LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention, was held August 27-31, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Hilton Anaheim & Anaheim Marriott Hotels in Anaheim, California. Guests of honor were novelist Barbara Hambly, cartoonist Colleen Doran, illustrator Tim Kirk, graphic novelist Stan Sakai, screenwriter Ronald D. Moore, fanzine editor Geri Sullivan, and engineer Anita Sengupta; special guests were NASA engineer Tracy Drain and authors Terese Mason Pierre and Tracey Baptiste. Registration reported 4,597 in-person warm bodies from 59 different countries, at least 847 of which were Worldcon first-timers; 8,225 memberships were purchased, 990 of which were virtual. They saw 1,843 memberships sold for WSFS (supporting memberships). Though there were fewer warm bodies than Seattle at 7,177 and Glasgow at 7,300, Anaheim’s total memberships rival last year’s 8,667 in Seattle. In comparison, Glasgow reported over 10,000 total members, and Chengdu 2023 saw a record in-person attendance of 18,895 with over 20,000 total members.

The con hotels were about a five-minute walk from the ACC North where the dealers room and art show were housed, as well as much programming, which ran in the ACC North and the fourth floor of the Hilton. Events used the center arena as well as two ballrooms in the Hilton, all offering enough space that none of the events were ticketed. At night, the Lanai Deck of the Hilton on the fifth floor, which opened up onto the large, well-lit outdoor green, became a central hub for room parties.

This year’s theme was ‘‘Adventure Awaits.’’ Worldcon chair Joyce Lloyd wrote, ‘‘In line with our theme, the directive given to everyone was to provide an adventure around every corner.’’ Exhibits were placed beyond the traditional exhibit area and into the Hilton function space, with photography exhibits, themed backdrops for photo ops, a LEGO play area, and more.

PROGRAMMING

Programming began early on Thursday with several panels, readings, and workshops. The Opening Ceremonies ran that evening with host T. Kingfisher and, after a land acknowledgment and a performance by Toveema, a Tongva song and dance ensemble, saw speeches by Lloyd and the guests of honor and special guests. H. Emiko Ogasawara detailed the Lodestar Trophy design in a recorded video, and Scott Lefton introduced the Hugo Base design in person. Then, the First Fandom Awards were presented by David Ritter. The Big Heart Award went to Ian Stockdale; Hall of Fame to Mike Glyer, Craig Miller, and Bjo Trimble; Hall of Fame, Posthumous to Fredric Brown and Myrtle R. Douglas; and Sam Moskowitz Archive Award to Andrew Porter and David Ritter. Also making an appearance was Fuzzy the Channel Island Fox, LAcon V’s mascot.

Programming was prolific this year, featuring a wide variety of panels, interviews, meetups, workshops, screenings, performances, tours, and much more. There was no pocket program, to the consternation of many. The well-used online program guide (loaded a reported 2.7 million times) featured tags including AI, astronomy and space, contracts, fandom history, gameshow, music, non-Western literature, roleplaying, sustainability, and many genre categories. There were 1,737 scheduled items, with 243 fully virtual, and over 500 recorded for replay to members; participants totaled 1,063, with 168 virtual. There were 356 table talks; 166 readings. For comparison, Seattle reported 1,425 program items and 936 participants; Glasgow reported 789 program items and 976 participants; and Chengdu offered 235 in-person items with a reported 1,200 panelists and guests. Programming worked to platform ‘‘a very strong indigenous languages track with workshops and panels on Navajo, Tongva, and Chumash.’’

Virtual programming was particularly robust. Of the scheduled items, 243 were fully virtual, and over 500 were recorded for replay to members. Included in these numbers was the convention’s joint program stream with the African Science Fiction Society, which hosted ASFS members on several panels and workshops, as well as the Nommo Awards nominees announcement on Thursday morning. Besides the virtual content itself, the convention held a Discord server that accrued approximately 1,600 members, discussing program items at length before and after the items ran.

There was plenty of hands-on content to be found as well. Among the highlights was ‘‘what we believe is the first fully dedicated Makerspace at the convention,’’ according to Lloyd – four rooms were devoted to Makers presentations and demos. There were also gaming spaces throughout the convention, with libraries and equipment courtesy of such organizations as Strategicon and Anime Los Angeles. The Freebies Book Lounge held books, galleys, bookmarks, and more, ‘‘replacing the bookbags given away at some smaller conventions.’’ For those interested in more physical activity, the convention saw the customary morning Stroll with the Stars, tai chi, Muay Thai, dance workshops, full-body improv workshops, and multiple combat sessions presented by the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) Kingdom of Caid. Even before the convention formally started, Anaheim Poet Laureate Camille Hernandez hosted a preconvention poetry event at the city’s public library, and later she moderated a poetry workshop as well.

LAcon V had 78 items listed as ‘‘Kid Friendly.’’ Comparatively, 27 items at Seattle Worldcon were listed as ‘‘Youth’’ and 16 as ‘‘Teen,’’ Glasgow listed 26 as ‘‘Children’s Programme,’’ and Chicon listed 34 tagged with ‘‘children’s program.’’

The Masquerade was Friday night, directed by Richard Man and Karisu Wen. The Award for Best in Show Presentation went to Lance Ikegawa for ‘‘Single Parent’’ and Best in Show Workmanship went to Ed and Jenn for ‘‘Nuada and Nualla from Hellboy 2.’’

DEALERS’ ROOM

Located in the spacious Exhibits Hall, the dealers’ room was a huge hall where dealers were interspersed with exhibits, hangout spaces, signing tables, GOH booths, bid tables, and many empty booths and tables that never filled, wrapped around the art show, which was draped or paneled off from view. The overall effect was that the rather daunting space was sparsely occupied and it never felt the hum of business. There were 120 total dealers offering ‘‘books, jewelry, artwork, collectables, and more.’’ Dealers included Bad Habit Publishing, Tachyon, PM Press, Locus, the Scribe Tribe, and many other indie publishers; Clarkesworld Magazine; Indigenous Tongva people; jewelers, artisans, author tables, and more. Many vendors colonized the empty spaces and we heard from many that the layout was uncomfortably disjointed. Randee Dawn of Armchair News said, ‘‘I sold better here than I’ve ever done before, so I have no complaints about that. But I was all the way in the back of the room, near tables that never were filled up, and it felt a little empty and abandoned,’’ a sentiment others echoed. ‘‘My only real issue was the cold in the room. I brought some nice frocks to wear and had to have a quilted flannel over them! But seriously, it was cold.’’

Patrick Swenson of Fairwood Press said, ‘‘I was very much spoiled by the Seattle Worldcon last year, but this year was not terrible. Considerably less sales, though…. Last year in Seattle the traffic was steady all the time. This year, there were pockets of quiet time, and then some steady times and some rushes. Having the art show in the middle of all the dealers was not the best decision made for the exhibits area. Trying to navigate paying for Wi-Fi (or electricity) and actually getting it was difficult. I never got mine, and I hope to see a refund for what I paid.’’

Shahid Mahmud said, ‘‘We had four tables for Arc Manor/Caezik. We found the room too large and strangely laid out (no segregated sections for dealers and other items like art shows etc., so kind of dispersed all over the place). I think the expansive space with wide empty spaces also made it seem like there was a lot less foot traffic than in Seattle. We had multiple inquiries of people getting frustrated trying to find particular booths since there did not seem to be a comprehensive map and the overall layout made it difficult to locate specific vendors.’’

ART SHOW

The exhibit hall of the ACC North saw the participation of 141 artists, 2,398 pieces on display, and 1,933 prints for sale. This was the first Worldcon to display the work of backdrop/scene painters. Organizers reported sales numbers reaching $140,000 in total buyer payments. There were two internal special displays for Frank Kelly Freas and Vincent Villafranca. Best in Show went to K.L. Wollons for ‘‘Dhiala Waning’’, Best Color 2D went to Barbara Hambly for ‘‘The War Doctor’’, Best Monochrome 2D went to Vincent Di Fate for ‘‘Who Goes There?’’, best 3D went to Vincent Villafranca for ‘‘The Monster Tree’’, Best Fabric Art went to Kestrel Michaud, Best Mixed Media went to Snail Scott for ‘‘Guardian’’, Judges’ Choice went to Daniel Gonzalez for ‘‘Canción Nocterna’’, and the Judges’ Choice for Body of Work went to Brittany Otto. The judges were Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink, Meghan Lancaster, Edie Stern, Joe Siclari, and David Stein.

PARTIES/CON SUITE

The Con Suite was well attended, located at the Hilton in room 5505 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day except Monday and offering snacks and beverages for all attendees. The room parties were ‘‘a hit,’’ per Lloyd. There were parties for the Edmonton and Brisbane Worldcon bids and for the Montréal Worldcon, as well as an Asian Fantasy Book Party, a party run by the cast of the Writing Excuses podcast, parties titled ‘‘90 Years of Cons’’ and ‘‘We Interrupt This Party’’, Brotherhood Without Banners, Space Bar, and more. All room parties set on the Lanai deck opened onto a shared central courtyard. Geri Sullivan’s suite, ‘‘Toad Woods West’’, was a popular destination, not least because she hosted and lent the suite to multiple parties throughout the convention. Other publisher and agent mixers were held off-site and in the hotels, as well as a combined Locus & Saga party in the presidential suite.

CON PUBLICATIONS

The souvenir book was the main guide to the convention, a hefty 160-page full-size perfect bound publication, with a cover boasting Big Foot by GOH Tim Kirk. A letter from the chair Joyce Lloyd was followed by introductions to the guests of honor, special guests, and toastmaster Ursula Vernon; essays on Worldcons past; sections on the awards, including a full list of Hugo finalists and the membership list, and a section about WSFS.

The Fuzzy Pink Papers, the convention newsletter published online and in print at the convention, offered regular status updates, featuring programming updates, useful information, announcements, award results, and more.

HUGO AWARDS

The Hugo Awards Ceremony capped off the night of Sunday, August 30, 2026 at the ACC Arena, running from about 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. The event was livestreamed through the convention member portal as well as on YouTube. There was an autocaptioner, though it tended to lag behind, and multiple interpreters. Organizers estimate the in-person audience at 2,500 viewers, and as of September 9, the YouTube livestream had over 10,000 views. The toastmaster this year was T. Kingfisher, whose cheerful energy, hats, and abundant supply of animal facts kept viewers well entertained for the extended show. Although the ceremony experienced some technical issues, notably a corrupted slide deck, all content was shown. Finalist names were read in a prepared audio recording by Frank Todaro, and musical accompaniment was provided by the South Side Symphony.

After Kingfisher’s lively extended opening, as she stalled for time for the A/V team, Hugo administrator Tammy Coxen shared that the awards received 1,488 nominations and ballots from 2,492 members across all 21 categories. Kingfisher then returned to the stage to lead the In Memoriam for the many contributors to the SF scene who died in the past year, although technical issues delayed the playing of the video until later.

Emily Hockaday presented the Astounding Award for Best New Writer to Antonia Hodgson. Hodgson said, ‘‘My first novel, which was unpublished for good reason, was a Gothic vampire saga. My writing took a detour, but my heart has always remained fantastical. This award really does mean the world to me. No more detours. You’re stuck with me, I’m afraid.’’ She thanked the voters, fellow nominees, Hodderscape, Orbit US, her agent, and everyone at Worldcon.

Tracey Baptiste presented the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book to C.B. Lee for Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe. Lee, attending Worldcon for the first time, said, ‘‘Thank you all so much! I didn’t write a speech because I didn’t think that a little queer cozy novel could even be nominated.… But a novel that celebrates joy is not little.’’ They thanked their five-year-old child, partners, agent, and ‘‘I don’t know, cheese and frogs and all the wonderful things in the world,’’ and all the nominees.

Terese Mason Pierre presented the award for Best Poem to Elis Montgomery for ‘‘Hex Supply Customer Support Log’’. Montgomery, also a first-time Worldcongoer, thanked Jennifer Hudak, LAcon, the readers and voters, the poets of the Speculative Poetry Initiative, and more, and encouraged everyone to vote to make the category a permanent installment of the Hugos.

Tim Kirk presented the award for Best Fan Artist to Yuumei, who said in a virtual acceptance speech, ‘‘I am so grateful to everyone who has supported my art over the years. Your support allowed me to dream and create to the fullest.’’

Mike Glyer presented the Best Fan Writer Award to Jason Sanford. Chris Barkley accepted and read Sanford’s speech, beginning, ‘‘Oh shit, I guess I should have attended Worldcon.’’ Sanford expressed ‘‘I’m honored that people see my journalism and essays as worthy of standing among the writings of these wonderful people.’’ He thanked his mother, his children, Lucienne Diver, Barkley, his readers, and more. He thanked SF/F as a genre for ‘‘help[ing] me realize there’s nothing wrong with me’’ as a neurodiverse child and said, ‘‘We will always be here, living, seeing, loving, dying. We are as normal as life itself.’’

Tracy Drain presented the Best Fancast Award to Hugo, Girl! Amy Salley, Kevin Anderson, and Lori Anderson accepted, expressing extensive thanks and acknowledging Haley Zapal, who could not attend. Lori addressed ‘‘anyone creating fan work: Thank you for sharing your art with the world. In a society where everything is increasingly profit-driven, making cool stuff just because you love to do it and then giving it away for free is an act of resistance. Keep it up.’’

After the In Memoriam ran successfully, Geri Sullivan presented the award for Best Fanzine to nerds of a feather, flock together. G. Brown, Vance Kotrla and Paul Weimer accepted. Brown said, ‘‘The role of a fanzine like nerds of a feather, flock together, as I see it, is not only to celebrate the art that we all love, but to shine a light on these imagined worlds and how they contribute to our shared understanding of what it means to be human.’’ The cast thanked their team and families.

Neil Clarke presented the Best Semiprozine Award to Uncanny Magazine. Michael Damian Thomas accepted by video and thanked the magazine staff, Worldcon staff, the Space Unicorn Ranger Corps, and his family. Betsy Aoki also accepted in person, saying, ‘‘It’s been a bad year for speculative fiction magazines. We’ve seen too many good journals close. It’s really through the gracious community support that Uncanny Magazine has that we’ve been able to keep going another year and we’re grateful.’’

Colleen Doran presented the Best Professional Artist Award to John Picacio, who thanked Doran, Leigh Bardugo, New Leaf Literary, his editor, creative director, family, and more, and dedicated the award to his recently passed brother-in-law.

The award for Best Editor, Short Form was presented by Anita Sengupta to Neil Clarke, who said, ‘‘Twenty years ago this October, Clarkesworld published its first issue. It’s something I never thought would last that long, and my plus-one this evening thought he was here to help me with the table – and to be fair, I helped him with the table in the Dealers’ Room. But I wanted Sean Wallace here because he’s the person that talked me into taking this job. He’s worked by my side this entire time.… I never thought that I would find a career in this.’’ He also encouraged everyone to support the fundraiser for fellow finalist Sheila Williams and her health care.

The award for Best Editor, Long Form was presented by Patrick Nielsen Hayden to Diana M. Pho. Pho accepted, saying, ‘‘One word echoes in my head, said by so many this evening: despite. We are here, we’re alive, despite everything.… Let us keep our spirits, the spite, the fight, and the adventure, and for those who are against these values of love and acceptance, in the words of a great man, ‘Change your heart or die.’’’ She thanked the Worldcon community, family, friends, colleagues, and many others.

Tanya DePass presented the Best Game or Interactive Work Award to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen accepted, saying, ‘‘It is an honor to be here today to celebrate the artistic minds of folks who have inspired us, delighted us, and made us think and feel, and I hope we never lose sight of what makes us human and what humans can contribute to each other.’’

Ronald D. Moore presented the award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form to Murderbot: ‘‘All Systems Red’’. Chris Weitz accepted with several others of the show staff, including Martha Wells and actor David Daltsmachian, saying, ‘‘It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be able to make this incredibly well-funded fan fiction.’’

David Gerrold presented the award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form to Sinners, although Ryan Coogler was not able to attend and did not share a speech.

Charlie Jane Anders presented the Best Related Work Award to ‘‘Inventing the Renaissance’’ by Ada Palmer. Palmer, unable to attend, accepted by video, though it was not able to be played immediately. She thanked her agent, advisors, fellow scholars, publishing teams, family, blog readers, and more. ‘‘Critics have called the book innovative, but Worldcon is where that innovation comes from, so it means the world to me to see my weird bridge book welcomed here.’’

Stan Sakai presented the award for Best Graphic Story or Comic to A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel. Fred Fordham shared a video acceptance speech expressing many thanks.

The award for Best Series was presented by Barbara Hambly to the Old Man’s War series by John Scalzi, who accepted and said, ‘‘I and some other members of the Best Series crew made a pact that whoever won, the rest of us would flip them off. You don’t do that if you don’t love the people that you are in your field with.’’ He thanked editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden and his wife Kristine.

The award for Best Short Story, presented by Larry Niven, went to ‘‘In My Country’’ by Thomas Ha. Ha expressed thanks to the voters, Clarkesworld, finalists, winners, family, and more, and said, ‘‘I know it’s hard to find the motivation, at least it is for me and I know that it is for some others. It is endless and relentless the way the world’s upended every other day, but I hope other writers, especially newer writers who are just starting out… I hope you just keep going and follow the impulse and the compulsion. You can’t let anyone take that away from you.’’

Mary Robinette Kowal presented the award for Best Novelette to ‘‘Never Eaten Vegetables’’ by H.H. Pak, who accepted with surprise. ‘‘In the absence of words, I’m just filled with gratitude,’’ they said, and thanked Clarkesworld, their readers, their teachers and professors, and their mother.

Harry Turtledove presented the award for Best Novella to The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar. She thanked her fellow finalists, voters, Worldcon volunteers, her agent and editorial team, family, and more. ‘‘The process of seeing The River Has Roots published was a process of being constantly humbled by how much extraordinary art and skill went into making it a beautiful object to hold and experience,’’ she said, recognizing Gem Carmella, Jeff Miller, Kathleen Neeley, and Steve Wagner for their work on the art and audiobook. ‘‘Free Palestine, trans rights are inviolable human rights, borders are bullshit, and we are bound together in this world to fight for the liberation of all people.’’

Kingfisher presented the award for Best Novel, in an envelope delivered by R2-D2, to The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow. El-Mohtar read Harrow’s speech. ‘‘This is a moment when both love and stories are being systematically devalued, distorted, suppressed, stolen, banned. I don’t know how we’re going to get through it sometimes. Then I start listing people again, the people who keep fighting and yelling at their senators and giving to bail funds and loving each other and telling stories. I want to thank all of you for loving a love story in times like these. It is by far the luckiest, most unlikely thing in a life of unlikely and lucky things.’’

ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES

After some reports about accessibility concerns at the awards and around the hotel, as well as ableist language used with one of the finalists, LAcon V’s chair issued a statement.

‘‘LAcon V recognizes that there were failures in accessibility and communication surrounding our main stage during the convention. The rear backstage ramp did not meet ADA accessibility requirements, and as a result we failed to provide the level of access that we intended and that our community has every right to expect. While this originated with a third-party vendor issue, responsibility for ensuring an accessible experience remained ours. We also failed to communicate the problem, its impact, and potential solutions effectively to those affected.

We recognize that this created barriers for attendees using mobility devices and caused understandable frustration, disappointment, and exclusion. We are deeply sorry for that harm.’’

For the complete statement, see their website.

WORLDCON 2027 AND BEYOND

The 85th World SF Convention, Montréal Worldcon 2027, will be held at the Palais de Congrès de Montréal in Québec, Canada, September 2-6, 2027, featuring guests of honor Linda D. Addison, Cory Doctorow, Chris Barkley, Jeph Jacques, Yves Meynard, Jo Walton, and more to be announced.

The 86th World SF Convention, Aussiecon 5, is scheduled for July 27-31, 2028 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Brisbane (Meanjin), Australia, featuring guests of honor Claire G. Coleman, David Gaider, Kathleen Jennings, Seanan McGuire, Perry Middlemiss, Jonathan Strahan, and more to be announced.

–Alice Strangman & Liza Groen Trombi

A selection of photos from the convention follows.

Ready to see what’s new on the shelves this week? Our September 29, 2026 new releases video explores the latest arrivals in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult fiction.

This week’s lineup features a wide range of stories, from far-reaching sci-fi adventures and richly imagined fantasy settings to unsettling horror, supernatural mysteries, and engaging YA fiction. Whether you’re searching for your next immersive read or looking to expand your TBR list, there are plenty of new titles to discover.

For more weekly coverage of the newest speculative fiction releases, subscribe to the channel and join us each week as we highlight fresh books across these genres. Thanks for watching, and we’ll be back next week with another selection of new releases!

Winners of the French-language Prix Boréal have been announced.

Best Novel

The October 2026 Locus magazine, issue #789, has interviews with Stephen King, Tananarive Due, and Paul Tremblay. The issue includes a feature on horror with spotlights by K. Ancrum, K-Ming Chang, Ellen Datlow, Christopher Golden, Micaiah Johnson, Keith Rosson, and Lisa Wood; commentary by Maurice Broaddus & Dr. Chesya Burke, Cassandra Khaw, and Lisa Wood; and a review by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro. LAcon V, Worldcon 2026 is covered with an extensive report and photos, the Hugo voting breakdown, and a WSFS business meeting report. News includes the Hugo Awards winners, Nancy Kress’s induction as a SFWA Grand Master, the Dragon Awards winners, and more. David Kopaska-Merkel is remembered with an obituary. Reviews include new titles by Annalee Newitz, Nghi Vo, Daryl Gregory, Freya Marske, Seth Haddon, Allan Kaster (ed.), Becky Chambers, Max Dosser, Claire North, Jonathan Strahan (ed.), Tananarive Due, Matt Hill, Haralambi Markov, Robert G. Penner, Naomi Alderman, Kuzhali Manickavel, Karen Lord, Margrét Helgadóttir (ed.), Adam Roberts, Caskey Russell, Shaun Tan, Sophia Hannah, H.G. Parry, Catherine Cavendish, Sean David Robinson, Hannah Whitten, Kim Boyhun (translated by Archana Madhavan), Kim Bo-Young (translated by Sophie Bowman), Cassandra Khaw, Adam Cesare, Neal Stephenson, K. Ancrum, Morgan Thomas, Wole Talabi and others.

Reviews by GABINO IGLESIAS / 29

Reliquary, Hannah Whitten; Mothersucker, Kim Boyhun, tr. Archana Madhavan; A Plagued Sea, Kim Bo-Young, tr. Sophie Bowman; Find Me Where It Ends, Cassandra Khaw; Clown in a Cornfield 4: Lights! Camera! Frendo!, Adam Cesare.

Reviews by DIVERS HANDS: JOANNE ANDERTON, ALEX BROWN, ADRIENNE MARTINI, ADAM ROBERTS / 30

D: Heavy Water, Neal Stephenson; Adam, Mine., K. Ancrum; Mad Eden, Morgan Thomas; The Fist of Memory, Wole Talabi.

Alderman, Naomi • The Strangers (Abigail Nussbaum)
Ancrum, K. • Adam, Mine. (Alex Brown)
Boyhun, Kim • Mothersucker (Gabino Iglesias)
Bo-Young, Kim • A Plagued Sea (Gabino Iglesias)
Cavendish, Catherine • Ghosts of Chanterlands (Colleen Mondor)
Cesare, Adam • Clown in a Cornfield 4: Lights! Camera! Frendo! (Gabino Iglesias)
Chambers, Becky • As You Wake, Break the Shell (Alexandra Pierce)
DK • A History of Horror, Fear, and the Uncanny (Alvaro Zinos-Amaro)
Dosser, Max • Nostalgic Futures: The Reactionary Fantasies of Speculative Fiction Fandoms (Alexandra Pierce)
Due, Tananarive • Mazywood (Ian Mond)
Gregory, Daryl • The Porcelain Sisters (Gary K. Wolfe)
Haddon, Seth • Null Entity (Alexandra Pierce)
Hannah, Sophia • We Were Never Here (Colleen Mondor)
Helgad ttir, Margr t, ed. • Nordic Nightmares (Niall Harrison)
Hill, Matt • Wrecks (Ian Mond)
Kaster, Allan, ed. • The Year’s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories 10 (Alexandra Pierce)
Khaw, Cassandra • Find Me Where It Ends (Gabino Iglesias)
Lord, Karen • The Angel at the Gates (Niall Harrison)
Manickavel, Kuzhali • A Compendium of Supernatural Entities Found in the Government Girls Higher Secondary School (Abigail Nussbaum)
Markov, Haralambi • The Language of Knives: Stories (Ian Mond)
Marske, Freya • Bodies of Magic (Alexandra Pierce)
Newitz, Annalee • A Wall Is Also a Road (Gary K. Wolfe)
North, Claire • As We Fall Through Time (Alexandra Pierce)
Parry, H. G. • The Witch Below Dreaming Wood (Colleen Mondor)
Penner, Robert G. • Notes on a Colonial Situation in Hell (Abigail Nussbaum)
Roberts, Adam • Frankenstein Rex (Niall Harrison)
Robinson, Sean David • The Door in Penrose Forest (Colleen Mondor)
Russell, Caskey • The Eagle in the Mountain (Niall Harrison)
Stephenson, Neal • D: Heavy Water (Joanne Anderton)
Strahan, Jonathan, ed. • Revolution in the Heart (Alexandra Pierce)
Talabi, Wole • The Fist of Memory (Adam Roberts)
Tan, Shaun • Hometown (Colleen Mondor)
Thomas, Morgan • Mad Eden (Adrienne Martini)
Vo, Nghi • The Scarlet Ball (Gary K. Wolfe)
Whitten, Hannah • Reliquary (Gabino Iglesias)

David Shelley will give up his current role as head of an English language management structure on January 1 2027 to become executive chair of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group. Accordingly, Ben Sevier is taking over as CEO of Hachette Book Group, moving on from his position as president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing.

Sevier stated, “My decade leading the spectacularly talented teams across the Grand Central Publishing Group has been equal parts exciting, challenging, and deeply rewarding, and I expect a super-charged version of all three in this next phase of our company and our industry…”

Richard Kitson has been named as COO for global English language at Hachette. Christine Ball will join HBG in November as president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing, replacing Sevier. Emily Meehan will become president of Union Square. Amongst staffing changes, HBG will form a new publishing program in Canada that will be overseen by Sally Kim.

For more information on the changes see the HBG press release.

Penguin Random House UK has announced an imprint for the new adult reader category, Dusk, focusing on “romance, fantasy and crossover fiction.” Carmen McCullough and Amina Parchment-Youssef will lead the imprint, which expects to publish it’s first titles fall 2026.

McCullough told The Bookseller, “Some of the most exciting energy in publishing today is coming from a generation of readers who don’t see themselves, or their reading tastes, in traditional categories… They move effortlessly between YA, new adult and adult fiction, between romance and fantasy, discovering books through friends, creators and online communities, and turning the stories they love into genuine cultural moments.”

The winners of the 2026 Colorado Book Awards were revealed at a ceremony located in Denver CO on September 26, 2026. Titles and authors of genre interest in categories with winners of genre interest include:

“We, the Fleet” by Alex T. Singer (Clarkesworld 5/25) is the winner of the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short science fiction story, presented by the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction.

The second-place runner up was “The Sack of Burley Cottage” by Rich Larson (Reactor 6/25/25). The third-place runner up was “The Shadow on the Nest” by Alaya Dawn Johnson (Uncanny 9-10/25).

Other finalists were:

Established in 1987 by James Gunn and the heirs of Theodore Sturgeon, including his partner Jayne Engelhart Tannehill and Sturgeon’s children, the Sturgeon Award is “a memorial to one of the great short-story writers in a field distinguished by its short fiction.” This year’s jurors were Elizabeth Bear, Kelly Link, Sarah Pinsker, Noël Sturgeon, and Taryne Taylor.

The award will be presented in-person at the fifth annual Sturgeon Symposium at the Hall Center for the Humanities in Lawrence KS. The Sturgeon Award ceremony, to be held on October 15, 2026, will feature a reception, opening remarks, presentation of the award, a reading by Singer, and a Q&A session. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Expanding Speculative Horizons.” The Symposium itself is from October 15-16.

For more information, see the Gunn Center’s website.

Visit our bookshop.org page to purchase this week’s new books and support your local bookstore. And us!

Alderson, Ben & Samotin, Laura R.: The Darkness Bites Back (Angry Robot UK 978-1836730057, $19.99, 320pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. Tobias, seeking revenge against the vampire who turned him, targets the vampire’s son Alexander, only to find Alexander more principled and devoted than he thought.

Baldree, Travis: Tales from the Territory (Subterranean Press 978-1645243366, $48.00, 224pp, formats: hardcover, 09/30/2026)

Collection of five cozy fantasy stories (three new) set in the world of Legends & Lattes. The Subterranean edition is signed, limited to 1500 copies printed in two colors throughout, with illustrations. Macmillan publishes the audiobook, out on 10/6. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor UK edition.

Banta, Bel: The Court of Venus (Tor 978-1250437136, $29.99, 368pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Romantic fantasy novel. In a world where magicians’ powers are determined by celestial alignments, Bianca is a rare moon-blessed magician summoned to a deadly court by her onetime rival, Venus-born Roland. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor UK edition.

Davey, Heather: The Memory Tree (Titan Books UK 978-1835414392, $18.99, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Horror novel. Minister’s wife Kate moves to her husband’s new parish in Hope-under-Barrow, a rural community whose strange rituals and noxious yew tree unnerve Kate.

Duhaime, Zoé: The Lost Spectacular (Kensington/Erewhon 978-1645663348e maladies are cured and people can’t die — seems to be facing an increasing number of ghosts.

Gregovic, Lydia: The False Vow (Penguin Random House/Delacorte 979-8217120680, $21.99, 528pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 09/29/2026)

Young-adult fantasy romance novel, sequel to The Weaver Bride. On the eve of her marriage to Weaver heir Noé, silkwitch Lovett sets out to take down the despotic reign of his father, and also solve a murder mystery.

Ireland, Liz: Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding (Kensington Cozies 978-1496763013, $18.95, 272pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 09/29/2026)

Fantasy mystery novel, seventh in the Mrs. Claus series. Rehearsals for the upcoming community production of A Christmas Carol get disrupted by a foundling baby elf and the murder of the actor playing Tiny Tim. The author also writes as Elizabeth Bass and Liz Freeland.

Janovsky, Timothy: The Invisible Roommate (St. Martin’s Griffin 978-1250394613, $19.00, 320pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 09/29/2026)

Paranormal romance. Gerard, a famed band member fleeing the spotlight, travels to a remote town in the Chesapeake where he rooms with Emory, a scientist who’s tested out his invisibility research on himself.

Kingfisher, T.: Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion (Penguin Random House/Random House Worlds 979-8217298594, $30.00, 272pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Fantasy novel based on the computer game/D&D universe. Astarion, reluctant vampire, sees a chance to escape his servitude in a competition to find the blood of a dead god; he finds an ally in the handsome paladin Hahn. Copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast.

Langan, Sarah: Trad Wife (Simon & Schuster/Atria 978-166822965, $29.00, 320pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Horror novel. Struggling journalist Jenny sets out to write a scathing expose of tradwife influencer Mia and her idyllic family farm, only to become unnerved as the farm itself gives her strange dreams. First US edition (Tor Nightfire UK 5/26).

Mafi, Tahereh: Escape Me (HarperCollins/Storytide 978-0063419100, $21.99, 416pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

YA dystopian romance novel, third in Shatter Me: Series Two. Rosabelle needs to ignore her feelings for James to convince Sebastian she’s still working against the rebels.

McGuire, Seanan: A Divided Duty (Tor 978-1250375278, $29.99, 384pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 09/29/2026)

Fantasy novel, 20th in the October Daye series. Toby is raising her baby with the help of Raysel, who’s been getting help and therapy while serving out a bond; once the bond ends, Raysel’s mother Luna steals her back and Toby must rescue her.

Miller, Sam A.: Still Lost: Tales from 2080 (Penguin Random House UK/Del Rey UK 978-0143139553, $19.00, 336pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Collection of eight linked science fiction stories set on an Earth invaded by aliens. Sardonic, humorous situations include an intelligent baboon being cyberbullied and a shocking secret about grass.

Palahniuk, Chuck & Bailey, Michael: Silent Nightmares (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press 978-1668212844, $25.00, 320pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Original anthology of 15 horror stories, all set in the longest nights of the year. Authors include Eugen Bacon, Cynthia Pelayo, Josh Malerman, Gabino Iglesias, Alma Katsu, and more.

Ravenscroft, Dorian: The White North Has Thy Bones (Bloomsbury UK/Raven N/A, $15.19, 361pp, formats: ebook, audiobook, 10/01/2026)

Historical horror novel. A London newsman seeks answers about what happened on the HMS Melpomene, a rescue ship that met disaster, amnesia, and alleged possession in the Arctic.

Rose-Teter, Marley: The Bone Brides (Page Street YA 979-8890035004, $22.99, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

YA dark fantasy novel. Nora, a human grieving her father, must enter the faerie realm at the bottom of a lake to save her girlfriend Lumi, a changeling.

Sanders, DaVaun: Forged in FIYAH (Tordotcom 978-1250360854, $29.99, 336pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, 09/29/2026)

Anthology of Black science fiction and fantasy commemorating ten years of FIYAH magazine. Authors include Maurice Broaddus, C.L. Clark, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Sheree Renée Thomas, Tobi Ogundiran, and more.

Shinn, Sharon: Tropes (Fairwood Press 978-1958880449, $19.99, 260pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 10/01/2026)

Collection of fantasy stories and novellas, including one set in the Elemental Blessings universe. Features shapeshifters, unicorns, and a magical city.

Sweazy, Melissa Anderson: The Sisters of Crimson House (Sourcebooks Landmark 978-1464272356, $18.99, 416pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Southern paranormal novel. Charley, the only woman in her family not to inherit psychic gifts, saves their ancestral Memphis manor by becoming a tarot-slinging fraudster, only to have her psychic sister show up.

Tan, Shaun: Hometown (Allen & Unwin (Australia) 978-1923627215, $9.99, 110pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 09/29/2026)

YA graphic novel. A girl with an adoptive family and a community she loves is shocked to have a creature from space arrive and say she’s more like him than her family.

Thorne, Jennifer: Newbourne Park (Penguin Random House/Putnam 979-8217177769, $30.00, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Horror novel. Stressed-out Martha is grateful when a family friend offers her a not-quite-legal getaway at mega-mansion Newbourne, whose owner is supposed to be gone — only for the owner to return, different, at night. Simultaneous with the Titan Books UK edition.

Warner, Dan: Wither (Bloomsbury USA 978-1639736409, $36.99, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

SF horror novel. A year ago, Mick went off-grid to test Regression, a black-box technology that creates a person’s perfect digital twin — after disaster, he returns to civilization, only to find everything deserted.

Waters, Martha: Spellstruck (Simon & Schuster/Atria 978-1668215241, $18.99, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Historical fantasy romance novel. In an alternate 1920s London where magic is forbidden, Vesper runs a magic speakeasy but must join forces with Max Ashbridge, a government agent.

Wehunt, Michael: The Nightjars (St. Martin’s 978-1250333728, $30.00, 318pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Horror novel. In the middle of a date, Luke is given a photograph of himself as a child with a murdered body in the background, none of which he can remember; a new string of serial killings points towards him.

Wexler, Django: The Only Way Out Is Up (Orbit US 978-0316392600, $19.99, 384pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Dystopian novel, first in The Sigilist series. Junkyard worker Taj is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the Ascent, which could elevate him, his family, and his smart-ass robot Star to a richer level. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

Williams, Jen: The Dreamless (St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books 978-1250409317, $22.00, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Young-adult fantasy romance novel, sequel to The Sleepless. Elver, sacrificed yet again, comes back from the dead more jih than human, and Artair/Lucian must deal with their feelings for her in their shared body.

Yarros, Rebecca: Threshing Day (Entangled/Red Tower 978-1682818084, $24.99, 208pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/29/2026)

Collection of 13 stories featuring characters from the Empyrean fantasy romance series. Features 16 illustrations by Joe Requeza.

Zelkowitz, Jeff: The Mask of the Storyteller (EurekaSignal Press 979-8995521501, $19.95, 396pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 10/01/2026)

Young-adult dystopian fantasy novel. In an Arctic troubled by climate change and a bureaucratic regime, Aggie Brown and her classmate Tommy Tulugaq get entangled with an Inuit mask, a melting ice cap, and an conspiracy. A first novel.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We rely on reader donations to keep the magazine and site going, and would like to keep the site paywall free, but WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT to continue quality coverage of the science fiction and fantasy field.

The longlists for the Singapore Literature Prize (SLP) have been announced. Titles and authors of genre interest in the Prose category include:

The Bookseller has announced the shortlists for the second annual British Audio Awards, also called the Speakies, “a prestigious new awards dedicated to celebrating excellence in audiobooks and audio drama, brought to you by The Bookseller and The Stage.” Categories, titles, and authors of genre interest include:

Six titles debut in the top 10 on one or more lists this week. The two most prominent are Leigh Bardugo’s Dead Beat (Flatiron), third in the author’s Ninth House trilogy, ranking #1 at New York Times, and Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party (Knopf), ranking #1 at Los Angeles Times. Other debuts are by Keri Lake, Jasmine Mas, B.K. Borison, and Devney Perry.

The table shows the current rank of each book and the change since last week, where:

= same as last week

+/- change since last week

+ back on list

++ new on list

x no longer on list (number of x’s: weeks off list)

All lists rank hardcovers and paperbacks separately, except for the USA Today list, which is a single list combining fiction and nonfiction in all formats. Dates shown are posted dates, except those in parentheses, which are dates compiled. New York Times posts its list one week in advance of print publication.

Note that some sources do not compile paperback bestsellers, and some exclude YA books (like the Harry Potter series) from their hardcover and paperback fiction lists.

S.C. Bandreddi, The Game of Oaths (Candlewick 6/26) Bandreddi’s debut outing is a young-adult historical dark fantasy novel about a magical circus in 1896 Paris. Performers trapped by contracts are forced to compete in a deadly tournament to entertain the elite while promising freedom for the winner – but one competitor is more interested in revenge. Full of magic and brutal action, with a diverse cast dealing with issues of colonialism that add a serious touch.

Maurice Broaddus, A City Dreaming (Tor 6/26) The third and final volume in the Astra Black trilogy offers a complex mix of political intrigue and action, as a signal from a wormhole promises new arrivals, triggering conflicts across the solar system that threaten the Muungano Empire.

Ellen Datlow, ed., Lovecraft’s Brood (Tachyon 7/26) A new anthology by noted editor Datlow offers 19 stories of cosmic dread from the last 20 years, with new takes on Lovecraftian themes. Authors include Laird Barron, Elizabeth Hand, Caitlín R. Kiernan, T. Kingfisher, Steve Rasnic Tem, Paul Tremblay, and L. Marie Wood.

Kate Heartfield, Mercutio (Harper Voyager UK 5/26) In this ‘‘prequel’’ to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s witty friend Mercutio gets his own story told, as he and Dante Alighieri team up to stop a Faerie invasion into the real world.

Allan Kaster, ed., The Year’s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories 10 (Infinivox 6/26) The latest volume in this popular SF year’s best anthology presents 11 stories from 2025 by an impressive roster of writers, including Vera Brook, Isabel J. Kim, Nancy Kress, Allen M. Steele, Bruce Sterling & Paul Di Filippo, and Peter Watts.

Justin C. Key, The Hospital at the End of the World (Harper 2/26) This near-future SF novel imagines a world ‘‘in which hospitals are run entirely by AI and where doctors are little more than glorified software engineers.’’ [Ian Mond] Pok, a medical student, is forced to work in the only hospital not run by algorithms and learn how to deal with patients in a human way, all while trying to uncover his father’s secret.

Haralambi Markov, The Language of Knives (Mythic Delirium 7/26) A collection of 13 dark fantasy/horror stories, four new, many involving elements of Slavic myth, dark humor, and questions of queer identity. This is Markov’s first collection, with an introduction by Ann VanderMeer.

Alex Shvartsman, The Best of All Possible Planets (UFO Publishing 7/26) A satirical SF space opera novel, inspired primarily by Voltaire’s Candide (and not a little Douglas Adams), but with dozens more inspirations (and targets) from genre and pop culture (a list is provided). ‘‘But an exhaustive hunt for every Easter Egg would go against the spirit of this breezy read. Just relax and let the ride take you away from the actual world for a bit.’’ [Adrienne Martini] A small group sets out to get a new protective force shield for Earth, AKA Planet Dirt, and chaos naturally ensues.

Jen St. Jude, Where You’ll Find Us (Bloomsbury US 6/26) This young-adult fantasy novel follows a disowned queer teen who finds a farmhouse out of time where queer kids from different decades have found refuge and share their experiences – until one day the clock starts ticking again.

Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky (Subterranean 6/26) A hefty collection of 37 stories, chosen by the prolific author as his best, and with an Introduction by John Scalzi. Tchaikovsky notes he chose to omit some previously collected stories (notably those in his Shadows of the Apt series and his Lovecraftian Mythos stories) – what remains is a plentiful and entertaining mix of SF, fantasy, and ‘‘weirdness’’ that spans most of Tchaikovsky’s career, from early to recent tales.

#noinsta

What new books are worth adding to your reading list this week? Our September 22, 2026 new releases video explores the newest titles arriving across Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult fiction.

From vast futuristic worlds and magical adventures to eerie horror, supernatural discoveries, and captivating YA stories, this week’s lineup offers plenty of fresh possibilities for speculative fiction readers. We’ve gathered a selection of new and notable releases to help you discover your next book to pick up.

Be sure to subscribe for more weekly videos covering the latest Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult releases. Thanks for watching, and join us next week as we take a look at another wave of new books hitting shelves!

Union Square & Co. has launched Singularity, a new line of paperback novellas led by Union Square editorial director Mika Kasuga. They plan to publish “10-12 titles each year” of “high-impact, one-sitting fiction.”

Works of genre interest scheduled for Fall 2026 include Zero Lives Remaining by Adam Cesare, a new edition of I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison, and The Waiter by Kwan Ann Tan. Those scheduled for early 2027 include You Just Have to Ask Me by Hadeer Elsbai, The Upper Tentacle by Amanda Helms, Sweet Saints by Cassandra Khaw, and Shouting Distance by Cherie Priest.

Senior vice president and publisher at Union Square Emily Meehan said,

The Singularity program was born out of conversations Mika and I had about reduced attention spans and the desire for more a more snack-sized reading experience that doesn’t compromise depth for length. We wanted to celebrate the novella as a format and use the program as yet another platform to showcase Union Square’s commitment to create books that resonate deeply with readers—especially ones looking for accessible, sophisticated stories in our ever more distracted, digital reality.

For more information, see the official announcement.

COVER REVEAL: Check out this dramatic cover for Battle for the Drømme, by Charles R. Cooke and Christopher X. Ryan, coming out September 29 from Driller Press.

From the publisher:

The Underground expands with Battle for the Drømme, the next action-packed novel from Charles R. Cooke and Christopher X. Ryan.

Häzzel has never ventured beyond the Drømme, the notorious trading post where smugglers, gangsters, and politicians all do business under the same roof in the frozen north of Tovsta.

When Ruslan, the newly crowned Supreme Archdeacon, begins tearing through the underground, demanding submission to his ruinous new tax, he sets his sights on the Drømme. Not to control it, but to destroy it.

With no army and no time, Häzzel does the unthinkable. She journeys into the Ulak Mountains in search of the legendary City of Lost Soldiers, a refuge for exiled warriors, disgraced soldiers, and mercenaries who fight for one thing alone: a price.

To reach them, she’ll risk everything. To hire them, she’ll have to survive them.

If she fails, the Drømme burns. If she succeeds, the battle for the Drømme begins, and something far worse may rise with it.

[sponsored content]

The six-title shortlist for the 2026 Booker Prize has been announced, with works and writers of genre interest including The End of Everything by M. John Harrison (Serpent’s Tail) and The Disappearers by Marlon James (Riverhead).

Harrison, James, and other shortlisted authors receive £2,500. The winner, to receive £50,000, will be announced November 9, 2026.

For previous titles of genre interest listed for the Booker, see past Locus coverage of the award.

Visit our bookshop.org page to purchase this week’s new books and support your local bookstore. And us!

Bellefleur, Alexandria: Damned if I Do (Penguin Random House/Berkley Romance 978-0593952528, $20.00, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Contemporary fantasy romance novel. Effie sold her soul to Lucifer centuries ago, and to proceed with her engagement to demon Belphagor, she has to persuade the reincarnation of her past human husband to divorce her.

Bhathena, Tanaz: Witch Daughter (Grand Central 978-1538780862, $29.00, 320pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Fantasy novel based the epic poem Shahnameh. With her royal father in poor health, Princess Tahmineh rashly commits herself to a prophesied romance with warrior Rostam, only to discover that their fated marriage has dire consequences for him and their son.

Blue, Sarah: The Slayer Seduction (self-published No ISBN, $3.99, 328pp, formats: ebook, audiobook, 09/25/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, third in the Celestial Witches series. Convinced she’s a demon, Slayer courts a woman, possessing a man’s body to do so — and she’s torn between freeing the man, Adam, and her attraction to Slayer.

Due, Tananarive: Mazywood (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press 978-1668075142, $32.00, 512pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. Filmmaker Johnny brings his family to Mazywood, cabin retreat of his grandmother, famed Black actress Mazelle Washington, and discovers dark, terrifying secrets there. Simultaneous with the Titan UK edition.

Garber, Stephanie: The Mirror of Infinite Endings (Macmillan/Flatiron 978-1250462039, $21.99, 256pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Fantasy novel, a companion to the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. A secret might reshape the story of Jacks and Evangeline in the Hollow. Features ttwenty full-page illustrations by Lotusbubble. Simultaneous with the Gollancz UK edition.

Golden, Christopher: Carry Me to My Grave (Titan Books UK 978-1835419472, £9.99, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. Malcolm holds a vigil at the bedside of his dying mother and alleged witch, about whom local children used to chant: Maggie Wise will take your eyes. First UK edition (St. Martin’s 7/26).

Grace, Adalyn: The Wretched Divine (Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends 978-1250397751, $32.99, 512pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. Aurelie, a knight raised to kill demons, is torn between demon Severin and her family’s angel Yuriel as they seek a cure to turn demons back into humans. The author’s first adult novel. Simultaneous with the Gollancz UK edition.

Graudin, Ryan: Bright and Broken Things (Orbit US/Redhook 978-0316419185, $19.99, 384pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Historical fantasy novel. World War 1 survivor Ezra, haunted with magical abilities, stumbles into a lethal high-society Order and is drawn into a high-stakes treasure-hunt race during the “Egyptomania” craze of the 1920s.

Hardy, MK: The Haunting of Avis Lovelock (Profile/Solaris UK 978-1837866960, £9.99, 350pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/24/2026)

Historical haunting novel. Professional debunker Avis is brought aboard to the ocean liner Excambion to prove it’s not haunted, though twin spiritualists, apparitions, and a death complicate things. The author is a pen name for Morag Hannah & Erin Hardee.

Hellisen, CL: The Shape of Monsters (Macmillan/Tor UK 978-1037401190, £20.00, 416pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/24/2026)

Fantasy novel. Estranged siblings Aleks and Vaira return to their family’s old gothic mansion, a locus of dark and wild magic. First UK (Orbit US 2026).

Helm, Deena: Our Cut of Salt (Tor/Nightfire 978-1250434661, $27.99, 288pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. Marina and her mother return to their grandmother’s home in Haifa, Palestine, but the deeper Marina reaches into their family’s history, the more she becomes affected with a mysterious illness and potential haunting.

Katsu, Alma: Incarnate (Penguin Random House/Putnam 979-8217177707, $21.00, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. Dorothy, onetime influencer now working at a tech company, uses deepfake software to create the viral sensation Isabella, only for violence to break out when someone gets too close to the truth.

Moore, Marshall J.: The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing (Penguin Random House/Bantam Dell 979-8217374168, $21.00, , formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Paranormal novel. Overworked henchman Igor forms a bond with fellow underlings — witch’s cat Grimalkin and vampire’s bride Cornelia — and together they decide to rise up against their servitude.

Mortlock, Amanda: Strange Bedfellows (Simon & Schuster/Atria/Bestler 978-1668205778, $20.00, 448pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. College student Cleo meets brooding musician Wes, though sometimes she shapeshifts into his pet cat — in fact, he’s a witch and she’s his familiar, with a dark shared history. A first novel.

Mostyn-Brown, Megan: The Need (Penguin Random House/Del Rey 979-8217093984, $28.00, 288pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. In a world where a hereditary condition called The Need makes some people desperate to eat human flesh, a single mother and her kids are drawn by secrets towards an affluent, fashionable cannibal family in New York.

O’Donnell, Tom: Lucy Kline: Necromancer (St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books 978-1250353122, $13.99, 336pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Young-adult horror novel. Nancy-Drew-like detective Lucy thought she solved the grim case and presumed murder of her sister Luisa, but a girl who looks just like Louisa goes missing, and Lucy starts to suspect there’s more necromantic things going on.

Panatier, Chris: Worry Box (Angry Robot 978-1836730323, $19.99, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. The Martin family moves into a house whose cozy attic might help their foster child, Lailah, deal with her intrusive thoughts; but these thoughts start to get more violent, to her panic.

Reyes, Sonido: To Our Untamed Core (HarperCollins/Versify 978-0063358447, $19.99, 432pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Young-adult dystopian novel. In an alternate world where the Holy Order rules in the wake of the conquistadors, Temo, a teen trans boy living in secret, enters the battle-to-the-death game El Torneo to save his boyfriend Ollin.

Ridley, Erica: Insatiable (Penguin Random House/Delacorte 979-8217117413, $12.99, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Young-adult horror novel. Catriona receives a mysterious scholarship to an island boarding school where the girls are outnumbered and harassed by boys. After a violent attack, she develops powers and a hunger to devour predatory males.

Rosson, Keith: Crone (Penguin Random House/Random House 978-0593733431, $30.00, 352pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. Ex-detective, ex-addict, and grieving father Eli Lamp works as an enforcer for a drug gang, only for a murder to bring him closer to his own daughter’s disappearance ten years ago.

Rushby, A.: All Her Beautiful Deaths (Penguin Random House/Berkley 978-0593954676, $30.00, 464pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Gothic horror novel. In 1865 London, maid Minnie discovers odd behavior in the Culpepper family’s twins, including glassplate photography of a dead woman. In the present, artist Hadley finds herself involved with the centuries-old photographs…and the Culpepper estate trying bury them. Author also writes as Allison Rushby and A.J. Rushby.

Shepherd, Ben: Blood Drunk (Macmillan/Tor UK 978-1035083831, £20.00, 416pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/24/2026)

Urban fantasy novel. After a failed hit for his gangster uncle, Freddie stumbles into an underworld of vampires and monsters, where he’s aided by his ability to draw magical strength from deaths.

Smith, Bryan: Monstrous (Flame Tree Press UK 978-1787589940, $26.95, 256pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 09/22/2026)

Cosmic horror novel. An aspiring serial killer, his intended first victim, and a woman with a dark secret are on a remote mountain, where they’re transported to a surreal, endless field with a seemingly abandoned skyscraper that they must enter.

Smyth, Courtney: The Undetectables: The Unfathomable Curse (Titan Books UK 978-1835412213, $18.99, 496pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Fantasy mystery novel, third in The Undetectables series. Broadwick heiress Cornelia finds herself estranged from her family, only for a new serial killer — the Wickermere Reaper — to snatch her twin sisters and force her back into contact with her relatives. An international edition with US and UK prices.

South, Carrie Lee: In the Woods They Wait (Little, Brown/Mulholland Books 978-0316608985, $29.00, 304pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 09/22/2026)

Horror novel. Park ranger Audrey Figg investigates the disappearance of a child in Devil’s Den, a park in the Ozarks, eerily similar to her little brother’s case there fifteen years before. A first novel.

Strahan, Jonathan: Revolution in the Heart (Titan Books UK 978-1835412749, £22.00, 496pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 09/22/2026)

Original anthology of 15 new stories inspired by the work of Ursula K. Le Guin. Authors include Karen Joy Fowler, AI Jiang, Ann Leckie, Darcie Little Badger, Kelly Link, Premee Mohamed and E. Lily Yu.

Watts, Peter: Fold Catastrophes (Tachyon Publications 978-1616964672, $18.95, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 09/22/2026)

Collection of 11 science fiction stories about future technology: a weaponized water supply that reprograms the brain, an accidental hive mind, a ship trying to pass through a sun by shielding itself with an ice planet, and more. Introduction by Richard K. Morgan.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We rely on reader donations to keep the magazine and site going, and would like to keep the site paywall free, but WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT to continue quality coverage of the science fiction and fantasy field.

The post New Book Releases: Sep 22, 2026 appeared first on Locus.

The most prominent debut this week is Penn Cole’s Burn of the Everflame (Atria), fourth in the Kindred’s Curse Saga, ranking #1 on three of the print lists compiled here. Other debuts: Alice Hoffman’s The Witches of Cambridge (Scribner), on three lists, and associational novel Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang, ranking in the top 10 on four lists.

The table shows the current rank of each book and the change since last week, where:

= same as last week

+/- change since last week

+ back on list

++ new on list

x no longer on list (number of x’s: weeks off list)

All lists rank hardcovers and paperbacks separately, except for the USA Today list, which is a single list combining fiction and nonfiction in all formats. Dates shown are posted dates, except those in parentheses, which are dates compiled. New York Times posts its list one week in advance of print publication.

Note that some sources do not compile paperback bestsellers, and some exclude YA books (like the Harry Potter series) from their hardcover and paperback fiction lists.

The post Weekly Bestsellers, 21 September 2026 appeared first on Locus.