2016. Hell, 2016. How is it coming up 2016 already? I’d only just got used to it being 2015. Now I’m going to have to get used to a whole new year.
But in compensation for none of us being as young as we used to be, there are new and interesting-sounding books coming out in the next six months. So many, in fact, that I can’t keep track of them. I’m sure I’m missing plenty, but here are a few I’m looking forward to in advance.
January offers us Charlie Jane Anders’ All The Birds In The Sky, a debut SF novel from an already-acclaimed writer of short fiction. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard bids fair to be an interesting YA epic fantasy. There must be other things as well – what else comes out in January? Seriously, tell me, because I’ve managed to miss pretty much everything but the UK release of Louisa Hall’s Speak.
February brings us an interesting selection. Jordanna Max Brodsky’s debut The Immortals sounds like an interesting mix of Greek legend and modern noir. Lee Kelly’s second novel, A Criminal Magic, looks set to mix Prohibition Washington DC and magical hijinks. Lois McMaster Bujold’s Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen gives us Dowager Countess Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan and Admiral Oliver Jole in an exploration of how to start one’s life anew, how to learn to live for oneself, when one has lived several decades already. Patricia McKillip bids fair to return to excellent form with Kingfisher, and Jacey Bedford offers us magic, ghosts, and piracy in Winterwood.
But what of March? It’s a busy month for Seanan McGuire, with Chaos Choreography, the new InCryptid novel out from DAW, and Every Heart A Doorway from Tor.com Publishing. Mishell Baker’s debut Borderline begins a new urban fantasy series set in Hollywood and Fairyland. Elizabeth Bonesteel’s debut The Cold Between is the start of a new space opera series of murder and conspiracy. Mercy Thompson returns in Patricia Briggs’ Fire Touched. And award-winning author Sofia Samatar brings us a completely new novel in The Winged Histories.
In April, we’ll see the new solo novel from Sarah Rees Brennan, Tell The Wind And Fire, as well as Jodi Meadows’ sequel to The Orphan Queen, The Mirror King. Faith Hunter’s newest Jane Yellowrock novel, Shadow Rites, hits the shelves, Marie Brennan gives us another Lady Isabella Trent novel of natural history, travel, and dragons with In the Labyrinth of Drakes, and C.J. Cherryh’s long-running Foreigner series continues in the much-anticipated Visitor.
May brings us the several-times delayed Company Town by Madeline Ashby, which comes to us now out of Tor instead of Angry Robot, and hopefully won’t be delayed again. Claire North follows up her well-received Touch with The Sudden Appearance of Hope, while Ada Palmer’s hotly-anticipated debut SF novel Too Like The Lightning hits the shelves.
And then we’re at June, and halfway through the year. Genevieve Valentine follows up near-future-thriller Persona with Icon. Kat Howard makes her novel-length solo debut with fairy-tale-inspired Roses and Rot. Laura Lam’s False Hearts promises conspiracy and crime and murder, while Jo Walton’s Necessity, third in the series that began with The Just City, gives us the philosopher-kings of the future.
And these are just the novels I know about to look forward to. What are you guys looking forward to? And why?
Liz Bourke is a cranky person who reads books and other things. She has recently completed a doctoral dissertation in Classics at Trinity College, Dublin. Find her at her blog. Or her Twitter.
REALLY, Looking forward to Scott Lynch’s new book, “The Thorn of Emberlain.”
Obligatory Photo
Guy Gavriel Kay has a new book out in May, Children Of The Earth And Sky. I’ll recommend GGK to anyone who stands still for long enough. He was back on top form with his last book River Of Stars, so fingers crossed for this one
In April, we get MORE RAKSURA!!!!!!!!!
http://www.marthawells.com/compendium/edgeofworlds.htm
Not to be missed in April: Stephanie Burgis’ first novel for adults, Masks and Shadows. Gorgeous historical fantasy. 18th century, with musicians and demons.
Don’t forget Brian Stavely’s Last Mortal Bond, as well as fingers crossed for the continuation of Jewel ATerafin’s story in Michelle West’s War, oh and not really first half of 2016(first week of july so im counting it) but im REALLY anticipating R Scott Bakker’s Great Ordeal
We’ve also go Daniel Abraham’s “The Spider’s War” coming out in March!
I can’t believe I almost forgot this: Daniel José Older’s Midnight Taxi Tango is coming out tomorrow!
Are books by men allowed in this list as well? Or does it need to be written by a woman to make this list?
Odd that no one finds this strange, but male dominated lists, that’s old boys network stuff.
Taliesin @9:
Well for one thing, this is books this particular columnist is excited about. It isn’t an exhaustive list. There are other lists of things to read on this site. Also, taking a look at the origins of “Sleeps With Monsters”
“The nice people here at Tor.com have invited me to contribute a semi-regular column.
Being most excellent people, they said, ‘We want someone to do a column looking at the genre from a feminist perspective!’”
So, in a world where list after list after list goes out with nothing but male authors, I think you can live with *one* list in a column that is *specifically* about feminist perspectives containing recommendations for books by female authors.
http://www.tor.com/2012/05/08/failure-to-communicate-an-ongoing-problem/
TexAnne @8:
I am also very excited to get my hands on Midnight Taxi Tango.
Just wanted to point out that Jordanna Max Brodsky wrote The Immortals, not Joanna.
@12 – Fixed. Thanks!