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Readers, get ready.

Another year chock-full of absorbing nonfiction, captivating fiction, and arresting poetry is before us, according to local booksellers.

To get the scoop on the titles that shouldnt be missed among the abundance of new reads, we asked staff members at Harvard Book Store, Brookline Booksmith, Frugal Bookstore, Trident Booksellers & Caf, and Porter Square Books to share the books they are most looking forward to in 2022.

Ahead, the 23 reads the booksellers say not to sleep on as the new year kicks off.

Rachel Cass, a book buyer at Harvard Book Store, recommends picking up this fun debut novel, which follows Olga, a wedding planner for the elite families of Manhattan. While the story touches on the feelings of a modern society novel, it also delves into her relationship with her family; she is the daughter of Puerto Rican revolutionaries and her brother is a congressman. The book becomes about family and community and career and love and politics, and the way that all of those things are tied up together and intertwined in real peoples lives, Cass said.

This memoir by the Pulitzer Prize-winning New Yorker writer about finding and losing things in life is one that several staff members at Harvard Book Store, including Cass, are excited to pick up in the new year. The book is told in three sections. One focuses on the death of Schulzs father, another speaks to her meeting and falling in love with the woman she eventually marries, and the third part examines living in the space between those life events. I love her writing because its really personal and intimate and shes also just one of the smartest writers that I have read, Cass said. Shes just incredibly erudite and can pull in lots of different kinds of text, so its a really unusual and really beautiful memoir.

The new novel from the author of A Little Life is also causing a lot of excitement, according to Alie Hess, head buyer at Brookline Booksmith. The story is divided into three sections, following characters in an alternate version of 1893 America, 1993, and 2093. Hess said the novel examines loneliness, family, and what power does to people. She weaves these three stories together in just an amazing way, Hess said.

Clarrissa Cropper Egerton, co-owner of Frugal Bookstore, is looking forward to the release of this novel. The story follows 30-something Yinka, an Oxford-educated, British Nigerian woman, whose Nigerian aunties are constantly asking her when she will be married. Its not quite a romance novel, according to Cropper Egerton, but it follows Yinka as she searches for a date to her cousins wedding and balances traditional expectations and her modern beliefs about love. Shes in the middle of these two different cultures, of being Nigerian, but also British, Cropper Egerton said.

Hess said not to miss this memoir by the author whose novel Girl, Woman, Other won the 2019 Booker Prize. In it, Evaristo delves into her life and work and being the daughter of a Nigerian father and a white Catholic mother. Shes really just literally writing about how she didnt see any books that told her story or in her world, and she wanted books like that, Hess said. So she started writing And of course shes just an incredible writer. So I think [this] is going to be amazing.

Courtney Flynn, manager of Trident Booksellers & Caf, recommends picking up this novel, told through connected stories about an ancient plague that is dug up during an excavation in the Arctic Circle. The stories follow all the ways the pestilence has affected different parts of the world, families, and culture. The book is beautifully written, Flynn said. It talks about society as a whole [and] society within our units of our families. Its really tender and heartbreaking and beautiful.

This novel is one that Ellen Jarrett, a book buyer and an employee-owner at Porter Square Books, is anticipating. The story explores the lives that intersect at a womens clinic in Boston, where the heroine, Claudia, counsels patients. Jarrett said the clinic, Mercy Street, offers many of its patients a second chance in life. [Haigh] hasnt had a novel in quite a while, so it will be good to see something from her, Jarrett said.

One of the books Cropper Egerton suggests adding to your to be read pile is this work of historical fiction. The narrative follows what happens to two siblings after their mother dies and leaves them, as their inheritance, a traditional Caribbean black cake made from a family recipe. The siblings begin an exploration of their mothers history, piecing together her life in a journey that brings them closer. They find out so much about their mother, their family, and they are at odds against each other so it brings them back together, Cropper Egerton said.

If youre looking for some perceptive nonfiction composed with fun and wit, Flynn recommends this new book. In it, Klosterman turns his attention to the 90s, examining the era with a birds eye view. He talks about TV and music and film and sports, politics, Flynn said. And Im sure he does it in his clever, witty way, with an eye for humor and irony as well. So that one is going to be really fun.

The sequel to Black Leopard, Red Wolf isnt to be missed, according to Cropper Egerton. Often described as an African Game of Thrones, the latest installment of Jamess Dark Star trilogy is told from the perspective of Sogolon the Moon Witch, who refuses to bow to any man across a century-long feud. It talks about power, personality, Cropper Egerton said. It talks about sexism. Theres just so many different layers.

The new work of fiction by the author of The Buddha in the Attic and When the Emperor Was Divine is another example of Otsukas ability to write short, beautifully spare novels, Hess said. The story follows a group of people whose lives intersect at the public pool where they swim laps and what happens when a crack in the pool forces the facilitys closure. One of the swimmers is a woman who is on the verge of dementia and becomes lost with the pools closure. Her daughter comes in sort of too late and they have a very hard relationship So its painful, but spare Its really beautifully done, Hess said.

Cass said this novel is another that several staff members at Harvard Book Store are excited about, since its been several years since the authors debut work, Pond. The new story follows a young woman, who has a job as a checkout clerk and is learning to write. [She] is sort of learning how to turn her life, turn her observations about life into stories, while also sort of figuring out how to live in the world, Cass said.

Jarrett said this novel is another to add to the list in 2022. The story, inspired by the 2017 fall of Zimbabwes president Robert Mugabe, is about the demise of an oppressive regime and the chaos of revolution, presented in an uncannily recognizable anthropomorphic allegory, Jarrett said. In her bold, vividly imagined novel, animal voices call out the dangerous absurdity of contemporary global politics, Jarrett said. So its a totally original rendering of the illusory and transient character of power.

If nonfiction is more your tempo, Jarrett said to consider this new book by Kayyem, a local author who is a frequent commentator in the media due to her expertise organizing governmental responses to crises and disasters. She served as assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration and currently is a professor at Harvards Kennedy School of Government. In this new [book], she lays the groundwork for a new approach to dealing with an inevitable disaster before it hits, using anecdotal and real life examples she applies her seven steps for getting ahead of catastrophe, Jarrett said.

In Cains last book, Quiet, she examined the idea that introverts may have more to say than society gives them credit for. In her new work of nonfiction, the author turns her attention to talking about grief and sorrow and how those experiences are useful to our lives, Flynn said. She does a great job of turning her eye to something and flipping on its head how those terrible times of grief can end up opening up our worlds to something more, she said.

Fans of A Visit from the Goon Squad will not want to miss this new novel, Hess said. In the new book, Egan has taken a few of the minor characters from her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and made them into the main characters. The story centers around a tech tycoon who creates a new technology Own Your Unconscious, which gives people access to every memory theyve ever had and the ability to share their memories in exchange for those belonging to others. Everyone, ironically, is looking for and desperately longing for real connection but using this fake way of doing it, Hess said. The story delves into the ramifications and how, as we know, certain tech giants or certain people can become so all-empowered, so just all powerful, Hess said.

Cass said this heist novel, based on the true story of Chinese artwork that was disappearing from Western art museums, is a fun read to look forward to. Its about colonization of art and repatriation of art and all of those issues, but it also sounds like its just going to be a really fun heist novel, she said. And a lot of it is also set in Boston and Cambridge, so I think that will have a lot of local interest, too.

Readers of St. John Mandels previous books will find this new novel of light dystopia a delight and those who havent read her work before will also highly enjoy it, Flynn said. The story is set in the past, the present, future, and further future, and includes some Easter eggs from The Glass Hotel and Station Eleven. Her writing is amazing; its quietly devastating, Flynn said. This book does include a pandemic, so theres this visceral reaction to that since were experiencing that ourselves. But she processes it in such an interesting way, and it was such a delight to read, even while being slightly sad and depressing. But the writing is just exquisite.

Both Jarrett and Hess say this poetry collection, Vuongs second, should be on your radar in 2022. In it, Vuong grapples with his grief following his mothers death and shifts through themes similar to those captured in his bestselling novel On Earth Were Briefly Gorgeous. Personal loss, the meaning of family, and the cost of being the product of an American war in America, Jarrett said. The poetry is just incredible and so moving, Hess said. Anyone can read it and cull from it what they need from it at that time, which I love because it really speaks to so many people across many aspects of life.

If youre looking for an uplifting read, Jarret recommends this forthcoming memoir. In it, Ephron, a bestselling novelist and screenwriter, delves into losing her sister, Nora Ephron, and husband, Jerry, in the space of a few years. In her grieving process, she wrote an op-ed for The New York Times, which caught the eye of a man named Peter, who was recently widowed himself. Now both in their 70s, he and Ephron had dated 50 years earlier. When she wrote this op-ed it precipitated them exchanging emails and then they finally met and a whirlwind romance ensued and they ended up getting married, Jarrett said. It was Ephrons second chance at love. It is a fun and rewarding read.

This novel is pure delight and quirky fun, according to Flynn. The narrative follows a young woman who returns to her small New Hampshire town from California. The golden child in her family, she returns to a family in disarray and as a medical school dropout. Her father has a degenerative disease that is causing him cognitive and physical issues, her brother is in recovery for addiction, and her mother is kind of checking out, Flynn said. Shes coming back to this crazy scenario and trying to put the pieces together, she said. Meanwhile, she needs her own pieces put together. Its a bit of a mystery as well. Her best friend has gone missing. So theres this thread of mystery that youre trying to figure out where she went.

Griffith is a beloved author by staff at Harvard Book Store, and Cass said everyone is excited about her new novella, a queer fantasy retelling of the legend of King Arthur. It sits in this space thats really popular right now of retelling ancient stories, ancient tales, ancient myths for modern audiences, Cass said. But Nicola Griffith is a really singular writer and she also is sort of a pioneer of crip lit. So shes sort of got all these unique takes on the world. So I think thats going to be a really interesting book.

Cropper Egerton said this memoir by the award-winning actress is one she cant wait for. In it, Davis delves into her life and career starting with her childhood in Rhode Island to the barriers shes broken in Hollywood. Shes very honest, shes very open So it just chronicles her journey and talks about her story at the beginning, where she started and where shes at now, Cropper Egerton said. And I think its a phenomenal story of her.

Editors note: John Henry, who owns Boston Globe Media Partners, is also a part-owner of Harvard Book Store.

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23 books to look out for in 2022, according to local experts - Boston.com

NASAs James Webb Space Telescope has lifted off! Its an exciting day for the space enthusiasts among us. And even if you arent as well versed in space exploration and discovery, the Webb Telescope has exciting potential that will impact all of us here on planet earth. News outlets have described the telescopes journey as a quest to the edge of time itself and scientists eagerly anticipate new data about the birth of the universe as the telescope flies into action.

Today were going to take a look at the details of the James Webb Telescope, what scientists anticipate this technology can accomplish, and what it might mean for us back here on Earths surface as we navigate challenging times on both global and local scales.

For as vast and expansive as our home galaxy is, our connections to each other and the questions that inspire these pursuits define our species and illuminate critical information and survival on this planet and beyond.

The James Webb Telescope (JWST) launched on Christmas morning December 25, 2021. At the same time when many children around the globe rushed to see what Christmas presents had landed from Santa in the night, the JWST lifted off from the Ariane 5. The launchpad is part of Europes spaceport located in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket ignited and sent the telescope rocketing out of our atmosphere and into space. We are expecting to see the light from the first galaxies that formed some 100 [million], 200 million years after the Big Bang, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a recent briefing.

NASA developed the JWST in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA). The intention behind the JWST is that it will succeed and expand the Hubble Space Telescope, which has enchanted scientists and children alike for the last 30 years. The Hubble telescope succeeded in determining the age of our universe (13.8 billion years). It has helped scientists to discover two moons around pluto. The images from Hubble contributed to calculations on how fast the universe is expanding. It illuminated that almost every galaxy we have so far discovered has a black hole, anchoring its center. The JWST is the next step in these significant leaps in our cosmic understanding.

Even though JWST is intended to supersede Hubble, it is actually only half the size of the older space telescope. However, Webbs primary mirror is over 6 times larger than Hubbles. The mirror is 21 ft in diameter. Made of gold-coated beryllium reflector, it has 18 hexagonal mirrors. Scientists have designed the Webb Telescope in this way to provide improved infrared resolution of images and will also empower an exciting amount of new investigations in the fields of astrophysics, astronomy, and cosmology.

A critical design element of the telescope is its sunshield. The sunshield is important because the mirrors must be cold and out of the suns heat. It is designed to always block the mirrors from the sun, moon, and earth and will passively radiate the telescopes heat into space. The shield is made up of 5 layers. Each successive layer is cooler than the last. The vacuum created between each layer functions as insulation which disrupts the conduction of heat better than a single, large layer. Overall, the shield will protect the telescope so that the sensitive scientific instruments will be better able to detect infrared light from very distant and faint objects.

The Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) is the telescopes framework. It incorporates four scientific instruments as well as a guide camera. The four instruments are: the NIRCam (Near InfraRed Camera) which is an infrared imager; NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph) will also perform spectroscopy over the same wavelength range; MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) will measure the mid-to-long-infrared wavelength range from 5 to 27 m; and FGS/NIRISS (Fine Guidance Sensor and Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph) which will stabilize the light of sight of the telescopes observatory.

There is also a spacecraft bus a term which, if you grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s, may remind you of Mrs. Frizzle and her magic school bus, but is actually in reference to the primary support component of the telescope which will provide computing, communication, electrical power, propulsion and structural parts to the telescope as a whole.

These scientific instruments and frameworks add up into an incredible piece of space technology. This technology enables ongoing and yet-to-be-determined investigations and explorations that will include some very far-reaching elements of our universe. But what is it that were hoping to find in the far reaches of space, exactly? Aliens?

When Homo sapiens look up into the sky, we tend to ask big questions. What we seek up there in the stars can be an ineffable quandary but it can also be a scientific hypothesis. Telescopes have already empowered us to learn so much about our solar system. From the Aztec star charts, to 1600s Netherlands, to Galileo, and up to today, these discoveries have shaped our species and planted seeds of cosmic curiosity.

With the James Webb space telescope launch, there is a continued legacy of hopes, dreams, hypotheses, and explorations that become possible to undertake for us as a species. There are big questions to pursue as has been true in every decade of our evolution.

Examples specific to this telescope launch include the formation of first galaxies and the potential identification of habitable exoplanets and their atmospheres. We might be able to glimpse the first stars to light up the universe. The telescope will be able to observe black holes and quasars with unmatched sensitivity and detail possibly revealing the mysteries of their complex structures.

According to Nasa administrator Bill Nelson, JWST has the potential to open up the secrets of the universe. It can sound like a sci-fi novel to the uninitiated but it is real life, in the real world, floating in a real universe and fascinating mystery and astronomy principles. The first images from the Webb telescope are expected to arrive in summer 2022.

Obviously, the stakes are quite high as is anticipation. While we wait for the images of the telescope to come in, maybe we can take the time to ask: who is James Webb? And why did NASA and global collaborators choose to name this incredible telescope after him?

Webb ran the fledgling space agency, NASA, from 1961 1968 and is most linked to the Apollo space program of that era. To many, he is a government figure whose work balanced human curiosity and space flight with science. According to NASAs online site, Webb did more for science than perhaps any other government official and that it is only fitting that the Next Generation Space Telescope would be named after him. There has been controversy over Webbs legacy and potential involvement in the lavender scare that took place in NASAs history an assault on LGBTQ workers of which there is a continued need for reconciliation. NASA declined to change the name.

When NASA administrator Sean OKeefe announced the name of JWST, he explained that [James Webb] took our nation on its first voyages of exploration, turning our imagination into reality.

It is a striking moment in history. A telescope that can reach the ends of time, named for a man whose life work was dedicated to human curiosity and potential, launched on Christmas day in the midst of a harrowing global pandemic. 2021 was a year characterized by misinformation, ghastly politics, and crumbling social structures that we all depend upon and also, apparently, hope and optimism via telescope. Its a lot to take in.

The questions surrounding how we use our resources and who gets to decide is an emotional debate. We do not all agree and acute crisis surrounds all but the luckiest of our species. Billionaire business owners launch themselves into space while their workers contract a deadly virus from working in warehouses for wages that do not cover even the most basic living expenses. Where do space travel and space science fit into all of this? Especially when a project like JWST comes at a high cost, of course. The commissioning cost for the telescope swoops in at a whopping 8.8 billion dollars so far. Our dominant culture is coming around the fact that our resources are not infinite. Our planet has limitations that will demand our adherence, one way or another.

The Webb Telescope isnt some impulsive whimsey of spending and space colonization. This technology has been in the works since the 1980s. This telescope and observatory have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and better inform our understanding of how our planet and our species fit into that cosmic web.

And boy, do we ever need some perspective. As the omicron variant rages through our communities we will all answer these philosophical and tangible debates according to our lived experiences and value systems. Maybe the James Webb Space Telescope, in addition to illuminating certain astronomy and cosmology theories, might also apply to our mundane, everyday lives. What does it mean to turn our imaginations into reality? How might our own planet look if we were able to cultivate connective relationships and a shared curiosity?

More:
Lift Off! The James Webb Telescope Is Headed to Space - Earth.com

It's a weird time for entertainment. At different stages of the pandemic, filming and production have been paused on numerous projects, release dates pushed back, and sales difficult to predict.

But that didn't stop 2021 from being a good year for science-fiction.In the TV realm, The Expanse's final season landed, Apple TV's big-budget series Foundation gave us a Game of Thrones style sci-fi project to immerse ourselves in, and Marvel Disney Plus shows including Loki made us laugh, cry and, well, marvel at the studio's cinematic juggernaut.

Books like The End of Men, Project Hail Mary, The Employees and Remote Control were widely-praised. And, in the movie sphere, Dune performed very well at the box office, Spider-Man: No Way Home threw open the doors of the Marvel multiverse, and The Matrix Resurrections gave us a helping of early 2000s nostalgia that we didn't know we needed.

So what does 2022 hold? It's already shaping up to be an incredibly exciting 12 months for sci-fi. Dormant, big-budget franchises, like the long-awaited Avatar 2, will return. There are also a bunch of new Marvel movies and TV shows coming, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight.

We can also expect new seasons from our favorite TV shows in Stranger Things season 4, The Mandalorian season 3 and Star Trek: Picard season 2. And there are plenty of brand new names and properties to watch out for, too, like the bonkers multiverse movie Everything Everywhere All At Once and Sequoia Nagamatsu's time, space and cosmos-spanning debut book How High We Go In The Dark.

Below, you'll find our top picks for 2022's upcoming sci-fi movies, TV shows and books. We could've included more, but we'd be here all day if we did.

Interestingly, some key themes emerge from our choices particularly the many worlds of the multiverse. It seems creators can't get enough of the storytelling potential that these different dimensions unlock, and audiences relish the chance to feed their imaginations with tales of alternate timelines, dimensions and realities.

You'll find the release date for every movie, TV series and book below, too. But, bear in mind that these release dates might still be in flux as we head into 2022 due to the pandemic.

Expected: March 25, 2022

While we were pulling together ideas for this list, it wasn't easy to pick the movie we weremostexcited about in 2022. Then the trailer for Everything Everywhere All At Once dropped, and, well, we've thought about nothing else since. It combines some of the most popular elements in the film industry right now, including multiversal storytelling and Kung fu oh, and Michelle Yeoh (Shang-Chi), too.

The trailer reveals the basic plot: a woman called Evelyn Wang (played by Yeoh) learns that numerous universes exist, and multiple versions of herself live in them. It's not clear how, but she then unlocks a way to move between them and use skills from her many selves across a plethora of worlds.

It looks funny, appears to be full of fantastic action sequences, and seems utterly bonkers. The Russo brothers (Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame) are attached to this, so expect it to be a stellar movie when it arrives.

Expected: April 29, 2022

All we know about 65 is that the movie follows the story of an astronaut (played by Adam Driver) who crash lands on a mysterious planet and then finds out hes not alone. Is it a horrifying alien race? Another survivor?A derelict spaceship filled with thousands of "leathery objects like eggs"? Who knows.

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place) are the writers behind 65, so you can bet whatever exists on this planet will deliver tense sequences and a few jump scares. Were looking forward to seeing clues unfold in the run-up to release.

It was also recently revealed that Danny Elfman will be composing the score for 65. Hes worked on a whole bunch of your favourite movies over the years, like Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Men in Black, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and more.

Expected: February 4, 2022

If youve ever looked up at the Moon and wondered: huh, I wonder what that's made of and if it could ever come crashing down one day?, then this movie is for you.

Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow), Moonfall is a sci-fi disaster movie starring Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson and Game of Thrones' John Bradley.

The basic premise is a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit, which means theres a genuine chance everyone on Earth is doomed. Luckily, a former astronaut (played by Berry) thinks she knows what to do and enlists a small team (Wilson and Bradley) to help. But when they get closer to the Moon, they find out it has some hidden secrets.The first five minutes of the movie were recently released on YouTube so, if you want a better idea of what its plot might entail, check that out first.

Expected: May 6, 2022

Details are still relatively sparse about the MCU's 28th film. What we do know, though, is its set after Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Stephen Strange is playing around with the Time Stone when a friend-turned-enemy shows up, resulting in Strange unleashing something evil.

Considering the movies title, were guessing some multiversal horror awakens in another dimension. Remember what the Ancient One says to Strange in the first movie? This universe is only one of an infinite number. Worlds without end. Some benevolent and life-giving. Others filled with malice and hunger. Dark places where powers older than time lie ravenous... and waiting.

One of No Way Home's post-credits scenes gave us our first look at Doctor Strange 2's bamboozling and weird vibe and aesthetic. Expect a teaser trailer to drop very soon, then.

Expected: October 7, 2022

One of the most heart-warming things about the reception to Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was how many people of all ages even those who dont normally rush to see Marvel movies sung its praises. Thats why were excited for the sequel, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Part One), which we now know is a two-parter.

Its a given we can expect a lot of journeying through multiple universes again and possibly a new cast of Spidey-People from many different dimensions, too. Producer Amy Pascal has also already revealed one of the plot points of this movie will be the romance between Miles and Gwen, which is hinted at in the teaser trailer above.

A number of stars from the first movie have confirmed their involvement this time round, like Luna Lauren Vlez who plays Miles's mother Rio. We can also expect Oscar Isaacs Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 to play a major role, an alternate version of Spider-Man from the future who appeared in the post-credits scene of the first movie.

In fact, judging from the first teaser, some fans may think that Spider-Man 2099 might be the Big Bad in this next movie. But, in our trailer breakdown, we suggest that he'll actually be a good guy who wants to help Miles. All we have to go on for now, though, is a super colorful, mind-melting, mid-air fight sequence through lots of wormhole tunnels, so maybe were jumping to conclusions quicker than these Spideys jump through dimensions.

Expected: Spring 2022

Upcoming Netflix movie The Adam Project is about Adam (played by Ryan Reynolds), who travels back in time to get help from his 13-year-old self.

Its directed by Shawn Levy, who has worked on comedy movies like Just Married and Date Night, and is also the executive producer on Stranger Things. Most recently, he teamed up with Reynolds to make Free Guy, which was a breath of fresh air and laugh-out-loud funny. Its not clear whether The Adam Project is a straight-up comedy or not. But, even if its more sci-fi than side-splittingly funny, you can expect plenty of Reynolds trademark humor throughout.

Expected: December 2022

It feels like weve been waiting for an Avatar sequel for ages, and that's certainly the case:Avatar 2has been in development for more than ten years, but it'll (hopefully) land in late 2022.

The core cast from the original movie, including Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington, all return. We also know Kate Winslet will be playing a starring role as she reunites with James Cameron following their Titanic days.

Early details about the movie, as well as some behind-the-scenes photos, show that itll focus on the underwater worlds beneath Pandoras oceans. And, with the third, fourth, and fifth movies are already in development, it's good news all around. Were pretty sure wed completely lose interest if we had to wait another decade for another one.

Expected: January 18, 2022

If you thought you'd already considered all of the horrors of climate change, think again. How High We Go In The Dark begins with the discovery of a girl's preserved remains in the Arctic Circle, which unleash an ancient virus that quickly spreads all over the world.

The book follows the tragic, transformational and interwoven stories of characters who attempt to rebuild humanity after the climate plague ravages it.

A scientist's test subject a pig no less develops human speech. A painter and his granddaughter try to find a new home plane. And two people fall in love at a theme park for terminally ill children.Yeah, it sounds surreal, alright.

This debut novel from Sequoia Nagamatsu spans continents and centuries, even extending out into the cosmos, and we can't wait to read it. And how beautiful is the novel's cover? Very, in our view.

Expected: January 11, 2022

There are a few upcoming books about virtual reality (VR), which makes a lot of sense considering its now a top priority for many major tech companies, and the Oculus Quest 2 is still selling incredibly well. Its also a ripe setting for stories about the blurring of our lives, identities and desires and Deep Dive is one were really looking forward to.

Its about a video game developer called Peter who takes the opportunity to try a brand new VR headset. But, you can see where this is going. Yep, things dont go to plan: once he steps out of his VR world and back into real life, he discovers the world around him mightlooksimilar, but critical details about his life are entirely, and horrifyingly, different.

Expected: February 21, 2022

Sci-fi stories often transport us to a world that feels ominously like our own but just a few steps ahead, and thats the vibe we immediately got after learning about Tochi Onyebuchis upcoming novel Goliath.

Its set in the 2050s when people with money leave Earth behind and head up to live in space colonies. Life on the surface is challenging, as those without means or privilege try to survive on an Earth without infrastructure.

Described as a biblical epic, Goliath threads together the different stories of those who were able to start a new life in space and those attempting to live off the scraps left behind. In allowing us to imagine the ramifications of colonising space in a fictional future which isnt hard to believe, given the number of rich dudes whizzing up there all the time right now it also explores powerful themes of race, class and history that are important points of discussion today.

Expected: August 4, 2022

In 2021, Bethany Clift wrote one of our favourite sci-fi/end-of-the-world books. Last One at the Party was an eerily prescient look at what might happen if a deadly virus (yes, how topical) tore through the UK. Amongst the mounting bodies and armies of rats, theres a poignant story thats full of heart and humor.

Fast-forward a year, and Clifts next book is on its way. Its about the invention of an algorithm that uses quantum computing to find your ultimate soulmate. The twist is, it doesnt just look for your perfect match in this universe, but the entirety of the multiverse, too.

Like her last novel, this one feels perfectly timed. Were increasingly using science and technology to demystify the world around us, but can we apply the same tools and principles to solve love? We'll find out soon.

Expected: February 17, 2022

In Plutoshine, all of the planets in the Solar System are being terraformed, and Plutos next on the list with bold plans to capture asteroids and use solar mirrors to deliver the heat and light needed to make it habitable. Then the mission is sabotaged but by who?

An unlikely friendship emerges between terraformer Lucian and nine-year-old Nou, who is traumatized and mute after a horrifying incident. This friendship ends up having repercussions for the novel's terraforming missions and, ultimately, the future of humanity.

Kissicks novel looks like its going to be an ambitious space story about humanitys journey away from Earth, with plenty of technical details for those who like to immerse themselves in the details of space exploration and colonization. But it sounds like it'll be tied together by a very grounded emotional connection, which should make it an interesting read.

Expected: January 4, 2022

Anyone interested in the sci-fi genre has probably consumed a lot from the alien abduction sub-genre over the years. But Light Years From Home tells a story thats less about the actual abducting part and more about the consequences that a sudden disappearance and subsequent reappearance might have on an already fractured family. Expect this novel to go deep on character, trauma and family drama.

Thats not to say we dont expect there to be some exciting science-fiction plot points woven throughout Light Years From Home. Although many real-world abductions turn out to be fake or questionable, its not clear whether the abduction in Light Years From Home is a hoax or not. And if you have genuinely been taken, what might be the purpose of your return?

Expected: April 28, 2022

Emily St. John Mandel wrote the 2014 novel Station Eleven, an incredibly popular story about a world ravaged by a deadly virus and the dystopian future that follows. It proved to be so popular, in fact, that it's since been adapted into a TV series for HBO Max.

So hopes are high for her latest novel, Sea of Tranquility, which sounds fascinating. Sci-fi themes are clearly at the forefront, including parallel worlds, space colonies and time travel. And it sounds like it'll all be weaved together with stories spanning space and time, such as an unforgettable experience in the Canadian wilderness in the early 1900s, and a detective in Night City investigating a time anomaly.

Expected: February 2022

The first season of Star Trek: Picard really divided fans. Some loved seeing a beloved character on a new space adventure and found the action between the Romulans and the Borg well-considered and mythic. Others, though, weren't so keen on what transpired as part of it plot.

Well, luckily for everyone,Star Trek: Picard, Season 2seems to be taking the series in a different direction. That direction is back to the 21st century. From what we can tell, there's some kind of timeline anomaly (Q seems to be the obvious culprit as he stars in the new season, but we won't point fingers just yet). This transforms Jean-Luc's present into a totalitarian nightmare, requiring a trip back to the past to rectify things.

Some of the events shown in the trailer look very much like those we saw in Star Trek: The Next Generation's very first episode, Encounter at Fairpoint, when Q puts some of the crew on trial against humanity. If you're not one for the mind-bending intricacies of time travel paradoxes, maybe give this one a miss.

As well as the return of Q, we got a glimpse of other favorite characters in the trailer, like Seven of Nine and the Borg Queen. New characters that we met in the first season, including Cris Rios, Raffi Musiker, Soji Asha and Elnor, are also returning.

Expected: Late 2022

Rogue One was a fantastic Star Wars movie. Wed even go so far as saying its one of our favourites (come on, it beat the prequels, at least). Thats why its exciting that one of the main characters of Rogue One, Cassian Andor, is getting his own Disney Plus series in 2022.

The show will be set around five years before the events in Rogue One and focuses on Andors time as an intelligence officer for the Rebellion. Interestingly, Diego Luna, who reprises his Rogue One role as Andor, has teased that well definitely see some familiar faces. So expect characters you already know and love to crop up as they transform from a random bunch of rebels into a force capable of overthrowing the Empire.

The movies co-writer Tony Gilroy is the showrunner for Andor, and hes also the Bourne scriptwriter, so were hoping for a mash-up that brings us an espionage thriller set amongst the stars.We're also getting more Star Wars shows in the form of Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show and The Bad Batch season 2, as well as the return of another fan favorite series, which you can read up on below.

Expected: Late 2022

The Mandalorian season 3 will be with us at some point in 2022, although there's no official word on a release date just yet. We hope it's soon because, boy, are there some big questions we need answering from last season.

We'll save you the major spoilers but, needless to say, events have hit a high point. So we can't wait to see what's next for Mando, Grogu, and company soon.

There are no official details about who is definitely coming back, although we can expect Pedro Pascal to be returning as Din Djarin, aka The Mandalorian. One character not making a comeback this time round is Gina Carano, who won't be returning as former Rebel Shock Trooper Cara Dune after her sacking over controversial views she made in 2021.

Expected: Early 2022

Co-created by Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty) and Mike McMahan (the brains behind Star Trek: Lower Decks), Solar Opposites is a sci-fi show about a sort-of alien family who escape to Earth when their homeland, planet Shlorp, is destroyed.

It follows their effort to fit in when they find themselves in a small town in the US. This is made all the more amusing by the fact that most humans seem spectacularly non-plussed about the bunch of aliens that have moved in next door.

Expect the kind of laugh-out-loud, sometimes childish but often incredibly smart humor you've come to love from Rick and Morty, as well as some truly exceptional voice talent from Roiland, as well as Sean Giambrone, Mary Mack and Thomas Middleditch.

Expected: Summer 2022

Stranger Things season 4 was meant to land in 2021, but that date was pushed back and now we can expect it to arrive on Netflix in summer 2022.

One of the benefits of this long wait has been that more and more details about what to expect from the new season have been revealed. The build-up to a new season of Stranger Things is always a really exciting time with plenty of rumors, clues and teasers and, so far, season 4 has been no exception.Comb through our Stranger Things season 4 guide for a blow-by-blow look at everything we know so far about the next season.

But some of the most interesting bits include the return of Hopper. Granted, we assumed he wasn't going anywhere, but now we know he's trapped in a prison in Russia. What's more, Eleven and the Byers family have relocated to California. But moving to another part of the US doesn't mean that they're safe from the Upside Down. So expect their past endeavours catch up with them in some way.

Expected: Late 2022

Based on the super popular, century-spanning Isaac Asimov novels of the same name, this Apple TV Plus series is a high-concept sci-fi epic. The basic premise is that Dr Hari Seldon, a psychohistorian and mathematician, develops a fancy way to predict the future with maths. This is how he foresees the coming of a new Dark Age in 500 years and starts putting plans in motion to save civilization.

The first season of Foundation pulled together a number of different threads. And, although some fans of the original books arent happy with the direction season one took the series diverges from the books in many ways itll be fun to see how two major cliff hangers are addressed in its next season.

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Sci-fi in 2022: the biggest movies, TV shows and books you need to know about - TechRadar