Speculative Fiction That Asks Big Questions
By Marisha Pessl Random House, ASIN: B004J4WL2I Kindle, 37654KB, 771 pages, ©2013 Journalist Scott McGrath is obsessed with Stanislas Cordova, a reclusive filmmaker whose frightening night films are eventually banned, driving his fans to host underground showings of new films and—in some cases—copycat crimes. But McGrath goes too far when he states on live television…
By Rob Ziegler Night Shade Books, ASIN: B01A68YNM6 Hardcover, 341 pages. © 2011 In a world with runaway environmental change and collapsed governments, the remaining humans in the United States have two things in common: hunger, and thirst. Satori, an intelligent, living city rooted in the ruins of Old Denver, is the sole source of…
By Richard Powers W.W. Norton & Company, ISBN: 978-0393356687 Paperback, 512 pages. © 2018 Overstory is a sweeping, heartfelt epic of nine human characters from vastly different backgrounds being drawn together by their love of—and connection to—nature, specifically trees. There’s really no other adequate way to summarize the plot of this book. It’s simply too…
Book 1 of the Earthsinger Chronicles By L. Penelope St. Martin’s Griffin, ASIN: B07SMWXJQN Paperback, 523 pages. © July 16, 2019 Elsira and Lagrimar lie close together, yet worlds apart. Separated by the Mantle, a magical veil that prevents travel between the two lands, Elsirans and Lagrimari haven’t mingled for generations. But now the True…
By Jeff Vandermeer FSG Originals, ISBN: 978-0374261177 Hardback, 608 pages. © 2014 Area X, a region of the Forgotten Coast cut off from the rest of the world by an environmental anomaly, has swallowed all vestiges of human habitation in its verdant overgrowth. No one knows what caused it, or why eleven expeditions sent by…
Book 2, Chronicles of Ghadid By K. A. Doore Tor Books, ISBN: 978-0765398550 Paperback, 352 pages. © March 2019 Thana, novice assassin and daughter of the legendary Serpent of Ghadid, sees a chance to prove herself when she accepts her first contract. Her target, visiting diplomat Heru, holds the power to bind souls to his…
Book 2, Earthseed Novels By Octavia Butler Open Road Integrated Media, Inc., ISBN: 978-1-4532-6543-7 Paperback, 320 pages. © 2012 (Originally published 1998) In 2032, Lauren lives with her husband Bankole, their infant daughter Larkin, and the rest of the Earthseed community on an isolated piece of land they’ve named Acorn. They support one another, care…
Book 1, Earthseed novels By Octavia Butler Open Road Integrated Media, Inc., ISBN: 971-1-4532-6542-0 Paperback, 320 pages. © 2012 (Originally published by Four Walls Eight Windows, 1993) It is 2024. America has all but collapsed under climate crises and economic duress. Only the very rich or powerful live without fear. Everyone else is on their…
By Tim Johnson Algonquin Books, ISBN: 978-1616204778 Paperback, 400 pages. ©2015 On the first day of their family vacation in Colorado, 18-year-old track star Caitlin drags her younger brother, Sean, out in the pre-dawn darkness to bike behind her as she runs. Hours later, the local sheriff calls. Sean has been badly injured in an…
Book 1, Chronicles of Ghadid By K. A. Doore Tor Books, ISBN: 978-0765398550 Paperback, 352 pages. © March 2019 Novice assassin Amastan is relieved to learn, after passing all his tests, that no new contracts are being issued. He’s not convinced he could really take a life and doubts his future with the secretive guild….