Daniel Abraham, Leviathan Wept and Other Stories (Subterranean Press Jun 2010)

This selection of nine stories — one new — is the first collection from ‘‘one of the more intriguing writers to emerge in the last decade or so,’’ with a fascinating mix of short stories and novellas, ‘‘no two of which seem to be remotely alike.’’ [Gary K. Wolfe]

Amelia Beamer, The Loving Dead (Night Shade Books Jul 2010)

Zombies, lesbians, sex, and zeppelins mix in this humorous dark fantasy romp. ‘‘Beamer is up to more with The Loving Dead than a simple screwball zombie comedy. There are layers here... These zombies are both metaphors and, well, zombies who want to eat your face.’’ [Adrienne Martini]

Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, eds., The Beastly Bride: Tales of the Animal People (Viking Apr 2010)

The celebrated editor duo tackles shapeshifters in their latest young-adult anthology, with 18 stories and six poems drawing on fantasy and myths from around the world. The impressive roster of authors includes Ellen Kushner, Lucius Shepard, Peter S. Beagle, Jeffrey Ford, and Delia Sherman.

Gardner Dozois, ed., The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Seventh Annual Collection (St. Martin's Griffin Jul 2010)

The heavyweight champ of the year’s best anthologies weighs in with a hefty 32 stories, and a summation of the year by noted editor Dozois.

Nick Gevers & Marty Halpern, eds., Is Anybody Out There? (DAW Jun 2010)

Editors Gevers & Halpern take on the search for intelligent life and the Fermi Paradox in this intriguing anthology of 15 original stories by a stellar line-up of authors including Paul Di Filippo, Pat Cadigan, Matthew Hughes, Ian Watson, and James Morrow. ‘‘A very fine anthology through and through....’’ [Rich Horton]

Jay Lake, The Specific Gravity of Grief (Fairwood Press Jun 2010)

Noted author Lake draws on his own experiences for this powerful ‘‘fictional autobiography,’’ a non-genre novella about a writer dealing with cancer.

Ian McDonald, The Dervish House (Pyr Jun 2010)

Near-future Istanbul provides the setting for this novel, a fast-paced mix of hard SF and thriller about terrorists, djinns, nanotech, and economic revolution. ‘‘Excellent.’’ [Gary K. Wolfe]

China Miéville, Kraken (Ballantine Del Rey Jul 2010)

A museum curator’s search for a missing specimen of a giant squid leads him through a weird side of London where gods and magic lurk. First published in the UK by Macmillan (5/10). ‘‘Juggling influences as varied as Chandler, Lovecraft, ‘sci-fi’ tech and bits of old religions, Kraken proves to be witty and suspenseful, flat-out crazy and quite addictive. Buckle down for a long, delirious read!’’ [Faren Miller]

Naomi Novik, Tongues of Serpents (Ballantine Del Rey Jul 2010)

The sixth volume in the acclaimed historical fantasy series, featuring the dragon Temeraire and his captain Will Laurence, finds the two transported to Australia, where they have to deal with bureaucrats, smugglers, and new hazards native to this harsh land. ‘‘Novik displays her trademark combination of fantastic twists on history, a Turneresque sense of landscape, and a more modern attention to biome (with sinister new creatures, the bunyips).’’ [Faren Miller]

Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death (DAW Jun 2010)

Okorafor, already acclaimed for her YA novels with their mix of genre and African culture and myth, presents her first adult novel, the tale of a half-breed girl born of rape who develops magical powers and learns her destiny in a far-future, postapocalyptic Africa. A vibrant, powerful, and sometimes disturbing novel that mixes harsh realism — rape, female circumcision, destructive traditions and cultural conflicts — with mysticism, skilled worldbuilding, and enthralling storytelling.

Alastair Reynolds, Terminal World (Ace Jun 2010)

The last human city of Spearpoint, a place where different zones have different technologies, provides the ingenious setting for this far-future SF novel, a place where zones determine the ways technology operates. First published in the UK by Gollancz (3/10). ‘‘While the last movement completes the action, readers will be quite justified in expecting Reynolds to produe a sequel — and it’s going to require some fancy dancing to top the exotic scenery, special effects, set-pieces, and costume design of this one.’’ [Russell Letson]

Jonathan Strahan & Lou Anders, eds., Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery (Eos Jul 2010)

The New Sword and Sorcery — very like the old, but reinvigorated with a bit of gritty realism and political savvy — is the focus of this original anthology, which gathers 17 stories by a mix of masters old and new, including Steven Erikson, Gene Wolfe, C.J. Cherryh, K.J. Parker, Garth Nix, and Michael Moorcock. ‘‘If you’ve ever had a taste for Sword & Sorcery... I suspect that you’ll find this to be an enormously entertaining book... a resounding success overall.’’ [Gardner Dozois]