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No. 44, December 2011
Books make wonderful gifts; they're affordable, portable, and there's a title to please most everyone. And if you are giving (or getting) an e-reader this year, many of our titles are also available in ebook editions. This holiday gift guide, our second this season, has some suggestions to get you started.
If you missed our last holiday gift guide-with books for kids and teens, fans of mythology, skeptics and vampire fans alike, plus more-check it out here.
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In the "what makes us tick" category:
 What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should do the Opposite
"[David] DiSalvo will change the way you think about thinking" in this "enjoyable manual to your psyche that may change your life," says New Scientist. "This book is the Swiss Army knife of psychology and neuroscience research," says Joseph T. Hallinan, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Why We Make Mistakes. "Handy, practical, and very, very useful." Psychology Today says DiSalvo details "the mental shortcuts our minds like to take but that don't always serve us well, with the assumption that understanding brain function helps us fight its stubborn behavior."
"This is a fun, sexy, eclectic, and irreverent book by a pioneer of evolutionary consumer psychology," says Geoffrey Miller, author of Spent. "Gad Saad shows how to make Darwinian theory your secret weapon in product development, branding, marketing, and advertising. This work could herald a fundamental change in how we think about the lives of consumers and the nature of business." Booklist adds, "This thought-provoking title induces readers to take a deep look at how they live."
Someone Else's Twin
The Wall Street Journal says Someone Else's Twin "has much to tell us about the ways in which genes, environments and their interactions shape who we are." Kirkus Reviews says, "Nancy Segal's study of switched-at-birth twins reveals much insight into the nature-vs.-nurture paradigm," and calls it "an expert glimpse into the many-faceted world of genetics, family culture and identity."
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Dark, gritty, epic fantasy with a sense of humor:
The First Law:
The Blade Itself;
Before They Are Hanged;
and Last Argument of Kings
from Pyr™
"If you like a very healthy dose of action in your fantasy, search no further," says the Des Plaines Public Library e-newsletter, recommending this trilogy for fans of George R. R. Martin. "Combining...well-defined characters with non-stop adventure and a dark-yet-wry tone is Abercrombie's recipe for success." Asimov's Science Fiction adds, "On a literary level, on the levels of political sophistication, military credibility, down and dirty martial realism, fantasy world-building, characterization, The First Law series is head and shoulders above just about any such stuff I can think of-yes, even Tolkien...."
 The Goblin Corps from Pyr™
"An entertaining twist on the usual fantasy setup...especially for those who are tired of rooting for the heroes and who want the bad guys to have their chance in the spotlight," says Speculative Fiction Examiner. "It's sloppy, smelly, creepy, funny, pulpy, loud rambunctious fun," adds Kobald Quarterly. "This book is schlocky in the best way, rip-snorting fun, a ride through the sewers and up to the heights...a job well done."
The Aeons' Gate:
Tome of the Undergates (Book One)
and Black Halo (Book Two) from Pyr™
"Sam Sykes is a new powerful voice to be reckoned with in the hack and slash rag tag arena of sword and sorcery fantasy," says Writing Ex Libris. "If you like your fantasy dark and twisted...The Aeons' Gate is a series tailor-made for you," says the Civilian Reader.
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For women interested in health andself-improvement:
Gloria Steinem says, "This book is filled with practical wisdom, exercises, and exactly the right advice to help you overcome barriers to becoming a welcome, passionate, effective speaker." Ann F. Lewis, former White House director of communications, adds," This book is a great resource for every woman who wants to make her voice heard: proven techniques, real-life examples, and helpful tips on how to make the most of every presentation-from school seminars and business meetings to local political campaigns and nationally televised debates."
 The Complete Book of Bone Health
"[T]his book covers the waterfront when it comes to bone health. Written by a well-known bone researcher and medical doctor, with a foreword by ex-astronaut Sally Ride (one of her former patients), it looks at everything anyone would need to know about osteoporosis. It's as reader-friendly as a medical-advice book can be," says Booklist. "Women concerned with their bone health will want to thumb through this book before, during, and after their visits to their doctor."
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For steampunk fans:
 Weird Westerns:
The Buntline Special
and The Doctor and the Kid from Pyr™ In a starred review, Booklist called The Doctor and the Kid a "mad mixture of steampunk and magic set in an alternate Wild West...hugely entertaining and should please fans of sf and westerns." Publishers Weekly says "[F]ast guns, fast plotting, and a comfortably entertaining writing style make [The Doctor and the Kid] a rollicking Western with a steampunk tweak."
The Society of Steam: The Falling Machine (Book One) and Hearts of Smoke and Steam (Book Two) from Pyr™
Clay and Susan Griffith, authors of the Vampire Empire trilogy, say, "If Stan Lee had lived in the 1880s, this is [what] he would have written-steampunk superheroes." The Portland Book Review likes The Society of Steam's "rollicking action...plucky super-heroine, impossible gadgets, and some truly villainous evildoers...Readers who love adventure, romance, and tales of derring-do will love [it]."
San Francisco Book Review calls this "an utterly delicious helter-skelter romp through a mind-blowing steampunk diorama full of giant swans, steam-driven vehicles made from the cannibalized shells of gigantic insects, foul-mouthed parakeets that can talk, and all other manner of extraordinary and grotesque beings. Hodder crafts a mesmerizing and delicious steam-driven landscape of an alternate London where science and séances exist side-by-side and are used without restraint to further devious schemes...Highly recommended for any steampunk fan and for any reader who's looking for an out-of-the-norm read."
Ghosts of War from Pyr™
"This sequel to Ghosts of Manhattan pits the superhero protagonist against a mad scientist in an action-packed story patterned after the pulp fiction novels of the mid-20th century," says Library Journal. "Fans of steampunk and noir fantasy should enjoy this unassuming adventure." Astro Guyz adds, "With no shortage of non-stop action, Ghosts of War delivers the goods, in the vein of some classic Golden Age superheroes such as Batman or the Sandman...pure fun and action!"
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Election-year economists and policy wonks, take note:
Senator John Kerry calls this "an important chronicle of America's history with health reform." Publishers Weekly says, "In this level-headed look at health care policy, Altman and Shactman tease out the paradoxes from the politics...This eminently accessible study offers the answers."
"This easily digestible call to action combines information technology and value-based solutions to solve the seemingly insurmountable health system challenges that we as individuals, and as a nation, face every day," says William Frist, former US senator from Tennessee. David A. Shore, PhD, associate dean and director of the Forces of Change Program at the Harvard School of Public Health says, "I highly recommend this book to everyone who is impacted by the healthcare industry-which means every one of us."
In this candid, sobering assessment of our current fiscal maladies, economist Robert H. Parks explains why he predicts capitalism is now rushing to its demise. He offers a stark yet compelling critique of capitalism at its ugliest and a clarion call for change in our national agenda and policy making.
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Physics fan on your list?
"A sparkling and articulate new account of how the quantum revolution changed 20th century science - and, as a further delight, how physics and poetry can speak the same language," says the Chicago Tribune. "A peek into the wonders of modern physics-from early 'Eureka' moments to field theory and string theory-in a highly accessible introduction to third millennium science," adds Publishers Weekly.
"In recent years many such examples of how the laws of physics have been "fine-tuned" for us to be here have been reported. Some religious people claim these "cosmic coincidences" are evidence of a grand design by a Supreme Being," notes New Scientist. "In The Fallacy of Fine-tuning, physicist Victor Stenger makes a devastating demolition of such arguments." CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries adds that it's "written in a plainspoken fashion that physicists as well as general readers will find refreshing. Highly recommended."
 The Joy of Physics
"Filled with examples and simple demonstrations and experiments you can do yourself, it's a hands-on approach to the fun of discovery," says Skeptical Inquirer. Here is a route not only to understanding physics-which, after all, deals with the biggest cosmic questions such as workings of the universe-but doing physics."
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Science fiction thrills:
The Dervish House (now in paperback) from Pyr™
The New York Times Book Review calls this "an audacious look at the shift in the power centers of the world and an intense vision of one possible future." Adds Booklist, "[Ian] McDonald creates a magnificent knot of intrigue, thrills, and daring adventures, with the flair for character and setting that makes his tales so satisfying to indulge in." And Pat's Fantasy Hotlist says it's "as close to perfection as a book can get...If you only have money to buy a single sci-fi novel...this has to be it. Impossible to put down."
Ian McDonald's first Young Adult novel--called" action packed, wildly imaginative, and full of heart" by Cory Doctorow--will also appeal to grown-up readers. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews says, "Shining imagination, pulsing suspense and sparkling writing make this one stand out."
 Restoration Game
from Pyr™
"A compulsively readable suspense tale that blends magical realism with hints of another world," says Library Journal. "Nominated for a 2010 British Science Fiction Award for Best Novel, this work of speculative fiction set in the near future provides a knotty puzzle as well as a coming-of-age tale as a young woman journeys to find her true destiny." Astro Guyz calls it "a smart cyber-thriller that runs an interesting course of alternate history... Its world is as timely as the latest iPhone release, and Krassnia, while fictional could be a page right out of Soviet 20th century history."
Tor.com calls it "an excellent novel that combines adventure and excitement with solid world-building and subtle narration. By the time you turn the final page, you'll be very eager to find out where Kristine Kathryn Rusch is going to take this series next." The Speculative Fiction Examiner gives it five stars, noting, "Rusch keeps the science accessible, the cultures intriguing, and the characters engaging. For anyone needing to add to their science fiction library, keep an eye out for this."
Cowboy Angels from Pyr™
"It's a thinking-man's novel pumped up on a thriller pace, with plenty of technological quirks and multiverse theory to satisfy science fiction fans...while remaining accessible to the reader who just wants a solid story," says the Speculative Fiction Examiner, "a fast-paced read that combines two familiar concepts-the spy thriller and the multiverse-resulting in a story that is more than the sum of its parts." Publishers Weekly adds that "this gripping tale...provides nonstop action, a believably damaged hero, and a complex set of mysteries that will keep the reader breathlessly turning pages."
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Series fiction lovers, take note:
 Quantum Gravity:
Keeping it Real; Selling Out;
Going Under;
Chasing the Dragon; and
Down to the Bone from Pyr™
With both a cyborg special agent and an elfin rock star, the five-book Quantum Gravity series "skillfully builds a seamless connection between SF and fantasy," says Library Journal. "Featuring a strong, action-oriented heroine and a unique world setting [this has] appeal to fans of contemporary culture and mature YAs." Entertainment Weekly says it's for "fans of...Tolkien, had he gone electric, dropped acid, and discovered tantric sex" and Ain't It Cool News says it "isn't SF for SF readers. This is SF for a generation raised on anime, manga, and MMORPGs."
 A Trial of Blood and Steel:
Sasha; Petrodor; Tracato; and Haven from Pyr™
"If you're looking for a solid fantasy series that's low on magic and high on morally ambiguous characters and complex politics in the vein of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire...look no further," says Tor.com. "It's a textbook example of how to structure a fantasy series." Night Owl Reviews recommends this four-book series "for readers who like their fantasy with plenty of military action and politics and a strong female lead." Monsters and Critics calls it "an intense political and moral fantasy epic."
The Legends of the Raven:
from Pyr™
In this four-book fantasy saga, "there are desperate rear-guard actions, extreme violence, and cliff-hanger risk taking that make Indiana Jones look like a cringing couch potato," says SFX. "Barclay delivers the goods. Rousing stuff."
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Math Appreciation:
 Math for the Frightened
"Some people love math, some hate it, and some are scared of it. Math for the Frightened provides a trauma-free entry into the world of numeracy,
written by someone who is on your side. It even gives away the big secret: math really is useful," says Ian Stewart, author, The Mathematics of Life. "What a great way to get your brain back into gear, face your fears, and watch them vanish as your comfort level with math dramatically improves."
"A delight," says Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor, the City University of New York. "An inviting and highly accessible exploration of the beauty and enchantment of mathematics, full of intrigue and surprises." Peter Skalicky, Professor and rector, Vienna University of Technology, Austria, adds, "This book, in a fascinating fashion, highlights the beauty that the golden ratio brings to mathematics (and beyond) so that we get a better appreciation of mathematics. The more math-oriented reader as well as the lay reader will revel in the joys of these math gems! Most joyful reading!"
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Don't see the ideal title here? Check out November's holiday gift guide here or browse online at prometheusbooks.com and pyrsf.com for more great options.
We hope our gift guides and online catalogs help you find just the right books for the readers on your list, or inspire you to give yourself the gift of a good read!
Happy holidays and thank you for reading!
Jill Maxick
Vice President of Marketing and Director of Publicity
Prometheus Books
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