We've covered lots of ground in the previous installments to this roundup of science fiction, fantasy, and horror books to look forward to in 2017. Let's see what the rest of the year has in store for hungry readers!
AUGUST
August Science Fiction has something for everyone. Ball Lightning by Chinese author Cixin Liu (and translated by Joel Martinsen) offers readers an intelligent military SF adventure. A scientist obsessed with discovering the secrets behind the natural phenomenon ...
We've only scratched the surface of 2017's science fiction and fantasy lineup. Let's jump right in, shall we?
MAY
Variety is the name of the game in May's science fiction. Rob Reid's savvy Forever On satirizes Silicon Valley culture using relevant technology-based themes in a story revolving around a new social network. Pawn by Timothy Zahn places its human protagonists in the middle of war between alien factions on a massive spaceship. Vanguard by Jack ...
Just like theatergoers like seeing trailers before a film, many readers like to look ahead at the reading landscape to see what's headed their way. It's not enough that we are entertained, we also want to know how we are going to be entertained next. Fortunately you have my book-peeking ninja skills at your disposal. (Yes, that's a real thing.) I've looked ahead at the books that are slated for a 2017 release…and there are plenty ...
Another year of reading begins! What better way to start it off than with books that will stretch your imagination? This month's selection of the best science fiction and fantasy reads offers sword and sorcery, eldritch horrors, a richly-imagined forest world, deals with the Devil in the Old West, espionage across parallel worlds, and a 25th Century whodunit in space.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: In the snowy Russian ...
Internet readers are inundated with lots of lists throughout the year, but the end of the year is very special. That's the time when we see an overabundance of book-related "Best of the Year" lists. That's just fine by me. I love reading book lists to see what made the cut, what's different between lists, and how an entire list might differ from my own selections. Invariably, such lists guide me towards my next good read.
But ...
If you're a voracious reader, it can oftentimes feel like you're automatically consuming books one after another in the same way Homer Simpson eats his way through donuts. Sure, you can mix up your literary diet by changing up genres and authors, or sneaking short fiction reads in-between longer novel reads, or even slipping in some non-fiction…but even that can feel mechanical, as if there's no purpose behind it. It shouldn't feel like that. Reading is ...
In this space, I tend to focus on new science fiction, fantasy, and horror releases. There are literally hundreds of such books published each month, so I go through a meticulous process of weeding out books to get to a more manageable selection to talk about. One of the criteria I often (but not always) use to filter out books is whether a particular book is a sequel. My thinking is that fans of the series already have the sequels ...
In the first part of this Gift Guide for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, we covered lots of great suggestions for the bookworm on your holiday shopping list. This time around, we offer gift suggestions for lovers of visual media, like art books, film, television, and comics.
For the visually oriented giftee on your list, art books may be the way to go. Your first stop should be Spectrum 23: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art edited ...
