Ansible Books Received, 2017

Home • Current Books Received • Old Amazon.co.uk Review Links • Reviews Index
Archive: 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016

This is a log of books received, a very few of which I may be in a position to review – no promises, though. Dates indicate when books were received and (if known) when they're supposed to be published, in that order: [14 Oct/27 Oct].
If not discouraged by the FAQ notes on reviews, send books for listing to:
David Langford/Ansible, 94 London Road, Reading, RG1 5AU, England.

Magazines Received

• [23 Dec] SFX #296, February 2018
• [15 Dec] The Author, Winter 2017
• [6 Dec] SFX #295, January 2018
• [? Dec] New York Review of SF #344, December 2017
• [18 Sep] Black Static #61, November/December 2017
• [18 Sep] Interzone #273, November/December 2017
• [8 Nov] SFX #294, Winter 2017
• [13 Oct] SFX #293, December 2017
• [10 Oct] F&SF, November/December 2017
• [? Oct] New York Review of SF #343, October 2017
• [? Sep] The Author, Autumn 2017
• [18 Sep] Black Static #60, September/October 2017
• [18 Sep] Interzone #272, September/October 2017
• [13 Sep] SFX #292, November 2017
• [4 Sep] The BSFA Review #1 (BSFA), Autumn 2017
• [4 Sep] Focus #67 (BSFA), Summer 2017
• [4 Sep] Vector #286 (BSFA), Autumn 2017
• [11 Aug] SFX #291, October 2017
• [3 Aug] New York Review of SF #342, August 2017
• [20 Jul] Black Static #59, July/August 2017
• [20 Jul] Interzone #271, July/August 2017
• [14 Jul] SFX #290, September 2017
• [? Jun] The Author, Summer 2017
• [17 Jun] Vector #285 (BSFA), Spring 2017
• [16 Jun] SFX #289, August 2017
• [8 Jun] New York Review of SF #341, June 2017
• [19 May] SFX #288, Summer 2017
• [18 May] Black Static #58, May/June 2017
• [18 May] Interzone #270, May/June 2017
• [28 Apr?] SFX #287, July 2017
• [13 Apr] New York Review of SF #340, December 2016
• [24 Mar] SFX #286, June 2017
• [16 Mar] Black Static #57, March/April 2017
• [16 Mar] Interzone #269, March/April 2017
• [13 Mar] New York Review of SF #339, November 2016
• [23 Feb] SFX #285, May 2017
• [13 Feb] F&SF, March/April 2017
• [1 Feb] SFX #284, April 2017
• [14 Jan] Black Static #56, January/February 2017
• [14 Jan] Interzone #268, January/February 2017
• [13 Jan] Foundation #125, dated 2016 only
• [3 Jan] SFX #283, March 2017

December 2017
[16 Dec/11 Jan] Tyrell Johnson, The Wolves of Winter – HarperCollins HQ trade paperback, YA sf. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository
Also trade paperback • Book Depository

[15 Dec/14 Dec] Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn – Arrow paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[12 Dec/5 Apr] Leo Carew, The Wolf – Headline/Wildfire hardback, fantasy. "Under the Northern Sky" 1. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[9 Dec/11 Jan] Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, Zenith – HarperCollins HQ trade paperback, YA sf. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[6 Dec/5 Dec] Saladin Ahmed, Rae Carson, Mira Grant and John Jackson Miller, Star Wars: Canto Bight – Century hardback, anonymously edited sf anthology of four novellas related to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. • Book Depository

[4 Dec/23 Nov] Paul Kidby, Terry Pratchett's Discworld Imaginarium – Gollancz hardback, coffee-table art book. • Book Depository

[4 Dec/25 Jan] Alastair Reynolds, Elysium Fire – Gollancz hardback, sf. Set in "the world of The Prefect". Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[4 Dec/30 Nov] Sam Sykes, God's Last Breath – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. Concludes "Bring Down Heaven" series. • Book Depository

November 2017
[23 Nov/17 Nov] Stephen Donaldson, Seventh Decimate – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Great God's War" 1. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[23 Nov/23 Nov] Charlaine Harris, The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories – Gollancz hardback, fantasy collection of ten stories plus introduction. "Sookie Stackhouse" series. • Book Depository

[23 Nov/16 Nov] Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Stormlight Archive" 3. • Book Depository

[15 Nov/7 Dec] James S.A. Corey, Persepolis Rising – Orbit hardback, sf. "Expanse" 7. • Book Depository

[8 Nov/23 Nov] Ken Howard, Follow Me: A Quest in Two Worlds – Venture Press, sf. • Book Depository

[7 Nov/4 May] Michael Carroll, Matt Smith and Cavan Scott, Judge Dredd: Year Twos – Abaddon trade paperback, three Judge Dredd novellas. • Book Depository

[8 Nov/2 Nov] Addison Gunn, Extinction Biome: Dispersal – Abaddon trade paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[8 Nov/7 Sep] Jonathan Strahan, editor, Infinity Wars – Solaris trade paperback, sf anthology. 15 new war-themed stories plus introduction. Second copy received. • Book Depository

[8 Nov/2 Nov] Adria Tchaikovsky, Iroclads – Solaris trade paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[4 Nov/15 Dec] Dave Golder, Jess Nevins, Russ Thorne and Sarah Dobbs, consultant editor David Langford, The Astounding Illustrated History of Science Fiction – Flame Tree hardback, nonfiction. Heavily illustrated coffee-table reference book with foreword by Pat Mills and introduction by Langford. • Book Depository

October 2017
[30 Oct/2 Nov] Daniel A. Cohen, Coldmaker – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. • Book Depository

[30 Oct/2 Nov] Mark Lawrence, Road Brothers: Tales from the Broken Empire – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. Collection of fourteen short stories. "Broken Empire" series. • Book Depository

[30 Oct/16 Nov] Bryan Talbot, Grandville Force Majeure – Jonathan Cape hardback, graphic novel. "Detective-Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard Scientific-Romance Thriller" 5. • Book Depository

[26 Oct/19 Oct] Gardner Dozois, editor, The Book of Swords – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy anthology. Sixteen stories plus introduction. • Book Depository

[19 Oct/19 Oct] Miles Cameron, The Fall of Dragons – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. "Traitor Son" 5 (final volume). • Book Depository

[19 Oct/19 Oct] Paul McAuley, Austral – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[18 Oct/11 Jan] Tyrell Johnson, The Wolves of Winter – HarperCollins HQ trade paperback, YA sf. Proof copy received. • Book Depository
Also trade paperback • Book Depository

[13 Oct/2 Nov] Nick Harkaway, Gnomon – Penguin Random House/Heinemann sf, hardback. • Book Depository

[6 Oct/3 Oct] Edited anonymously, Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View – Century hardback, sf anthology. "40 stories celebrating 40 years of Star Wars". • Book Depository

[4 Oct/11 Jan] Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, Zenith – HarperCollins HQ trade paperback, YA sf. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[19 Oct/5 Oct] Ausma Zehanat Khan, The Bloodprint – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. "Khoraan Archives" 1. • Book Depository

[4 Oct/5 Oct] Janny Wurts, Destiny's Conflict – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. "Wars of Light and Shadow" 10. • Book Depository

September 2017
[29 Sep/?] Stella Martin Currey, J.P. Martin: Father of Uncle: A Master in the Great English Nonsense Tradition 1978-1966 – Troubadour/Matador trade paperback, biography. Includes several deleted chapters and original drafts of revised chapters from the Uncle novels. Publication date given as 25 January 2018 but listed as available now. • Book Depository

[22 Sep/5 Oct] Kristen Ciccarelli, The Last Namsara – Gollancz hardback, YA fantasy. "Iskari" 1. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[22 Sep/10 Oct] Aaron Mahnke, The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures – Headline/Wildfire hardback, nonfiction. • Book Depository

[21 Sep/28 Sep] Peter V. Brett, The Core – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. Concludes "Demon Cycle" series. • Book Depository

[21 Sep/28 Sep] Peter V. Brett, Messenger's Legacy – Harper Voyager trade paperback, fantasy novella. "Demon Cycle" series. • Book Depository

[18 Sep/17 Nov] Stephen Donaldson, Seventh Decimate – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Great God's War" 1. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[14 Sep/28 Sep] Chloe Neill, The Hunt – Gollancz trade paperback, urban fantasy. "Devil's Isle" series. • Book Depository

[14 Sep/28 Sep] Lynsay Sands, Immortally Yours – Gollancz trade paperback, urban fantasy. "Argeneau Vampire" series. • Book Depository

[14 Sep/10 Oct] Gavin G. Smith, The Bastard Legion – Gollancz trade paperback, military sf. Opens "Bastard Legion" series. • Book Depository

[12 Sep/28 Sep] Nalini Singh, Archangel's Viper – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. "Guild Hunter" series. • Book Depository

[8 Sep/14 Sep] Philip K. Dick, Electric Dreams – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Collection of ten short stories adapted for the Channel 4/Sony Pictures anthology series Electric Dreams, with introductions by the scriptwriters. • Book Depository

[8 Sep/28 Sep] Ann Leckie, Provenance – Orbit hardback, sf. • Book Depository

[8 Sep/7 Sep] Jonathan Strahan, editor, Infinity Wars – Solaris trade paperback, sf. Anthology of 15 original stories with a war theme, plus introduction. • Book Depository

[8 Sep/21 Sep] Tricia Sullivan, Sweet Dreams – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[2 Sep/7 Sep] C. Robert Cargill, Sea of Rust – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[2 Sep/1 Sep] Delilah S. Dawson, Star Wars: Phasma – Century hardback, sf. "Official prequel to The Last Jedi". • Book Depository

August 2017
[31 Aug/? Oct] David Britton, illustrated by Kris Guido, Razor King – Savoy Books hardback, absurdist sf/horror in which "two unconnected worlds and genres collide: the Wild West/Westerns, and outer space/planetary adventure. Lord Horror series. • Book Depository

[24 Aug/7 Sep] Nate Crowley, 100 Best Video Games (That Never Existed) – Solaris large-format paperback, "nonfiction". What it says on the tin: funny, silly and outright weird arcade game concepts, often strangely plausible when you remember some of the real ones.• Book Depository

[17 Aug/21 Sep] Scott Reintgen, Nyxia – Penguin/Michael Joseph hardback, YA sf. • Book Depository

[16 Aug/7 Sep] Amanda Foody, Daughter of the Burning City – HarperCollins HQ trade paperback, YA fantasy. • Book Depository

[9 Aug/24 Aug] Mark Alder, Son of the Night – Gollancz hardback, historical fantasy. "Banners of Blood" 2. • Book Depository

[9 Aug/24 Aug] David Gemmell, White Knight Black Swan – Gollancz hardback, crime. • Book Depository

[9 Aug/27 Jul] Tom Lloyd, Princess of Blood – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "The God Fragments" 2. • Book Depository

[9 Aug/24 Aug] Adam Roberts, The Real-Town Murders – Gollancz hardback, sf thriller. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[8 Aug/8 Aug] Eric Brown, Binary System – Solaris trade paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[8 Aug/8 Aug] Nate Crowley, The Death and Life of Schneider Wrack – Solaris trade paperback, sf/zombies. • Book Depository

[3 Aug/24 Aug] George R.R. Martin, The Mystery Knight – Harper Voyager hardback graphic novel, fantasy. Adaptation of "Dunk and Egg" novella from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, "a prequel of sorts to A Game of Thrones". • Book Depository

[2 Aug/8 Mar] S.A. Chakraborty, The City of Brass – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

July 2017
[26 Jul/27 Jul] Christie Golden, Star Wars: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad – Century hardback, sf. • Book Depository

[25 Jul/5 Oct] Kristen Ciccarelli, The Last Namsara – Gollancz hardback, YA fantasy. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[25 Jul/27 Jul] John Hornor Jacobs, Infernal Machines – Gollancz trade paperback, science-fantasy. • Book Depository

[17 Jul/13 Jul] Charles Stross, The Delirium Brief – Orbit hardback, urban fantasy thriller. "Laundry Files" series. • Book Depository

[13 Jul/27 Jul] Marina J. Lostetter, Noumenon – Harper Voyager hardback, sf. • Book Depository

[4 Jul/24 Aug] Adam Roberts, The Real-Town Murders – Gollancz hardback, sf thriller. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[3 Jul/6 Jul] Helen Keen, The Science of Game of Thrones – Hodder/Coronet trade paperback, comic "nonfiction". Reissue of 2016 hardback title. • Book Depository

[3 Jul/19 Oct] Paul McAuley, Austral – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[3 Jul/27 Jul] Ed McDonald, Blackwing – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Raven's Mark" 1. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

June 2017
[4 May/21 Jun] Gail Z Martin, Scourge – Solaris, trade paperback, fantasy. Book Depository

[15 Jun/1 Jun] Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland, The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. – HarperCollins/Borough Press hardback, science fantasy. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[5 Jun/23 Feb] Max Brooks, Minecraft: The Island – Century hardback, sf. Minecraft game shared-world series launch. Proof copy received. • Book Depository
Also trade paperback • Book Depository

[5 Jun/7 Sep] C. Robert Cargill, Sea of Rust – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

May 2017
[30 May/15 Jun] Nalini Singh, Silver Silence – Gollancz hardback, science fantasy. "Psy-Changeling" series. • Book Depository

[30 May/29 Jun] Anna Smith Spark, The Court of Broken Knives – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. "Empires of Dust" 1. • Book Depository

[30 May/15 Jun] Anna Stephens, Godblind – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[30 May/1 Jun] George R.R. Martin, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – Harper Voyager trade paperback, fantasy. "Westeros" prequel set a century before the Game of Thrones narrative. Reissue of 2015 title. • Book Depository

[27 May/29 Jun] Callie Bates, The Waking Land – Hodder hardback, fantasy. Opening volume of trilogy. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[27 May/15 Jun] Stephen Baxter, Xeelee Vengeance – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. "Xeelee" series. • Book Depository

[27 May/15 Jun] Terry Brooks, The Black Elfstone – Orbit hardback, fantasy. "Fall of Shannara" 1. • Book Depository

[22 May/15 Jun] Elizabeth May, The Fallen Kingdom – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. "Falconer" 3. • Book Depository

[11 May/4 May] Peter V. Brett, The Great Bazaar / Brayan's Gold – Harper Voyager trade paperback, fantasy. Two short stories and some background information: "Demon Cycle" series. • Book Depository

[11 May/4 May] Robin Hobb, Assassin's Fate – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. "Fitz and the Fool" 3. Second copy received. • Book Depository

[11 May/20 Apr] George Lucas, Star Wars: A New Hope – Century hardback, sf. 40th anniversary reissue of the first novelization, thought by some to have actually been written by Alan Dean Foster. • Book Depository

[11 May/4 May] George Lucas, Donald F. Glut and James Kahn, Star Wars Trilogy – Arrow paperback, sf. Omnibus of novelizations of the first three films. • Book Depository

[11 May/4 May] Chloe Neill, Blade Bound – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. • Book Depository

[10 May/18 May] Alex Lamb, Exodus – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Conclusion of trilogy, following Roboteer and Nemesis. • Book Depository

[8 May/13 Jun] Yoon Ha Lee, Raven Stratagem – Solaris trade paperback, sf. "Machineries of Empire" 2. • Book Depository

[6 May/18 May] David Gemmell, Rhyming Rings – Gollancz hardback, "supernatural crime". Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[6 May/18 May] Justina Robson, The Switch – Gollancz trade paperback, science fantasy. • Book Depository

April 2017
[29 Apr/15 Jun] Jeff VanderMeer, Borne – 4th Estate hardback, sf. Second copy received! • Book Depository

[18 Apr/21 Apr] David Langford, All Good Things: The Last SFX Visions – NewCon trade paperback, nonfiction collection (100 essays, mostly my regular SFX magazine columns from July 2009 to the end of the run in June 2016; see book page). • Book Depository

[16 Apr/4 May] Robin Hobb, Assassin's Fate – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. "Fitz and the Fool" 3. • Book Depository

[16 Apr/15 Jun] Anna Stephens, Godblind – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[12 Apr/27 Jul] Ed McDonald, Blackwing – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Raven's Mark" 1. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[11 Apr/20 Apr] Graham Hancock, Night of Sorrows – Coronet hardback, historical fantasy. "Task Force Ombra" series. • Book Depository

[11 Apr/4 May] Cassandra Khaw, Food of the Gods – Abaddon trade paperback, urban fantasy. • Book Depository

[11 Apr/4 May] Weston Ochse, Grunt Hero – Solaris trade paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[11 Apr/23 Feb] Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn – Century hardback, sf. • Book Depository

[4 Apr/6 Apr] Aliette de Bodard, The House of Binding Thorns – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. "Dominion of the Fallen" 2, following The House of Shattered Wings. • Book Depository

[4 Apr/27 Apr] Ezekiel Boone, Skitter – Gollancz hardback, sf/horror. Sequel to The Hatching. • Book Depository

[1 Apr/6 Apr] Mark Lawrence, Red Sister – Harper Voyager hardback, science fantasy. "Book of the Ancestor" 1 • Book Depository

[1 Apr/20 Apr] Sam Peters, From Darkest Skies – Gollancz hardback, sf. Finished copy now received. • Book Depository

[1 Apr/15 Jun] Jeff VanderMeer, Borne – 4th Estate hardback, sf. • Book Depository

March 2017
[31 Mar/23 Mar] Ian McDonald, Luna: Wolf Moon – Gollancz trade paperback, sf. Sequel to Luna: New Moon. • Book Depository

[31 Mar/30 Mar] Lynsay Sands, Immortal Unchained – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. • Book Depository

[28 Mar/?] Mike Ashley, The Time Machines: The Story of the Science-Fiction Pulp Magazines from the Beginning to 1950 – Liverpool University Press trade paperback, nonfiction. Welcome reprint, undated but recent, of a 2001 paperback (hardback was 2000) long out of print. • Book Depository

[24 Mar/1 Jun] Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland, The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. – HarperCollins/Borough Press hardback, science fantasy. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[16 Mar/29 Jun] Callie Bates, The Waking Land – Hodder hardback, fantasy. Opening volume of trilogy. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[14 Mar/1 Feb] Kevin Cheek, editor. Feast of Laughter: An Appreciation of R.A. Lafferty: Volume 4 – Ktistec Press trade paperback, nonfiction (mostly) anthology with one newly published Lafferty story. • Book Depository

[14 Mar/16 Mar] Andrzej Sapkowski, The Lady of the Lake – Gollancz trade paperback, fantasy. • Book Depository

[11 Mar/6 Apr] Clifford Beal, The Witch of Torinia – Solaris trade paperback, fantasy. "Tales of Valdur" 2. • Book Depository

[11 Mar/6 Apr] Gavin Smith, Special Purposes: First Strike Weapon – Solaris trade paperback, sf. • Book Depository

[8 Mar/6 Apr] Jonathan Strahan, editor, The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Eleven – Solaris trade paperback, sf. Anthology of 28 stories from 2016. • Book Depository

[6 Mar/6 Apr] Titus Chalk, Generation Decks: The Unofficial History of Gaming Phenomenon Magic: The Gathering – Solaris trade paperback, nonfiction. If you winced at the lack of another "The" before "Gaming", you are not alone. • Book Depository

February 2017
[25 Feb/16 Mar] Kim Stanley Robinson, New York 2140 – Orbit hardback, sf. • Book Depository

[21 Feb/9 Mar] Kristen Britain, Firebrand – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Green Rider" series. • Book Depository

[20 Feb/18 May] David Gemmell, Rhyming Rings – Gollancz hardback, serial killer thriller. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[20 Feb/9 Mar] Mahvesh Marar & Jared Shuvin, eds, The Djinn Falls in Lover & other stories– Solaris trade paperback, fantasy anthology with djinn theme. 21 stories plus introduction. • Book Depository

[14 Feb/23 Feb] Chuck Wendig, Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End – Century hardback, sf. "Aftermath Trilogy" 3. • Book Depository

[9 Feb/6 Apr] Mark Lawrence, Red Sister – Harper Voyager hardback, fantasy. "Book of the Ancestor" 1. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[9 Feb/6 Apr] Sylvain Neuvel, Waking Gods – Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph sf, hardback. "Themis Files" 2. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[3 Feb/9 Feb] David Bishop and Karl Stock, Thrill-Power Overload: 2000 AD – The First Forty Years: Revised and Expanded – Rebellion coffee-table hardback, nonfiction. • Book Depository

January 2017
[30 Jan/20 Apr] Sam Peters, From Darkest Skies – Gollancz hardback, sf. Proof copy received. • Book Depository

[28 Jan/9 Feb] Bradley Beaulieu, Blood upon the Sand – Gollancz hardback, fantasy. "Song of the Shattered Sands" 2. • Book Depository

[28 Jan/16 Feb] Alastair Reynolds, Slow Bullets – Gollancz hardback novella, sf. Reissue of 2015 US title as though this were the first edition, with 2017 copyright date. • Book Depository

[28 Jan/16 Feb] Tom Toner, The Weight of the World – Gollancz hardback, sf. "Amaranthine Spectrum" 2. • Book Depository

[26 Jan/23 Feb] Tom Isbell, The Release – Harper Voyager trade paperback, YA sf. "Prey" 3. • Book Depository

[25 Jan/?] Steven Burgauer, The Grandfather Paradox – Battleground Press trade paperback, sf. Reissue of 2011 title. • Book Depository

[9 Jan/28 Jul 2016] Ian Stewart and Tim Poston, The Living Labyrinth – ReAnimus Press, trade paperback, sf. Book Depository