* Aguirre, Ann : Outpost
(Macmillan/Feiwel And Friends 978-0-312-65009-4, $17.99, 237pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Razorland #2

Young adult dystopian SF novel, second in a series after Enclave (2011), about a girl raised as a Hunter in an underground world.
• In this book she and her friend Fade make a new life in the topside town of Salvation.
• The author’s site has this page about the book with a sample in various e-formats.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function also provides a preview.

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* Bond, Gwenda : Blackwood
(Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry US 978-1908844071, $9.99, 416pp, trade paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012

Young adult novel, the author’s first novel, about a new disappearance on Roanoke Island, site of a colony where 114 settlers mysteriously vanished in 1590.
• This is one of two debut titles from Angry Robot’s new YA imprint Strange Chemistry, whose site has this page about the book, with a preview function and blurbs from Scott Westerfeld and Karen Joy Fowler.
• Tor.com has this review by Liz Bourke: “It’s a brisk, entertaining read. A very promising debut: I look forward to seeing what Gwenda Bond does next.”
• Faren Miller reviewed the book in the August issue of Locus Magazine: “Offbeat and imaginative, Blackwood mingles past and present, dark forces with a hint of pulp SF, along with many kinds of drama… Whether viewed as young adult, genre mix, or a first novel, it belongs with the year’s best.”

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* Bornikova, Phillipa : This Case Is Gonna Kill Me
(Tor 978-0-7653-2682-9, $14, 320pp, trade paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Linnet #1

Urban fantasy novel, first of a series, about a human lawyer in a world run by vampires, werewolves, and elves.
• The author is Melinda Snodgrass, writing under a pseudonym.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review says that protagonist “Linnet’s modus operandi—using the law instead of magical weapons against supernatural peril—is a refreshing change of pace.”

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* Curran, Kim : Shift
(Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry Us 978-1908844040, $9.99, 320pp, trade paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• The Shifter #1

Young adult SF novel, the author’s first novel and first in a series, about a teenager who discovers he has the power to reverse any decision he’s ever made.
• This is one of two debut titles from Angry Robot’s new YA imprint Strange Chemistry, whose site has this page about the book, with a preview function and blurbs from Adam Christopher, E.C. Myers, and others.
• The author’s site has this page about the book, with a preview link.

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* Doctorow, Cory, & Charles Stross : The Rapture of the Nerds
(Tor 978-0-7653-2910-3, $24.99, 352pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012

Humorous SF novel set in a post-singularity future in which posthumans living throughout the solar system donate technologies to the billion humans back on Earth, and concerning one human summoned for jury duty, where he is charged with deciding which of those technologies to accept.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Moving at light speed with a light touch, the novel mixes up a frothy cocktail of technological speculation and a wide variety of geeky in-jokes (unobtanium, Vogon poetry, ‘all the way up to 11’)”.

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* Griffith, Clay, & Susan Griffith : The Kingmakers
(Prometheus/Pyr 978-1-61614-674-0, $17.95, 374pp, trade paperback, September 2012, cover illustration Chris McGrath)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Vampire Empire #3

Fantasy novel, third in a trilogy following The Greyfriar (2010) and The Riftwalker (2011), set in 2020, 150 years after vampires have conquered most of the world and driven human survivors south.
• Pyr’s site has this description, with blurbs and quotes from reviews.

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* Grimes, Linda : In a Fix
(Tor 978-0-7653-3180-9, $14.95, 336pp, trade paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Ciel Halligan #1

Urban fantasy novel, first of a series and the author’s first novel, about a human chameleon who solves her clients’ problems by taking on their identities.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The author’s site has this page about the book with a video trailer and an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review calls it a “sparkling series opener” and concludes, “The wisecracking, whirlwind romp of a romantic urban fantasy adventure gradually spirals into the ludicrous, but endearing characters will satisfy readers willing to shrug off plot holes for the sake of fun.”

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* Hanna, Katherine Amt : Breakdown
(Amazon/47north 978-1612184111, $14.95, 424pp, trade paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Aug 2012

SF novel, the author’s first novel, about a plague that has decimated humanity, concerning a former rock star who embarks on a journey from New York to England to see if any of his family has survived.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides a preview.

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* Hughes, Alex : Clean
(Roc 978-0-451-46475-0, $7.99, 352pp, mass market paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Mindspace Investigations #1

SF novel, first of a series and the author’s first novel, about an ex-Telepath’s Guild member who helps police solve crimes.
• Penguin’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The author’s site has a profile [the author is female] and a blog.

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* Lee, Sharon, & Steve Miller : Dragon Ship
(Baen 978-1-4516-3798-4, $22, 384pp, hardcover, September 2012, cover by David Mattingly)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Laiden #-

SF novel in the authors’ long-running Liaden Universe series, following last year’s Ghost Ship.
• Baen’s site has this description with links to 11 chapters. It indicates this as #5 in the current Laiden Universe series, though Amazon numbers it #13 and Wikipedia’s Liaden universe entry lists 16 novels, including this one.

Update: a press release from the authors calls it the “fifteenth novel set in the adventurous and thrilling Liaden Universe®”.

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* Marr, Melissa : Carnival of Souls
(Harper 978-0-06-165928-7, $17.99, 320pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Carnival of Souls #1

Young adult fantasy novel, first of a new series, set in a city of daimons that hosts a deadly competition enabling its winner to join the ruling elite.
• Harper’s site has this description with a trailer and a “read now” function.
• The Publishers Weeky review says “Marr’s trademark blend of dark romance, fantasy, and action is on full display…”

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* McGuire, Seanan : Ashes of Honor
(DAW 978-0-7564-0749-0, $7.99, 332pp, mass market paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• October Daye #6

Urban fantasy novel, sixth in a series about October (Toby) Daye, a half-human, half-faerie private investigator in San Francisco, following the author’s debut novel Rosemary and Rue (2009), A Local Habitation (2010), An Artificial Night (2010), Late Eclipses (March 2011), and One Salt Sea (2011).
• The publisher’s site has this summary.
• The Publishers Weekly review calls it “zippy” and concludes, “McGuire applies a hard-boiled mentality and a keen appreciation for mythology to a blend of politics, magic, and romance to make this the most entertaining series installment to date.”

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* Milford, Kate : The Broken Lands
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion 978-0547739663, $16.99, 455pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Boneshaker #2

Young adult fantasy novel, prequel to The Boneshaker (2010), set in nineteenth-century New York City as the Brooklyn Bridge is being built.
• The book has illustrations by Andrea Offermann.
• The publisher’s site has this description.

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* Palma, Félix J. : The Map of the Sky
(Atria 978-1-4516-6031-9, $26, 576pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Map of Time #2

Science fiction thriller, second of a trilogy following The Map of Time, depicting three interconnected plots involving H.G. Wells and a challenge to recreate the alien invaders from The War of the Worlds.
• This book, like the first, is translated by Nick Caistor.
• The publisher’s site has this descriptionwith a “browse inside” function.
• The starred Publishers Weekly review calls it a “top-notch sequel” and concludes, “Fans of intelligent science fiction as well as historical thrillers will be rewarded.”

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* Petrucha, Stefan : Dead Mann Running
(Roc 978-0-451-46474-3, $7.99, 352pp, mass market paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Hessius Mann #2

Zombie, second of a series following Dead Mann Walking (2011), about an undead private investigator.
• The author’s site has this page about the book, with a link to a PDF excerpt.
• The starred Publishers Weekly review calls it a “top-notch sequel, which has enough action, deduction, and humor to be a must-read for urban fantasy fans.”

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* Phillips, Holly : At the Edge of Waking
(Prime Books 978-1-60701-356-3, $15.95, 288pp, trade paperback, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012

Collection of 11 stories, one original to this book, with an introduction by Peter S. Beagle.
• It’s the author’s second collection, after In the Palace of Repose (2005). The publisher’s site has this description with the table of contents.
• The Publishers Weekly review describes several of the stories and concludes, “Phillips’s crisp, dense writing draws readers into intimate, seductive worlds of shadow and emotion.”

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* Resnick, Mike : Resnick’s Menagerie
(Silverberry 978-0-9843608-8-8, $19.95, 304pp, hardcover, September 2012, cover by Borislav Varadinov)
• Nominal Publication Date: Sun 2 Sep 2012

Collection of 18 animal-themed short stories.
• The author’s post about selling the book mentions several of the stories included.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Resnick fans are likely to enjoy the infrequently reprinted tales and informative author notes.”

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* Resnick, Mike : Win Some, Lose Some: The Complete Hugo-Nominated Short Fiction of Mike Resnick
(ISFiC Press 978-0-9857989-0-1, $35, 660pp, hardcover, August 2012, cover by Vincent di Fate)
• Nominal Publication Date: Thu 30 Aug 2012

Collection of 30 stories that have been nominated for or have won (5 of them) Hugo Awards.
• Titles include winners “Kirinyaga”, “The Manamouki”, “Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge”, “The 43 Antarean Dynasties”, and “Travels with My Cats”.
• Each story is introduced by a different author; authors include Connie Willis, Gardner Dozois, Michael Swanwick, David Brin, and Robert Silverberg.
• Published for release at this year’s World SF Convention in Chicago. The publisher’s site has this order page with the complete table of contents.

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* Roberson, Jennifer : The Wild Road
(DAW 978-0-7564-0495-6, $25.95, 432pp, hardcover, August 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Karavans #3

Fantasy novel, third in a trilogy following Karavans (2006) and Deepwood (2007), about a changeable deepwood called Alisanos. In this book a human woman trapped within the forest reunites with her children.
• The publisher’s site has a description.

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* Stirling, S. M. : Lord of Mountains
(Roc 978-0-451-46476-7, $27.95, 336pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Emberverse #6

Alternate history SF novel, sixth in the “Change” or “Emberverse” series following The Sunrise Lands (2007), The Scourge of God (2008), The Sword of the Lady (2009), The High King of Montival (2010), and The Tears of the Sun (2011).
• Stirling’s official website has this description with links to sample chapters and a map.

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* Sykes, Sam : The Skybound Sea
(Pyr 978-1616146764, $17.95, 520pp, trade paperback, September 2012, cover illustration Paul Young)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• The Aeons’ Gate #3

Fantasy novel, third in a series following Tomes of the Undergates and Black Halo (2011), about a band of adventurers stranded on a remote island.
• Pyr’s site has this description.

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* Varley, John : Slow Apocalypse
(Ace 978-0-441-01757-7, $25.95, 448pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012

SF catastrophe novel in which an oil-eating bacteria targeted at Iraqi oil fields inadvertantly spreads across the globe.
• The author’s site has a short statement about this book being an “attempt to reach a larger audience”.
• The publisher’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly is not impressed, calling it “molasses-paced”, though acknowledging that “Varley has thought hard about the myriad ways oil is vital to our entire infrastructure…”

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* Williams, Tad : The Dirty Streets of Heaven
(DAW 978-0-7564-0768-1, $26.95, 416pp, hardcover, September 2012)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
• Bobby Dollar #1

Fantasy novel, first book in a new series, about an angel on Earth who helps souls caught between Heaven and Hell.
• The author’s site has this page with links to and quotes from reviews.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Bobby is a scene-stealer from the first page; his gutsiness, determination, and offbeat sense of humor add zest to the pandemonium that erupts around him.”

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