Battle of the Books Ahead

The other day I mentioned a couple of books I’m looking foward to in 2006; several of you chimed in with your own anticipatory recommendations. Herewith, a chronicle of them:

Dave Schwartz – Brings it right off the bat with Jeff Ford’s The Empire of Ice Cream and Doug Lain’s Last Week’s Apocalypse (both story collections).

Justin Steiner – Seconds The Empire of Ice Cream and raises Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (unfortunately, now not due until 2007 – Chabon discusses the delay here) and Colson Whitehead’s Apex Hides the Hurt.

Chris McLaren – Jumps in and thirds the Ford then adds Justina Robson’s Living Next Door to the God of Love, Mary Gentle’s Ilario: The Lion’s Eye and Scott Westerfeld’s Midnighters 3: Blue Noon (the awesomeness of which I can personally vouch for).

Niall Harrison – Enters stage left and says he’s not thinking about 2006 books yet, but can vouch for the Robson and that he’s looking forward to Ian Macleod’s Past Magic (collection) from PS Publishing.

Marrije – Throws a vote to the new Chabon (sadly no longer on the ballot) and adds Caitlin Kiernan’s Daughter of Hounds (no release date yet, that I could find; which may mean it’s due in 2007) and Justine Larbalestier’s Magic Lessons (another one I can personally vouch for — it’s AMAZING). (She also throws in a vote for the third book in the Magic or Madness Trilogy: Magic Magic Magic Oi Oi Oi, but that one is another 2007 book to look forward to.)

John Klima – Boldly puts his titles in a different thread, but the judge is accepting them anyway. He throws in some new blood with Barth Anderson’s The Patron Saint of Plagues, Jeff VanderMeer’s Shriek: An Afterword and Hal Duncan’s Vellum. He also mentions that a bunch of books he was excited about came out this year: Jeff Ford’s The Girl in the Glass, Alex Irvine’s The Narrows, Tim Pratt’s The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl and Jay Caselberg’s The Star Tablet.

My own most highly anticipated titles, which kicked all this off, are Geoff Ryman’s The King’s Last Song and Alan DeNiro‘s Skinny Dipping in the Lake of the Dead. And, coincidentally, I’m also excited about everything listed above. A few additions: Kevin Brockmeier’s A Brief History of the Dead, Cecil Castellucci’s The Queen of Cool (I want you to have read it so we can talk about it), Sharyn November’s new anthology Firebirds Rising, Paul Park’s The Tourmaline (due the day before my birthday), and it looks like Margo Lanagan’s previous collection White Time will be released in the U.S. this summer. And a bunch of other stuff I’m forgetting or don’t even know about yet.

If anybody else wants to throw some shoulder, I’ll keep updating this post for a week or so.

4 thoughts on “Battle of the Books Ahead”

  1. OK, after a bit more thought: definitely looking forward to Alan DeNiro’s collection. Other collections on my list include M.Rickert’s Map of Dreams, Stephen Baxter’s Resplendent and Elizabeth Bear’s collection (The Chains That You Refuse? Can’t remember). And never mind White Time, what I want to know is, when’s Red Spikes due?
    Novel-wise, early in the year I’m looking forward to Holly Phillips’ The Burning Girl and Vernor Vinge’s Rainbow’s End. There’s a new David Mitchell due in the Summer, I think–Black Swan Green? And fingers crossed, the last part of KSR’s Science In The Capital trilogy, Sixty [measurement scale] [thing] in the autumn.
    Books we’ve already had over here but which you’re getting for the first time and which I command you to read: River of Gods, obviously, and the Robson, but also Maul by Tricia Sullivan.
    Books which at this rate I’m not going to get around to reading this year but which will be at the top of the pile in January: Judith Berman’s Bear Daughter and David Marusek’s Counting Heads.

  2. NM Kelby has a literary comedy coming out next year: Whale Season. It’s all snarky about Florida, something I can totally get behind. And I’m very intrigued by Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, about growing up in an immigrant neighborhood in France – it should explain a bit about the tensions that led to this Fall’s riots. And, of course, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? – due out in February at the start of Mardi Gras season. I’m thrilled to be part of it and can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands!

  3. I never said I could follow rules, or read instructions for that matter. Lots of good stuff. Totally spaced Alan’s book. Definitely something to pick up. And I need to pick up Maureen McHugh’s collection from Small Beer. And of course Scott and Justine’s book. Have you read PEEPS yet? No? What are you, stupid? Go read it! (not you Gwenda) 🙂
    JK

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