Just Arrived 7/3/10

Posted on July 3, 2010    Posted by John Scalzi      11 Comments

Because books are love (except any books titled “I Hate Love.” But screw those).

* The Dervish House, by Ian McDonald (Pyr): Having traveled to future India and Brazil, McDonald now turns his attention to a near-future Turkey and six characters caught up in a week of transformative events. I think McDonald’s near-future travelogues are some of the most consistently interesting science fiction on offer these days, and considering how often these stories end up in the Hugo lists (including this year, with “Vishnu at the Cat Circus” up for Best Novella), I’m not the only one. This book will be out later this month, on the 27th.

* A Life On Paper, by George-Olivier Châteaureynaud (Small Beer Press): Small Beer Press suggests this is the first book in English of this award winning French writer, known as that country’s answer to Kurt Vonnegut, and why would Small Beer Press lie to me about something like that. The answer is, they wouldn’t. Being a fan of Vonnegut, I’m looking forward to reading what the French answer to him might be like. This is out now.

* Inside Out, by Barry Eisler (Ballentine Books): A disgraced black ops soldier is recruited to hunt down another black ops soldier who is trying to blackmail the CIA with pilfered torture tapes. If he can stay alive long enough to do it! Yes, this is one of those books where you can’t trust anyone, even your own stomach (“I’m hungry.” “TRAITOR!”). Out last Tuesday.

* An Honorable German, by Charles McCain (Grand Central Publishing): I thought I noted this when it came out in May, but apparently not. My bad. This book follows a young German officer through the days of World War II, and his eventual struggle between the dictates of the Reich and his own morality and is McCain’s debut novel. A pretty good choice if you’re a fan of historical novels; I’m going to give a copy to my father-in-law and watch his eyes light up. As noted, out now.

* Come Fall, by A.C.E. Bauer (Random House): Three young kids starting their school year meet Puck — you know, Puck — and naturally then they have other things to worry about besides homework. Out on the 27th, and Bauer will be along to chat about the book in a Big Idea.

* The Map of All Things, by Kevin J. Anderson (Orbit): The second book of Anderson’s “Terra Incognita” series has its world in the midst of a religious war and the discovery of an ancient map that can lead its finders to the Key of Creation… which, you know, is one of those things you can get all adventure-y about. Anderson does quite a brisk business with Dune and other tie-in properties, but for myself I enjoy him best in his own worlds. This is out now.

* Unholy Magic, by Stacia Kane (Del Rey): Stacia Kane was here just last month to essay Unholy Ghosts in a Big Idea piece, and this is the follow-up novel, in which heroine Chess Putnam is trying to figure out who is killing off prostitutes on the bad side of town — some people think it’s a ghost, but Putnum isn’t so sure. And you should trust her, she’s the heroine. Out this next Tuesday.

* Pathfinder, by Laura E. Reeve (Roc): This latest Major Kedros novel has her unique piloting skills needed by an alien race for a dangerous mission — but the catch is that they have to implant technology in here which might not be able to come out. Like a tattoo, only inside your body, and, you know, ickier. Also out this next Tuesday.

* The Evolutionary Void, by Peter F. Hamilton (Del Rey): Hamilton closes out his sprawling and ambitious “Void” series with this volume, so those of you who like your Space Opera on a Wagnerian scale now know what you’ll be getting for yourself come August 31, which is when this one drops. I’ve been enjoying this series, so I’m using this book as a carrot to get me to finish some work I’m doing.

* Noise, by Darin Bradley (Spectra): You thought that the switchover from analog TV to digital was just a way to prop up the fat cat TV executives, right. Bwa hah hah ha! If only you knew. It was actually the beginning of the end of the world — or at least it is in this debut novel. The PR material likens it to The Road and Lord of the Flies, so this is probably going to get dark. Out August 31.