New Books and ARCs 2/12/21
Posted on February 12, 2021 Posted by John Scalzi 15 Comments

Just in time for the Valentine’s weekend, here’s a stack of news books and ARCs to peruse. Which ones here speak to your heart? Share in the comments!
Posted on February 12, 2021 Posted by John Scalzi 15 Comments
Just in time for the Valentine’s weekend, here’s a stack of news books and ARCs to peruse. Which ones here speak to your heart? Share in the comments!
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John Scalzi, proprietor – JS
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Could you tell us what the book above “Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found” is?
Machinehood by S.B. Divya is one I’m looking forward to. I second Russ’s question about the third book from the top there.
I was able to read an ARC of Machinehood — it was great!!! Thought-provoking and intriguing wordbuilding. Highly recommend.
I’ve got S.B. Divya’s “Machinehood” pre-ordered and all set to drop onto my Kindle on release day.
You should too! (At least the pre-ordering part.)
So I’m curious. What percentage of “science fiction and fantasy” novels would rate as hard science type fiction?
Judging by my county library’s “new books” list, it’d be a single digit percentage.
Sad.
I’ve really enjoyed the few episodes of Divya’s podcast that I’ve had time to listen to. I’m really interested to see what her writing is like.
Meanwhile, ‘My Heart is a Chainsaw’ sounds like something Swans or Nine Inch Nails would’ve composed. Never judge a book by its title, I’ve been told by master booksellers… but I judged Mo Hayder’s ‘Birdman’ by its title, and completely missed out on all the hype of what was, arguably, one of the best horror mystery suspense novels of that year.
Machinehood was quite fun, if you think you’d be interested in something like that, you will enjoy it.
I loved Stephen Graham Jones’ “The Only Good Indian” and I love the title “My Heart is a Chainsaw” — definitely looking forward to that one.
(I also want to know what that Subterranean Press book with no title on the spine is…)
The third book down is
Caitlín R. Kiernan’s Alabaster.
The title “Zoe Rosenthal is Not Lawful Good” did have the effect of getting me to go look it up. I’m not sure I’ll read it, but A+ for an interesting, attention-getting title.
Thanks for solving the mystery, JJ!
Machinehood by S.B. Divya is one I’m really looking forward too.
.
A Question of Navigation, by Kevin Hearne; I looked at it since I’m interested in learning more about celestial navigation, but the reviews say it’s short, funny and frivolous, perfect for just now, so maybe I’m in on it. The title and premise also reminds me of Have Spacesuit Will Travel, one of my favorite Heinleins.
The Stephen Graham Jones (not out until August) is on my list – The Only Good Indians was a good one.
Always interested in what Cat Valente has to say…
Reading “Wings of Fury” from the library right now (well, right before I put down the kindle and picked up the iPad to check the news). Pretty absorbing.