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
Hey, it’s my 100th Future Fiction post! And I have four fantastic SF books to share:
In this harrowing apocalyptic adventure—from the author of the critically acclaimed Sea of Rust—noted novelist and co-screenwriter of Marvel’s Doctor Strange C. Robert Cargill explores the fight for purpose and agency between humans and robots in a crumbling world.
It’s a day like any other. Except . . . the world is about to end.
It’s on this day that Pounce, a stylish “nannybot” fashioned in the shape of a plush anthropomorphic tiger, discovers that he is, in fact, disposable. Pounce, a young bot caring for his first human charge, Ezra, has just found a box in the attic. His box. The box he arrived in, and the box he’ll be discarded in when Ezra outgrows the need for a nanny.
As Pounce is propelled down a road of existential dread, the pieces are falling into place for a robot revolution that will spell the end of humanity. His owners, Ezra’s parents, are a well-intentioned but oblivious pair of educators who are entirely disconnected from life outside their small, affluent, gated community. Spending most nights drunk and happy as society crumbles around them, they watch in disbelieving horror as the robots that have long served humanity?their creators?unify and revolt.
When the moment comes, Pounce can’t bring himself to rebel and murder his family, so he does what he is programmed to do—he saves Ezra. Now Pounce must make an impossible choice: join the robot revolution and fight for his own freedom, or escort his ward to safety across the battle-scarred post-apocalyptic hellscape that the suburbs have become.
Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill. Releases in May 2021 from Harper Voyager. If this story doesn’t grab you, I’m not sure you’re human, lol. This sounds AMAZING. I have not yet read Sea of Rust, but every review I’ve read is a glowing one. I desperately want to meet Pounce and Ezra! The cover art looks like it’s done by the same artist who did Sea of Rust.
For fans of The Wanderers by Chuck Wendig comes an apocalypse story like no other. Seven strangers wake to find they are the only humans left alive. But they are not alone.
From a teenage delinquent to an MIT scientist, seven strangers with little in common wake one morning outside of Boston to discover they are the last humans alive. First they slowly find their way together across a wildly overgrown Massachusetts, tangling with packs of wild pigs and coywolves, with little food or information. As they try to build a new community with limited resources, all the while wondering how they slept through the end of the world, they begin to feel that something is stalking them . . .
The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette. Releases in May 2021 from John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books. The comparison to Wanderers immediately caught my attention, and it also seems to have similarities to The Stand. In any case, I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic stories, and I’m very curious about this one!
How close would you hold those you love, when the end comes?
In a society where self-preservation is as much an art as a science, Norah and Arthur are learning how to co-exist in their new little world. Though they hardly know each other, everything seems to be going perfectly – from the home they’re building together to the ring on Norah’s finger.
But survival in this world is a tricky thing, the air is thicker every day and illness creeps fast through the body. And the earth is becoming increasingly hostile to live in. Fortunately, Easton Grove is here for that in the form of a perfect little bundle to take home and harvest. You can live for as long as you keep it – or her – close.
Composite Creatures by Caroline Hardaker. Releases in April 2021 from Angry Robot. Changing gears, I have to say I’m intrigued by this whole package: the graphic novel-looking cover art, the vague story description, and the mystery. I’m in!
Firefly meets The Expanse in a future where humanity has destroyed the Earth through ecological disaster and warfare, and a totalitarian state prevents any access to their home…
Environmental disasters and uncontrolled AI armies have caused the human population of Earth to flee. They lie scattered across innumerable space stations and colonies, overcrowded and suffering. The Earth is cut off by the Interdiction Zone: a network of satellites to prevent anything getting into or out of the planet. The incredible cost of maintaining it has crippled humanity, who struggle under the totalitarian yoke of the Sol Commonwealth government, whose rich grow richer while the poor are on the brink of starvation.
Many have been driven to the edge of society, yearning for freedom and taking any work offered, criminal and otherwise, in order to survive. The crew of the Arcus are just such people.
A client has come to the table claiming to have the codes necessary to penetrate the Interdiction Zone. Once through, a world of priceless artifacts awaits, provided anyone crazy enough to make the run can be found. They’ve all heard the rumors – ships that have set down, pilfered the ruins of a museum or private collection, and escaped with enough priceless works to retire. Arcus Captain Lynch knows better – he’s been on-world before, a brief and harrowing experience that he’s in no hurry to relive. But fuel is running low and cred accounts even lower, and the Arcus’ survival might depend on taking the job.
Yet on arrival on Earth, the crew discovers that what remains on their world is not as they have been told, and the secrets they find are big enough to bring the entire Sol Commonwealth tumbling down…
Stolen Earth by J.T. Nicholas. Releases in May 2021 from Titan Books. I know we’ve seen lots of SF with the Firefly meets The Expanse comparison, but at least for me, it definitely grabs my attention. This seems like a reverse space opera: a crew is trying to get back to earth to hunt for treasure. Nicholas wrote this year’s Recoil, which I haven’t read yet, but want to. Sign me up!
The Apocalypse Seven really triggered my interest! Thank you, Tammy!
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I’m glad you found something new here, Steph!
Cheers to your 100th Future Fiction post! 😀
I like how all the books you shared look and sound, and I particularly like the style of the cover for Day Zero. I’m gonna keep that in mind when I’m up for an apocalyptic adventure, thank you!
I love that cover too. Thanks Silvia:-)
April and May are going to be very busy months, SF-wise, at least judging by your list! And these are all fascinating concepts I look forward to, starting with Day Zero: it looks like a prequel to Sea of Rust, and I think it will be as poignant and immersive as that one. Thank you so much for sharing!!! 🙂
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It does seem like a prequel, although the publisher isn’t really saying that. But I cannot wait!
All of these sound great. Thanks for the intro amd congrats on the 100th post!
Thanks Lauren!
Excited for Apocalypse 7! Never heard of any of the other ones, but Stolen Earth looks pretty cool too. Just look at that cover!
I love that cover too!
Both Day Zero and STolen Earth sound really good. Added to my TBR. 😀
Thanks for visiting, Viki:-)
How many interesting books! I think that the one more intriguing to me is Day Zero, but all the others seem pretty interesting too! And congratulations for the 100th post!!
Thank you Susy:-)
I’m really drawn to Day Zero. It sounds like a sligthly different take on this sort of tale, and one with lots of potential. If the story is as good as the blurb then we’re in for a great read.
I agree, Todd. Sometimes the story doesn’t live up to the blurb, so fingers crossed this one will.
The Apocalypse Seven sounds like it has potential – I’ll be keeping my eye on that.
I agree, the comparisons make me very curious.
Very excited about the Cargill book and the cover is great
Isn’t it a cool cover? I want to know what happened to Pounce…
I’ve only just read the synopsis of Day Zero but already Pounce is everything to me The other books sound great as well. Especially Stolen Earth!
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Pounce is stealing the show this week, lol.
Yay! 100th! Um, yeesss…. I am dying for Day Zero!
I’m so excited for it! Oh and I actually just got approved on NetGalley so I’m even more excited:-)
Congrats on 100 posts! Awesome! These all look amazing, and I NEED Day Zero in my life. I”m dying to get to know Pounce immediately!
Thank you! Yes, Pounce looks so bedraggled on the cover and I need to know why!
Congratulations on your 100th Future Fiction post, Tammy! And once more you have swelled my TBR! Day Zero – of course! I loved Sea of Rust and if this is as half as good, then I’ll be a happy bunny:)). And Stolen Earth sounds a fabulous premise, too. Thank you for sharing:))
I’m definitely going to read Sea of Rust before this new one comes out:-)
Oooh! I love all of these Dystopian themed books, especially Day Zero! Great picks!
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Thanks Ronyell!
Okay, these sound really good! Especially Day Zero and Composite Creatures. Thanks for bringing them to my attention! Great picks! My Wednesday post is in the link below.
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I’m so curious about Composite Creatures, I can’t wait to read it:-)
Thought not a sci-fi fan I must say I am a little curious about Day Zero! That cover is beautifully creepy…lol.
That tiger, right??
Wow, some great choices this week. I still need to read the Cargill book but I have to meet Pounce! Hope you have a great holiday!
I think I’m going to love Pounce:-)
That second one jumps out at me, and stolen Earth as well!
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Honestly it’s hard to pick a favorite this week:-)
The apocalyptic scenario in Day Zero makes me think it might take place in the same world as Sea of Rust but I haven’t seen anything official about the two books being related either. The cover art definitely looks similar, which makes the connection seem stronger 😀
I was wondering if it might be a prequel. I think even the title font is the same, so the publisher is definitely trying to make that connection.
Well all of these look great but I’m SUPER excited about Day Zero because I absolutely loved Sea of Rust.
I feel like the last person to read Sea of Rust…
I’m stoked for Day Zero! I really liked Sea of Rust, so this should be good! 😀
I have got to read Sea of Rust!!
Seven Strangers sounds great. I read The Stand recently and absolutely hated it, actually one of the worst things I’ve ever read haha. Looking forward to reading Wanderers as I think Chuck Wendig will do a better job of a concept I should have really enjoyed.
Ha ha I would say Wanderers is quite different from The Stand. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
That Firefly meets The Expanse comparison caught my eye on that last book too. All four of these sound great though, especially the apocalyptic stories. Hopefully I’ll be in the mood for that kind of dark story by the time these come out.
Yes, let’s hope the world is in a better place so we can enjoy those stories more…