So, the new year is coming, and the question is inevitably asked, “What are you looking forward to in the new year?”
And the answer for me is always: books. But let’s not talk about my books, which I certainly talk about plenty. Instead, which books am I looking forward to reading in 2018? Here’s an incomplete list of the things on my radar, and they’re all things I think you should be wanting to pick up in the coming year. (In addition to the two I have coming out, but you’ve already got those wired in, yes? Yes.)
Still So Strange by Amanda Downum
I’ve made no secret that Amanda is one of my favorite writers working in fantasy today, and one of my favorite people in the industry as well. Her collection of short stories and poetry is coming out this year, and you should totally get your hands on it.
The Armored Saint by Myke Cole
Myke has been doing excellent things blending military fiction with urban, modern fantasy, and everything I’ve been hearing about his first dive into traditional epic fantasy has been incredible. So I’m very excited to get my hands on this one.
Head On by John Scalzi
I’ve enjoyed just about everything John’s written, including and especially Locked In, which this is the sequel to. It’s a very fascinating setting (in which a disease has rendered some people completely unable to use their bodies, but the use of robot avatars called “threeps” lets them interact with the world), and in the first book John did an excellent job of exploring the implications of the core ideas. So I’m very intrigued to see where it goes.
Stone Mad by Elizabeth Bear
In another example of “Yes, more of that, please,” I really enjoyed 2015’s Karen Memory, so I’m looking forward to more western-steampunk adventures with Karen and her people. I don’t know if we’ll get another steam-powered-sewing-machine-mecha fight, but a boy can dream.
From Unseen Fire by Cass Morris
This is the debut novel from the newest DAW Author, and it’s been on my radar for a while now, so I’m quite excited to see it’s going to come out this April. It’s set in an Ancient Rome With Magic, and everything I’ve seen from Cass Morris shows that she’s really done the work in her research and worldbuilding, so I’m fascinated to see the results. Plus, of course: she’s DAW, so she’s family.
Temper by Nicky Drayden
Nicky already has a follow-up to Prey of the Gods, but not a sequel. Nicky is another one of my favorite-writers/favorite-people out there. I swear, she once wrote a short story that was so funny it nearly killed me I was laughing so hard. So, yeah, she writes so well, you could die. This is definitely a book to get for next year. It’s a new book by Nicky Drayden, how could it not be?
The Monster Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
The Traitor Baru Cormorant was a fascinating work of worldbuilding and structure and defying expectations, and exactly the sort of book I want to see more of. So of course I want to read the sequel. I need to know what happens next, as Baru is possibly one of the most fascinating characters in fantasy in recent years. We’ve already seen how far she’ll go to achieve her goals. I’m very curious what more there can be to get the title “monster”.
So, what’s on your radar for 2018?