@fantasycafe.bsky.social
Kristen (she/her) writes about SFF books at Fantasy Cafe, host of Women in SF&F Month in April. Vermont/Upper Valley. Likes: Myths, wordsmithery, complex characters, dark stories, Baldur's Gate 3, cats, birds. https://www.fantasybookcafe.com
In the top panel, Principal Skinner is surrounded by piles of books and is thinking to himself "Do I have too many books?" In the bottom panel, Principal Skinner has reached a conclusion - "No, it's the amount of shelving in my house that's wrong"
#BookSky
09.02.2026 18:33 β π 32 π 8 π¬ 2 π 1
β Shay Kauweβs smart and satisfying urban fantasy debut combines gripping mystery, tantalizing romance, and sharp cultural critique. Fascinating linguistic-turned-magical theory, electrifying moments of intimacy, and a thrilling whodunit set this apart from the pack. @sagapressbooks buff.ly/QT807Tr
08.02.2026 17:30 β π 1 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0Proud to be here for another Black History Month! Show some love to the Black creators who've been a part of FIYAH for the past decade:
go.bsky.app/VSHmC2p
βStay angry, little Meg,β Mrs Whatsit whispered. βYou will need all your anger now.β
"Okay I get that," Meg whispered back, "but I've been angry for over a decade straight and my arteries are basically solid carbon fiber at this point. Do I ever get a freakin' break?"
The covers of five books by Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz, with the Humble Bundle logo. Supporting the MIss Major/Alexander J. Lee TGIJP Black Trans Cultural Center.
HI! Every Tor Books release from @annaleen.bsky.social and me is available thru @humblebundle.com for a few weeks!
Get 2 books for at least $3
Get 4 books for at least $10
Get all our stuff for at least $18
This bundle supports the amazing TGI Justice Project!
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
FIYAH first issue cover! Art by Geneva Benton. Edited by Justina Ireland and Troy L. Wiggins. Stories from Malon Edwards, Brent Lambert, Wendi Dunlap, DaVaun Sanders, V.H. Galloway, and L. D. Lewis.
FIYAH second issue cover! Art by Geneva Benton. Edited by Justina Ireland and Troy L. Wiggins. Stories from Maurice Broaddus, Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali, Russell Nichols, Christopher Caldwell, Wole Talabi, Barbara L.W. Myers, and Eden Royce.
FIYAH third issue cover! Art by Geneva Benton. Edited by Justina Ireland and Troy L. Wiggins. Stories from Danny Lore, Sydnee Thompson, Jennifer Marie Brissett and Xen. Poems from Mame Bougouma Diene, Uche Ogbuji, Rodney Wilder.
FIYAH fourth issue cover! Art by Geneva Benton. Edited by Justina Ireland and Troy L. Wiggins. Stories from C. L. Clark, Stephanie Malia Morris, Emmalia Harrington, Arnica Ross, and Melody Gordon. Poems from Resoketswe Manenzhe and Constance Collier-Mercado.
So we're definitely celebrating FIYAH's cover art for Black History Month! Feast on this absolutely legendary run from @gdbee.bsky.social to set off year one π₯° Of course you're following Geneva already, and this is your reminder to scoop up a print, her graphic novel, and more: gdbee.carrd.co
04.02.2026 16:28 β π 144 π 85 π¬ 2 π 6I would like to make a little thread/sloppy directory, here: If you write about books for any outlet (by which I mean not a newsletter, somewhere that you have an editor), please reply and tell me what you cover and where?
04.02.2026 15:10 β π 36 π 26 π¬ 9 π 0Many thanks to @serenajenk.bsky.social for bringing this Spiritwalker Trilogy ebook sale to my attention, and I now bring it to yours.
These are great deals for the entire trilogy. Likely on sale on all USA platforms
NON-FICTION Quote Who are some of the singular and eccentric authors within English-language speculative literature? The ones who may (re)define or defy genre boundaries, the ones who frustrate and enthrall in equal measure...? end Quote Giving Permission: A Roundtable on the Obscurity of Influence by Kristen Bell, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, Charles Payseur and Daniel A. Rabuzzi 26 January 2026 Strange Horizons
Rounding out our Criticism Special:
Giving Permission: A Roundtable on the Obscurity of InfluenceΒ Β Β
by Kristen Bell, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, Charles Payseur and Daniel A. Rabuzzi
Link β¬οΈ
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Over the moon to share that Iβm a finalist for the @aurealisawards.bsky.social!! This is a dream come true, and Iβm so honoured to be shortlisted alongside my fellow nominees!
My little debut bookβs thriving out there π₯Ή
does anyone else feel like SFF criticism is in a really good place right now? perhaps I just wasn't paying enough attention before. reading through the latest Strange Horizons and thinking about all the cool conversations I've seen and all the books I've picked up because of them. thank you critics.
29.01.2026 16:07 β π 68 π 7 π¬ 2 π 0
I'm hoping to post a list of people's favorite science fiction/fantasy/horror reads from January 2026 via Intergalactic Mixtape! Did you read something you loved and think other people might like it? Put it in the form!
31.01.2026 21:23 β π 4 π 6 π¬ 2 π 0
So thatβs the 2026 @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special. Themes were legion: the interface with politics, the shadows of history, the lines between traditions.
Hope you found thoughts to chew on.Thanks to our writers for sharing them.
Shout out to the SH proofreaders:
heroes every year.
Intergalactic Mixtape is live and full of criticism recs, review recs, and book recs! Itβs recs all the way down. ππͺπ
30.01.2026 14:21 β π 16 π 7 π¬ 0 π 4
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...
They've raised 95.5% of their goal, and there's still time to bid.
I want to read books that could only have been written by *that* author, because of their perspective, their sense of humor, their pet peeves, their experiences, their niche interests. I want to read books flavored by the author as a human, not by tropes on repeat.
And that's how I want to write.
There is some very cool stuff available at the Publishing for MN auction going on right now, including query critiques, manuscript critiques, AMAs, signed books, author visits for schools, and more!
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...
The deadline to become a WSFS member and nominate for the Hugo Awards is imminent! We have recs to consider and we have guides to help get you started if you're new to the process. πͺππ
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
My essay in the @strangehorizons.bsky.social criticism special is up! I muse about genre, vibes and the difficulty of pinning things down in an ever-shifting landscape.
29.01.2026 14:32 β π 23 π 13 π¬ 1 π 1
Nisi Shawl is a visionary brilliant author, editor, critic and teacher, who is working on a book of otherworldly philosophy that sounds incredible.
Not surprisingly, this project has grown and flowered, and Nisi needs a bit more support. Please help if you can!
www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
Thank you for mentioning me and The Mountain Crown! @solarisbooks.bsky.social Itβs a great discussion overall from all involved.
29.01.2026 02:29 β π 2 π 2 π¬ 0 π 0
There's an auction going for Minnesota! Loads of publishing-related lots and opportunities: have a look!
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...
Adding to the list of some of the many authors mentioned in the influence roundtable:
Amos Tutuola
Laini Taylor
Jacqueline Carey
Shingai Njeri Kagunda
Wole Talabi
Amy Leow
Karin Lowachee
Nalo Hopkinson
Samantha Mills
Vaishnavi Patel
Nisi Shawl
M. L. Wang
ICYMI yesterday: Discussion of unique and influence in "Giving Permission: A Roundtable on the Obscurity of Influence" with @yvettel.bsky.social @cypayseur.bsky.social Daniel A. Rabuzzi and me at Strange Horizons.
#Books #BookSky ππ #Fantasy #SciFi #SpecFic ππͺ
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
For more on why I'm excited for it (besides it being a book by Jacqueline Carey):
jacquelinecarey.com/test/
2026 has barely begun and I already have a most anticipated book of 2027: MASQUERADE by Jacqueline Carey, coming in June as part of the inaugural lineup for Wildthorn Books.
jacquelinecarey.com/winter-2026/
Happy to be part of this with a Malazan review later in the week but even more happy to read all these insights. Guarantee you that the roundtable on influence will have you increasing your TBR pile as well as sending you back to some beloved works (now whereβs my Patricia A. McKillip . . .)
27.01.2026 20:35 β π 1 π 2 π¬ 0 π 0A few of the many authors mentioned in this discussion:
Helen Oyeyemi
Lesley Nneka Arimah
Nnedi Okorafor
Ben Okri
Marlon James
Vina Jie-Min Prasad
Terry Pratchett
Octavia E. Butler
Patricia A. McKillip
Storm Constantine
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Alaya Dawn Johnson
Sam J. Miller
R. B. Lemberg
ICYMI yesterday: Discussion of unique and influence in "Giving Permission: A Roundtable on the Obscurity of Influence" with @yvettel.bsky.social @cypayseur.bsky.social Daniel A. Rabuzzi and me at Strange Horizons.
#Books #BookSky ππ #Fantasy #SciFi #SpecFic ππͺ
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
π£ It's here: the 2026 @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special!
π‘ A whole week of critical insight, with a new essay and new review every day. A podcast, a roundtable, an *editorial*.
π The weird! Anthropology! Non-anglophone SFF! Plus thoughts on fantasy series, adaptations, film and more.
