GIVEAWAY: SALVAGE

“Salvage is the book I’ve been waiting for—kick-ass, brilliant, feminist science fiction. Watch out, world. Alexandra Duncan has arrived.”

—Stephanie Perkins, a.k.a. me!

This is a huge week for my friend Alexa. Her debut YA science-fiction novel Salvage releases TOMORROW.

It's about a girl named Ava, and . . . spaceships, a floating continent made out of garbage, a boy named Luck, bioluminescence, awesome mothers, chai wallahs, a crumbling patriarchy, roasted squid, Mumbai, a boy with a shipyard filled with junk, and choice.

Fantastic, right??

I've known Alexa for years. Back when I was a librarian, I worked with her husband, who was my friend. Jeremy used to tell me about how his wife was a writer, too, and how she was really, really talented. And I was like, "That's great!" But inside, I was doing that thing. That thing where I get a little judge-y. "I've heard that one before."

Then I met Alexa at a stitch-n-bitch (way more bitching than stitching), and I was like, "OH. This woman is super smart and cool!" (Duh. Of course she was. As if Jeremy wouldn't have a cool wife.) And then Alexa started working as a librarian, too, and I got to know her even better, and then she started getting her short stories published in all of these great magazines, and then . . . she wrote a novel.

Now. I read a lot of manuscripts. I do. It's something I've been doing privately, under a few different guises, for quite some time now.

But this one.

THIS ONE.

Alexa had written the novel I had literally been waiting for. When I was a librarian, I'd been desperate for more female-centric science fiction. (It's definitely out there! But, sadly, the selection isn't so large.) This book was big, it was literary, it was exciting, it was dynamic. I wanted it published so that librarians everywhere could put it in their collections. I wanted it published now.

This was the only time I've ever begged an author to let me take their manuscript to my agent.

THIS BOOK HAD TO BE PUBLISHED. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Of course, my agent loved it. Signed her. Got her a deal immediately.

And then . . . well, publishing takes a few years.

But this novel—this wonderful, wonderful, wonderful novel—is coming out at last. And all of you librarians can order it for your collections, and all of you readers can FINALLY ENJOY IT!

My shortcut pitch is that it's Graceling for science-fiction fans.

But, of course, it's SO MUCH MORE than that.

Here are some more blurbs:

“Alexandra Duncan is a stunning new voice. Duncan’s magnificently flawed future world exposes humanity . . . in ways that are ripe for discussion. . . . Ava’s personal journey from oppression to self-actualization—by turns harrowing and heartbreaking, but ultimately triumphant—will keep readers glued to the pages. Highly recommended.”

—Rae Carson, NYT bestselling author of the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy

“Alexandra Duncan’s debut illustrates a richly detailed world that vividly shows a possible future of Earth where society has both regressed and progressed, where the struggles of humanity have become more dire, but where love still remains. Everything—from the world to the characters—felt viscerally real. Original and memorable.”

—Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of the Across the Universe trilogy

“Epic in scope and intimate in execution, Salvage is an astonishing debut. Duncan expertly crafts a story of the journey to claim oneself across the infinite expanses of both space and the human heart.”

—Kiersten White, NYT bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy

This is getting ridiculous. I don't remember the last time I took a picture, and my cat didn't barge into it.

Okay, now that I've captured your interest, here's the extra-good news.

I'm giving away two *signed* advanced copies of Salvage!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here on my blog telling me: (A) the name of your favorite science-fiction book, movie, or television show, and (B) your email address.

I'll randomly select and announce the winners here this Thursday. That way, the rest of you can hurry up and buy your own copies. Hee hee.

Good luck!