Book picks similar to
Moosejaw Frontier by Chris Kelso


science-fiction
bizarro
bizarro-pulp-press
dark

Son of the Tree / The Houses of Iszm (Ace Double, 77525)


Jack Vance - 1964
    The Tree ruled the horizons, shouldered aside the clouds, and wore thunder and lightning like a wreath of tinsels. It was the soul of life, trampling and vanquishing the inert, an Joe understood how it had come to be worshipped by the first settlers of Kyril. For Joe Smith, the sight of the tree was the beginning of an experience that would forever change his life. He had journeyed into space in search of a man, but found instead the Tree. A Tree which held the power of life-and-death over millions of slaves!"The Houses of Iszm:"The inhabitants of a planet called Iszm, a species known as the Iszic, have evolved the native giant trees into living homes, with all needs and various luxuries supplied by the trees' own natural growth. The Iszic maintain a jealously-guarded monopoly, exporting only enough trees to keep prices high and make a great profit. The protagonist, Aile Farr, is a human botanist who goes to Iszm (like many others before him, of many species) to steal a female tree, which might allow the propagation of the species off world and break the monopoly."

The Refugee


C.A. Hartman - 2014
    He's a brilliant but chilly alien. When he escapes his xenophobic planet and becomes the first Korvali to ever live among humans, the repercussions are far greater than anyone imagined.When Eshel arrives on Starship Cornelia, no one knows what to make of him or his cold, arrogant personality. Catherine, fellow scientist and the only human Eshel trusts, helps him navigate the world of "outsiders"... but she can only teach him so much. Eshel faces those who don't understand or trust him, political barriers to conducting his prized scientific work, and other challenges he never anticipated. When he crosses the line by violating one of his people's most rigid taboos, Eshel must face his own internal struggle... until he discovers that he has a far more treacherous enemy.

The Horribles


Nathaniel Lambert - 2010
    The Horribles are out there. They're everywhere, threatening the residents of Poe's Creek. Sheldon's life changes again when a savage motorcycle gang parades through town with a deafeaning roar, leather, chrome, and evil. They're here for the children. Nothing will get in their way. The Horribles have arrived for real this time and for Sheldon to do anything about it, he has to confront every fear he's ever had or risk being choked by his poisonous memories.

Flesh and Blood


Graham Masterton - 1994
    But unknown to the surgeons, the child was a descendant of the vengeful and psychotic "Green Traveller", and the huge pig embarks on a bloody and unstoppable rampage.

The Becoming of Noah Shaw


Michelle Hodkin - 2017
    This is what happens after happily ever after.Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string.They’re wrong.Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future.He shouldn’t.And both are scared that uncovering the truth about themselves will force them apart.They’re right.

The Watchers Out of Time


August Derleth - 1974
    

The Gods of HP Lovecraft


Aaron J. FrenchJames A. Moore - 2015
    Lovecraft: a brand new anthology that collects the twelve principal deities of the Lovecraftian Mythos and sets them loose within its pages. Featuring the biggest names in horror and dark fantasy, including many NY Times bestsellers, full of original fiction and artwork, and individual commentary on each of the deities by Donald Tyson.About the book: Lovecraft’s bestiary of gods has had a major influence on the horror scene from the time these sacred names were first evoked. Cthulhu, Azathoth, Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth—this pantheon of the horrific calls to mind the very worst of cosmic nightmares and the very darkest signs of human nature. The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft brings together twelve all-new Mythos tales from:Cthulhu (Adam Nevill) – Yog-Sothoth (Martha Wells) – Azathoth (Laird Barron) – Nyarlathotep (Bentley Little) – Shub-Niggurath (David Liss) – Tsathoggua (Brett Talley) – The Mi-Go (Christopher Golden & James A. Moore) – Night-gaunts (Jonathan Maberry) – Elder Things (Joe Lansdale) – Great Race (Rachel Caine) – Yig (Douglas Wynne) – The Deep Ones (Seanan McGuire)With commentary on each deity by Donald Tyson

Elite: Wanted


Gavin Deas - 2014
    One of three very distinct - but subtly linked - novels written by major authors who are fans of the game, this novel will be a must-buy not only for the 25,000+ people who funded the new game on kickstarter, but also for all of those fans of the original game.When a routine bit of piracy goes wrong, the crew of the Song of Stone realise that there's a bounty hunter on their tail. One who might, finally, be able to outclass them. The Dragon Queen is feared across space, and for good reason. But even the bounty hunter doesn't realise what she's been hired to do. Or what is in the container she's been sent to retrieve.And she's not the only hunter in the game...Gavin Deas is the pseudonym used by Stephen Deas and Gavin Smith when writing together.

The Newcomer: Twelve Science Fiction Short Stories


Alasdair C. ShawCherise Kelley - 2016
    Looks like something for everyone...There's even an alien puppy.Contents: * Introduction (The Newcomer) (2016) • essay by Alasdair Shaw * Tithe (2016) / short story by Griffin Carmichael * Exodus (2016) / short story by Alec Hutson * First Bonding (2016) / short story by Tom Germann * Ice Dreamer (2015) / short story by J. J. Green * The Nanny (2016) / short story by Cindy Carroll * Right Hand (2016) / short story by Jonathan C. Gillespie * What Make Is Your Cat? (2016) / short story by Richard Crawford * Kaxian Duty (2014) / short story by Cherise Kelley * Lessons Learned (2016) / short story by J. Naomi Ay * The Humra (2016) / short story by Laura Greenwood * The Hawk of Destiny's Fist (2016) / short story by James S. Aaron * Repulse [Two Democracies: Revolution] (2016) / short story by Alasdair Shaw .

Sunken Treasure Lost Worlds: A Colten X. Burnett Novel (The Risky Business Chronicle Book 1)


Hep Aldridge - 2019
    or get them killed. From the depths of the Atlantic off Cape Canaveral Florida, searching for sunken Spanish treasure, to the Andes mountains of Ecuador chasing the legend of a lost golden library, Dr. Colten X. Burnett and the Risky Business team are on a quixotic adventure.While trying to make an honest, well sort of honest living, searching for remnants of the lost 1715 fleet, Risky Business Ltd. becomes entangled in a mystery that covers two continents and may rewrite history.The lure of uncovering a lost civilization, as well as the secrets it holds, motivates the team on their dangerous journey into a cosmological unknown. -Sunken Treasure Lost Worlds is the first book in Hep Aldridge's action and adventure series about Dr. Colten X. Burnett and the Risky Business team Grab a copy today.

Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast


Eugie Foster - 2009
    But not every citizen is content to play their mandated part, longing instead to discover who they are beneath their masks: sinner, gentleman, or beast. Winner of the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and nominated for the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Novelette, the 2010 WSFA Small Press Award, and the 2009 BSFA Award for Best Short Story.“…an elegantly strange slipstreamish fantasy”—Gardner Dozois, Locus“This far future science fiction tale is an exploration of self identity and the masks we all wear in public…a beautifully written and fast-paced tale”—Jason Sanford“…a classy fantasy, a strange society in which the wearing of masks in not only compulsory, but one in which the mask worn confers a different daily identity…The implications of this are subtly portrayed, as is the response to those who oppose this status quo.”—Mark Watson, Best SF Reviews“Foster has created a fascinating world here.”—Sam Tomaino, SFRevu.“Foster’s story might not take the reader where they expect to go, but it’s a heady journey nonetheless, encompassing sex and death, and it is told in an accomplished manner…powerful stuff.—Martin McGrath, The Fix“…a really engrossing otherworld fantasy”—Tansy Rayner Roberts“Foster delivers an ending that isn’t what you think it might be, and raises some unsettling questions about the connection between non-conformity and sociopathy.”—Black Gate“…a colourful story of a world in which characters wear different masks each day and enact different, stylized, roles—not a new idea, but handled newly, with a dark ending.”—Rich Horton“…yet another in a run of massively inventive, intelligent stories from Eugie.”—Alasdair Stuart“…a blast of sensory overload…Eugie Foster as usual doesn’t shy away from the darker and more unpleasant side of human nature…a wondrous, sickening, startling story that is sure to stick in the mind.”—Gareth D. Jones, SF Crowsnest

Escape


L.S. O'Dea - 2014
    None of them are ever seen again.Last year, they took Trinity’s only friend. She’s spent every spare moment scouring the woods, searching for him. She’s close to finding him, but the year is over. The harvest is done.She sneaks into the forest for one last attempt to locate her friend but she’s barely left camp when the first call of Guards on hunt shatters the air.She can’t let them catch her but she has nowhere to hide. A strange creature lurks in the water, following her down the river and something stalks her from the woods. Every minute brings the Guards closer. Soon, she’ll be surrounded. Forest or river. Which enemy should she choose?Lake of Sins: Escape is a young adult fantasy in the vein of The Island of Dr. Moreau. If you like imaginative dystopian worlds, headstrong heroines, and incredible monsters, then you’ll love this visionary tale.