March 2023 MBR The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Blanchard Witches: Stitches in Time
Micah House
Kendrell Publishing
https://www.blanchardwitches.com
9798985607574, $26.95 Hardcover

https://www.amazon.com/Blanchard-Witches-Stitches-Time/dp/B0B5Y6HV3Y

The Blanchard Witches: Stitches in Time continues the story introduced in Prodigal Daughters, starting where the last story left off -- with the disappearance of family member Beryl. This third book in the series expands family relationships and realizations as the witches move through both familiar and unexpected territory on a journey that tests both their paranormal abilities and their survival.

The current leader of the coven, Artemis, finds her edict to guide the family greatly challenged by forces both within and outside its circle as more members vanish before their eyes and the entire family structure is threatened. Who will be next? Everything is about to change in a way even wise elder Zelda can't see coming. She knew about Beryl -- but the others were a surprise even to her.

As connections between witches, blood Blanchard kin, and wry irony intersect with the growing mystery, readers are introduced to a realm in which family ties are tested by their own members. Micah House cultivates an undertone of discovery which traverses generational differences and individual and clan abilities alike.

Dialogues and new considerations create surprising insights: "Can you guys imagine what's going to happen whenever we find a way to get everyone back and we tell Fable - militantly atheist Fable -- that there is a God, and it's her big sister!"

Readers may not expect the time travel component which intersects with family lives and experiences, but this adds to the paranormal fantasy elements to create a vivid timeline of unexpected connections, family secrets, and intrigue solidly rooted in Southern traditions and culture. These revelations, in turn, encourage thought-provoking assessments of powers and their underlying influences: "How could she be expected to police thought. A person couldn't help what thoughts crossed their mind. But she'd been thinking about it lately and had come to the conclusion that the thought itself wasn't the catalyst, it was her speaking the thought which turned it into a spell."

As further details about the Blanchard family unfold, prior series readers will especially appreciate the time taken to evolve further inter-generational connection. An attempted rescue via time travel creates a deadly repetitive cycle that traps a would-be savior in a fatal loop of past and present conundrums. The Blanchard family's incarnation through various timelines and influences between past, present, and future evolves a delightful foray into possibilities that are affected by choice, motive, and surprising family identities.

Readers of paranormal fiction and libraries looking for standout series reads will find this latest addition to the Blanchard family saga a riveting story that juxtaposes love, proactive efforts, and paranormal heritage in a moving saga that's hard to put down and impossible to predict.

In the Heart of the Linden Wood
Ekta R. Garg
https://ektargarg.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639887460, $18.95

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Linden-Wood-Ekta-Garg/dp/1639887466

"The strength of a heart doesn't have limits."

In the Heart of the Linden Wood is a novel of magic trees, evil kings, grief, and courage. It tells of Christopher, a king wracked with sadness upon losing his wife and child. Lily was the only person who truly believed in him, so her loss is an especially hard blow. Nothing can shake his focus on himself -- until the magical trees begin to die and he is tasked with not only finding out why, but embarking on a mission to save them (and himself).

This involves a quest into the heart of betrayal, evil, and redemption. Christopher may be unable to mend his own broken heart, but his kingdom rests upon his ability to regain the self-confidence and strength which he had placed in his wife's hands. Christopher's search for the courage and heart to rule Linden is, in effect, a search for his own abilities and heritage, which brings him deep into a woods of his own making as well as those which support his rule. Is Christopher too deep in his grief to leave his castle and re-enter the world to discover its connections and solutions?

Ekta R. Garg's story may seem like just another classic fantasy, but under the veneer of kings, struggles, and magic lays an attention to emotional details that make In the Heart of the Linden Wood as much a psychological draw as an adventure story. The magic of heart stones reveals truths and revelations Christopher has never anticipated at this point in his life, bringing readers into an evocative story of self-discovery that holds many lessons on how magic involves strengthening the heart by any means possible.

The potential of In the Heart of the Linden Wood to draw from a wide audience and to serve as a discussion point in reader groups interested in tales of self-discovery, growth, and ripples of impact in the world makes for a highly recommended tale that libraries will find multifaceted and compelling. Christopher's journey of self-exploration translates to a newfound ability to direct his kingdom onto more positive paths of discovery, reinforcing the ideals of courage and leadership.

Alien Plague
Christopher Koehler
Independently Published
9798402449732, $8.99 Paper

https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Plague-Christopher-Koehler/dp/B09QMVSD4N

When interstellar probe The Sagan returns from its investigation of a nearby star system, it brings with it an alien plague that challenges mankind in a way no other has ever done. Dr. Avery Hutton is both the narrator of this story and part of the experiment to bring back complex life. His effort should have been safe, as these samples were limited to space station Randleman, in orbit above Earth. It would have been, if the plague had been anything like Earthly plagues. But, it's not.

Events unfold with high-octane tension and high-tech revelation as Dr. Hutton discovers that the Hortus microbes contain properties that make them uniquely deadly and impervious to the usual obstacles faced in an alien environment like Earth. Hard science is nicely wound into the story, from issues of adaptation and repeat exposures to how Beta Strain life moves from quarantine to a threat. The cure might require mass gene therapy or leaps in infectious disease control.

So many facets of this story feel familiar to modern-day pandemic experience that Alien Plague should receive additional attention from those who will find its interpersonal dialogues and reactions frighteningly similar to today's methods of addressing COVID. As a total breach of containment looms, Dr. Hutton may be the only man able to save humanity from what it has brought back from the stars.

Readers who anticipate an action-packed thriller alone, such as Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain, will find more psychological depth in the characters' interactions in Alien Plague. Dr. Hutton and his boss, Dr. Diane Victorovich, make headway in their research and their efforts to control disaster by creating yet another virus, drawing readers into a futuristic story that holds many familiar-sounding quandaries. The story may be set in the distant future, but its relevance both in building interpersonal and professional relationships and its methods of addressing threat and evolving survival tactics will resonate beyond the usual sci-fi audience.

Libraries looking for genre crossovers that tap into modern experiences, yet pose an otherworldly conundrum, will find Alien Plague an intriguing read recommendable to a wide audience of sci-fi, thriller, and social issues readers alike.

Forged of Fire
Stacy Von Haegert
https://stacyvonhaegert.com
Dragon Crest Publishing
B0BMSKYXPF, $17.99 Hardcover/$11.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Adult-Fantasy-Book-ebook/dp/B0BC6LPG55

Forged of Fire is the first fantasy in a new adult trilogy. It opens in 776 BCE where Zander's father (the king) oversees a ritual that promises either death or rebirth to its participants. It's one which could change the balance of power and Zander's own future, but a surprise twist introduces darkness into the ritual to produce unexpected results.

Fast forward to the present, where retired warrior and royal Ashdon LaGoryen seeks a solitary, peaceful life, only to find that the House of the Dragon has stretched its talons and powers beyond the usual boundaries to immerse him in conflict and new possibilities for his future.

Kielyn Allister also finds herself transported into realms she never knew existed as she faces the stuff of legends via a "farce of a marriage" to a vampire and a new life in a castle. The meeting of these minds (and hearts) produces (perhaps an inevitable) romance, but also creates a dangerously powerful connection where a legend seems to have predetermined their destinies. All they have to do is walk into their new roles. Or defy them.

The blend of romance, fantasy, and intrigue simmers tension and twists of story, inviting those beyond the usual fantasy genre followers to appreciate the special challenges faced by two strong characters whose union is not exactly on either's radar. Of added value are dashes of humor which present irony and interest to spice the story's action. All these elements contribute to the trappings of a fantasy which is a cut above the ordinary genre production in its embrace of both adversity and growth-inducing new possibilities for each of its main characters.

Readers will find much more than an attraction between a moral and an immortal in Forged of Fire. Its story of adaptation and revised perceptions of the world and one's place in it creates believable, engaged characters whose decisions are unpredictable and involving.

Libraries seeking new adult fantasies forged in fiery confrontations, nefarious deals, and dragons will relish the different brand of psychological and interpersonal confrontations that marks Forged of Fire.

The Triumph of Beauty
Robert Albo
Independently Published
9798366081894, $14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/TRIUMPH-BEAUTY-DARK-MATTER-NECKLACE/dp/B0BMYLQGPG

The Triumph of Beauty adds to the Dark Matter Necklace series and is set in 2052. Alice Blair wakes up in the future sporting a middle-aged body and the knowledge that she was responsible for changing the course of humanity, producing a drug-dependent world that quashes hope and dreams. All her friends have grown up, literally overnight, leaving her alone in this future world, with its new technology and frightening lack of positive possibilities.

Alice has managed to form new daily routines, navigating this strange milieu through special spider glasses, but is determined to rectify her bad influence of the past to lead the world into a better milieu. This effort involves interacting with a power-hungry artificial intelligence, making a deal with it to re-introduce beauty to a forsaken world in exchange for helping it get to an alien planet.

Young adults who choose this book (and who have a grounding in the prior books in the series) will find Alice's challenges and determination powers a sci-fi scenario that is anything but predictable. This new society's blind obedience to authority, sacrificing beauty in the process, leads Alice to traverse dangerous territory both on Earth and beyond it as she makes an impossible deal and searches past history for salvation via her connection to dark matter. She is the only one who can embark on this process of personal and global redemption, and her choices and challenges will determine the fate of humanity itself.

Robert Albo's thought-provoking and wide-ranging adventure embraces the spirit of a young woman who doesn't settle for guilt over the results of her past actions, but decides to remain proactive and engaged in the future.

While The Triumph of Beauty both adds to the series and creates a stand-alone story of achievement against all odds, it also holds many possibilities for discussion points that would lend to a YA sci-fi book club audience's enjoyment and debates.

From truth and lies to the wellsprings of inspiration and possibility, The Triumph of Beauty crafts a story that deserves a prominent place in any YA collection (and many an adult sci-fi holding) where there's an interest in stories that move beyond fast-paced action and technological challenge into arenas of moral and ethical quandary and discovery.

Tiny Tin House
L. Maristatter
Niffycat Press
https://www.niffycatpress.com
9798986631110, $34.99, HC, 344pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Tin-House-L-Maristatter/dp/B0BCV3NJMW

Synopsis: In the Christian States of America, a woman's place is with a man. No exceptions. Therfore, although she's legally an adult, eighteen-year-old Meryn Flint must live at home until her stepfather, Ray, finds her a husband. That's the law.

But when Ray kills her mother and Meryn must flee for her own safety, she quickly discovers there's no safe place in the CSA for a woman on the run. Unless she's willing to marry her former boyfriend (a man who's already demonstrated his capacity for violence) she'll be forced to live on the street. And that's a dangerous option for a woman alone.

As time runs out, Meryn is offered a third path: build herself a tiny house, a safe place to call home. Even though it's a violation of her Family Duty as well as every moral law on the books, Meryn seizes the chance. --- But even a tiny tin house might not be enough to save her!

Critique: A dystopian science fiction novel that is a believable extrapolation of current social, cultural, and religious attempts to restrict and role back the rights and freedoms of women, "Tiny Tin House" is a masterfully crafted and riveting novel populated throughout by memorable characters. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tiny Tin House" is also available in a paperback edition (9798986631103, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: L Maristatter (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLMaristatter) is a self-described Christian liberal feminist and has published poetry in Songbirds Southwest and fiction in The Saturday Evening Post. She is on Facebook and Twitter (regularly), and Instagram and TikTok (when she's feeling brave).

Blank
Nanette L. Avery
https://www.nanetteavery.biz
Book Baby Publishers
www.bookbaby.com
9781667852522, $14.99, PB, 290pp

https://www.amazon.com/Blank-Nanette-L-Avery/dp/1667852523

Synopsis: With the publication of "Blank", science fiction author Nanette L. Avery imagines the world just resetting itself -- everything goes Blank, and humankind can't remember the past. No one knows how much time has passed since the Blank; no one remembers much of the time before.

Set in a dystopian version of Earth, where seeds are used to barter for goods, we meet the sisters Danube and Amazon Rivers along with the Bailiwick brothers, Alabama and Nebraska. The four youths grew up in the same town, and one day they stumbled across the mysterious Alice, who appeared out of nowhere. But unlike the four and their mundane lives, Alice knows how the world came to be in its current state.

Told in the third person while displaying multiple character points of view, "Blank" distinguishes life not endowed with ready-made meaning and the characters who are responsible for creating their own. The world everyone knew before is gone, and the one they have ended up in operates by a completely different set of rules. Alice's existence may very well destroy what humanity has rebuilt, but she must complete the mission she was entrusted with at any cost.

Critique: Original, imaginative, deftly crafted, and a fun read for all dedicated science fiction fans, "Blank" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted that "Blank" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Nanette L. Avery (https://www.nanetteavery.biz) is an eclectic author who transcends many genres. Acclaimed by Forward Reviews for her impressive tribute to the Southern Gothic in her debut novel "A Curious Host" (2016).

Stealing God And Other Stories
Bruce McAllister
Aeon Press
https://www.aeonpresspdx.com
9780993468216, $14.95, PB, 262pp

https://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Other-Stories-Bruce-McAllister/dp/0993468217

Synopsis: "Stealing God And Other Stories" is a compendium of eighteen original and deftly crafted short stories by Bruce McAllister. Among them are tales of a young woman in an abandoned house brings ruin to every man she meets; A wise-cracking hitman is recruited by an angel of God to kill the oldest vampire on Earth; A son travels into the past to find the mother he lost; and more.

If there is one thread of a message common to each of them is that nothing is more important than realizing just what it means to be human.

Critique: With a special appeal to readers with an interest in the paranormal, as well as urban science fiction and fantasy, each one of these carefully crafted and original stories by Hugo and Nebula nominee Bruce McAllister showcases hist genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that keeps and holds his reader's full attention. While unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction/fantasy fans, "Stealing God And Other Stories" is certain to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

Editorial Note: Bruce McAllister is a writer of literary fiction and of fantasy, science fiction and thriller fiction, which he's been publishing professionally since he was sixteen. From l974 to l997 he taught at the University of Redlands in southern California, where he helped establish and direct writing programs. Since l998 he has worked as a writing coach and book and screenplay consultant. His short fiction has appeared in literary quarterlies, national magazines, original anthologies, "year's best" anthologies and college readers; won awards from Glimmer Train magazine and the National Endowment for the Arts; and been a finalist for Hugo, Nebula, Shirley Jackson, New Letters, and Narrative magazine awards. His non-fiction articles on sports, popular science and writing have appeared in a variety of magazines and newspapers.

The Keeper's Six
Kate Elliott
Tordot.com
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250769077, $19.99, HC, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Keepers-Six-Kate-Elliott/dp/1250769078

Synopsis: It's been a year since Esther set foot in the Beyond, the alien landscape stretching between worlds, crossing boundaries of space and time. She and her magical traveling party (her Hex) haven't spoken since the Concilium banned them from the Beyond for a decade. But when she wakes in the middle of the night to her grown son's cry for help, the members of her Hex are the only ones she can trust to help her bring him back from wherever he has been taken.

There are terrors that dwell in the space between worlds and Esther will have to risk everything to find him. Undercover and hidden from the Concilium, she and her Hex will be tested by false dragon lords, a darkness so dense it can suffocate, and the bones of an old crime come back to haunt her.

Critique: Simply stated, "The Keeper's Six" by Kate Elliott is a riveting read that will have a very special appeal to fans of action/adventure fantasy novels. Adding "The Keeper's Six" to the author's long list of Kate Elliott's consistently original and entertaining novels, it should be noted for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, as well as the personal reading lists of her legions of fans that this latest book is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Kate Elliott (http://kateelliott.com) has been writing science fiction and fantasy for 30 years, after bursting onto the scene with Jaran. She is best known for her Crown of Stars epic fantasy series and the New York Times bestselling YA fantasy Court of Fives. Elliott's particular focus is immersive world-building & centering women in epic stories of adventure, amidst transformative cultural change.

Conquer the Kingdom
Jennifer Estep
https://www.jenniferestep.com
Harper Voyager
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063023468, $19.99, PB, 432pp

https://www.amazon.com/Conquer-Kingdom-Gargoyle-Queen-Novel/dp/0063023466

Synopsis: Time is running out for crown princess Gemma Ripley. Despite being a cunning spy and a powerful mind magier, Gemma hasn't been able to track down the most dangerous enemy her kingdom of Andvari has ever seen. Adding to her worries is the Sword and Shield tournament. With gladiators flocking to the capital city of Glanzen, Gemma can't tell who is friend or foe.

Determined to protect Andvari at any cost, Gemma hatches a bold plan, but things aren't what they seem. Soon, everything she holds dear is being threatened, including her burgeoning relationship with Prince Leonidas Morricone.

With the kingdom she holds dear slipping through her fingers, Gemma will have to conquer her fear and unlock the true secret of her magic -- or watch her friends and family die and her beloved Andvari fall.

Critique: A riveting novel of magic, adventure, romance and fantasy, "Conquer the Kingdom" by novelist Jennifer Estep is the third and final volume of the author's epic fantasy series 'Gargoyle Queen'. While available for dedicated fantasy fans in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212207799, $41.99, CD), "Conquer the Kingdom" will prove to be a prized and popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

Editorial Note: Jennifer Estep (https://www.jenniferestep.com) is an urban fantasy author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. She is the author of more than fifty books in the Crown of Shards series, the Elemental Assassin series, the Mythos Academy series, and others, along with numerous novellas.

Not Your Ex's Hexes
April Asher
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250808011, $16.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Hexes-Supernatural-Singles/dp/1250808014

Synopsis: For her entire life, Rose Maxwell trained to become the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. Now that she's stepped down, it's time for this witch to focus on herself. And not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can't get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. But when Rose is sentenced to community service at Damian's animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their sparking attraction. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both.

After a sequence of dead-end jobs, it's not until Rose tangos with two snarly demons that she thinks she's finally found her path. However, this puts Damian back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. He doesn't approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there's one thing he's learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did.

Working (and sleeping) together awakens feelings Damian never knew he had -- and shouldn't have. Because thanks to his ex's hex, if he falls in love, he'll not only lose his heart, but his humanity as well!

Critique: A fun read from cover to cover, "Not Your Ex's Hexes" by Apri Asher will have a tremendous appeal to readers with an interest in paranormal romantic comedies. While also available for personal reading lists of dedicated Occult Romance fans in both a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666628562, $22.99, CD), this unique and deftly crafted novel is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction and Occult Romance collections.

Editorial Note April Asher (https://www.aprilhuntbooks.com/april-asher-books.html) was hooked on romantic stories from the time she first snuck a bodice-ripper romance out from her mom's bedside table. She now pens laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with a paranormal twist, but when she's not putting her characters into embarrassing situations with supernatural entities, she also writes high-octane romantic suspense as April Hunt, her thrill-seeking alter ego.

Earth Builder
David Kirkland
Vanguard Press
www.vanguardpressbooks.com
c/o Perseus Books Group
https://www.perseusbooks.com
9781800163423, $15.99, PB, 346pp

https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Builder-David-Kirkland/dp/1800163428

Synopsis: He's no hero. He never wanted to be a hero. He is simply all that's available at the time. Now not so much guided as pushed, he must undergo several structural rebuilds that enable him to save first humanity and finally the galaxy itself.

Critique: Effectively written in a first person narrative, "Earth Builder" by David Kirkland will have a very special appeal to science fiction fans. An inherently interesting, unique, and extensive storyline by an author of impressive narrative driven storytelling skills, "Earth Builder" is recommended for community and academic library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Earth Builder" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: David Kirkland (https://pegasuspublishers.com/authors/david-kirkland) has worked in the building trade all his life, starting with his father and being joined by his brother, then finally working alone as a sole trader. He has also trained in Reiki, reaching Level 3 (Master), and various martial arts. He believes that this planet and humanity are fantastic, and that we are finally starting to evolve and to see the planet for what it is: home.

Consecrated Ground
Virginia Black
http://virginiablackwrites.com
Bywater Books
P.O. Box 3671, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3671
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612942551, $18.95, PB, 248pp

https://www.amazon.com/Consecrated-Ground-Virginia-Black/dp/1612942555

Synopsis: Like her father before her, Joan Matthews is a witch. For generations, their family of binder witches has protected Calvert, Oregon from vampires by strengthening the land with spellcraft. Pushing back against tradition, Joan defied her father and left town to become a war witch, one who fights the monsters hand-to-hand. But when her father dies, Joan returns to find her hometown assailed by a vampire lord's endless attacks -- and the answers lie with the one woman who chose a rival over Joan.

Leigh Phan once believed her heart was safe and her future was set. When Joan left town, Leigh's choices led to ruin and unintended consequences. Now Leigh harbors a dark secret forcing her to live a moment-to-moment existence. Her only hope of survival lies in trusting the war witch who left her behind.

Now it's up to Joan to fight for a town she left behind, while Leigh faces a destiny she never imagined was possible. With Calvert on the brink of total destruction, Joan and Leigh join forces and face inconvenient truths in order to save their town - - and each other.

Critique: A gripping novel of dark fantasy, "Consecrated Ground" by Virginia Black will have a very special appeal to fans of action/adventure vampire and witchcraft novel. Of particular interest to members of the LGBTQ community, "Consecrated Ground" is unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Consecrated Ground" is also available in digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).

Editorial Note: Virginia Black (http://virginiablackwrites.com) writes contemporary romance and speculative/science fiction. All her stories feature prominent lesbian characters. Her literary works include four short stories ("Season Finale"; "Love Undaunted"; "Constant"; and "Reclamation". "Consecrated Ground" is her first published novel. She has also written several fan fiction stories in multiple fandoms, and all of them can be found on Fanfiction.net or AO3 (Archive Of Our Own, https://archiveofourown.org).

What Price Victory?
David Weber
Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
9781982192419, $27.00

https://www.amazon.com/Price-Victory-Worlds-Honor-Weber/dp/1982192410

What Price Victory? is the seventh book in the Worlds of Honor series begun by David Weber, and provides new stories by Weber, Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope, and others who contribute their space opera tales to expand the 'Honorverse.' Military sci-fi fans, especially those with prior familiarity with Weber's world, will find the action-packed collection compliment the new Weber novella "First Victory" and provide a diverse series of compelling adventures to attract newcomers to Weber's universe.

Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Two new releases from Baen are intriguing works that deserve attention from sci-fi audiences.

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Man-Walking-country-supernatural/dp/0727895222

Simon R. Green's Dead Man Walking (9781982192433, $17.00) returns supernatural detective Ishmael Jones to a new case. Here, he confronts the murder of a rogue secret agent whose body vanishes. All this takes place in one of the most secure interrogation centers in the world. Ishmael's probe into the mystery reveals secrets and too many deaths as sci-fi blends with intrigue in a moving story of revelation and change.

https://www.amazon.com/High-Noon-Proxima-David-Boop/dp/1982192429

David Boop edits High Noon on Proxima B (9781982192426, $18.00), packed with ten tales of an alternate West which may not exist in past history, but in the future. From a Western being filmed on a colony ship which turns all too real for its participants to a soldier hiding from her choices, the collection features a few familiar names such as Walter Jon Williams paired with others such as Thea Hutcheson and David Boop to create a diverse display of disparate talents that take the Western theme, integrate with sci-fi elements, and produce rollicking good tales.

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