As January arrives, many readers seek refuge within the pages of books, and science fiction offers a compelling escape. This month’s offerings range from a generation ship where secrets lurk beneath the surface, courtesy of Peter F. Hamilton, to an alternate Earth where the Roman Empire’s dominance persists, as depicted in Solitaire Townsend’s Godstorm. The selection also includes a time-loop murder mystery, a UFO-themed romance, and elements of eco-horror, providing a diverse array of choices for science fiction enthusiasts.
A Hole in the Sky by Peter F. Hamilton
Acclaimed author Peter F. Hamilton’s latest novel, A Hole in the Sky, transports readers to a generation ship on a crucial voyage to find a new home. Within this vessel, life is strictly limited to 65 years to preserve the ship’s finite resources. When a teenager named Hazel’s brother experiences an accident rendering him unproductive, his life is threatened. Hazel’s discovery reveals that much of what the ship’s inhabitants have been told for five centuries is, in fact, untrue. This book marks the first installment in a trilogy, with all three volumes scheduled for release this year.
Vigil by George Saunders
While not strictly science fiction, Vigil by George Saunders is noted by our sci-fi columnist, Emily H. Wilson, as having a claim to being climate fiction. Its narrative centers on the demise of a powerful oil tycoon. The novel, from a Booker Prize-winning author, unfolds at the deathbed of oil company CEO K. J. Boone, as he transitions to the afterlife and confronts his life’s reckoning.
The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley
A haunting premise introduces The Island of Last Things, where the world’s final zoo is situated on Alcatraz Island, while nature deteriorates beyond its confines. Zookeeper Camille dedicates herself to caring for chimpanzees and jaguars. Her world shifts with the arrival of Sailor, who speaks of a hidden sanctuary designed for wild animals to roam freely. This novel, previously released in the US and Australia, becomes available in the UK this month.
Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart
Detective Ryan Crane is presented with an extraordinary opportunity: to join the inaugural crewed mission to Titan. This two-year expedition promises a substantial financial reward, ensuring the necessary care for his son, who has a disability. However, upon their return to Earth, Crane and his team discover that their home has changed significantly, and unsettling figures are now pursuing them.
Godstorm by Solitaire Townsend
In this alternate history narrative, environmentalist Solitaire Townsend envisions an oil-powered Roman Empire that never collapsed. By leveraging fossil fuels, the Romans extended their global dominion. While the extent to which the story delves into fantasy remains uncertain, Kim Stanley Robinson describes it as a “vivid, ferocious adventure.” He notes the heroine’s struggle against a world seemingly more violent than our own, adding that the novel functions as an allegory for contemporary challenges.
Godfall by Van Jensen
The arrival of a colossal asteroid seemingly headed for Earth is re-contextualized when a three-mile-tall alien figure descends near Little Springs, Nebraska, quickly becoming known as the Giant. Sheriff David Blunt of Little Springs finds himself navigating a town transformed into a high-security government research site, surrounded by a multitude of conspiracy theorists. Simultaneously, he is investigating a murder and plagued by unsettling dreams of cosmic disorder, indicating the character’s multifaceted struggles.
The Night Ship by Alex Woodroe
As smuggler Rosi and her crew navigate the Romanian mountains, they intercept a radio signal hinting at impending catastrophe. The world plunges into darkness, yet intermittent transmissions begin to emerge from amateur radio operators and other isolated survivors. Rosi and her team embark on a perilous mission to rescue these individuals in a world irrevocably altered by apocalypse. The genre, whether horror or science fiction, is not definitively stated in the synopsis, but its premise generates significant intrigue.
Seven by Joanna Kavenna
Seven is described as a literary dystopia promising a journey across time and space. The narrative follows a young philosopher’s expedition to Greece in search of the leader of the Society of Lost Things. This quest ultimately spans from humanity’s earliest societal structures to the advent of artificial intelligence.
Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe
El, a social media influencer based in Los Angeles, inadvertently captures footage of an unidentified flying object. This event attracts the attention of Agent Carter Brody, who, coincidentally, has also experienced an extraterrestrial sighting. The combination of romance and UFO phenomena presents a distinctive January offering.
Humboldt Cut by Allison Mick
This eco-horror novel is likened by its publisher to a confluence of Jordan Peele, Jeff Vandermeer, and The Overstory. Set within the redwood forests of northern California, the story centers on mental health nurse Jasmine. She returns to her hometown, a logging community where her grandfather was employed in deforestation. Beneath the wooded landscape lie dark secrets and vengeful entities composed of human flesh and petrified bark.
Vivian Dies Again by C. E. Hulse
This murder mystery is included in the monthly roundup due to its incorporation of a time loop, a concept rooted in physics, and its generally engaging premise. Vivian is compelled to attend a family gathering where she is met with animosity and is subsequently murdered by being pushed from a balcony. She then awakens, only to be murdered again and again. With her sole ally being a waiter more concerned with finishing his shift, the question remains whether Vivian can unravel the mystery behind her recurring deaths.
The Hope by Paul E. Hardisty
The year is 2082, and the world is in disarray due to the combined effects of climate change, famine, and war. This final installment of the Forcing trilogy follows a sixteen-year-old girl and her uncle as they endeavor to preserve the last surviving books within a clandestine library. In this bleak future, those responsible for the climate collapse now hold positions of power.