12 Science Fiction And Fantasy Books To Look Forward To For January 2014

It's a brand new year and that means a new year of science fiction and fantasy novels coming out. Here's what's coming out in January.

Work Done for Hire, Joe Haldeman

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What it's about: Veteran Jack Daley has a fantastic writing gig fall in his lap, and at the same time, he's coerced into an assassination plot. It turns out that there's more to the plot than they first realize.

Why you should buy it: Haldeman's best known for his novel The Forever War, and is one of the newest Science Fiction Grandmasters. That alone makes this a must-buy.

Release date: January 7th

On Such a Full Sea, Chang-rae Lee

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What it's about: Taking place in a future America, society has divided into classes. Fan, a female fish diver finds that her lover has vanished, and embarks on a journey to find out what happened to him.

Why you should buy it: This looks to be an excellent, interesting read, one that looks to the stratification of society, and where we're all headed.

Release date: January 7th

Dreams of the Golden Age, Carrie Vaughn

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What it's about: The sequel to Vaughn's first superhero novel, After The Golden Age, Anna is developing superpowers. It's hard enough being the granddaughter of two of the most famous superheroes in Commerce City. Now, she has to contend with hiding her powers from everyone.

Why you should buy it: Vaughn's After the Golden Age garnered some pretty good reviews, and this one looks to be just as interesting.

Release Date: January 7th

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What it's about: The debut novel and first of a trilogy, The Emperor's Blades follows the three children of a slain emperor and their work to uncover their father's assassin.

Why you should buy it: There's been a boom in epic fantasy lately, and this book looks to be an excellent addition to the field, one with an entirely new and innovative world and characters.

Release date: January 14th

A Darkling Sea, James L. Cambias

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What it's about: On the planet Ilmatar, an expedition meets an alien race far under the planet's icy surface. Tensions erupt when a human explorer is killed on the job and a war looms between humanity and several alien races.

Why you should buy it: Cambias is known for his short fiction work, and his debut novel looks like it's an excellent hard science fiction novel.

Release date: January 28th

Wolves, Simon Ings

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What it's about: Two friends are on the verge of a technological breakthrough in augmented reality, when they're offered backing to take their idea to the next level. However, there's strings attached, and there might be more to their invention than they're ready for.

Why you should buy it: Ings' latest novel looks like it'll be a relevant take on new technologies and how we interact with one another. (UK release)

Release date: January 16th

Jirel of Joiry, Northwest of Earth, Judgment Night, C.L. Moore

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What it's about: An omnibus of Moore's best-known novels.

Why you should buy it: Moore's one of the first women SF writers; this is a good place to rediscover this fantastic author. (UK release)

Release date: January 16th

Halo: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss

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What it's about: The final book in Traviss's Kilo-Five trilogy in the Halo universe, picking up shortly after The Thursday War left off. The war with the Covenant might be over, but humanity and its colonies face new challenges, especially when a father goes in search of his long-lost daughter, now an elite SPARTAN.

Why you should buy it: Traviss is fantastic at military stories, and her Halo novels have been some of the best in the series.

Release date: January 21st

What Makes This Book So Great?, Jo Walton

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What it's about: Hugo-award winning author Jo Walton collects her posts from Tor.com on the science fiction and fantasy books that she's reread in recent years.

Why you should buy it: Walton's collection of articles is far-ranging and an excellent critical look at the genre.

Release date: January 21st

Shadow Ops: Breach Zone, Myke Cole

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What it's about: The third novel in Cole's Shadow Ops series brings the action to New York City when sorceress Scylla invades with her supernatural forces. In her path is fugitive Oscar Britton and Harlequin.

Why you should buy it: Cole's other two novels, Control Point and Fortress Frontier were excellent, and this concluding volume of the trilogy promises to continue to be excellent.

Release date: January 28th

Terms of Enlistment / Lines of Departure, Marko Kloos

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What it's about: Andrew Greyson finds an escape from his life in the slums when he joins up with the North American Commonweath Army.

Why you should buy it: Kloos' novel has been tearing up the charts when it was self-published. Now picked up by 47North with sequel novel Lines of Departure, Kloos has an exciting Military SF novel on his hands.

Release date: January 28th

Gregory Benford by George Slusser

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What it's about: The latest installment of the University of Illinois Press series Masters of Modern Science Fiction, examining hard-SF author Gregory Benford.

Why you should buy it: UIP's series thus far has been excellent, covering William Gibson and John Brunner already in a critical and comprehensive fashion. This latest installment looks to be just as good.

Release date: January 30th