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Fantasy and Science Fiction May 2025 |
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| The Way Up Is Death by Dan HanksWhen an ominous tower suddenly appears in the sky over England, 13 strangers are pulled from their everyday lives as a countdown begins. They are left with only one option, written above the doorway: ASCEND. A heady blend of science fiction and horror "with displays of the best and worst human qualities" (Publishers Weekly), Dan Hanks' latest title will thrill and chill fans of Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl series looking for a more gruesome edge. |
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| Soma by Fernando Llor; illustrated by Carles DalmauMaya is a comic artist in the middle of a creative rut and struggling to make her deadlines. Just then, her crisis is interrupted by an alien crash landing into her living room. The creature, Soma, warns Maya that she is the only one who can stop an oncoming alien invasion. Colorfully detailed and packed with action, this graphic novel will hit home for "new adult readers and millennials who are continually exhausted with living in unprecedented times" (Booklist). |
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| Splinter Effect by Andrew LudingtonTime-traveling Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward discovers that a sacred menorah he once lost in Rome, along with his friend Aaron, has made a reappearance in 535 CE Constantinople. Seeking to redeem himself to both the historical community and Aaron's family, Rabbit makes a second attempt to retrieve this sacred relic. Fans of this history-bending science fiction thriller will also enjoy Nick Jones' And Then She Vanished or The Tourist by Robert Dickinson. |
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| Symbiote by Michael NayakAs World War III rages in 2028, two groups of scientists -- one American, one Chinese -- suddenly face chaos when a dead body in their Antarctic base triggers a dangerous biological threat. As an infectious parasite wreaks havoc, the remaining survivors struggle to resist the siren call of the hive mind. Tense, compelling, and chilling, this contagious science fiction read will be a welcome recommendation for fans of Contagion, The Walking Dead, and John Carpenter's The Thing. |
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| Dengue Boy by Michel Nieva; translated by Rahul BeryThe eponymous Dengue Boy grows up in 2272 Argentina, where the ice caps have melted and mega-corporations control day-to-day life. He is a mutant hybrid of child and mosquito brought about by the reckless experimentation that leaves the poor behind in pandemic wastelands while the rich live in terraformed paradises. Michel Nieva's propulsive novel is "a hyperkinetic, audacious grotesquerie about metamorphosis and the inevitability of change" (Kirkus). |
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| Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'BrienIn a mostly underwater future Los Angeles, veteran Orr Vue lives an idle life and trades in information. However, things take a dark turn when cops show up at his door looking for help solving a murder he's never heard of, and his ex-boyfriend is the prime suspect. For fans of: cyberpunk narratives with complex characters and intricately plotted twists such as Olivia Waite's Murder by Memory. |
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| Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Hsuan QinTam has sworn off her predator ways, living separate from the Chinese tiger spirits that run in her family. But when her Aunt Tigress dies under mysterious circumstances and leaves Tam as her executor, Tam has to put her life and her crush on her classmate Janet on hold to dig into her past. For fans of: queer mythology-inspired urban fantasy such as N.K Jemisin's The City We Became. |
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| The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. RaoMeneka, a celestial dancer trained as a warrior, must seduce a mortal sage named Kaushika to stop his growing power. However, as Meneka grows closer to her target, she must choose between true love and duty. Steamy and intricately plotted, this Hindu mythology-inspired debut will delight fans of romantasy titles like A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang and A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen. |
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| A Dragon of Black Glass by James RollinsIn the 3rd novel of the Moonfall series, Nyx and her allies must find an ancient weapon buried in the sands of a scorching desert. Beneath the earth lies an ancient army tasked with protecting their secret to the death. Can Nyx uncover these secrets before Moonfall strikes -- or before she loses control of her growing powers? For fans of: cinematic and atmospheric fantasy such as Mai Corland's Five Broken Blades. |
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| The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-GwangThey say that if you send a letter detailing your troubles to an abandoned house on the edge of Rainbow Town, you could receive a ticket to the Rainfall Market that will change your life. Dissatisfied and lonely Serin, accompanied by a magical cat, must find her happiness at the market within one week or lose herself forever. For fans of: cozy and whimsical magical realism such as The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Atlantic County Library System | 40 Farragut Avenue, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 625-2776 | www.atlanticlibrary.org
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|  | Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson
Atlantic County Board of Commissioners, Richard R. Dase, Chairman |
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