The mind-bending Sci-Fi and Fantasy books to get your head round this month: J.M. Miro,

BRINGER OF DUST by J.M. Miro (Bloombury £20, 608pp) 

A SHUDDERING, shattering return to the world of carykks, glyphs, drughrs, humans and other assorted monsters. Cairndale, gateway to the Underworld, is destroyed and the Talents who gathered there now scattered.

But worse is to come, with an unspeak able power bleeding through into this world and bringing more darkness, violence and excruciating pain into play.

As in all the finest gothic constructions, soaring spaces and encrustations of deco ration depend on a sound structure.

Here, whether stumbling through a Piranesi-esque London underworld of sewers and gantries, or seeking refuge in a crumbling Sicilian mansion, we’re pulled forward by the most powerful quests: res cuing the lost, finding love, fighting evil. 

EXODUS: THE ARCHIMEDES ENGINE by Peter F. Hamilton (Tor £25, 928pp) 

NOW humanity’s evolved and spread across the universe, history seems to have reached an end. 

The ruling caste of highly evolved Celestials live for eons and wield raw power with icy calm.

Into the mix comes a spaceship from the past and – get this – a mysterious planet where it rains iron.

Suddenly a rebel, a mere unevolved human, sees a opportunity to upset the smooth workings of imperial politics, but it all depends on his taking control of the incomprehensibly complex and mysterious Archimedes engine…

Wonderfully machined with many moving parts, this is a book designed to grip and thrill. 

Big sci -fi – huge sci -fi – at its best.

THE WOOD AT MIDWINTER by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury Circus £9.99, 364pp)

BLINK and it’s over. You’ve walked into a wood and are out the other side without savouring its quiet joys. 

To make it come alive, you must take your time, watch and listen.

First broadcast on Radio 4 and obliquely drawing its inspiration from Kate Bush songs, we follow Merowdis Scott’s journey into a wintery wood and her growing urge to leave the world behind.

It’s finely evoked, tremblingly delicate, but vividly resonant. 

Read it slowly and words become footsteps taking you further and further into the girl’s mind.

This beautiful edition comes as a lovely package with beautifully judged illustrations and a fascinating afterword by the author. 

A pure, sylvan delight.