Latest 7 titles
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox by Barry HughartThe irreverent and hilarious adventures of an aged sage with a slight flaw in his character and his strongman sidekick (and narrator). Hughart's prose sings with authenticity and lyricism as we follow Master Li Kao and Number Ten Ox throughout An Ancient China That Never Was. The middle volume, The Story of the Stone, is the weakest of the three (with a disappointing lack of the humor and wit that make up the other books), but the trilogy is remarkably bookended by A Bridge of Birds and Eight Skilled Gentlemen. This omnibus is truly a treasure.
Black & White by Lewis ShinerAn urgent examination of 40 years of racial conflict in North Carolina, set amongst a taut thriller concerning the truth of the origins of artist Michael Cooper. At once a highly accurate portrayal of the destruction of Hayti, and an intimate voyage into the conspiracy of Michael's birth. The details here could only be conveyed by a North Carolinian, but they're also universal enough to appeal to a wide audience. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Shiner's work, and he once again rises to the challenge of presenting a compelling secret look into the world that we all know. And his female characters deserve special mentioning, for their highly complex portrayals of strong, sexy, and empathetic women.
The Tiger's Wife by Tea ObrehtA PHENOMENAL book, and incredible that it's Obreht's debut novel. Even more incredible that Obreht herself is only 25 years old; her beautifully evocative style resonates with wisdom and profound worldliness and a natural sense of the fantastic. I literally hugged this book after finishing it. Enormous thanks to the jury of the Orange Prize for lauding the novel and therefore bringing it to my attention.
Akata Witch by Nnedi OkoraforWONDERFUL. I heart this book so much. In Sunny, Okorafor has given us a spirited (pun intended), strong-willed, completely empathetic protagonist, and revealed a beautiful side of Nigeria to contrast the image of violence and 419 scammers. As Sunny's world opens up to that of the magical Leopard People, the reader is treated to Okorafor's vibrant imagination (I loved the ghosthoppers and the art wasp). I hope she writes a dozen sequels. Harry Potter fans, prepare for your next obsession.
The Five Wonders of the Danube by Zoran ZivkovicZoran's best work yet, an interlinked exploration of bridges and other interstitial locales. This is a goddamn gorgeous art book as well. A lot of work went into the physical look of the book, and of the interior illustrations. I can easily imagine paying upwards of $100 for this edition.
Dreadnought by Cherie PriestAwesome squared, the best thing Cherie Priest has written so far. A fantastic expansion of her Clockwork Century steampunk world, and an amazing road trip through a war-torn divided country. Priest's writing continues to improve, and the plot races by like a train engine on crack.
The Windup Girl by Paolo BacigalupiBacigalupi's brilliant and bleak vision of the future showcases the tyranny of late capitalism and the ingenuity of Southeast Asia. When seeds, cats, and even people can be engineered, the game of control raises the stakes to a matter of life and death. Full of political intrigue, corporate machinations, racial intolerance, and a battle against nature itself, this novel is as rich and sweltering in detail as its setting. It is a testament to the worldbuilding and density of cultural attention that one feels a longing to explore more of this future world. Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.