New Books : 28 July 2020

New books this week are by Mike Allen, Lauren Beukes, Steven Brust, Richard Cox, Faith Hunter, Kathleen Jennings, Megan E. O’Keefe, Kit Rocha, Christopher Ruocchio, Kenneth Schneyer, and Ferrett Steinmetz.

---

* Allen, Mike : Aftermath of an Industrial Accident
(Mythic Delirium 978-1-73264-402-1, $15.95, 238pp, trade paperback, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 7 Jul 2020

Collection of 23 stories and poems, two original to this book.
• The publisher’s site has this description with blurbs and quotes from reviews.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Readers will be impressed by the variety, intensity, and skilled craftsmanship Allen brings to this collection. These horror shorts are sure to linger in the dark corners of readers’ minds.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Beukes, Lauren : Afterland
(Little, Brown/Mulholland Books 978-0316267830, $28, 416pp, hardcover, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316267847
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781478916079

SF novel set in the aftermath of a pandemic called the Manfall, about a mother and her son, one of the last boys alive, on a cross-country journey.
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review calls the book an “intriguing and all too timely near-future thriller” and concludes, “…this is a worthy addition to the pandemic fiction subgenre.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Brust, Steven : The Baron of Magister Valley
(Tor 978-1250311474, $27.99, 448pp, hardcover, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250311467

Stand-alone fantasy novel described as “a tale of betrayal and vengeance that is not at all a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.”
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Cox, Richard : The House of the Rising Sun
(Night Shade Books 978-1-949102-43-7, $15.99, 408pp, trade paperback, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Mon 27 Jul 2020

SF novel in which a nearby supernova triggers all technology around the world to stop working.
• Night Shade’s site has this description with quotes from reviews.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “[Cox] capably captures the fearful disorientation of his cast and paints a striking, plausible picture of America’s collapse. Readers will be enthralled.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Hunter, Faith : Spells for the Dead
(Ace 978-0-399-58796-2, $7.99, 384pp, mass market paperback, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780399587979
• Soulwood #5

Urban fantasy novel, fifth in a series following Blood of the Earth, Curse on the Land (both 2016), Flame in the Dark (2017), and Circle of the Moon (2019), set in the same world as the author’s 10 Jane Yellowrock novels.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Hunter’s world is well-developed but over-explained, and extremely graphic descriptions of the effects of death and decay magic will make this difficult for the weak of stomach. But the solid mystery and well-drawn cast are enough to keep devoted readers turning pages. This is for die-hard series fans only.”
• Carolyn Cushman reviewed it in the June issue of Locus Magazine: “Nell’s a great protagonist, still getting the hang of her powers and her life outside the church. She’s at risk of getting too powerful at this point, but for now the series remains one of my favorites.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Jennings, Kathleen : Flyaway
(Tor.com 978-1-25026-049-9, $19.99, 176pp, hardcover, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250260482
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250756411

Short fantasy novel, the author’s first novel, about a young woman investigating the disappearance of her father and brothers.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “In spellbinding, lyrical prose Jennings lulls readers into this rich, dreamlike world. Lovers of contemporary fairy tales and magical realism will find this a masterful work.”
• Katharine Coldiron reviews it in the July issue of Locus Magazine: “There is no need for Flyaway to be so complex, of course – it’s at its best when it tells a discrete and uncomplicated story – but the pleasures of a second reading are much greater that way. Perhaps that was Jennings’s intention all along.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* O’Keefe, Megan E. : Chaos Vector
(Orbit 978-0316419635, $16.99, 592pp, trade paperback, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316419642
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781549133077
• The Protectorate #2

SF space opera novel, second in a series following Velocity Weapon (2019).
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly said of the first book, “O’Keefe delivers a complicated, thoughtful tale that skillfully interweaves intrigue, action, and strong characterization. Themes of found family, emotional connection, and identity run throughout, backed up by strong worldbuilding and a tense narrative.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Rocha, Kit : Deal with the Devil
(Tor 978-1-250-25629-4, $30.99, 336pp, hardcover, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250209351
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250264091
• Mercenary Librarians #1

SF novel, first in a series, about a team of mercenary librarians in a near-future crumbling America.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review mentions that Rocha is “the pseudonym for writing duo Donna Herren and Bree Bridges” and concludes, “Rocha capably deploys found family and forbidden love tropes while keeping readers on their toes with unpredictable action beats. This postapocalyptic tale of espionage and romance will have readers eager to know what happens next.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Ruocchio, Christopher : Demon in White
(DAW 978-0-7564-1306-4, $27, 784pp, hardcover, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780756413088
• Sun Eater #3

Space opera/epic fantasy novel, third in a series following Empire of Silence (2018) and Howling Dark (2019), about war between humanity and a vicious alien race.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Ruocchio impresses with seamless worldbuilding, thought-provoking science, and heart-pounding battles. Readers will relish this.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Schneyer, Kenneth : Anthems Outside Time and Other Strange Voices
(Fairwood Press 978-1-933846-92-7, $18.99, 372pp, trade paperback, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B08D4W1ZJ7

Collection of 26 stories.
• Fairwood’s site has this description with numerous blurbs and quotes from reviews.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Each world is distinct and fully realized, and the astonishing variety of genre and tone on offer showcases Schneyer’s versatility. Inventive and resonant, this collection is sure to impress.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

* Steinmetz, Ferrett : Automatic Reload
(Tor 978-1-250-16821-4, $17.99, 304pp, trade paperback, July 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 28 Jul 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250168207
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250755346

SF romantic comedy novel about a tortured mercenary and a genetically engineered assassin.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Steinmetz imbues this rip-roaring tale with a surprising amount of sensitivity and heart. This thoroughly satisfying story works as both thriller and romance.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

– – –

---

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.

---

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We rely on reader donations to keep the magazine and site going, and would like to keep the site paywall free, but WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT to continue quality coverage of the science fiction and fantasy field.