Locus Online
 
MONITOR

June
Kevin J. Anderson
Elizabeth Bear
Tobias S. Buckell
Mike Carey
Dann & Dozois
Paul Di Filippo
Sara Douglass
William Gibson
Austin Grossman
Tanya Huff
Elizabeth Kostova
Ken MacLeod
Martin Millar
Mel Odom
Mary Jo Putney
Alastair Reynolds
Brandon Sanderson
Mark L. Van Name
Robert Charles Wilson

May
David Bilsborough
Lois McMaster Bujold
Jacqueline Carey
Michael Chabon
Jim Crace
Jennifer Fallon
Alan Dean Foster
Warren Hammond
Jay Lake
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Brian Ruckley
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Weber & Evans
Sean Williams
Tad Williams
Timothy Zahn

2008 Monitor Archive

2008 Directory
New in Paperback

Advertisement
KEY

This page lists books newly available in mass-market or trade paperback editions, previously available only in more expensive editions.

These lists are compiled independently of Locus Magazine's Books Received listings; publishers may send review copies to the Locus Online address on this page.

Date with publisher info is official publication month;
Date in parentheses at paragraph end is date seen or received.

LINKS

Links Portal

Bookseller Links

Your purchase of books through Amazon.com and Amazon UK links (click on titles or covers) helps support Locus Online

Publisher Links


 
 
Books seen July 2008
posted 30 July 2008

Abraham, Daniel : A Betrayal in Winter
(Tor 978-0-765-35188-3, $7.99, 352pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Tor, August 2007)

SF novel, second in the "Long Price Quartet" following A Shadow in Summer. In this volume Otah Machi, long exiled from his family, returns as his father, the ruler, faces death.
• The third volume, An Autumn War, is just out in hardcover.
• Tor's website has this description of the book. Amazon's 'search inside' feature includes an excerpt.
• Nick Gevers review last year in Locus Magazine said "Abraham is a serious and precise writer, whose ongoing Long Price Quartet is a model of fantasy as thoughtful, resonant literary expression."

(Wed 9 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Baker, Kage : The Sons of Heaven
(Tor 978-0-765-35676-5, $7.99, 499pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Tor, July 2007)

SF novel, the concluding volume in Baker's long-running series about The Company, a future organization that sends immortals and cyborgs back in time to collect human artifacts.
• Tor's website has this description, and an excerpt.
• Nick Gevers' review last year in Locus Magazine concluded "With her likeable penchant for romance and farce, along with her sense of tragedy and the cruelty of history, Kage Baker has erected an extraordinary monument to the power of SF as an humane, complex, reflective and ever surprising variety of literature. As the apex of the pyramid, Sons is a fine book indeed."

(Wed 9 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Cooper, Brenda : The Silver Ship and the Sea
(Tor 978-0-7653-5509-6, $7.99, 371pp, mass market paperback, July 2008)
(First edition: Tor, March 2007)

SF novel, the author's first solo novel (following Building Harlequin's Moon with Larry Niven), about bioengineered children who arrive in a silver spaceship on a colony planet that abhores genetic engineering.
• The second book in the trilogy, Reading the Wind, is due out this month.
• Tor's website has this description, and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly and Booklist reviews.

(Thu 10 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Edelman, David Louis : Infoquake
(Solaris 978-1-84416-582-7, $7.99, 540pp, mass market paperback, June 2008, cover by Stephan Martiniere)
(First edition: Pyr, July 2006)

SF novel, the author's first novel and first of the "Jump 225" trilogy, about technology to program the human body called 'bio/logics', a corporate drive to release a new technology called MultiReal, and the threat of an 'infoquake' that would disrupt everything and send the world back to the Dark Ages.
• Pyr's website has this description of the first edition, with excerpts from reviews.
• The second book in the trilogy, MultiReal, is just out in trade paperback.
• The author's site has this page about the book.
• Amazon has several posts by the author.

(Wed 2 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Effinger, George Alec : Budayeen Nights
(Golden Gryphon Press 1-930846-56-8, $14.95, 11+235pp, trade paperback, September 2008, cover painting John Picacio, cover design Condellone, Lynne)
(First edition: Golden Gryphon, September 2003)

Collection of 9 stories, one previously unpublished, set in the Budayeen, the walled city setting of novel When Gravity Fails (1987) and its two sequels A Fire in the Sun and The Exile Kiss.
• Contents include "Schrödinger's Kitten" (1988), winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon awards. Forward and story introductions are by Barbara Hambly.
• The publisher's page has a description, links to many reviews, and the table of contents.
• The Amazon page has the starred review from Publishers Weekly.

(Sat 19 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Erikson, Steven : The Bonehunters
(Tor 978-0-7653-4883-8, $7.99, 1211pp, mass market paperback, July 2008)
(First edition: UK: Transworld/Bantam UK, February 2006)

Fantasy novel, sixth book of the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series following Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice, House of Chains, and Midnight Tides, concerning the Malazan empire and its numerous enemies.
• Tor's website has this description and an excerpt.
• The seventh book in the series, Reaper's Gale, was released in trade paperback by Tor in March.
• The series' website, www.malazanempire.com, has background on the author and the books.

(Thu 10 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Haydon, Elizabeth : The Thief Queen's Daughter
(Starscape 978-0-7653-4773-2, $6.99, 319pp, trade paperback, June 2008, cover art Jason Chan) ERROR -- 1st edition not found

Fantasy novel about a royal reporter whose secret mission into the Gated City is threatened by his friends' association with the runaway daughter of the Queen of Thieves.
• This is the second book, following The Floating Island, of the five-book series "The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme". The hardcover first edition of this book was published in July 2007.
• The publisher's site has this description with an excerpt.

(Thu 26 Jun 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Herbert, Brian, & Kevin J. Anderson : Sandworms of Dune
(Tor 978-0-765-35149-4, $7.99, 546pp, mass market paperback, July 2008)
(First edition: Tor, August 2007)

SF novel, the eighth collaboration by Brian Herbert, son of original Dune author Frank Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson, following Hunters of Dune.
• The next volume, Paul of Dune, is forthcoming in September.
• Tor's website has this description, with a text excerpt and an audio excerpt.

(Thu 10 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Knight, E. E. : Valentine's Resolve
(Roc 978-0-451-46219-0, $7.99, 337pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Roc, July 2007)

SF novel about human resistance to alien invaders, sixth in the "Vampire Earth" series following Way of the Wolf (2003), Choice of the Cat (2004), Tales of the Thunderbolt (2005), Valentine's Rising (2005), and Valentine's Exile (2006).
• The seventh book in the series, Fall Without Honor, just appeared in hardcover.
• Amazon's "search inside" feature includes an excerpt.

(Sat 19 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Morgan, Richard K. : Thirteen
(Ballantine Del Rey 978-0-345-48089-7, $15, 544pp, trade paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: UK: Gollancz, May 2007)

SF thriller about a genetically bred warrior or "thirteen" who's returned from exile on Mars to help track down another thirteen who's escaped and gone on a killing spree.
• The novel was first published by Gollancz in the UK as Black Man, and won this year's Arthur C. Clarke Award as the best SF novel published in Britain in 2007.
• Del Rey's site has this description with quotes from reviews and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the starred Publishers Weekly: "Morgan goes beyond the SF clich‚ of the genetically enhanced superman to examine how personality is shaped by nature and experience. Without slowing down the headlong rush of the action, the complex, looping plot suggests that all people may be less -- or more -- than they seem."

(Wed 9 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Rochelle, Warren : Harvest of Changelings
(Golden Gryphon Press 1-930846-52-5, $14.95, 313pp, trade paperback, July 2008)
(First edition: Golden Gryphon Press, May 2007)

Fantasy novel about the father of a half-fairy son who needs to reach a gateway to Faery at Halloween and evade the enemy Fomorii.
• Golden Gryphon's site has this page for the book, with a description, and blurbs from Jim Grimsley, Andy Duncan, and Nancy Kress, who says the book "is an original and fascinating blend of Faerie and Christian belief, with a final battle that will leave you tingling."
• Amazon has the starred Publishers Weekly review: "an excellent traditional fantasy that draws on centuries-old Celtic fairy lore".

(Fri 11 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Rucker, Rudy : Mathematicians in Love
(Tor 978-0-765-32039-1, $15.95, 364pp, trade paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Tor, December 2006)

SF novel and romantic comedy about rival mathematicians who alter reality in a competition to get the girl, set in an alternate version of Berkeley, California, called Humelocke.
• Tor's site has this description.
• Rucker's site has this page about the book, with a summary, blurbs, quotes from reviews, and a link to a 2.5 meg PDF file of Rucker's working notes for the book.
• Nick Gevers' review in Locus Magazine said that it "is an engaging and entertaining book, light yet thought-provoking, funny yet of some gravity. It deserves success."

(Wed 23 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Smith, Sherwood : The Fox
(DAW 978-0-7564-0483-3, $7.99, 772pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: DAW, August 2007)

Fantasy novel, sequel to Inda, about a prince turned mercenary and various international conflicts.
• The third book in the series, King's Shield, just appeared in hardcover.
• The author's site has a page about Inda's Story, with links to pages about the world, the ships, the characters, a timeline, and a pronunciation guide.
• Carolyn Cushman's review in Locus Magazine said "it's full of action, adventure, and delightful, larger-than-life characters, and manages a sneakily sudden, uplifting twist at the end that provides a satisfying conclusion despite looming disasters."

(Wed 23 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Stackpole, Michael A. : The New World
(Bantam Spectra 978-0-553-58665-7, $6.99, 539pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Bantam, July 2007)

Fantasy novel, final volume in the "Age of Discovery" trilogy following A Secret Atlas (2005) and Cartomancy (2006), about royal cartographers used by the principality of Nalenyr to build an empire. This book describes the final battle to save their world from destruction.
• Bantam's site has this description with an excerpt.

(Wed 23 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Strieber, Whitley : 2012: The War for Souls
(Tor 978-0-7653-5867-7, $7.99, 376pp, mass market paperback, July 2008)
(First edition: Tor, September 2007)

SF thriller, sequel to The Grays (2006), keying off the supposed ancient Mayan prediction of the end of the world in 2012. Strieber's story concerns an author who discovers evidence that the event will bring reptilian invaders from a parallel earth to enslave humanity.
• Tor's website has this description -- "a towering work of fiction that will astound readers with its truly new insights and a riveting roller-coaster ride of a story" -- and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which calls the book "equal parts science fiction thriller, supernatural horror and provocative spiritual speculation".

(Thu 10 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Tepper, Sheri S. : The Margarets
(Eos 978-0-06-117069-0, $7.99, 11+509pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Eos, June 2007)

SF novel about a girl, Margaret Bain, whose return from Phobos to Earth leaves behind six imaginary companions who become personas with their own histories and destinations in the universe.
• Eos' website has this description with a "Browse Inside" feature.
• Gary K. Wolfe's review in Locus Magazine said: "In its simplest terms, the tale is a variation on the classic SF plot of the ordinary child who unknowingly holds the key to saving the world. And it's a world that's pretty seriously in need of saving. Tepper's famously dark view of human nature (The Companions involved a plan to wipe out all nonhuman animals on Earth, just to make room) is if anything darker than ever..."

(Wed 23 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Twelve Hawks, John : The Dark River
(Vintage 978-0-307-38923-7, $7.99, 10+414pp, mass market paperback, July 2008, cover art Henry Steadman)
(First edition: Doubleday, July 2007)

Science fiction thriller, second book of "The Fourth Realm" following The Traveler (2005), about a secret organization that monitors the world via a 'Vast Machine', and the Travelers who oppose it. In this book the Traveler Gabriel (whose brother Michael turned to the dark side in the first book) learns that his father, missing for 20 years, may still be alive.
• The publisher's site has this description and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Gabriel's out-of-body journey to a horrifyingly fascinating parallel world adds a particularly compelling component to a saga that's part A Wrinkle in Time, part The Matrix and part Kurosawa epic..."

(Mon 7 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

Weber, David, & Linda Evans : Hell Hath No Fury
(Baen 978-1-4165-5551-3, $7.99, 625pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Baen, March 2007)

Fantasy novel, second in the "Multiverse" series following Hell's Gate (2006), about a network of parallel Earths and a portal that links them. This book involves conflict between two civilizations, one magical, the other technological.
• Baen's Webscription site has this description with links to 9 chapters.

(Wed 9 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

White, Steve, & Shirley Meier : Exodus
(Baen 978-1-4165-5561-2, $7.99, 370pp, mass market paperback, August 2008)
(First edition: Baen, January 2007)

SF novel, latest in the "Stars at War" series by David Weber and Steve White, about a hero who takes a stand against an alien menace.
• Baen's site has a description: "An implacable foe with telepathic cohesion in battle, near-immortality, and eons-advanced engineering skills threatens to wipe humanity from the galaxy. Their one weakness? No FTL. But that won't last long." -- and links to excerpts.

(Wed 23 Jul 2008) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

|

  TOP
© 2008 by Locus Publications. All rights reserved.