Robbed of their chance at leaving Earth to pursue green-energy innovations, Ryn embraces new dreams—fighting deep sea threats in conjunction with a giant cephalopod. It’s 2139 in the Cali-Coastal Corporate Zone, and Ryn struggles with their own body and brain as they fight to survive five days locked up with academic rivals and the military-backed billionaires who’ve misled them all since their teenage years.

Ryn needs an exit strategy but doesn’t know whether to trust Akira, the hacker-spy who may have saved their life, or Jay, the geeky military rebel with a secret stash of hot chocolate. Not to mention, Jay keeps falling asleep in their bed, and Ryn’s not sure if either of them is interested in more—but at least they like the same shows!

Five Days. One Ocean. Unlikely allies connect to Dream the Deep.

Cover illustration by Matthew Spencer.

Author Clara Ward will be donating 100% of their royalties from Dream the Deep to conservation efforts for our global ocean.

Reviews:

“Nobody writes solarpunk like Clara Ward. Dream the Deep is a shimmering, geeky delight of a story about the profound connections between humans and our ecosystems, as well as the promise of the unknown.” —Annalee Newitz, bestselling author of Automatic Noodle and The Terraformers

“Clara Ward has written another fantastic book! If you enjoy ecological fiction featuring characters from a variety of marginalized queer backgrounds, check out Dream the Deep.” —Dawn Vogel, History That Never Was

“A fascinating queer dystopian story with sentient octopi and mysterious forces in the deep sea, sure to please haters of billionaires and lovers of ocean science and queer-platonic relationships. I enjoyed this quite a lot! —Dani Finn, author of Disposable Magic

“Dream the Deep is a short but intense story about Ryn, a neurodivergent, queer scientist. The story really intrigued me and never had a dull moment.” —Minerva Cerridwen, author of The Dragon of Ynys

“Dream the Deep is a compelling eco-novella with an incredibly empathetic main character. From touch aversion to alien cephalopod embodiment, Ward’s writing lets the reader experience another’s mental thought processes. For those who enjoy science in their science fiction, the theory and process is really cool. For those who prefer a character-centric story or a well-paced dystopia escape tale, there’s that too. And lastly, for those who enjoy an embodiment story, it might be a relief to have one where the possession is not about colonizing and taking control, but about a shared journey and mutual help. In all these ways, Dream the Deep is a gift. —Andrew Hiller, author of Hornytown Chutzpah

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Sol the Wise Guy has stayed out of Hornytown for a hot minute. But when a sexy sheyd sweeps into his office saying she’s been framed for murder, well, sometimes a shmendrick’s gotta step up to the task.

This silly, satirical, romp through the Devil’s corner of D.C. prompts the question of what we might repair, with a little old Chutzpah.

Cover art by Andrew Hiller.

Media:

Bookishly Jewish

“Fun and clever, as it subverts all the genre rules with heavy, heavy Jewishness.” —Valerie Estelle Frankel, editor of Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy

Punk-Ass Book Jockey

“The worldbuilding is strong, the narrative style evocative, and the characters exciting.” —Alex Brown, Ignyte Award winning book critic

nerds of a feather, flock together

“Hornytown Chutzpah, like a good noir movie, keeps the pace lean and mean and knows when to move along the plot so that the story doesn’t flag. Like a screwball comedy, it knows exactly when to hit the comedy beats and when to become more serious. And it knows when to hit you in the heart and soul.” —Paul Weimer, Multi Hugo Award winning genre writer

The Skiffy and Fanty Show

“The plot is engaging, there are twists, yet everything holds up. The characters have a lot of emotional depth (human and demon alike) and there are moments of profound understanding and serious reverence. Worth your time even if you’ve read plenty of this subgenre.” —Daniel Haeusser

Reviews:

“Wonderfully fun! Hornytown Chutzpah swaps out Virgil for a mouthy private dick to lead you through hell. A visceral underworldly tale, and an unforgettable voice.” —Meg Elison, author of Foundling Fathers

“A detective goes to Hell. Literally. What a wild romp! I really enjoyed Hiller’s novella, right down to the very potent chicken soup. For people who love noir, detective stories, and the occasional Pit stop, this is for you.” —Joyce Chng, Hugo Award winner and author of the Fire Heart duology

“With verve, razor-sharp wit, and plenty of heart, Hornytown Chutzpah peels back the layers of hell (well, its DC-adjacent outpost) to expose the messy foibles of humanity. Timely, compulsively readable, and just plain fun.” —P. H. Low, Ignyte-, Locus-, and Rhysling-nominated author of These Deathless Shores

“Buckle up for a zany romp through the outskirts of hell. Andrew Hiller’s Hornytown Chutzpah mixes together urban fantasy, noir murder mystery, and a big splash of Jewish humor into a wildly imaginative story. It’s bonkers in the best possible way.” —Jo Miles, author of Warped State

“This glossary is fantastic. I love it!” —Jennifer Hudak, author of the Nebula finalist Witch Trap

“A call to repair the world? those are lyrics everyone can enjoy. And having it be a touchstone, a point that rings our hero like a bell? I’m in, I’m all in.” —Marissa Lingen, author of A Dubious Clamor

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Reviews:

“Beautiful lyrical language that flows with the tongue. I love the worldbuilding and I keep cheering for Xelle. Bring down the fire, mage! You will fly with dragons!” — Joyce Chng, author of Fire Heart

Cover Artist: Matthew Spencer

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Shad-Dari has escaped her past, her dreams now in reach. An excavator of the valuable old sounds of Órino-Rin, she steals tiny, unheard fragments of the sacred songs to erase the painful echo of her home planet, Ekwukwe. In one rebellion too far, she sets off a chain of events that severs her from time itself, forcing her, without another way forward, to face her past.

Accolades

Longlist – 2024 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards for Artwork

Longlist – 2024 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards for Shorter Work

Media

Harare Review of Books

Reviews

“Set in the Sauúti universe and tightly packed with rich worldbuilding, Songs for the Shadows is crafted in beautiful prose and depth, meditating on silence and sound and song as powerful cultural entities—a magic system of sound excavation and the folding and manipulation of time that blew me away!”–Tlotlo Tsamaase, Caine Prize Finalist and author of Womb City

“In Songs for the Shadows, Ntumy continues the work of the Sauúti Collective, in immersing the reader into an expansive and complex world in which the magic and power of the oral—prayers, wails, chants, songs, words, and therefore stories—have been elevated to the most valued cultural artifacts. I was mesmerized by this world and by the rule-breaking, self-inventing Shad-Dari who, in seeking to drown out the echoes of her past loses everything she thought she needed.” –Gothataone Moeng, 2024 Whiting Award winner for Call and Response: Stories

“Cheryl’s writing is magical, lyrical and breath-taking. Imagine a world created by and out of sound – and that sound is linked to our very beings. Plus the beautiful evocations on the non-linearity of time and how we deal with the voices from the past. Bravo!” –Joyce Chng, author of Fire Heart

“Vivid, immersive and otherworldly. Songs for the Shadows takes us on a journey into the depths of shifting sound and reality, and connecting with that which can both destroy and heal us. Time shaped by sound, sound out of time, this is a novella that builds to an emotional crescendo.” –Stephen Embleton, 2024 Best Novella Nommo Award Winner

Cover Illustration by Akintoba Kalejaye

Cover Design and Cover Typography by Stephen Embleton

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When they reach Hawaiʻi and prepare to part ways, opportunity and mystery pull them closer together. Both scientific and personal discoveries take shape as they join with ex-lovers, lost friends, and found family. Wend must navigate an ever-shifting future, complicated by bioengineered microbes and a plot to silence scientists, entangled with inexplicable dreams and a calling to Be the Sea.

Cover Artist: Matthew Spencer

Author Clara Ward donates 100% of their royalties from Be the Sea to conservation efforts for our global ocean.

Media:

“The Cake is a Truth” by Clara Ward as a guest of Cat Rambo

Maria Haskins for Psychopomp

Many more interviews on Clara’s website.

Buzz:

“I am so delighted to see this book published. I read an early version, and it’s terrific. Please consider picking it up, perhaps by ordering through your local bookstore, or by requesting from your library!” — Cat Rambo, Nebula winning writer, editor, and teacher

Reviews:

“I’m not a big sci-fi person, but if more of it left me feeling as good as this one did, I’d call myself a huge fan.” — Alex Brown, Ignyte Award winning critic of Punk-Ass Book Jockey

“An amazing sci-fi novel… An eclectic cast of queer and disabled characters… If you enjoy optimistic stories that take into account the realities of our world but present innovative solutions, you’ll enjoy Be the Sea“ — Dawn Vogel, History That Never Was

“Reading BE THE SEA felt like diving into the rhythm of a character’s actual life – not “skipping to the good parts,” but watching everything, a day at a time, an hour at a time. It’s an interesting life, which involves sea voyages as well as a gradually unfolding set of psychic experiences and intrigues, but you get to watch not just the intrigues but the way they fit into a larger pattern of routines, career struggles, relationship negotiations, eating, sleeping, and storytelling as our protagonist, Wend, struggles to articulate why they’re here on this voyage and what they feel. I’m just so here for the type of experience that this book offers.”  —  Ada Hoffman, author of The Outside

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Guided by premonitions and a fateful car ride, a burned-out retail worker stumbles into the grand exit from womanhood. Meanwhile, in a galaxy not so far away, an alien prince goes rogue with his sentient spaceship, seeking purpose in the great glimmering void. As the two of them come together in a fusion of body and mind, they must reckon with their assigned identities.

Tender, witty, and daring, Pluralities is a slipstream-meets-space-adventure story honoring the long and turbulent journey into gender euphoria.

Cover Artist: Lorna Antoniazzi

Accolades

Finalist – 2024 Aurora Awards for Novelette/Novella

Longlist – 2023 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards for Shorter Fiction

Media

Pluralities reviewed by Amal El-Mohtar in the New York Times

Pluralities reviewed by P.L. Stuart on the Before We Go Blog

Pluralities on the Locus Magazine 2023 Recommended Reading List

Pluralities featured on the Lambda Literary Review Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Literature blog for October 2023

Pluralities on the Books & Bao “32 Best Sci-Fi Books Ever”

Pluralities on Another Book on the Shelf podcast

Reviews:

“A tender exploration of gender and body that revels in its own strangeness. Avi Silver never shies away from the awkward, horny, or complicated aspects of nonbinary identity. This is the 401-level nonbinary speculative fiction I’ve been waiting for.” — Nino Cipri, author of Finna

“Pluralities offers two subtly converging stories of a young person quitting a dismal retail job in a reality slightly at an angle from ours, and a space-opera prince on the run with his sentient spaceship friend. This novella truly pushes the envelope of gender exploration in fiction. It does not shy away from tackling the uneasy, messy, but also potentially liberating aspects of sex, T4T relationships, Jewish feminism, and resigning from your job on the spot even if it means having to walk off half-naked. My ideal world would be full of books like this one. Sadly we’re not living there, but you can get and read this particular story in the meanwhile!” — Bogi Takács, Hugo and Lambda award winning author and editor

“A gleaming, quicksilver flash of a book. Silver’s writing is funny and tender, and that self-aware humor manages to keep the book’s earnestness from turning twee, while the prose is often shockingly beautiful.” — Amal El-Mohtar, New York Times Book Review and co-author, with Max Gladstone, of This is How You Lose the Time War

“Pluralities is a cosmic journey through transness so relatable that it emB.O.D.Y.ied the beauty of being trans. Avi Silver’s grasp of the art of story is so great that it spans galaxies (and an entire mall) to bring the reader finally home to what is gender. A must read for anyone trans, questioning, or any trans ally.” — Jordan Kurella, author of I Never Liked You Anyway

“Pluralities arrives at a timely point to explore how speculative fiction might engage with journeys towards non-binary identities. This is a welcome and frank, challenging exploration of the issue that is at once ambitious and sensitive. Witty and touching, these characters will linger with you as they push the boundaries of exploring who we are, and what we desire. I look forward to reading more from Avi Silver in the future!” — Bryan Thao Worra, author of American Laodyssey

“Years into my own journey, this story was especially meaningful to me. I love that the narrative is filled with queer love, friendship, and euphoria. This novella doesn’t shy away from challenging questions about the intersection of feminism and trans identity, and it doesn’t offer glib answers, but faces those questions head-on. I found the read experience-broadening, and hope this book finds the audience it deserves.” — José Pablo Iriarte, Hugo and Nebula Finalist

“Avi Silver’s Pluralities is a heartfelt story about what it means to be human in a world that demands our nuanced identities give way to simple hashtags and easy takes. Complex, lyrical and surprising, it will take you on a journey from the parking lot down the road to the vast reaches of space… and if you sign on for this voyage, the thing you’re most likely to find may be yourself.” — L.X. Beckett, author of Gamechanger

“If you’ve been craving something soft and thoughtful and loving – with spaceships that talk through lightbulbs and trans besties living their best lives in Stardew Valley – then it’s absolutely perfect.” — Every Book a Doorway

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Previously the Order of Argoth’s most skilled assassin, Grayshade remains their target. His goal: learn the true threat to the people of Cohrelle, and protect those who remain there. Used to the patterns of human nature, but not the secrets behind the yellow eyes of a panther, the whispers and lies of dreams, nor the sunless gloom of the infamous Bloodmarsh, Grayshade will need everything he has — outside and inside — to stay alive.

Renegade is a novel of defiant resolve and deep bonds, a story about whether we can find our way through trauma to hope.

Cover Artist: Peter Tikos

Reviews:

“Renegade is the middle volume of a trilogy, but I read it on its own and loved it. In this story, Grayshade, the former assassin, is seeking truth and justice. The familiar trope? Not at all. In the hands of this author, Grayshade is a complex and fascinating person, real and sympathetic. The world-building is rich as well, adding immensely to the story. Did I mention a mysterious panther? Well done and highly recommended.” — Julie E. Czerneda, Hall of Fame author of the Night’s Edge series from DAW Books

“Filled with action, magic, and no small amount of intrigue, what carries this assassin’s story most is Grayshade’s humanity. His yearning for companionship, family, and a permanent place in the world is palpable, which makes his struggle to uncover the mysterious plot unfolding in Silarein feel that much more immediate. Renegade continues in fine form where Grayshade left off. Fans of the first won’t want to miss the second installment in The Gray Assassin Trilogy.” — Bradley P. Beaulieu, author of Twelve Kings in Sharakahai

“A clever fantasy sequel that’s one part Jack Ryan and one part John Wick, packed with tense exchanges and thrilling adventure. Grayshade continues to be the assassin I never knew I needed in my life.” — Brandon Crilly, IPPY Award-winning author of Catalyst

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Cover Artist: okenki

Accolades

Longlist – 2023 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards for Novel

Reviews:

“Like the first breeze of spring after a long winter, E.D.E. Bell warms hearts and plants seeds of hope with her words. Do yourself a favour and read this book.” – Marie Bilodeau, bestselling author of Heirs of a Broken Land

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As the supreme executor of the Order’s edicts, Grayshade dispatches his targets with protocol and precision. But when an assignment breaks these rules, he does the most dangerous thing an Acolyte of Argoth can do: he asks why. Now a target of the Order he so long served without question, he must use all of his skills not only to kill . . . but to stay alive.

Grayshade is a novel of violent faith and shifting loyalties, a story about whether we can rise above our pasts to craft new futures.

Cover Art: Peter Tikos

Silver Award Winner – Independent Book Publishers Association 2023 Benjamin Franklin Awards: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Interviews:

• Mary Robinette Kowal’s My Favorite Bit
• Jennifer Brozek’s Tell Me
• Speculative Fiction Showcase

Reviews:

“Filled with political intrigue and with a main character struggling with his religious convictions, this is a great read for fans of dark gritty fantasy.” — Martha Wells, New York Times bestselling author of The Murderbot Diaries

“I really do adore Grayshade if only because it has given just me something I didn’t even know I could get or want from a novel.” — Brandon O’Brien, Hugo award winning poet

“The setting is tight. … Action beats definitely keep the reader turning pages. … The relationships in Grayshade’s world are rich, vibrant, sharp and evolving.” — Paul Weimer, A Green Man Review

“Thoughtful and full of suspense, Grayshade unfolds like a riddle and then goes for the throat. Highly recommended.” — Michael R. Underwood, author of the Ree Reyes Geekomancy series and Genrenauts

“The first page grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. Grayshade is a refreshing take on the assassin novel, full of intrigue, faith, and deep questions about one’s place in the world. It’s an adventure tale with teeth, and I’m already looking forward to Wilson’s next outing.” — Kelly Swails, author of This May Go On Your Permanent Record

“Elegantly structured and cleverly layered, this riveting tale follows a trained killer forced to reexamine his faith, his choices, and his relationships to the world around him.” — Aaron Rosenberg, author of the bestselling Adventures of DuckBob Spinowitz series

“In Grayshade, we have a complex mystery that unfolds with the care of a craftsman, a rich city that envelops us in its dark streets and maze-like rooftops, and a protagonist as skilled and brutal as he is thoughtful. It’s Jason Bourne meets Assassin’s Apprentice.” — Bradley P. Beaulieu, author of Absynthe, The Lays of Anuskaya, and The Song of the Shattered Sands series

“A cerebral thriller about an assassin who begins to question the faith that drives him. Bonus: a vibrant exploration of a mysterious and exciting new fantasy world!” — Erik Scott de Bie, author of Forgotten Realms’ Ghostwalker and the World of Ruin series

“Wilson wraps the revelatory and morally important nature of his main character’s journey in a great story…A timely study in the price of fanaticism and the burden of violent faith.” — Andor Bochenkov, European Review of Speculative Fiction

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Longlist – 2022 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards for Novel

Cover Art by Manou Gijsbrechts

Reviews:

“Like the plant which informs its title, Night Ivy works slowly, quietly, and inexorably, tracing the complex lines of its fascinating main character. And as Xeleanor Du’Tam patiently unravels the mystery she’s been tasked to reveal, both she and we learn more about her power and personality than we could have ever expected. E.D.E. Bell always creates empathetic characters deeply in tune with their environments, but in Night Ivy, she has gone further; this is an environment deeply in tune with its characters, resonant with Xelle’s internal song. Night Ivy is quiet, but far from silent, and you’ll remember it for a long time after the story ends.” – Gregory A. Wilson, award-winning author of Icarus and Grayshade

“I have to start by congratulating the author on fantastic world-building. The writing was very descriptive without feeling convoluted. It was easy to get lost in the world following Xelle’s adventures. One of my favourite parts of this world was diversity. I liked that there were various gender identities represented. I love when authors remove the very real and current types of bigotry (real-world racism, homophobia, etc.) from their fantasy world sometimes! Xelle was a unique main character. She came across as very relatable and easy to get attached to. Her characterization felt very refreshing! As someone who struggles with my own anxiety, seeing myself represented in a story made me feel seen and validated in a weird way. I also adored the way Xelle … felt grounded in the reality of how attraction works for many people on an individual level. … I cannot wait to read more from E.D.E. Bell.” – Curiosity, reviewer

“The perfect book for everyone who enjoys exploring the worldbuilding in a videogame at least as much as fulfilling the quests. It was remarkable how relatable Xelle was to me. We don’t often get neurodiverse main characters in fantasy, but with Xelle it really felt like I could be the hero of a fantasy story myself. I’ll definitely look forward to the next part of the series. The book was well rounded, but leaves just enough open questions to leave you longing for more.” – Minerva Cerridwen, author of The Dragon of Ynys

“Reading eBooks is hard for me, my head hurts when I do it too long, and looking at my phone in the car makes me car sick, but I literally had SO MUCH trouble putting this book down. Descriptive prose made it so easy to picture every location, every feeling, every person that Xelle interacted with. And, speaking of Xelle, it is not very often you read a protagonist with anxiety, and how refreshing (can I say that?) it is to relate to a narrator and protagonist so deeply as I did to Xelle. If you’re looking for a lovely tale, told with a bardic kind of vibe, with vibrant storytelling and world building, look no further than Night Ivy!” – Auream Aquila, reviewer

“A focus on character relationships and a quiet, but sometimes intense, approach to storytelling and description … lots of lush, loving description of places I totally want to visit, and a deft eye for “ma” (negative space) as well as for action and character development. If you’re looking for fantasy about neurodiverse characters–or just great fantasy in a unique setting, period–you’ll definitely want to check out Night Ivy.” – Stewart C Baker, writer and poet

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