Hey hey it’s the standalone space opera with gooey organic worldships and warring matriarchies you’ve all been waiting! The Stars are Legion is out today in the US and UK/Commonwealth.
But don’t take my word for all this awesome!
Here’s what people are saying:
“Grabs you like a gravity well and won’t let go. This is a dark, haunting, recursive tale, unlike any other space opera with which you’re familiar. Discovering Kameron Hurley’s work is like finding a whole new galaxy, and she is the star at its center.”
—Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath
“With mind-bending betrayals, heart-wrenching loves, souls and bodies driven to frenetic motion by war and hope, The Stars are Legion is a profoundly moving tale of self-discovery and self-construction in a world as wondrously layered as its unforgettable protagonist.”
—Ken Liu, author of The Grace of Kings
“Badass.”
—John Scalzi
“The Stars Are Legion is poised to be Kameron Hurley’s mainstream breakthrough, but apparently no one told her. It’s unlike any space opera you’ve ever read—a bizarro blend of New Weird adventure, political thriller, and body horror; and an intimate examination of two deeply damaged women. It’s as visceral and violently angry as anything she’s ever written, a ragged scream from the heart of a broken world—but one not past mending, if there are people brave enough to build a better one.”
—Joel Cunningham, Barnes and Noble SFF Review
“A visceral, optimistic mashup of new weird and grimdark science fiction that is a cracking good read. Hurley has really leveled up.”
—- MaryJo Schimelpfenig, Powell’s Books
And the media!
—Washington Post “Best SF/F to read in February”
“Hurley’s take is one-of-a-kind: equal parts love story and revenge tale, mixed with adventure science fiction and body horror.”
—Chicago Tribune “Kameron Hurley’s all-woman space opera leads our science-fiction roundup”
“the most unusual and powerfully disturbing space operas we’re likely to see this year.”
–Publishers Weekly STARRED review
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4814-4793-5
“In a universe where the word for spaceship is the same as for world, two women struggle to escape a perpetual war in this dystopic yet hopeful space opera. Zan works to regain her memory of being the only survivor from a raid on a mystery ship, while stuck in a royal-court setting where she trusts no one but Jayd, her adoptive sister. Jayd, daughter and aide to the Lord Katazyrna, keeps her own secrets, including one that could turn Zan against her. Both are removed from their positions when the Katazyrna are ambushed by rivals, with Zan dropped down a recycler and Jayd taken as consort by the rival lord. Don’t be led astray by the gendered titles; this universe is populated entirely by women. Hugo-winner Hurley (Empire Ascendant) gives the reader little, with both protagonists unable or unwilling to explain much. As they encounter the surprising practices (including blood sacrifice, experimentation on live subjects, and hunting of genetic mutants) among the different layers of the world-ships, the reader shares their astonishment and anxiety. Hurley places herself squarely on the side of love and trust over hate and fear, even as she details how trust can be abused and love can be manipulated. She excels at keeping the reader involved and supportive of Zan and Jayd when they seem most lost, and even when they are most opposed to each other. This gripping book is both hard to read and easy to appreciate. ”
–Kirkus “February’s Must Reads in Science Fiction and Fantasy.”
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/februarys-must-read-science-fiction-and-fantasy/
“This is a space opera that makes readers rethink their default expectations.”
–Publishers Weekly RAN mention of “The Most Anticipated Novels of Spring 2017,” in Tipsheet Newsletter on 1/27
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d684790bedf89afe76e7b9156&id=e8238b8f82&e=32def2663a
–Publishers Weekly “The Most Anticipated Novels of Spring 2017.” 1/25
“Hurley, who’s earned increasing acclaim for both her fiction and her essays, sets this intricate and morally complex novel in a universe of warring world ships populated entirely by women.”
–Kirkus
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kameron-hurley/the-stars-are-legion/
—Publishers Weekly RAN “Spring 2017 Announcements: SF, Fantasy & Horror”also featuring cover photo 12/9 (S&S/FB)
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/72243-spring-2017-announcements-sf-fantasy-horror.html
“Hurley, who’s earned increasing acclaim for both her fiction and her essays, sets this intricate and morally complex novel in a universe of warring world ships populated entirely by women.”
AND THE ONLINES!
–Barnes and Noble Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog “Booksellers Picks,”
“This is space opera like you’ve never seem it—angry, feminist, furiously inventive, and not a little frightening.”
–Barnes and Noble Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog
“This book is unlike any space opera I’ve ever read. I had no idea what to expect, page by page. It is a sweeping epic, monstrous in its intent, naked in its hopes, and devastating in its reveals.”
–Omnivoracious “Weekend Reading”
http://www.omnivoracious.com/2017/01/weekend-reading-amazon-book-review-1.html
Adrian Liang: “The second book with a what-the-heck-is-going-on? vibe is Kameron Hurley’s The Stars Are Legion, an SF novel told mostly from the point of view of Zan, a warrior whose memory disappears every time she enters a worldship in an attempt to overthrow it. Zan wakes after her most recent attack in the middle of a space war, and the person who tells her to trust her is the one person she yearns to trust the most but knows she must not. Zan’s amnesia, worldships and space-faring vehicles that are organic rather than metal, and secrets layered upon secrets make this a mesmerizing read.”
–Barnes and Noble Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Blog “The Science Fiction and Fantasy Books We Loved in October,’
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/science-fiction-fantasy-books-loved-october/
Joel: “The Stars Are Legion is poised to be Kameron Hurley’s mainstream breakthrough, but apparently no one told her. It is unlike any space opera you’ve ever read—its story of two warring families seeking to control a galaxy patrolled by grotesque organic worldships is a bizarro blend of New Weird adventure, political thriller, and body horror; and an intimate examination of two deeply damaged women. It’s as visceral and violently angry as anything she’s ever written, a ragged scream from the heart of a broken world—but one not past mending, if there are people brave enough to build a better one. This book isn’t out until February; best start preparing yourself for it now.”
–Michael Patrick Hicks
http://www.michaelpatrickhicks.com/blog/2017/1/6/review-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley
“The world-building, though, is where The Stars Are Legion really shines. Hurley takes the literary technique of world-building up a notch by making actual world building a strong element of the plot itself.”
–Ann Leckie
http://www.annleckie.com/2016/11/19/things-ive-read-lately/
“So, this is chock full of action and fights and battles and betrayals and political intrigue. And those world-ships? They are all biological. Nothing in this fleet is built, it’s all birthed, and there are tentacles and blood and mucous and body fluids everywhere. It’s kind of awesome fun. You should totally read it when it comes out. In, um, February of next year.”
–Mur Lafferty
http://murverse.com/2016-reading/
http://www.tor.com/sweepstakes/the-stars-are-legion-sweepstakes/
–Bustle “The 17 Best Fiction Books Coming in February 2017.”
https://www.bustle.com/p/the-17-best-fiction-books-coming-in-february-2017-34006
“Violent and imaginative, The Stars Are Legion is exactly the book you’ve been craving.”
–i09 “Plan a Great Escape With All of the New Scifi and Fantasy Books in February,” o
http://io9.gizmodo.com/plan-a-great-escape-with-all-of-the-new-scifi-and-fanta-1791842017
–The Verge “There are more new science fiction and fantasy novels than you can handle this February,”
http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/1/14146360/sci-fi-fantasy-books-recommendations-february-2017
—Tor.com “Fiction Affliction,”
http://www.tor.com/2017/01/31/fiction-affliction-february-releases-in-science-fiction-5/comment-page-1/
–AutoStradde 45 Queer and Feminist Books You Need to Read in Early 2017
https://www.autostraddle.com/winter-spring-2017-queer-feminist-books-365236/
–io9 “The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Coming in 2017”
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-coming-in-20-1790828758
–The Verge“33 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books That Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2017.”
http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/5/13811144/sci-fi-fantasy-book-recommendations-2017
–Bookriot “New Books for Winter 2017” list on 12/16
http://bookriot.com/2016/12/16/12-new-books-for-winter-2017/
“What makes epic space operas better? When they feature two kick-ass sisters determined to save their war-torn worlds in a universe populated entirely by women. While not for sensitive readers, this brutal story really packs a punch.”
–Girls In Capes
http://girlsincapes.com/2017/02/03/starslegion-hurley/
Legion is a wonderful book, and I did enjoy it for the way it made me think about the world, but it’s not a book to read if you’re looking specifically for better and more diverse types of romances. If you’re not super interested in happy romances, this would be a perfectly fine book for you, but if any book epitomizes our Toxic Romance theme for this month, this one is it.
While I truly enjoyed The Stars Are Legion, it’s definitely not perfect for all readers. It’s a great science fiction read for fantasy-lovers and perfect for people who aren’t precisely squeamish. And, of course, avid Hurley fans will truly enjoy this book.
—Pop Culture Universe
http://pop-verse.com/2017/02/01/the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley/
“The Stars are Legion presents an epic war of families, generations, and worlds amongst an intriguingly unique fictional setting.”
—Best Science Fiction Books to Read in February “Books to look out for in February”
http://bestsciencefictionbooks.com/blog/8-books-to-look-out-for-in-february/
–Grimdark
https://grimdarkmagazine.com/blogs/news/review-of-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley
“The story quickly takes off on a fast pace with plenty of action, conflict, fighting, gore, tension, deceit, revenge, political intrigue, monsters, moral ambiguity, and brilliantly vivid and original world-building that will excite even the most diehard grimdark sci-fi fan.”
–Bibliosanctum
https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/01/30/excerpt-and-giveaway-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley/
Notes: TS wrote to Stephenie about interest in an excerpt
–Fantasy Faction “Most Anticipated Fantasy Novels of 2017: Publisher’s Choice” http://fantasy-faction.com/2017/most-anticipated-fantasy-novels-of-2017-publishers-choice
–The Illustrated Page
https://theillustratedpage.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/review-of-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley/
“The Stars Are Legion is quintessentially Kameron Hurley: violent and feminist. This stand alone science fiction novel is as dark as I’ve come to expect from Hurley, but it has an optimistic heart…The Stars Are Legion has one of the most creative science fiction settings I’ve ever read. ”
–S and F Reviews
http://sfandfreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/kameron-hurley-stars-are-legion.html
The Stars Are Legion is weird, strange, and horrifyingly wondrous. It asks a lot of big questions, and lets us try and find our own answers. Read this one – it’s smart, innovative and compelling in equal measure.”
–BlackGate
https://www.blackgate.com/2017/01/18/future-treasures-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley/
–Unbound Worlds “Top 10 Science Fiction Novels I Want Now.”
http://www.unboundworlds.com/2017/01/top-10-2017-science-fiction-novels-want-now/
–Nerds of A Feather “New Books Spotlight,”
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2017/01/new-books-spotlight.html
Anything from Hurley is an insta-buy for me, and when I read the first chapter on Tor.com, I was hooked.I have been looking forward to this book since they first announced it. Saga Press is on fire with their line-ups.
–LGBTQ Reads “New releases February 2017,”
https://lgbtqreads.com/2017/02/02/new-releases-february-2017/
–Rinn Reads “A Guide to 2017 releases,”
https://rinnreads.co.uk/2017/01/28/guide-2017-releases/
–Ageless Pages Reviews
http://agelesspagesreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-stars-are-legion-by-kameron.html
A unique and strange, fun book, I can say that The Stars Are Legion is definitely one I won’t forget.
–All About Books
http://itsallaboutbooks.de/2017/01/review-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley/
“Kameron Hurley’s The Stars Are Legion is a space opera like never seen before, putting weird on a whole new level, and featuring a fantastic cast of brutal, amazing women.”
–Dreaming About Other Worlds
http://dreamingaboutotherworlds.blogspot.com/2017/01/follow-friday-287-is-shorthand-for.html
–Book Scrolling The Most Anticipated Book Releases of 2017
http://www.bookscrolling.com/anticipated-book-releases-2017-aggregated-list/
–The Little Book Owl ‘Most Anticipated Books of 2017,”
https://thelittlebookowl.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/most-anticipated-books-2017/
–Virginia’s Bookblr “LGBTQIA+ Books Coming Out This Year.”
http://virginiareads.tumblr.com/post/155490203407/lgbtqia-books-coming-out-in-2017
–Stories from the Shelf “January TBR”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=268&v=itSYvn8GNy0
–James Davis Nicoll
http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/seven-times-i-pierce-my-heart
“Very fast paced and impossible to put down.”
–Kalandi“Anticipated 2017 releases,”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peb0jZdMNFw
–Shelf Inflicted
http://www.shelfinflicted.com/2016/12/the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley.html
“.now….you hear that boom? thats Kameron Hurley, she just dropped the mic on scifi for 2017. No spoilers but this story is beautiful, brutal as fuck, giant space opera. Weird, with just touchstones to the world we know and massive in scope. It is how Science fiction SHOULD BE DONE. Show me new worlds and things I never seen, put the bizarre in my face and make me beg you for more.The bar has been raised, 2017…………you have been warned.Don’t request this ARC, come the release date, go throw money at your book seller, THIS is a winner.
–Bibliotropic “Top Ten Books I’m looking foward to in 2017.”
https://bibliotropic.net/2016/12/22/top-10-books-im-looking-forward-to-in-2017/
–Bookstr “Best Books to Read This Winter Break.”
https://www.bookstr.com/article/best-books-to-read-this-winter-break/2911
–Little Book Owl RAN “TTT: Books I’m looking forward to For the first half of 2017.” on 12/13 (S&S/FB)
https://thelittlebookowl.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/ttt-books-im-looking-forward-to-for-the-first-half-of-2017/
–Lynn’s Book Blog “Waiting on Wednesday: The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley #RRSciFiMonth”
https://lynns-books.com/2016/11/30/waiting-on-wednesday-the-stars-are-legion-by-kameron-hurley-rrscifimonth/
“ I haven’t read this author yet but this book sounds amazing and could be the perfect starting place!”
–All About Books “Sci-Fi Month 2016: Upcoming Releases”
http://itsallaboutbooks.de/2016/11/sci-fi-month-2016-upcoming-releases/
“Space opera + stunning cover = sold. Main character is a woman = much excitement. The wait for this one has already been so long (it was announced at the end of 2014!), I have a mighty need”
–Book Escapism youtube video “Add to TBR”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=85&v=sRUuQ1RHCjE
–Books Bones and Buffy RAN “Tammy’s Top Ten Sci-Fi Books For 2017 – #RRSciFiMonth”
http://booksbonesbuffy.com/2016/11/10/tammys-top-ten-sci-fi-books-for-2017-rrscifimonth/
“[Hurley] is an amazing writer and I’d love to read her again. And this blurb from the publisher has hooked me: “In the tradition of The Fall of Hyperion and Dune.”
–Tenacious Reader RAN “Waiting on Wednesday – The Stars are Legion”
http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2016/05/18/waiting-on-wednesday-the-stars-are-legion/
“Because I enjoyed Mirror Empire and Dune, I figure I should give this one a shot as well!”
–New Dehli TV “Gadgets” “Six Exciting SF Books Releasing in February 2017,” on 1/30
GO BUYS IT! YOU’LL LOVES IT! And even if you don’t… it sure will give you something to talk to folks about!
Now I’m off to go… uh, write another book.
