Your Guide to Fall's New Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Horror Reads

Posted by Sharon on August 19, 2024


Good news for dedicated fans of the sprawling macro genre known as speculative fiction: This fall is going to be a lot of fun.
 
In honor of sci-fi’s rich tradition of foretelling, we’re taking a quick peek into the immediate future of speculative fiction. More specifically, we’re highlighting the books being published this fall, from now until the end of the year. We’ve further sorted the books into general categories—science fiction, fantasy, and horror—although such labels are famously slippery when it comes to these genres.  
 
Some highlights: In October, look for Absolution, the surprise fourth installment in the Southern Reach Trilogy from weird fiction specialist Jeff VanderMeer. (See? Even terms like trilogy can get slippery.) The new book promises some long-awaited answers to the abiding mystery of Area X.
 
Also coming in October, horror fans will want to check out the debut novel This Cursed House, featuring decadent old-money aristocrats, a decaying New Orleans mansion, and some fierce Southern gothic vibes circa 1962.
 
On the fantasy tip, prolific grandmaster Brandon Sanderson expands his Cosmere universe yet again with Wind and Truth, the fifth book in his epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archive. Also on tap: sapphic goth romance, a maritime murder mystery, and a new short fiction collection from the great Naomi Novik.
 
Click on the book cover images for more details about each title, and add any good leads to your Want to Read shelf. 


Fantasy

Sci-Fi


Horror


Which new fantasy, sci-fi, or horror books are you looking forward to reading this fall?


Comments Showing 1-30 of 30 (30 new)

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Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* Great list, several exciting finales coming out. I noted Blood Over Bright Haven was already (self-)published in 2023, it is also being re-released by a traditional publisher this fall.


message 2: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Weida I was lucky to get an ARC of Lucy, Undying. Definitely a top book of 2024 for me.


message 3: by Jenny Baker (new)

Jenny Baker Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* wrote: "Great list, several exciting finales coming out. I noted Blood Over Bright Haven was already (self-)published in 2023, it is also being re-released by a traditional publisher this f..."

Yes, on October 29, 2024.


message 4: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Blanck Look at these amazing covers! Kudos to the artists.


message 5: by Michael (new)

Michael For any interested in a new cozy fantasy/horror book that wasn’t on this list, I highly suggest The Dollmakers by Lynn Buchanan. It was SO good and hasn’t gotten as much attention as it deserves.


Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* What do you get when an earthquake significantly displaces your front lawn? A grave yard shift.

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio


message 7: by Cari (new)

Cari Lori Lisa wrote: "Look at these amazing covers! Kudos to the artists."

Completely agree - so captivating


message 8: by Travis (new)

Travis Taylor What a list! Added several to my Want to Read list.


message 9: by hallie (new)

hallie Another horror recommendation: This Girl's a Killer!


message 10: by Law (new)

Law The only book that looks good is Voyage of the Damned. I'd skip the rest. I stopped reading from TJ Klune. I gave The House in the Cerulean Sea one star.


message 11: by Atheina (new)

Atheina Vismark I got the arc for both Strange Beasts and the And the Sky Bled, only read the first and it was good! Voyage of the Damned is in my shelves but I still haven't touched it. Too afraid of ruin the sprayed edges of the Illumicrate edition XD


message 12: by RobLovesBooks (new)

RobLovesBooks Dec 3rd for Private Rites.


message 13: by Kirinna (new)

Kirinna Wow they all look amazing!


message 14: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Kangas Our new anthology featuring some stellar writers--some with books on this list--comes out September 17th. Fear of Clowns A Horror Anthology: Coulrophobia Stories


message 15: by Tanja (new)

Tanja Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* wrote: "What do you get when an earthquake significantly displaces your front lawn? A grave yard shift.

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio"


I chuckled


message 16: by Nicky (new)

Nicky In what universe is a book published in January 2024 (Voyage of the damned) "published this fall".


message 17: by Lyra (new)

Lyra I'm just happy to see Dewes' book here. The Divide series is grossly underrated.


message 18: by Kara&Nanouk (new)

Kara&Nanouk Oooh, I'm so excited for A Song to Drown Rivers and An Academy for Liars! So many books on this list look good!


message 19: by Chelle (new)

Chelle le Pigeon Omg The Devil By Name is finally out!!! Holy shit I'm getting that book asap! The first one was one of my favorite horror books!


message 20: by tim jay (new)

tim jay man i can't wait for The Teller of Small Fortunes. a cozy fantasy book read during fall/winter sound amazing.


message 21: by Shrike58 (new)

Shrike58 Probably more there that is not to my taste than fires my imagination. What I do notice is that there is no sign of "Alecto the Ninth." Whether or not Ms. Muir sticks the landing I still hope this book comes out.


message 22: by Athena (new)

Athena Great list- added a lot of these


message 23: by Mary (new)

Mary This is a great list. Normally, I usually find a mild interest in one or two of these list. I added, like five, and I'm super excited about them.


message 24: by Mackay (new)

Mackay Fantasy just doesn't have much I want to read any more...


message 25: by TheThirdLie (new)

TheThirdLie Sheeeeesh, so many good covers.


message 26: by Nicholas (new)

Nicholas Foster 'The Haunting of Moscow House' looks interesting. I always enjoy intelligent ghost stories.


message 27: by Jon (new)

Jon New Neal Stephenson and Nnedi Okorafor is promising. Other that, the descriptions of the rest leave me cold. And I struggle to find a connection between "The Princess Bride" and "Metal from Heaven" ( a bloody lesbian revenge tale) I'd like to see that Venn diagram ...


Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* Tanja wrote: "Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* wrote: "What do you get when an earthquake significantly displaces your front lawn? A grave yard shift.

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio"

I chucled."


I’m just glad someone noticed, thanks for making my day!


message 29: by Rilla (new)

Rilla Long Live Evil (Time of Iron, #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan
Long Live Evil was so fun, loved it.


message 30: by Greg (new)

Greg Thank god they managed to squeeze in NINE whole scifi novels (3 of the choices are novellas, not what I'm looking for).


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