New Procurements

Things are in full swing as I wind-down operations at Mad Hatter Central in preparation of moving into Mad Hatter Manor. Yes, that means I'm moving. This also means things around here will be slow. Again. But I do have some things in the works such as an interview or two. Anyhoo, here are the books most recently made part of my collection.

The first two were purchases made with my Christmas gift cards. Ben Loory's Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day is a collection of short stories that has been getting a lot of good marks and I finally decided to go for it. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley is a debut for a new Urban Fantasy series and with a first line that starts: "The body you are wearing used to be mine." I'll be checking it out soon. And yes that big yellow book next is Nick Harkaway's Angelmaker. You may all weep into your hats in disappointment that it isn't in your stack, but it does come out in March so don't cry to deeply. Another March release is Jon Sprunk's last shadow book Shadow's Masters, which means it is time I get to the 2nd book Shadow's Lure. Heir of Novron finishes off the fun so-far Riyria series by Michael J. Sullivan. The books sure look nice lined up on the shelf.

A lot of Night Shade titles came in recently including J.M. McDermott's When We Were Executioners. The more I say the title the more I like it. Say it with me: When We Were Executioners.  Hitchers is Will McIntosh's second standalone novel, which I've already started and quite like as the spirits of the dead hitch a ride with the living.  Last and First Men by Olaf Stapleton is a another after Christmas buy since it has been on my longlist of books classic Sci-Fi books needed in my collection. Royal Street is Suzanne Johnson's debut, which is the start to a New Orleans influenced Urban Fantasy series. New Orleans is one of my favorite places. In fact I have a long weekend planned there in February so I'll think I'll bring it with. Under the Moons of Mars is John Joseph Adams' new all-original anthology of fiction influenced by Edgar Burrough's John Carter/Barsoom. Quite a line up in this one with Garth Nix, Genevieve Valentine, Austin Grossman, Peter S. Beagle, and Joe R. Lansdale just to name a few. Next is Book Prize Winner A.S. Byat's Ragnarok, which uses the basis of the Norse myths of Ragnarok in story form. Very intrigued by this one. Blueprints of the Afterlife by Ryan Boudinot.is another that has caught me by surprise. Check out this part of the description:

It is the Afterlife. The end of the world is a distant, distorted memory called “the Age of F***ed Up Shit.” A sentient glacier has wiped out most of North America. Medical care is supplied by open-source nanotechnology, and human nervous systems can be hacked.

Crazy right? Good thing I like crazy. Next are a couple more debuts from Night Shade who just keep killing it. Enormity by W.G. Marshall tackles modernizing the B-movie theme of someone waking up one day and becoming a colossus. Tooth and Nail by Jennifer Safrey at first sounds a bit cutesy for my taste. A female boxer who turns out to be a tooth fairy, but I just may give it a chance.

You Might Also Like:
REVIEW | Soft Apocalypse by Will McIntosh
REVIEW | Brave New Worlds edited by John Joseph Adams
REVIEW | Shadow's Son by Jon Sprunk
REVIEW | Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan