* Adams, John Joseph, ed. : Dead Man’s Hand
(Titan 978-1781164501, $16.95, 464pp, trade paperback, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B00GVZJV80
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 978-1480545076

Anthology of 23 original stories about the “Weird West”.
• Authors include Orson Scott Card, Hugh Howey, Elizabeth Bear, Alastair Reynolds, Ken Liu, Jeffrey Ford, and Mike Resnick.
• Adams’ site has this page for the book, with links to the table of contents, contributor information, and excerpts.
• The Publishers Weekly review likes the stories by Ken Liu and Tad Williams especially; the review concludes, “While there’s some repetition of theme and concept, Adams has produced a satisfyingly filler-free compilation.”

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* Cargill, C. Robert : Queen of the Dark Things
(Harper Voyager 978-0-06-219045-1, $26.99, 448pp, hardcover, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780062190475
• UK edition: Orion/Gollancz 9780575130142 (Thu 15 May 2014)
• Limestone Kingdom #2


Fantasy novel, sequel to the author’s first novel Dreams and Shadows (2013), about two men and their experiences in a magical Limestone Kingdom.
• HarperCollins’ site has this description with a preview function.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review (as it did the first book): “Brimming with philosophical conundrums and littered with myth and lore, Cargill’s world is abundant in detail and imagery in the service of the story. Not a page is wasted; secondary characters are used sparingly and well, and every word is carefully chosen for maximum effect.”

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* Guran, Paula, ed. : Magic City: Recent Spells
(Prime Books 978-1607014270, $16.95, 480pp, trade paperback, May 2014, cover art Joseph Corsentino)
• Nominal Publication Date: Wed 7 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B00K0N3RIE

Anthology of 24 previously-published stories of urban fantasy.
• Authors include Christopher Barzak, Nancy Kress, Charles de Lint, Nisi Shawl, and Nnedi Okorafor.
• Prime’s site has this description with the complete table of contents.

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* Malerman, Josh : Bird Box
(HarperCollins/Ecco 978-0-06-225965-3, $25.99, 272pp, hardcover, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780062259677
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780062331908

Post-apocalyptic horror novel, the author’s first novel, in which the sight of some unknown force causes people to go mad, and the only way to survive in the outside world is to do so blindfolded.
• HarperCollins’ site has this description with a preview function.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review, calling it “a sophisticated update of John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids.” The review concludes, “The author uses understatement and allusion to create a lean, spellbinding thriller that Stephen King fans will relish.”

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* Marmell, Ari : Hot Lead, Cold Iron
(Titan 978-1-78116-822-6, $14.95, 400pp, trade paperback, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B00GQA26AA
• Mike Oberon #1

Fantasy novel, first in a new series, about a supernatural detective in 1932 Chicago.
• Titan’s site has this description.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “The potent mix of gangsters, magic, Fae politics, and a strega on the warpath makes for a ride that never touches the brakes. Marmell expertly maximizes the thrills, leaving the reader with a lingering desire for a magic wand and a glass of warm milk.”

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* McIntosh, Will : Defenders
(Orbit US 978-0316217767, $16, 512pp, trade paperback, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316217750
• UK edition: 978-0356502151 (Tue 27 May 2014)

Military SF novel about 17-foot-tall warriors built to defend humanity from alien invaders who can telepathically read human minds.
• Hachette’s site has this description with a preview function.
• The Publishers Weekly review says, “This military science fiction novel offers fast paced action but little depth or originality.”

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* Painter, Kristen : House of the Rising Sun
(Orbit 978-0316278270, $14, 448pp, trade paperback, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316278287
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781478981596
• UK edition: 978-0356503707 (Tue 13 May 2014)
• Crescent City #1

Fantasy novel, first in a new series involving a character from the author’s “House of Comarré” novels, about a new-future New Orleans that has become a refuge for vampires.
• Hachette’s site has this description with a preview function.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “This page-turner features characters with interesting, innovative powers solving a complex conspiracy, and is a promising beginning to what looks to be an easily digestible series.”

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* Rickert, Mary : The Memory Garden
(Sourcebooks Landmark 978-1-4022-9712-0, $14.99, 304pp, trade paperback, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Thu 8 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B00HUTVFYE

Fantasy novel, the author’s first novel, about the relationship between 64-year-old Nan and her adopted daughter Bay, who can see ghosts in the garden, and the secrets Nan has never revealed.
• Sourcebooks’ site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Bay’s story is just beginning here, and Rickert marks a clear path for a sequel to this rich fantasy. “All I can do is teach her the basics and watch what she does,” Nan says, as she marvels at Bay’s supernatural talents. With this tale, Ricket can build an audience that will marvel at her witchy talents.”
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book in the May issue of Locus Magazine: “With some of her most luminous prose and most warm and engaging characters – a lot of readers will be left wanting to know more about Bay’s later life – Rickert’s debut novel both delivers on the promise of her short fiction and offers more than a few surprises.”

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* Wellington, David : The Hydra Protocol
(HarperCollins/Morrow 978-0-06-224880-0, $25.99, 448pp, hardcover, May 2014)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 13 May 2014
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780062248824
• Jim Chapel #2

SF thriller, second in a series following Chimera (2013), about a US military official and a Russian spy on a mission to disarm a Cold War supercomputer that could trigger nuclear annihilation.
• HarperCollins’ site has this description with a preview function.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Plenty of twists and rolling action keep the pages turning.”

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