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Lists / What's New

Literary Trick-or-Treat: 13 Book & Candy Pairings

Tiana Tolbert2 Comments

If Halloween’s about one thing, it’s the delicious candy. But! If Halloween’s about two things, it’s the delicious candy and good books (We’re Tor. We’re nerds).

Check out these pairings of sweet treats and matching reads!

opens in a new window1 opens in a new windowThe Fragile Threads of Power & Sour Patch Kids Watermelon

The tag for Sour Patch Kids might be Sour, Sweet, Gone—but not V. E. Schwab! They are BACK, returning to the expansive world(s) they created in the Shades of Magic Trilogy. opens in a new windowThe Fragile Threads of Power features both new characters and old, which is why we’ve paired it with Sour Patch Kids Watermelon. It’s everything you love and a little more. A little different. Familiar, yet new. Out now in paperback!

opens in a new windowtraitor of redwinter by ed mcdonald in front of an ad for zombie skittles, reading BEWARE OF ROTTEN ZOMBIE SKITTLES opens in a new windowTraitor of Redwinter & Zombie Skittles 

For very brief spans in 2019 and 2020, Skittles ran a special limited-time Halloween campaign, delivering unto us Zombie Skittles. They’re just like regular Skittles, but a few—visually indecipherable from their more delicious brethren—were zombies, and tasted awful. Traitor of Redwinter by Ed McDonald is way cooler than Zombie Skittles because it brings all the scary candy’s suspense without tasting abominable (probably just tastes neutrally of paper, if you tried to snack on it). Out in paperback on 10/15!

opens in a new window2 opens in a new windowBookshops & Bonedust & Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup  

The much-loved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup owes its storied position in candy history to its artful fusion of two flavors: Chocolate. Peanut butter. We honor Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree by pairing it with the peanut butter cup, because it too is a smooth blend of distinct flavors. Viv is a mercenary, but a warrior stuck in recovery in a tiny beach town. But adventures seldom play out as you expect. This sleepy town and its cozy bookshop are full of peanut butter, or they are peanut butter and adventure is the chocolate. This metaphor makes sense. We will not be taking any questions. This luxe edition is out on 10/29!

opens in a new windowdevil's gun by cat rambo next to a suspicious bad of 'Disco's' candy opens in a new windowDevil’s Gun & Disco’s

Cat Rambo’s Disco Space Opera series (and playlist! Check out their playlist!) began with You Sexy Thing and continued with Devil’s Gun, named respectively after the rock time tunes “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate and “Devil’s Gun” by C.J. & Co. Fittingly, we have elected to pair this sci-fi adventure with Disco’s, a candy we’ve never heard of before and seems to be available primarily in the United Kingdom? But whatever. C’est la vie. We did it for the name. Out now in paperback! 

opens in a new window3 opens in a new windowThe Doors of Midnight & Giant Gummy Shark 

For R.R. Virdi’s hugely epic opens in a new windowThe Doors of Midnight, we’re hauling in the world’s largest gummy shark. Like this massive gummified carnivore confection, opens in a new windowThe Doors of Midnight will sustain you for a while. One will feed your body, and one will nourish the soul.  

opens in a new windowStarter villain by john scalzi in front of a rainbow array of sour patch kids opens in a new windowStarter Villain & Sour Patch Kids (Original)

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is the story of a hapless guy who inherits his uncle’s supervillain business, including among other assets, an array of espionage-ready cats. We pair it with the original Sour Patch Kids, harkening back to that aforementioned tag, Sour, Sweet, Gone. This is a book of cozy opposites—namely surprisingly cool supervillains. Out now in paperback!

opens in a new windowexadelic by jon evans in front of a rainbow array of monster energy drinks in different flavors opens in a new windowExadelic & Monster Energy 

Far from a traditional Halloween trick-or-treat staple, these energy drinks nevertheless taste like candy, and pair perfectly with Jon Evans opens in a new windowExadelic, which is a book about occult magic and computer code. A trusty goto beverage for exhausted software engineers everywhere, this sweet, sugary drink counts as candy for the purposes of this article, and is the perfect fuel to keep you awake late into the night as you read opens in a new windowExadelic. 

opens in a new windowsandymancer by david edison in front of some red hot candies opens in a new windowSandymancer & Red Hots 

David Edison’s opens in a new windowSandymancer is a classic fantasy adventure of mad god-kings, regular people with extraordinary powers, and lots of hot climates. The final note is what inspires us to dedicate a spot on this feature to Red Hots. Can you feel the heat? Hopefully you can’t taste the sand. Hopefully you have escaped the ire of mad gods. Out now in paperback! 

opens in a new window7 opens in a new windowA Sorceress Comes to Call & Witch’s Brew KitKats

T. Kingfisher’s opens in a new windowA Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm’s “The Goose Girl,” rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic. If you’re going to snack on anything while reading this book, it HAS to be the Witch’s Brew KitKat bars. Fitting, isn’t it?

opens in a new window6 opens in a new windowBlood of the Old Kings & Orange Starbursts  

From award-winning Korean author Sung-il Kim & translated by the world-renowned Anton Hur, opens in a new window Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic journey unlike any other. Think fires, volcanoes, sun…and other slightly orange things! Which is why we’ve paired it with Orange Starbursts — yes, just the orange ones. Step into a world of necromancy, murder, and twisted magic. A world in need of a hero. Out on 10/08!

opens in a new window4 opens in a new windowStarling House & Blackberry Cobbler Candy Corn

Ah, opens in a new windowStarling House. The vibes? A cursed town, a haunted house, very vivid, very eerie. You know what’s more eerie? Blackberry Cobbler Candy Corn. Out in paperback on 10/01!

opens in a new window5 opens in a new windowUsurpation & Black Licorice  

After her rollicking standalone Dual Memory, Sue Burke returns to her Semiosis series and the world of Pax in opens in a new windowUsurpation. Think human rebellions, robot uprisings, and global pandemics. Chaotic, right? We’ve paired Black Licorice with this one, purely out of vibes. Out on 10/29!

opens in a new window8 opens in a new windowWind and Truth & Blow Pops

Wind and Truth….wind….blow….blow pops? We’ve paired Blow Pops with opens in a new windowWind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive will blow (get it?) you away!  Out on 12/06!

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Extras / Featured / Quizzes

Which Dysfunctional Space Crew Do You Belong In?

Tiana Tolbert

by a bunch of raccoons in a trench coat & a cat

In space, everyone can hear you scream when you realize your roommate steals your lunch from the community space fridge. Has anyone every made it through a space voyage completely functionally?

Find out which dysfunctional space crew is your ride-or-die with this quiz!


 

And while you’ve got books on the brain, opens in a new windowFractal Noise by Christopher Paolini is out now in paperback! You should read it.

Order opens in a new windowFractal Noise Here

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Extras / Quizzes

Which Dysfunctional Space Crew Do You Belong In?

torforge25 Comments

by a bunch of raccoons in a trench coat & a cat

In space, everyone can hear you scream when you realize your roommate steals your lunch from the community space fridge. Has anyone every made it through a space voyage completely functionally?

Find out which dysfunctional space crew is your ride-or-die with this quiz!


And while you’ve got books on the brain, opens in a new windowCascade Failure by L. M. Sagas is out now! You should read it.

Order opens in a new windowCascade Failure Here

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Lists

8 Books to Read After You Watch Dune: Part Two

Rachel Taylor8 Comments

Yeah, we’re into Dune. Dune lots of reading 📚😎

The spice must flow, and so will our sci-fi book recommendations! But what’s that you say? You’re not just looking for any space opera, you’re looking for the particular space opera that’s going to satisfy the exact reason why you’re already planning to see Dune: Part Two again? Fear not! Our recommendations are sorted by what got you excited for Dune!

By Julia Bergen

If you’re excited to see Dune because:

opens in a new windowdune: the heir of caladan by brian herbert & kevin j. andersonDune seems really cool:

You should read: opens in a new windowDune: The Heir of Caladan by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

When you need Dune, you need Dune! Dune: The Heir of Caladan is the conclusion of a prequel trilogy by Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert’s son, and science fiction legend Kevin J. Anderson. This saga began with opens in a new windowDune: The Duke of Caladan, continued with opens in a new windowDune: The Lady of Caladan, and tells the story of the Atreides family’s rise to power, and this particular volume details how Paul becomes the leader he needs to be before the events of Dune. 

opens in a new windowprincess of dune by brian herbert & kevin j. andersonNo, really. Dune is the coolest and you’ll throw yourself into the maw of a sandworm if you don’t get more immediately:

You should read: opens in a new windowPrincess of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

When you need Dune, you need Dune! Set a few years before the events of Dune, this story explores the lives of Paul’s love Chani and his wife, the Princess Irulan. Both women will impact the trajectory of the whole galaxy as Paul Atreides brings it hurdling to its destiny. 

opens in a new windowto sleep in a sea of stars by christopher paoliniYou love crazy space monsters:

You should read: opens in a new windowTo Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

The sandworms in Dune are definitely some of the creepiest monsters in SF, and their connection to the spice is shrouded in mystery. While you wait to see sandworms on the screen, you can dive into the mystery of the creature discovered by a xenobiologist during what was supposed to be a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet. And make sure to check out  opens in a new windowFractal Noise for more tales in the same universe!

opens in a new windowPoster Placeholder of - 35You love dudes fighting in suits in space:

You should read: opens in a new windowRed Rising by Pierce Brown

If you’re most looking forward to seeing how Villeneuve envisions the stillsuits necessary to survive on the desert planet Arrakis, and to see some sweet suit fight scenes, calm you suited bloodthirst with a book about genetically perfected superhumans wearing futuristic body armor battling it out in a Hunger Games-esque competition for the solar system’s best job opportunities.

opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing by Cat RamboYou love PEW PEW PEW space battles:

You should read: opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo

Perfect reading if you want to be able to practically hear that “PEW PEW PEW” noise, and maybe even a Wilhelm scream or two while you’re reading. A group of retired space soldiers gets dragged back into war when they’re forced onto a sentient ship that’s convinced it’s being stolen, and in addition must survive the machinations of a sadistic pirate king.

opens in a new windowThe Genesis of Misery by Neon YangYou love space politics:

You should read: opens in a new windowThe Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

If you can’t resist competing galactic empires and political machinations in space, dive into The Genesis of Misery. A nobody from a nowhere mining planet becomes the center of a power struggle between dangerous players and royal families because of their forbidden powers. Plus, like Dune it’s full of prophecy and space magic. 

opens in a new windowPlace holder of - 52No, seriously, you LIVE FOR space politics:

You should read: opens in a new window A Desolation Called Peace Arkady Martine

Oh, so you’re one of those, huh? No judgment, just book recommendations here, my friend. And you definitely need to feast your eyes on A Desolation Called Peace, which should give you all the space politics you could possibly want. An ambassador from a backwater planet must untangle the webs of subterfuge at the center of the Teixcalaanli Empire.

opens in a new windowwinter's orbit by everina maxwellYou love space politics, but not as much as you love love.

You should read: opens in a new windowWinter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

If you can’t wait for Dune’s space politic glory, but you’re also looking forward to scenes between Paul and Chani, then as soon as it’s on sale you need to get your hands on this romantic space opera. Two neuromodified psychics, a flirty socialite and a duty-bound soldier, find themselves at the center of a decades-old power struggle and a dangerous treasure-hunt. If they sync their minds, they might avoid life under military control, but they’d be giving up their free will. And what are these FEELINGS they’re having for each other?

Which one are you reading? Let us know in the comments!

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Lists / What's New

Literary Trick-or-Treat: 8 Book & Candy Pairings

a cat1 Comment

If Halloween’s about one thing, it’s the delicious candy. But! If Halloween’s about two things, it’s the delicious candy and good books (We’re Tor. We’re nerds).

Check out these pairings of sweet treats and matching reads!

opens in a new windowthe fragile threads of power by v.e. scwab in front of an array of sour patch kids watermelons opens in a new windowThe Fragile Threads of Power & Sour Patch Kids Watermelon

The tag for Sour Patch Kids might be Sour, Sweet, Gone—but not V. E. Schwab! They are BACK, returning to the expansive world(s) they created in the Shades of Magic Trilogy. The Fragile Threads of Power features both new characters and old, which is why we’ve paired it with Sour Patch Kids Watermelon. It’s everything you love and a little more. A little different. Familiar, yet new. 

opens in a new windowtraitor of redwinter by ed mcdonald in front of an ad for zombie skittles, reading BEWARE OF ROTTEN ZOMBIE SKITTLES opens in a new windowTraitor of Redwinter & Zombie Skittles 

For very brief spans in 2019 and 2020, Skittles ran a special limited-time Halloween campaign, delivering unto us Zombie Skittles. They’re just like regular Skittles, but a few—visually indecipherable from their more delicious brethren—were zombies, and tasted awful. Traitor of Redwinter by Ed McDonald is way cooler than Zombie Skittles because it brings all the scary candy’s suspense without tasting abominable (probably just tastes neutrally of paper, if you tried to snack on it). 

On Sale 10.24.23

opens in a new windowBookshops & bonedust by travis baldree in front of a golden array of wrapped reese's peanut butter cups opens in a new windowBookshops & Bonedust & Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup  

The much-loved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup owes its storied position in candy history to its artful fusion of two flavors: Chocolate. Peanut butter. We honor Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree by pairing it with the peanut butter cup, because it too is a smooth blend of distinct flavors. Viv is a mercenary, but a warrior stuck in recovery in a tiny beach town. But adventures seldom play out as you expect. This sleepy town and its cozy bookshop are full of peanut butter, or they are peanut butter and adventure is the chocolate. This metaphor makes sense. We will not be taking any questions. 

On Sale 11.7.23

opens in a new windowdevil's gun by cat rambo next to a suspicious bad of 'Disco's' candy opens in a new windowDevil’s Gun & Disco’s

Cat Rambo’s Disco Space Opera series (and playlist! Check out their playlist!) began with You Sexy Thing and continued with Devil’s Gun, named respectively after the rock time tunes “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate and “Devil’s Gun” by C.J. & Co. Fittingly, we have elected to pair this sci-fi adventure with Disco’s, a candy we’ve never heard of before and seems to be available primarily in the United Kingdom? But whatever. C’est la vie. We did it for the name. 

opens in a new windowthe first binding by r.r. virdi being flanked by two shiny gummi sharks opens in a new windowThe First Binding & Giant Gummy Shark 

For R.R. Virdi’s hugely epic The First Binding, we’re hauling in the world’s largest gummy shark. Like this massive gummified carnivore confection, The First Binding will sustain you for a while. One will feed your body, and one will nourish the soul.  

Now Available in Paperback!

opens in a new windowStarter villain by john scalzi in front of a rainbow array of sour patch kids opens in a new windowStarter Villain & Sour Patch Kids (Original)

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is the story of a hapless guy who inherits his uncle’s supervillain business, including among other assets, an array of espionage-ready cats. We pair it with the original Sour Patch Kids, harkening back to that aforementioned tag, Sour, Sweet, Gone. This is a book of cozy opposites—namely surprisingly cool supervillains. 

opens in a new windowexadelic by jon evans in front of a rainbow array of monster energy drinks in different flavors opens in a new windowExadelic & Monster Energy 

Far from a traditional Halloween trick-or-treat staple, these energy drinks nevertheless taste like candy, and pair perfectly with Jon Evans Exadelic, which is a book about occult magic and computer code. A trusty goto beverage for exhausted software engineers everywhere, this sweet, sugary drink counts as candy for the purposes of this article, and is the perfect fuel to keep you awake late into the night as you read Exadelic. 

opens in a new windowsandymancer by david edison in front of some red hot candies opens in a new windowSandymancer & Red Hots 

David Edison’s Sandymancer is a classic fantasy adventure of mad god-kings, regular people with extraordinary powers, and lots of hot climates. The final note is what inspires us to dedicate a spot on this feature to Red Hots. Can you feel the heat? Hopefully you can’t taste the sand. Hopefully you have escaped the ire of mad gods. 

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Lists / What's New

Five Fine Feline Reads for Fans of Fantastical Fiction

a cat9 Comments

Okay before we get into this list, we’re going to start by establishing some baseline facts about cats: 

  1. Cats are wise
  2. Cats are jerks
  3. Cats eyes can see into the astral plane
  4. Spying a black cat on a moonless night is a blessing, not a curse
  5. Cats enjoy attention
  6. Cats want people to read about them

So start those haunches a’wagglin’ and get ready to pounce on these book recs! 

opens in a new windowstarter villain by john scalzi opens in a new windowStarter Villain by John Scalzi

We’re kicking this list off with a book full of cats that embodies well the duality of felines: cats are simultaneously cuddly little guys and devious villains. In Starter Villain, some down-on-his-luck divorcee named Charlie inherits his uncle’s super villain business. There are giant lasers, but there’s also paperwork, and we’d go into greater detail, but honestly we’re not here for Charlie. We’re here for the cunning circle of feline specialists and spies employed by Charlie’s inherited organization, who are Super Evil™ but also pretty nice. 

opens in a new windowThe Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab opens in a new windowThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

This list about cats in books wouldn’t be complete without a cat named Book. Now, this expansive literary fantasy from V.E. Scwab might be about an immortality-cursed woman who no one can remember, but you’ll never forget Book, the chill feline occupant of the bookstore where Addie meets the one person who resists magically forgetting her.

For every bookseller cat snoozing in a puddle of sun in the shop’s front window, we dedicate this spot on the list to you.

opens in a new windowLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree opens in a new windowLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

The cats in our lives keep so many secrets. Often, the known origin story of a beloved feline is as long as “No idea. Dude (gender neutral) just showed up and stayed.” This is the case for Amity, a dire-cat of menacing size who wanders into the coffeeshop started by veteran adventurer / recent entrepreneur Viv. Amity decides that Amity likes the place, and that’s that. There’s now a resident cat. 

(Amity is a Very Good Dire-cat)

opens in a new windowthe dead cat tail assassins by P. Djèlí Clark opens in a new windowThe Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark

And now for a non-traditional cat book recommendation!

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats.

Nor do they have tails.

But they are most assuredly dead.

P. Djèlí Clark builds a fantastical city full of gods and assassins 😎

On Sale 3/12/24

opens in a new windowdevil's gun by cat rambo opens in a new windowDevil’s Gun by Cat Rambo

Don’t look now! It’s another unorthodox cat book recommendation! Just kidding. Not about the recommendation, no. We mean that you should look, because we’re talking about most-definitely human author Cat Rambo’s science fiction Disco Space Opera series about space pirates, sentient starships, and a struggling restaurant. This series began with opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing. Now a second installment arrives from the outer stars, heralding extragalactic adventure: Devil’s Gun!

Order opens in a new windowStarter Villain Here

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Author Features / What's New

Disco Space Opera Playlist!

a cat

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opens in a new windowdevil's gun by cat rambo

Cat Rambo’s Disco Space Opera series kicked off with 2021’s  opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing, a novel we’d pitch as Farscape meets The Great British Bake Off. It’s got grizzled old soldiers and other vagrants who have grown tired of the campaigns and tumult of central space opera life, and have elected to open a restaurant at the edge of the known universe where they can eke out a more fulfilling existence. This distance from chaos is, of course, an illusion—albeit a comforting one. There’s no accounting for the propensity of sentient spaceships and sadistic pirate kings to just show up!

Anywho, that was the first book, and now we’re talking opens in a new windowDevil’s Gun, the continuation of their adventure. We’re also talking the far future, and disco jams. Cat Rambo has shared with us their grand Disco Space Opera playlist.

Check it out!

video soruce

by Cat Rambo

opens in a new window“You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate

Why did I decide to name the ship what I did? I’m not sure, but early on in the writing the password exchange between Arpat Takraven and Niko appeared, and it led to the ship’s name. Like a lot of the songs on this list, it’s a big earworm and I’ve always loved it. Written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson, this song was released in 1975 and became the group’s most popular single, and was the only song to achieve Top Ten status in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

opens in a new window“Devil’s Gun” by C.J. and Company

In naming the second book, I wanted something that conveyed the nature of the dangerous artifact the crew is seeking in the book. When I listened to the song, it was the perfect mood. The song, written by Barry Green, Ron Roker, and Gerry Shury, was the first song played at Broadway’s Studio 54.

opens in a new window“Rumor Has It” by Donna Summer

In the third book, which has been handed over to the publisher, the power of gossip and rumor becomes important as several aspects of Niko’s past come to confront her. You can’t invoke disco without invoking Donna Summer, in my opinion, and this was my choice to represent her. The song was written by Summer with co-writers Pete Bellotte and Giorgbio Moroder and released in 1978.

I have more adventures of Niko and her crew planned out – seven volumes worth, in fact. The main thread is a particular romantic plotline and by book ten, I’m hoping readers will be on the edge of their seats waiting to find out how it’s resolved. Without saying much more than that and not presenting any spoilers, I hope, here’s the names of the other seven books.

opens in a new window“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge

Dabry’s family history is revealed as the crew is forced to rescue his daughter – against her will. This song has always been one of my favorites, and for a book dealing with family issues, this seemed like a perfect pick. The song came out in 1979 and was written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

opens in a new window“Heart of Glass” by Blondie

What happens when You Sexy Thing turns its attention to the most mystifying emotion of all: love? Another favorite song, this matches what I want to explore in this particular volume. Written by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, the song appeared on the band’s third album in 1978 and was released as a single the following year.

opens in a new window“Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb

Skidoo must return to her home planet. But will both she and her planet survive the visit? I felt this song reflected the complicated personal dynamics of her homecoming. Written by Andy, Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, the song appeared in 1978 and was that year’s Billboard Magazine top single.

opens in a new window“Take Me Home” by Cher

Petalia may have found a way to revive the almost-extinct Florian bloodline – but is Niko willing to pay the price that’s asked of them all? This song, written by Michele Aller and Bob Esty, appeared in 1979.

opens in a new window“You Can’t Lose What You Never Had” by Fantasy

Rebbe strikes off on his own, but You Sexy Thing and its crew must find him before he destroys a world. This song appeared in 1981 and was written by Tony Valor.

opens in a new window“Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead

The crew thinks they’ve finally caught a break, until finally the mystery of Atlanta’s past resurfaces and is on a direct collision course with her current role. The song was written by McFadden and Whitehead along with Jerry Cohen and appeared in 1979.

opens in a new window“Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor

All good things come to an end, but I hope to end the series in a way that will keep the crew in people’s hearts. When the crew finds out what Arpat Takraven truly wants of them, they’ve got a very hard choice to make. Written by Clifton Davs, the song appeared in 1979.

Cat Rambo (they/them) is an American fantasy and science fiction writer whose work has appeared in, among others, Asimov’s, Weird Tales, Chiaroscuro, Talebones, and Strange Horizons. A graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, where they studied with John Barth and Steve Dixon, they also attended the Clarion West Writers’ Workshop. They are currently the managing editor of Fantasy Magazine. They published a collection of stories, Eyes Like Sky And Coal And Moonlight, and their collaboration with Jeff VanderMeer, The Surgeon’s Tale and Other Stories, appeared in 2007. They live and write in Washington State, and “Cat Rambo” is their real name. 

Order  opens in a new windowDevil’s Gun Here!

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Lists / What's New

Space (Is Gay) Operas, Assemble!

a cat8 Comments

Generations of scientists and philosophers have turned their gaze to the ever-blazing stars, searching for the answer to the question that pulses deep within their souls: Is space gay? 

We’re here to confirm that it is, and we’ve got the gay space operas to prove it. 

Check’em out 😎

opens in a new windowdevil's gun by cat rambo opens in a new windowDevil’s Gun by Cat Rambo

Life’s hard when you’re on the run from a vengeful pirate-king…When Niko and her crew find that the intergalactic Gate they’re planning on escaping through is out of commission, they make the most of things, creating a pop-up restaurant to serve the dozens of other stranded ships. But when an archaeologist shows up claiming to be able to fix the problem, Niko smells something suspicious cooking. Nonetheless, they allow Farren to take them to an ancient site where they may be able to find the weapon that could stop Tubal Last before he can take his revenge.

opens in a new windowUnconquerable Sun opens in a new windowFurious Heaven by Kate Elliott & opens in a new windowFurious Heaven by Kate Elliott

Princess Sun has finally come of age. Growing up in the shadow of her mother, Eirene, has been no easy task. The legendary queen-marshal did what everyone thought impossible: expel the invaders and build Chaonia into a magnificent republic, one to be respected—and feared. But the cutthroat ambassador corps and conniving noble houses have never ceased to scheme—and they have plans that need Sun to be removed as heir, or better yet, dead. To survive, the princess must rely on her wits and companions: her biggest rival, her secret lover, and a dangerous prisoner of war.

opens in a new windowThe Genesis of Misery opens in a new windowThe Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang by Neon Yang

It’s an old, familiar story: a young person hears the voice of an angel saying they have been chosen as a warrior to lead their people to victory in a holy war. But Misery Nomaki (she/they) knows they are a fraud. The deeper they get into their charade, however, the more they start to doubt their convictions. What if this, all of it, is real? A reimagining of Joan of Arc’s story given a space opera, giant robot twist, the Nullvoid Chronicles is a story about the nature of truth, the power of belief, and the interplay of both in the stories we tell ourselves.

opens in a new windowOcean’s Echo opens in a new windowOcean's Echo by Everina Maxwell by Everina Maxwell

Tennal is a vapid socialite with the ability to read minds, and Lt. Surit Yeni is a soldier with a chip on his shoulder who has been tasked with using his own neuromodifications to overpower Tennal’s will and conscript him into service within the space military. But Surit’s not (that much of) an asshole, so they lie to all the space soldiers with all their space guns. But then a chaotic salvage-retrieval mission upends a decades-old power struggle and also compromises the security of their falsehood. Can two unwilling weapons of war bring about peace?

opens in a new windowA Memory Called Empire opens in a new windowImage Place holder of - 13 by Arkady Martine

Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn’t an accident—or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court. Now, Mahit must discover who is behind the murder, rescue herself, and save her Station from Teixcalaan’s unceasing expansion—all while navigating an alien culture that is all too seductive, engaging in intrigues of her own, and hiding a deadly technological secret—one that might spell the end of her Station and her way of life—or rescue it from annihilation.

opens in a new windowEmpress of Forever opens in a new windowCover of Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone by Max Gladstone

The end of time is ruled by an ancient, powerful Empress who blesses or blasts entire planets with a single thought. Rebellion is literally impossible to consider—until Vivian Liao arrives, catapulted through time and space from the chilly darkness of a Boston server farm. Now, she’s trapped between the Pride—a ravening horde of sentient machines—and a fanatical sect of warrior monks who call themselves the Mirrorfaith. Viv must rally a strange group of allies to confront the Empress and find a way back to the world and life she left behind.

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Lists / What's New

Welcome to The Book Eaters Restaurant for People Who Eat Books

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by a stack of raccoons in a trench coat & a cat

opens in a new windowthe book eaters by sunyi deanStep into the world of opens in a new windowThe Book Eaters where mysterious families subsist on books alone. What’s that you say? You would like to sample the culinary delights of book eating? WELL WELL WELL we were here for you last year when this article originally published, and now we’re EVEN MORE here for you, because The Book Eaters is available in trade paperback!

Sit down and pull up a chair, and we’ll recite this month’s delicious specials for those voracious readers looking to literally consume their next read.

opens in a new windowLight From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki opens in a new windowLight From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Our book chefs recommend you enjoy this one hot and fresh like the donuts and spicy Hainan chicken described within its pages. It’s a book glazed with sadness but topped with a sprinkles of joy, music, and found family. Please pair with a coffee and one half of an Alaska donut to share with the space captain / mother of five you’ve been crushing on.

opens in a new windowThe Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal opens in a new windowThe Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal

“Dear waiter, please bring me another!” you will declare as you finish Book Meal 1 with intent to move on to Book Meal 2. “I’ll have more of the same.”

What book? The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal, of course—a read that is flush with the decadent vistas of luxury space cruises and the witty parlance of high society. Each chapter begins with a cocktail recipe conceived by Mary Robinette herself, and these are the perfect drinks to sip as you relish every page.

But keep sharp! The Spare Man is a murder mystery, so don’t let its decadent trappings deceive you into letting your guard down in the face of its flavorful kick.

opens in a new windowOathbringer by Brandon Sanderson opens in a new windowOathbringer / All of opens in a new windowThe Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

We hope you came hungry! The Stormlight Archive contains notes of windswept plateaus, electricity in the air, and the metallic tang of blood. Coming in at 4,068 pages, you could always cut a neat slice for yourself with your Shardblade but why not consume it all in one go? You’ll never need to eat fiber again or maybe even eat at all!

opens in a new windowLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree opens in a new windowLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

This delightful pastry of a book is the perfect title to take to your local coffeeshop, both to read and to eat! It’s sweet—a high-fantasy, low-stakes romance about being a barista and falling in love with your coworker. And you’ll fall in love too. You’ll love this book so much, you won’t even notice the horrified stares of the other coffeeshop-goers, watching in despair as you monch your way through spine, paper, ink, and glue. Yum!

opens in a new windowThe Atlas Six by Olivie Blake opens in a new windowThe Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? We’re talking about books and not movies, but the quote applies to The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. This sinfully delectable literary experience calls to mind the opulence of old world liquor and fancy rich people appetizers that cost more than a full meal somewhere else. This is a book for the selective diner, one who enjoys exchanging bladed words in a dinner-conversation more akin to a duel than to casual chatter. Within The Atlas Six, the youngest cohort of powerful magicians compete for induction into a secret magic society, and you’ll enjoy every bite.

opens in a new windowmasters of death by olivie blake opens in a new windowMasters of Death by Olivie Blake

Look, Olivie Blake is the haute book-eater’s dream chef. The deliciously duplicitous taste of The Atlas Series compliments well the deep, sharp, and mysterious flavor contained within these pages. In this contemporary fantasy that begins with a slightly sleazy medium and vampire realtor trying to unhaunt a house for economic purposes spins into an intricate and emotional narrative filled with a cadre of immortals and entities and specters confronting that being undying, or even already dead, cannot free one of the complexities of being alive. Now that’s a lot of flavor, so we recommend diving in as soon and fast as possible. Whether life is short or unending, we at this strange conceptual restaurant recommend you dine on the gooey good stuff first, and this is that.

opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo

Hankering for some spice? Might we suggest You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo? It’s Farscape meets The Great British Bakeoff, and 110% as flavorful as that sounds. In this space opera, a former military commander of the Hive Mind has escaped the war to run a restaurant at the edge of nothing with his former unit. Now they’re stuck on a sentient ship that thinks it has been stolen and is MAD. Adventure ensues. You’ll dine well.

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eBook Deals / What's New

Hot Fresh eBook Deals of July 2023

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Hey! We’ve got eBook deals! Hot and fresh text for your favorite screen, and they’re ready now, so check them out!

opens in a new windowThe Ruin of Kings opens in a new windowthe ruin of kings by jenn lyons by Jenn Lyons — $3.99

Kihrin grew up in the slums of Quur, a thief and a minstrel’s son raised on tales of long-lost princes and magnificent quests. When he is claimed against his will as the missing son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds himself at the mercy of his new family’s ruthless power plays and political ambitions. Practically a prisoner, Kihrin discovers that being a long-lost prince is nothing like what the storybooks promised. The storybooks have lied about a lot of other things, too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, and how the hero always wins. Then again, maybe he isn’t the hero after all. For Kihrin is not destined to save the world. He’s destined to destroy it.

opens in a new windowkindle-1 opens in a new windownook-1 opens in a new windowebooks-1 opens in a new windowgoogle play-1 opens in a new windowibooks2 73 opens in a new windowkobo-1

opens in a new windowThe Library of the Dead opens in a new windowthe library of the dead by tl huchu by T.L. Huchu — $3.99

Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker – and they sure do love to talk. Now she speaks to Edinburgh’s dead, carrying messages to those they left behind. A girl’s gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper that someone’s bewitching children – leaving them husks, empty of joy and strength. It’s on Ropa’s patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will rock her world. Ropa will dice with death as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. And although underground Edinburgh hides a wealth of dark secrets, she also discovers an occult library, a magical mentor and some unexpected allies. Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted?

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opens in a new windowYou Sexy Thing opens in a new windowyou sexy thing by cat rambo by Cat Rambo — $3.99

TwiceFar station is at the edge of the known universe, and that’s just how Niko Larson, former Admiral in the Grand Military of the Hive Mind, likes it. Retired and finally free of the continual war of conquest, Niko and the remnants of her former unit are content to spend the rest of their days working at the restaurant they built together, The Last Chance. But, some wars can’t ever be escaped, and unlike the Hive Mind, some enemies aren’t content to let old soldiers go. Niko and her crew are forced onto a sentient ship convinced that it is being stolen and must survive the machinations of a sadistic pirate king if they even hope to keep the dream of The Last Chance alive.

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opens in a new windowLuna: New Moon opens in a new windowluna: new moon by ian mcdonald by Ian McDonald — $3.99

The Moon wants to kill you. Maybe it will kill you when the per diem for your allotted food, water, and air runs out, just before you hit paydirt. Maybe it will kill you when you are trapped between the reigning corporations-the Five Dragons-in a foolish gamble against a futuristic feudal society. On the Moon, you must fight for every inch you want to gain. And that is just what Adriana Corta did. As the leader of the Moon’s newest “dragon,” Adriana has wrested control of the Moon’s Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family’s new status. Now, in the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation-Corta Helio-confronted by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana’s five children must defend their mother’s empire from her many enemies… and each other.

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opens in a new windowIsolate opens in a new windowisolate by l.e. modesitt, jr. by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. — $3.99

Industrialization. Social unrest. Underground movements. Government corruption and surveillance. Something is about to give. Steffan Dekkard is an isolate, one of the small percentage of people who are immune to the projections of empaths. As an isolate, he has been trained as a security specialist and he and his security partner Avraal Ysella, a highly trained empath are employed by Axel Obreduur, a senior Craft Minister and the de facto political strategist of his party. When a respected Landor Councilor dies of “heart failure” at a social event, because of his political friendship with Obreduur, Dekkard and Ysella find that not only is their employer a target, but so are they, in a covert and deadly struggle for control of the government and economy. Steffan is about to understand that everything he believed is an illusion.

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opens in a new windowPsion opens in a new windowpsion by joan d. vingeby Joan D. Vinge — $3.99

When first published, readers young and old eagerly devoured the tale of a street-hardened survivor named Cat, a half-human, half-alien orphan telepath. Named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Cat’s story has been continued by Hugo-award winning and international best-selling author Joan D. Vinge with the very popular Catspaw and Dreamfall. Now, 25 years later, this special anniversary edition of Psion contains a new introduction by the author and “Psiren,” a story never before included in any trade edition of Psion. This tough, gritty tale of an outsider whose only chance for redemption is as an undercover agent for an interstellar government that by turns punishes and helps him, is as fresh and powerful today as it was in 1982.

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opens in a new windowSpin opens in a new windowspin by robert charles wilson by Robert Charles Wilson — $3.99

One night in October when he was ten years old, Tyler Dupree stood in his back yard and watched the stars go out. They all flared into brilliance at once, then disappeared, replaced by a flat, empty black barrier. He and his best friends, Jason and Diane Lawton, had seen what became known as the Big Blackout. It would shape their lives. The effect is worldwide. The sun is now a featureless disk–a heat source, rather than an astronomical object. As Tyler, Jason, and Diane grow up, space probe reveals a bizarre truth: The barrier is artificial, generated by huge alien artifacts. Time is passing faster outside the barrier than inside–more than a hundred million years per day on Earth. At this rate, the death throes of the sun are only about forty years in our future….

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opens in a new windowlegacies by l. e. modesitt, jr.Legacies by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.  — $3.99

Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations emerged from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the past or the disaster. Corus today is a world of contending countries, humans, and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are talented enough to use them. Alusius is drafted into the local Militia and must fight against the invading slave armies of The Matrial, an immortal ruler in a nearby land. If the evil surrounding The Matrial is not brought to an end, the world as he knows it could very well end.

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