Science Fiction
Mort : a novel of Discworld
Pratchett, Terry.
SCIENCE FICTION Pratchett, Terry
Fantasy, Humor, Science Fiction
"Mort," a Discworld novel, follows the story of Mort, a young man who becomes Death's apprentice. While initially enjoying the perks of the job (free board, a horse, and the ability to avoid being dead), Mort's interference with fate, particularly for his love of Death's adopted daughter, Ysabell, leads to chaos and ultimately, a challenge to Death himself.
Warm bodies : and, The new hunger
Marion, Isaac, 1981- author.
FICTION Marion Isaac
Dystopian, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction
"Warm Bodies," by Isaac Marion, tells the story of R, a zombie who experiences an unusual connection with a human girl named Julie, leading him to question his existence and ultimately, the nature of humanity and the world around them.
(For those who miss "Santa Clarita Diet") Who would have thought that the gory charm, dark humor, and suburban chaos would make "Santa Clarita Diet" such a fan favorite? While the show may be gone, Isaac Marion's novel captures that same quirky, offbeat spirit. This oddly endearing novel delivers the brain-eating thrills -- while also offering a surprisingly heartfelt look at the undead's struggle with morality, identity, and everyday life. -Madison C
Cloud atlas
Mitchell, David (David Stephen)
FICTION Mitchell, David
Dystopian, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction
"Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell is a genre-defying novel that weaves together six interconnected stories spanning centuries, from the 19th century to a distant post-apocalyptic future. Through its layered structure, the book explores how individual lives impact one another across time, highlighting recurring themes of power, freedom, and the consequences of human actions. It's a mediation on the interconnectedness of humanity and the enduring struggle between oppression and resistance.
(For those who miss "Sense8") If you're longing for the emotional intensity, global scope, and mind-melding magic of "Sense8," here is a book that captures the essence of what made the show unforgettable. Spanning continents, centuries, and souls, David Mitchell's novel is a literary journey through time and self that captures the heart of what made "Sense8" notable. -Madison C
The rook : a novel
O'Malley, Daniel.
SCIENCE FICTION O'Malley, Daniel
Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
In this supernatural spy thriller, Myfanwy Thomas - a woman with amnesia - discovers she's a high-ranking member of a secret British organization called the Chequy, which is dedicated to protecting the world from supernatural threats. She must uncover a traitor within the Chequy who stole her memories, all while battling dangerous supernatural entities and navigating her own newly acquired, and potentially deadly, ability.
(For those who miss "Inside Job") If you miss "Inside Job's" chaotic energy, satirical bite, and wild deep dive into conspiracy theories, Daniel O'Malley's novel will be sure to fill the void. With dark humor, a secret supernatural government agency, and just enough absurdity to make you question if anything is real, "The Rook" is will satisfy any "Inside Job" fan left adrift! -Madison C
The gone world
Sweterlitsch, Tom, author.
SCIENCE FICTION Sweterlitsch, Tom
Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Time-travel secret agent Shannon Moss visits future time periods for clues about a Navy SEAL astronaut's murdered family and the disappearance of his teenage daughter, a case that is complicated by the SEAL's and Shannon's own impact on the timeline.
(For those who miss "The OA") If "The OA" left you craving stories that bend time, blur reality, and explore the soul without offering easy answers, Tom Sweterlitsch's novel is your next must-read. With time travel and alternative realities, philosophical and psychological depth, and cosmic stakes, "The Gone World" delivers a mind-expanding thriller that captures all the elements that made "The OA" so unforgettable. -Madison C
The long way to a small, angry planet
Chambers, Becky, author.
SCIENCE FICTION Chambers Becky
Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction
One of Becky Chambers' most famous novels, "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" follows Rosemary Harper as she joins the diverse, multi-species crew of the aging spaceship "Wayfarer," seeking a fresh start. When the crew takes on a high-risk job to punch a tunnel to a distant, politically unstable planet, they embark on a long journey through deep space. Along they way, they encounter strange planets, interspecies tensions, personal revelations, and moments of found-family warmth.
(For those who miss "Firefly") Cancelled over 20 years ago, "Firefly" fans still talk about this show's unjust cancellation. After its ill-fated 11-episode airing, many fans were left with several unfinished storylines. To help fill that Serenity-sized hole in your heart, this novel is sure to deliver on the found-family charm, snappy dialogue, and underdog spirit embodied by Firefly, all while delivering tons of heart. -Madison C
God Emperor of Dune
Frank Herbert
SCIENCE FICTION Herbert, Frank
Science Fiction
Leto II, God Emperor of Dune, trades his humanity for immortality and, as the magnificent sandworm of Dune, desperately attempts to save mankind.
Continuing my long re-read of Herbert's Dune saga, I'm finally at my favorite: God Emperor of Dune. I've learned recently that this is the love or hate it entry in the series. I love it! I love the characters and the philosophical musings. It's slow, but it always keeps my attention. -Brian
Provenance
Ann Leckie
SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction
"Following her record-breaking debut trilogy, Ann Leckie, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke and Locus Awards, returns with an enthralling new novel of power, theft, privilege and birthright. A power-driven young woman has just one chance to secure the status she craves and regain priceless lost artifacts prized by her people. She must free their thief from a prison planet from which no one has ever returned. Ingray and her charge will return to her home world to find their planet in political turmoil, at the heart of an escalating intergalactic conflict. Together, they must make a new plan to salvage Ingray's future, her family, and her world, before they are lost to her for good"--
Leckie returns to the world of the Imperial Radch, and does something interesting by having "Provenance" take place in a different corner of the galaxy. The events of the Imperial Radch trilogy are mentioned, but are not important to the events of this book. This is almost a coming of age book--or maybe a finding your place story--with a main character who is quite distinct from the A.I. character of the previous books. I recommend it to fans of Leckie's other books, or just someone who's looking for a solid, non-traditional sci-fi story. -Brian
OVERGROWTH.
GRANT, MIRA.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Science Fiction
"This is just a story. It can't hurt you anymore. Since she was three years old, Anastasia Miller has been telling anyone who would listen that she's an alien disguised as a human being, and that the armada that left her on Earth is coming for her. No one has been willing to listen. Now, with an alien signal from the stars being broadcast around the world, humanity is finally starting to realize that it's already been warned, and it may be too late. The invasion is coming, Stasia's biological family is on the way to bring her home, and very few family reunions are willing to cross the gulf of space for just one misplaced child. What happens when you know what’s coming, and just refuse to listen?"
Mira Grant's latest novel is all about the what ifs of an alien invasion. Expertly combining science fiction, suspense, and a sense of creeping dread, "Overgrowth" is great for readers who want a novel that explores what it means to find one's place in a world that faces an (un?)avoidable extraterrestrial threat. -Madison C
Cold Eternity
Barnes, S. A.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Science Fiction
"Halley is on the run from an interplanetary political scandal that has put a huge target on her back. She heads for what seems like the perfect place to lay low: a gigantic space barge storing the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth’s most fortunate citizens from more than a century ago… The cryo program is long defunct, and the AI hologram "hosts" are glitchy. The ship feels like a crypt, and the isolation gets to Halley almost immediately. She starts to see figures crawling in the hallways, and there’s a constant scraping, slithering, and rattling echoing in the vents. It’s not long before Halley realizes she may have gotten herself trapped in an even more dangerous situation than the one she was running from…."
Are you a long time fan of the "Alien" franchise? Does deep space and cosmic terrors that go bump in the night sound like your kind of read? Then S.A. Barnes' newest space horror is the perfect novel for you. -Madison C
(For those who miss "Pushing Daisies") If you're missing the whimsical -- if slightly morbid -- charm of "Pushing Daisies," Terry Pratchett's novel might just be the cure to fill that pie-scented void left from its cancellation. This novel has the same dry humor, quirky scenes, and life-after-death levity that made the show so memorable! -Madison C