While poetry doesn’t seem to have much in common with science fiction and fantasy, these multi-talented authors prove that these genres can go hand in hand more often than you think. With fantastical stories told in verse to science fiction story collections containing poetry, there’s something here for all lovers of the written word to enjoy. Check it them out here!
By Elizabeth Hosty
The Freedom Race by Lucinda Roy
Known for Fabric, The Humming Birds, and Wailing the Dead to Sleep, Lucinda Roy is making her first foray into speculative fiction with her new novel, The Freedom Race, on sale from Tor Books now! Following the events of the Second Civil War, the United States became fractured. One faction, the Homestead Territories, began a new slave trade by recruiting immigrants from Africa. Ji-ji Lottermule is one of the slaves born into captivity and forced to breed new “muleseeds,” the only way to gain her freedom is through winning the annual Freedom Race.
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
With collections such as Seasonal Velocities and Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul, Ryka Aoki has now written the upcoming Light From Uncommon Stars that takes place in a donut shop in San Gabriel Valley. Over fresh made donuts, Shizuka Satomi meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. While Lan’s kind smile and eyes that could redefine a soul’s worth are enticing, Shizuka doesn’t have time for crushes. Especially considering she’s currently trying to convince Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, to give up her soul to the devil for success so Shizuka can escape damnation.
Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers and Other Stories by Alyssa Wong
Alyssa Wong is well known for her compelling science fiction and fantasy short stories, including a poem published by Uncanny Magazine titled For The Gardener’s Daughter and her new story collection Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers and Other Stories. The anthology contains eight of her award winning short stories and flash fiction, along with five entirely new short stories.
Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott
Author of the Spiritwalker series, including a short story told entirely in verse entitled The Beatriceid, Kate Elliott’s book Unconquerable Sun follows Princess Sun when she finally comes of age, only for the cutthroat ambassador corps and conniving noble houses to attempt to remove Sun as heir, or better yet, kill her. To survive, the princess must rely on her wits and companions: her biggest rival, her secret lover, and a dangerous prisoner of war.
Book of Night by Holly Black
Having dabbled in poetry through her publication of The Third Third: Israfel’s Tale and Bone Mother, Holly Black has returned to science fiction and fantasy with her upcoming adult novel, Book of Night. In a world where altering someone’s feelings and memories come free, but manipulating shadows can cost hours or days off your life, Charlie Hall is scraping by on an existence of odd jobs for the patrons and new money in the edges of Berkshire. But when someone from her dark past returns, Charlie finds herself facing a maelstrom of secrets and murder, of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, shadow thieves, and her own sister – all desperate to control the magic of the shadows.
Ursula K Le Guin leaps to mind.