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Jonathan Messinger

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway
When this novel was released in the U.K. earlier this year, no one could stop talking about how Harkaway is the son of legendary novelist John le Carré. Eventually, the smoke cleared and the reviews came in, hailing it as a good, if weird, sci-fi-ish epic. The plot involves the people who live in small survivor colonies after the Go-Away War has left the world decimated. We’re not clear on what happens after that, but we do know there are ninjas. September; Knopf, $25.95.

Chicago by Alaa Al Aswany
Best-selling Egyptian author al Aswany’s new novel focuses on the collision of Egyptians and Americans on a college campus in post–September 11 Chicago, as the characters test their patience with intolerance and the boundaries of their own. October; HarperCollins, $25.95.

Ghosts of Chicago by John McNally
Chicago novelist McNally’s (America’s Report Card) latest collection of stories resurrects Chicago icons such as Nelson Algren and Romper Room host Miss Betsy in fictional form. In one tale, Gene Siskel tires of the movie he’s watching and decides to taunt Roger Ebert instead. As with every book, McNally will read from the book in his favorite joint, Bridgeview’s Duke’s Italian Beef Drive-In. October; Jefferson Press, $22.95.

The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac by FreeDarko
Over the past few years, the boys of basketball blog FreeDarko (some of whom lurk in Chicago) have perfected a unique brand of talking about hoops—call it the hip-hop hermeneutics of balling. In their first book, they break down the style of play by the best pros in the game, accompanied by some mind-blowing illustrations. November; Bloomsbury, $23.

Read more in our 2008 Fall Preview.

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