The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association has announced the winners of its annual prize for poetry. Poems were judged in three categories, listed below.

Dwarf Form (10 or fewer lines):

• WINNER: “Unauthorized Territory”, Michael Bailey

• Second Place: “Communication Is Important”, F. J. Bergmann
• Third Place: “Untitled”, Anna Cates
• Honorable Mention: “Disillusioned Tribute”, Joy Donnell

Short Form (10 to 50 lines):

• WINNER: “The Wind Always Returns”, Hinse Mutter

• Second Place: “The Museum of Anomalous Objects”, F. J. Bergmann
• Third Place: “Last Lowcountry Haunt”, Joy Donnell
• Honorable Mention: “Cataloguing Lost Souls”, Colleen Anderson

Long Form (50 or more lines):

• WINNER: “The Abyss Between One and Two”, Izzy Toy Retke

• Second Place: “At the Cosmic Gallery Above Proxima Centauri b: After Dreamworld”, M. Frost
• Third Place: “A Backdrop of Black Velvet and Rhinestones”, F. J. Bergmann
• Honorable Mentions: “Ten Ways to End the World”, Kathleen Bryson         

The winning poems were announced on the SFPA website, along with commentary from contest judge Naomi Simone Borwein. The contest chair was Michael Hessel-Mial. 

The SFPA Contest awards unpublished poems from both SFPA members and non-members. Submissions are $3 a poem. Cash prizes are awarded: $150 for first place, $75 for second place and $25 for third place. See the SFPA Contests page for more details and updates. 

via file 770

The winner, finalists, and honorable mentions for the 2026 Salam Award for Imaginative Fiction have been announced.

The winner is “All the Tears from the River Below” by Rida Altaf. Finalists are “Qitmir” by Eman Farhan and “Dreams of Dying and Waking Men” by Shahmeer Mahesar. The honorable mention is “Diesel Raven” by Abdul Kabir Qureshi.

The Salam Award, “a short story award to promote science fiction and related genres of writing in Pakistan,” is an annual prize open to original fiction of 10,000 words or fewer written in English by authors who must be “currently residing in Pakistan, or be of Pakistani birth/descent.” The award is named for Pakistani physicist Abdus Salam.

Judges for this year’s award were Christopher Golden, Robert V.S. Redick, and Karen Joy Fowler. The winner receives Rs 50,000, publication on the Salam Award site, editorial review, and potential publication in a magazine.

For more, see the Salam Award website.

The Empire State Center for the Book has announced Lawrence Block and N.K. Jemisin as two of the three writers in 2026 to be inducted into the New York State (NYS) Writers Hall of Fame, along with Kay Thompson (posthumously). The Hall of Fame is presented alongside the NYS Writers Institute, a literary organization that “enhances and celebrates literature, writing, and performance.”

The 2026 Hall of Fame selection committee included Matthew Baker, John Batteiger, Mildred Bernstein, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Paul Grondahl, Ira B. Matetsky Esq., Susan Polos, and Empire State Center for the Book director Rocco Staino.

Block, Jemisin, and Thompson will be celebrated at an induction ceremony on November 17, 2026 in New York NY.

Finalists for the National Book Awards (NBA) have been announced. Categories, authors, and books of genre interest include:

Fiction

Young People’s Literature

Translated Literature

The judges for the Fiction award are Matt Bell, Caro De Robertis (chair), Danielle King, Akhil Sharma, and Diane Wilson. Judges for the Young People’s Literature award are Edith Campbell, Brandy Colbert (chair), Tricia Ebarvia, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and Anne Ursu. Judges for the Translated Fiction award are Shelley Fairweather-Vega, Javier García del Moral, John Keene, Christopher Merrill (chair), and Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi.

The Poetry and Nonfiction finalists were also announced, and Lifetime Achievement recipients Salman Rushdie and Perri Klass were previously announced. Finalists receive a prize of $1,000, a medal, and a judges’ citation. Winners, who receive $10,000 and a bronze sculpture, will be honored at the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony on November 18, 2026.

For more information, including the complete lists of finalists, see the National Book Foundation website.

COVER REVEAL!

 Check out this delicious cover for The Cookout, edited by Erin Brown, Emmalia Harrington, Tonya R. Moore, and P.C. Verrone, coming out from Android Press!

Cover art illustrated by Ziziian, Cover design by Erin Brown

From the publisher:

“The Cookout” calls to something in our blood that unites us in love and community. Across the African Diaspora, with the fluctuations of ancestral knowledge and cultural roots, in wealth and happiness, in sickness and danger, in celebration and defiance, in every nook and cranny of the world, you’ll find The Cookout. But can it reach the depths of a Level 100 dungeon? Can we put picnic tables in the stars? Gather round the grill in another dimension? Source our seasonings in the furthest realms of our imaginations?

The Cookout: Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora was edited by Erin Brown, Emmalia Harrington, Tonya R. Moore, and P.C. Verrone, with stories by Shingai Njeri Kagunda, Brent Lambert, Eden Royce, DaVaun Sanders, and many more!

[sponsored content]

Sabaa Tahir’s Empire (Putnam’s), second in a duology following 2024’s Heir, debuts on three lists, ranking #1 on the NY Times’ Young Adult Hardcover list. Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Other Worlds Than These, to be published tomorrow, is selling on the Amazon sites today.

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.

“Guardians of the Well” by Rose Strickman (In Another Time 6/25) has been announced as the winner of the 2026 Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA) Small Press Award for Short Fiction. Other finalists include:

The Ignyte Awards Committee has announced the winners of the 2026 Ignyte Awards, which “seek to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the current and future landscapes of science fiction, fantasy, and horror by recognizing incredible feats in storytelling and outstanding efforts toward inclusivity of the genre.”

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.

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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: