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Staff Choices - Fantasy & Science Fiction
Babies
& Toddlers |
Picture Books
There are two major trends in Fantasy/Sci-Fi/SF at the moment: dystopian and steampunk novels. Wikipedia is a great place to go to find out more about steampunk and dystopian novels. We have our dystopian staff choices under Young Adult.
What can an author do to top a book like Zorgamazoo? Something completely different. Dust City is a young adult novel in which Weston gives us his version of what a modern world based on the Grimm's fairy tales would look like. Human-sized crows, foxes, wolves, and other animals have evolved into thinking, literate creatures and roam the city. However, the fairies are gone as is most of dust they used to create their magic. Our main character, Henry Whelp, is the son of the wolf who killed Little Red Riding Hood and he doesn't want to end up like his father. Can "real" fairy dust help? As mysterious and violent events unfold, our young wolf is forced to uncover the secrets in his father's past and the conspiracy behind fairy dust itself! Though Dust City is for quite a different audience than his last book, Weston's love and mastery of language still shine through and the fast-paced action will be sure to ensnare any fantasy/action fan!
Nothing pleases this reviewer like seeing another excellent steampunk novel. Despite the not-steampunk-at-all cover art, this book is a great balance of action, science-fiction, social commentary, and a smidge of romance. Col, a privileged young man, is primed to take command of the juggernaut, Worldshaker. The only problem is, he is suddenly finding out the bloodshed and injustice in his family’s history and in the history of the creation of the juggernauts themselves. If Col is going to captain this ship, should he maintain the status quo, or does a true leader rock the boat?
Yes, more steampunk. What can we say? We're addicted. And it's Canadian! A steampunk rendering of the story of Quasimodo - and sprinkles of several other classic stories- this novel (the first in the series) has Modo being raised in isolation by Mr. Socrates, who trains him as a secret agent. Modo then meets up with Octavia Milkweed and must attempt to uncover the sinister plots of the mad scientist, Dr. Hyde. Add a smidge of romance, and a large dollop of madcap adventure and you have one heck of a novel!
The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world? (Hardcover $21.99)
If you have already read Reeve's Mortal Engines series, than you just need to know that this is a prequel to that series and you need read no further in this review as you probably don't need more convincing. You can read this book without having read the quartet, but trust us, you'll want to read the quartet after you have read Fever Crumb. Another fabulous steampunk novel, this one deals with a young girl, Fever Crumb, being reasonable in age where woman are thought to be wholly without reason. While uncovering mysterious societies left and right, Fever must also deal with the unsettling memories that keep flashing into her mind and figure out and why these memories seem so important to those around her. This review is difficult to write without giving away spoilers, so we'll just tell you that you should read the book and trust us on this one!
SAN FRANCISCO: Josh and Sophie Newman are more confused than ever about their future. Can they trust Nicholas Flamel? Authors Who Can Do No Wrong Isobelle Carmody, Kristin Cashore, Charles de Lint, Cory Doctorow, Cornelia Funke, Neil Gaiman, Brian Jacques, Garth Nix, Kenneth Oppel, Terry Pratchett, Gail Sidonie Sobat, Paul Stewart, Scott Westerfeld Perennial Favourites The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series by James A. Owen The Gideon Trilogy by Linda Buckley-Archer How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan The Shadow of Malabron by Thomas Wharton The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley The Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex |
