Posted on December 11, 2015 Posted by John Scalzi 33 Comments
It’s beginning to look a lot like the weekend, so here is this week’s collection of new books and ARCs that have come to the Scalzi Compound. What looks good to you? Tell me in the comments!
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New China Mieville!!
CHINA MIEVILLE!! Can’t wait to read it. You lucky dog :)
Is that a rerelease of a Bujold, or is that new?
I reviewed This Census-Taker a couple of weeks ago, and while it isn’t yet the new epic novel we’re all waiting for, Miéville’s power to captivate with sheer strangeness has not diminished.
Barrayar is Bujold’s second novel, originally published in 1991.
Nice to see that she’s still in print, though!
(Second in series-order that is, not in publication-order.)
City of Blades!!! I have an eARC I’ll be reading soon:-)
City of Blades!
Definitely lusting after the Caitlin R. Kiernan short story collection from Subterranean.
Yeah, I got all excited when I saw Lois McMaster Bujold in the list until I realized it was an old title. Sigh.
“Worst contact” is one of the worst book titles I’ve ever seen.
Lois McMaster Bujold’s new Vorkosigan novel, Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen is currently for sale as an eARC, will be available as an ebook in about 5 weeks, and in hardcover in about 7 weeks. You can read the first 4 chapters for free now.
Also, Bujold has a novella available as an e-book, Penric’s Demon, that is quite good and will hopefully lead to more fantasy in the world of Curse of Chalion. Sub Press has a hardcover of it in pre-order stage.
And, it appears the Sub Press Penric’s Demon is not yet available for pre-order, but is listed elsewhere as forthcoming.
I just read Three Moments of an Explosion, and I would give my right pinkie toe for that Mieville.
I’ve read Barryar a million times – it’s always worth revisiting.
Beneath an Oil-Dark Sea!
Have the Bujold already.
I should probably try Mieville again, but the first one I tried was an ampersand infested nightmare that literally gave me a headache.
Let’s see: definitely new Miéville, definitely new Bennett, and the titles of Worst Contact and Beneath an Oil-Dark Sea would get the books picked up and leafed through.
Well, since I just finished reading The Warrior’s Apprentice for the first time, I would be thrilled to have the Bujold in my eager hands.
A new Brendan DuBois! I’m not much of a mystery/thriller fan, but DuBois’ writing is particularly good, and I’ve very much enjoyed the Lewis Cole series – and now a new one!
New Kiernan is always a good thing.
That Bujold book is always a good one to put in your shopping bag.
Mieville. Kiernan. City of Blades. Not necessarily in that order.
JustJohn67: I met Brendan DuBois at the recent Bouchercon in Raleigh and got to tell him how much I enjoyed his books – especially the stand-alones – and short stories, and he nicely gave me an ARC of his new mystery coming out in February, NIGHT ROAD. I agree with you on this one.
Hank Davis’s Baen anthologies are always worth checking out too.
Spoiler: The Census Taker ends with the character getting his liver eaten with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.
Worst Contact catches my eye.
I don’t recognize most of the titles in Worst Contact, but the ones I do know – Puppet Show, Contact!, They’re Made Out Of Meat, Dodger Fan – make me think this is gonna be a good one. I’m a bit mystified that they put in a Lloyd Biggle Jr. story other than Monument, since it would fit so well, but I haven’t read Hornets’ Nest so it’s a plus for me.
I just went to order a copy for my library, only to discover that I already ordered it awhile back but forgot about it. I’m literally so good I surprise myself.
thanks to John and especially Bruce. have bought the Bujold. don’t have time til after dinner xmas, but it is my boxing day treat, and i am very excited (and glad i am being such an adult about waiting).
Jeff M: that sounded like a good time! Good for you. I enjoyed what short stories of his I could find, but that boils down to one collection and one in an old Playboy.
Yes, I actually was reading it for the article (story, in this case).
City of Blades! I already own Barrayar or I’d be excited about that too.
New China Mieville! One of the few things in the world that would make me squee louder than seeing a Scamperbeasts photo.
@Bruce: Thanks for the excellent news that Lois Bujold has a new Vorkosigan book upcoming, after her several-year detour into fantasy. Hard SF FTW!
Got to say I wish Worst Contact was a novel instead of an anthology, but still a great title.
Let’s face it, if Col. Donoldus Trumpos was leading a mission to contact Earth, that would be the worst, right!?! Esp. if he commanded strange weapons of publicity, hatred and fire. Willy-nilly, also too.
Also glad to hear about a new Imperial Science novel from Ms Bujold. Will get that soonest.