Locus News

Phil Rickman (1950-2024)
Author Phil Rickman, 74, died October 29, 2024. Rickman was a journalist and a prolific author of crime and supernatural fiction, best known for the Merrily Watkins mystery series, adapted into a TV series in 2015.
Philip Rickman was born in Lancashire and lived in Wales. He was a reporter for Wales Today in the 1980s, and worked in radio broadcasting for over two decades, hosting literature show Phil the ...Read More
Greg Hildebrandt (1939-2024)
Artist Greg Hildebrandt, 85, died October 31, 2024.
He frequently collaborated with his identical twin brother Tim (1939-2006) as “The Brothers Hildebrandt,” achieving fame for their illustrations of works by J.R.R. Tolkien, frequently featured in calendars. They also illustrated a 1975 edition of Tolkien’s Smith of Wootton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham.
Gregory J. Hildebrandt was born January 23, 1939 in Detroit MI. Both Hildebrandts joined the Army ...Read More
B&N Book of the Year Nominees
The 13 finalists for the Barnes and Noble Book of the Year 2024 have been announced, and include historical novel The Women by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s), who sometimes writes fantasy; Huckleberry Finn reimagining James by Percival Everett (Knopf), who also writes SF; and fantasy novel Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (Random House Children’s Books).
Shortlisted titles are nominated by Barnes and Noble booksellers. The winner will be announced on ...Read More
2024 Scotland’s National Book Award Shortlist
The Saltire Society announced the 2024 Scotland’s National Book Award shortlist during a livestreamed event in Edinburgh’s Old Town on October 30, 2024. Titles of genre interest follow.
Fiction Book of the Year
- Lost People, Margaret Elphinstone (Wild Stone)
- Hazardous Spirits, Anbara Salam (Baskerville)
Fiction Book First Book of the Year
- Fragile Animals, Genevieve Jagger (404 Ink)
For more information, including the full shortlists, see the Saltire Society’s
...Read MoreReactor‘s Most Iconic SF of the Century
Reactor compiled a list of “The Most Iconic Speculative Fiction Books of the 21st Century” in various categories.
Works in Translation
- Tender Is the Flesh, Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Sarah Moses (Scribner)
- I’m Waiting For You and Other Stories, Kim Bo-Young, translated by Sophie Bowman and Sung Ryu (Harper Voyager)
- Cursed Bunny: Stories, Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur (Algonquin)
- Our Share of Night, Mariana Enriquez,
SFWA Special Election Results
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has announced the results of its special election.
President: Kate Ristau
Secretary: Steven D. Brewer
The newly elected officers and directors-at-large will serve on the SFWA Board from November 1st, 2024, through June 30th, 2025.
Kate Ristau – President Anthony Eichenlaub – Vice President Jonathan Brazee – CFO Steven D. Brewer – Secretary Christine Taylor-Butler – Director-at-Large Phoebe Barton – Director-at-Large Noah ...Read More
Burton Awarded National Humanities Medal
Actor and literacy advocate LeVar Burton was one of 19 recipients of the National Humanities Medals. The 2022 and 2023 medals were presented by President Biden on Monday, October 21, 2024, in a private ceremony at the White House.
The recipients include writers, historians, educators, and filmmakers. Presentation of the medals was followed by a reception “with remarks by President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, National Endowment for the ...Read More
Erewhon News
Diana Pho has been promoted to editorial director at Erewhon Books. Pho posted on social media,
Marking my upcoming 2-year anniversary at the company, I’m so, so thrilled to announce that I have been promoted…. Grateful to have the support from the Erewhon and Kensington Publishing teams as we level up!
Pho joined the company as executive editor in 2022. This promotion follows the departure of publisher Sarah Guan earlier ...Read More
Ekpeki Allegations
Updated 10/29/24 to add ASFS statement and 10/31/24 to add Ekpeki statement.
Multiple allegations of unethical and unprofessional behavior on the part of Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki have recently come to light, including in this report by author and editor Erin Cairns, and through comments by other industry professionals on social media. From Erin Cairns’ report: “I am reporting Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki for unethical practices. He submitted a story entirely written ...Read More
Brooklyn Books and Booze
Carlos Hernandez, Edward Zuckerman, Rob Cameron, A.C. Wise read at the Barrow’s Intense Tasting Room in Industry City, Brooklyn NY on September 17, 2024 as part of the Brooklyn Books & Booze Reading series, hosted by Randee Dawn.
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 ...Read More
2024 Geffen Awards Winners
Winners for the 2024 Geffen Awards for best science fiction and fantasy published in Hebrew were announced by the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy at Icon, held October 20-22, 2024 in Tel Aviv Israel.
Best Translated Fantasy Book
- The Hidden Legacy: Sapphire Flames, Emerald Blaze, Ruby Fever, Ilona Andrews, translated by Yael Achmon (Alma & Ahavot)
Best Translated Science Fiction Book
- The Fifth Season, N.K. Jemisin,