Locus News

Author Jane Yolen, 87, died peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, in Hatfield MA on June 11, 2026.

Jane Hyatt Yolen was born February 11, 1939 in New York City NY. She graduated Smith College with a BA in 1960, at which time she was already writing poetry and articles, and received a master's in education from the University of Massachusetts in 1978. Between degrees, in 1962, she married …Read More

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The British Fantasy Society, HWS, and Karen Fishwick have revealed preliminary plans for Fantasycon 2027. Fantasycon 2027 will include some aspects of World Fantasy Convention including the World Fantasy Awards. This is alongside all the usual Fantasycon content of panels, readings, books, art and social activities.

Fantasycon 2027 will run September 24-26, 2027 in Birmingham, England. For more information, see the official Facebook event page. …Read More

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The Future Worlds Prize for Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers of Colour has announced its eight-title shortlist for short fiction:

• A Song of Shir'ja , Harps Aujla
• Zonbi , Zarah Elouis-Ro
• Crooked Straits , Olivia Ho
• One Thousand and One Wishes , Rakan Khashman
• The Sun Wells , Aiden Ng
• A Blade Drawn from Envy , Ty Ogunade
• A Corruption of Death …Read More

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The finalists for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short science fiction story have been announced by the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction.

• Six People to Revise You , J.R. Dawson (Uncanny 1-2/25)
• The Nine Crashes of Flight Lieutenant Hilla Quinn , Louise Hughes (Kaleidotrope 9/25)
• The Shadow on the Nest , Alaya Dawn Johnson (Uncanny 9-10/25)
• Wire Mother , …Read More

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The Omega Sci-Fi Awards has revealed the winners of its Tomorrow Prize short story competition:

• FIRST PLACE: File: Anna Bishop , Abigail Lee
• SECOND PLACE: The Continuity States of America , Jadyn Manguera Shin
• THIRD PLACE: Bellwethers , Theodore Kinsella

Other finalists include:

• The Drought Code , Hanaa Belkacemi
• Mother , Yedsen Troy Dela Cruz

Honorable mentions were given to the following stories:

…Read More

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The five regional winners of the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize have been announced. Works and authors of genre interest include Mehendi Nights by Sharon Aruparayil. The winning stories have been published online by Granta.

After a final round of judging, the overall winner will be announced in an online ceremony June 30, 2026. The winner receives £5,000, while the regional winners each receive £2,500.

The Prize has recently been the …Read More

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The Ignyte Awards Committee has announced the finalists for 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.

Outstanding Novel: Adult

• A Song of Legends Lost, M.H. Ayinde (Saga) amazon/bookshop
• Cursed Daughters, Oyinkan Braithwaite (Doubleday) amazon / bookshop
• Motheater, …Read More

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After a long career of publishing gorgeous limited editions, collections, art books, and novellas, publisher Bill Schafer has shared the news that Subterranean Press will be permanently closing in the coming years. Subterranean intends to continue publishing work through the end of 2027, which may bleed into 2028 as we wrap things up. Schafer says,

We want to handle this in a structured, orderly fashion, which will include communicating with …Read More

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The shortlist for the 39th annual Arthur C. Clarke Award, celebrating the best science fiction novel published in the UK, has been announced.

• Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman (Dandy House US; Michael Joseph UK) amazon / bookshop
• The Dream Hotel, Laila Lalami (Pantheon US; Bloomsbury Circus UK) amazon / bookshop
• Luminous, Silvia Park (Simon & Schuster US; Magpie UK) amazon / bookshop
• There Is No Antimemetics Division, QNTM …Read More

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The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has announced the winners of the 2025 Bram Stoker Awards at an awards banquet during StokerCon 2026, held June 4-7, 2026 in Pittsburgh PA and streamed virtually.

Superior Achievement in a Novel

• WINNER:The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones (Saga) amazon / bookshop

• Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, Grady Hendrix (Berkley) amazon / bookshop
• King Sorrow, Joe Hill (William Morrow) amazon / bookshop

…Read More

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The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has released the winners of the 2025 Nebula Awards.

Novel

• WINNER:The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones (Saga; Titan UK) amazon / bookshop

• When We Were Real, Daryl Gregory (Saga) amazon / bookshop
• Katabasis, R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK) amazon / bookshop
• Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor (Morrow; Gollancz) amazon / bookshop
• The Incandescent, Emily …Read More

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The longlist for the 2026 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic was announced May 25, 2026:

• The Drowned Man's Daughter, C.J. Lavigne (NeWest) amazon / bookshop
• The Works of Vermin, Hiron Ennes (Tor) amazon / bookshop
• Horsefly, Mireille Gagné, tr. Pablo Strauss (Coach House) amazon / bookshop
• Wild Life, Amanda Leduc (Random House Canada)
• The Hunger We Pass Down, Jen Sookfong Lee (McClelland & Stewart) …Read More

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Hellcon, the 64th Japan Science Fiction Convention, has announced the winners of the 2026 Seiun Awards (the Japanese equivalent of the Hugo Awards), honoring the best original and translated works published last year in Japan.

Best Translated Novel

• WINNER: Eversion, Alastair Reynolds, tr. Naoya Nakahara (Tokyo Sogensha)
• WINNER:Babel, R.F. Kuang, tr. Yoshimichi Furusawa (Tokyo Sogensha)

• The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands, Sarah Brooks, tr. Yasuko Kawano …Read More

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The winners have been announced for the 2026 Prix Imaginales, honoring the best works of fantasy published in France.

French Novel

• WINNER: Festin de larmes, Morgane Caussarieu & Vincent Tassy (ActuSF)

• La Nuit ravagée, Jean-Baptiste Del Amo (Gallimard)
• Aatea, Anouck Faure (Argyll)
• Le Solstice des ombres, Sœurs de haine, tome 1, Benjamin Lupu (Mnémos)
• La Fille du feu, Aurélie Wellenstein (Outre Fleuve)

Foreign Novel Translated …Read More

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The Nuremberg 2028 Worldcon bid has announced its withdrawal from the race after a decision by a crew-committee assembly.

This decision comes from a mix of personal, organisational and timing reasons. Since our introduction at Smofcon in November, we have received wonderful support from volunteers, artists, experienced conrunners and communities across Central Europe. We are deeply grateful for that.

But as site selection begins, we have to be honest: we …Read More

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The Locus Science Fiction Foundation announced the winners in each category of the 2026 Locus Awards on May 30, 2026, during the Bay Area Book Festival. Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones, and Nnedi Okoraforwere Guests of Honor, withFeatured Local Artist Alyssa Winans. Additional weekend events included readings, panels with leading authors, and a catered reception.

SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

• WINNER:Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor (Morrow; Gollancz)amazon/bookshop

…Read More

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The 2025 Shirley Jackson Awards nominees for outstanding achievement in horror, psychological suspense, and dark fantasy fiction have been announced.

Novel

• Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng, Kylie Lee Baker (Hanover Square)
• Old Soul, Susan Barker (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
• How to Fake a Haunting, Christa Carmen (Thomas & Mercer)
• Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, Grady Hendrix (Berkley)
• Moonflow, Bitter Karella (Run For It)
• The Lamb, Lucy Rose (HarperCollins)

…Read More

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Hum by Helen Phillips (Marysue Rucci) [amazon / bookshop] has been announced as the winner of the second annual Climate Fiction Prize. Founded by Leo Barasi, Rose Goddard, and Imran Khan, and supported by Climate Spring, the prize seeks to celebrate the most inspiring novels tackling the climate crisis.

Other shortlisted titles and authors of genre interest include:

• Dusk, Robbie Arnott (Astra House US; Chatto & Windus UK; …Read More

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Lalana Dararutana, 49, died May 18, 2026. She had cervical cancer.

Dararutana was born September 15, 1976 in Syracuse NY. In her childhood she was a caregiver to her younger sister and brother. She began publishing books in her thirties after attending a writing conference in 2009. As an author, Dararutana went by Piper J. Drake and PJ Schnyder and published many works of fantasy, paranormal, and SF romance. She …Read More

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The British Fantasy Society (BFS) has announced the shortlists for the 2026 British Fantasy Awards:

Best Fantasy Novel (the Robert Holdstock Award)

• A Song of Legends Lost, M.H. Ayinde (Orbit)
• The Outcast Mage, Annabel Campbell (Orbit)
• Magic, Maps, and Mischief, David Green (self-published)
• Daughters of Nicnevin, Shona Kinsella (Flame Tree)
• Grave Empire, Richard Swan (Orbit)
• Upon a Starlit Tide, Kell Woods (Tor US; Titan UK)

Best Horror Novel …Read More

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