Just Arrived: Trail Of Lightning (Rebecca Roanhorse); Foxhunt (Rem Wigmore); Fugitive Telemetry (Martha Wells)
Although I am still on my ‘reading older books’ mission, and still have two posts on the original grouping of five works left to do, sometimes ‘the new, the new’ (or newish, certainly) arrive thick and fast.
So I thought it was time to share what had made it on to “the New” TBR table recently. 🙂
Trail of Lightning
First up is Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse. First published in 2018 (hence newish, rather than recently published new), Trail of Lightning won a Locus Award for Best First Novel, and was a finalist for the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards. It postulates a post-climate change world in which the Dinétah (Navaho Nation) have established a separate, walled realm – where the gods, heroes, but also the monsters of legend walk the land.
According to the backcover synopsis, the heroine, Maggie Hoskie, is a monster hunter par excellence; her sidekick Kai Arviso is an unconventional medicine man. Together they unravel “clues from ancient legends, trading favours with tricksters, and battling dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.”
Trail of Lightning has been on my reading radar for some time, but it’s been recommended to me several times recently, including by The Wall of Night series readers – so how could I not act on that?! 😀
And just imho, the cover is totes kickass: love it!
Foxhunt
Foxhunt, a debut novel by fellow NZ writer, Rem Wigmore, is very new indeed, with that very exciting first publication date scheduled for 20 August from Queen of Swords Press – so not many sleeps left now!
I am lucky enough to have an advance edition and the synopsis promises an interesting read. As with the Trail of Lightning world, Foxhunt postulates a post-climate apocalypse future, one in which environmental transgressors are hunted down by the Order of the Vengeful Wild. When Orfeus, a traveling singer and pansexual transwoman, falls foul of the Order, she must flee for her life, calling in favours and seeking answers from enemies and allies alike.
Described as “queer hopepunk/climate fiction” set in a solarpunk world, Foxhunt’s tagline is: Orfeus the musician is searching for hope in the heart of danger…
I’m always pleased to see new speculative voices coming out of New Zealand and it’s always good to support new authors. So if the synopsis appeals and you’ve enjoyed works such as AJ Fitzwater’s Cinrak the Dapper (also from Queen of Swords, with an interview here and review here), Stina Leicht’s Persephone Station, or Malinda Lo’s Ash, then Foxhunt may be just the read you’re looking for.
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Fugitive Telemetry
What can I say? The Murderbot series by Martha Wells has been one of my favourites over the past few years, so I’m pretty dashed happy to have the latest novella, Fugitive Telemetry (2021), reach the TBR pile.
It’s been a while getting here, because I ordered it in the gorgeous hardcover version (the texture alone is fabulous!) as a birthday gift for another household member and Murderbot fan. BUT it has not only finally(!) arrived, but been read (in short order) by the aforementioned birthday recipient so I am free to read it AT LAST. Huzza!
Checking out the backcover, I’d say this story takes place between novella #4, Exit Strategy, and last year’s novel, Network Effect — so although I’m really looking forward to the next instalment of the new storyline begun in Network Effect, I’m always happy to spend time with Murderbot and the original Preservation crew.
Given The Wall Of Night writing commitments right now it may be a while before I actually read and share my terribly important thoughts here – but it will happen!
ooooh … Trail of Lightning is really wonderful! There’s a sequel out, too, called Storm of Locusts. One of the fun things about Trail of Lightning was that I could picture the places so well. My daughter spent a year on the Navajo Nation, and we got a chance to visit. It’s some amazing country! So different from our green, deciduous East Coast.
The arrows of recommendation evidence are all pointing in the same direction here. 🙂
It’s fun when you know a locale, too, and can overlay the fantastic with the real.
I spent a few happy days ploughing through the last two Murderbot books a couple of weeks ago. I just love that character.
Me, too! The only trouble with a novella is that the goodness is over and done with all-too-soon, alas.
I’ve read Trail of Lightning and Fugitive Telemetry. Both are excellent reads and I really like both a lot.
The entire Murderbot series is very good.
I, too, am a Murderbot fan, June. I’m glad to hear you liked Trail Of Lightning as well. 🙂