SF/Fantasy/Horror NewsView All
2026 Crawford Award Submissions Open
The judges for the Crawford Award, which honors an author’s first work of fantasy in book form, are soliciting books published in the year 2026. What qualifies as a book is flexible, including novels, novellas, poetry collections, short fiction, graphic novels, works in translation, or other work at the discretion of the judges. The Crawford Award will be given at the 2027 International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts …Read More
SF/Fantasy/Horror ReviewsView All
Nonesuch by Francis Spufford: Review by Ian Mond
Nonesuch, Francis Spufford (Faber & Faber UK, 978-0-5713-9716-7, £20.00, 496pp, hc) February 2026. (Scribner 978-1-66821-437-4, $31.00, 496pp, hc) March 2026.
With his new novel, Nonesuch, Francis Spufford returns to London and the Blitz – the catalyst for the beautiful and elegiac Light Perpetual (2021) – starting with those days and months when the threat of German air attack hung over the populace. Against that background, we’re introduced to Iris Hawkins, …Read More
Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Jo Walton & Ada Palmer: Review by Gary K. Wolfe
Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Jo Walton & Ada Palmer (Tor 978-1-250-37260-4, $31.99, 368pp, hc) March 2026.
I have a lingering suspicion that many people who read books about SF aren’t really looking for an introduction to the field so much as for a good fight. They may want to compare their own read ing experiences with those of the critic, to gain some …Read More
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn: Review by Colleen Mondor
The Astral Library, Kate Quinn (Morrow 978-0-063-47975-3, $30.00, 304pp, hc) February 2026.
Kate Quinn has made quite a name for herself in a series of bestselling historical fiction titles such as The Alice Network and The Rose Code. Her latest novel, The Astral Library, is her first foray into magic realism and with a twentysomething protagonist, it is an easy crossover title for older teens who look for some action …Read More
SHORT TAKE: Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal: Review by Niall Harrison
Saraswati, Gurnaik Johal (Serpent’s Tail 978-1-78516948-6, £16.99, 384pp, hc) June 2025. (Pegasus Books 979-8-897-10053-8, $28.95, 384pp, hc) February 2026. Cover design by Steve Coventry-Panton.
Somewhere between its first page and the start of its last chapter, Gurnaik Johal’s debut novel Saraswati turns from literary realist fiction into science fiction. The first page is probably set around now, and describes a young British-Indian man’s discovery that the well on the Punjab …Read More
Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky: Review by Abigail Nussbaum
Pretenders to the Throne of God, Adrian Tchaikovsky (Head of Zeus 978-1-03591-497-5, 512pp, hc) February 2026. Cover by Joe Wilson.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is a tough author to keep up with, producing science fiction and fantasy, series and standalones, novels and novellas at a truly dizzying rate, and racking up awards and nominations by the bushel. For those looking for a recommendation, I am going to put down a marker: Tchaikovsky’s …Read More
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New Books Video: Top Releases of the Week! March 24, 2026
We here at Locus are excited to tell you about this weeks top new releases! We wouldn’t want you to miss out on your next favorite book, so take a moment to join us as we highlight the very best in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and young adult genres! If you enjoy the video, consider subscribing to the channel-it’s a great way to stay up to date on upcoming …Read More
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2026 Imadjinn Awards Finalists
Finalists for the 2026 Imadjinn Awards have been announced. Categories, titles, and authors of genre interest include:
Best Science Fiction Novel
- Dead to Rights: A Car Warriors Autoduel Novel, Jay Barnson (Three Ravens)
- Frozen Echoes, Ed Downes (Undertaker)
- Bifrost Down, Jon R. Osborne (Seventh Seal)
Best Fantasy Novel
- The Blacksmith’s Boy, Bruce Buchanan (Wild Ink)
- The Healer’s Heir, Katie Fitzgerald (self-published)
- A Count of Courage, Nancy Moser …Read More
Hachette Pulls Shy Girl Over Suspected AI Use
Hachette Book Group has cancelled the upcoming US release and will discontinue the UK release of horror novel Shy Girl by Mia Ballard after reviewing the text for signs of generative AI use.
Shy Girl was self-published in February 2025 and republished in November in the UK by Hachette imprint Wildfire. NielsenIQ BookData measured the UK sales at approximately 1,800 print copies. According toThe Guardian, the book was recently …Read More
James Patterson and Bookshop.org Prize Shortlist
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley (Erewhon) is one of the five titles shortlisted for the inaugural James Patterson and Bookshop.org Prize, a new literary prize celebrating debut authors, hand-selected by independent booksellers.
Titles, which must be full-length debut books published in the United States within the past 12 months, are nominated by booksellers working in qualifying independent bookstores. The winner and runner-up, which receive …Read More
2026 Carnegie Medals Shortlists
The shortlists for the 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing and Carnegie Medal for Illustration, honoring UK books for children and young adults, were announced March 10, 2026. Titles and authors of genre interest include:
Carnegie Medal for Writing
- Ghostlines, Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Children’s)
- Popcorn, Rob Harrell (Dial US; Piccadilly UK)
- The Boy I Love, William Hussey (Walker US; Andersen UK)
- Wolf Siren, Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins Children’s)
- Twenty-Four Seconds from …Read More
2026 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award Finalists
Baen Books has announcedthe ten finalists for the 2026 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award.
- Thomas Butler
- Jason P. Crawford
- Joyce Frohn
- Liam Hogan
- Philip Levin
- Paul Malory
- Joel C. Scoberg
- Gideon Smith
- Tiffany Smith
- Wesley Stine
Winners receive a year’s membership in the National Space Society, and the first place story will be offered publication on the Baen website at professional rates. According …Read More
