Top 5 Most Anticipated July Releases

July 2011 is a month many a fantasy fan has been eagerly anticipating. After long years of waiting, we will finally see the next volume of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. However, while half of the fantasy-loving world will spend the second half of July reading a thousand pages of bloody intrigue, there are many other great books being published.

Here are the top five books we anticipate most for July of 2011:

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1.				A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin
				If July is A Month With Dragons, what other book can we possibly anticipate more than George R. R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons? Fans have waited six years to read this fifth volume in A Song of Ice and Fire, but July 12 will be the day all of our waiting is rewarded. Let the camping outside the bookstore begin! Oh, and don’t forget to check The Ranting Dragon this month, because we’ll be bringing you reviews of all five books.
				Published by Bantam on July 12.
2.				Stands a Shadow by Col Buchanan
				Never did a book I didn’t like make such an impression as Col Buchanan’s Farlander did. As I point out in my review, this work of an alternative Roman Empire filled with airships and assassins has a great deal of flaws. Yet, there is something about this book that makes me look forward to its sequel, Stands a Shadow. It is the second volume in Buchanan’s Heart of the World series, and I’ll definitely be picking it up. It comes out in the UK this month, while American fans will have to wait until November to get their hands on it.
				Published by Tor UK on July 15.
3.				Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
				Fans of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files have eagerly awaited Ghost Story. Ghost Story is the thirteenth volume in the series and apparently starts when our hero Harry Dresden has just died… I guess death doesn’t really stop a cool guy like him! If you feel July 26th can’t come soon enough, Penguin has published an early appetizer for you. You can read the first five chapters of the book here.
				Published by Roc Hardcover on July 26.
4.				Den of Thieves by David Chandler
				There are a lot of fantasy novels out there that feature thieves or assassins. Most of them also feature a cover with a hooded guy. David Chandler’s Den of Thieves is the next one in line; and like always with these releases, things can really go two ways: either we will love Den of Thieves or hate it. While Den of Thieves has received less hype than previous books in the genre, we feel it deserves a spot on our list, based on its blurb. Find out for yourself, by clicking one of the icons in the right corner. We definitely anticipate Den of Thieves.
				Published by EoS on July 1.
5.				The Key to Creation by Kevin J. Anderson
				I’ve been a fan of Kevin J. Anderson since I first read his Jedi Academy trilogy in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Needless to say, when I found out about his Terra Incognita fantasy series, I was psyched. This is a series that combines one of my favorite authors with my favorite genre. I’m ashamed to confess that the first volume of the series, The Edge of the World, is still sitting on my shelf unread. Some day soon, I will read it, and I’m confident I will love it and soon move on to The Map of All Things and The Key to Creation.
				Published by Orbit on July 7.

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While the above list is already quite impressive, July will be a great month for fantasy fans even beyond these five books. Here is a list of other noteworthy releases of the month, sorted by publication date. Of course, you can click the little buttons for more information, or click the thumbnail image for a full cover image of a book.

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			Heartless by Gail Carriger
			Heartless is the fourth volume in Gail Carriger’s steampunk Parasol Protectorate series. It has zombies, too!
			Published by Orbit on July 1.
			Jack Cloudie by Stephen Hunt
			“A tale of high adventure and derring-do set in the same Victorian-style world as the acclaimed The Court of the Air and The Secrets of the Fire Sea.”
			Published by Harper Voyager on July 7.
			Out of the Waters by David Drake
			The second novel of The Books of the Elements definitely comes with a gorgeous cover.
			Published by Tor Books on July 19.
			The Clockwork Rocket by Greg Egan
			A little deviation from The Ranting Dragon’s regular fare, this science fiction novel promises such great world building that we just had to mention it.
			Published by Night Shade Books on July 19.
			Devil’s Diadem by Sara Douglass
			Sara Douglass is The Ranting Dragon’s latest discovery, and a bunch of reviews of her alternate history books are forthcoming. Take a look at this one if, like us, you hadn’t heard of her.
			Published by EoS on July 26.
			Ghosts of War by George Mann
			July isn’t just a month of dragons, it’s a month of punk. And of plagues. Like the ferocious brass raptors in Ghosts of War.
			Published by Pyr on July 26.
			Dangerous Waters by Juliet E. McKenna
			Dangerous Waters is the first book in McKenna’s new fantasy series. It comes with a promising blurb and an amazing cover. Take a look!
			Published by Solaris on July 26.
			Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia
			Alternate history, Russia, China, steam trains, political intrigue… Really, need I say more?
			Published by Prime Books on July 26.

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Have an awesome month of fantasy, filled with political scheming, blood, magic, intrigue, and dragons!

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