Sponsored by Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group.
From the mind of acclaimed superhero veteran Gail Simone and artist José Luís comes a tale of creation, destruction, and survival. Two years ago, meteors showered Earth, gifting individuals with enhanced abilities. Now, the source of those meteors has returned to finish the job… His name is Khrelan, and he’s given humanity seven days to prepare for death. With the fate of the world depending on them, new and old enhanced heroes join forces to stop Khrelan, but even if he’s defeated, what will be left in the aftermath? Seven days to live, what will humanity choose to do with them?
Happy Tuesday, shipmates! New release day ahoy! It’s Alex, with some new books for you to check out, and a few news itemst that caught my attention so far this week. Stay safe out there, space pirates!
I found this way funnier than I probably should have: The National Park Service says we really shouldn’t sacrifice our friends in the event of a bear attack, “even if the friendship has run its course.”
Looking for non-book things you can do to help? Lebanoncrisis.carrd.co
New Releases
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakar – Sheetal is the daughter of a human and a star, and she spends her life trying very hard to pretend she’s a normal mortal. But when she accidentally loses control of her starfire and puts her father in the hospital, only the power of a star—like her mother, who left long ago—can save him. Sheetal must journey into the heavens if she wants to save her father, but she’s not prepared for the magic or the politics she’ll find there.
Bystander 27 by Rik Hoskin – For Jon, the superheroes and villains colloquially known as “costumes” are a fact of life… until his pregnant wife is senselessly killed in a street showdown between two costumes. In trying to deal with his loss, Jon is determined to fine the truth behind the costumes and where they actually come from.
The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson – Baru Cormorant at last has the power to take her full revenge on Falcrest—two chances, in fact. The easy path is to unleash an ancient, hemorrhagic plague, kept alive to be a weapon by the secret society she is now part of. The harder path is that of politics, conspiracies, trade manipulation, and war to bring herself to ultimate power within Falcrest. She must choose between the sure path that will kill countless innocents, and the far riskier gamble that will place her in a position to control the very nation she hates.
The Challenger by Taran Matharu – Cade and his friends have survived the qualifying round of the twisted game they have been forced into, abducted from their home world by the mysterious overlords that run it. But a new round is coming, and Cade must lead his roup to explore a new and dangerous world, looking for any advantage that might help them live to fight another day.
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland – Three years ago, Sia’s mother was deported by ICE and disappeared trying to make her way home, an incident her small Arizona town still refers to as “an unfortunate accident.” Even though she’s sure her mother is dead, Sia goes out to the Sonoran Desert every new moon to light candles to guide her home. Then one day, an alien spaceship crashes in front of Sia’s car… and her mom, very much alive, is on board.
Cut Off by Adrianne Finlay – The new virtual reality show CUT/OFF pits a group of teenagers against the wilderness, like Survivor on steroids where the audience can touch, see, and live vicariously through the contestants. To win, you simply have to last the longest without “tapping out” and being rescued by the producers. But then four of the teenaged contestants discover that “tapping out” no longer works, and no one is coming to save them.
The New Wilderness by Diane Cook – The Wilderness State is a swathe of untouched, protected wildland, where humans are forbidden to go. But an experiment is being conducted, to see if twenty volunteers can coexist with nature as hunter-gatherers in the Wilderness State. Bea volunteers herself and her five year old daughter for this experiment; getting Agnes out of the pollution of their metropolis home is, Bea is convinced, the only way to save her life and health. But the wilderness is not an easy place to live, and while Agnes’s life may bloom, her relationship with her mother will be forever changed.
News and Views
Here’s a neat interview with Eiko Kadono, author of Kiki’s Delivery Service, and translator Emily Balistrieri
Author Tananarive Due made an amazing advice Tik Tok.
FIYAHCon has announced that it will also be running the new Ignyte Awards. Can’t wait to see the nominee list!
Did you see me mention The New Wilderness up in the new releases? It’s being adapted for TV.
New trailer for Antebellum and good news–it’ll be released on VOD platforms on September 18.
Tamsyn Muir talks about writing, necromancy, and fanfiction
Astronomers say there’s a new class of planet that can form around black holes
On Book Riot
23 fun and delightful light fantasy novels
This week’s SFF Yeah! podcast is about series we wish we could read.
SFF book giveaways ahoy! Enter by 8/13 to win Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy, or get your entry in ASAP today for Lobizona by Romina Garber.
This month you can enter to win $50 at your favorite indie bookstore and a 1-year Kindle Unlimited subscription.
See you, space pirates. You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.