7 New Books for Speculative Fiction Fans

Speculative fiction fans have a lot to chose from this month, with stories that reach back into the past to offer alternate histories and others that look forward to a dazzling (or despairing) future. The 7 books I feature today are on my personal reading list; this roundup is not meant to present everything new in sci-fi and fantasy, just the books that caught my attention this week.

• The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson (Harlequin Teen; April 10): In a land in which twins are the norm, a foundling whose twin died as a baby and the heir to the throne who was born a single are oddities. How they may be connected to each other and to the future of the kingdom drive the plot of this new fantasy that's been praised for its solid world building and diverse characters. YA, fantasy
• The Emissary by Yoko Tawada (trans. Margaret Mitsutani) (New Directions, April 24): Sometime in the near future, Japan suffers from environmental and economic collapse. A man who seems to have unlimited life tends to his great-great-grandson whose body has been weakened, both conditions the result of the disaster. The pair bond and look for hope in a hopeless world. Adult, dystopian
• Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer (HarperTeen; April 10): Once upon a time a young woman is awoken from sleep and another finds her prince in this mashup of two popular fairy tales: Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. In this conclusion to a duology (Spindle Fire), the two couples continue their fight against evil and hope to bring peace to their kingdoms. YA, fairy tale retelling
• The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg (Holt Paperbacks; March 13): Children's books, folk tales, and more take a decidedly dark turn in Ortberg's new collection of short pieces. Some stories are given deeper layers, others noir humor or nerdy threads. A must read collection for anyone who loves children's literature, the Brothers Grimm, Shakespeare, and even scripture. Adult, dark riffs on the familiar

• The Long Sunset by Jack McDevitt (Saga Press, April 17): In the 23rd century, space exploration is winding down, but our heroes (this is the 8th in the Academy series) still have new worlds and alien cultures to discover and understand. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the more things change, the more things stay the same. A smart, engrossing series for space fans. YA, sci-fi
• The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp (HMH; April 17): The ability to find lost things becomes a curse in a post-Katrina New Orleans; so much is missing that our hero is overwhelmed and goes underground. A few later when there's upheaval in the magic realm, he must reassert himself to solve a crime, save a city, and embrace his heritage. Adult, urban fantasy
• Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller (Ecco, April 17): After climate change finally brings the world to its knees, a pocket of humanity survives on a floating city in the Arctic Circle. Crime, poverty, disease, and discontent are causing ripples in the new society; a stranger arrives; and revolution is in the air. Good world building and familiar issues (such as the great socioeconomic divide). Adult, dystopian