SF/Fantasy/Horror NewsView All
Matt Howarth (1954–2026)
SF comics writer and artist Matt Howarth, 72, died October 5, 2026 of complications following a triple bypass.
Howarth was born in 1954. He became active in the fanzine space in 1969, co-founded Howski Studios with Tony Sciarra, and began drawing professionally soon after, publishing multiple SF/F graphic novels and comics such as the Those Annoying Post Brothers. He contributed artwork to books including The Dune Encyclopedia (1984), Clans of …Read More
SF/Fantasy/Horror ReviewsView All
Nostalgic Futures by Max Dosser: Review by Joanne Anderton
Nostalgic Futures, Max Dosser (Rutgers University Press 978-1-9788-4628-9, $33.95, 202pp, tp) July 2026.
What makes something speculative fiction? Okay, yes, you could spend a whole thesis chapter answering this, so I’m going to try for an abridged version: Speculative fiction imagines worlds and futures where reality is different from our own. Through worldbuilding it invites us to experience the impossible, and through characters allows us to immerse in alternate cultures. …Read More
Vaster Than Empires edited by Jonathan Strahan: Review by Maya C. James
Vaster Than Empires, Jonathan Strahan, ed. (The MIT Press, 978-0-262-05487-4, $24.95, 296pp, tp) November 2026.
Vaster Than Empires is an intimate, interstellar testament to humanity’s future. Across memories, cultures and galaxies, award-winning authors imagine what being alive really means in uncertain futures.
Nimbly setting the anthology’s ambitious tone is Osculation Point by Greg Egan. On near-future Earth, a scientist named Jumoke makes a fantastic discovery that ignites generations of research. …Read More
The Book of the Dead edited by Jonathan Strahan: Review by Gary K. Wolfe
The Book of the Dead, Jonathan Strahan, ed. (Harper Voyager 978-0-063-38198-8, $45.00, 480pp, hc) October 2026. Cover by Galen Dara.
At this point, in keeping with the flawless etiquette expected of Locus reviewers, a disclaimer: Habitual readers of this column may have noted that, from time to time, I’ve covered anthologies edited by Jonathan Strahan, who is not only the reviews editor of this magazine but my partner in podcasting …Read More
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst: Review by Colleen Mondor
Sea of Charms, Sarah Beth Durst (Bramble 978-1-250-40067-3, $29.99, 384pp, hc) July 2026.
The latest entry in Sarah Beth Durst’s Spellshop series is the delightful, witty, and a little bit revolutionary Sea of Charms. The worldbuilding continues apace as Durst digs further into the events overtaking the Crescent Islands empire since the defenestration of the emperor in book #1. (Yes, that is the only word that works for what happened …Read More
Pictures of You by Josh Malerman: Review by Gabino Iglesias
Pictures of You, Josh Malerman (Del Rey 978-0-59372-315-9, $28.00, 288pp, hc) September 2026. Cover by Fritz Metsch.
Reading Josh Malerman is always a different experience, but I’ve already written about that in previous reviews of his work. Pictures of You, Malerman’s latest, continues the trend. A very different novel than its predecessor, Incidents Around the House, this one deals with a couple trying to survive and get back together after …Read More
New Titles & BestsellersView All
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Beyond the Mag: Vlogs & More!View All
New Book Releases Video: October 27, 2026
Discover your next great read with Locus’s October 27, 2026 new releases video, featuring a fresh selection of books across Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult fiction.
This week’s newest titles bring readers everything from extraordinary futures and magical adventures to disturbing nightmares, eerie supernatural mysteries, and compelling tales of self-discovery. Explore the latest offerings in speculative fiction, find stories that catch your attention, and uncover exciting possibilities for …Read More
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Weekly Bestsellers, 26 October 2026
Two novels by Emily McIntire, the fifth and sixth volumes of her Never After series,Crossed and Hexed (Bloom Books, both published on October 13th), debut on three lists. Also debuting this week: titles by Stephen Graham Jones and Christopher Buehlman, on two lists each.
Title Debut / #wks on any list NYT
11.01 LAT
10.25 USAT
10.18 PW …Read More
Reactor Announces Podcast Read Receipts
Reactor Magazine has announced its first podcast,Read Receipts, a weekly show about speculative fiction, genre, and nerd culture. The podcast will be hosted by senior books editor Christina Orlando. Among weekly episodes will be monthly author roundtable discussions, themed book clubs, media recommendations with the Reactor staff, and more.
Reactoreditor-in-chief Chris Lough said,
Now you get to hear the funniest and most galaxy-brained takes on genre literature that were-until …Read More
World Fantasy Awards Winners
The World Fantasy Awards winners were presented at a ceremony in Oakland CA, held on October 25, 2026, during the 2026 World Fantasy Convention.
Best Novel
WINNER: Once Was Willem, M.R. Carey (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- Audition for the Fox, Martin Cahill (Tachyon)
- The Secret Market of the Dead, Giovanni De Feo (Saga)
- The Everlasting, Alix E. Harrow (Tor US; Tor UK)
- The Adventures of Mary Darling, Pat Murphy …Read More
New & Notable Books: August 2026
August Clarke, The Felicity Complex (Erewhon 7/26) This darkly humorous SF dystopian satire pushes the concept of fembots to the limit. Six women bioengineered to serve billionaires in a Cold-War-era luxury fallout shelter start to rebel against their programming. All except Hallelujah, our heroine specimen. The readers are left to wonder whether Hallelujah dreams of being a caretaker because it accords with the image of the feminine that …Read More
New Book Releases Video: October 20, 2026
Ready to explore this week’s newest books? Our October 20, 2026 new releases video showcases a fresh wave of titles spanning Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult fiction.
From thrilling journeys through distant futures and imaginative fantasy settings to spine-chilling horror, unexplained supernatural phenomena, and engaging stories of growing up, this week’s arrivals offer plenty for readers to discover. Take a look at the latest in speculative fiction, uncover …Read More
