Adam over at The Wertzone has compiled a huge list of upcoming novels for 2009. just taking a brief look at the list has me confident that we won’t have nearly as many bloggers bellyaching at the end of the year about the supposed quality of released (2008 has been much maligned in the past several weeks….)

A few of the standouts for me:

The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
Gollancz (UK): out now
Del Rey (USA): 20/01/09

Richard Morgan’s first fantasy novel is a gripping, taut and visceral story with some brilliant worldbuilding and terrific ideas. Expect more criticism of the explicit sex and violence when the book hits US stores, but this is a first-rate novel, although admittedly not Morgan’s best work.

Drood by Dan Simmons
Little, Brown (USA): 09/02/09
Quercus (UK): 05/03/09

Simmons’ new novel is a mammoth historical tome about the end of Charles Dickens’ life and his incomplete final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The SF&F elements are reportedly minor, but this should prove to be an interesting read regardless.

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
HarperCollins Voyager (UK): out now
Del Rey (USA): 10/03/09

The US publication of Peter Brett’s much-acclaimed debut novel, which was published last year under the title The Painted Man. A vivid and interesting premise and world give rise to a story with plenty of excellent twists and turns.

The City and the City by China Mieville
Macmillan (UK): 15/05/09
Del Rey (USA): 26/05/09

Mieville’s new book is a stand-alone noir thriller set in a fictional pair of eastern European cities. His publishers are extremely excited about this novel, naming it his best work to date. This is easily one of my most eagerly-awaited books of the year.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Tor (USA): 09/06/09

Sanderson’s new stand-alone following his acclaimed Mistborn trilogy has been developed in full public view on his website, with new full drafts of chapters and the entire book published upon completion so readers can follow the writing process. The published novel will likely be another big success for him, and raise awareness of his name ahead of the publication of the final Wheel of Time novel – which he is completing – at the end of the year.

Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton
Tor (UK): 12/06/09

SF&F blogger and commentator Newton’s debut novel and the first book in his Legends of the Red Sun series is already generating some pre-release buzz, and should be well worth a look when it comes out.

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
Gollancz (UK): 18/06/09
Orbit US: 29/07/09

Abercrombie’s follow-up to the First Law trilogy is a stand-alone set in the same world, although expect a few cross-overs from minor characters. It is a tale of mayhem, blood and murder set in the lands of Styria, and should be an interesting change of pace and focus from Abercrombie’s debut work.

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
HarperCollins Voyager (UK): 01/07/09

Hobb returns to the world of the Six Duchies with this stand-alone novel set in the Liveship Traders mileu.

Shadowrise by Tad Williams
DAW (USA): November 2009
Orbit Books (UK): tbc

The epic conclusion to Williams’ Shadowmarch Trilogy.

Quite a list, eh? Adam also has other major releases like Patrick Rothfuss’ The Wise Man’s Fear, George R.R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons and Scott Lynch’s The Republic of Theives, but I’ll have to be holding copies of those in my hands before I truly believe they’re coming. If even two of the three make it out in 2009, we’re sure in for a hell of a treat.

Make sure you check out Adam’s whole list (because I haven’t touched on even half the novels on there) HERE.

Discussion
  • Larry January 1, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    Am I one of the few who found things to praise about the 2008 releases? I thought it was a fine year for YA, translated SF, and especially for anthologies and short story collections.

    Wert’s list is a very nice one, but he left out a few. Seen any that you think will be out in 2009 that isn’t on there?

  • aidan January 1, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    I’m on your side in this, Larry. I don’t particularily like to compare year against year, but 2009 saw me reading a fine collection of novels over the months. It may not have had the heavy hitters of the last few years, especially in the case of new authors (Rothfuss, Lynch, Durham), but it certainly wasn’t a slouch of a year either.

    The big one on my list, which is only debatebly SF, is Zafón’s The Angel’s Game. I’m also looking forward to new efforts from Terry Brooks and hopefully something new from Tobias Buckell as well.

  • Larry January 1, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    Yeah, like books, years should only be judged on its own merits, not on the merits of other books/years. Hrmm… I just realized that I didn’t list Durham’s second Acacia book, as it’s coming out this autumn, I believe. As for the Zafón, this one is a bit more genre-related; hard for it not to be, with that ending.

  • edifanob January 2, 2009 at 1:36 am

    Don’t forget January 2009 Spotlight by Robert http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2008/12/spotlight-books-of-january-2009.html

    Anyway KUDOS! to Adam, Larry and Robert.

  • Mark January 2, 2009 at 2:59 am

    Hey Aidan,

    Just a minor correction for Adam: “Nights of Villjamur” is published by Tor in the UK, and not the US! But thanks for the mention. :)

  • aidan January 2, 2009 at 9:15 am

    Thanks Mark. Goes to show that even when you’re cutting and pasting, you should do your homework. I’ve gone ahead and changed it.

    Also, what’re the chances of me getting a review copy of your novel?

  • Mark January 2, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Thanks, Aidan. The chances are very high indeed! Drop me an email – are you in touch with the guys at Pan Macmillan at all?

  • Yellowcard—Lights And Sounds / Updates January 2, 2009 at 10:00 am

    […] and I’m hacking through my inbox as quickly as possible to answer. And thanks to various folk who have given it a mention on their site recently—it’s very […]