"Song of Planet Earth," by Leighton K. Chong (Authorhouse, $21; also e-book): Chong, a local attorney, has written a sci-fi novel in which an alien inhabits his protagonist Alvin, a writer on nuclear arms control who tries to foil a terrorist plot to steal nuclear arms. The narrative alternates between the alien’s observations on human behavior and its impact on the earth and Alvin’s adventure.

"Bay Wave Challenge: On the Devil’s Tongue," by C. William Karel (self-published, $9.45): In this surf novel, a group of adventurers discover a bay on the Mexican coast where unusually large and fast waves are generated. With a treasure hunt and surfing challenge thrown into the plot, along with several oddball adventurers and surfer dudes, there’s as much happening off the waves as on.

"Hidden Treasures: What Museums Can’t or Won’t Show You," by Harriet Baskas (Globe Pequot Press, $19.95): The Hono­lulu Museum of Art’s collection of Japa­nese erotic art, called "shunga" (spring pictures), gets a chapter in this small volume. The name of this book is somewhat inaccurate in regard to the local museum, which has displayed part of its collection already, though without fanfare. More shunga goes on display Nov. 14 in an exhibit called "Tongue in Cheek: Erotic Art in 19th-Century Japan."

"The Arc of the Day/The Imperfectionist," by Steve Shrader (Tinfish Press, $24): A posthumous publication of two collections of poetry by Steve Shrader, a poet, photographer and artist who lived in Wai­ma­nalo for 35 years. Shrader wrote for alternative newspapers in Hawaii, but upon his death in 2007 a large collection of his spare, minimalist poems was discovered, covering a range of subjects such as a biplane flying over the beach and his father, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project.

"The Hikers Guide to Oahu," by Stuart M. Ball Jr. (University of Hawai‘i Press, $21.99): This update to the second edition of this popular guide includes 10 new trails while deleting eight that have been closed. With 52 hikes, there’s one for every weekend of the year. Coordinates for GPS devices are included, along with historical background and a guide to the flora and fauna you’ll see along the way.

"Ka Pua‘a Kane a me Kekahi Mau Mo‘olelo: The Boar and Other Stories," by Duke Wellington (Rocking W Press, $25): This is a nicely detailed short story about the hunt for a boar on Kauai which was first submitted to a fiction writing contest in 1986 by Duke Wellington, a Kauai resident. It received second place, but it’s taken this long for Wellington to publish it.

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“Page Turners” highlights books by Hawaii authors and books about Hawaii or of interest to Hawaii readers. To submit a book for consideration, send a copy and information to Features Department, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. For more information, email books@staradvertiser.com.