Well, it’s December. We’ll level with you: December can be a weird time to write about new releases. That makes it a little more of a challenge, though, and there’s a certain joy that comes from assembling a “hey! new books!” list at the same time as you might see year-end lists popping up elsewhere. Here are ten books we’re keeping an eye out for this month, from surreal literary fiction to detailed explorations of literary movements.

John Brandon, Penalties of June
(Dec. 1, McSweeney’s)

We’re longtime aficionados of John Brandon’s literary work. His new book taps into the same deeply felt, virtually tactile energy as much of his bibliography as he tells the story of a formerly incarcerated man seeking to leave his past behind in late-1990s Tampa Bay. Is Gulf Coast noir a thing? If it wasn’t before, Brandon may have pulled it off here.

Nicholas Rombes, Lisa 2, v1.0
(Dec, 1, Calamari Archive)

With his second novel of 2024, Nicholas Rombes opts for a haunting look at technology old and new. Specifically, it’s about a vintage Apple computer that might be haunted and seems to have an uncanny influence over the people using it. Also, Andrew Ervin called this a “Yooper retro-tech triller,” and honestly? That sounds amazing in and of itself.

Steve Aylett, The Book Lovers
(Dec. 2, Snowybooks)

Steve Aylett has been writing singular, bizarre fiction for quite some time now. You’ll note that his latest, The Book Lovers, comes with blurbs from the likes of Alan Moore and Michael Moorcock, so that’s gotten our attention. (A title that reminds us of a Broadcast song is also a plus.) This book follows one man as he investigates a kidnapping in a surreal place and uncovers a kind of distortion emanating through the world.

Vera Blossom, How to Fuck Like a Girl
(Dec. 3, Dopamine/Semiotext(e))

Well, the title is certainly attention-getting. We’re always up for a good essay collection, and if it’s one that draws inspiration from the world of zines, so much the better. This Chicago Reader interview with Blossom delves even further into her aesthetics and inspiration, as well as her ties to both Chicago and Las Vegas.

Damian Murphy, ed., The Onyx Book of Occult Fiction
(Dec. 3, Snuggly Books)

As the nights get longer and the wind whistles through increasingly bare branches, you might find yourself craving some fiction that ventures into the world of the occult. This anthology, sixth in a series, contains writing by the likes of Mark Valentine and Farah Rose Smith. It might just be the disquieting read you need for the colder months.

José Eustasio Rivera, The Vortex (translated by Daniel Hahn)
(Dec. 3, Charco Press)

For many readers, The Vortex is a classic of Colombian literature; it first appeared in English translation almost a century ago. This new translation may well bring this book and its chronicle of young lovers making their way across a striking landscape to a new set of readers.

Brandon Shimoda, The Afterlife is Letting Go
(Dec. 10, City Lights)

In an interview earlier this year with Tupelo Quarterly, Brandon Shimoda spoke about the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, and called this book “an attempt to recognize and appreciate why and how the wound has not healed, why and how the history remains unquiet.” The result is a haunting and contemplative essay collection reflecting upon a horrific moment in American history.

Jill Yonit Goldberg, After We Drowned
(Dec. 15, Anvil Press)

Look, we’re always up for a great cover art, and the cover for Jill Yonit Goldberg’s After We Drowned features an image of an apocalyptic-looking oil drilling platform. This novel follows several characters caught in the wake of a disaster on one such structure, and the secrets and traumas they must struggle with in its aftermath.

Michael T. Fournier, The Impasse
(Dec. 20, St. Rooster Books)

Michael T. Fournier’s work includes two excellent novels as well as a terrific Minutemen-themed entry in the 33 1/3 series. The Impasse is a coming-of-age story about punk rock, teenage alienation and role-playing games. This layered narrative illustrates the blurred lines between fantasy and reality and the role that subcultures can play in self-awareness.

Patrick Pritchett, Make It Broken
(Dec. 30, Black Square Editions)

We’re always here for a great look into the literary movements that shaped the books that we read today. Patrick Pritchett’s new book explores the fate of Modernist literature in the aftermath of World War II and discusses the writers who pushed ahead in seeking out out innovation in their own work.

Note: all artwork and release dates are subject to change.

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