Here, we celebrate the funniest, darkest, and most mysterious openings of the fall.

Order the book here.

Sing, Unburied, Singby Jesmyn Ward

I like to think I know what death is.

great-first-lines-Split

Little, Brown; Simon and Schuster; Penguin

Provenanceby Ann Leckie

“‘There were unexpected difficulties, said the dark grey blur.

The World of Tomorrowby Brendan Mathews

Francis never expected the silverware would be his undoing.

Vacationlandby John Hodgman

I apologize for my beard.

Attica Locke, Bluebird, Bluebird CR: Little, Brown

Pre-order the book here.

A Column of Fireby Ken Follett

We hanged him in front of Knightsbridge Cathedral.

Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied, Sing CR: Simon and Schuster

Simon and Schuster

Celeste Ng, Little Fires Everywhere CR: Penguin

Penguin

Ann Leckie, Provenane CR: Orbit

Orbit

Brendan Mathews, The World of Tomorrow CR: Little, Brown

Little Brown and Company

Gabriel Tallent, My Absolute Darling CR: Penguin

Penguin

John Hodgman, Vacationland CR: Penguin

Penguin

Ken Follett, A Column of Fire CR: Penguin

Penguin

Leni Zumas, The Red Clocks CR: Lee Boudreaux Books

Lee Boudreaux Books

Salman Rushdie, The Golden House CR: Random House

Random House

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane CR: Simon and Schuster

Simon and Schuster