New Books : 16 June 2020

New books this week are by Gregory Benford & Larry Niven, Doug Engstrom, David Gerrold, Kim Harrison, and E. Catherine Tobler.

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* Benford, Gregory, & Larry Niven : Glorious
(Tor 978-0-7653-9240-4, $29.99, 400pp, hardcover, June 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 16 Jun 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780765392428
• Bowl of Heaven #3

Hard SF novel, third book in a series following Bowl of Heaven (2013) and Shipstar (2014), about explorers on a huge bowl-shaped object that half-encircles its star.
•Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
•Publishers Weekly called the first book “a solid work that will appeal to fans of classic hard SF.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Engstrom, Doug : Corporate Gunslinger
(Harper Voyager 978-0-06-289768-8, $15.99, 320pp, trade paperback, June 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 16 Jun 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780062897701
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780063012776

Satirical near-future SF novel, the author’s first novel, in which those who default on their “lifetime services contract” are forced to become corporate gunfighters on the dueling fields.
•HarperCollins’ site has this description with a sample.
•The Publishers Weekly review begins, “Engstrom’s promising debut offers a stark, dystopian vision of a near-future American Midwest in which debt slavery is commonplace and livestreamed gunfights are a popular form of entertainment.” And concludes: “…fans of insightful dystopias will find plenty to enjoy.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Gerrold, David : Hella
(DAW 978-0-7564-1657-7, $26, 448pp, hardcover, June 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 16 Jun 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780756416591

SF novel about refugees from Earth who arrive on a planet where everything is oversized, and negotiate with the established colonists through an emotionally-challenged, neuro-atypical young man.
•Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
•Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “The worldbuilding is masterful, with hard scientific explanations for Hella’s many abnormalities and rich descriptions sure to keep the attention of even the most casual reader. The effortlessly diverse cast, complex political machinations, and heartfelt coming-of-age themes combine to create a fleshed-out vision of the future that is intense, emotional, and immersive while still maintaining a sense of rollicking fun.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Harrison, Kim : American Demon
(Ace 978-0-593-10141-4, $28, 496pp, hardcover, June 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 16 Jun 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780593101438
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780593214138
• Hollows #14

Urban fantasy novel, fourteenth in the “Hollows” or “Rachel Morgan” series about bounty hunter-witch Rachel Morgan, following Dead Witch Walking, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead, Every Which Way but Dead, A Fistful of Charms, For a Few Demons More, The Outlaw Demon Wails, White Witch, Black Curse, Black Magic Sanction, Pale Demon, A Perfect Blood, Ever After (2012), The Undead Pool (Mar 2014), and The Witch With No Name (Sept. 2014) (which at the time was announced as the conclusion of the series).
•Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
•The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Despite a detailed introductory preface, new readers will likely be lost in the sea of returning faces, but existing fans will be pleased by this promising continuation of the series.”
•Carolyn Cushman reviews it in the June issue of Locus Magazine: “Once again, Rachel (with a little help from her friends) manages to pull off the impossible and save the day, if not without some personal loss in the end….”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Tobler, E. Catherine : The Grand Tour: A Jackson’s Unreal Circus & Marmalade Collection
(Apex 978-1-937009-81-6, $14.95, 202pp, trade paperback, June 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 16 Jun 2020

Collection of nine circus stories, including one previously unpublished.
•Introduction is by A.C. Wise.
•Apex’s site has this description with the table of contents.
•The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Though the stories hop between different times and tones, the circus train provides a connective thread that seamlessly ties the collection together. Readers looking for a dreamlike diversion will find plenty to hold their interest.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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These listings are based on publisher schedules and availability on Amazon (rather than on confirmation of physical publication via purchase, review copies, or sightings in bookstores). Titles are listed only once they are published (with rare exception). We do not list galleys or advance reading copies. Page counts are based on publisher or Amazon listings, and typically only approximate the bibliographic page counts of finished books. * = first edition + = first US edition Date with publisher info is official publication month. ‘Nominal Publication Date’ is the day of publication, typically as indicated by Amazon.com.

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