Recently arrived science fiction
The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard
When Xích Si, a scavenger, is captured by pirates, she's offered an unexpected proposition: an arranged marriage to Rice Fish, the sentient ship and pirate leader. Rice Fish seeks Xích Si's technical skills to investigate the suspicious death of her previous partner, the Red Scholar. Their agreement evolves into a complex relationship amidst interstellar conflict. De Bodard crafts a rich, culturally influenced world, focusing on character dynamics and political intrigue. Recommended for fans of Martha Wells and Becky Chambers.
The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville
Jamie, a young man navigating a strange inheritance, discovers a mysterious book that unlocks gateways to other dimensions. He's drawn into a dangerous conspiracy, confronting powerful forces that seek to control these realities. Miéville's signature "weird fiction" blends with Reeves's imaginative concepts, crafting a narrative that explores identity, perception, and the unsettling nature of parallel worlds. Inspired by the BRZRKR comic series.
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
The Grand Abeona Hotel, a luxurious, galaxy-hopping haven, attracts intrigue as much as it does guests - each guest and staff member harbouring secrets, weaving a complex web of lives and motives.. From love poems in the lobby to suspected Imperial spies and a cryptic Problem Solver's conference, mysteries abound. At the heart of it all is Carl, the hotel's devoted manager, for whom the Abeona is home. As forces converge on the hotel, Carl must confront the ultimate question: when does devotion become an inability to let go? The Abeona, a symbol of belonging, faces an uncertain future.
The First Murder on Mars by Sam Wilson
When a crew member is found dead, suspicion and paranoia grip a small Martian colony. Detective Mina Kaminski, haunted by her past, must navigate the tense atmosphere to uncover the truth. The harsh Martian environment amplifies the sense of vulnerability, as the colonists grapple with both the murder and the psychological strain of their isolated existence. Wilson blends classic detective tropes with a chilling science fiction setting.
The Day Tripper by James Goodhand
In 1995, Alex Dean's perfect life shatters after a violent encounter. Waking to find himself fifteen years in the future, his life suddenly unrecognizable and each day, he leaps through his timeline, witnessing the consequences of unseen choices. This fractured existence forces Alex to confront his past, piecing together a life gone awry as he searches for answers, desperate to understand what derailed his dreams. Facing a seemingly fixed fate, Alex struggles to rewrite his future, learning that even small actions can have profound, life-altering impacts.
Rochelle, an engineer, awakens on the colony ark "Calypso" to find it drastically altered, the ship now a battleground for conflicting visions of humanity's future in space: one faction pushing for a technologically advanced utopia, and another advocating for a return to a more natural, Eden-like existence. Touching on themes of creation, both artificial and organic, and the inherent conflicts that arise when humans attempt to reshape worlds, Langmead weaves together elements of classic epic poetry with futuristic science fiction.
Two young people, separated from their mother by red tape, politics and xenophobia find themselves alone in a house in middle England. A horse destined for the knacker's yard and a future all too possible. Ali Smith's newest work continues on themes from her Seasons Quartet - immigration and person hood, othering, climate change and totalitarianism. But also hope and love and promise.
Some Body Like Me by Lucy Lapinska
Abigail Fuller is not who she appears to be; she's a replacement, an artificial being constructed in the image of the deceased wife of a man named David. The story unfolds as Abigail navigates her existence, bound by her role, but also facing an impending legal change that will grant her freedom. This sets the stage for her exploration of identity, self-discovery, and the very essence of what it means to be human.
