Books Received, March 22 — March 28

[james_davis_nicoll]

Eight works new to me. Four fantasy, four science fiction. I think three are series while five are stand-alone. That's a much higher ratio of stand-alone to series than I expect.

Books Received, March 22 — March 28

Poll #32890 Books Received, March 22 — March 28

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 62

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Which of these look interesting?

View Answers

Extremity by Nicholas Binge (September 2025)
17 (27.4%)

Haze by Katharine Kerr (August 2025)
23 (37.1%)

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry (May 2025)
7 (11.3%)

Point of Hearts by Melissa Scott (March 2025)
36 (58.1%)

Minds in Transit by Joan Slonczewski (July 2025)
27 (43.5%)

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman (October 2025)
12 (19.4%)

Powerless by Harry Turtledove (July 2025)
9 (14.5%)

Queen Demon by Martha Wells (October 2025)
42 (67.7%)

Some other option (see comments)
1 (1.6%)

America delenda est.
19 (30.6%)

Cats!
46 (74.2%)

Comments

[james_davis_nicoll]

I have to say this seems like an odd time to release a novel about the dangers of commie socialism, given that it will soon be legal for American oligarchs to hunt peasants in the street.

[spiralsheep]

I'd laugh but....

One of my book groups recently discussed Daphne du Maurier's strange 1972 near-future dystopia about the US invading the UK, Rule Britannia, and I thought of you and wondered if you'd ever read it (spoiler: it's not good but it is pleasingly bizarre).

[james_davis_nicoll]

Hmmm. I do have that.

So Rule Britannia, Passenger to Frankfurt, 1985, When the Kissing Had to Stop... Can I think of one more British Get Off My Lawn book?

[spiralsheep]

Wow, Three Books That Make Rule Britannia Look Better By Comparison. There must be others but I'm blanking on everything today.

[petrea_mitchell]

Similar to my thoughts. I think that book may have missed its moment by a couple years.

[(Anonymous)]

Harry Turtledove's entry? Hmm. Wikipedia (edited): "The 'Prague Spring' was a period of political liberalization and mass protest in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. It began on 5 January 1968, when reformist Alexander Dubček was elected First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia [i.e. in charge], and continued until 21 August 1968, when the Soviet Union and three other Warsaw Pact members (Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland) invaded the country to suppress the reforms." I rather thought that the part before Soviet military occupation was seen as the good part. Maybe Harry Turtledove figures it was just a cunning trap. And, yes, in at least parts of the U.S. today (March 30th) it is just about compulsory to display love for Big Fat Dude.

Robert Carnegie

[petrea_mitchell]

Today's book industry term that I have no idea how to interpret: "upmarket horror".

[spiralsheep]

Nothing crawls up out of a toilet during the course of events?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[mecurtin]

I have no idea either!

[thomasyan]

does the movie The Menu count?

is "upmarket" supposed to be "literary, except not snooty" or something?

[bolindbergh]

Those guys in Oxford think "upmarket" means "expensive and targeting the affluent". In the context of horror fiction, this would be Subterranean Press, I think. :-P

[(Anonymous)]

Hard Pass on anything suggesting that billionaires are sympathetic characters.

Is Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats out yet?
October you say?

Well at least there’s a new Wells soon.
October too?

What’s a grumpy old man to do?
Maybe I’ll reread some Murderbot…