Here we go again—Locus is back with a premier look at the latest Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult releases making their debut this week! Our newest lineup is overflowing with must-read titles hitting the shelves, and we’ve hand-picked the very best to help you navigate your ever-expanding TBR pile. We share a fresh video every single week, so be sure to subscribe to stay updated on the latest literary trends—your support makes all the difference. Enjoy this week’s highlights, and we’ll catch you in the next one with even more essential new reads!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZsbe_P_7g

The post New Books Video: Releases of the Week! May 12, 2026 appeared first on Locus.

Speculative poet and critic Donald Sidney-Fryer, 91, died May 2, 2026 in Chatham MA. He was in palliative care for bone cancer.

Sidney-Fryer was born September 8, 1934. He published well over 100 works of speculative poetry, starting as early as 1968 with “Connaissance Fatale” and publishing in periodicals including Macabre, Spectral Realms, Weird Tales, and Witchcraft & Sorcery; anthologies including Off the Coastal Path (2010); and collections including The Atlantis Fragments (2008), Not Quite Atlantis (2010), and his three Songs and Sonnets Atlantean books in 1971, 2003, and 2010. His collection A King Called Arthor and Other Morceaux (2020) includes novel A King Called Arthor, an Arthurian legend retelling. He also wrote the short story “The Minor Chronicles of Atlantis” (1976) and many essays and multiple associational works of nonfiction, including Emperor of Dreams: A Clark Ashton Smith Bibliography (1978).

The post Donald Sidney-Fryer (1934–2026) appeared first on Locus.

Winners of the 2026 Steve Miller Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) Annual Poetry Contest have been announced.

The first place winner receives $100, second place receives $75, third place receives $50, and the youth winner receives $25, with all winners also receiving Balticon membership, an invitation to read their poems at the convention, and publication in BSFAN, the Balticon convention souvenir book. The contest was renamed in honor of the late Steve Miller. For more information, see the BSFS website.

The post 2026 BSFS Poetry Contest Winners appeared first on Locus.

The winners have been announced for the 2026 Kurd Laßwitz Preis. The prize is awarded to German-language SF works published in the previous year.

The post 2026 Kurd Laßwitz Preis Winners appeared first on Locus.

The Bookseller has announced the winners of the 2026 British Book Awards, including the Book of the Year Winners. Winning titles and authors of genre interest, and other finalists of interest in those categories, include:

The post 2026 British Book Awards Book of the Year Winners appeared first on Locus.

Visit our bookshop.org page to purchase this week’s new books and support your local bookstore. And us!

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Asher, Neal: Dark Agent (Pyr 978-1645060901, $28.95, 640pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/14/2026)

SF novel, second in the Time’s Shadow series set in the Polity Universe. Al Straeger has built a p-prador army from the Spatterjay virus, while Blite and Cormac are trapped in conflict on the world of Yossander’s Hold. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor UK edition.

 

Binge, Nicholas: Abyss (Tor/Nightfire 978-1250373885, $24.99, 160pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Horror novella described as “Severance meets Lovecraft.” Joe joins the mysterious Ponos company as an administrative assistant, but gets more than he bargained for. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor Nightfire UK edition.

 

Brennan, Sarah Rees: All Hail Chaos (Orbit US 978-0316568746, $19.99, 480pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Fantasy novel, the second in the Time of Iron series. Fantasy reader Rae, transported into her favorite book-realm, has played a villainess, and now faces undead armies, raiders, and an Emperor who wants her as his queen. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

 

Butcher, Jim: Out Law (Podium Publishing 979-8347030026, $16.99, 208pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/05/2026)

Fantasy novella in the Dresden Files set after Twelve Months. After the Battle of Chicago, Harry Dresden is pressured by John Marcone to help an underling, and deals with a demonic foe he himself may have created.

 

Dinniman, Matt: A Parade of Horribles (Ace 979-8217190065, $32.00, 704pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

SF LitRPG novel, eighth in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Carl and Princess Donut compete in races on the 10th Floor, while on the 11th floor, something called the “Parade of Horribles” is happening. Previously self-published, now with an exclusive bonus story, “Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.”

 

Elrod, Thomas: The Franchise (Tor 978-1250406583, $28.99, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

SF novel with fantasy elements. The fantasy world of Malicarn is the setting of blockbuster movies — but it’s a “Truman Show”-esque environment where the people within believe their magical, dragon-filled lives are real.

 

Flett, Jane: Welcome to the Chaoskampf (Penguin Random House UK/Doubleday UK 978-1529955064, £18.99, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 05/14/2026)

Literary apocalypse novel. Marcy leaves her perfect life and takes up with a group of apocalypse-summoning filmmakers who think her old boxing scar is the mark of the Chosen One.

 

Francis, Dani: Broken Dove (Penguin Random House/Del Rey 978-0593875490, $32.99, 608pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Dystopian romance novel, second in the Silver Elite series. Exposed as a double agent within the Silver Elite, Wren aids in the allied Uprising, though she’s torn between her lover Cross and hotshot pilot Grayson. Simultaneous with the Penguin Random House UK/Del Rey UK edition.

 

Gailey, Sarah: Make Me Better (Tor 978-1250851758, $28.99, 432pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Wellness-gothic horror novel. Celia, seeking community, goes to the Salt Festival on a mysterious island, where the secluded community promises healing and transformation and the reef outside keeps growing.

 

Gammon, Jendia & Chiara, Ernie: Omniboz: Tales from the Land of Oz (Stars and Sabers 978-1967550098, $19.99, 152pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, 05/15/2026)

Anthology of short stories inspired by L. Frank Baum’s Oz books. Authors include Adrian Tchaikovsky, Helen Gylnn Jones, J.R. Dawson, and more.

 

Glynn, John: The Lost Book of Lancelot (Grand Central 978-1538775233, $29.00, 384pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Arthurian fantasy novel. Orphan Lancelot grows up in seclusion on the Isle of Women and in love with the handsome Galehaut; as he is drawn into Camelot politics, he finds himself in a battle between warring worlds.

 

Hoffman, Ada: Ignore All Previous Instructions (Tachyon Publications 978-1616964566, $18.95, 320pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Near-future SF novel. Working for the Callisto corporation, Kelli edits AI output into “appropriate” stories for TV; her rigid life is interrupted when ex Rowan seeks her help for his illegal gender-affirming surgery.

 

Leckie, Ann: Radiant Star (Orbit US 978-0316290357, $30.00, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

SF novel, a standalone set in the world of the Imperial Radch. The Radch, cracking down on the city Ooioiaa’s local rituals, permit only one more man to enter the Temporal Location of the Radiant Star and join its mummified bodies as a “living saint.” Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

 

McIntyre, Vonda N.: The Curve of the World (Aqueduct Press 978-1619762800, $21.00, 408pp, formats: paperback, 05/15/2026)

Historical fantasy novel, published posthumously. In an ancient Minoan world, ambassador Iakinthu sails the world to return her son Rhenthizu to his home on the Pacific coast, a distant land no Minoans have ever reached.

 

Newman, Kim: Model Actress Whatever (Titan Books UK 978-1803366678, $19.99, 464pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Satirical horror novel. Soap-opera actress Chrissie discovers her character is about to be killed off, stops dieting, and discovers she has supernatural abilities, and has to rescue her aunt who’s a therapist for supervillains.

 

Noon, Jeff: Moon Over Brendle (Angry Robot UK 978-1836730309, $19.99, 256pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Fantasy novel with elements of memoir. In an alternate 1968 Lancashire, teenage Joe has the rare ability to see Greot, a swirling dust rainbow that settles on the dead, and becomes a successful SF novelist.

 

Ojeda, Mónica: Electric Shamans at the Festival of the Sun (Coffee House Press 978-1566897556, $20.00, 240pp, formats: paperback, 05/12/2026)

Near-future horror novel. Two best friends in Ecuador go to a hedonistic Solar Noise Festival: Noa embraces the narcotic haze and collective visions, but Nicole senses something sinister at play. Translated from the Spanish by Sarah Booker.

 

Parker, K.J.: Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know (Orbit US 978-0316567008, $19.99, 336pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Fantasy novel, the second in the Loyal Opposition series. Brother Desiderius and Sister Svangerd take on a dangerous task from a high-up official. Parker is a pen name for Tom Holt. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition; ebook also available. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

 

Patel, Vaishnavi: We Dance Upon Demons (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press 978-1668068595, $28.00, 304pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Fantasy novel. Burned-out reproductive healthcare worker Nisha collapses at an Indian art exhibit after being beckoned by a statue, and wakes with strange powers.

 

Plett, Cale: The Saw Mouth (Penguin Random House/Delacorte 979-8217025701, $19.99, 384pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Young-adult rural horror novel. Ten years after an apocolypse in which souls woke up inside machines and destroyed them, genderqueer teen Cedar finds themselves hunted by a rotting shadow in Sawblade Lake.

 

Roth, Veronica: Seek the Traitor’s Son (Tor 978-1250347909, $29.99, 432pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, first in the Burning Empire series. Soldier Elegy defends her homeland from the Talusar, but a prophecy says she and Talusar general Rava will fall in love with the same man and only one will be victorious in the war. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor UK edition.

 

Searcy, Holly: The Whisper Tree (Blackstone Publishing 979-8228465343, $29.99, 382pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Fantasy novel, second in the Amarra Chronicles. Elven druid Kiana joins an adventure party to track down royal artifacts, and must save the Whisper Tree from a corruption.

 

Smyth, Lauren: All That Glows (Enclave Escape 979-8886052619, $24.99, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/12/2026)

Young-adult SF novel. Kyrie and her town in the Mojave Desert survived a plague-carrying rain ten years ago, but a masked man outside the town fence doesn’t seem to understand the world ended.

 

Turtledove, Harry: Lightning Runes (Arc Manor/Caezik SF & Fantasy 978-1647101770, $29.67, 304pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 05/11/2026)

Historical fantasy detective novel, second in the City of Shadows series (standalone). In 1940s Los Angeles, a missing musician and a trail of magic triggers an investigation into an ancient power threatening the city.

 

Vibbert, Marie: Multitude (Apex Book Company 978-1955765497, $18.95, 184pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 05/12/2026)

SF novel. Humanity — from a SETI researcher in Australia to a mathematician in Beirut — must contend with a hivemind collective of cephalopod aliens.

 

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The post New Book Releases: May 12, 2026 appeared first on Locus.

The strongest debut this week is TJ Klune’s We Burned So Bright (Tor), a short SF novel about a rogue black hole headed for Earth, ranking on all four print lists compiled here.

Title	Debut / #wks on any list	NYT 05.17	LAT 05.10	USAT 05.03	PW 05.11	Amz (05.11)	UK: Amz UK (05.11)	Canada: Amz.ca (05.11)
Items on list -x- number of lists surveyed		10×3	10×2	150	15×3	100	100	100
Hardcovers
Aster, Starside	04.13.26 / 5	7 -1		93 +42	6 =			93 -15
Brown, Red Rising (Deluxe Slipcase Edition)	10.27.25 / 28	xxx..		52 +4	xxx..
Buehlman, Between Two Fires	03.16.26 / 9	xxx..			21 -4	xxx..
Burke, Yesteryear	04.20.26 / 4	1 =	2 =	4 -1	1 =	8 =	1 =	7 +2
Collins, Sunrise on the Reaping	06.10.24 / 77			105 +19	x	xx	x	xx
Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles	04.27.26 / 3					11 +10		16 +19
Dinniman, Carl’s Doomsday Scenario	01.12.26 / 18	9 +5		29 +13		29 -1		21 +11
Dinniman, Dungeon Crawler Carl	05.26.25 / 39	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	62 +		xxx
Dinniman, The Butcher’s Masquerade	04.21.25 / 14	xxx..		103 +5	xxx	39 +13
Dinniman, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook	02.02.26 / 14	13 +		41 +21		27 -2
Dinniman, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride	05.26.25 / 12	xxx..		xxx..	19 =	42 +12
Dinniman, The Gate of the Feral Gods	03.24.25 / 16	xxx..		63 +40	xxx..	38 +5
Dinniman, This Inevitable Ruin	10.06.25 / 9	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	22 +3	47 +18
Griffin, The Sun and the Starmaker	03.02.26 / 11	7 +1		xxx..	xxx..
Hunter, Blood Bound	05.11.26 / 1	5 ++		16 ++
Klune, We Burned So Bright	05.11.26 / 1	6 ++	10 ++	13 ++	9 ++
Nicole, The Throne of Broken Gods	05.11.26 / 1	3 ++		9 ++	3 ++
Perry, Rites of the Starling	04.06.26 / 6	15 -7	xxx	31 -11	14 -4	xxx..	xxx..	xx
Perry, Shield of Sparrows	05.05.25 / 19	xxx..		135 +	xxx..	xxx..		xxx
Ross, Divine Rivals	04.17.23 / 99	6 =		xxx..	xxx..	xxx..		xxx..
Saft, Wings of Starlight	02.17.25 / 62	8 +1		xxx..	xxx..
Saunders, Vigil	02.09.26 / 12	xxx..	7 +	xxx..	xxx..
SenLinYu, Alchemised	10.06.25 / 32	xxx..	xxx..	xx	23 -2	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..
Sorensen, Dire Bound	03.16.26 / 5	xxx..		xxx..	xxx..			34 ++
Sorensen, Fury Bound	05.04.26 / 2					84 +15	18 -11	19 +18
Spann, A Stage Set for Villains	02.16.26 / 11	10 =			xxx..
Yarros, Onyx Storm	04.01.24 / 107	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	26 -1	xxx..
Yarros, Untitled Empyrean (Not Book Four)	04.20.26 / 4					34 -22	xx	18 -8
Title	Debut / #wks on any list	NYT 05.17	LAT 05.10	USAT 05.03	PW 05.11	Amz (05.11)	UK: Amz UK (05.11)	Canada: Amz.ca (05.11)
Paperbacks [tpb=trade]
Abercrombie, The Devils [tpb]	05.11.26 / 1			51 ++	13 ++
Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451	07.20.03 / 489		xxx..	91 +6	xxx..	xxx	xxx..	xxx..
Buehlman, Between Two Fires [tpb]	09.09.24 / 11			44 -7
Dinniman, Dungeon Crawler Carl [tpb]	01.12.26 / 18	4 =	4 -1	12 -3	3 +1	35 +2		9 +13
Haig, The Midnight Library [tpb]	05.22.23 / 78	xxx..	9 +	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..
Hawk/Van Alst, Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology [tpb]	12.11.23 / 54		xxx..	143 +
Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury [tpb]	05.14.18 / 228	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..		xxx..	61 -8	xxx..
Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses [tpb]	05.16.16 / 265	xxx..	xxx..	110 +2	xxx..	xxx..	36 -8	xxx..
Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set	06.19.23 / 141			xxx..		xxx..	xxx..	68 +11
Maas, A Court of Wings and Ruin [tpb]	05.14.18 / 185	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	73 -5	xxx..
Rowling, Harry Potter Box Set [tpb]	10.20.02 / 57			xxx..		xxx..	xxx..	71 +10
Weir, Project Hail Mary [tpb]	10.03.22 / 77	3 -1	1 =	1 +1	11 -2	5 -2	12 -2	2 -1
Yarros, Fourth Wing [tpb]	09.16.24 / 85	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	xxx..	33 -4	xxx
Yarros, Iron Flame [tpb]	06.02.25 / 46	xxx..		xxx..	xxx..		42 -6	xxx..
Title	Debut / #wks on any list	NYT 05.17	LAT 05.10	USAT 05.03	PW 05.11	Amz (05.11)	UK: Amz UK (05.11)	Canada: Amz.ca (05.11)
This cell color indicates rankings on children’s bestsellers lists		This cell color indicates rankings of books based on pre-publication sales				[Italics and brackets, and/or this cell color, indicate stale data — rankings from one or more weeks before — and do not contribute to the cumulative weeks on any list totals]

The table shows the current rank of each book and the change since last week, where:

= same as last week

+/- change since last week

+ back on list

++ new on list

x no longer on list (number of x’s: weeks off list)

All lists rank hardcovers and paperbacks separately, except for the USA Today list, which is a single list combining fiction and nonfiction in all formats. Dates shown are posted dates, except those in parentheses, which are dates compiled. New York Times posts its list one week in advance of print publication.

Note that some sources do not compile paperback bestsellers, and some exclude YA books (like the Harry Potter series) from their hardcover and paperback fiction lists.

The post Weekly Bestsellers, 11 May 2026 appeared first on Locus.

Here we go again—Locus is back with a brand-new selection of notable releases across the Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult genres! This week’s lineup is packed with exciting new books hitting shelves, and we’re excited to highlight them for you. Whether you’re on the lookout for your next great read or just can’t resist adding more to your growing TBR pile, you’re in the right place.

We share a new video every week, so make sure to subscribe to stay updated on the latest releases—your support means a lot. We’ll see you again next week with another fresh batch of must-read titles!

The post New Books Video: Releases of the Week! May 5, 2026 appeared first on Locus.

LAcon V has announced that online voting for the 2026 Hugo Awards, the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, and the Astounding Award for Best New Writer are now open.

WSFS members can access the Hugo Awards Voter Packet and cast their ballot by logging in to the LAcon V online balloting portal. The deadline is August 8, 2026, 12:00 p.m. PDT, and votes can be resubmitted at any point before the deadline. The winners will be announced at the Hugo Awards Ceremony on August 30, 2026 in Anaheim CA. According to the Section 3.11.1 of the WSFS Constitution, only WSFS members will be able to vote on the final ballot.

For more information, including voting instructions and a complete list of Hugo finalists, visit the LAcon V website.

The post Online 2026 Hugo Voting Open appeared first on Locus.