Dystopian & Alternative History Fiction Books

Book SynopsisA first entry in a new trilogy set 10 years after the events of Morning Star finds Darrow and the Rising battling the remaining Gold loyalist forces in order to abolish the color-coded caste system only to be challenged by dangerous new enemies. Movie tie-in.

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Book Synopsis 'THE ENVIRONMENTAL NOVEL OF OUR TIMES.' Lemn Sissay, Booker Prize judge From a critically acclaimed author comes a searing novel about maternal love pushed to the brink by environmental crisis 'Brutal and beautiful in equal measure' (Emily St. John Mandel) Bea's daughter, Agnes, is slowly wasting away, her lungs ravaged by the smog and pollution of the overpopulated metropolis they call home. The only alternative is to build a life in the vast expanse of untamed land known as The Wilderness State. No one has been allowed to venture here before. That is all about to change. But as Bea soon discovers, saving her daughter's life might mean losing her in ways she hadn't foreseen. Passionate and exhilarating, The New Wilderness is the story of a mother's fight to save her daughter in a world she can no longer call her own. Longlisted for the DUBLIN Literary Award 2022 * A Guardian Best Science Fiction Book of the Year * A 'Best Book of the Year 2020' according to BBC Culture * An Irish Times Best Debut Fiction of 2020 Trade 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 SynopsisKonflikt ''47 is set in a world very much like ours--that is, until 1943. With the development of atomic weapons, the world changed. The testing of a prototype nuclear device by the Manhattan Project opened a rift in the fabric of space. When the Fat Boy atomic bomb was dropped on Dresden in March 1944, it created a second rift. German scientists set to work studying it with far more speed than their U.S. counterparts. Both nations began to receive radio signals through the rifts, though often undecipherable. Soon it became apparent that these signals were messages from unknown originators wanting to help each nation''s war efforts. As the messages were pieced together, discoveries were made that allowed each nation to make huge leaps in industrial and scientific research. Despite repeated pleas and demands from their allies, both the United States and Germany were reluctant to share the messages coming through the rifts. Stalin then declared the United States an enemTable of ContentsIntroduction/ Basic Rules/ Advanced Rules/ Scenarios/ Army Lists/ Quick Reference Sheets

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Book SynopsisRebellion. Rebirth. Retaliation. Revenge. The year is 2121, and the apocalypse has been and gone. Amidst the ruins of the old world, what is left of the human race fights for survival against the gigantic, hyper-evolved Kaiju. Humanity's most effective weapons against the monsters are the colossal Mechs developed by the Guardian Programme. YOU are Commander Oishi, a Samurai-class mech-pilot and leader of Phoenix Squad, operating out of Ako Base in the Philippine Sea. When an act of appalling betrayal condemns your fellow warriors to death, it is up to you to pursue the traitor and avenge them. But with the Earth now under the dominion of the colossal Kaiju, what hope do you have? RONIN 47 is an interactive science fiction novel, inspired by the Legend of the Forty-Seven Ronin from Japan. YOU decide which route to take, which perils to risk, and which of the monstrous creatures and rogue robots you will meet along the way to fight. But whether you succeed in your quest and avenge the deaths of your fellow Samurai-pilots, or succumb to the rampaging kaiju, will be down to the choices YOU make. YOU are RONIN 47!

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Book SynopsisDespite being a child, Runa operates on a global scale: and now, she’s set her eyes on creating the famous Shinjuku shinkansen! But Runa’s former life still looms over her, including the catastrophic events of the year 2001. How will she continue to save herself from her distant undoing in the wake of potential tragedy? Series Overview: When the economy collapses in September 2008, an exhausted career woman’s fate is left in flux…until she’s reincarnated! Now she’s Keikan Runa—the villainous daughter of the Keika Group—in an otome game set before the pop of Japan’s economic bubble. Keika Group’s financial situation isn’t great: they’re on the verge of ruin if left unchecked. However, Runa is determined to save both Keika Group and Japan through risky, smart investments. Thanks to an interest in cold hard cash, knowledge of future technology, and her awareness of Japan’s real-world future doom, Runa might just be able to nip the looming economic collapse in the bud. Witness the rebirth of Japan’s economy as Runa uses her knowledge to save her new present from the future!

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Book SynopsisAward-winning writer Inga Simpson terrifies and enthralls with this truly remarkable novel of a woman who must face her worst fears to survive and find beauty in the Australian bush.Fear is her cage. But what''s outside is worse...It''s night, and the walls of Rachel''s home creak in the darkness of the Australian bush. Her fear of other people has led her to a reclusive life as far from them as possible, her only occasional contact with her sister. A hammering on the door. There stand a mother, Hannah, and her sick baby. They are running for their lives from a mysterious death sweeping the Australian countryside - so soon, too soon, after everything.Now Rachel must face her worst fears to help Hannah, search for her sister, and discover just what terror was born of us. . . and how to survive it.For fans of STATION ELEVEN, BIRDBOX and A QUIET PLACE, this remarkable, frightening yet ultimately hopeful novel holds a mirror up toTrade 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 SynopsisA chilling dystopian novel filled with dark humour, for fans of Andrew Hunter Murray''s THE LAST DAY or Christina Dalcher''s Q.She went willingly to the hospital. She couldn''t have anticipated how difficult it would be to leave...Mr and Mrs Sincope are anticipating the birth of their first child. On the way to the hospital for Mrs Sincope''s induction their squabbling over their daughter''s name betrays an unquestioning trust that everything will go to plan. And why wouldn''t it?But as the hours pass and Mrs Sincope''s labour doesn''t begin, the couple start to worry. And as the hours bleed into days and there is still no sign of progress, it becomes clear that there is something far more sinister going on behind the white hospital doors...

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Book SynopsisOne of the manga world's most intriguing artists returns with a re-release of his breakthrough work BLAME!

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Book SynopsisBook two of the thrilling new series by internationally bestselling author of The Nevernight Chronicle and the Illuminae FilesEvery kind of badass' Laini TaylorAfter a battle that broke hearts, minds, and bodies, two friends find themselves on opposite sides of the same quest.Shattered by the discovery that she is not at all who or what she believed, Eve joins forces with her new siblings'. Meanwhile, Lemon finds a sense of belonging perhaps even love in an enclave of other genetic deviates.But with friends and enemies, heroes and villains, wearing interchangeable faces, nothing is as it seems. Soon, Eve and Lemon are racing against each other to find a missing girl whose DNA may hold the key to saving or destroying their broken world.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR LIFEL1K3: ‘Hey, you. Yes, you. Put this grimy, beautiful, devastating, hilarious, screaming, writhing, all-out post-apocalyptic girl-buddy-road-warrior-lost-princess-techno-thriller in your face and read it right now. It is every kind of badass’Laini Taylor, bestselling author of STRANGE THE DREAMER and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy ‘Kristoff's vivid world of grit, metal, and technology evokes all the senses, and his characters every emotion. This is a breathless, action-packed exploration of what humanity really means’Marie Lu, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of WARCROSS and THE YOUNG ELITES ‘Fierce friendships, brutal heartbreak, and the question of what makes us who we are–in the midst of a seriously awesome and terrifying post-apocalyptic world–make LIFEL1K3 your next favorite book. Trust me’Kiersten White, NYT Bestselling Author of AND I DARKEN ‘I'd like to live in the vivid and raw world of LIFEL1K3, if only I wasn't certain it would kill me. Jay Kristoff delivers an utterly unique and entirely brilliant story with his signature punch-to-the-gut writing that will leave you bruised but longing for more’Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of STAR WARS: REBEL RISING and the Across the Universe trilogy

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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 SynopsisThis is a novel so caustic it should be printed with hydrochloric acid. Berg, a Swiss writer and social activist, sprays her fury across the whole landscape of technological and economic manias that are rendering the 21st century intolerable. And Tim Mohr has done a remarkable job of translating Berg's hilarious, hectoring, hyperbolic prose, which isn't so much propulsive as relentless...No other book has so thoroughly rattled me about where we're headed. Ron Charles, the Washington PostThe first English translation of iconic Swiss-German novelist Sibylle Berga ruthless indictment of contemporary society and a strikingly creative manifesto for rebellion.Rochdale is a town in post-industrial Britain, but it could be anywhere on the digitalized, environmentally-decimated planet: a place devoid of hope, where poverty, violence, and squalor are the near-future consequences of decisions being made at this very moment. Grime is the dazzling multi-voice

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Book SynopsisFrom notorious kink writer TINA HORN and featuring a diverse group of artists comes SFSX (SAFE SEX), a social thriller about sex, love, and torture. It's SEX CRIMINALS in Gilead, Hustlers with a SUNSTONEtwist. In a draconian America where sexuality is strictly bureaucratized and policed, a group of queer sex workers keep the magic alive in an underground club called the Dirty Mind. Using their unique talents for bondage and seduction, they resolve to infiltrate the mysterious government Pleasure Center, free their incarcerated friends, and fight the power! Collects SFSX (SAFE SEX) #1-7Trade Review“Deeply relevant.” -The Los Angeles Review of Books“In Tina Horn's racy sci-fi thriller, sex workers are the heroes we always needed. It asks us: What does society look like when sexuality is policed and monitored with the full weight of a fascist dragnet?” -Playboy"SFSX shoves its sparkly stiletto heel right in the face of anyone who has ever tried to keep sex workers down. Tina Horn's work reminds us how important sexual freedom is to the American spirit." -Stormy Daniels“A celebration of the way queer people, sex workers, and other sexual outsiders are always at the forefront of advancing our cultural ideas about sex and pleasure.” -Teen Vogue“Handmaid's Tale, 1984, and Vonnegut, all filtered through the sensibilities of queer punk.” -The Hollywood Reporter “The action-filled story of an anti-sex dystopia, but with heart. NSFW as heck.” -Polygon

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Book SynopsisNamed as one of '50 Writers You Should Read Now' by The Guardian. From the award-winning author of The Rift, Nina Allan, this early novel cements her reputation as one of the most interesting contemporary speculative fiction writers. Ruby tells the story of Ruby Castle told in snapshots and fleeting glimpses and secret histories, in tales repeated and reinvented by those who fall under the horror film actress's spell: her childhood sweetheart, an antiquarian bookseller with a passion for magical artifacts, the mistress of the poet who was once Castle's lover, a young girl in a future Russia who dreams of the stars. Worlds collide, and the boundaries between the real and the fantastic begin to break down. Is Ruby Castle a living person or a collective fantasy? By the time the final page of Ruby is turned, the world that Castle created through her films has become dangerously indistinguishable from our own.

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Book SynopsisFrom bastions of freedom… to fallen saints.DSV, the elite secret service tasked with fighting Daedalus, the descendants of the Nazis, are winning. They have captured more of their agents and assets in the past six months than the previous twenty years, and the plans for a Fourth Reich appear to be crumbling.But all is not as it seems. A whistleblower has identified a mole high up in the DSV hierarchy. But more worrying still is the identity of that informant… ruthless Daedalus commander Hans Bauer. Why would he give up such a valued operative?When word reaches them of a devastating Daedalus operation, codenamed Steel Thunder, Ethan Munroe, elite DSV operative, is tasked with only one mission: find the Daedalus core and bring them to justice, ending this seventy year-long cat and mouse game once and for all.But with a cataclysmic attack on the horizon, one that will eclipse anything the world has seen before, he is running out of time.A nerve-shattering conspiracy thriller with a devastating twist that will leave you reeling, perfect for fans of Scott Mariani, Clive Cussler and Adam Hamdy.

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Book SynopsisA young girl’s disappearance hints at a disturbing truth...When novice Emma Thorgold goes missing from Godstow Abbey in the summer of 1353, the hunt is on throughout the Oxfordshire countryside for any sign of where she could have gone. Bookseller Nicholas Elyot and scholar Jordain Brinkylsworth are anxious to help the girl, but her stepfather has other, more sinister intentions.Why is he so determined to shut her away for life? Or worse? And will she be found unharmed?A truly gripping historical mystery with twists and turns aplenty, perfect for fans of S. W. Perry, Graham Brack and Ellis Peters.

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Book SynopsisDanger descends in the second book of The Internment Chronicles, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Chemical Garden trilogy.Trade ReviewPraise for The Chemical Garden series: A 'harrowing debut … DeStefano has an observant and occasionally pitiless eye, chronicling the cruelties, mercies, and inconsistencies of her young characters… ' Publisher's Weekly starred review 'Lauren DeStefano crafts an all too believable future. I loved the world, the romance, the writing – exactly the kind of book I've been craving to read' Carrie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH '[A] thought-provoking debut, reminiscent of THE HANDMAID’S TALE with a touch of Big Love … Rhine's fight for freedom against the clock-and the dissecting table-will leave readers eager for the sequel. Give this one to fans of THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy or Ally Condie's MATCHED' Kirkus

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Book SynopsisA rich, strange book. Very truthful and moving' Tessa Hadley''A terrific, engrossing novel' Roddy DoyleA masterpiece' Sebastian BarryThe new novel about the transformative power of art, the weight of history and the strange connection we make with one another from the author of The Speckled People.Narrated in the voice of Joseph Roth''s masterpiece Rebellion, Hugo Hamilton''s stunning, formally inventive new novel tells the life story of that book, initially rescued from the Nazi book-burning in Berlin in May 1933. It recounts the life of its Austrian-Jewish author, a writer on the run, and his intriguing wife Friederike who fell victim to mental illness.And it tells a multitude of other stories: of Andreas Pum, a barrel-organ player down on his luck; of a young German American woman who finds a small map drawn by hand on its own blank page in the back, a thrilling mystery which will lead her to Berlin, the book''s birthplace.The Pages carries profound echoes from the past into the preTrade ReviewPraise for The Pages: 'Brilliant. It's a lovely, rich, strange book, very truthful and moving, with a beautiful ending' Tessa Hadley ‘It is … a masterpiece. The Alignment of the destructive forces of the 1920s and the 2020s in this virtuoso work are uncanny and, frankly, alarming. This book simply must be read. It is magnificent’ Sunday Independent ‘A classic Joseph Roth novel takes centre stage in this mix of thriller, treasure hunt and love story…profound and heart-breaking’ Sunday Times 'A powerful, powerful piece of work. A wounded book making its own book. It brings so much to life – Joseph Roth, Chechnya, Germany, the art of writing, the whole notion of banning books, the lips of the past speaking to the present' Colum McCann 'A terrific, engrossing novel. I love the narrator – such a great character – and the structure is clever and carefully woven, and very satisfying' Roddy Doyle 'An ingenious conceit' John Banville 'A masterpiece. Full of great sentences. But also sort of obliteratingly moving, strange, and right' Sebastian Barry ‘Wonderful. It is as if Hugo Hamilton has invented a new form’ Neil Jordan, author of Carnivalesque ‘Although ideas of memory, legacy and repetition — the indelible imprints of history — fill The Pages, it moves with a fast and fluid gait … It reminds us that, even in an age when people “live in a rush to forget” (Roth’s words), we must read the book of the past in order to understand the present’ Boyd Tonkin, Financial Times ‘The form itself – a novel narrated by a novel – is so cunningly realised that it’s accepted almost immediately. It also inspires the thought: why are more novels not told like this? … it’s a fascinating work of real depth that combines biography, fiction and history to create a manifesto for the importance of literature in the times of political dismay’ Business Post

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘A haunting evocation of the routine brutalities of slavery that is also a powerful celebration of friendship, community, resilience and rebellion. A hugely impressive debut’ SARAH WATERS ‘A haunting, moving story’SUNDAY TIMES ‘A powerful and inspired achievement… gives voice to the enslaved women of this nation’s past who have, for far too long, had their voices gone unheard in the annals of history. She does them justice and then some. This one is not to be missed’ NATHAN HARRIS, author of The Sweetness of Water ‘Extraordinary: a beautiful book about harrowing things, beautiful because of its understanding of humanity, its astonishing language, and the plain brilliance of its author. I'm not sure I've recovered from the experience of reading it, or ever will, or ever should’ ELIZABETH MCCRACKEN ‘A tale of epic survival, a song of collective resilience, an intimate exploration of love, friendship and sisterhood in the face of harrowing cruelty and injustice. In lyrical and precise prose, Peyton evokes an indelible portrait of each woman's complicated desires, hopes and fears. And in spite of the characters' difficult lives, this is a book about joy and transcendence as much as it is about trauma and loss. The complex and varied voices of the women that inhabit Night Wherever We Go make it a haunting, powerful and utterly unforgettable read’ RACHEL HENG, author of Suicide Club ‘Night Wherever We Go has the potential to change how Blacknesses, Texas and the nation are written about forever’ KIESE LAYMON, author of Long Division

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE WRITERS'' GUILD FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2020ELLE ONES TO WATCH 2019''Terribly moving. A clear-sighted, poignant rumination on loneliness, love, the melancholy of age and of youth'' China Mieville ''An imaginative, atmospheric and original novel that lingers in the memory long after reading'' Bernadine Evaristo ''A sad, funny, highly original novel'' Blake Morrison''Wholeheartedly enjoy(able)'' Lauren Wilkinson, The Millions ''Season Butler is an extraordinary writer. Like Colson Whitehead, her work is fearless in its inventiveness'' Julia Bell__________________________________________________________It''s too hot for most of the clothes I packed to come here, when I thought this would only be for a week or two. My mother kissed me with those purple-brown lips of hers and said, we''ll be back, hoTrade ReviewComing-of-age fiction is a well-established genre but I doubt there's ever been a novel in which the narrator turns 18 on an island exclusively occupied by oldsters. And not since Holden Caulfield have I been so captivated by a first-person voice as the one Season Butler creates in Cygnet: 'kiddo' or 'small-fry' as the Wrinklies call her is super-bright but also naive, tough-minded but also vulnerable, self-reliant but also adrift. How long will she remain on the island? How long will the island itself remain, increasingly eroded by the ocean as it is? Will her parents arrive in time to celebrate her birthday? We don't know, but this sad, funny, highly original novel keeps us turning the pages to find out * Blake Morrison, Author of Things my Mother Never Told Me *Season Butler is an extraordinary writer. In this wonderful novel the narrative voice is rhythmic and compelling, telling a coming of age story which resonates with our times. Like Colson Whitehead, her work is fearless in its inventiveness. I've always thought Season was the real deal, this book proves that she has arrived * Julia Bell, Author, The Dark Light *Terribly moving. A clear-sighted, poignant rumination on loneliness, love, the melancholy of age and of youth - and, in its quiet way, the end of the world * China Miéville *Season Butler has written an imaginative, atmospheric and original novel that lingers in the memory long after reading . . . A bright new voice in literature * Bernardine Evaristo *An original novel with a memorable narrator * Elle (Eight Books to Devour) *An uncanny meditation on mortality and intergenerational distrust * Metro *[A] potent debut . . . A strange, promising beginning * Observer *[A] vivid, poetic debut * Daily Mail *As sixteen-year old environmental activist Greta Thunberg has shown us, teenagers are the ideal candidates for raising consciousness about our planetary plight. Kid's ardent voice powers Cygnet. Her expression of the loneliness, boredom and rage she feels at her circumstances is reminiscent of Holden Caulfield . . . the characters have real emotional depth . . . Cygnet is both very funny and convincingly tragic, its young narrator memorably charismatic and self-aware * Literary Review *Season Butler (in her novel Cygnet) describ[es] an island occupied, with one exception, by geriatrics - the exception being the narrator, whose wise reflections on age, race, class and global warming belie her tender youth -- Blake Morrison * New Internationalist *

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Book SynopsisShe spends her days tending plants, slogging through high school and imagining what life could be if she had been born to a different family.Then she meets Peter - a charming, troubled college student from the East Coast - who launches his teaching career by initiating her into the world of art.

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Book SynopsisThe sixth book in the epic Morland Dynasty series

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Book SynopsisWhen an unconventional offshoot of the US military trains an artificial intelligence in the dark arts that humanity calls black magic, it learns how to hack the fabric of reality itself. It can teleport matter. It can confer immunity to bullets. And it decides that obscure Silicon Valley middle manager Adrian Ross is the primary threat to its existence.Soon Adrian is on the run, wanted by every authority, with no idea how or why he could be a threat. His predicament seems hopeless; his future, nonexistent. But when he investigates the AI and its creators, he discovers his problems are even stranger than they seem...and unearths revelations that will propel him on a journey -- and a love story -- across worlds, eras, and everything, everywhere, all at once.

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Book Synopsis Between the years of 1886 and 1939, the world saw the first automobiles, rapid urbanization, the decay of empires, vast economic inequality, the first airplanes and the terrifying secrets of the atom. It was a time of cataclysmic cultural and technological transformation, and spawned the rise of the literary genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror. This work assembles gems of late nineteenth and early twentieth century genre literature, including stories by such literary giants as H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, A. Merritt and E. M. Forster, as well as smaller authors like Clare Winger Harris, Marie Corelli, William Hope Hodgson and others. An array of incisive nonfiction pieces on cultural and scientific advances of the time period provides a context for the anthology''s stories.Trade ReviewAn excellent anthology for a number of reasons: the spread of stories and authors draws from seemingly disparate backgrounds, but in a way that cuts across generic markers which have become a bit too pat. Here we have science fiction, horror, and fantasy presented together, rather than rolled back into their now conventional stalls; the arbitrary divides between 'popular' and 'literary' fiction are questioned by way of the editors' discussion of the work in terms of Modernism. For course use, this anthology would be great in both genre and general fiction contexts. But most importantly, it is a great collection of stories, some fairly common, but many less well known."—Jamie Williamson, author of The Evolution of Modern Fantasy: From Antiquarianism to the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series"The Spark of Modernism explores how turn-of-the-century American and British speculative authors used tales of other worlds and times as funhouse mirrors to engage some of the most pressing scientific and social issues of their day—many of which are still with us in the contemporary moment. Editors Bill Gillard, James Reitter, and Robert Stauffer have curated a lively and comprehensive volume that features science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories by genre luminaries alongside pieces from writers more often thought of as scientists, philosophers, political activists, and journalists. Complete with detailed biographies that make the authors and their works come alive for modern audiences, this book is a must-read for science fiction scholars and fans alike. Highly Recommended!"—Lisa Yaszek, Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech"A wonderful, indeed sense-of-wonder-full, collection of classic speculative fiction: some famous pieces, some less well known to day, but all brilliantly readable and illuminating. There's not a dud in the whole. Not only is this anthology a delight to read, it also establishes a fascinating and original throughline into Modernism as such, reframing how we think about that movement. Highly recommended."—Adam Roberts, author of The History of Science Fiction"Editors Gillard, Reitter, and Stauffer should be commended for assembling an anthology that offers a fresh look at an important era in the history of science fiction and fantasy. In addition to classic stories by W. E. B. Du Bois, E. M. Forster, and Rudyard Kipling...their collection is both enlightening and entertaining"—Gary Westfahl, author of The Rise and Fall of American Science Fiction, from the 1920s to the 1960sTable of Contents Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction"The Comet" by W.E.B. Du Bois"Enoch Soames: A Memory of the ­Eighteen-nineties" by Max Beerbohm"The Striding Place" by Gertrude Atherton"Haïta the Shepherd" by Ambrose Bierce"Luella Miller" by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman"The ­Ash-tree" by M.R. James"The Bowmen" by Arthur Machen"The Decay of the Ghost in Fiction" by Olivia Howard Dunbar"The Miracle of the Lily" by Clare Winger Harris"With the Night Mail" by Rudyard Kipling"From Beyond" by H.P. Lovecraft"The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster"Rust" by Joseph E. Kelleam"The Rhythm of the Spheres" by A. Merritt"The Death of a Saint" by Evelyn Underhill"The Electric Creed" by Marie Corelli"The Searcher of the End House" by William Hope Hodgson"What Pragmatism Means" by William James"Spear and Fang" by Robert E. Howard"The Black God's Kiss" by C.L. MooreFor Further ReadingIndex

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***SHORTLISTED FOR THE SCOTTISH FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR***'This horrendously claustrophobic, utterly absorbing debut. The fiercely controlled narrative beautifully translates the horrendous grip of dismal routines and tiny, stolen pleasures' DAILY MAIL'There are shades of George Orwell in this stunning writing debut, but Rachelle Atalla's voice is highly original. And wholly her own' THE HERALD'A compulsive, claustrophobic but wonderfully compassionate read, beautifully written and set within a brilliantly realised world. Rachelle Atalla is a major talent and I can't wait to see where her mind goes next' KIRSTIN INNES, AUTHOR OF SCABBY QUEEN'Atalla's speculative literary thriller debut draws you in with its mounting sense of tension, disquiet and desperation' CULTUREFLYTHE BUNKER IS DESIGNED TO KEEP THEM ALL SAFE. In the end, very few people made it to the bunker. Now they wait there for the outside world to heal. Wolfe is one of the lucky ones. She's safe and employed as the bunker's pharmacist, doling out medicine under the watchful eye of their increasingly erratic and paranoid leader.BUT IS IT THE PLACE OF GREATEST DANGER? But when the leader starts to ask things of Wolfe, favours she can hardly say no to, it seems her luck is running out. Forming an unlikely alliance with the young Doctor Stirling, her troubled assistant Levitt, and Canavan - a tattooed giant of a man who's purpose in the bunker is a mystery - Wolfe must navigate the powder keg of life underground where one misstep will light the fuse. The walls that keep her safe also have her trapped.How much more is Wolfe willing to give to stay alive?Beautifully written and utterly gripping, The Pharmacist will be a guaranteed conversation starter when it is published.'An unflinching portrayal of what we might all be capable of, Atalla's stunning debut is essential reading for our times' HELEN SEDGWICK'Though set in a speculative future, The Pharmacist is very much a book for our own broken times. Its story grips and never lets go, unflinching in its portrayal of abused power, moral confusion and betrayal, but also fully alive to the redemptive possibilities of compassion, resistance and love. This is a powerful and memorable debut from an exciting new voice' WAYNE PRICE'A triumph of a book. Character-led but taut and purposeful with action' LIAM MURRAY BELL

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Book Synopsis'We have a new The Handmaid's Tale... an exciting new literary voice with a dazzling imagination' EMMA KENNEDY'Compelling, menacing and ultimately uplifting, I fell headlong into the world of Body of Stars' SARAH WARD'Rapturously written and wildly original, Laura Maylene Walter's debut novel maps the dreams and nightmares of girlhood' EMILYY SCHULTZ'What a gift Laura Maylene Walter has given us in Body of Stars' ANNE VALENTENo future, dear reader, can break a woman on its ownA bold and dazzling exploration of fate and female agency in a world where women own the future but not their own bodies. Like every woman, Celeste Morton holds a map of the future in her skin, every mole and freckle a clue to unlocking what will come to pass. With puberty comes the changeling period - when her final marks will appear and her future is decided.The possibilities are tantalising enough for Celeste's excitement to outweigh her fear. Changelings are sought after commodities and abduction is rife as men seek to possess these futures for themselves.Celeste's marks have always been closely entwined with her brother, Miles. Her skin holds a future only he, as a gifted interpreter, can read and he has always considered his sister his practice ground. But when Celeste's marks change she learns a devastating secret about her brother's future that she must keep to herself - and Miles is keeping a secret of his own. When the lies of brother and sister collide, Celeste determines to create a future that is truly her own.Body of Stars is an urgent read about what happens when women are objectified and violently stripped of choice - and what happens when they fight back.'Part allegory, part warning, and part celebration of the female body, this is a thrilling and flawlessly crafted debut about the potential women have to hold magic, make magic, and change the course of history with the underestimated weapons of intelligence and love.' Courtney Maum, , author of Touch and Costalegre'Body of Stars sparks with tenderness and beauty, and Walter's writing on the female body is genuine art. A thought-provoking exploration of fate and forced binaries, this is a book that lingers.' Erika Swyler, author of Light from Other Stars and The Book of Speculation'Laura Maylene Walter's Body of Stars will be enjoyed as a novel that employs the fantastic to inventively explore both the victimization and the power of women in a world very much like our own, but its central pleasure and achievement may be its depiction of a complicated and extraordinarily moving sibling relationship. In Walter's generous and capable hands, Miles and Celeste remind us that love often means damage, and that the true test of love is not avoiding that damage, but repairing it when we've caused it.' Karen Shepard, author of Kiss Me Someone'A tender rebuke to the idea that biology is destiny, Body of Stars explores the boundaries of family, identity, and predestination. Through the lens of a complex coming-of-age story, Laura Maylene Walter asks us to consider how we can make the future matter when it seems like we already know its outlines, and what the difference is between the destiny of an individual and the fate of a society.' Adrienne Celt, author of Invitation to a Bonfire

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Book SynopsisTHE THRILLER THAT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT THIS SUMMER'Absolutely show-stopping' JANICE HALLETT'Unputdownable' SOPHIE HANNAH'So intense! So gripping!' B.P. WALTER'A tour-de-force' CHRIS WHITAKER'Wow!' CHRISTINA DALCHER'Enthralling and incredibly clever' C.J. TUDOR'Blew my mind' JANE CORRY'A drop-the-book twist' TAMMY COHENYOU KNOW HOW THIS STORY BEGINS. Once upon a time, there was a writer named Fern. She was a bestseller. An award-winner. Loved by readers and critics alike. With her words, she changed the world.Until her story took a turn. Now Fern is a cleaner in a hospital. Condemned to anonymity. Because reading books is now a crime. Only, Fern doesn't plan on going down without a fight. She'll keep writing, no matter the consequences. She will make her voice heard. Because Fern's story is only beginning. BUT CAN YOU GUESS HOW IT WILL END?A white-knuckle ride of a thriller set in an all-too-believable near-future with a shocking twist, perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister and Catriona Ward.___________________READERS LOVE END OF STORY . . .'It's actually hard to find words for how brilliant End of Story is' NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5*'What a fantastic book, I really didn't see the twist coming but oh my gosh!' NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5*'Without question one of my books of the year' NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5*'I'm a bit flabbergasted after reading this. It wasn't what I was expecting; it was so much more' NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5*'Wow, what have I just read? I honestly could not put this book down, I read it in one sitting.' NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5*Trade ReviewAs much a ride as a read, this tense, paranoid thriller expands into something absolutely show-stopping. End of Story is a rare find indeed! Louise Swanson takes every expectation and defies it - to tell a breath-taking tale of humanity and redemption. -- Janice HallettWow. Swanson gives us what few writers can- a thriller with heart. END OF STORY will undoubtedly be the hit of 2023! -- Christina DalcherA vast, playful, ingenious piece of literary legerdemain . . . It's a book as much about writing as about loss and hope . . . but Louise Swanson takes that idea to audacious extremes, finding real soul amongst the dream logic and textural trickery . . . Read it and make your own mind up, because the ride is certainly fun * SFX *An unforgettable tour-de-force. Imaginative, terrifying, beautiful. Do not miss this one -- Chris WhitakerAbsolutely enthralling, incredibly clever, brutal and heartbreaking. This deserves to be the book everyone is talking about in 2023. I loved it. -- C.J. TudorThis dystopia is as disturbing as it is fascinating -- Deirdre O'Brien * Best *This richly imagined dystopian novel is an unsettling read * Woman's Own *A compelling slice of chilling dystopia * Heat *Unsettling, twisty, emotional, and so expertly written that you live every dark, discomforting moment with its protagonist. Not just a highlight of March, expect this book to be a highlight of the year. -- CultureflyCompelling -- Crime MonthlyThis is a book about the importance of storytelling, and it's little bit magic, a little bit dark, and a lot emotional. I adored it -- Amanda ProwseInventive, original, moving. END OF STORY has a unique premise and a heart-wrenching drop-the-book twist. -- Tammy CohenThis beautifully-written book blew my mind. Takes 'What if' to a new level. -- Jane CorryA sensually startling dystopia . . . unsettling - in the best possible sense! - the novel had me hooked from start to finish. Wonderfully original. -- Susannah WiseHaunting, intriguing and dazzlingly original. This book will break your heart. -- Emma HaughtonShocking, powerful, topical, and utterly compelling. -- John MarrsA chilling and moving tale that will strike fear into the heart of every book lover. The ending blew me away. -- Mark EdwardsA shocking portrayal of a world undone. Swanson's writing is powerful and thought-provoking. A compelling read. -- Lauren NorthA compelling novel with an intriguing premise and a genuine didn't-see-it-coming twist. It made me think about how we tell stories, how we occupy them and how stories can ultimately change us. -- Araminta HallA propulsive and incredibly creepy dystopian premise - I was hooked from the outset, and every twist was perfectly executed. A fantastic thriller -- Heather DarwentAbsolutely engrossing from the first page, END OF STORY pulled me in and held me there like the best stories do. Utterly compelling, chilling, and heartbreaking, Louise Swanson has achieved something very rare and very special with this book, it'll stay with me for a long time. I loved it. -- Beth LewisA masterpiece of storytelling, with a plot that relentlessly draws you in, and then twists and evolves into something utterly unexpected. Wrapped in one of the most original and deeply-realised storylines I have read in a long time, this genre-blending book hits breathtaking new heights in contemporary fiction -- Philippa EastJust finished this and oh wow... I could not put it down! Intriguing, captivating and utterly heartbreaking - such a brilliant book. -- Susi HollidayEnd of Story is an infusion of dystopia and very real magic. It reaches straight for your heart, cast in a velvet glove and tears it out in an iron fist. Thunderous devastating. I loved every minute of it. -- Matt WesolowskiSimply devastatingly good - I may need some time to recover -- Claire AllanA story that shocks, enchants and terrifies, End of Story lures you in to its darkly captivating world then rips the rug out from under you and breaks your heart. Loved it. -- Eve SmithPowerful and thought-provoking and quite unlike anything I've read before. Louise Beech is a fearless writer -- Laura PearsonCompelling and engrossing dystopian fiction, with much food for thought -- S.E. LynesA terrifying portrait of a near future . . . Both thought-provoking and heartfelt, END OF STORY is a unique dystopian mystery about human connection amidst automation, renewal amidst defeat, and the power of writing -- Winnie M LiA beautifully written dystopian tale which had me enthralled from the start with its terrifying vision of a world without fiction. Hugely imaginative, original, and ultimately incredibly moving, End of Story is a wonderful book with a cast of fascinating characters. Loved it. -- Amanda JenningsA taut thriller with characters that are both heartbreakingly, and in some instances frighteningly real, and the twist at the end left me bereft, if not a little relieved. A remarkable, thought-provoking story that will stay with me for a long time. -- Eva JordanA bewitching and heartbreaking story about the power of fiction and redemption. Unlike anything else I've read - utterly breathtaking. -- Catherine CooperWill sear itself into your heart . . . A brilliant, original idea, powerfully executed and terrifyingly plausible. Prepare to be left speechless!

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Book SynopsisCole Turner thought he joined the right side of the war for the Truth. But now that he's learning more about Lee Harvey Oswald's tenure leading the Department, he's not so sure. And as Tulpas start to gain a stronger foothold in the real world, Cole's time to decide where he stands is running out...The second arc of the smash-hit DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH from James Tynion IV (Batman) and Martin Simmonds (Dying is Easy) is collected here!Collects THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #8-13Trade Review“Hickmanian conspiracy games, Burroughsian crime, Sienkiewiczian style. The Truth: you want it.” -Kieron Gillen"The hype on this is real."-Brian Michael Bendis"A new conspiracy thriller comic that should appeal to anyone with a fondness for The X-Files."-IGN"A wonderfully dizzy mixture of Men in Black, John Carpenter, Stephen King, The Matrix, and 1970s conspiracy thrillers."-Forbes“A story for our zeitgeist. SIMMONDS' art invokes Bill Sienkiewicz.”-Entertainment Weekly"Genuinely one of the best comics you'll read this year. Do not miss it."-Scott Snyder

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Book SynopsisThe city of Fontainebleau, situated on the banks of the Detroit River, is undergoing growing pains and strange things are happening. There's something poisonous in the water, something menacing in the sky, and the soil, laced with an ancient curse, is yielding up unidentified bones along with corn.&nbspIn this collection of linked stories (part surreal picaresque, part dark comedy, and part murder mystery) magic meets the mundane as misfits and miscreants struggle to free themselves from untenable situations. A girl with mermaid syndrome disappears into a field, a fugitive boy dreams of finding anonymity in Toronto while his abandoned pregnant girlfriend hallucinates his second coming, and a nostalgic chambermaid finds her memories vanish when she puts on a stranger's wig.&nbspThere's a rash of killings in the city that attract a lovesick police officer.&nbspNo one knows who's responsible for the crimes, but the city has plenty of candidates, like the crazy son of a judge who murdered a man in Disney World and the grieving vandal who's obsessed with the idea of cutting a woman in half.&nbspThen there are the abusive husbands, snuff film producers, inconspicuous con women, and pederasts who live secret double lives. Are the characters in this oddly probable world masters or victims of their own fate? How do their lives intersect? Is it likely that destruction will ultimately prevail over this desolate land, or will consciousness, like a flaming firebird, lead at least some of the city's inhabitants to self-acceptance, redemption, or escape? Praise: "A darkly engrossing and artfully composed sequence of stories from a contemporary master of the form - Sonik's fearsome prose shines sublime light on the plain-sight secrets of modern life." -Lee Henderson, author of The Man Game and The Road Narrows as You Go

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Book SynopsisWhat if Billy the Kid not only didn't die, but was saved by a woman? History tells us that the short and violent life of William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, ended at the hand of Pat Garrett on the moonless night of July 14, 1881. But I Am Billy the Kid tells a different story, straight from Billy himself. This revisionist history seen through the lens of a twenty-first century sensibility features the picaresque hero we thought we knew and the unexpected one that we don't; a fearless and determined young woman who is in no mood to be saved and would much prefer exacting her own revenge. Billy has been in an alcoholic haze since a failed attempt to escape notoriety by faking his own death. By 1915, his fame has only increased, and when word of a possible ruse leaks out, Billy finds himself once again on the run. He agrees to follow his elder brother Joseph north from New Mexico Territory, to possible sanctuary in Canada. Billy and Joseph encounter Turner Wing, a young woman with a fierce sense of self-determination and the skills with a gun to back it up, and her father, a man with a past and a burlap sack over his head due to a significant facial disfiguration. They are in desperate search of Turner's sister, who has been abducted by a pair of marauding thieves. Billy and Joseph know the truth about the girl's fate and, following their own code of honour, form an uneasy alliance with the Wings to avenge her death.

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Book SynopsisWinner, H.R. (Bill) Percy Novel PrizeFinalist, Amazon.ca First Novel AwardFinalist, Jim Connors Dartmouth Book AwardFinalist, Ottawa Book AwardIn the backwoods of Nova Scotia, a man has decided to withdraw from the world and live off the land. Meanwhile, news reports begin to trickle in of a global catastrophe. Someone has released a genetically modified strain of bacteria that devours plastic. The world will never again be the same.In this masterfully atmospheric novel, both apocalyptic in scope and intimate in setting, Scott Fotheringham cracks opens Pandora’s box to let loose a trail of chilling consequences.Trade Review"The Rest is Silence is a beautiful and Canadian tragedy that lingers in the mind long after the final page. I will remember this novel: where I was when I read it and how it made me feel so immediate; and I will read it again. ... The language is textured, almost poetry or music, like velvety moss on a rock. One could read it aloud and never stumble over a misplaced word. Sink into this book: it is a midnight skinny dip, a bonfire, a shooting star." -- Amy Andersen * Scene *"The Rest is Silence is a thoughtful and considerate story, engaging and intriguing at every level. Scott Fotheringham's first novel is a gem — equal parts poetic meditation and page-turner. ... the novel has nice momentum and doesn't dwell. Fotheringham has the rare skill of great timing: he gives each episode in the novel just enough time before moving on, introducing a new angle. So, despite its luxurious style, the novel doesn't dwell or sulk — every page offers something new to add to the human study. ... The novel certainly has something to say about human abuse of the natural world, but the thesis is tucked into a compelling and endless exploration of relationships and affection, ambition and loss. Fotheringham doesn't preach, and he doesn't deflect: he simply allows the novel to be honest about not having any answer other than a kind of fraught plea that we try to love what we have and remember what we've lost." -- Amanda Tripp * Maple Tree Literary Supplement *"The novel's precise, straightforward descriptive prose is very well suited to the narrator's experiences, conveying quiet contentment, beauty, and endurance. ... The Rest is Silence emphasizes overlap and connection between its themes, which makes its content more interesting and thought provoking. ... The Rest is Silence is a surprisingly moving read. ... beautiful, sad, refreshing and well worth reading." -- Joanna Graham * Winnipeg Review *"The Rest is Silence is an interesting read, and it invites further study." * Canadian Literature *

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Book Synopsis'ALICE IN WONDERLAND MEETS THE SHINING' Kirkus'A FINE ADDITION TO THE CREEPY HOTEL THRILLER GENRE' Independent'SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO STAY A WHILE IN GOOD NIGHT, IDAHO, THEN - UNLIKE THE ADDISONS - YOU WON'T REGRET IT' GuardianThe Addisons - Julia and Tonio, ten-year-old Dewey, and Uncle Robbie - are driving home after collecting Robbie from yet another trip to rehab. When a terrifying blizzard strikes outside the town of Good Night, Idaho, they seek refuge at the Travelers Rest, a formerly opulent but now crumbling hotel.With nowhere else to go, they decide to stay the night. But once inside, the family becomes separated and the hotel begins to work its eerie magic. As Julia and Tonio drift through the maze of the hotel's spectral interiors, Dewey ventures outside. Meanwhile, a desperate Robbie quickly succumbs to his old vices. As they desperately try to reach each other, they relive the same day over and over again. The mother, Julia, holds the key to their release - but can she save her family from the fate of becoming Souvenirs - those citizens trapped forever in Good Night-or, worse, from disappearing entirely?Trade ReviewKeith Lee Morris knows what fiction is made for: in Travelers Rest he creates an intriguing world, poses big questions, and gives us sentences that by themselves are worth the read. What happens, he asks, when the person who goes missing is yourself? -- Charlotte Rogan, author of the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller THE LIFEBOATEchoing the fantastic work of Shirley Jackson and Stephen King, Travelers Rest is both fiercely gripping and deeply unsettling, a perfect mixture of horror and fairy tale . . . a novel that pulls you in immediately and refuses to let you go -- Kevin Wilson, author of the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller THE FAMILY FANGIt won't take long - a page, maybe two - before you feel wondrously disquieted by Keith Lee Morris's Travelers Rest. The novel traps its characters in the town of Good Night, Idaho, and the reader in its shaken snow globe of a world. The language dazzles and the circumstances chill and put this story in the good company of Stephen King's The Shining, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, and David Lynch's Twin Peaks. This book will earn Morris the wide readership he richly deserves -- Benjamin Percy, author of The Dead Lands and Red MoonMorris handles the spooky materials deftly but his writing is what makes the story really scary: quiet and languorous, sweeping steadily and inexorably along like a curtain of drifting snow identified too late as an avalanche. * Publishers Weekly *Alice in Wonderland meets The Shining...weighty, suspenseful, and even wistful * Kirkus Reviews *There's no ghouls here, no rotting women reaching out of bathtubs - just the town, the snow and an inexplicable evil leaking up from beneath the hotels foundations. The prose is appropriately disorientating. His sentences are long and labyrinthine; they seem to reach up off the page, trying to drag the reader down into the depths...it's a stunning read - just not for reading late at night * Sci-Fi Now *Keith Lee Morris's prose has a hypnotic rhythm that perfectly captures the uncanny ambience * SFX *Reminiscent of King's Desperation and Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, Keith Lee Morris' latest novel - the first to be published in the UK - is an intense and gripping story that succeeds in its aim to unsettle the reader, to turn what we think we know on its head and leave us stranded with the Addison family in the strange little town of Good Night, Idaho. * Reader Dad *The characters are complex, and their relationships even more so. Morris manages to breathe new life into a dusty old tale, and capture the reader from the outset. * The Bookbag *A fine addition to the creepy hotel thriller genre...It says much of Morris's skill that he's able to keep us bewitched and beguiled in a topsy-turvy world with endless corridors, twisting stairs and Escher-like surroundings. The novel culminates in an almost operatic grand finale where past and present meet in a satisfying conclusion * Independent *The writing is persuasive, the characters are rich, and there are moments of great emotional resonance. Should you choose to stay a while in Good Night, Idaho, then - unlike the Addisons - you won't regret it. * The Guardian *a subtle, meticulous examination of strained relationships, the effects of isolation on the mind, and the persistent hold memory has over us...it exerts a powerful hold * The Financial Times *The children's characters are well sketched, the supernatural element is unsettling and the action has pace...he is certainly a rising star in the genre and one to watch for. So, if you like Stephen King-esque stories, don't bypass Travelers Rest! * Fantasy Book Review *

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Book Synopsis“There was video of the second shooter. There was video.”In the first reports of every mass shooting, there’s always mention of a second shooter—two sets of gunshots, a figure seen fleeing the scene—and they always seem to evaporate as events are pieced together.Commissioned by a fringe publisher to investigate the phenomenon, journalist Mike Karras finds himself tailed by drones, attacked by a talk radio host, badgered by his all-knowing (and maybe all-powerful) editor, and teaming up with an immigrant family of conspiracy buffs.Together, they uncover something larger and stranger than anyone could imagine—a technomystical plot to ‘murder America.’Time for Karras to meet his deadline.Trade Review"The Second Shooter is a sublime, clever and humorous dive into the murky waters of human perception and existence in a USA where nothing is real anymore." -- Starburst * Starburst Magazine *"Mamatas offers plenty of scathing commentary on gun violence and misuse of social media in a novel that is both smart and topical" -- Financial Times * The Financial Times *"A very thoughtful, funny and often exciting book." -- SFX Magazine * SFX Magazine *"An entertaining thriller, amusing and disturbing by turns in its depiction of contemporary American obsessions." -- The Guardian * The Guardian *"Mamatas has a firm grip on contemporary culture and conspiracy theories and an even firmer understanding of the morally dubious losers who make noir worth reading.” -- The Washington Post * The Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisA City of Poets and Dreamers, Liars and Cheats…Tommaso Cellini, celebrated ruler of Cadenza, is dead, and the city mourns. For Carlo Mazzoni, an aspiring poet, it was the day of his arrival in the City of Words and the end of his dreams to walk side-by-side with the great man, two artists together.For Vittoria — known to all but a handful as the famed ink maid Hypatia — the death of a ruler is less troubling than her sadness and inability to write. Without it, her admirers will leave her, and with it her livelihood.With its ruler dead, the city plunges into turmoil amid rumours of war with its rival Venice. Surrounded by murder, intrigue, revenge and revolution, they must rely on new friends and sinister acquaintances to find their paths to freedom.Trade Review"A gorgeous, immersive triumph of Renaissance-flavored worldbuilding" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Publishers Weekly *“[A] delicate study of the demise of society” -- SciFiNow * SciFiNow *“Memorable” -- SFX Magazine * SFX Magazine *“The zest and wit that Beckerlegge infuses into his fantastical Decameron is marvelous” -- Locus * Locus *“This is a fabulous book” -- The Historical Novels Review, Editor's Choice * The Historical Novels Review *

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Book SynopsisNev Bourne is a hotshot programmer for the latest and greatest tech invention out there: SavePoint, the brain implant that rewinds the seconds of all our most embarrassing moments. She’s been working non-stop on the next rollout, even blowing off her boyfriend, her best friend and her family to make SavePoint 2.0. But when she hits go on the test-run, she wakes up the next day only to discover it's yesterday. She's falling backwards in time, one day at a time.As things spiral out of control, a long-lost friend from college reappears in her life claiming they know how to save her. Airin is charming and mysterious, and somehow knows Nev intimately well. Desperate and intrigued, Nev takes a leap of faith. A friendship born of fear slowly becomes a bond of deepest trust, and possibly love. With time running out, and the whole world of SavePoint users at stake, Nev must learn what it will take to set things right, and what it will cost.Trade Review“Fascinating and compelling.”—Booklist“The authors infuse this plausible near future with clever science and heartwarming explorations of love and second chances. At the heart of this brilliant sci-fi conundrum is a deeply human story.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

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