Future Fiction #89 – Cover Reveals & Newly Discovered SFF Books

Welcome to Future Fiction, my reimagining of the Waiting on Wednesday meme! There are so many amazing new books coming out, that I can no longer pick just one. My goal with Future Fiction is to share at least three new books each week, a combination of recent cover reveals and books that I’ve recently added to my TBR pile. I’m still going to be linking up with Wishful Endings/Can’t Wait Wednesday, and I also want to give a shout out to Jill at Breaking the Spine for starting the original Waiting on Wednesday meme. I hope you’ll find some new books to add to your TBR piles, and as always, I look forward to hearing what YOU’RE looking forward to:-D


This is one of the most colorful Future Fictions I’ve had in quite a while! Take a look:


From the author of the Maradaine saga comes a new steampunk fantasy novel that explores a chaotic city on the verge of revolution.

Ziaparr: a city being rebuilt after years of mechanized and magical warfare, the capital of a ravaged nation on the verge of renewal and self-rule. But unrest foments as undercaste cycle gangs raid supply trucks, agitate the populace and vandalize the city. A revolution is brewing in the slums and shantytowns against the occupying government, led by a voice on the radio, connected through forbidden magic.

Wenthi Tungét, a talented cycle rider and a loyal officer in the city patrol, is assigned to infiltrate the cycle gangs. For his mission against the insurgents, Wenthi must use their magic, connecting his mind to Nália, a recently captured rebel, using her knowledge to find his way into the heart of the rebellion.

Wenthi’s skill on a cycle makes him valuable to the resistance cell he joins, but he discovers that the magic enhances with speed. Every ride intensifies his connection, drawing him closer to the gang he must betray, and strengthens Nália’s presence as she haunts his mind.

Wenthi is torn between justice and duty, and the wrong choice will light a spark in a city on the verge of combustion.

The Velocity of Revolution by Marshall Ryan Maresca. Releases in February 2021 from DAW Books. I have never read anything by Maresca, but I’ve heard really good things about his books. I’m intrigued by the motorcycle aspect of this story, and anytime you mention “steampunk” you’ve definitely got my attention!


A young, ambitious female astronaut’s life is upended by a fiery love affair that threatens the rescue of a lost crew in this brilliantly imagined novel in the tradition of Station Eleven and The Martian.

June is a brilliant but difficult girl with a gift for mechanical invention, who leaves home to begin a grueling astronaut training program. Six years later, she has gained a coveted post as an engineer on a space station, but is haunted by the mystery of Inquiry, a revolutionary spacecraft powered by her beloved late uncle’s fuel cells. The spacecraft went missing when June was twelve years old, and while the rest of the world has forgotten them, June alone has evidence that makes her believe the crew is still alive.

She seeks out James, her uncle’s former protégée, also brilliant, also difficult, who has been trying to discover why Inquiry’s fuel cells failed. James and June forge an intense intellectual bond that becomes an electric attraction. But the love that develops between them as they work to solve the fuel cell’s fatal flaw threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to create–and any chance of bringing the Inquiry crew home alive.

Equal parts gripping narrative of scientific discovery and charged love story, In the Quick is an exploration of the strengths and limits of human ability in the face of hardship and the costs of human ingenuity. At its beating heart are June and James, whose love for each other is eclipsed only by their drive to conquer the challenges of space travel.

In the Quick by Kate Hope Day. Releases in March 2021 from Random House. Not my usual publisher and not my usual genre, but when I saw this cover I just couldn’t resist. For some reason this is reminding me of Do You Dream of Terra-Two?, but I could be completely wrong. In any case, I’m very interested in this book, and I LOVE the cover!


A thoughtful, literary novel about conflict, identity and community, after Earth makes contact with the seemingly harmless planet Qita. A fresh new perspective in speculative fiction from critically-acclaimed writer Aliya Whiteley.

Drink down the brew and dream of a better Earth.

Skyward Inn, within the high walls of the Western Protectorate, is a place of safety, where people come together to tell stories of the time before the war with Qita.

But safety from what? Qita surrendered without complaint when Earth invaded; Innkeepers Jem and Isley, veterans from either side, have regrets but few scars.

Their peace is disturbed when a visitor known to Isley comes to the Inn asking for help, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future.

Did humanity really win the war?

This is Jamaica Inn by way of Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula Le Guin, Angela Carter and Michel Faber, a beautiful story of belonging, identity and regret.

Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley. Releases in February 2021 from Solaris. This sounds quite different from Whiteley’s other books, but honestly I don’t even care what it’s about because it’s Aliya Whiteley, guys! She’s amazing. I’m so excited to read this:-D


What do you think of this week’s Future Fiction picks? Let me know in the comments!

Posted September 9, 2020 by Tammy in Future Fiction / 38 Comments

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38 responses to “Future Fiction #89 – Cover Reveals & Newly Discovered SFF Books

  1. I’ve not heard of Aliya Whiteley but I’m intrigued by Skyward Inn. I like that tagline, “this is a place where we can be alone, together.” And, of course, that colorful cover. 🙂

    • Tammy

      Her books are a little out there, but I always love reading her because she’s so different from other authors I read.

  2. The Captain

    Okay so In the Quick intrigues me but the “Station Eleven and The Martian” description is so weird because those are two books that I love but are NOTHING alike to me. Hurts me noggin. I have heard good things about Aliya Whiteley. That one sounds fun. Thanks matey!
    x The Captain

  3. JonBob

    Marshal Ryan Maresca’s book here sounds great! I’ve not read anything by him yet but I listen to the Worldbuilding For Masochists podcast the does with Rowena Miller and Cass Morris and he sounds super interesting on there. Intend to dive into his Maradaine books as soon as my TBR allows.

    Two books I’m really looking forward to at the mo are Persephone Station by Stina Leicht and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. Never actually read either of these authors before but these books sounds fantastic!

  4. I’m tentatively interested in the new Marshall Ryan Maresca – he’s definitely a great writer, but after checking out his fourth? Fifth? Maradaine series I’m kind of fatigued. I will wait to see how this new series/new world works out!

  5. I like the pink of In the Quick and the description is very curious – it has some big boots to fill with the Station Eleven/Martian comparisons.
    Lynn 😀

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