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Developed by aliens and field-tested on Earth, the virus known as Xenovirus Takis-A changed the course of human history forever. Most of those infected die—and a tiny percentage become deformed beings known as jokers. A lucky few survivors become aces: superhumans gifted with amazing powers. Now the virus has reached Britain.
Happy Tuesday, shipmates! This is your captain, Alex, and it’s time for some new releases and other news. Greetings from rainy Dublin, where we’re two days from WorldCon starting. But today I’m excited about this game called Elsinore, which combines two of my favorite things: Shakespeare and timeloops. I’m also a sucker for anything that gives Ophelia a better shake.
Now, on with the show!
New Releases
Pale Kings by Micah Yongo – A young assassin faces the secrets of his past and unravels the mystery of the ancient scroll he carries, which are perhaps the key to defeating the mysterious forces seeking to invade the peaceful Five Lands. (Sequel to Lost Gods.)
Before She Sleeps by Bina Shah – In a dystopian future, disease and sex selection has shifted the ratio of men to women dangerously, where women are forced to take multiple husbands and have children as quickly as possible. But some women resist…
Dahlia Black by Keith Thomas – A journalistic documentary of the Pulse, an alien intervention that can rewrite human DNA and promises to change the path of humanity forever.
The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman – A peaceful protest of sorcerers seeking an end to the religious persecution they face comes to a bloody, murderous end. The next sorcerer to be targeted complicates his own survival terribly by falling in love.
The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain – A formerly imprisoned djinn king and a mass murdering former Gurkha take on the all-knowing, all-seeing tyrant of Kathmandu, bringing old crimes to light and forcing the city to change for all time.
Bright Star by Erin Swan – A traumatized young woman, held as a servant in the home of a tyrant, makes her escape with a group of assassins and joins their rebellion. In resistance, she finds her strength and becomes a leader.
The Last Hope by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie – After being imprisoned for weeks on an enemy starship, a trio of friends must help a mysterious stranger if they wish to escape. The price of their freedom is a mission they cannot refuse–to search for a baby who can cloak and teleport planets.
News and Views
Looking for some sci-fi books for kids? We’ve got a list of 25 for you to choose from.
The Lord of the Rings Amazon series has been restricted to only the events of the Second Age by the Tolkien esate, which has some interesting (and concerning) implications.
Lavie Tidhar (author of Unholy Land), working with puzzle author Jake Olefsky, has written a non-linear interactive short story called Svalbard.
Subterranean Press has announced a story an novella collection: The Best of Elizabeth Bear
Ken Liu is also getting a new collection: The Hidden Girl and Other Stories
The headline says is all: Dance of the Vampires is the best and worst vampire musical ever made.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is out, and here’s a review to read.
Vulture has ranked all 82 of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Here’s a look at the upcoming Stranger Things artbook, Visions From the Upside Down.
If you’re a fan of Black Mirror, these short stories will be of interest.
This seems fine: “A remote-start app exposed thousands of cars to hackers.”
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.