It’s officially November, and you know what that means...winter is coming. No, I’m not talking about Nightwalkers, although some days 2020 can feel that dire. I’m talking about us trading fall leaves for some fresh winter snow.
Along with the new season come brand-new books to dive into while we're snuggled up inside. Winter might not officially start until December 21st, but no matter what the calendar says, there's a snap in the air and Christmas jingles on the airwaves. Here are seven new books for sci-fi and fantasy readers that we'll be curling up with this season.
RELATED: Best New Books to Read Fall 2020 for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fans
The Arrest
The Arrest by Jonathan Lethem is not quite post-apocalyptic, not quite dystopian. When virtually all technology suddenly stops working, the stage is set for a brave (and scary) new world.
Before the end of technology, Sandy was a screenwriter in L.A. Now, Sandy lives in Maine. His new life is turned on its head when a colleague from Sandy's Hollywood days arrives in town.
Station Eleven author Emily St. John Mandel hailed this new novel as “wildly inventive tale of madness and narrative at the end of the world.” The Arrest by Jonathan Lethem will be released on November 10th, 2020.
Ready Player Two
Back in 2011, Ernest Cline made a stir with one of the most exciting novels in recent memory, Ready Player One.
Set in 2045, the first novel introduced us to Wade Watts, a teenager who (along with most people in the future) devotes his life to OASIS, a virtual universe riddled with pop culture references.
The novel was so popular it led to a film adaptation from Stephen Spielberg in 2018, which received an Academy Award Nomination for Visual Effects.
Ready Player Two continues Wade’s adventure through OASIS, with an even deeper mystery waiting at its center, and will be published on November 24th, 2020.
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Among the Beasts & Briars
In the Kingdom of Aloriya, Cerys (the daughter of a gardener) has special magical powers, but she has lost many of the people she loves because of her abilities. In order to save the only home she has known, she must find The Lady of the Wilds—and learn to trust her own magic.
Among the Beasts & Briars hit shelves October 20th, 2020.
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The Preserve
The Preserve by Ariel S. Winter is a mystery set in a near-future in which robots are the majority and humans are the minority.
When the robot government sets up preserves (areas where humans live separate from robots), one preserve is rocked by its first-ever murder. This dark, sprawling story is sure to keep you up at night and leave your head spinning.
The Preserve hit shelves on November 3, 2020.
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Nophek Gloss
Who doesn’t love a good space opera trilogy? The first in a new series, Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen follows Caide after his home planet is destroyed. With nowhere to go, he escapes on a ship with some mischievous aliens.
As he travels the galaxy, Caide is determined to avenge his family, and confront the terrible regime responsible for his immense loss.
More than just a simple adventure story, Nophek Gloss has an emotional arc that will stay with you long after the last page. As author Alastair Reynolds says, Nophek Gloss is “a sucker punch to the senses...a killer story with real heart and soul."
Nophek Gloss will be published on November 17th, 2020.
2021 Sneak Peek!
Hall of Smoke
Hessa is a warrior priestess under the Goddess of War. Her powers are terrifying: she can reduce bones to dust with her voice alone. But even Hessa's god-like powers aren’t enough to save her village from a terrible raid.
Fueled by her own rage and insurmountable grief, Hessa's adventure begins when she seeks not only revenge, but a true place under the Goddess of War once more.
You will fall in love with this book, the Viking fantasy world of Enag, and of course, Hessa. Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long will be published on January 19th, 2021.
The Echo Wife
Trying to fill the Westworld-sized hole in your life? Look no further than Sarah Gailey’s book The Echo Wife. This thriller set in the future has all the delicious clone drama you could ask for.
Evelyn Caldwell is an award–winning researcher in the world of cloning, and her own clone, Martine, is as perfect as can be...except she's having an affair with Evelyn’s husband.
The Echo Wife will be released on February 16th, 2021.
