Spotlight on May Books

This month we are featuring 36 books. There are probably twice as many new sff and related releases this month in traditional publishing not to speak of the countless indies from Amazon and Smashwords but we are limiting ourselves to books that will be reviewed here or are similar with such. For the full schedule of May 2011 titles known to us, you can consult the Upcoming Releases page.

The release dates are US unless marked otherwise, though for books released in the UK and US in the same month but on different dates we use the earliest date without comment and they are first edition unless noted differently. The dates are on a best known basis so they are not guaranteed; same about the edition information. Since information sometimes is out of date even in the Amazon/Book Depository links we use for listings, books get delayed or sometimes even released earlier, we would truly appreciate if you would send us an email about any listing with incorrect information.

Sometimes a cover image is not available at the time of the post and also sometimes covers change unexpectedly so while we generally use the Amazon one when available and cross check with Google Images, the ultimate bookstore cover may be different.

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“The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists & Strange Literature” by Jeff VanderMeer. May 1, 2011. Abrams. (MISC)
"The Door to Lost Pages" by Claude Lalumiere. May 3, 2011. Chiz-Zine. (FAN)

“Extremis” by Steve White & Charles E. Gannon. May 3, 2011. Baen. (SF).

“Hounded” by Kevin Hearne. May 3, 2011. Del Rey. (UF).

“Throne of Fire” by Rick Riordan. May 3, 2011. Hyperion. (MG).

“The Damned Busters” by Matthew Hughes. UK May 5, 2011. Angry Robot. (UF).

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“Vampire Warlords” by Andy Remic. UK May 5, 2011. Angry Robot. (FAN).
“Dark Mist Rising” by Anna Kendall. UK May 5, 2011. Gollancz. (YA).

“The Deserter” by Peadar O'Guilin. UK May 5, 2011. David Fickling Books. (YA).

“The Ritual” by Adam Nevill. UK May 6, 2011. Pan Macmillan. (HF).

“Stonewielder” by Ian C. Esslemont. May 10, 2011. Tor. (FAN / US Debut).

“The Chaos Crystal” by Jennifer Fallon. May 10, 2011. Tor. (FAN / US Debut).

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“Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti” by Genevieve Valentine. May 10, 2011. Prime Books. (STPK).

“The Quantum Thief” by Hannu Rajaniemi. May 10, 2011. Tor. (SF / US Debut).

“The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making” by Catherynne M. Valente. May 10, 2011. Feiwel & Friends. (YA).

“Hell's Bells” by John Connolly. UK May 12, 2011. Hodder & Stoughton. (YA).

“A Girl Called Tennyson” by Joan Givner. May 15, 2011. Thistledown Press. (MG).

“Embassytown” by China Mieville. May 17, 2011. Del Rey. (SF).

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“Eclipse 4: New Science Fiction & Fantasy” ed. Jonathan Strahan. May 17, 2011. Night Shade Books. (ANTHO).

“The Dark City” by Catherine Fisher. May 17, 2011. Dial. (YA / US Debut).

“The Order of the Scales” by Stephen Deas. UK May 19, 2011. Gollancz. (FAN).

“Savage City” by Sophia McDougall. UK May 19, 2011. Gollancz. (AH).

“City of Ruins” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. May 24, 2011. Pyr. (SF).

“The Falling Machine” by Andrew P. Mayer. May 24, 2011. Pyr. (STPK).

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“The Warlock” by Michael Scott. May 24, 2011. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. (YA).

“Blood Magic” by Tessa Gratton. May 24, 2011. Random House Books for Young Readers. (YA).

“The Girl in the Steel Corset” by Kady Cross. May 24, 2011. Harlequin. (YA / STPK).

“The Necklace of the Gods” by Alison Goodman. UK May 26, 2011. Bantam UK. (FAN).

“Dead of Veridon” by Tim Akers. May 31, 2011. Solaris. (STPK).

“Degrees of Freedom” by Simon Morden. May 31, 2011. Orbit. (SF).

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“Timecaster” by Joe Kimball. May 31, 2011. Ace. (SF).

“The Fecund's Melancholy Daughter” by Brent Hayward. May 31, 2011. ChiZine (FAN).

“Centuries of June” by Keith Donohue.May 31, 2011. Crown. (MISC).

“The Midnight Palace” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. May 31, 2011. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. (YA).

“The Five” by Robert McCammon. May 31, 2011. Subterranean Press. (MISC).

“The Fly-By-Nights” by Brian Lumley. May 31, 2011. Subterranean Press. (HF).