Fantasy and Science Fiction January 2026 |
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Detour
by Jeff Rake
A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they've returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse. If The Martian and The Twilight Zone had a baby, it would be Detour--a thriller that messes with your head as you scramble to piece together what's really going on.--Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books Ryan Crane wasn't looking for trouble--just a cup of coffee. But when this cop spots a gunman emerging from an unmarked van, he leaps into action and unknowingly saves John Ward, a billionaire with presidential aspirations, from an assassination attempt. As thanks for Ryan's quick thinking, Ward offers him the chance of a lifetime: to join a group of lucky civilians chosen to accompany three veteran astronauts on the first manned mission to Saturn's moon Titan. A devoted family man, Ryan is reluctant to leave on this two-year expedition, yet with the encouragement of his loving wife--and an exorbitant paycheck guaranteeing lifetime care for their disabled son--he crews up and ventures into a new frontier. But as the ship is circling Titan, it is rocked by an unexplained series of explosions. The crew works together to get back on course, and they return to Earth as heroes. When the fanfare dies down, Ryan and his fellow astronauts notice that things are different. Some changes are good, such as lavish upgrades to their homes, but others are more disconcerting. Before the group can connect, mysterious figures start tailing them, and their communications are scrambled. Separated and suspicious, the crew must uncover the truth and decide how far they're willing to go to return to their normal lives. Just when their space adventure seemingly ends, it shockingly begins.
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| Simultaneous by Eric HeissererGrant Lukather, agent of the elusive federal department known as Predictive Analytics, teams up with Sarah Newcomb, a past-life hypnosis therapist, to embark on an investigation into a bizarre killer who crosses time, space, and consciousness. The Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Arrival brings a mind-bending science fiction thriller that will draw in fans of The Glass Woman by Alice McIlroy and Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. |
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| Slow Gods by Claire NorthAfter a cruel misunderstanding, Mawukana "Maw" na-Vdnaze was forced to give his life and consciousness to pilot a ship in the far off reaches of space. When word spreads about a nearby star system about to explode, Maw's unique gifts put him in position to be exactly what the galaxy needs. Claire North's latest unconventional but richly detailed space opera "serves up a stinging rebuke of capitalism and the international order without sacrificing the worldbuilding" (Library Journal). |
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| The Summer War by Naomi NovikFurious at her beloved brother for leaving home, musically gifted Celia had no way of knowing her childish curses at him would doom him to a life without love. Celia desperately searches for a way to undo her mistake, until she uncovers a centuries-old secret about the immortal beings known as the summerlings. For fans of: magical curses, suspense, and in-depth worldbuilding as found in The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara. |
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| The King Must Die by Kemi Ashing-GiwaMercenary Fen has spent her entire life at the mercy of cutthroat politicians on the planet Newearth. But when her fathers are executed and Fen is in danger of facing the same fate by the ruthless Sovereign, Fen must find the remnants of an underground rebellion in order to survive. For fans of: cinematic science fiction with intrigue, world-building, and well-drawn characters, such as Pierce Brown's Red Rising and Premee Mohamed's The Siege of Burning Grass. |
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| Higher Magic by Courtney FloydDorothe Bartleby has one last chance to pass her qualifying Magic exams after an anxiety attack ended her first attempt. When she accidentally creates a skull named Anne that reveals a horrible secret about the fate of disabled students at the academy, Dorothe has to team up with another mage candidate and trust her own skills to save her career and the institution of magic itself. This debut academia fantasy will "charm anyone who's had to fight for their place in higher education" (Library Journal). |
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| There Is No Antimemetics Division by QntmHumanity is under attack by Unknowns, an alien force of "antimemes" (an idea that is designed to be forgotten), and Marie Quinn, the director of the Antimemetics Division, is desperate to regain ground against them. But how do you fight against an enemy that can essentially erase itself? This surreal and twisted science fiction thriller will be memorable to fans of similarly offbeat stories as These Memories Do Not Belong To Us by Yiming Ma. |
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| Conform by Ariel SullivanIn the far future, humans are subject to the whims of the elusive Illum, a group of technologically advanced beings. Emeline spends most of her days sorting ancient art for destruction and waiting for her turn at Mate selection...until she is chosen as a Mate for an Illum named Collin, the first time an Illum has chosen a human Mate in years. For fans of: intricately plotted dystopian romances such as Dani Francis' Silver Elite. |
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| Kill the Beast by Serra SwiftWhen the immortal Beast murdered her brother, Lyssa Cadogan swore revenge. To see it through, she has teamed up with the melodramatic and foppish Alderic Casimir de Laurent, a man who somehow knows where the Beast lives and has one of its claws. But Lyssa and Alderic are keeping secrets that could doom them both. Serra Swift's folktale-inspired fantasy debut "falls in the twilight between melancholy and adventure, punctuated with brutality, occasional gore, and shocking moments of joy" (Library Journal). |
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| Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark WaddellColin has toiled as a low-level employee at Dark Enterprises and he fears a "termination" is around the corner. When he strikes a deal with a mysterious figure who promises to get him his heart's desire, Colin inadvertently unleashes the apocalypse on New York, and he'll have to save the world to keep his promotion secure. Fans of LGBTQIA+ characters and witty "urban fantasy that gently toes the horror line" (Kirkus) will devour this novel alongside similar titles The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur and TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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