From Stephen Baxter’s latest exploration of the wonders of space, through to the sequel to the critically-acclaimed The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, we have science fiction and fantasy reads well and truly covered. And for those of you with a penchant for horror, Chuck Wendig’s new tale of poisonous apples is sure to whet your appetite.

Don’t forget to let us know what made your list this month by reaching out to us on our social channels. We love hearing what you think.

Rachel Harrison

5 September – Titan Books

Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison is a collection of four short stories that delve into a variety of topics, including female friendships, queer relationships, the supernatural, bachelorette parties, ritualistic sacrifice and, of course, some creepy dolls.

From the best-selling author of Such Sharp Teeth (which made our May top books), Harrison returns with more empowered female leads delving into the relatable anxieties that lurk within the hearts of modern women. Each story resonates with emotional authenticity, tackling complicated friendships, struggles with body image and eating disorders as well as the slippery slope to self-sabotage. Harrison once again manages to make us flinch while laughing out loud, exploring the darkest sides of feminine horror.

Stephen Baxter

21 September – Gollancz

In the year 2255, 20-year-old Salma becomes the first woman to witness the enigmatic entity, ‘Planet Nine’ via her ship’s advanced sensors. Initially misidentified as a black hole, it soon transforms and starts communicating, unveiling an extraterrestrial enigma shrouded in mystery.

This cosmic bombshell triggers worldwide turmoil, and bizarrely coincides with the awakening of a distant quasar, threatening and heating our solar system. Humanity’s destiny now hinges on Salma solving this celestial puzzle in a race against time to decode its secrets before it’s too late.

Creation Node is a standalone novel from sci-fi fan favourite, Stephen Baxter, and this time he’s tackling the very real threats of climate change and the toll of exploitation and exploration. Always eye-opening and starkly incisive with the topics at hand, Creation Node is the perfect gateway for newcomers to Baxter’s writing and a welcome new story for existing fans.

Josiah Bancroft

26 September – Orbit

The Hexologists – Iz and Warren Wilby – are seasoned experts in unraveling the supernatural dilemmas of city life. With an arsenal of hexes and a trove of bewitched artifacts, they confront the extraordinary, thriving on the most perplexing cases.

In this first book in Josiah Bancroft’s new series, the Hexologists are summoned by the royal secretary to handle an astonishing request from the king himself: to be baked into a cake. (something he’s so determined on he even crams himself into a lit oven!). As the Wilbies delve into a royal secret buried for decades, they confront a host of challenges: from fervent anti-royalists to insatiable ghouls, and even dimension-hopping alchemists. Not to mention a dragon with the occasional taste for eating people.

Bancroft’s writing shines throughout the book, with an entertaining balance of delightful wordplay and down-to-earth storytelling. He has created a Victorianesque world filled with magic, creatures, spells, and relics, blending elements of mystery, fantasy, and steampunk, to create a real sense of wonder and excitement.

Chuck Wendig

28 September – Del Rey

In the quiet town of Harrow, an eerie shift in the nature of the townsfolk begins when an unusual apple tree starts producing bewitching fruit. These apples, with their deep red hue, promise newfound strength and vitality to those who eat them. However, the more they indulge, the deeper the consequences grow, ensnaring them in an insatiable obsession that offers happiness, confidence, and power but leads to something much darker. As autumn casts its shadow, a mysterious stranger arrives in Harrow and must help prepare the town for an impending reckoning.

Renowned author Chuck Wendig, (known for Wanderers and The Book of Accidents) returns with a chilling new masterpiece. Black River Orchard is a subtle and textured horror tale; its underlying social commentary evolving into a nuanced exploration of human nature. A dark parable that examines the slippery slope to exposing the darkness that lies within all of us.

Shauna Lawless

14 September – Head of Zeus

The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless is a gripping historical fantasy set in 1000 AD Ireland. Gormflaith, an immortal Fomorian and queen, is driven to locate and destroy her sworn enemies, the Descendants, while grappling with her constrained role as the wife of High King Brian Boru. Possessing the gift of magic, Gormflaith discovers herself more powerful than she realised and must question her ability to use them responsibly.

Meanwhile, Fódla, a Descendant’s healer, safeguards her banished sister’s son, harboring secrets that could jeopardise their safety. Their lives intersect with the arrival of Tomas, an ambitious and unscrupulous immortal, whose presence at King Brian’s court holds the potential for both salvation and calamity. As tensions escalate, mortals and immortals converge in a fateful clash that will shape the destiny of Ireland and its people.

A sequel to the celebrated The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, Lawless continues to weave a tale of power, magic, and ambition. A captivating continuation of the Gael Song series, the story picks up the flowing narrative we loved in the first book. Steering the reader through Viking raids, political maneuvering, and religious conflicts, and brimming with tension and a real love of Ireland and its history, The Words of Kings and Prophets is a welcome return to a world of enthralling historical fantasy.

If this sounds like a bit of you, then why not check out Shauna’s guest post where she counts down five books that use Irish mythology as inspiration? Read it here.

John Connolly

7th September – Hodder & Stroughton

Following a car accident that leaves her daughter Phoebe comatose, Ceres resorts to reading Phoebe’s cherished fairy tales in hopes of reawakening her and reuniting her disembodied spirit. Meanwhile, an old house on the hospital grounds begins to beckon to Ceres. Intrigued, she steps inside, falling into a realm steeped in childhood memories and folklore. Here she must confront witches, dryads and giants while old adversaries lurk in the shadows.

Land of Lost Things marks Author John Connolly’s long-awaited return to the literary landscape of his acclaimed novel The Book of Lost Things. Weaving a heart-wrenching tale of loss, longing and magic, while deftly blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination, Conolly’s new standalone novel doesn’t require prior reading and instead unwraps as a beautifully dark tale that pulls on the human heart.

The post Best Sci Fi Books September 2023 appeared first on Sci-Fi Tips.

Running from Thursday August 24 – Monday 28 August 2023, Pigeon Shrine FrightFest will have feature-length and short films, as well as documentaries, and will encompass 25 World, 23 International / European and 12 UK premieres, with 14 countries represented, spanning five continents.

From carnival murderers and underwater claustrophobia, to demons and a man who dresses like a dog, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest. Here are our top picks (all in handy date order!)…

Thursday 24th August

Suitable Flesh

Just days ago, Elizabeth Derby was a successful psychiatrist with a loving husband and the world at her fingertips. Now, she finds herself locked up inside a psych ward after the murder of a young male patient to whom she had an inexplicable, almost otherworldly attraction. Hoping to clear her name, Elizabeth confides in her doctor and recounts what happened, giving way to a bizarre and disturbing tale of sexual madness, supernatural horror, and homicidal rage.

Read our review here.

Director: Joe Lynch.

Cast: Heather Graham, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Davison, Johnathan Schaech.

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Thursday 24 August | 5.45pm

The Dive

Experienced scuba divers May and Drew are two sisters with a close but complex bond who go on a deep sea diving trip to a beautiful but remote beauty spot. During their dive, May is struck by a rock from a landslide above the water, leaving her trapped on the seabed 28 meters below the surface. With dangerously low levels of oxygen and cold temperatures taking their toll, it‘s up to Drew to fight for her life, which jeopardises her own…

Director: Maximilian Erlenwein

Cast: Sophie Lowe, Louisa Krause

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Thursday 24 August | 8.25pm

Friday 25 August

It Lives Inside

It Lives Inside finds Indian-American, Samidha, at that point where her culture and hanging out as a normal teenager collide. She has supportive parents and a teacher ally, and she’s interested in a boy named Russ. But none of this matters when her estranged friend Tamira breaks a jar she claims houses an ancient demon. When the evil force kidnaps Tamira and starts targeting her friends and family, Samidha must acknowledge that some legends are true as she tries to end the reign of terror.

Read our review here.

Director: Bishal Dutta

Cast: Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan, Betty Gabriel

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Friday 25 August | 10.45am

Eight Eyes

A mysterious local crashes a couple’s vacation through the former Yugoslavia, pulling them deeper into his web of psychic rituals in this unique shocker drawing equally from Eastern European genre cinema and American regional horrors of the 1970s.

Read our review here

Director: Austin Jennings.

Cast: Emily Sweet, Bradford Thomas and Bruno Veljanovski

Where: Discovery Screen 3

When: Friday 15 August | 1.15pm (plus an additional screening on Sunday 27 August at 8.55pm)

Where The Devil Roams

We’re big fans of the Adams family’s work here at SciFiNow (so much so, that we chose their newest movie, Where The Devil Roams to be our hosted film at the festival this year, find out more here).

Where The Devil Roams is set in the harsh Depression-era America, and explores a dark, eerie journey filled with suspense, thrills, and chills. Venture into a nightmare alley with the Adams pack as they trace a family of murderous sideshow performers travelling around the world on the dying carnival circuit on a bloody search for eternal life.

Read our review here.

Directors: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser

Stars: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Friday 25th August | 3.30pm

What You Wish For

A chef with gambling problems flees to a Latin American villa where he assumes another man’s identity in What You Wish For. A morality tale about omnipresent greed in the post-President Donald Trump years, Tomnay looks at how the rich and powerful in America have become completely uninterested in the world as a community, particularly inaction concerning climate change.

Read our review here.

Director: Nicholas Tomnay

Cast: Nick Stahl, Tamsin Topolski, Randy Vasquez, Penelope Mitchell

Where: Discovery Screen 2

When: Friday 25 August | 6.20pm

Saturday 26 August

Cobweb

Inspired by the short story ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allen Poe, Cobweb tells the story of a mysterious, constant tap that plagues eight-year-old Peter from inside his bedroom wall – a tapping his parents insist is all in his imagination. His concerned schoolteacher starts enquiring after Peter shows clear evidence of trouble at home. But as Peter’s fear intensifies, he believes his parents could be hiding a terrible, dangerous secret and questions their trust. And for a child, what could be more frightening than that?

Read our review here.

Director: Samuel Bodin

Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Anthony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman, Woody Norman

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Saturday 26 August | 1.10pm (plus an additional screening at the Discovery 3 screen with closed captions)

Pandemonium

In Pandemonium, Nathan and Daniel wake at the scene of a car crash, confused and seemingly unscathed. The two men begin to slowly understand that they did not make it. They are dead. Nathan’s previous acts will now determine his fate, however reprehensible they might have been. He will have to leave this earthly world and enter the depths of Hell that await him for all eternity and be confronted with other tormented souls whose pain he will be forced to experience by the demon Norgül.

Read our review here.

Director: Quarxx

Cast: Hugo Dillon, Ophelia Kolb, Arben Bajraktaraj, Manon Maindivide

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Saturday 26 August | 3.30pm

Doctor Jekyll

Doctor Jekyll is a modern reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. When ex-convict Rob takes the carer position to the infamous Nina Jekyll, little does he know he’s part of an evil master plan devised by her alter ego Rachel Hyde. But to what lengths will Rob go to satisfy his client’s weird wishes and ambitions for the daughter he has never seen?

Director: Joe Stephenson

Cast: Eddie Izzard, Scott Chambers, Lindsay Duncan, Simon Callow

Where: Discovery Screen 1

When: Friday 25 August | 8.45pm

Transmission

Transmission’s story unfolds on a television screen as we switch between different channels and slowly realise that each of these channels is actually telling different aspects of the same horrific narrative…

Director: Michael J. Hurst

Cast: Vernon Wells, Felissa Rose, Dave Sheridan, Sadie Katz.

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Saturday 26 August | 11pm

Sunday 27 August

The Seeding

In The Seeding, a hiker finds himself marooned with a mysterious woman in a remote desert canyon where a pack of feral boys have built a primitive society structured around a brutal coda of entrapment and procreation. A slow-burning survival thriller from prolific music video director Barnaby Clay, this stone-cold shocker confronts the dread of isolation and unchecked toxic masculinity head-on. Boys will be boys, and in the terrifying vastness of the California arid region, their worst desires come out to play.

Read our review here.

Director: Barnaby Clay

Cast: Scott Haze, Kate Lyn Sheil, Alex Montaldo, Charlie Avink

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Sunday 27 August | 1.25pm

Raging Grace

Raging Grace is a bold coming-of-age story that follows Joy, who is an undocumented Filipina immigrant struggling to do her best for her daughter, Grace, when she secures the perfect job; taking care of an extremely wealthy but terminally ill old man. The position pays well and guarantees a roof over their heads, but soon, Joy realises everything is not as it seems. Something is festering beneath the surface, threatening all they have worked for.

Read our review here.

Director: Paris Zarcilla

Cast: Jaeden Paige Boadilla, Max Eigenmann, David Heyman, Leanne Best

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Sunday 27 August | 6.15pm (plus an additional screening on Monday 28 August at 1.15pm)

T Blockers

When ancient parasites that thrive on hatred rise from beneath a small town, taking the most fearful and susceptible as hosts, a young trans filmmaker struggling to transition in these increasingly hostile times for LGBTQ+ people finds herself the only one who can sense the possessed, and rally the resistance before the horror escapes and spreads.

Read our review here.

Director: Alice Maio Mackay

Cast: Lauren Last, Lewi Dawson, Lisa Fanto

Where: Discovery Screen 2

When: Sunday 27 August | 6.40pm

Monday 28 August

Good Boy

Millionaire heir Christian meets student Sigrid on a dating app. Meeting up at his mansion, she’s shocked after their liaison encounters his dog, Frank. The problem is Frank is a man dressed and acting like a dog – therapy Christian says for his friend with a traumatic past to cope with stress. Concerned at first, Sigrid gradually comes around to the pet ‘puppy’ antics and starts dating Christian properly. Then he asks her to spend a weekend at his country cabin, where events take a completely unexpected turn, and their whimsical romance lurches into shocking horror.

Director: Viljar Bøe

Cast: Gard Løkke, Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen, Nicolai Narvesen Lied, Viljar Bøe

Where: Discovery Screen 2

When: Monday 18 August | 1.20pm

The Sacrifice Game

It’s bad enough that elite boarding school students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for Christmas. But things take a deadly turn for the worse when a murderous gang of cult killers arrive, intent on summoning a demon. What must the girls do to survive the night?

Read our review here.

Director: Jenn Wexler

Cast: Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Chloe Levine, Gus Kenworthy

Where: Empire Studio Main Screen

When: Monday 28 August | 9.15pm

Find the full line-up for the 2023 Pigeon Shrine FrightFest and for more information on the festival, click here.

The post Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2023: SciFiNow Top Picks appeared first on Sci-Fi Tips.

From the follow up to one of the most epic space operas we’ve read with The House of Saints, through to a bit of comic book adventure with Mockingbird and man-shark romance with Shark Heart, there’s plenty on offer to sink your teeth into. So if you’re a science fiction buff, a fantasy fan or even a horror nerd, we’ve got a little bit of everything this month.

(Psst, ff you think we’ve overlooked your most anticipated book then why not drop us a message on our social channels?)

Honey Watson

8 August – Angry Robot

Lessons in Bird Watching takes readers on a mesmerizing sci-fi journey set in the dystopian world of Apech, ravaged by a time-plague. Elite students of the Crysthian empire, led by the enigmatic Wilhelmina Ming, grapple with the harrowing violence they encounter, seeking solace in psychedelic antidepressants and uninhibited group encounters.

After a night of debauchery, the students awaken to a grim warning—a corpse impaled outside their residence. Determined to unravel the mystery, they embark on a perilous investigation, uncovering a web of intrigue and treachery within their diplomatic ranks.

Amidst a brewing civil war, they must face betrayal and deception while a fanatical zealot awakens a forgotten deity and its lethal temporal virus, threatening to engulf Apech in chaos.

This intelligent and immersive sci-fi epic delivers a thrilling exploration of power, morality, and the unyielding pursuit of truth in a world consumed by time. Brace yourself for a gripping narrative of survival, sacrifice, and the intertwining forces of destiny and free will.

James Kennedy

22 August – Quirk Books

In a small Midwestern town, a teenage girl discovers the chilling truth behind ‘Tornado Day’ – a plague of sentient tornadoes that strikes the town every generation, threatening total annihilation. The town’s only hope lies in a mysterious boy known as the Tornado Killer. But the adults guard a terrifying secret about the origins of the tornadoes and the true nature of the Tornado Killer and soon finds that she must escape before the primordial power that binds them all consumes her.

This genre-defying horror-thriller, delves into surreal, mind-bending depths. James Kennedy, author of Dare to Know is back with more mythical madness of bizarre Americana; painting a chilling portrait of small-town living. Fans of eerie, atmospheric horror will be hooked.

Olivie Blake

17 August – Tor

Olivie Blake, bestselling author of The Atlas Six, presents Masters of Death, an urban fantasy brimming with vampires, ghosts, and the godson of Death.

Viola Marek is a vampire struggling as a real estate agent. Her latest challenge: selling a haunted house. The ghost, murdered and trapped, refuses to move on until he unravels the mystery behind his death. Enlisting the help of Fox D’Mora, a supposedly fraudulent medium with a surprising connection to Death, the pair unwittingly entangle themselves in an unexpected and unwanted quest. With the aid of a mischievous poltergeist, a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel, and a love-stricken reaper, Vi and Fox soon discover that the line between a lost love and a bothersome corpse is far blurrier than they imagined.

Get ready for a witty and page-turning urban fantasy adventure, that challenges the boundaries of the afterlife with a unique twist on the supernatural.

Shelley Parker-Chan

24 August – Pan Macmillan

Shelley Parker-Chan’s sequel to the brilliant She Who Became the Sun, arrives as a mesmerizing and deeply disquieting continuation.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, revels in her recent triumph over the Mongol rulers in southern China. Driven by ambition and the belief in her divine mandate, she is determined to claim the imperial throne for herself. However, she faces a formidable rival in Madam Zhang, whose powerful kingdom poses a threat to Zhu’s ambitions. To outmaneuver Madam Zhang, Zhu forms an unlikely alliance with the traitorous general Ouyang. As Zhu’s ambition propels her forward, she realizes that even her ruthless heart may not be immune to the price she must pay. The consequences of her actions may ultimately break her, testing the limits of her unyielding will.

He Who Drowned the World examines the value of self-acceptance, shedding light on the corrosive impact of self-hate and societal rejection, Parker-Chan deftly portrays the destructive consequences that self-loathing and bigotry can have on individuals and society at large, compelling readers to confront the darker facets of humanity while seeking solace in the profound depths of the characters and storytelling.

J.T. Greathouse

3 August – Gollancz

In the epic conclusion to the Pact and Pattern series, J.T. Greathouse continues on the thrilling journey of the magical warrior, Foolish Cur, who must confront his greatest feat-turned-failure. Seeking to thwart the tyrannical Emperor’s war with the gods, Foolish Cur wields forbidden magic, unknowingly setting the gods free after countless years of imprisonment.

With chaos unleashed, the world is transformed into a nightmarish realm, overrun by terrifying creatures. The Empire, rebellion, and existence itself hanging in the balance.

Fans of the British Fantasy Award-nominated series will love the spellbinding mix of magic, mystery, and political intrigue that Greathouse’s fantasy series has brought us.

Emily Habeck

3 August – Quercus

In her remarkable debut novel Shark Heart, Emily Habek crafts a deeply moving intergenerational love story that tugs at the heartstrings. The tale revolves around Wren and Lewis, a newlywed couple whose journey takes an extraordinary turn when Lewis receives a life-altering diagnosis. A rare condition promises to transform him into a great white shark over the course of nine months while preserving his consciousness and memories. As Lewis grapples with his metamorphosis, Wren is faced with the daunting prospect of a life alongside a shark-human hybrid.

Skillfully interwoven within this narrative is the poignant account of Wren’s mother, Angela, whose past unravels with a teenage pregnancy amid the throes of an abusive relationship. Habek effortlessly connects the past and present, exploring the timeless themes of love, loss, and the essence of identity.

Habek’s writing displays a deft blend of humor, lyricism, and unfiltered emotion, creating an unforgettable story that delves into the profound questions that life presents, especially in the midst of grief. With unmatched originality, delightful elements of magical realism and an endearing cast of characters, Shark Heart adds an extra layer of depth to the transformations experienced in life, whether they stem from relationships or physical changes.

Emily Habek’s debut marks the arrival of a fresh and talented writer, teaching us to embrace the impossible, seize fleeting moments of joy, and find solace in the embrace of life’s unpredictable journey.

S. Jae-Jones

1 August – Titan

Jin Zhara faces the challenge of concealing her magical abilities in a society that condemns magic. When rumours of monstrous creatures resurface, a chance encounter with Han introduces her to the Guardians of Dawn, a secret magical liberation organisation. As a mysterious plague transforms magicians into abominations, Zhara must embark on a quest to unravel the truth behind the chaos. Embracing her inner elemental warrior becomes crucial in restoring harmony and thwarting the malevolent demon.

S. Jae-Jones kickstarts an enthralling YA Fantasy series with Guardians of Dawn: Zhara. Blending threads of love, magic, and chaos, creating a mesmerising journey of self-discovery and the battle for order and disorder in this richly imagined fantasy tale that will be sure to appeal to fans of Sailor Moon.

Maria Lewis

3 August – Aconyte

Mockingbird: Strike Out soars as a captivating addition to the Aconyte Marvel Heroines series, focusing on Bobbi Morse, alias Mockingbird. Maria Lewis weaves a thrilling tale as the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent seeks distraction from her painful divorce to Hawkeye by delving into a high-stakes espionage and action-packed adventure. Lewis artfully defines Mockingbird’s character, infusing her with humor, snark, and relatable human traits. The story brims with spy work and gadgets, ensuring a fast-paced narrative that enthralls readers.

The novel’s seamless integration into the wider Marvel universe adds depth to the plot and Lewis’ writing showcases the allure and strength of Marvel heroines. Mockingbird: Strike Out will surely please fans looking to go beyond the MCU.

Derek Künsken

31 August – Rebellion

In The House of Saints, the long-awaited sequel to The House of Styx, (read our 5 star review here) Derek Künsken transports readers back to the harsh and captivating world of Venus, continuing the enthralling saga of the D’Aquillon family in a tale of resilience and human determination.

The novel picks up shortly after the conclusion of The House of Styx, exploring the family’s relentless quest for survival amidst the unforgiving conditions of the planet. As they investigate a mysterious wormhole that could hold the key to their colony’s survival, the D’Aquillon family finds themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and danger from rival families and external forces.

Künsken’s skillful narrative weaves together tension, wonder, and emotional depth. The evolving relationships of the complex characters add increasing layers of heartbreak and authenticity in an expert balance of scientific wonder and human drama.

For fans of hard sci-fi and compelling tales of human survival, The House of Saints and its companion, The House of Styx, form an unmissable series. Künsken’s visionary storytelling ensures that readers will be captivated until the very end.

The post Best Sci Fi Books August 2023 appeared first on Sci-Fi Tips.

So… how? How do you get your ideas down and make your inspiration into a book that everyone will want to read? Here are my recommendations for your writing toolbox…

On Writing; a Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Master of the art of scaring the pants off his readers, King sets down his suggestions and techniques for beginning and improving one’s writing. This master class covers the basics, explains why each element is important to good fiction, and guides you toward the best way to achieve them. King tells you not only what to do, but what not to do. Full of good advice and anecdotes from King’s life, this book is an entertaining and informative read.

If you want more guidance, look into Orson Scott Card’s books on the craft, especially Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: How to Create Out-of-This-World Novels and Short Stories.

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

The Clarion Workshop, a six-week writing program, established in 1968, has long been lauded as one of the best workshops for aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers. Swain, an attendee of the program, gathered together the information gleaned from the teachers and condensed them into this small academic volume. He takes the writer from getting ideas down on paper (or computer file), expanding the plot into scenes and chapters, working with characters to make them realistic and interesting, and polishing the story until it glows.

Once you’ve learned from this book, check out the line of Million-Dollar Productivity books published by WordFire Press.

Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel by Diana Wynne Jones

Why do characters on fantasy quests always seem to cook stew when they stop to rest? Ms. Jones tackles the hard questions of what unrealistic clichés have evolved in fantasy writing. While you laugh like a drain, she’ll make you blush with shame because you – yes, you!  – have committed at least one of these enormities. We all have. Promise to do better. Your writing will be more realistic and logical for it.

Once you’ve enjoyed the Tough Guide, look up the Turkey City Lexicon, an online website of other tropes to avoid, such as the immortal “As you know, Bob,” precursor to an unnecessary infodump that will bore the reader. Another great resource is TVTropes.com.

The Borderlands of Science by Charles Sheffield

But your story isn’t fantasy, it’s science fiction. Dip into this great book. Do you want to write about time-travel? Faster-than-light ships? Sheffield gives you an overview of numerous branches of science that can act as launch pads to steer you toward deeper research. His style is as approachable in this non-fiction book as it is in his many wonderful novels.

Need a more basic approach to science? Isaac Asimov wrote many short books on elements of science. His genius in breaking down difficult topics for anyone to understand is still unmatched.

Ron Hubbard Presents the Writers of the Future, Volume 39

As the Coordinating Judge of the Contest, I am proud of the twelve writer-winners whose stories are featured in this volume. The skill and style that each of them brings to the book will surprise and delight you. The volume also features how-to articles on writing and art by Kristine Katherine Rusch, Lazarus Chernik, and Hubbard himself. Each of the previous anthologies also contain informative articles to help budding professionals start and grow their careers as well as great stories to read.

Check them out!

If you’re a short story writer, the Writers of the Future Contest (free to enter!) is a great place to hone your skills, and possibly be published in the next anthology. Enter here and find the rules here.

The post Five science fiction and fantasy books recommended for aspiring writers appeared first on Sci-Fi Tips.

Eve Smith

20 July – Orenda

From the author of Off Target. In Eve Smith’s ONE, we are transported to a not-too-distant future plagued by climate change, where the rise of the ONE political party in Britain brings forth a strict one-child policy.

Kai, a devoted follower, works as a ‘baby reaper’ and enforces the one-child law. When she suspects her own family’s violation, she embarks on a race against time to uncover the truth, leading her down a dark path of realisation.

With echoes of V for Vendetta, ONE serves as a stark warning, challenging societal norms and individual sacrifices in the face of adversity.

Ariel Kaplan

20 July – Solaris

The Pomegranate Gate, is a captivating fantasy novel steeped in Jewish folklore, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition.

In a tale of intertwined destinies, Toba Peres, is gifted with linguistic prowess and immerses herself in translating books while concealing her unconventional abilities. Meanwhile, Naftaly Cesques, burdened by his family’s tailoring legacy and plagued by enigmatic visions, embarks on a journey unknowingly entwined with Toba’s fate. As their shared community faces turmoil and persecution, Naftaly defies the Queen’s decree to expel Jews from Sefarad, their homeland, escaping with an enigmatic book, while Toba is drawn to a mysterious figure with piercing orange eyes…

In order to escape, Toba ventures through a pomegranate grove’s enigmatic portal, guided by the orange-eyed stranger where she enters an ancient realm entwined with her own. Here an age-old conflict threatens to shatter both worlds and determine the fate of her and Naftaly. Lost in separate realms, the interwoven perspectives add depth to this richly layered narrative, blending Jewish folklore with fantasy.

Would you like to know more? Check out this exclusive map

Chloe Gong

18 July – Hodderscape

Chloe Gong’s gripping debut – the first installment of the Flesh and False Gods series – blends elements of The Hunger Games with the passion and intrigue of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.

Set in the perilous capital of San-Er, within the kingdom of Talin, the story unfolds against a backdrop of deadly contests that draw throngs of contenders each year. These contests offer unimaginable wealth to those who possess the ability to jump between bodies.

When Princess Calla enlists in the games for a chance to slay her reclusive uncle, King Kasa she soon realises that the only way to the final is to form an unlikely alliance with Anton Makus; a partnership that ignites an all-consuming passion, forcing Calla to confront a crucial choice: her lover or her kingdom.

Immortal Longings is a smart, imaginative, and gripping epic that defies genre boundaries. A brutal and merciless story with secret plans and betrayals abound, Gong’s unique blend of Asian Futurism and the tragedy of classical romance arrives as an exciting new voice in the first book of what is sure to be an enthralling new series.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

18 July – Quercus

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the acclaimed author of Mexican Gothic, delivers another chilling tale in her latest novel, Silver Nitrate.

Set in 1990s Mexico, a mysterious cult horror director Abel Ureta recruits Montserrat, a talented sound editor, and her childhood friend Tristan, a soap opera star, to lift a Nazi curse from an unfinished movie.

As they work to lift the curse, they are confronted by a dark entity and find themselves haunted by their own personal demons. With the backdrop of the competitive world of the film industry, Moreno-Garcia peppers the story with references to legendary directors and horror movie history, anchoring this supernatural tale in a seductively tangible reality.

Silver Nitrate is a dark and heart-pounding supernatural horror story that expertly weaves together elements of occultism, horror movies, Nazism, and mysticism. Perfect for horror movie buffs and fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Dean Koontz

18 July – Thomas and Mercer

Dean Koontz, the unparalleled master of suspense, is back with a modern-day Lazarus tale.

Set in a world teetering on the brink of darkness, Michael Mace, head of security at a secretive research facility, awakens in a makeshift morgue after a catastrophic event that claimed the lives of everyone, including his dear friend Shelby Shrewsberry. But Michael discovers that his reawakening has bestowed upon him an extraordinary power beyond imagination—an ability to be as elusive as a ghost.

Driven by a desire to honor his friend’s memory, he embarks on a mission to help those most dear to them, Nina Dozier and her son, John. However, despite the best of intentions, Michael soon awakens the ire of one of LA’s most violent street gangs and a vicious assassin.

Fans of Koontz’s will be thoroughly engrossed with this fast-paced and action-packed narrative; an energetic sci fi twist to what could have otherwise been a conventional thriller

Gabriela Romero Lacruz

25 July – Daphne Press

In Gabriela Romero Lacruz’s debut fantasy novel, The Sun and the Void readers are transported to a richly evocative world inspired by South American history and folklore. With meticulous worldbuilding and a captivating plot, the story follows two young women – Reina and Eva – on their quests for belonging.

Weaving together themes of coloniasm infused with ancient magic, the characters have been crafted with a love and care. Cushioned in a blanket of sumptuous prose and vivid imagery, The Sun and the Void is a mesmerising and immersive fantasy debut into Gabriela Romero Lacruz’s Warring Gods series.

If this sounds like a bit of you, why not have a read of chapter one for FREE!

Philip Fracassi

13 July – Orbit

A chilling folk horror novel, Boys in the Valley transports you to St. Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys, a remote institution in turn-of-the-century Pennsylvania. Here, 30 boys live under the watchful eyes of priests, until one stormy night the death of a wounded man with occult symbols carved into his flesh unleashes an ancient evil that infects the orphanage, causing disturbing changes in the boys and leading to a deadly battle for survival.

Echoing the feel of shows like Midnight Mass and Yellowjackets, Boys in the Valley hones in on coming-of-age themes and shrouds them in an atmosphere of isolation and dread that builds suspensefully until it unleases into a harrowing struggle for survival where terror lurks around every corner and the battle for life and souls takes centre stage.

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Matilda the Musical (2022)

In this adaptation, Matilda tells a tale to anyone who will listen, about a circus where an escapologist and an acrobat want nothing more than to have a child. It’s some of the most heartbreaking sequences in this tale of a girl who just wants to survive the cruelty of the adults around her.

Across the Universe (2007)

Across the Universe takes all the hits of The Beatles and turns it into a story about friends haphazardly reaching adulthood during the Vietnam War. Mr. Kite’s segment is definitely a weirder one, as their acid trip concocts a magical tent. As Mr. Kite says, you just have to be there to believe it. This is a small respite for the main characters to see how fantastical the world could be … if they didn’t have to live in the 1960’s.

Dumbo (2019)

Okay, I know, Dumbo is all about a circus. But hear me out. While the story focuses mostly on Medici’s circus (aka Danny DeVito’s circus), I’m looking at the other one that doesn’t show up until halfway through. Dreamland (or Michael Keaton’s circus). Fun lore on this one: Dreamland was ostensibly the name of the theme park that Walt copied for his own Disneyland. Michael Keaton’s character is very clearly Walt. Dreamland has all the money in the world to make your dreams come true, but at what price? What do you have to give up in order to get everything you wanted? I just find the meta-commentary fascinating.

Big Fish (2003)

Ewan MacGregor as bright-eyed Edward Bloom arrives at … (checks notes) … Danny DeVito’s circus. This time, Danny’s running the Calloway Circus, and time literally freezes when Edward sees a beautiful girl across the ring from him. Magic envelops these two soulmates, before time speeds up and Edward must find a way to find her again. Mr. Calloway says he’ll give Edward one fact about her for every month he works in the circus. While this movie is full of moments of magic, there’s something vulnerable and sweet about this place where true love is possible.

Finding Neverland (2004)

When Barrie meets the lost boys for the first time, he immediately welcomes them to Neverland by turning his dog into a dancing bear at a circus he conjures out of nothing. The camera only sees little flashes, enough to entice us and make us believe that Barrie is wondrous.

So grab some popcorn and head to the circuses where anyone can be vulnerable and anything can change!

The First Bright Thing is out now from Tor.

Check out more awesome articles at SciFiNow.

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But the sheer mass of content can be overwhelming; what to choose with our limited viewing time? To help you out, here’s a curated list of my favourite martial arts TV and film: 

Warrior (TV, 2019 – present)

Based on a treatment written by the late Bruce Lee, this show takes place in San Francisco at the second half of the 19th century, where Chinese tongs (gangs) fight for their stake in the city against discrimination and other long-established migrant groups.

Warrior is an action-packed show with quite a bit of intelligence behind the stream of gritty  martial arts violence viewers are treated to. We see the world from many POVs, from the virtuoso fighter just arriving on American shores, to the conflicted son of the tong leader, to the southern policeman fighting corruption, to the brothel madam who is more than meets the eye.

Performances by leads Jason Tobin, Diane Doan, Andrew Koji and Olivia Cheng are spot on, and I can’t wait for Season 3 to start later this month. 

Fist of Legend (Film, 1994)

An oldie but goodie, Fist of Legend was Jet Li’s masterpiece. Set in Shanghai in 1937 during Japanese occupation, Li plays Chen Zhen, a Chinese virtuoso martial artist who is returning from Kyoto to his old academy. 

This film is for both fans of modern mixed martial arts, as well as old school Hong Kong action flicks. Throughout the film Zhen tests various fighting styles, including his native style of kung fu, western boxing and Japanese karate. The fighting is cinematic without being over-the-top, and is rooted in the historical realism of the times.

Born a Champion (Film, 2021)

This film starring Sean Patrick Flannery is a love letter to Brazilian jiu jitsu. It follows Mickey Kelly, a former marine and one of the first BJJ black belts, as he is pulled from his love and family into an underground no-holds-barred event.

Flannery is a long time BJJ black belt and teacher, and his love for the art truly comes across in the details of the film; not only the incredibly accurate action sequences but also his portrayal of the mindset of a fighter. Flannery, who also penned the script, includes a variety of scenes that will remind fans of the early days of the art, when it was first introduced to the world through the Gracie Challenge and UFC.

Warrior (Film, 2011)

The 2011 film starring Tom Hardy was the first to truly depict the world of MMA in realistic fashion. Though the movie has a convincing and dramatic plot focused on family dynamics, the real star is the portrayal of fighters; the highs and lows, stress, focus and dedication that are centerpieces to a fighter’s lifestyle.

Warrior also has some of the most realistic MMA action sequences we’ve seen to this day. Stars Hardy and Edgerton suffered for their art, with numerous broken bones and torn ligaments inflicted during production.

Rocky (Film, 1977)

“That’s not a martial arts film,” you say. “It’s a sports movie!”

Boxing is a martial art. And just as Jet Li or Donnie Yen train kung fu for their battle against the ultimate boss in their many films, Rocky Balboa similarly dedicates himself to the art of boxing to achieve a goal. 

In fact, Rocky follows the classic martial arts narrative: fighter shows promise, tests and trains his skills through failure, and finally confronts the final spiritual test in the form of a physical opponent. 

Not to mention the groundbreaking training montage the film introduces, along with an Academy Award winning screenplay written by Stallone; Rocky is truly one of the best martial arts films of all time.

The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin  is out 15 June from Orbit Books. 

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In a lot of ghostly tales, though, the murder victims know exactly who wiped them off this mortal coil and they are keen to right wrongs and reap revenge. I’ve picked out some of my favourites, so here are five ghostly tales where a dead person solves their own murder…

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

We sometimes forget just how much fantasy good old Will Shakespeare wrote. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is full of fairies and spells, while The Tempest features wizards, monsters and spirits.

But Hamlet is not merely a ghost story with added witches; it’s also a whodunit that only gets solved because the murder victim’s phantom reveals all to his son on the spooky gothic ramparts… Oh yes, and everyone dies.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

Very suitably, this is the 13th book in The Dresden Files, which catalogue the (mis)adventures of Chicago wizard Harry Dresden.

In this volume, poor old Harry is dead as a doornail after being murdered, but returns as a spirit to solve the case.

Many magical Chicago shenanigans ensue. If you are an audiobook afficionado, this series is an absolute treat because they are all narrated by the silver-tongued James Marsters, formerly Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Swoon.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

This is an unexpected gem. It’s so light and fluffy that the poignancy of the end will catch you unawares.

Great Aunt Sophie is dead, but once upon a time she was a gin-swilling, pearl-twirling lass who liked boys, pretty dresses, parties and dancing. And now she has to persuade her hapless niece to work out what happened so that her spirit can move on.

If you only know Sophie Kinsella from her Shopaholic books, this will come as a delight.

Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card

Warning – this book is very, very dark, and the ending is far from happy.

Who are Stevie’s imaginary friends, and why do they share the same names as children who have mysteriously “vanished”? The answer is Not Good and no one lives happily ever after.

Scott Card has claimed that many elements of M. Night Shyamalan’s film The Sixth Sense were plagiarised from this book, and it’s easy to see why. Creepy as hell and definitely not holiday reading.

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

It’s a bit of a cheat to also include this wonderful book by the late great Terry Pratchett, because it’s very much a spoof of Hamlet, but I also couldn’t miss it out because it’s completely adorable.

Poor old King Verence has been slain by his own cousin, and it’s up to the three least-wicked witches the Discworld has ever scene to sort out the ensuing mess… Cue cauldrons, black crepe, Greebo the cat and a wonderfully unlikely romance.

Grave Danger by Alice James is out now. Order your copy here.

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Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

The Guardians team up with other cosmic heroes to fight off the Phalanx, a race of technovores who threaten to take over the universe.

Following the aftermath of the Annihilation War, where a devastated galaxy struggles to rebuild, a new threat emerges in the form of Ultron, the rogue artificial intelligence, who leads an army of techno-organic invaders called the Phalanx. The Phalanx infects and assimilates various planets and races, including the Kree Empire and its heroes.

A group of resistance fighters forms to stop Ultron’s conquest, led by Star-Lord, and his ragtag team of misfits, including Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Mantis, as well as Bug, and Captain Universe. Meanwhile, other cosmic heroes join the fray, such as Nova, Quasar, Moondragon, Wraith, and Ronan the Accuser. The fate of the galaxy hinges on the return of Adam Warlock, the cosmic messiah who holds the key to defeating Ultron.

This is a thrilling and epic saga that showcases the diversity and richness of Marvel’s cosmic characters. Released in 2007 it also lays the foundation for the new 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy series.

The post Top 5 Guardians of the Galaxy comics appeared first on Sci-Fi Tips.

Christopher Paolini

16th May – Tor

To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars took the Sci Fi world by storm back in 2020 (read our review here) as the authour of epic fantasy series Eragon sent us into a deep space, first contact story. Now Christopher Paolini returns to the Fractalverse with a new standalone novel set 23 years before the events of TSIASOS.

When an enormous circular pit, too large and too perfect to be natural is discovered on the planel of Talos VII, a small team of explorers are sent to investigate. What follows is a gruelling trek through a hostile environment in search of answers. For some it’s an opportunity of a lifetime, for others it’s the search for meaning in a tragic world. A fascinating, claustrophic tale of exploration that asks questions as much of the characters as it does of the anomaly that could only be of conscious design.

Daniel Polansky

9th May – Angry Robot

The Harrows are an estranged family who by day are teachers, doctors and  bartenders but by night are the sworn protectors of the magical, fantastical parallel world of the “March”. When a contagious madness known as the “End” starts to threaten the inhabitants of the March, the family must confront their chequered history and uncomfortable past to try and save the world.

Framed inside the stunning worldbuilding of sentient lichen and antique toys lies a heartfelt story of family seeking resolution and absolution from their own madness.

Aubrey Wood

9th May – Solaris

A cyberpunk, buddy cop crime thriller that flips traditional tropes with a slice of wry comedy and the thrill of the chase. Set in the rather grim dystopia of 2032, trans hacker Kiera has been framed for murder and must team up with harboiled P.I Angel Herrera to search for the truth. What follows is a fast pace tech-heavy noir crime story that uses the odd-couple dynamic to bring representation and understanding to the meanings of identity. Packed with one liners and crassly loveable characters Bang Bang Bodhisattva is the perfect melting pot for genre lovers in need of a relevant and modern spin on futuristic crime thrillers.

Justin Cronin

2nd May – Orion

A true epic of speculative fiction, acclaimed author of The Passage Trilogy, Jusin Cronin is back with The Ferryman. Prospera, an isolated island paradise in the middle of a vast ocean is the brainchild of a mythic genious. Its population live a life of privilege, where every need met is by the obliging support staff until they approach retirement. Then the Ferryman transports their bodies to another mysterious isand known as The Nursery, to have their memories wiped so they can start life anew.

But paradise is not paradise for all and with the cryptic message of “The world is not the world” ringing in the Ferryman’s ears, talk of resistance and revolution begins to rise. Many begin to question their place in the social order and a rebellious cohort known as The Arrivalists look to stir things up. Full of twists and turns like you wouldn’t believe, The Ferryman is filled with big ideasa and develops into a fascinating meditation on humanity that will grip you to the last page.

Agustina Bazterrica

4th May – Pushkin Press

Not for the squeamish, Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird is a collection of short stories from the grizzly and macabre mind of Agustina Bazterrica, author of TikTok sensation Tender is the Flesh. Tackling tales of grotesque murder and insidious violence with pepperings of body horror and disturbing fantasies, each story is unsettling in its own unique way. There are certainly reoccuring themes within the colleciton, often centred around the abuses of power. This book will leave you shocked into contemplating the darker sides of human nature.

Sebastien de Castell

11th May – Quercus

It’s the Magnificent Seven, except they’re wizards! Cade Ombrea must bring together a rag tag crew of seven war-hardened mages to head into a cursed wasteland to defeat the good guys. That’s right, this time we’re siding with the bad guys (the good guys don’t pay as much). But are our crew of murderous mages really bad or are they just unhinged? If you imagine The Suicide Squad trapsing across Westeros you wouldn’t be far off. The Malevolent Seven is comedic quest where motives are masked and the real villains are not who you’d think. A fun journey with madcap characters through a magical landscape with a soundtrack of wry humour.

Rachel Harrison

9th May – Titan

The feminist werewolf story we’ve been waiting for. Yes there’s love story in there but this isn’t your usual monster romance. Instead we’re treated to a darkly funny and sweetly emotional journey where our lady lycan, Rory must reluctantly retun to her hometown and deal with the complications of family and her new found aversion to silver. Running deeper are elegant touches on facing trauma, confronting vulnerability and channelling the inner rage that sometimes we all have to let out.

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