7 Books for Speculative Fiction Fans

November is a great month for speculative fiction fans. Nothing is better than escaping to another world when pre-holiday stress gets to be too much. Here are seven recent and forthcoming fantasy and science-fiction books to ease you into the end-of-year shopping and socializing frenzy.

• Artemis by Andy Weir (Crown, Nov. 14): The first city on the moon is dominated by the rich and richer, so what's a lowly porter to do? Jazz supplements her resources by smuggling and taking odd (illegal) jobs, one of which exposes her to information that threatens her life and could change the power structure of the lunar settlement.
• City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (Harper Voyager, Nov. 14): In the Ottoman Empire, family-less street urchins must get by as best they can, and Nahri earns her keep by reading fortunes, healing the sick, and indulging in a little thievery. She has plans for a better future, until she unwittingly awakens a djinn and discovers she can't escape her past or her fate.
• The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories by Charlaine Harris (Ace, Nov. 21): Whether you're a fan of the original books or met Sookie through the HBO's True Blood, you'll love revisiting Bon Temps, LA, for more fun with your favorite not-quite-human friends. The ten stories are gathered into a single volume for the first time.
• Jade City by Fonda Lee (Orbit, Nov. 7): In an alternative Chinese world, jade is the key to magical abilities, and families vie for control, especially after the development of a power-enhancing drug. This adult fantasy involves clan wars, family loyalty, and life outside the law. Kirkus made comparisons to the Godfather books.

• Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller (Delacorte, Oct. 31): Billed as a kind of Westworld for teens, this science-fiction thriller explores the future of full-experience gaming, in which players believe they face no limits or consequences. Instead of the Wild West, expect familiar fantasy elements, such as dragons and wizards.
• This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada (Simon Pulse, Nov. 7): When a devastating plague hits a high-tech future world, a teenage gene hacker races to find, understand, and produce her late-father's potential vaccine. The lines between friends and enemies, truth and fiction blur in this action-adventure science fiction tale.
• The Wild Book by Juan Villoro (Restless Books, Nov. 14): Who can resist a story in which books (literary) come alive, moving on their own and stealing from each other. This coming-of-age story for middle grade readers is set in Mexico and will appeal to book lovers and fans of magical realism.