In previous works, British writer Peter Ackroyd has shown his fascination with deceased literary greats. In his latest novel, The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein, Ackroyd takes the well-known gathering of Mary Wollstonecraft, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and Dr. Polidori that gave rise to the horror classic Frankenstein and adds an extra house guest into the mix – a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein.
Suzanne Collins’ intended audience may be teens but adult readers will find plenty to like in The Hunger Games, and its sequel, Catching Fire. Collins creates a post-apocalyptic dystopia in which the value of entertainment trumps the value of humanity. Adventurous and chilling with well-drawn characters, this series is destined to become even more popular. The first book has been optioned for a movie and the third (and final) book in the series, Mockingjay, is due for publication in August.
Eoin Colfer, author of several books for teens including the popular Artemis Fowl series, was selected to follow in the very large footprints of the late Douglas Adams. Colfer’s continuation of the cult classic Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, And Another Thing…, is a both a brave and humble attempt to pick up where Adams left Ford, Arthur, Trillian, Random and Zaphod. Fans will debate whether or not Colfer can carry the mantle but it’s a joy to spend some time with our favorite characters again. (Also available as an audiobook on CD, narrated by Simon Jones.)
Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, who’s debut novel Heart-Shaped Box won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel, follows his early success with Horns. Reader reviews are positive so far. The storyline: After his childhood sweetheart is brutally killed and suspicion falls on him, Ig Parrish goes on a drinking binge and wakes up with horns on his head, hate in his heart and an incredible new power, a power he uses in the name of vengeance, only to learn that, when it comes to revenge, the devil is in the details.
In bestseller Bear’s intriguing near-future thriller, a powerful financier stands ready to seize control of America as the nation teeters on the brink of economic collapse. The Texas-based Talos Corp., helmed by CEO Axel Price, specializes in security technology software and the training of mercenaries. Standing between Price and the downfall of America are a few hardy FBI agents, notably Rebecca Rose, one of the stars of the previous book in the series, Quantico. Besides the nefarious Price, dangers include a supercomputer, Jones Zero, that may or may not be acting on the side of justice, and the fact that Rebecca and others have been used as guinea pigs for a powerful mind- and body-altering drug, Mariposa. Under less capable hands, the extraordinarily complicated plot, numbers of characters and the constant explanations of future technologies might lead to terminal turgidity, but SF veteran Bear keeps everything whizzing right along to the slam-bang conclusion.
Though technically a teen book, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is getting a lot of notice with the recent release of the second in a proposed trilogy (Catching Fire) and movie rights purchased by Lionsgate.
Collins steals a little from Shirley Jackson’s classic short story, The Lottery, and adds a bit of an old Schwarzenegger film called The Running Man but then spices it up with contemporary “reality TV” culture, all set in the futuristic remains of North America.
The Locus Award Winners were announced last week. Neal Stephenson’s Anathem won for best science fiction novel, Ursula Le Guin’s Lavinia for best fantasy, and Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book for best young adult.
The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan is a truly frightening book that begins a projected trilogy. “Just as a jumbo jet on a flight from Germany to New York is touching down at JFK, something goes terribly wrong. When Ephraim Goodweather, of the Centers for Disease Control, investigates the darkened plane, he finds all but four passengers and crew dead, drained of blood. Despite Goodweather’s efforts to keep the survivors segregated, they get discharged into the general population. Soon after, the corpses of the tragedy’s victims disappear. The epidemiologist begins to credit the wild stories of Abraham Setrakian, an elderly pawnbroker who’s the book’s Van Helsing figure, and concludes that a master vampire has arrived in the U.S. The authors maintain the suspense and tension throughout in a tour de force reminiscent of Whitley Strieber’s early work.” –Publishers Weekly
THIS IS NOT A GAME by Walter Jon Williams
ARG developer Dagmar Shaw has led players through countless twists and dangers in her virtual worlds. But the real world has turned suddenly dangerous for her. She’s stranded in Jakarta, in the midst of violent riots. When she alters her game to summon the aid of its players, more than a million gamers eagerly apply their problem-solving skills to the real-life crisis. A genuine page-turner.
