A FAMILY’S DISINTEGRATION MIRRORS the collapse of the South African apartheid regime under which they had prospered. Passionately insightful prose frames a brilliant kaleidoscope of characters and perspectives. SOLID A

THE PROMISE
Europa Editions
2021

WARRIORS TURNED RESTAURATEURS find themselves on a sentient, living spaceship heading for a confrontation with an old enemy. Wonderful characterization, lots of humor, and a high-stakes plot combine the fun of Star Trek and Hitchhiker’s Guide. B PLUS

YOU SEXY THING
Tor Books
2021

AN INTERSTELLAR ARCHAEOLOGIST and an alien AI fight a space pirate and a killer android in a high-energy, far-future science fiction thriller. Lots of excitement, strong characters, great worldbuilding! B PLUS

ASTRAY (THE ADVENTURES OF A XENO-ARCHAEOLOGIST BOOK 1)
Jenny Schwartz
2021

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING NOVEL drops us into the lives of a group of enslaved people as they build a close-knit community and dream of freedom. Unforgettable characters, powerful prose. A MINUS

YONDER
Simon & Schuster
2022

INTRICATE HISTORICAL THRILLER set in 17th century London ties together scientific and political controversies of the age. Memorable characters and rich descriptions of a remarkable era. B PLUS

THE BLOODLESS BOY (A HUNT AND HOOKE NOVEL #1)
Melville House
2021

HACKING THE GLOBAL “INFOSPHERE” in a future world where almost everyone is connected is an unlikely, risky adventure for a team of four friends. Intriguing, imaginative worldbuilding but stiff characterization. B MINUS

INTERFACES: A PSY-FI THRILLER ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MIND
P. Anilak
2021

SENSATIONAL HORROR THRILLER with a vividly imagined setting in the Great Smoky Mountains and an unforgettable cast of characters is both smarter than it needs to be and an all-out gut punch. B PLUS

REVELATOR
Knopf
2021

BEAUTIFUL, POETIC NOVEL based on the life of 12th century writer and nun Marie de France is both an evocation of a lost age and a powerful meditation on timeless themes like love, exile, joy, and despair. A MINUS

MATRIX
Riverhead Books
2021

THE GREAT CITY-STATES OF MESOPOTAMIA are the setting for a brilliant historical fantasy that mixes ancient history, technology, and magic. 600 BCE comes alive in this vividly detailed novel! A MINUS

THE KING’S AUTOMATA
Francis Morrow
2022

A HEARTBREAKING ASSIGNMENT IN INDIA confronts a journalist with the horrors and the beauties of the homeland she has shunned for decades. Absolutely compelling novel tells a story of the best and worst of human nature. B PLUS

HONOR
Algonquin Books
2022