ALSO OUT
global embargo means we can’t give you our verdict on (out now, Century), Ernest Cline’s sequel to his VR hit, but expect another avalanche of (out now, Harper Voyager) kicks off , an epic fantasy trilogy in which an empire’s people are bound together by magical music. meets Stephen King in Andrew Schaffer’s festive horror-comedy (out now, Quirk); set in the ’80s, it sees a publishing employee receiving a cursed object. (10 December, Head Of Zeus) brings together 100 short stories on artificial intelligence, dating from 1837 to the present day, by authors ranging from Charles Dickens to Cory Doctorow. Mary Robinette Kowal’s Hugo-winning series – set in an alternate 20th century where humanity unites to colonise the Moon and Mars – has clocked up book three with (out now, Solaris). Brandon Sanderson’s saga also rumbles on with fourth entry (out now, Gollancz). (out now, Hodder) needs no explanation. A swanky collector’s edition box set is also available, featuring three hardbacks with cloth-effect covers; the first comes signed by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. Finally, if you’re short of present ideas for a Trekkie, (10 December, Abrams) might make a decent stocking filler; it collects over 150 classic Jean-Luc quotes.
