I can’t remember when I picked up White Queen by Gwyneth Jones. I’m always keeping my eye out for these editions when I am in a bookshop and whenever I see one, I will always read the blurb and decide if it sounds interesting and must come home with me. Obviously this one fit the bill. Unfortunately, I haven’t read it yet. Mostly because most of the Sci-Fi and Fantasy books that I have read in the last 10 years have been rereads. Or the lighter urban fantasy genre (a lot of dreck, but there are some gems to be found). I think that has been more a reflection on my headspace and what else I have been focusing on than on the books I have been collecting. Happily I’m returning to where I was a decade ago and while yes there is some rereading, it is largely to finish series or collections of series. So I think this will finally be read this year. In the meantime, here’s the blurb that I thought sounded interesting.

2038. The earth has been ravaged by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Retroviruses run rampant. Economic disaster has destabilised the world, the US has undergone a revolution and the balance of global power has changed.

Then the aliens arrive.

With no clear understanding of the visitors’ intent, factions form, including the anti-alien group White Queen. Caught in the middle is Johnny Guglio, an American exile whose only fault was living near the landing site, and Braemar Wilson, a cutthroat reporter who will do whatever she needs to get ahead of the story. And for better or for worse, it seems being caught in the middle is the best place for them to uncover the truth.