This Book Isn’t Safe
Hardcover | Kindle
By Colin Furze
Publisher: Razorbill | Penguin Random House
Release date: September 12, 2017

Have you ever wanted to build your own concrete crusher boots, but didn’t know how? Are you tired of other people giving you wedgies when you just want to give one to yourself? Dreamt of drifting away on your own raft? Well, dream no more! I have the book for you! An extremely ridiculous, yet somehow practical and completely nifty tome of crazy inventions is packed with instructions on how to make the above dreams come true.

Such is This Book Isn’t Safe by YouTuber Colin Furze. Check out more on his new book, plus some of his other inventions in the videos below.

The Massacre of Mankind
Sequel to The War of the Worlds
Authorized by the H.G. Wells Estate
Hardcover | Kindle | Audiobook
By Stephen Baxter
Publisher: Crown Publishing | Penguin Random House
Release date: August 22, 2017

Though H.G. Wells‘s The War of the Worlds might not have been the first story to feature Martians coming to Earth, it certainly is the most popular one and has been held up over the years as the ultimate Martian invasion tale. The story, first serialized in magazines in 1897 and then published as a novel in 1898, went on to yield various TV, radio, and film adaptations. Now, with the authorization of the H.G. Wells Estate, Crown Publishing brings us the official sequel with The Massacre of Mankind.

In The Massacre of Mankind: Sequel to The War of the Worlds, author Stephen Baxter picks up 14 years after the infamous Martian invasion on England that introduced the world to the aggressive aliens and their massive three-legged “tripod” fighting-machines. After learning the biological weaknesses of their invaders and studying their technologies, humans are confident now that they can combat any future extraterrestrial onslaught, however unlikely they believe that event may be.

At San Diego Comic-Con last Friday, Lucasfilm publishing held a panel for fans of the plethora of stories in the expanded Star Wars universe. Lucasfilm’s Michael Siglain moderated the panel which included: Ben Blacker, author of the Join the Resistance series, Cullen Bunn, author of Star Wars: Darth Maul, Landry Walker of Star Wars Adventures, Claudia Gray, author of Leia: Princess of Alderaan, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of Star Wars Jedi Academy: The Force Oversleeps, Beth Revis, author of Star Wars: Rebel Rising, and much more.

Check out the entire panel from SDCC 2017 below.

Shadowed Souls
Paperback | Kindle Edition
Edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes
Roc Books, an imprint of Penguin Group
Release Date: November 1, 2016

Now this is my wheelhouse, folks. Dark and twisted, verging on the edge of being considered horror fantasy; full of magic, monsters, and mayhem. Yep, Shadowed Souls has it all. It’s made up of not just one tale, but eleven, all of which are loosely connected through the title of the book. If spooky and abnormal is up your alley, then your alley must look a lot like mine. Edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes, this anthology covers a wide range of fantasy sub-genres, including some I didn’t even realize existed!

I won’t go through every one of the shorts, but there are a few that stand out to me, such as the first story from Butcher himself, Cold Case. While it is part of the Dresden Files, it focuses on Molly Carpenter and her new position as one of the Queens of Winter. Only a week into her gig as the new Winter Lady, she finds herself in scenario that isn’t as cut and dry as what she might like. There are lessons here, but none she will enjoy. She seemed to forget that she was on a mission for Winter; one that was meant to harden her, I presume.

The Vampire Combat Field Guide
A Coloring and Activity Book For Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead
Paperback
Written by Roger Ma
Illustrations by Kurt Miller
Berkley Group | Penguin Random House
Release date: October 6, 2015

In 2012, the Institute for Undead Combat Studies published the The Vampire Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead, a survival guide to coming face-to-face with the ever-popular supernatural beings. The manual, written by Roger Ma, begins with the history and common myths of vampires before moving on to the beings’ anatomy, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. Then, it gets to the good stuff — how to fight a vampire: the training, weapons, strategies, and techniques. By the time you’re done, you should be able to battle alongside Buffy.

But, going up against a powerful creature like a vampire shouldn’t be done lightly. That’s why, when you’re done following the prep and training from the manual, you should brush up on what you’ve learned with its new ancillary, The Vampire Combat Field Guide: A Coloring and Activity Book For Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead. That’s right, it’s a coloring book!!!