New & Notable Books, October 2023
Sin Blaché & Helen MacDonald, Prophet (Grove 8/23) Strange items appear on a British military base, including an American diner and a dead American, leading two investigating agents to more weirdness in the US, where time starts to seem irrelevant as people’s memories are made real and weaponized by a substance called Prophet. ‘‘A surprising and unexpected blend of surreal science fiction, action thriller, and slow burn queer romance, character driven with a depth I rarely encounter in SFF.’’ [Jake Casella Brookins]
Isabel Cañas, Vampires of El Norte (Berkley 8/23) Two young star-crossed lovers fight the horrors of the supernatural and colonialism in this historical Western horror novel/romance set on the Mexico/Texas border in 1846, where a curandera and a vaquero, rediscovering their feelings for each other, flee vampires and American invaders.
P. Djèlí Clark, Abeni’s Song (Starscape 7/23) Clark’s first middle-grade novel starts a series that draws heavily on lore from West Africa and the African diaspora. It follows Abeni, a girl who escapes raiders who capture the rest of the people in her village, learns magic from a local witch, and sets out to save her stolen friends and family. This magical adventure ‘‘feels fresh and unlike anything else. If I’d had Abeni’s Song when I was twelve, I would have never put it down.’’ [Alex Brown]
Dilman Dila, Where River
s Go to Die (Rosarium 6/23) Ugandan writer/director Dila’s second collection offers eight Afrocentric speculative tales, some set in his future liberated Africa with itsown innovative ways of dealing with problems, others more fantastic; even zombies get a distinctive take. ‘‘A staggering Afrocentric medley that comes with stories that are plot-, character-, and drama-ready for cinematic adaptation. Much recommended.’’ [Eugen Bacon]
Tim Lebbon, The Last Day and the First (PS Publishing 7/23) This short novella from a master horror writer shines, the story of the last day of the last woman alive – and maybe the start of something new. Described as eco-horror, but not all grim, as ‘‘…even when the screams ring out and the blood spills, there remains a thread of light, and turning the page you fall into beauty once again.’’ [Rio Youers in the introduction]
Karen Lord, The Blue, Beautiful World (Del Rey 8/23) Karen Lord returns to the world of the Cygnus Beta series begun in The Best of All Possible Worlds for this largely standalone near-future SF novel of first contact involving a pop megastar with a special talent for connecting with his fans. The background of an Earth changed by global warming and political conflicts – and now facing a new sort of colonization – provides thoughtful depth to this entertaining and action-packed novel.
James Morrow, Behold the Ape (WordFire 4/23) A new satirical SF novella from Morrow, who is perhaps best known for his religious satires, but is also willing to take a jab at science denialism and pop culture; here he tackles Charles Darwin, neurologically resurrected in a gorilla’s body, working with a horror-movie actress to make evolution-oriented monsters in 1930s Hollywood.
Garth Nix, Sire Hereward and Mister Fitz (Gollancz 8/23; Harper Voyager US 8/23) Nix presents sword-and-sorcery with some twists in this adult collection of nine stories, one new, about a mercenary witch-knight and a puppet sorcerer, agents of an agency working to eliminate malign godlets. Stories range from horrifying to hilarious, with multi-layered characters and a world that is exciting to explore. ‘‘A grin-inducing, buddy/road series that also includes some gore, a bit of ill-chosen romance, and plenty of puppet eye-rolling.’’ [Colleen Mondor]
Ehigbor Okosun, Forged by Blood (Harper Voyager 8/23) A young woman is torn between avoiding trouble and seeking change at all costs in this fantasy adventure novel drawing on Nigerian lore, the first book in the Tainted Blood duology. Dèmi struggles to control her dangerous blood magic and stay clear of her homeland’s nonmagical occupiers and genocidal king – until her mother’s murder turns her thoughts to revenge. A first novel gathering considerable acclaim.
Jonathan Strahan, The Book of Witches (Harper Voyager US 8/23) Locus’s own Jonathan Strahan turns his editorial talents to the topic of witches in this hefty original anthology of 25 stories and four poems about witches. The stellar and diverse authors, including Linda D. Addison, P. Djèlí Clark, Fonda Lee, Darcie Little Badger, Ken Liu, Premee Mohamed, Garth Nix, Tochi Onyebuchi. and Sheree Renée Thomas, bring to life ‘‘equally diverse notions of what witches can be and do. Like all the best theme anthologies, it repeatedly invites us to reconsider our prior assumptions about its topic.’’ [Gary K. Wolfe]
From the October 2023 issue of Locus.
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