Announcing Nebula Award Nominees


The Science Fiction Writers of America have published their list of Nebula Award nominees for 2010. Nominees include example of are both traditional sci-fi and genre-blending, such as alternate history and paranormal romance. The winner will be announced on May 21, but until then, why not read a few and decide on your own favorite?
The Native Star by MK Hobson
In 1876, witch Emily Edwards is forced to run for her life when an enchanted artifact falls into her possession, and she teams up with a warlock from New York City to unlock the secret of the mysterious artifact.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin
After Yeine Darr is summoned to the city of Sky and named heiress to the king of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, she is thrust into a fierce power struggle, and drawn ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death.

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
In a Jane Austen-inspired alternate universe, two sisters, one beautiful and the other skilled in the glamour arts, test the limits of their gifts on an unscrupulous suitor.

Echo by Jack McDevitt
Antiques dealer Alex Benedict and his assistant look for a stone tablet that may prove the existence of several forms of alien life, an investigation that sends them into the path of an assassin.
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
Born into post-apocalyptic Africa to a mother who was raped after the slaughter of her entire tribe, Onyesonwu is tutored by a shaman and discovers that her magical destiny is to end the genocide of her people.

Blackout by Connie Willis
Stranded in the past during World War II, three researchers from the future investigate period behavior and seek each other out in a shared effort to return to their own time.

What Not to Read

Although book reviews contributed by this year's Winter Reading Club members have been mostly positive, a few of you have expressed your disappointment by sharing reviews with the lowest possible rating: 1 out of 5 stars. Here are two of them:

The Orange Eats Creeps by Grace Krilanovich
In the Pacific Northwest a band of hobo vampire junkies roam about trashing supermarkets, crashing rock shows, and ruining senior center pancake breakfasts while under the influence of Robitussin. A girl with drug-induced ESP and an eerie connection to Patty Reid (a young member of the Donner Party who credited her survival to her relationship with a hidden wooden doll) searches for her disappeared foster sister while being stalked by a killer known as Dactyl. Sounds good, right? Wrong! Interesting ramblings but no cohesive story. Add it to the shelf of "books I couldn't finish."

The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes
This is my first Marian Keyes book and possibly my last. Her writing style and plots are too bizarre for me. I couldn't get into this book. Too many things happening and no clue as to why. This book overall just didn't do it for me.
Have you ever grabbed a book that looked interesting only to discover it was not at all what you expected? Comment!

Winter Reading Club Update, Week 3

Three weeks into the Winter Reading Club and the website already has 230+ book reviews! Congratulations to C.B., who won Week Three's prize basket, "Tea for Two." Keep the entries coming; the next raffle prize is "Saving for a Rainy Day" and the drawing for it will be held first thing on Monday, 2/28. Haven't joined the reading club? It's not too late; sign up here or by calling the Adult Reference Desk at (631) 399-1511 x 240. All adult cardholders are welcome. For your browsing pleasure, here are some of the books that received excellent reviews in the winter reading club this week (click the covers to see the complete record & reserve your own copy):





New Release: When the Killing's Done by T.C. Boyle

Released today, When the Killing's Done by T.C. Boyle is rated one of Bookpage's 20 most anticipated releases of 2011. This work of environmental fiction follows a Natural Park Service biologist as she works to prevent invasive, non-native creatures (as well as certain human locals) from destroying an island's natural ecosystem. If you're interested in reading about environmental issues, you can also try The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed (2005) by John Valiant, or the fictional work Antarctica (1998) by Kim Stanley Robinson, about the scramble to profit off the south pole. Leave a suggestion if you can recommend any other titles for eco-friendly types!

Celebrating Presidents' Day & Black History Month

The Black History of the White House explores the complicated history of race in America by taking an unflinching look at the checkered past of the presidential residence. Juxtaposing significant events in White House history with the ongoing struggle for civil rights, Clarence Lusane makes plain that the White House has always been a prism through which to view the social struggles and progress of black Americans. Celebrate Presidents' Day and Black History Month with this thought-provoking work of nonfiction.

February/March 2011 new books!

Did you know that you can place holds on most library items before their official release date? Get a jump on the crowd and reserve one of these brand-new and coming-soon titles.

FICTION

NONFICTION

Winter Reading Club Update, Week 2

Two weeks into the Winter Reading Club and the website already has 112 posted book reviews! Congratulations to S.A., who won Week Two's prize basket, "A Whole Lotta Love." Keep the entries coming; the next raffle prize is "Tea for Two" and the drawing for it will be held first thing on Monday, 2/21. Haven't joined the reading club? It's not too late; sign up here or by calling the Adult Reference Desk at (631) 399-1511 x 240. All adult cardholders are welcome. For your browsing pleasure, here are some of the books that received excellent reviews in the winter reading club this week (click the covers to see the complete record & reserve your own copy):