The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter: The legendary Terry Pratchett teams with co-author Stephen Baxter for the first volume in a new series, a sci-fi tale spanning nearly a century.

Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds: The acclaimed author of Revelation Space returns with this tale set 150 years in the future, in a world where humanity has colonized the Moon and Mars and one man must delve into his wealthy, spacefaring family's deepest secrets.

Further: Beyond the Threshold by Chris Roberson: Though he's perhaps best known these days for his work on comics like iZombie and Superman, Roberson is also an accomplished novelist. This story, about a captain who awakes from a 12,000-year cryogenic sleep and begins a search for alien intelligence, is one of the most praised sci-fi reads of the year.

The Killing Moon by N. K. Jemisin: From the World Fantasy Award-nominated author of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms comes the beginning of another thrilling fantasy series that's already appeared on several best-of lists this year.

2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson: The celebrated author of the Mars trilogy returns with this tale of humanity's far future, and an event that could reverse all our progress and destroy all the worlds we've created in the far reaches of space.

The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks: Banks returns to his fan-favorite Culture universe with this story of a fugitive soldier who must seek out a 9,000-year-old being believed to be the oldest in the Culture. This is a great read for first time Banks readers and old veterans alike.

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson Best known for his work in completing Robert Jordan's massive Wheel of Time series and his own bestselling Mistborn trilogy, Sanderson's latest fantasy is the story of a girl whose forgeries and thefts come with an almost impossible price.

Railsea by China Mieville: One of the most acclaimed fantasy authors of his generation returns with his first young adult release, a re-imagining of Moby Dick that packs all the weirdness you expect from a Mieville novel in a more teen-friendly package.

Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers: The World Fantasy Award-winning author's latest book takes us into 1860s London for a refreshing vampire tale that features vampiric fiction pioneer Dr. John Polidori as a bloodsucking spirit in his own right.

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson: Best known for highly acclaimed comics work like her debut graphic novel Cairo, Wilson's latest book is the tale of a hacker in hiding caught in a web of secrets and danger. It also happens to be one of the most celebrated works of genre fiction released this year.