book recs wanted

[kindkit]

I'm planning to pre-order China Miéville's Kraken, which comes out June 29 (OMG IT'S ABOUT SQUID-WORSHIPPING CULTISTS I CAN'T WAIT!!!). If I increase my order by about $7.50, I get free shipping. (Yes, I am buying from Amazon. Yes, I know Amazon is fail in various ways. I also know that Amazon has cheap books and I have very little money.)

Anyway, the trouble is, I can't decide on another book to buy. So I turn to you. Please rec me one book that you think is not just worth reading, but worth owning, and that's available in paperback. A sentence or two about why you think it's wonderful would be helpful.

I tend to prefer genre fiction (science fiction, fantasy, mystery, comics) to mainstream fiction. I also really like queer-positive books, especially ones with gay men as major characters. However, all suggestions are welcome.

Comments

[soupytwist]

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, because is has a kickass bi-racial heroine who is entirely believable, and an alien called J Lo, and comics, and it is hysterically funny and charming and sweet while also being an astonishingly well-done discussion of colonialism. It's AMAZING.

[kindkit]

Sounds intriguing--thanks!