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LJ Best Books 2017 logo

BEST GENRE FICTION

Christian | E-Originals | Historical | Mystery | Romance | SF/Fantasy | Thrillers

SF/Fantasy

  • The Bear and the Nightingale

    Arden, Katherine.
    Del Rey: Ballantine. ISBN 9780765380135. FANTASY

    On her father’s remote northern estate in medieval Russia, young Vasilia communes with the many hidden spirits of the house and forest until her stepmother and the new local priest interfere. A gorgeous ­debut from an author who knows her Russian fairy tales. (LJ 11/15/16)—Megan M. McArdle & Kristi Chadwick

    [ 1 of 5 ]

  • The City of Brass

    Chakraborty, S.A.
    Harper Voyager. ISBN 9780062678102. FANTASY

    Survival in 18th-century Cairo is all Nahri, a young con artist, is planning for, until her tricks turn into real magic when she summons an ancient djinn warrior. Nahri is drawn into a world of djinn tribes, court factions, and a blood lineage she cannot ignore. An exquisite debut imbued with Islamic folklore. (LJ 9/15/17)—Megan M. McArdle & Kristi Chadwick

    [ 2 of 5 ]

  • Down Among the Sticks and Bones

    McGuire, Seanan.
    Tor.com. ISBN 9780765392039. FANTASY

    The follow-up to Every Heart a Doorway reveals how a pair of twins looking to make their own choices became Jack and Jill, unaware of the final cost. An emotional, lyrical fantasy that will grab readers by the heart. (LJ 4/15/17)—Megan M. McArdle & Kristi Chadwick

    [ 3 of 5 ]

  • Autonomous

    Newitz, Annalee.
    Tor. ISBN 9780765392077. SF

    Jack is a space pirate trying to bring down a pharmaceutical company that is creating more harm than health. ­Paladin is a military AI looking to stop Jack while dealing with questions about identity and freedom. This smartly written debut from the former editor in chief of io9 presents current world issues in a futuristic package. (LJ 7/17)—Megan M. McArdle & Kristi Chadwick

    [ 4 of 5 ]

  • An Unkindness of Ghosts

    Solomon, Rivers.
    Akashic. ISBN 9781617755880. SF

    Life on the generation ship Matilda is difficult for the laborers who work the fields and live on the lower decks. Aster’s brilliant mind grants her opportunities but also brings her to the attention of the ship’s brutal new leader. A beautiful and harrowing debut. (LJ 9/15/17)—Megan M. McArdle & Kristi Chadwick

    [ 5 of 5 ]

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2017 BEST BOOKS CONTRIBUTORS

LJ editors are listed by initial at the end of annotations:

  • Mahnaz Dar (MD), Assistant Managing Editor, LJS
  • Kate DiGirolomo (KD), SELF-e Community Coordinator
  • Bette-Lee Fox (BLF), Managing Editor, LJ
  • Liz French (LF), Senior Editor, LJ Reviews
  • Barbara Hoffert (BH), Prepub Alert Editor, LJ Reviews
  • Stephanie Klose (SK), Media Editor, LJ Reviews
  • Amanda Mastrull (AM), Assistant Editor, LJ Reviews
  • Annalisa Pesek (AP), Assistant Managing Editor, LJ Reviews
  • Stephanie Sendaula (SS), Associate Editor, LJ Reviews
  • Wilda Williams (WW), Fiction Editor, LJ Reviews

All outside contributors are listed by name:

  • Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
  • Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL
  • Tom Batten, Grafton, VA
  • Lisa Campbell, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., South Deerfield
  • Sandra Collins, Byzantine Catholic Seminary Lib., Pittsburgh
  • Martha Cornog, Philadelphia
  • Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., IL
  • Rachael Dreyer, Pennsylvania State Univ. Dept. of Libs.
  • Karen Ellis, Taylor P.L., TX
  • Heather Halliday, American Jewish Historical Soc., New York
  • Emilie Hancock, Mount Pleasant Regional Lib., SC
  • Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, Duluth, GA
  • Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN
  • Megan M. McArdle, Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
  • Maria McCarville, Pub. Libs. of Saginaw, MI
  • Elizabeth Nelson, McHenry Cty. Coll. Lib., Crystal Lake, IL
  • Kristin Ramsdell, Libn. Emerita, California State Univ. East Bay
  • Derek Sanderson, Mount Saint Mary Coll. Lib., Newburgh, NY
  • Christine Sharbrough, Tewksbury P.L., MA
  • Lissa Staley, Topeka & Shawnee Cty. P.L., KS
  • Ann Chambers Theis, Henrico Cty. P.L., VA
  • James Wetherbee, Wingate Univ. Libs., NC
  • Gayle Williamson, Fashion Inst. of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles