Unveiling 2025: A Sneak Peek at the Next Wave of Captivating Fiction

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

It’s time to discuss literature. Yay. A multitude of new titles are set to be released in the upcoming months, and here to highlight a few fiction selections is Andrew Limbong. He is the host of NPR’s Book of the Day podcast. Hi there.

ANDREW LIMBONG, BYLINE: Hi, Mary Louise. Yay, indeed. Let’s dive in (laughter).

KELLY: Yay, indeed. Alright, let’s kick off with the major release that we know will generate a lot of buzz. There’s a new “Hunger Games” novel on the horizon. Share more with me.

LIMBONG: Right. Yes. This one is scheduled for release in March. To be honest, not much is known about it. In typical Suzanne Collins style, she’s keeping pretty secretive. You know, I haven’t had the chance to read it myself, but here’s what we do know: It’s another prequel set 24 years prior to the events of the first “Hunger Games” book. Also, we found out that Collins drew inspiration from the Scottish philosopher David Hume. When the book was made public, she stated she was influenced by his concepts of implicit submission – reflecting how the many are governed by the few. We’ll learn more when it’s released.

KELLY: Wow. “Hunger Games” meets 18th-century Scottish philosophy. Alright.

LIMBONG: Yes (laughter).

KELLY: What about a book that you’ve actually read and enjoyed, something we should eagerly anticipate?

LIMBONG: Well, I think there are two books that are somewhat interconnected that I want to emphasize. The first is titled “Dream State,” penned by Eric Puchner. It begins with a man getting married, with his college best friend set to officiate, however, the twist is that the best friend ends up marrying the bride-to-be.

KELLY: Ouch.

LIMBONG: The novel traverses a kind of three-way relationship over several decades. It offers an intriguing exploration of marriage, male friendships, and the various “what-ifs” in life. You know, it raises questions like, “What if I chose a different partner or took another career path?” That book will be out in February.

The other title I want to mention is “Tilt” by Emma Pattee. It’s a tightly woven, fast-paced thriller featuring a woman who is pregnant at the story’s outset. She’s at IKEA searching for a crib when a massive earthquake strikes. The narrative follows her journey across Portland as she must decide whom to assist and whom to abandon while striving to survive this calamity.

KELLY: Both sound fantastic, but I’m still fixated on the fact that you mentioned they are connected. How exactly are they related?

LIMBONG: What’s fascinating is the way they both approach climate change. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize them as “cli-fi” – right? – as they aren’t solely about climate change, but environmental issues play a significant role in these characters’ lives. In “Tilt,” the author has a background as a climate journalist—her insights are pivotal. Everything concerning not just the disaster, but also the reaction to it, is strictly anchored in solid research.

Conversely, in “Dream State,” much of the plot unfolds in Montana. The backdrop features domestic drama while characters are continually checking the air quality index, often retreating indoors because of smoke that hampers their ability to breathe. It’s not subtle at all. I wouldn’t label it as subtext, but it’s certainly more than just the focal topic. Interestingly, although these stories were written before the California fires, they demonstrate that authors are genuinely striving to address and respond to the ongoing climate crisis.

KELLY: What about global fiction? Any intriguing titles arriving from abroad?

LIMBONG: Certainly. In 2021, Abdulrazak Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Now based in England, he was originally from Zanzibar and focuses extensively on colonialism and refugees in his writing. In March, he’ll release the first book since receiving the Nobel, titled “Theft.” It centers around two young individuals who care for a needy boy. The title gives away the premise—there’s a breach of trust that sends everything spiraling. This narrative takes place in Tanzania during a vibrant era of tourism and technological explosion, with culture rapidly evolving.

KELLY: NPR’s Andrew Limbong with some fiction recommendations to get us through winter. Thank you, Andrew.

LIMBONG: Thanks, Mary Louise.

(SOUNDBITE OF JEAN DU VOYAGE’S “KHANTI”) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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