war happen, and also in showing how easily the systems that support our modern-day lives could fall apart.” – Steven Theaker, Interzone“De Abaitua draws on the techniques of British science fiction from Wells, Huxley and Stapledon through to Ballard and deploys them like a master in crafting this simultaneously parochial and profound meditation on the nature of war understood as an evolutionary process. With language that is both lyrical and precise he has created a philosophical fiction that is compelling, extremely moving and deeply unsettling. An extraordinary book.” – James Flint, author of The Book of Ash and 52 Ways to Magic America“Both bucolic and an oppressive love story set against the background of an enigmatic dictatorship of sorts, this tale of reality askew is also a powerful meditation on the nature of war, the misuse of technology and the grit and determination of the common man. Thoughtful, at times frustrating but well worth the final reward, and stylically elegant, a different kind of science fiction.” – Maxim Jakubowski, Lovereading“If Then is an incredibly enthralling and original tale that still has me thinking about it weeks after I read it. A brilliant entry onto the scene, If Then is a must read for anyone even remotely interested in speculative fiction.” – Smash Dragons“A fascinating read.” – Susan Hated Literature“Six out of five stars.” – One Breath Book Reviews“We are forced to reflect on the way modern society normalises war and conflict for the many by concentrating the horror of it in a few. If Then asks us what value we place on people beyond their role as economic units, and whether we would rethink our actions if we were able to truly experience their consequences at first hand.” – Astounding Yarns“If Then is a very interesting combination of science fiction and war literature, questioning what people are capable of and how far they should go. The book poses some great questions on artificial intelligence and technology without really giving you any answers, but it definitely makes it worth it reading this book with someone else and then discussing it to death. If Then definitely demands your attention and if you’re looking for a mind-boggling and challenging read then you should definitely give this one a try.” – Bored to Death Book Club“If Then is an extremely satisfying story about humanity’s inability to cope with both change and uncertainty.” – Lit/Rant“If Then is a particular kind of British rural science fiction, in which a deeply unsettling pall overshadows what should be a Utopian idyll. The novel has antecedents in the works of John Wyndham, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley – and it is every bit as good as the best works of those writers. It is full of mind-bending ideas, great characters and wonderful writing. If there is any justice, it deserves a nomination for the next Hugos.” – Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing“This is a really tremendous speculative fiction book that examines humanity and society. The tenor of the book reminds me of the speculative fiction writers I was reading back in the 1970’s. Michael Bishop, Thomas Disch, Gene Wolfe, Roger Zelazny. I consider some of their work to be thoughtful, introspective studies on humanity and self. And while it reminds me of these authors, this book strikes me as quite original. I was hooked early on with author Matthew de Abaitua’s descriptions of the people and the community. He created something very real and easy to believe in, and managed to let us know right away that we were outside our modern norm. I am impressed with science/speculative fiction is headed these days. If you want something more than just a space opera or fantasies with trolls and elves and lots of magic, there are strong works out there, such as this one.” – Looking for a Good Book?“Interesting and intriguing.” – YLogs“If Then is a vitally intelligent book that asks the difficult, probing questions we need to be asking ourselves about consciousness, morality, how we are going to live in the future and our own humanity. It is, in the best sense, a profoundly worrying novel, one that the reader’s mind keeps returning to long after finishing.” – Golden Apples of the West“If Then is by any measure an extremely fine work s which stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the best for several reasons. The overall concept is complex and original and is handled with complete confidence. The characters are fully formed and the sheer quality of both the vivid descriptive passages and the believable dialogue makes the book a complete cerebral and visceral three-dimensional experience.” – The Generalist“If you like a challenging read, worry about the human mind and our cognitively dissonant yearnings for self-destruction and self-preservation, or you’re interested in the horrors of war or the Gallipoli landings of 1915, or you have a yen for dystopian near-futures, or are a fan of Brian Aldiss, Aldous Huxley (whose brother makes an indirect appearance) or, indeed, Olaf Stapledon, then you should pick up a copy as soon as you can.” – MetaliteratureFurther praise for Matthew De Abaitua:“De Abaitua’s extraordinary fictions, scientific and otherwise, emerge from a deep and mysterious understanding of culture, and show it to us in a new light.” – James Bridle“The Red Men is a breathtaking novel of ideas.” – I09.com“The Red Men is an exciting and confident debut.” – Strange Horizons“If Then is a love story, the history of a marriage, a topical meditation on the end of capitalism; best of all, it is a bone-deep, blood-sweet British fantasy, naive and ingenious as William Morris and as warpedly nostalgic as Richard Jeffries’ After London. As disturbingly hyperreal as any Pre-Raphaelite painting, If Then imagines what the end of history really will really look like, what’s really at stake, and maybe, just maybe, what we can do about it.” – Simon Ings, author of Wolves“This near-future literary thriller is remarkably prescient… it is De Abaitua’s pinsharp observations of human nature that make this an uncomfortably standout read for me.” – Sarah Higbee“Matthew de Abaitua challenges the expanding enactment of modern culture through social media and its devices by taking it to its furthest extreme, and that’s only one of the issues he grapples with in this extraordinarily well-written, intelligent and meticulously researched work… This brilliant book tests the reader with questions relevant to our day-to-day lives.” – Fiction Uncovered“De Abaitua deliciously smashes together today’s worst middle-class fears of economic catastrophe with the empire-fracturing legacy of the First World War. He equates our surrender to a digitised society with the soldiers’ incorporation into the imperial war machine – and, through some clever attention to historical detail, he suggests that our past might yet hold the key to a weird and hopeful future.” – Matt Finch / Mechanical Dolphin“The prose has a wonderful lightness and simplicity at odds with its complex subject; at no point is the dense narrative difficult or obtuse. Visceral yet bracingly clever; haunting but more timely by the day, If Then is one of the most insightful and relevant English science fiction novels of recent years.” – Andrew Wallace, author of Sons of the Crystal Mind

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Book SynopsisThis “interesting and excited to read” spiritual sequel to The Man in The High Castle focuses on the New Japanese Empire—from an acclaimed author and essayist (io9) Decades ago, Japan won the Second World War. Americans worship their infallible Emperor, and nobody believes that Japan’s conduct in the war was anything but exemplary. Nobody, that is, except the George Washingtons—a shadowy group of rebels fighting for freedom. Their latest subversive tactic is to distribute an illegal video game that asks players to imagine what the world might be like if the United States had won the war instead.   Captain Beniko Ishimura’s job is to censor video games, and he’s tasked with getting to the bottom of this disturbing new development. But Ishimura’s hiding something . . . He’s slowly been discovering that the case of the George WashingtonsTrade Review“United States of Japan is a powerful book, unsettling at times – surreal and hypnotic. There’s a bit of Philip K Dick in here, and Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, but Peter Tieryas is his own voice, a talented author, somebody to keep an eye on for sure.”– Richard Thomas, author of Breaker and Disintegration“A searing vision of the persistence of hope in the face of brutality, United States of Japan is utterly brilliant.”– Ken Liu, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy winner and author of The Grace of Kings“Mind-twisting and fiercely imaginative; Tieryas fuses classic sci-fi tradition with his own powerful vision.”– Jay Posey, author of The Legends of the Duskwalker series“It’s a tense and intriguing read, a blend of alt history and cyberpunk and thriller. 1988 California where San Diego is a razed landscape home to American rebels, and Japanese mechas patrol the coast? Heck yes!”– Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger and The Clockwork Crown“The novel deftly portrays the horrors of oppression but also, with its giant military robots, sumo wrestlers and body-transforming technology, is a gleeful love letter to Japanese pop culture.”– The Financial Times“A really intriguing book, one that jumps nicely off of the coattails of Philip K Dick and instead of simply copying what had come before, has ventured out and created something wholly new, interesting and exciting to read.”– io9“United States of Japan is one of those books that you think about long after you put it down. I haven’t been able to shake it. This is a darkly fun, clever, and unrelentingly ambitious book. Pick it up and enjoy the ride.”– Kameron Hurley, Hugo Award-winner and author of The Mirror Empire“It’s both a thoughtful examination of humanity’s darker nature and a slam-bang sci-fi adventure.”– B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog“Acute observations in great dialogue and characters who are emotionally charged, and tied brilliantly and respectfully to discussions about war; it asks expected questions of its characters and readers but these are delivered in an engaging manner; United States of Japan is set in a world that’s beautifully descriptive, oftentimes shocking and mixed in with outrageous sci-fi environments.”– Narelle Ho Sang, for SF Signal“Its depiction of America in the latter 20th century under Japanese rule is great and very well thought out (look, anything that involves giant mecha is a winner in my book) and the alternate technologies that exist, some of them decades ahead of their time are quite cool. The rest of the book is solid, whips along apace and gives you the daily reality of what it must be to live in a society like that well.”– Rick O’Shea“A hell of a ride.”– Lightspeed Magazine“A great protagonist, an interesting plot, well paced and executed, with a lot of interesting insights into what the wider expansion of the Japanese empire might have looked like. Definitely recommended to any fans of alternate history, or war stories.”– Strange Currencies“Amid complex layers of political and personal dynamics, these initial narratives unravel to explore what it means to be mixed race, to be a cyborg, to be loyal, to be a patriot, to be a resistance fighter, to be a gamer, to a be a human being. The novel is great fun – intellectually, ethically, and aesthetically – and I’ll be pondering its implications for a while.”– Asian American Literature Fans“A book that is both an exciting, pulpy adventure full of action, violence and giant mecha fights and a thoughtful and disturbing dissection of the tactics by which world powers are forged and maintained.”– Golden Apples of the West“Fast paced, well researched, and with believably complex characters, this was quite difficult to put down and left me wanting to read more about this setting. With many subtle allusions to existing Japanese popular culture, it’s a tale of complex, divided loyalties which interact in unexpected ways right through to the end. This should appeal to the general science fiction reader, the Japanophile, and the alternate history enthusiast alike.”– Fanboy Comics“Tieryas is a visual writer, big-screen ready, who takes the reader to each clearly delineated scene in memorable fashion, whether it be the seamy cyber-yakuza gangster hangout, the antiseptic torture chamber, the huge shiny shopping and gaming arcade or the super-sized mecha battleground. Even his smaller side characters have complete backstories and unique goals, all of which adds texture and color to his richly detailed world. He mixes a punk-colored, neon-lit Japanese social scene set in appropriately modern gender-equal host and hostess bars with details of Southern California settings twisted inside out in his dark vision.”– Palantir Press“United States of Japan is a fascinating venture into alternate history, and it is not to be underestimated. Highly recommended.”– The Speculative Herald“Peter also bravely enters the political arena of history and intra-Asian debates. It’s by far Peter’s most ambitious novel to date. This has also been the most thought-provoking book I’ve read all year. The book excels in its imagery, suspense, and storyline.”– BigWOWO“With its plot centred on video games, giant mechas and debaunched alternate history, United States of Japan will keep your attention and fire your imagination.”– Power of Pop“The plot is thrilling. I could not put this book down for an extended period of time without wanting to pick it back up again. I kept finding it in my hands to read a bit more. At the root of this story, it is a political-legal thriller set in a scifi world, and that was just what I was looking for when I picked up this book. And the plot is well thought out, intriguing, and moves at a good pace, blending suspense and action perfectly. The characters are well developed, and behave in very believable ways. They are full three dimensional characters that really help with story, and you find yourself interested in them. This book had action, and well crafted action, but it was more than that. It was that level of depth to this story that took it to the next level.”– Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Corner“United States of Japan was one of my most anticipated book of the year and I am glad to say that it did not disappoint. The book was full of very cool concepts, it blends alternative history with giant robots, video games and political thriller. ”– The Curious SFF Reader“Much more complex than it seemed , with a very entertaining and enjoyable interesting historical and social recreation, reading agile and full of original features novel. Fully recommended.”– Dreams of Elvex“Often brutal, at times genuinely humorous, and occasionally profoundly poignant, United States of Japan is a political action adventure where the characters – sometimes atypical, sometimes caricatures – anchor the narrative in a step above the norm.”– Litstack“I really liked this book!”– Galactica 3.0“An original and truly gripping narrative, set within a fantastically realised, but terrifying world.”– Stephen Rhodes“United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas is an alternate history tale told in epic adventure style that will take you on bloody journey. The comparisons to Philip K Dick’s The Man in the High Castle will be obvious. The comparison to Homer, or the Orpheus story are not so obvious but are also there.”– Looking For a Good Book“I had fun reading it. The story was engaging , there was tension and surprise. I was often angry with the book, but I enjoyed that feeling, it was like a ride in a crazy theme park, not the safest kind of fun and slightly insane, but worth experiencing.”– Re-enchantment of the World“I totally enjoyed United States of Japan, it is exciting with lots of interesting developments, well done characters and presents a very credible alternative historical narrative.”– The Reading Life “An amazingly well thought out and clever look at what America would be like if Japan had developed super weapons and delivered a devastating defeat to the US.”– A Book Drunkard“United States of Japan is a tremendous book, it’s got a wonderfully dark and rich atmosphere, great action, intelligent and twisted story and above all not only does it pay homage to one of the finest authors of the 20th century but also continues one of his most celebrated and yet most difficult works — simply wonderful.”– SF Book Reviews“United States of Japan is a surreal, weird, and brutal what-if aftermath of a brutal war. Prepare to be horrifyingly awed.”– Gem in the Rough“United States of Japan was a compelling read, thoroughly entertaining, and the ultimate 'what if?' story.”– Cemetery Dance Online“Mr Tieryas does an amazing job in weaving a wonderful entertaining yet thought provoking and sometimes disturbing story that I highly recommend.”– Two Nerds Talking“If I see anything with Tieryas’ name on it in the future I will read it because of the quality of his writing.”– Strange Alliances“An intelligent, different and very interesting science fiction novel.”– Sense of Wonder“United States of Japan is a dark, disturbing read – but also a timely one…this is by no means a happy book, nor is it an easy one (conceptually, at least; Tieryas’s writing is a pleasure to read). It makes the reader imagine what it would be like to live in a world where the government polices the very thoughts of its citizens via the Internet; where one’s rise through the system is achieved by saving face at any cost; and where the truth is not what actually is, but what the regime says it is, and then asks: “Will you take action to make sure this does not happen to you?” This is a question that needs to be asked more often, given the current political climate in the world today, and I am glad this novel encourages that kind of questioning. The world needs a lot more like it.”– Occasionally Random Book Reviews“This is an exciting scifi book that will make you think ‘what if.’”– A Bookish Affair“That is my humble opinion and recognize that this book from its writing alone has the power to be a HUGE success. It is motivating, compelling, and fascinating narrative. The characters are real and gritty.”– In Pursuit of My Own Library“It is a dark thriller at its heart, but it is laced with elements of science fiction, alternative history, philosophical discussion and war fiction. And damn, it is a wonderful combination. United States of Japan is simply brilliant. A dark and brutal thriller set in a dystopian world that will blow your mind, United States of Japan is one of my reads of the year so far.”– Smash Dragons“For a book that will surely be thrown under the microscope of the science fiction and alternative history elements, United States of Japan puts together a solid and compelling plot. This isn’t window dressing; this is the real deal.”– Heavy Feather Review“Like China Mieville wrote A Man in the High Castle after seeing Pacific Rim.”– Blackfish Reviews“Peter Tieryas’ United States of Japan encapsulated horrific authoritarian rule in brilliant writing. What makes this book such a rare gem is that it manages to do all things well. Its writing is clever, careful and beautifully phrased.”– Joe’s Geek Fest“Overall this is a neat little self-contained mystery using an alternate America as its colourful backdrop. I particularly liked how certain things were just ever so slightly different. Just changed enough to raise an eyebrow. I enjoyed United States of Japan. It pays deferential homage to The Man in the High Castle, but also manages to be entirely its own beast.”– The Eloquent Page“United States of Japan sees an author capable of beautiful, evocative prose writing a fast-paced Science Fiction novel of old. This results in a journey through an alternative version of our world that is as fascinating as it is disturbing and as full of emotion as it is full of adrenalin. This novel will stay with readers far beyond the final pages, forcing them to reassess the potential impact of who wins the world’s wars.”– Fantasy Faction“Things I want from a summer read: action, fast-pace, action, intriguing world, action,well-rounded characters, and did I mention action?”– Kathy’s Book Pile“I would highly recommend United States of Japan.” 5/5*– San Francisco Book Review“A novel that stands above the rest, different, original, with good pace and a good structure , but above all, very entertaining. I expected a robot in the style Pacific Rim and I found one of the best science fiction novels 2016. Peter Tieryas and United States of Japan is a titanic discovery.”– Donde Acaba el Infinito“United States of Japan is probably not quite what you imagine it to be.”– Talk Amongst Yourselves“In United States of Japan Peter Tieryas delivers a story which leaves a mark on your psyche and many important things to reflect upon”– Booklover Book Reviews“United States of Japan still delivers an exciting and tense plot that builds to a satisfying conclusion. If alternate history is your thing, then this is a novel that will hit your spot.”– Walker of Worlds“We learn much that transforms the novel from a cartoon-like action thriller to a rather complicated and—in the end, moving—exploration of ethics and ideals. In this, the novel is both very like Dick and not at all like The Man in the High Castle, and Peter Tieryas has done well in acknowledging influence and remaining determined to be his own man.”– The Future Fire“A kick-ass dystopian action thriller with all bells and whistles.”– Reading Lamp“Tieryas is a true wordsmith, a logophile of the greatest caliber.”– Miranda Boyer“Tieryas develops a world that is fascinating and engrossing. One that, in perhaps his greatest tribute to Philip K Dick, you feel you haven’t fully explored even at the book’s end.”– The Nervous Breakdown“A dark, brutal, and twisted thriller, United States of Japan delivers hours of fun reading while challenging its readers with thought-provoking, philosophical repercussions.”– Daniel’s Corner Unlimited“United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas is a visceral, beautifully realized alternate history.”– Gesilayefa Azorbo for Medium.com“Big Brother meets Ready Player One meets Pacific Rim.”– Charity Case“A splendid masterpiece.”– Hayakawa Publishing“In USJ, Tieryas finds a way to incorporate gaming, history and an alternative ‘what if’ scenario into a creative sci-fi, action-packed, profound, and solemn narrative.” – Kotaku TAY“A compelling read, thoroughly entertaining, and the ultimate ‘what if?’ story.”– Frank Errington“An Asian American sci-fi classic that draws on the best traditions of speculative fiction to meditate seriously on what any of us can/should think and do in a world of repression, surveillance, disillusionment, and uncertainty.”– Asian American Literature“United States of Japan is a dark, disturbing read – but also a timely one. Excellent.”– Occasionally Random Book Reviews“United States of Japan is much more than your typical alternate history novel. It is also a thriller novel, a spy novel, and a detective story. The author’s imagination is running wild, and we see that with all the cool gadgets and weaponry. Besides the technical wizardry, the book has almost non-stop action.”– San Franciso Book Review“A thoughtful examination of humanity’s darker nature and a slam-bang sci-fi adventure.”– Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog“An original and truly gripping narrative, set within a fantastically realised, but terrifying world.”– Stephen Rhodes“Too sweet!”– Sweet Story, Bro (podcast)“Excellent and deranged worldbuilding.”– A Science Fiction Blog In Search of A Name“All the best bits of Japanese pop culture rolled into one, with a Dickian twist.”– James Lovegrove, Forbidden Planet“A gripping thriller.”– Gonzo NewsThis year’s best books, according to the authors of the best books: “A brilliant, searing meditation on the weight of history and the moral responsibility of the individual living in a system founded on intolerable crimes against humanity.”– Ken Liu, for The Fader“I truly love this book. Yes, it’s emotional, but it’s so engaging and immersive. I couldn’t stop reading it (so glad I picked it up during the weekend and not when I had to work). It’s a wonderful book that will keep your attention through the end.”– Purple Owl ReviewsAdvance Praise“It sounds like a perfect patchwork of multiple sci-fi and anime subgenres rolled into one novel.”– Popular Mechanics, 16 Sci-Fi Things to Look Forward To in 2016“The Man in the High Castle is one of my favourite books of all time. This subversive alternative history story was originally planned as the first in a three part series (one about the Japanese, one about the Germans and a third about the Free State in the middle) however PKD got so distressed researching about the Nazi atrocities that he just couldn’t bring himself to write any more. 2016 has two reasons to celebrate this work. Amazon’s new TV series and this book.”– Books to Look Out For in 2016, SFBook Reviews40 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books That Will Rock Your World in 2016 by io9150 Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Books to Look Forward to in 2016 by Kirkus Reviews40 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books with Potential to Rock Your World in 2016 by NeatoramaSF, Fantasy & Horror: Worlds Turned Upside Down (Spring SF,F & H top 10) by Publishers Weekly42 SF/F Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2016 by B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog16 Sci-Fi Pop Culture Moments to Look Forward to in 2016 by Esquire16 in 16: Highly Anticipated SFF! by SFF180Highly Anticipated Works of 2016 by Alternate History Weekly UpdateMy 8 Most Anticipated Books of 2016 by LitReactorOn My Radar by Kristin Centorcelli of SF SignalThe United States of Japan Needs You! by Tor.comMIND MELD: This is What We Want to Read in 2016 Sunil Patel for SF Signal

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Book SynopsisLife goes on for the billions left behind after the humanity-saving colony mission to Proxima Centauri leaves Earth orbit ... but what's the point?Julie Riley is two years too young to get out from under her mother's thumb, and what does it matter? She's over-educated, under-employed, and kept mostly numb by her pharma emplant. Her best friend, who she's mostly been interacting with via virtual reality for the past decade, is part of the colony mission to Proxima Centauri. Plus, the world is coming to an end. So, there's that.When Julie's mother decides it's time to let go of the family home in a failing suburb and move to the city to be closer to work and her new beau, Julie decides to take matters into her own hands. She runs, illegally, hoping to find and hide with the Volksgeist, a loose-knit culture of tramps, hoboes, senior citizens, artists, and never-do-wells who have elected to ride out the end of the world in their campers and converted vans, constantlyTrade Review"Not to be missed.""Greene nails it!""Engaging and memorable.""Sure to connect with anyone who has searched for their purpose in life and a place to belong.""Twenty-Five to Life is a story of found friendship between the unlikeliest of characters and the rediscovery of humanity in the face of doom.""This book hooked me. Greene’s not-too-distant dystopian future really hits home."

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Book SynopsisG. Willow Wilson was born in New Jersey in 1982. After graduating with a degree in History and coursework in Arabic language and literature, she moved to Cairo, where she became a contributor to the Egyptian opposition weekly Cairo Magazine until it closed in 2005. She has written for politics and culture blogs across the political spectrum, and has previously written a graphic novel, Cairo, illustrated by M. K. Perker, and a series of comics based on her own experiences, for D.C. Comics.Trade ReviewAn exhilarating techno-thriller but also far more than that... Wilson has created in this rich, literate novel a profound dialogue between tradition and modernity, belief and non-belief, fairy tale and urban reality. * Guardian *Brilliant... witty, imaginative and unorthodox in all senses * Observer *Among the most original and challenging books of 2012, and my personal pick for at least one major award in 2013. * Guardian *Charming and original * Sunday Telegraph *Wilson writes beautifully, tells a great story, and even makes computer hackery seem like magic. * Sunday Times *A Harry Potter-ish action-adventure romance [that] unfolds against the backdrop of the Arab Spring... Improbably charming... A bookload of wizardry and glee. * New York Times *Marvelous... Intoxicating... Hugely entertaining... It doesn't take magical powers to predict it will be one of the year's best-loved books. * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisSarah Lotz is a crime novelist and screenwriter with an interest in zombie fiction. Louis Greenberg is a literary writer, editor and bookseller who has studied vampire and apocalyptic fiction. When they decided to write the first mainstream South African horror novel together, S.L. Grey was born.Visit their website at slgrey.book.co.za

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Book SynopsisA passionate, tender and terrifying story of a mother's fight to protect her daughterTrade Review'The New Wilderness is a virtuosic debut, brutal and beautiful in equal measure.' Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel'Soulful, urgent... Supremely well-crafted... What lingers, though, beyond the awesome power of Bea and Agnes as heroines, is pure wonderment at all in this world of ours that is not human.' Observer'Wonderfully imagined and written, this is a tense future-shock novel that's also a tender exploration of a mother-daughter relationship under extreme pressure... An urgent novel reflective of what is happening in society right now.' Booker Prize judges'A wildly imaginative and terrifying dystopian story... Touching on humanity and our contempt for nature, this is a timely and compelling novel.' Independent'This Booker-longlisted novel's driving questions – who will live and who will die? And which kind of leadership will triumph along the way? – remind us, in a compelling fashion, why we read at all: to learn how better to survive.' New Statesman'A visceral, elemental performance... Dense with believable detail.' The Sunday Times'Riveting... Bleakly compelling, and leavened by wry, sparkling humour that Cook combines seamlessly with existential dread.' Daily Telegraph'This gut-wrenching story of survival, danger, power, control and, most importantly, love is one you won’t want to put down.' CNN'This Booker-longlisted novel’s driving questions – who will live and who will die? And which kinds of leadership will triumph along the way? – remind us, in a compelling fashion, why we read at all: to learn how better to survive.' New Statesman'It is the anthropological acuity in Cook's writing that makes it so persuasive… The chief power of The New Wilderness, and what distinguishes it from less successful environmental dystopian fiction, is Cook’s talent for world-building.' TLS'Cook leavens her satire with sly wit and real wisdom, expertly deconstructing the borderline separating human beings and other animals.' Guardian, 'Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books 2020' 'Cook's is a fresh and vivid voice; it's unsurprising the likes of Miranda July and Roxane Gay are fans.' Observer'Cook has a keen eye for the relentless weigh-ups of parenthood... The tale of a hazardously self-denying lifestyle pursued on health grounds, it has uncanny resonance.' Metro'Urgent and inventive... This quietly raging novel deserves its place on the Booker longlist. People who switch off when they hear the phrase "climate change" should read it. And so should everyone else.' Irish Times'As close to experiencing a Picasso as literature can get.' Téa Obreht, author of The Tiger's Wife (on Man V. Nature)'A big book full of characters and rich in imagination... The only debut novel on the shortlist that never feels like one.' Irish Times'5 of 5 stars. [A] gripping, fierce, terrifying examination of what people are capable of when they want to survive in both the best and worst ways. Loved this.' Roxane Gay'A damning piece of horror cli-fi, but it's also a gripping and profound examination of love and sacrifice.' BuzzFeed'The New Wilderness left me as stunned as a deer in headlights. Gut-wrenching and heart-wrecking, this is a book that demands to be read, and urgently.' Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin‘Propulsive... The New Wilderness is a well-formed and powerful piece of writing.’ The Times

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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'

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Book SynopsisCaptures the rhythms and smells of an extraordinary eraTrade Review"[A] bright, burning novel-- intended for a young adult audience but powerful enough to engage any adult is set in the Philadelphia of 1870. Using surprising period details and a gorgeous turn of phrase, Kephart has called forth an interesting time in our city's history and made it live again for just a moment... While many historical novels, especially those for younger readers, can come across as corny or costumey, this one rings true, its language seeming to have been composed during the era it describes... These people feel real, and we have no trouble imagining them living out their dramas just as painfully and joyously as we do ours, 100 or more years before we were born."--The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2013 "Kephart integrates her story of the Quinn family's hope for salvation with a celebration of the city's [Philadelphia's] rich and multifaceted history... Though the tone of the novel is somber, the author frequently incorporates upbeat, poetic phrases to suggest that the Quinns' fate is far from hopeless... Original news stories add an authentic touch to the book. Equally effective is the true account of the daring escape from the Eastern Penitentiary published in The Public Ledger on August 2, 1871... Pair this novel with Kephart's Dangerous Neighbors and Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793 for other key events about Philadelphia's intriguing past."--School Library Journal, October 2013 "In this exceptionally-researched novel targeted toward the tween/young adult audience, Beth Kephart captures not only the sights and sounds of Philadelphia during this industrial age, but also the language of the time. One of her many talents as a writer is her consistent ability - in every book she writes - to put her reader in the scene alongside her characters." - Melissa Firman's blog

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Book SynopsisJohn Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now the bestselling author of: The One, The Passengers, The Minders, What Lies Between and When You Disappeared.Trade ReviewA page-turning and thought-provoking read * Daily Mirror *Skilfully evokes a future Britain . . . Marrs also excells when it comes to worldbuilding . . . a socially aware novel packed with thought-provoking questions * SFX Magazine *Clever, compelling and terrifyingly plausible. A near future nightmare that grips from the first page and never let’s go. The Marriage Act is a brilliant examination of relationships and the power we let others have over us. And talk about a page-turner. This one will leave you with paper cuts! -- C. J. Tudor, author of A Sliver of DarknessJohn’s creative, high-concept thrillers never fail to keep me furiously turning the pages and The Marriage Act is no exception. Pacy and packed full of tension, the book kept me constantly guessing as the thought-provoking plot about marriage and everything that comes with it unfolded in the most sinister of ways . . . dark, immersive speculative fiction at it’s very best! -- Sarah Pearse, author of The Retreat and The SanatoriumA scarily plausible alternative future with a truly twisted narrative. Tensely plotted and terrifyingly imagined - it’ll put you off marriage and modern technology for life! -- Harriet Tyce, author of Blood OrangeChilling thriller * Daily Mail *Original thriller with lots of surprises * My Weekly *The king of near-future what ifs is back with a smart and chilling page-turner. Twisty, unsettling, scarily believable and thought provoking, this is his best yet. -- Ellery Lloyd, author of The ClubFour couples navigate an increasingly claustrophobic world in this razor sharp and chillingly plausible tale from the masterful John Marrs * Woman's Own Magazine *One of the most exciting original thriller writers -- Simon Kernick, author of Good Cop Bad CopAn absolute blinder of a book . . . another gripping page turner. -- Claire Allan on The Marriage ActI really loved it… a plot that had me guessing all the way through. A triumph. -- Justin Myers on The Marriage ActMarrs is brilliant at twists . . . for the addicts of adrenaline-fuelled twisty rides -- Peter James, author of Picture You DeadJohn Marrs can do no wrong. Like Huxley and Orwell before him, Marrs manages to take real life sanctities and twist them into something terrifyingly plausible. All hail the master of the speculative thriller! -- Jack Jordan, author of Sunday Times bestseller Do No HarmAnother savagely clever near-future thriller. Provocative, terrifying and compulsive. If you loved The One, you'll love this! -- Cara Hunter, author of Hope to DieA tense, thrilling read – I found it impossible to put down. It’s dark and twisted, and I loved it -- Alex Michaelides, bestselling author of The Silent PatientDark, twisted, and full of surprises -- Mark Edwards, bestselling author of Her to Stay and The RetreatClever, original, and impossible to put down. The Marriage Act had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. John Marrs is a master of suspense. -- Jeneva Rose, international bestselling author of The Perfect MarriageThis was a brilliantly tricksy read. -- Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond

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Book SynopsisWritten during the Nigerian-Biafran War of the late 1960s, The Trial of Christopher Okigbo boldly tackles questions of Pan-Africanism and independence - with the answers leading to blissful immortality or eternal damnation...After a fatal car accident, Hamisi wakes up in a strange land called After-Africa an afterworld for all Africans who have died since history began. He soon finds out, however, that his position in the afterlife hangs in the balance. To be allowed to stay, Hamisi must participate in the absurd trial of the renowned poet and solider, Christopher Okigbo, who was killed on the front lines. His crime? Choosing war over his art...The Trial of Christopher Okigbo is a wondrously surreal examination into the responsibilities of art and war and their uncomfortable coexistence.''[The Trial of Christopher Okigbo is] its own best proof that important political questioning and art are not mutually exclusive.'' New YorTrade Review[The Trial of Christopher Okigbo is] its own best proof that important political questioning and art are not mutually exclusive. * New York Times *Whether in speech or in writing, Mazrui dissected and unravelled Africa in a delightful manner. * Guardian *[Mazuri was] a towering academician whose intellectual contributions played a major role in shaping African scholarship. -- Uhuru Kenyatta, former president of Kenya

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Book SynopsisIt's thirty years from now and we're making progress, mitigating climate change, slowly but surely. But what about all the angry people who can't let go?For young Americans a generation from now, climate change isn't controversial, it's just an overwhelming fact of life. But so are the great efforts to contain and mitigate it. Entire cities are being moved inland from the rising seas. Vast clean-energy projects are springing up everywhere. Disaster relief, the mitigation of floods and superstorms, has become a skill for which tens of millions of people are trained every year. The effort is global. It employs everyone who wants to work. Even when national politics oscillates back to right-wing leaders, the momentum is too great; these vast programmes cannot be stopped in their tracks.But there are still those Americans who cling to their red trucker caps, their grievances, their anger, their nostalgia for the golden age of assault rifles. Their alternative' news sources reassure Trade ReviewCompletely delightful...Neither utopian nor dystopian, it portrays life in SoCal in a future woven from our successes (Green New Deal!), failures (climate chaos anyway), and unresolved conflicts (old MAGA dudes). I loved it. * Rebecca Solnit *An urgent call to action… It is rare to read realistic depictions of climate disaster that inspire hope rather than despair, but this lively work of cli-fi does * The Guardian *This chronicle of mutual aid is politically perceptive, scientifically sound, and extraordinarily hopeful even amidst the smoke. Forget the Silicon Valley bros – these are the California techsters we need rebuilding our world, one solar panel and prefab insulated wall at a time. * Bill McKibben *Offering a deeply political take on the future... As with the latter work of Kim Stanley Robinson, this is a novel that not only deftly asks how we can build a better world, but sketches out how we might do so * SFX Magazine *This book looks like our future and feels like our present — it’s an unforgettable vision of what could be. Even a partly good future will require wicked political battles and steadfast solidarity among those fighting for a better world, and here I lived it along with Brooks, Ana Lucía, Phuong, and their comrades in the struggle. Along with the rush of adrenaline I felt a solid surge of hope. May it go like this. -- Kim Stanley RobinsonSimultaneously hopeful and nihilistic… [A] horrifyingly plausible vision of the route to the future * SciFi Now *The always-excellent Doctorow’s new novel is set a generation from now, when climate change is a fact of life…as ever, Doctorow takes an intriguing approach * New Scientist *There is a passion in Doctorow’s writing that you cannot help but be swept away by... thought provoking * SF Book *[Doctorow is] an excellent communicator of what is possible and we need voices like his, if we going to avoid being sucked into an abyss ruled by corporate overlords * GeekDad *Invites readers to ponder the complexities of bridging the gap between generations and finding common ground in the face of a global crisis * The Review Geek *

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Book Synopsis***LONG-LISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD***A man and a woman have moved into a small house in a small village. The woman is an examiner, charged with teaching the man a series of simple functions—this is a chair, this is a fork, this is how you meet people. Still, the man is haunted by strange dreams, and when he meets a charismatic, volatile young woman named Hilda at a party, it throws everything he has learned into question. What is this village? And why is he here? A fascinating novel of love, illness, despair, and betrayal, A Cure for Suicide is the most captivating novel yet from one of our most audacious and original young writers.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA 25th anniversary hardcover edition of the debut novel by the two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Underground Railroad that wowed critics and readers and marked the emergence of an important American writer. EVERYMAN''S LIBRARY CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS. It is a time of crisis in a major metropolitan city''s Department of Elevator Inspectors, and Lila Mae Watson, the first black female elevator inspector in the history of the department, is at the center of it.  There are two warring factions in the department: the Empiricists, who rely on tests and measurements; and the Intuitionists, who can intuit any defects merely by entering an elevator cab. Lila Mae is an Intuitionist, with the highest accuracy rate in the department. But when an elevator goes into freefall on her watch, chaos ensues. It''s an election year, and the good-old-boy Empiricists would love nothing more than to blame an Intuitionist.Meanwhile, star

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Book SynopsisReaders of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Arcadia by Iain Pears are sure to be mesmerized by Dan Vyleta’s thrilling blend of Dickensian historical fiction and fantasy, as three young friends scratch the surface of the grown-up world to discover startling wonders—and dangerous secrets.  In an alternate Victorian England those who are wicked are marked by the smoke that pours out of their bodies. The aristocracy are clean, proof of their virtue and right to rule, while the lower classes are drenched in sin and soot.  Thomas Argyle is the only son of a wayward aristocrat. Charlie Cooper is his best friend. When Thomas finds himself under the boot heel of a sadistic headboy in the treacherous halls of their elite boarding school, he and Charlie begin to question the rules of their society. Then the boys meet Livia, the daughter of a wealthy and powerful family. She leads them to a secret laboratory where they learn t

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Notable Book • It is 1978, and John Lennon has escaped New York City to try to find the island off the west coast of Ireland he bought eleven years prior. Leaving behind domesticity, his approaching forties, his inability to create, and his memories of his parents, he sets off to calm his unquiet soul in the comfortable silence of isolation. But when he puts himself in the hands of a shape-shifting driver full of Irish charm and dark whimsy, what ensues can only be termed a magical mystery tour. Beatlebone is a tour de force of language and literary imagination, a surreal novel that blends fantasy and reality—a Hibernian high wire act of courage, nerve, and great beauty.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments—in the gated community of Consilience, residents who sign a contract will get a job and a lovely house for six months of the year...if they serve as inmates in the Positron prison system for the alternate months.“Captivating...thrilling.” —The New York Times Book Review Stan and Charmaine, a young urban couple, have been hit by job loss and bankruptcy in the midst of nationwide economic collapse. Forced to live in their third-hand Honda, where they are vulnerable to roving gangs, they think the gated community of Consilience may be the answer to their prayers. At first, this seems worth it: they will have a roof over their heads and food on the table. But when a series of troubling events unfolds, Positron begins to look less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled. The Heart Goes Last

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Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER • A second American Civil War, a devastating plague, and one family caught deep in the middle—this gripping debut novel asks what might happen if America were to turn its most devastating policies and deadly weapons upon itself. From the author of What Strange ParadisePowerful ... as haunting a postapocalyptic universe as Cormac McCarthy [created] in The Road. —The New York TimesSarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, and that unmanned drones fill the sky. When her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she begins to grow up shaped by her particular time and place. But not everyone at Camp Patience is who they claim to be. Eventually Sarat is befriended by a mysterious functionary, under whose influence she is

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This Element provides a comprehensive explanation of Wittgenstein's philosophy. It introduces distinctions that are essential for approaching the multilayered complex of Wittgenstein's oeuvre. One is the distinction between writing philosophical clarifications for himself and forming philosophical books for his reader.

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