Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked.   FANTASY          SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   FANTASY       SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR     FANTASY            SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   Department Zero Crilley, Paul 1/24/2017 A Conversation in Blood Paul S. Kemp 1/24/2017 Anno Dracula 1899 & Other Stories Kim Newman 1/24/2017 Dreadnought April Daniels 1/24/2017 Passing Strange Ellen Klages 1/24/2017 The Fifth Petal Brunonia Barry 1/24/2017 The Prometheus Man Reardon, Scott 1/24/2017 The Skill of Our Hands Steven Brust and Skyler White 1/24/2017 The Weight of the World Tom Toner 1/24/2017

Most novels come with expectations, but when I began reading The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner I had none, expect maybe wondering who the child was going to be and why it had been promised. This is a debut novel by Toner and set in the far future, but when the opening quotes come from Byron and Wilde and the prologue begins in 1319 Prague, my curiosity was piqued. The plot, as it sprawls over 500 pages, is complex and shouldn’t be summarised for the new reader. There is plenty to discover and the best way is simply to read it. The story follows numerous threads and characters through journeys both large and small. The main actor is Lycaste. He lives in the far future, on what is now called the Old World. He has an unrequited love despite being a renowned beauty, but must face greater battles ahead. He is our everyman that we see Toner’s world through. Sotiris Gianakos is 12,000 years old, from Cyprus. His sister has recently died and he is facing grief. This is the story of their coming together, and how they change each other’s lives. So far, so not very science…