Category: Speculative Fiction
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The Isle In The Silver Sea by Tasha Suri: 2026 Winner close-up
Publisher: Orbit Genre: Epic Fantasy / Historical Fantasy Publication Date: May 2025 Overview From World Fantasy Award–winning author Tasha Suri comes The Isle in the Silver Sea, a captivating epic fantasy grounded in lush history and Indian myth. Rich with political intrigue, forbidden sorcery, and intricate character dynamics, Suri delivers an unforgettable tale of power,… Read more
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The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis: 2026 Shortlist close-up
Publisher: Titan Books Genre: Cozy Fantasy / Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Humor Publication Date: May 2025 Overview From the author of Dreadful, The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association serves up Big Little Lies meets magic school in an uproariously funny, sharply observed cozy fantasy. Exploring the absolute nightmare of school politics through the eyes… Read more
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City Of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead & Aliya Whiteley: 2026 Shortlist close-up
Publisher: Titan Books Genre: Science Fantasy / Speculative Fiction Publication Date: April 2025 Overview A vibrant, deeply emotional science fantasy about two cousins trapped in mirrored, fractured worlds—the resplendent, verdant summer city and the ice-carved wastes of the winter city. Reminiscent of Every Heart a Doorway and This Is How You Lose the Time War,… Read more
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A Resistance Of Witches by Morgan Ryan: 2026 Shortlist close-up
Publisher: Penguin Books / Viking Genre: Historical Fantasy Publication Date: May 2026 Overview Set against the dark and desperate backdrop of 1940s Europe, A Resistance of Witches is a sweeping, immersive historical fantasy that blends WWII espionage with dark magic. When Prime Minister Winston Churchill is offered an unexpected alliance by the Royal Academy of… Read more
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Why World‑Building & why Brian Aldiss?
Some worlds behave like weather. You don’t simply read them, or play them, and move on. They settle in you—quietly at first—then you notice they’ve changed your internal climate. You look at real streets and real skies and feel, briefly, that you’ve returned from somewhere else with mud on your boots. Read more
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2025 Award Ceremony @ World Fantasy Con
We’ll be announcing the inaugural winner of The Aldiss Award for world-building in speculative fiction on Saturday 1st November, and we look forward to seeing you all for the announcement! BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR FANTASYCON 2025 We have the prime billing of 7.30pm on the Saturday night! Read the 2025 Shortlist With two weeks to… Read more
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Building Worlds That Breathe: A Guide to Immersive, Self-Consistent Worldbuilding
As creators of speculative fiction, we hold a rare power: to shape worlds that breathe and pulse with life. These are worlds that, though fantastical, are grounded in a self-consistent internal logic that makes them feel alive. Whether in novels, games, or visual storytelling, worldbuilding is essential to drawing readers and players into realms that… Read more
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The Aldiss Award Launch: Celebrating Excellence in World-Building Across Speculative Fiction & Gaming
Honouring the Legacy of Brian Aldiss, Celebrating Extraordinary Realms in Science Fiction & Fantasy London, UK – August 18th 2024 UPDATES & CLARIFICATIONS: – launch date August 18th 2024 – first award to be given at the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton, October 2025 – entries need to have been published in the UK in 2024 – submissions will… Read more
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Setting the Stage: How World Building Shapes Our Expectations
In the vast realms of science fiction and fantasy, the magic lies not just in the thrilling plots or dynamic characters, but in the meticulously crafted worlds that draw us in and set our imaginations ablaze. From the towering spires of futuristic cities to the mystical landscapes of enchanted forests, world building is the art… Read more