The release week of Tuesday August 21 brings another chapter to two classic series, one sf and one fantasy, along with an intriguing horror title.

Fate of Worlds: Return from the Ringworld By Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner, Narrated by Tom Weiner for Blackstone Audio – Series: Ringworld, Book 5 – Length:9 hrs and 54 mins –“The explosive finale to the Ringworld and the Fleet of Worlds series… For decades, the spacefaring species of known space have battled over the largest artifact - and grandest prize - in the galaxy: the all-but-limitless resources and technology of the Ringworld. Now, without warning, the Ringworld has vanished, leaving behind three rival war fleets.”

Wards of Faerie: The Dark Legacy of Shannara By Terry Brooks, Narrated by Rosalyn Landor for Random House Audio (Random House) – Length:14 hrs and 25 mins – “Seven years after the conclusion of the High Druid of Shannara trilogy, New York Times best-selling author Terry Brooks at last revisits one of the most popular eras in the legendary epic fantasy series that has spellbound listeners for more than three decades. When the world was young, and its name was Faerie, the power of magic ruled - and the Elfstones warded the race of Elves and their lands, keeping evil at bay. But when an Elven girl fell hopelessly in love with a Darkling boy of the Void, he carried away more than her heart. Thousands of years later, tumultuous times are upon the world now known as the Four Lands. Users of magic are in conflict with proponents of science. Elves have distanced their society from the other races. The dwindling Druid order and its teachings are threatened with extinction. A sinister politician has used treachery and murder to rise as prime minister of the mighty Federation. Meanwhile, poring through a long-forgotten diary, the young Druid Aphenglow Elessedil has stumbled upon the secret account of an Elven girl’s heartbreak and the shocking truth about the vanished Elfstones. But never has a little knowledge been so very dangerous - as Aphenglow quickly learns when she’s set upon by assassins.”

ALSO OUT TUESDAY:

EARLIER THIS WEEK:

SEEN BUT NOT HEARD:

LATER THIS WEEK:

A Guile of Dragons by James Enge (Pyr, listed as August 24 but already shipping and on shelves) — “It’s dwarves versus dragons in this origin story for Enge’s signature character, Morlock Ambrosius! Before history began, the dwarves of Thrymhaiam fought against the dragons as the Longest War raged in the deep roads beneath the Northhold. Now the dragons have returned, allied with the dead kings of Cor and backed by the masked gods of Fate and Chaos.”

Reaper (Lightbringer #2) , by K.D. McEntire (August 24, Pyr)

, by (August 24, Pyr) Dusk Watchman (The Twilight Reign, Book Five) by Tom Lloyd (Pyr, Aug 24, 2012) — no audio news

NEXT WEEK (Aug 28):

TWO WEEKS (Sep 4):

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama (FS&G, September 4) — “Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.”

The Kingmakers by Clay and Susan Griffith (Pyr, September 4) — the conclusion of their Vampire Empire series which began with 2010’s The Greyfriar and 2011’s The Rift Walker — book one came to audio earlier this year from Buzzy Multimedia, read by James Marsters, and the remaining books will be coming along eventually

The Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaniemi (Tor UK, Sep 4, 2012) — Tor US release in October



Punk: An Aesthetic by Jon Savage, William Gibson, Linder Sterling and Johan Kugelberg (Rizzoli, Sep 4, 2012) — this “heavily illustrated” book is not a good match for audio, but it’s on my list anyway, well, because Gibson. So there.

Teen : Origin by Jessica Khoury (Razorbill, Sep 4)

: Origin by Jessica Khoury (Razorbill, Sep 4) Teen : Blackwood by Gwenda Bond (Strange Chemistry, Sep 4)

: Blackwood by Gwenda Bond (Strange Chemistry, Sep 4) Ashes of Honor (October Daye, #6) by Seanan McGuire (Brilliance Audio, September 6, 2012)

THREE WEEKS (Sep 11):

FOUR WEEKS (Sep 18):

The Forge of Darkness by Steven Erikson (Tor, Sep 18) — begins a new trilogy “that takes place millennia before the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and introduces readers to Kurald Galain, the warren of Darkness.”

Midst Toil and Tribulation (Safehold) by David Weber (Tor, Sep 18)

Collection: Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley (Shock Totem Press, Sep 22)

FIVE WEEKS (Sep 25):