Rosewater

I think this was around from a small press a year or so ago, and has now been picked up by a bigger publisher (in the UK, at least). With good reason, as it's a very strong SF novel that deserves a lot of recognition. The set up is superficially similar to Ian MacDonald's Chaga, but spins out in a very different direction (not least being set in a different country!). It wins points for having a pleasingly unpleasant yet sympathetic protagonist, a new take on the alien invasion genre, and a believable romance subplot. There's plenty of exciting action on the surface but there's also a political subtext there as well if you want it. I look forward to Mr Thompson's next book.