New books by Washington authors, or of local interest.

New books with local ties

"Leathernecks: An Illustrated History of the United States Marine Corps" by Merrill L. Bartlett and Jack Sweetman (Naval Institute Press, $60). Photographs, paintings, drawings and maps illustrate this hefty history of the U.S. Marine Corps. Co-author Bartlett lives on Vashon Island.

"Mantids" by Ron Dakron (Black Heron, $20.95). The Seattle novelist revamps the ancient Roman classic "Satyricon" (about a man who can't get sexually aroused) as an Astoria-set tale about a guy who has the opposite problem after overdosing on Viagra.

"Ice Warriors: The Pacific Coast/Western Hockey League, 1948-1974" by Jon C. Stott (Heritage, $19.95). A history of one of the best hockey minor-leagues in history, in which Seattle played a key role (that's Seattle Totem Guyle Fielder on the cover). Seattle won league titles in 1959, 1967 and 1968.

"Zen and the Art of Vampires" by Katie MacAlister (Signet, $7.99). Paranormal romance by a Seattle-area author, about a 30-something woman yearning for marriage and children who goes on a singles tour through Europe hoping to meet the man of her dreams. Instead she meets two Icelanders who are "handsome, mysterious and very dangerous."

"Mr. Cavendish, I Presume" by Julia Quinn (Avon, $7.99). The Seattle writer's sequel to her historic romance, "The Lost Duke of Wyndham," finds the presumed duke in danger of losing his title and heritage to a "prodigal cousin."

"Spy Candy" by Gina Robinson (Zebra, $3.99). Romantic suspense novel by a Kent writer, about a female bank officer who attends "a fantasy spy camp" where a "super-buff ex-CIA agent-cum-instructor" catches her eye.

"U2: A Diary" by Matt McGee (Omnibus, $29.95). A Tri-Cities writer who founded a U2 fan Web site in 1995 (www.atu2.com) offers a week-by-week overview of the Irish rock band's career. With numerous black-and-white photos of Bono and company.

Michael Upchurch (with help from Times sports reporter Craig Smith): mupchurch@seattletimes.com