The Global Appeal of Science Fiction and Fantasy: New fiction picks

Welcome to this month’s selection of newly acquired science fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction titles. As always, we have a host of rich and diverse books in this month’s line-up. One aspect of this month’s list that struck us was its international nature. Certain genres of fiction hold global appeal and for the genres of science fiction and fantasy this certainly holds true. Great science fiction and fantasy, no matter where it originates, can find a worldwide audience.

And to aptly illustrate this point in this month selection we have French science fiction in the form of Continuum: French science fiction short stories. Japan is represented by Takaoka’s Travels by the acclaimed writer Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, a wild and exuberant fantasy novel set in the ninth century. From our own fair shores, we have a romantic fantasy novel called The Amethyst Kingdom by A. K. Mulford.

Rebecca Zahavi is an author with Iranian, French and British heritage who currently works in France. Her latest fantasy book, The Hawkling, is the second instalment of her Tales Of The Edge series, the first instalment of which is The Collarbound. From South Korea we have A Magical Girl Retires by Sŏ-ryŏn Pak, a fantasy tale about a magical girl who combats climate change; a novel which is in turn an homage to manga. Italy is represented by Francesco Dimitri’s The dark side of the sky a tale of dread and wonder sent in southern Italy.

• Continuum : French science fiction short stories
• Takaoka’s travels / Shibusawa, Tatsuhiko
• The amethyst kingdom / Mulford, A. K
• The hawkling / Zahabi, Rebecca
• A magical girl retires : a novel / Pak, Sŏ-ryŏn
• The dark side of the sky / Dimitri, Francesco
• The brides of High Hill / Vo, Nghi
• Archangels of funk : episodes from the continuing drama of Cinnamon Jones: scientist, artiste, and hoodoo conjurer : a novel of what might be / Hairston, Andrea