Spotlight on December Books

This month we are featuring 30 books. There are more than 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 December 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 Since information sometimes is out of date even in the Amazon links we use for listings, books get delayed or sometimes even released earlier, we would truly appreciate if you would send us an email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 Hedgewitch Queen” by Lilith Saintcrow. Release Date: December 1, 2011. Published by Orbit. (FAN).
“Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell. UK Release Date: December 1, 2011. Published by Gollancz. (Collection).

“Supervolcano: Eruption” by Harry Turtledove. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Roc. (SF).
“Earthbound” by Joe Haldeman. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Ace. (SF).

“Honor's Paradox” by P.C. Hodgell. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Baen. (FAN).
“Galactic Courier” by A. Bertram Chandler. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Baen. (Omnibus).

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“An Ill Fate Marshalling” by Glen Cook. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Night Shade Books. (FAN).

“Himmler's War” by Robert Conroy. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Baen. (AH).

“Of Limited Loyalty” by Michael A. Stackpole. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Night Shade Books. (AH).

“The Miscellaneous Fictions of Clark Ashton Smith” by Clark Ashton Smith. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Night Shade Books. (Collection).

“The Emperor's Knife” by Mazarkis Williams. Release Date: December 6, 2011. Published by Night Shade Books. (FAN).

“Myths of Origin: Four Short Novels” by Catherynne M. Valente. Release Date: December 6, 2012. Published by Wyrm Publishing. (MISC).

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“Planesrunner” by Ian McDonald. Release Date: December 6, 2012. Published by Pyr. (YA).

“Artemis” by Philip Palmer. Release Date: December 12, 2011. Published by Orbit. (SF).

“Rise of Empire” by Michael J. Sullivan. Release Date: December 14, 2011. Published by Orbit. (FAN / Omnibus).
“Count to a Trillion” by John C. Wright. Release Date: December 20, 2011. Published by Tor. (SF).
“Touch of Power” by Maria V. Snyder. Release Date: December 20, 2011. Published by Mira. (UF).

“City of Light and Shadow” by Ian Whates. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by Angry Robot. (FAN).

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“Babylon Steel” by Gaie Sebold. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by Solaris. (FAN).
“Empire State” by Adam Christopher. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by Angry Robot. (SF).
“The Demi-Monde: Winter” by Rod Rees. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by William Morrow. (SF).
“77 Shadow Street” by Dean Koontz. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by Bantam. (MISC).

“Hell Train” by Christopher Fowler. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by Solaris. (HF).

“Bestial” by William D. Carl. Release Date: December 27, 2011. Published by Permuted Press. (HF / Reprint).

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“Dark Revelations” by Anthony E. Zuiker & Duane Swierczynski. Release Date: December 29, 2011. Published by Dutton. (MISC).
“Phases of Gravity” by Dan Simmons. Release Date: December 31, 2011. Published by Subterranean Press. (SF).
“Gothic High-Tech” by Bruce Sterling. Release Date: December 31, 2011. Published by Subterranean Press. (SF).
“The Ballad of Ballard & Sandrine” by Peter Straub. Release Date: December 31, 2011. Published by Subterranean Press. (Novella).
“All About Emily” by Connie Willis. Release Date: December 31, 2011. Published by Subterranean Press. (Novella).
“Hidden” by Kelley Armstrong. Release Date: December 31, 2011. Published by Subterranean Press. (UF).