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by Robin Hobb

All the things I loved about the earlier Fitz books are here again: Hobb's ability to take you deep inside the characters' inner workings, the reappearance of many old friends from the previous books. The opening finds Fitz living in relative peace at Withywoods with his beloved wife, Molly, but naturally that doesn't last long, and the book ends with a good, solid cliffhanger. Hobb is in fine form here.

by Joe Abercrombie

I was completely immersed in Yarvi's story by the second page, and I read this book every chance I could get until it was over. Yarvi is a prince who unexpectedly becomes king, is nearly murdered shortly after being crowned, escapes death only to be enslaved... and that's when the real fun begins. Abercrombie keeps the pace brisk enough for even the most reluctant of readers.

by Kameron Hurley

Tired of cookie-cutter plots and hackneyed characters? Here's your next book. Inventive, stellar world-building. Satellites, blood magic, and war aplenty. You haven't read anything like this. Hurley's writing just keeps getting better and better. I've been a fan of the author since God's War, and she is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

by Sebastien de Castell

Swashbuckling sass and rollicking adventure. The minute Falco jumped out a window, I knew I was in for a good read. Lots of sword fights, plenty of harebrained schemes, and a cracking good story with zesty dialogue. Fans of Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora will devour this with gusto.

by Andy Weir

Nail-biting suspense. An astronaut is separated from his group and inadvertently stranded on Mars. Will he be rescued? Forced to battle the elements, temperamental machinery, and an uncertain supply of food and water, his survival is tenuous at best. Told in the form of a logbook, The Martian is certain to keep you up way past your bedtime. This is a good choice for fans of hard sci-fi.

by Jeff Vandermeer

In between these beautifully designed covers are some of Vandermeer's most inventive and creepy adventures. All three volumes of the Southern Reach Trilogy were released in 2014, so you won't have to wait years to find out how the story ends. They're available in a single-volume edition complete with brilliant cover art.

edited by Leslie S. Klinger

With its gorgeous production, from the waving tentacles on the cover to the meticulous annotations, this one gets it just right. It would definitely make a stunning holiday gift. Not everything that Lovecraft wrote is here, but at 928 pages, there's plenty to enjoy.

by Jeff VanderMeer and Desirina Boskovich

Several years ago, VanderMeer put out The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature. This is a companion book, full of photographs of makers and their diverse creations. It would be a great gift for any creative type on your list; there really is something for everyone here. Instructions for several projects are included.

by Mark Lawrence

Prince of Fools is essentially a tale of two opposites: Jalan, a self-professed coward highly skilled at avoiding responsibility, 10th in line for the throne; and Snorri, a mighty warrior and survivor of countless battles from the frozen north. Bound together by an act of magic, they must travel together through the frozen wilderness of Snorri's homeland. If you've read Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy, this is set in the same world but has a much different tone. It's funnier and less violent, but still action-packed.

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