The Shape of Things to Come: Books for 2009

Here are some of the books to watch out for in 2009:

The Judging Eye by R. Scott Bakker
Orbit Books (UK): 15/01/09
Overlook Press (USA): 02/02/09

Reviewed here. The first book in The Aspect-Emperor Trilogy picks up 20 years after the end of The Thousandfold Thought and depicts the beginning a great crusade against the Consult, led by Kellhus, now acknowledged as the god-emperor of the Three Seas. A thoughtful and darkly poetic novel with a conclusion that will no doubt generate vast reams of discussion across the blogosphere until the sequel, The White-Luck Warrior, comes out in 2010.

The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
Gollancz (UK): out now
Del Rey (USA): 20/01/09

Richard Morgan's first fantasy novel is a gripping, taut and visceral story with some brilliant worldbuilding and terrific ideas. Expect more criticism of the explicit sex and violence when the book hits US stores, but this is a first-rate novel, although admittedly not Morgan's best work.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Harcourt (USA): out now
Gollancz (UK): 22/01/09

Reviewed here. Cashore's debut novel is a semi-YA-oriented story about people with supernatural abilities called 'graces', how they use them and how they are used and manipulated by others. An enjoyable book with some interesting ideas.

Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts

Gollancz (UK): 22/01/09

Reviewed here. Roberts' new novel is a weird, funny but fascinating story that twists and turns in a very impressive manner through the 1986 USSR.

Malice by Chris Wooding

Scholastic Press (UK): 02/02/09

The first in a YA duology from the ever-reliable but underrated Chris Wooding.

Wings of Wrath by Celia Friedman

DAW (USA): 03/02/09

Orbit Books (UK): 05/02/09

The second volume of Friedman's Magister Trilogy, following on from Feast of Souls.

Dragonfly Falling by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Tor (UK): 06/02/09

The second book in the Shadows of the Apt series looks set to continue the positive buzz from the first sequence. The third book is also due in August.

Drood by Dan Simmons
Little, Brown (USA): 09/02/09
Quercus (UK): 05/03/09

Simmons' new novel is a mammoth historical tome about the end of Charles Dickens' life and his incomplete final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The SF&F elements are reportedly minor, but this should prove to be an interesting read regardless.

The Best of Gene Wolfe by Gene Wolfe

Tor (USA): 17/03/09

Gene Wolfe selects his thirty-one finest short stories for publication in this career retrospective. A solid collection for Wolfe veterans or those looking to get into his work for the first time.

Cyberabad Days by Ian McDonald

Pyr (USA): 24/02/09

Gollancz (UK): 19/03/09

McDonald returns to the world and setting of River of Gods in this new short story collection.

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

Saint Martin's Griffin (USA): 03/03/09

Gollancz (UK): 16/04/09

Reviewed here. A fun, if lightweight, techno-action thriller featuring lots of zombies.

Rides a Dread Legion by Raymond E. Feist

HarperCollins Voyager (UK): 09/03/09

Eos (USA): 31/03/09

The first of the Demonwar Saga, a short duology which chronicles the fourth of the five great riftwars to ravage the world of Midkemia. Feist's form has been spotty (but mostly disappointing) for the past decade, but it will be interesting to see if he can regain some of his former fire with the conclusion of his immense 30-volume Midkemian saga (four more books after this one) starting to come into sight.

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
HarperCollins Voyager (UK): out now
Del Rey (USA): 10/03/09

The US publication of Peter Brett's much-acclaimed debut novel, which was published last year under the title The Painted Man. A vivid and interesting premise and world give rise to a story with plenty of excellent twists and turns. Full review here.

The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas
Gollancz (UK): 19/03/09

Deas' debut novel is set in a fantasy world where dragons are controlled and used as weapons of war, but where the balance of power is threatened when one of the dragons escapes and becomes aware of its race's oppression. A good story is undermined by a lack of worldbuilding depth, but it remains a rattling good read and a robust response to the 'Pernification' (or more latterly, 'Temeraireification') of dragons in the fantasy genre over the last few decades, which Smaug would not be amused by.

The Temporal Void by Peter F. Hamilton

Macmillan (UK): Out now

Del Rey (USA): 24/03/09

This second volume in The Void Trilogy is a significant step up from The Dreaming Void, with the narrative strands becoming more tightly interwoven and Edeard's story in the Void demonstrating Hamilton's skills at working in either SF or Fantasy. Unfortunately, it looks like UK and US readers alike will have to wait for mid-2010 for the conclusion to the series, The Evolutionary Void.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

Orbit Books (UK): 02/04/09

Roc (USA): 07/04/09

The eleventh novel in Butcher's popular Dresden Files series of urban fantasies.

Zima Blue and Other Stories by Alastair Reynolds

Night Shade Books (USA): out now

Gollancz (UK): 16/04/09

This is Alastair Reynolds' second collection of short fiction. His first, Galactic North, collected together the stories from his signature Revelation Space setting, whilst this second collects his independent works. Originally published back in 2007 as a limited edition from Nightshade Books, Gollancz are giving the book its first wide release in early 2009.

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
Gollancz (UK): out now
Orbit US: 28/04/09

The first in a five-novel sequence featuring Sapkowski's iconic character of Geralt, the Witcher, whose first adventures received their English debut in 2007 in The Last Wish. Both Gollancz and Orbit have inexplicably skipped the second short story collection, The Sword of Destiny, which directly sets up the characters and storylines for the novel sequence. Still, Blood of Elves apparently has enough of a stand-alone feel to it to work without the earlier book being a necessity.

God of Clocks by Alan Campbell

Spectra (USA): 28/04/09

Tor (UK): September 2009

The third book in the well-received Deepgate Codex series.

Fall of Thanes by Brian Ruckley
Orbit US: 03/05/09
Orbit Books (UK): 07/05/09

The third and concluding volume in Ruckley's debut Godless World series is eagerly awaited by those who enjoyed the first two volumes, Winterbirth and Bloodheir, although I will likely wait until after the third book comes out before reading the last two.

The City and the City by China Mieville
Macmillan (UK): 15/05/09
Del Rey (USA): 26/05/09

Mieville's new book is a stand-alone noir thriller set in a fictional pair of eastern European cities. His publishers are extremely excited about this novel, naming it his best work to date. This is easily one of my most eagerly-awaited books of the year.

The Cardinal's Blades by Pierre Pevel

Gollancz (UK): 21/05/09

The English translation of an acclaimed French fantasy novel which mixes traditional history with fantasy as a group of dragons ally with the kingdom of Spain and threaten France, forcing Cardinal Richileu to take drastic steps to oppose them.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Tor (USA): 09/06/09

Sanderson's new stand-alone following his acclaimed Mistborn trilogy has been developed in full public view on his website, with new full drafts of chapters and the entire book published upon completion so readers can follow the writing process. The published novel will likely be another big success for him, and raise awareness of his name ahead of the publication of the final Wheel of Time novel - which he is completing - at the end of the year.

Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton

Tor (UK): 12/06/09

SF&F blogger and commentator Newton's debut novel and the first book in his Legends of the Red Sun series is already generating some pre-release buzz, and should be well worth a look when it comes out.

Retribution Falls: Tales of the Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding

Gollancz (UK): 18/06/09

Wooding offers something a bit different with this story (formerly called The Ace of Skulls) of airships, pilots and daring-do. Think of the classix X-Box/PC game Crimson Skies and you're probably halfway there.

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
Gollancz (UK): 18/06/09
Orbit US: 29/07/09

Abercrombie's follow-up to the First Law trilogy is a stand-alone set in the same world, although expect a few cross-overs from minor characters. It is a tale of mayhem, blood and murder set in the lands of Styria, and should be an interesting change of pace and focus from Abercrombie's debut work.

Jasmyn by Alex Bell

Gollancz (UK): 18/06/09

The second novel by Alex Bell, whose debut, The Ninth Circle, attracted good reviews last year.

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

HarperCollins Voyager (UK): 01/07/09

Hobb returns to the world of the Six Duchies with this stand-alone novel set in the Liveship Traders mileu.

Avilion by Robert Holdstock

Gollancz (UK): 16/07/09

Holdstock returns to his Mythgo Wood sequence with this much-awaited new fantasy.

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham
Tor (USA): 22/07/09
Orbit (UK): 03/09/09 (as part of Seasons of War, see below)

Daniel Abraham's mighty Long Price Quartet comes to its gripping and fascinating conclusion. One of the stand-out fantasy debuts of recent years, whever Abraham does next will be eagerly awaited.

Songs of the Dying Earth, edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois

Subterrenean Press (USA): August 2009

HarperCollins Voyager (UK): 05/10/09

GRRM and Gardner Dozois have assembled a formidable array of talent for this tribute anthology set in Jack Vance's seminal Dying Earth mileu. Dan Simmons has contributed a major novella to the project, with the remainder of the stories being written by Kage Baker, Glen Cook, Terry Dowling, Phyllis Eisenstein, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Hand, Matt Hughes, Tanith Lee, Elizabeth Moon, Mike Resnick, Lucius Shepherd, Robert Silverberg, Jeff VanderMeer, Paula Volksy, Howard Waldrop, Liz Williams, Walter Jon Williams, Tad Williams, John C. Wright and GRRM himself. Jack Vance and Dean Koontz are also contributing forewards and appreciations for the book.

The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
HarperCollins Voyager (UK): 03/08/09
Del Rey (USA): early 2010 (est.)

The sequel to Brett's compelling debut, The Painted Man (aka The Warded Man in the USA), will focus on different characters to the first novel and indicates a dramatic shift in structure and setting over the more traditional first novel.

Blood of the Mantis by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Tor (UK): 07/08/09

Tchaikovsky concludes his well-received Shadows of the Apt trilogy.

Traitor's Gate by Kate Elliott

Tor (USA): 18/08/09

Orbit Books (UK): tbc

The conclusion to Elliott's Crossroads trilogy should wrap up the interesting storylines and character arcs from the first two, highly inventive novels in the series.

Ark by Stephen Baxter Gollancz (UK): 20/08/09

The sequel to last year's Flood, an enjoyable disaster novel although based on suspect science. In this sequel the fate of an American mission into deep space to escape the rising waters on Earth is revealed, and the fate of the Earth after the flood is also explored.

The Rats and the Ruling Sea by Robert V.S. Redick

Gollancz (UK): 20/08/09

This sequel to The Red Wolf Conspiracy sees our heroes trying to break the deadlock between the forces of good and evil established in Book 1, whilst the villains' plans to plunge the two great empires of the world into war and chaos continues.

Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson
Bantam (UK): 27/08/09
Tor (USA): late 2009 (est.)

The penultimate volume of The Malazan Book of the Fallen is eagerly-awaited by Erikson's growing number of fans. Expect a return to Lether and a showdown between the Bonehunters and their allies against the returned K'Chain Che'Malle, among many other storylines.

The Long Price: Seasons of War by Daniel Abraham
Orbit (UK): 03/09/09

This omnibus edition packages the final two books of Abraham's Long Price Quartet, An Autumn War and The Price of Spring. Orbit are extremely excited by this release and hopefully will trail it with a marketing and awareness campaign that was notably lacking for The Long Price: Shadow and Betrayal.

The Cold Commands by Richard Morgan
Gollancz (UK): 17/09/09
Del Rey (USA): early 2010 (est.)

The follow-up to The Steel Remains. Expect more first-rate storytelling and fantasy mayhem, along with a deepening of the storyline linking the books together.

Times of Anger by Andrzej Sapkowski
Gollancz (UK): 15/10/09
Orbit US: early 2010 (est.)

The second in the five-volume Witcher novel sequence gets its long-awaited English-language debut, although the title appears to have been mistranslated: I am reliably informed by Polish friends that the correct title is Time of Disdain, which sounds a lot better.

Shadowrise by Tad Williams

DAW (USA): November 2009

Orbit Books (UK): tbc

The epic conclusion to Williams' Shadowmarch Trilogy.

A Memory of Light, Part I by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Tor (US)/Orbit Books (UK)
November 2009 (est.)

The twelfth and final volume of the massive Wheel of Time series, being completed posthumously by Brandon Sanderson after Robert Jordan's passing in late 2007, is so huge in size that it looks almost certain it will be split in half. The hope is that the second volume would follow in the spring or summer of 2010. Based on Sanderson's comments, it sounds like this book will resolve the remaining outstanding story issues left dangling from Knife of Dreams, such as the planned rescue of Moiraine, the forging of a lasting truce between Rand al'Thor and the Seanchan and Elayne's consolidation of control over Andor. The Last Battle itself will likely wait until the concluding half.

Watcher of the Dead by J.V. Jones
Tor (US)/Orbit Books (UK)
November 2009 (est.)

With Jones' writing time on individual volumes of her excellent Sword of Shadows series exceeding George RR Martins' recent publication speed, the news that the fourth book in the six-volume series should appear only two years after the third is very welcome indeed.

Wild Cards: Suicide Kings, edited by George R.R. Martin

Tor (USA): December 2009 (est.)

The new Wild Cards trilogy comes to a close with the publication of Suicide Kings, which rounds off the story about the new generation of Jokers and Aces.

Above the Snowline by Steph Swainston

Gollancz (UK): 03/12/09

Eos (USA): 2010 (est.)

This is the fourth novel in Swainston's Fourlands cycle, but as a prequel it steps back before the events of The Year of Our War and shows the beginnings of the character arcs and storylines explored in the books to date.

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

Doubleday (UK)/Harper (USA): late 2009

The next adult Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett is about the Unseen University and the mayhem that results when a college football team is formed. Despite battling his illness, Pratchett is bullish about future projects, having already lined up this book, I Shall Wear Midnight (the next Tiffany Aching novel) and another, Raising Taxes (the third book in the Moist von Lipwig sub-series).

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Scribner (USA)/Hodder (UK): late 2009

The enormous new novel from Stephen King, who has tried to write this book twice before but failed. Apparently his new novel is his longest for some time and will address some of the same issues and themes as The Stand, but in a different way.

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
Bantam (US)/HarperCollins Voyager (UK): date tbc

Making its fourth subsequent appearance on most people's 'eagerly-awaited' lists, there is, as usual, great hope that this book will appear before the end of the year. Newer excerpts that have appeared online or read at conventions hint at the book's continuing evolution for the better, with more dynamic action and plot development now appearing in chapters previously focused exclusively on characterisation. As usual, though, don't believe anything until GRRM has announced the book as being finished.

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
Bantam (US)/Gollancz (UK): date tbc

The third book in Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series remains resolutely MIA, with release dates being constantly pushed back (even the current estimates of late 2009 seem shaky) and Scott himself maintaining radio silence. With a mixed reception to Red Seas Under Red Skies and some vital structural changes apparently being laid for the series as a whole, the third book has a lot of work to do and it will be interesting to see if Scott can pull it off.

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
DAW (USA)/Gollancz (UK): date tbc

The sequel to the big new debut of 2007, The Name of the Wind, remains MIA, although a 2009 publication does appear moderately more likely due to the recent publication of the prologue on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist. It will be interesting to see if Rothfuss can more successfully adapt the Harry Potter stylings of the first book into something darker and more intriguing.

The Deserter by Peadar O Guilin
David Fickling Books (UK & USA): date tbc

The sequel to Peadar's splendid debut novel, The Inferior, has been delivered but the publication date is unclear at the moment. Hopefully we'll get it before the end of the year.

The Edge of Ruin by Melinda Snodgrass

Tor (USA): date tbc

This sequel to The Edge of Reason continues the struggle chronicled in the first book.

Hawkwood and the Kings by Paul Kearney

Century of the Soldier by Paul Kearney

Solaris (UK & USA): date tbc

This two-volume omnibus edition of Paul Kearney's excellent Monarchies of God series is eagerly awaited by old fans as well as new, as the new edition will contain new appendices, a comprehensively-rewritten new edition of the formerly disappointing final volume of the series (Ships from the West) and probably new maps as well.

The Sorcerer's House by Gene Wolfe

Publisher and date tbc

Wolfe may be advancing in years, but if anything his writing speed seems to be accelerating. Coming hot on the heels of Pirate Freedom! and An Evil Guest, Wolfe's new novel may make it out before the end of 2009, and he is already working on another new novel, Home Fires.

The Dervish House by Ian McDonald

Gollancz (UK)/Pyr (USA): date tbc

McDonald's new novel does for Turkey what River of Gods did for India and Brasyl for Brazil. However, it looks more likely that this will be published in 2010.