Newly published, from Japanese legends to African fashion

Japanese Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, and Spirits By Joshua Friedman. (Thames & Hudson, $24.95.) Professor of Japanese Literature introduces readers to the country’s folklore, from the earliest written stories to the development of the manga industry, and traces Japan’s rich cultural heritage through religious and historical developments.

Medieval Fantasy: An immersive journey through the fantasy worlds of the Middle Ages; By Larissa Grolemond and Brian C. (J. Paul Getty Museum, $29.95.) Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Getty Museum, this volume offers more than 140 illustrations to chart the ways in which medieval images, from Renaissance faires to “Game of Thrones,” have influenced modern culture.

Glyn Phillipt: Flesh and Spirit; by Simon Martin. (Pallant House Gallery, $45.) This first color monograph on the influential British painter and sculptor examines his relationship with realism, the Harlem Renaissance, and diverse modernism, and considers his influence on queer artists today.

african fashion, Edited by Christine Checinska. (V&A Publishing, $45.) An expert at the Victoria and Albert Museum explores the dynamics of African fashion, from post-independence designers using old traditions to a new generation of artists such as Nigerian designer Lisa Folawiyo and Kenyan artists. Ami Doshi Shah, the jeweler who revolutionized today’s fashion.

TERRAFORM: See /worlds/burning, Edited by Brian Merchant and Claire L. Evans. (MCD, paper, $20.) This anthology of speculative fiction from VICE’s science fiction website features stories from Jeff VanderMeer, Ellen Ullmann, and others that focus on climate change, artificial intelligence, and digital surveillance.

RED VALKYRIES: Feminist Lessons from Five Revolutionary Women; By Kristen Godsee. (Verso, $24.95.) A Russian and East European studies scholar traces the revolutionary work of Russian and Bulgarian socialist feminists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Soviet diplomat Alexandra Kolontai and World War II sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko.

Large and small property, By Ray Robertson. (Biblioasis, paper, $18.95.) This epistolary novel tells the story of a struggling used bookstore owner and patron who moved his store online in frustration, decided to teach two millennia of Western philosophy, fell in love, and tried to understand the meaning of life.

Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire. Edited by Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing and Mike Merriman-Lotz. (Haymarket, paper, $24.95; cloth, $45.) This collection chronicles the lives of Palestinians from Gaza — some residents, some refugees — under occupation and their work in the ongoing struggle for freedom.