Upcoming Books - These look like good ones

These are some of the books that are coming out over the next few months that I'm especially looking forward to:

Stealing Fire
Jo Graham
Orbit Books
Release Date: May 25, 2010
978-0316076395

Amazon.com product description:

Alexander the Great's soldier, Lydias of Miletus, has survived the final campaigns of the king's life. He now has to deal with the chaos surrounding his death. Lydias throws his lot in with Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals who has grabbed Egypt as his personal territory. Aided by the eunuch Bagoas, the Persian archer Artashir, and the Athenian courtesan Thais, Ptolemy and Lydias must take on all the contenders in a desperate adventure whose prize is the fate of a white city by the sea, and Alexander's legacy.

Given how much I've enjoyed Jo Graham's previous two books The Black Ships and Hand of Isis, this is nearly a sure bet.

Oath Of Fealty
Elizabeth Moon
Del Rey
Publishing Date: March 16, 2010
978-0345508744

The Amazon.com description:

Elizabeth Moon’s bestselling science fiction novels featuring Kylara Vatta have earned her rave reviews and comparison to such giants as Robert Heinlein and Lois McMaster Bujold. But as Moon’s devoted fans know, she started her career as a fantasy writer. The superb trilogy known as The Deed of Paksenarrion is widely judged to be one of the great post-Tolkien fantasies, a masterpiece of sustained world-building and realistic military action. Now Moon returns to this thrilling realm for the first time in nearly twenty years. The result: another classic in the making.

Thanks to Paks’s courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title—and enemies—in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies—and those he has not yet discovered.

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, Prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation. But when an assassination attempt nearly succeeds, Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords possessing ancient sorcery, steeped in death and evil. Mikeli’s survival—and that of Tsaia—depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood.

Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister—and far more ancient—than they can imagine. And even Paks may find her gods-given magic and peerless fighting skills stretched to the limit—and beyond.

Only five days to go for this one. I can't wait, I just keep hoping the store gets it in early.

A Mighty Fortress
David Weber
Tor Books
Release Date: April 13, 2010
978-0765315052

The Amazon.com product description:

Young Cayleb Ahrmahk has accomplished things few people could even dream of. Not yet even thirty years old, he’s won the most crushing naval victories in human history. He’s smashed a hostile alliance of no less than five princedoms and won the hand of the beautiful young Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm. Cayleb and Sharleyan have created the Charisian Empire, the greatest naval power in the history of Safehold, and they’ve turned Charis into a place of refuge for all who treasure freedom.

Their success may prove short-lived. The Church of God Awaiting, which controls most of Safehold, has decreed their destruction. Mother Church’s entire purpose is to prevent the very things to which Charis is committed. Since the first attempt to crush the heretics failed, the Church has no choice but to adopt some of the hated Charisian innovations for themselves. Soon a mighty fleet will sail against Cayleb, destroying everything in its path.

But there are still matters about which the Church knows nothing, including Cayleb and Sharleyan’s adviser, friend, and guardian— the mystic warrior-monk named Merlin Athrawes. Merlin knows all about battles against impossible odds, because he is in fact the cybernetic avatar of a young woman named Nimue Alban, who died a thousand years before. As Nimue, Merlin saw the entire Terran Federation go down in fire and slaughter at the hands of a foe it could not defeat. He knows that Safehold is the last human planet in existence, and that the stasis the Church was created to enforce will be the human race’s death sentence if it is allowed to stand.

The juggernaut is rumbling down on Charis, but Merlin Athrawes and a handful of extraordinary human beings stand in its path. The Church is about to discover just how potent the power of human freedom truly is.

 A Mighty Fortress is the sequel to By Heresies Distressed and By Schism Rent Asunder. And that's not the only book by David Weber coming out this year. There's going to be a new one in the Honor Harrington series too. The main series, apparently, and not one of the 'side' series.

Mission Of Honor
David Weber
Baen Books
Release Date: June 22, 2010
978-1439133613

The Amazon.com product description:

The Star Kingdom of Manticore and the Republic of Haven have been enemies for Honor Harrington's entire life, and she has paid a price for the victories she's achieved in that conflict. And now the unstoppable juggernaut of the mighty Solarian League is on a collision course with Manticore. The millions who have already died may have been only a foretaste of the billions of casualties just over the horizon, and Honor sees it coming. She's prepared to do anything, risk anything, to stop it, and she has a plan that may finally bring an end to the Havenite Wars and give even the Solarian League pause. But there are things not even Honor knows about. There are forces in play, hidden enemies in motion, all converging on the Star Kingdom of Manticore to crush the very life out of it, and Honor's worst nightmares fall short of the oncoming reality. But Manticore's enemies may not have thought of everything after all. Because if everything Honor Harrington loves is going down to destruction, it won't be going alone.

 Should be an exciting read.

Now, here's a surprise! I just put Mercedes Lackey into Amazon's search, not thinking I'd find much. Boy, was I wrong! No cover images or official product descriptions yet but some new books coming out in October and December:


Intrigues: Book Two of the Collegium Chronicles
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Release Date: October 5, 2010
978-0756406394

This is the sequel to Foundation, which came out two years ago now. Looks like the wait for the next book is finally coming to an end.

Finding The Way And Other Tales of Valdemar
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Release Date: December 7, 2010
978-0756406332

Perfect gift for the Mercedes Lackey fan for Christmas, this is the next anthology volume of stories by various authors set in the world of Valdemar. No clue who has stories in it yet though.

The Shadow Grail #1
Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Tor Teen Books
Release Date: July 6, 2010
978-0765317612

No description or clues yet for this book. However, Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill have collaborated together very successfully in the past on other books in the world of Bedlam's Bard and sequels.

And, one more Mercedes Lackey novel. Another fairy-tale retelling, I'd guess, going by the title:

The Sleeping Beauty
Mercedes Lackey
Luna
Release Date: July 1, 2010
978-0373803156

Again, I don't have a description or much other information for this book yet, but Luna is the publisher that's put out Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms series. Which makes me think this book might be set in  that world.

Dragongirl (The Dragonriders of Pern)
Todd J. McCaffrey
Del Rey
Release Date: July 27, 2010
978-0345491169

The Chapters/Indigo.ca product description:

The specter of sickness looms over the Weyrs of Pern, felling fire-lizards and threatening their dragon cousins, Pern's sole defense against the deadly phenomenon that is Thread. Fiona, the young rider of queen dragon Talenth, is about to assume the duties of a Weyrwoman when word spreads that dragons have begun succumbing to the new contagion. As more dragons sicken and die, Weyrleader B'Nik and queen rider Lorana comb Fort Weyr's archives in a desperate search for clues from the past that may hold the solution to the plague. But could the past itself prove the pathway to salvation for Pern's imperiled dragons? Guided by a mysterious ally from a wholly unexpected place, and trusting in the dragon gift for transcending time, Fiona will join a risky expedition with far-reaching consequences for both Pern's future and her personal destiny.