2026 Aurora Awards Ballot
The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association released the 2026 Aurora Awards ballot, naming finalists across ten categories from Best Novel to Fan Writing. Notable nominees include Julie E. Czerneda’s "A Shift of Time," Guy Gavriel Kay’s "Written on the Dark," and a strong showing by Premee Mohamed in multiple categories. The shortlist reflects a blend of established authors and emerging voices, with titles from major publishers like DAW, Del Rey, and independent presses. An online ceremony will take place on August 9, 2026, hosted by Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Elizabeth May Anderson.
Bloomsbury Layoffs
Bloomsbury Publishing announced a restructuring aimed at fueling future growth after a period of rapid expansion, including a doubling of sales and more than a doubling of profits in 2023‑2024. Headcount rose from 738 to 1,238 over five years, prompting...
Watkins Publishing Sold
Red Wheel/Weiser announced it has acquired the majority of titles from Watkins Publishing, the flagship imprint of Watkins Media known for mind‑body‑spirit books. The deal leaves other Watkins imprints—Angry Robot, Datura, and Repeater—unchanged. Distribution will continue through PRH Publisher Services...
2026 Hugo, Lodestar & Astounding Awards Finalists
The 2026 Hugo Awards, Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, and Astounding Award for Best New Writer finalists were announced by LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention. A total of 1,488 valid nominating ballots from 2025 and...
MCD Closes
Farrar, Straus & Giroux announced the closure of its MCD imprint, citing financial realities. Publisher Sean McDonald will depart on April 15, and MCD titles will be absorbed by FSG in the fall, with paperbacks moving to Picador. The imprint...
2026 Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards Winners
The 42nd L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future awards took place on April 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, culminating a week of workshops and lectures for the winners. Slovakia’s Bohuslav Argalas “Bafu” earned the Golden Brush for...
Ian Watson (1943–2026)
Ian Watson, the prolific British science‑fiction author, died on April 13, 2026 in Gijón, Spain at age 82. He launched his career with the award‑winning debut novel *The Embedding* (1973) and quickly became a fixture in the genre, earning multiple...
2026 Xingyun Awards Finalists
The World Chinese Science Fiction Association announced the finalists for the 17th‑annual Xingyun Awards on March 31, 2026. The shortlist spans eight categories, including Best Novel, Novella, Short Story, Non‑Fiction, Translated Fiction, New Writer, Review, and the Star Bridge Award....
Weekly Bestsellers, 13 April 2026
Alex Aster’s debut novel *Starside* surged to the top of the hardcover fiction charts, landing at #1 on both the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and reaching #21 on the USA Today combined list. The week also...
John Flanagan (1944–2026)
Fantasy author John Flanigan, best known for *The Ranger’s Apprentice* series, died on February 7, 2026 at age 81 after battling non‑Hodgkin lymphoma. He began his career in advertising and television sitcoms before debuting with *The Ruins of Gorlan* in 2004, launching...
McSweeney Receives Windham-Campbell Prize
Joyelle McSweeney, author of the poetry collection *Death Styles*, has been named a 2026 recipient of the Donald Windham‑Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prize in the Poetry category. The Yale‑administered award grants each of its eight winners an unrestricted $175,000 stipend....
Anathema: Spec From the Margins Relaunches
Anathema: Spec from the Margins, a speculative fiction magazine for queer people of color, is relaunching after a four‑year hiatus. The new editorial team, now twice as large, will pay professional rates of $0.08 per word for fiction, $0.05 for...
Maberry & Morton Receive HWA Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Horror Writers Association announced that Jonathan Maberry and Lisa Morton will receive the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards. The ceremony is scheduled for June 6, 2026, during the Bram Stoker Awards at StokerCon 2026 in Pittsburgh. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes...
Rob Grant (1955–2026)
Rob Grant, the 70‑year‑old British science‑fiction writer and television producer, died on February 25, 2026. He co‑created the cult‑hit TV series Red Dwarf and authored several bestselling tie‑in novels, including Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life. Grant also...
Weekly Bestsellers, 6 April 2026
Danielle L. Jensen’s sequel "The Traitor Queen" entered the bestseller arena this week, reaching as high as #6 on Publishers Weekly and appearing on three major lists. Matt Dinniman continues to dominate, with six hardcover titles and one paperback charting,...