16 Must-Read Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for November

It’s November already. How the hell did that happen? Best hope you’re caught up on your October reading, because November boasts a bumper crop of excellent science fiction and fantasy books, from new authors, rising stars, and even a couple of legends.

Binary Storm by Christopher Hinz

Billed as both a prequel to Hinz’ 1987 Liege-Killer and a stand-alone story, Binary Storm follows a rebellious trio’s plot to rid the world of genetically-engineered assassins, if they can keep the peace among themselves—and not set off doomsday in the process. (Nov. 1)

The Burning Isle by Will Panzo

Written by a former editor for Marvel Comics, this debut fantasy novel follows a mysterious mage on his equally mysterious journey to a pirate-infested island that’s part slum, part jungle, and all lawless. (Nov. 1)

The Burning Light by Bradley P. Beaulieu and Rob Ziegler

In this fast-paced novella, two women—one, a former government agent; the other, a former hotshot pilot—fight highly personal battles with a seemingly sentient, highly addictive new drug called the Light. The setting: a dystopian version of New York City that’s been ravaged by the effects of climate change. (Nov. 1)

Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation by Ken Liu

Acclaimed author Ken Liu (The Paper Menagerie) continues his parallel career as the foremost translator of current Chinese speculative fiction with this new collection. Entries include Hao Jingfang’s Hugo-winning Folding Beijing, as well as two stories by Cixin Liu (whose best-selling novel The Three-Body Problem was previously translated by Liu). (Nov. 1)

The Lost Child of Lychford by Paul Cornell

The sequel to Witches of Lychford returns to the bucolic English countryside and picks up just before Christmas, when the sudden appearance of a small child threatens to disrupt the recently-achieved peace between the different realms that border the town. (Nov. 1)

The Weaver by Emmi Itäranta

The latest from the author of The Memory of Water is about a woman whose prestigious position in her island world is threatened when she becomes aware of some dark secrets—and then must tap into her own dark secret, the all-too-rare ability to dream, to make things right. (Nov. 1)

The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun by J.R.R. Tolkien (author) and Verlyn Flieger (editor)

This early extended poem—influenced by Breton myths and legends—is back in print after 70 years, edited by Tolkien scholar Flieger and augmented with additional materials, including notes by Christopher Tolkien. (Nov. 3)

After Atlas by Emma Newman

The author returns to her Planetfall universe with this tale of a detective tasked with investigating the murder of a cult leader. The case complicated by the fact that both cop and corpse had deep ties to a spaceship that left Earth for outer space decades earlier. (Nov. 8)

Alien Morning by Rick Wilbur

In 2030, an alien race arrives on Earth, and the man chosen to document the event comes to realize that the visitors aren’t exactly what they appear to be. His unlikely, and only, ally in this scenario is his brother—if they can put aside their long-held family feud. (Nov. 8)

The Jekyll Revelation by Robert Masello

An environmental scientist in present-day California discovers a journal that once belonged to Robert Louis Stevenson, leading into a parallel narrative that also delves into the origins of Jack the Ripper. (Nov. 8)

Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel by James Luceno

This is the prequel novel to that new stand-alone Star Wars movie you might have heard a thing or two about around these parts. (Nov. 15)

Penguin Galaxy Series Six-Book Deluxe Boxed Set by various authors

You can’t go wrong with this expensive-but-totally-worth-it set, which is easy on the eyes and heavy on the literary cred. Titles include The Once and Future King by T. H. White; Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein; Dune by Frank Herbert; 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke; The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin; and Neuromancer by William Gibson. (Nov. 15)

Pirate Utopia by Bruce Sterling

A gaggle of ne’er-do-wells plot global chaos in this new satire from the editor of the seminal Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology. (Nov. 15)

Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection by Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson’s first book of short fiction compiles eight previously-published stories and a brand-new novella, plus supplemental essays and illustrations. (Nov. 22)

The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Johansen wraps up her best-selling Tearling trilogy, in which a young monarch must battle her rivals and make some tough decisions—involving magic, in many cases—to do what’s right for her people. (Nov. 29)

Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis: The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

It’s been 40 years since Interview With the Vampire, and Rice’s most enduring character is back in her 12th Vampire Chronicles book. The title may seem like an Indiana Jones movie, but there are no mrmaids—and what Lestat learns will change the world of vampires forever. (Nov. 29)