There were a lot of awesome looking books published in 2016 that I missed because I was going on a book bender with releases published years ago. (I regret nothing.) When I was looking through “Best of” lists, though, I realized exactly how many books I’d missed out on or forgotten about. GracieKat13 has been doing lots of reading of indie authors, so she missed some of the new releases herself! So here’s our list of 2016 Sci-Fi & Horror Novels that we will be reading this year. (These are books that were released in the US in 2016.)
Top Ten Tuesday is brought to you courtesy of Broke and Bookish.
I Am Providence by Nick Mamayas
Release Date: August 9th, 2016
How can the words “Summer Tentacular” in a synopsis not make you perk up and want to read this?
Part mystery, part Lovecraftian horror, and part dark comedy, Nick Mamaya’s I Am Providence looks to be one of those books that you need a certain twisted weirdness to read and enjoy.
I have that weirdness! (I think.)
Escapology by Ren Warom
Release Date: June 14th, 2016
Escapology is one of those books that, after you read the synopsis, makes you sit back and go “Hm.” It looks like it could either be a hot mess, or an action-packed thrill ride. This one completely escaped my attention last year, but now I have to read it. I haven’t read much cyberpunk, so I don’t have a lot of novels to judge it against. Probably a good thing for the sake of Escapology.
Lovecraft Country by Mark Ruff
Release Date: February 16th, 2016
Lovecraft’s imagination was a dark and (wonderfully) horrible thing. However, he was definitely also a man of the times. It’s safe to say that you don’t read his works expecting any diversity. Lovecraft Country by Mark Ruff changes that and pokes at the racism that continues to haunt us to do this day.
Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer
Release Date: May 10th, 2016
I was excited about this book… and then I wasn’t. I don’t know what exactly shut off my interest in it. (I have a feeling it was a review I read from someone that I trusted their opinion on.) But Too Like the Lightning keeps popping up on my radar. The synopsis is intriguing, but I’m afraid it’s also going to venture a little too much into the type of fantasy (even though it’s definitely listed as science fiction) that will make me yawn. So it’s not so much that I want to read this book as I need to read it to get it to leave me alone.
The Empty Ones by Robert Brockway
Release Date: August 30th, 2016
A riotous follow-up to The Unnoticeables, The Empty Ones by Robert Brockway sounds like something I could love as easily as I could hate. It looks like a sequel that might not necessarily stand-alone though. However, most of the reviews are extremely positive, and I’m very curious about the ‘new horror mythos’ some of them mention.
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Release Date: June 14th, 2016
While The Invisible Library looks to be primarily fantasy, there’s enough science fiction element to it that I’m interested. The synopsis sounds fascinating. The idea of being able to collect books from different dimensions? Can you imagine very different even their run of the mill literature might be from ours, depending on even the smallest difference taking place years ago? Even if there are vampires, I still need to read this.
Super Extra Grande by Yoss (Translated by David Frye)
Release Date: June 7th, 2016
Just the synopsis of Super Extra Grande brings Douglas Adams to mind. This looks like it could be a journey of complete silliness and rip-roaring adventure….or a sad attempt at emulating one of the more unique minds the sci-fi world has ever known. Normally this is the type of book I’d shy away from, because my taste in humor is a bit … off. However, just look at that cover! How can you not pick up a book that has the cojones to be that… bright.
The Inheritance: The Haunting of Lakeshore by James Matheson
Release Date: December 16th, 2016
GracieKat13: To put it simply: I love ghost stories! Plus, I’m always hoping for a female lead I can root for. The Inheritance looks like it can give that to me. And…yet again… the cover! It has such a good, gothic-looking cover to it!
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
Release Date: June 14th, 2016
Honestly, Ninefox Gambit has been on my radar since before publication date. However, something or other has always kept me from checking it out. I don’t know why. It’s supposed to be slathered in hard science, which generally makes me instantly run after a book. However, after reading Imyril’s (from X+1) review, I’ve decided to bite the bullet and give this one a try. Here’s hoping it follows the line of all the other hard sci-fi books I’ve been intimidated by, but ended up really liking.
Autumn Cthulhu – Anthology
Release Date: May 4th, 2016
GracieKat13: Ok, I’m interested in Autumn Cthulhu partly because I like Lovecraft and the short story collections are usually pretty good. Then because of the name, it just has such a ring to it. But also… the cover. I’m a sucker for a good cover and this one is gorgeous!!
I am just going to casually add all of these to my TBR. The Invisibly Library sounds divine— a book ABOUT books? Sign me up! I’m also quite interested in I Am Providence because TENTACLES?! I feel as though I’ve never read anything with tentacles in it, and that’s really been doing a disservice to myself (consider octopi are among my favorite creatures).
Great list as always! I’ve seriously been lacking in sci-fi and horror stories for YEARS, so I really need to kick myself into gear on that front soon.
I’ve got Lovecraft Country waiting for me to read at home now. You do need to read some tentacly stuff!
I really need to stop putting off I Am Providence. I’ve seen a few great reviews and have it on my Kindle. I read The Invisible Library and even though I still need to read the other two books that are already out, I did highly enjoy the first one and think it’s worth a read. Great list and good luck!
Ooh gimme a poke when you read I Am Providence, please!
I wouldn’t call Ninefox hard SF – sure, it’s reality-bending maths, but it’s mostly hand-waved (which is why it won me over – I get on with space opera WAY better than hard SF).
The Invisible Library is 100% fantasy, I’m afraid – no SF in sight in the first 2 books. It’s fun, but if you don’t like alt universes and faeries, it won’t be for you!
Funny you should say that about Too Like the Lightning – that’s exactly where I’m at: it was on my list; it came off and I can’t recall why; and now I keep thinking about it. Now if only one of us could remember what put us off… 😉
I needs my hard sci-fi, lol! I don’t mind fantasy sometimes. I’m just super super picky about it.
One of us just needs read Too Like and tell the other person!
I enjoyed The Invisible Library, but if you’re not into fantasy, not sure you will. It’s steampunk with fantasy elements–plenty of alternate worlds (some are science based and some are magic based), and also lots of magic spells.
Ah. Very good to know. Thanks!
Out of all those I have read one, The Invisible Library, it starts out a bit slow at least to me but then picks up and is really good so I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Is there much of a sci-fi element once you get into it.
The Invisible Library sounds really interesting!
I’ve seen The Invisible Library popping up on a few blogs lately and it’s definitely caught my eye. I love books that feature alternate dimensions. Hope you like it!