We are in a time of social distancing, but your favorite Tor authors are still coming to screens near you in the month of December! Check out where you can find them here.
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo: Tor Goes International
New York Comic Con is once again coming to us virtually in 2021 and we are so excited to participate! Join the convention from October 7-10 (tickets for virtual access can be bought here) for some amazing panels, listed below, and don’t forget to follow us on social media and the hashtag #TorNYCC2021 for announcements, sweepstakes, and more. All panels excerpt the Wheel of Time panel and the Space Odysseys panel will be release on October 7 at 10 AM ET.
Join two of the genre’s biggest authors–and pals–Brandon Sanderson (Rhythm of War) and Christopher Paolini (To Sleep In a Sea of Stars) as they celebrate the paperback releases of their bestselling books and talk about all things fantasy science fiction and beyond. Watch the panel here.
SciFi and Fantasy sure can be full of Ships… not just spaceships and pirate ones! Join some of your favorite Tor and Tor.com Publishing authors as they discuss the mushy gushy FEELINGS side of speculative fiction. How do they craft those will-they-or-won’t-theys into OTPs you want to root for? With TJ Klune (Under the Whispering Door), Ryka Aoki (Light From Uncommon Stars), Alix E. Harrow (A Spindle Splintered), Freya Marske (A Marvelous Light), and Everina Maxwell (Winter’s Orbit). Moderated by Andrea Hairston (Master of Poisons). Watch the panel here.
Just in time for Halloween, Tor and Nightfire task a brave panel of authors with telling us a horror story unlike any other. This group of talented horror authors will spin us a brand new tale. Join Thomas Olde Heuvelt (HEX, Echo), Zin E. Rocklyn (Flowers for the Sea), Catriona Ward (The Last House on Needless Street), and your host Christopher Buehlman (The Blacktongue Thief), as they incorporate writing prompts to create an improvised story on the spot–and talk about their craft and inspirations along the way. Watch the panel here.
From Scotland to Australia and back again, Tor, Tor.com, and Nightfire authors can be found spinning their tales from across the globe – and setting them in some international locales as well. Join authors Kerstin Hall (Star Eater), T. L. Huchu (The Library of the Dead), Cassandra Khaw (Nothing But Blackened Teeth), and moderator James Rollins (The Starless Crown) as they take you on a virtual tour of SciFi Fantasy and Horror. Watch the panel here.
Tor publishes some of the greatest sci-fi fantasy and horror stories around. This will be a panel to shine a spotlight on some of the exciting books that Tor, Tor Teen, Tordotcom Publishing, Forge, and Nightfire have to offer. Join the book lovers from the Tor teams as they share a sneak peek at new and upcoming SFF. Watch the panel here.
Privacy technology and the future of our online lives… join some of today’s top science fiction authors as they discuss their prescient work the intersection of SF and science/tech what the future might bring and where we might be heading. With authors including Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries), Becky Chambers (A Psalm for the Wild-Built), Nnedi Okorafor (Remote Control), Neil Sharpson (When the Sparrow Falls), John Scalzi (The Kaiju Preservation Society) as moderator. Watch the panel here.
Join YA fantasy authors Charlotte Nicole Davis (The Sisters of Reckoning), Elayne Audrey Becker (Forestborn), Lauren Shippen (Some Faraway Place), Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman (All of Us Villains) and Mark Oshiro (Each of Us a Desert) as they spill the tea on what it’s like to craft story arcs for heroes, villains, and every morally ambiguous character in-between. Watch the panel here.
Friday, October 8 2:30-3:30 PM ET Main Stage 1D Hall
Based on Robert Jordan’s best-selling fantasy novels of the same name, The Wheel of Time is set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it. The story follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity. Join the series cast and showrunner as they discuss bringing this stunning world to life and what fans can most look forward to when the series premieres Friday, November 19th, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Watch the panel here.
Saturday, October 9 2:15-3:15 PM ET Main Stage 1A24 Hall
In this panel, Tor.com and Book Riot contributor Aurora Dominguez will be in conversation with two amazing authors of YA Science Fiction. Charlie Jane Anders is the former editor-in-chief of io9.com, the popular Gawker Media site devoted to science fiction and fantasy. Her debut novel, All the Birds in the Sky, won the Nebula Award for Best Novel and was a Hugo Award finalist. Her journalism has appeared in Salon, the Wall Street Journal, Mother Jones, and many other outlets. Tochi Onyebuchi is the author of the award-winning novella Riot Baby from Tordotcom Publishing. He holds a B.A. from Yale, a M.F.A. in screenwriting from the Tisch School for the Arts, a Master’s degree in droit économique from Sciences Po, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. His next novel, Goliath, hits shelves on 1/25/22. Watch the panel here.
We love a good snack, and we can almost taste the treats described in these tasty titles. From donuts to tea to humans themselves, there’s something for everyone to sample! Check out our round-up here.
When transgender runaway Katrina Nguyen dazzles Shizuka Satomi with her violin mastery, Shizuka thinks she might’ve found the seventh and final prodigy to convince to give up their soul to the devil so she can escape damnation. But when Lan Tran – retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four – walks into Shizuka’s donut shop in the San Gabriel Valley, Lan’s kind smile and eyes like stars have Shizuka questioning whether she should go through with her plans.
Wallace starts to think he’s dead when, at his own funeral, a grim reaper comes to collect him. And when the owner of a peculiar tea shop, Hugo, decides to help him cross over, he realizes he’s really dead. But Wallace isn’t ready to cross over. After being told he has one week to cross over, Wallace decides to set out and live the life he’s always wanted within the last seven days he has left.
Rose Edelstein has a unique gift – by simply eating the food that others have prepared, she is able to feel that person’s emotions. When nine year old Rose bites into her mother’s homemade lemon cake, she discovers that her happy, go-lucky mom actually tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, food is a threat to Rose, because it unlocks the secret knowledge that all families keep hidden, such as how her family members interact with the world and each other.
Elfreda Raughn, a member of a group of cannibalistic nuns called the Sisterhood of Aytrium, can usually stomach her usual day-to-day tasks. But when she discovers what is necessary to preserve their magical bloodline, she’s horrified and wants out. Suddenly, someone offers her a chance at just that, as long as she becomes a spy into the Sisterhood. Elfreda Raughn accepts, because she wants to be able to make her own choices – like making sure she never comes pregnant – even if it kills her.
At the edge of the known universe, Niko Larson, former Admiral in the Grand Military of the Hive Mind, spends her retirement with the remnants of her former unit working at The Last Chance restaurant at the TwiceFar station. But soon, Niko and her crew are kidnapped – onto a sentient ship that believes it’s been stolen – and have to survive a sadistic pirate king if they want to make it back to The Last Chance.
Sure, horses are majestic and noble beasts, but why limit yourself to four legs and hooves in fantasy when you could be riding anything from gigantic sandworms to man-eating hippos? Here are six titles that feature alternative steeds for riding into battle on, or just riding to work on.
The Annurian Empire—the setting for Staveley’s popular series The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne—is back, and it’s disintegrating rapidly. After a disastrous mission gone terribly awry, Gwenna Sharpe must embark on a voyage beyond the edges of any maps in search for the ancient nesting grounds of the giant war hawks—massive, proud birds that can carry an entire Wing of highly skilled soldiers—the empire needs to survive.
In the early 20th century, the U.S. Congress seriously entertained the proposition of importing hippos into the southern marshlands to be nurtured as an alternative meat source. Sarah Gailey follows that proposition to its logical conclusion: a hair-raising heist on hippo-back. Brutal, brilliant, bold, and brash, American Hippo follows Winslow Houndstooth and his crew of outlaws, con artists, assassins, and their hippo counterparts as they wreak absolute mayhem in the bayous of Louisiana—and take bloody revenge.
After the explosive ending of The Black Tides of Heaven, Sanao Mokoya—ex-prophet, trained Tensor, rebel, and daughter of the supreme Protector—now spends her days hunting sky-obscuring naga: great, lizard-like beasts that soar through the heavens on clawed wings of leather, whose jaws could slice a man in half. When she meets the mysterious yet enchanting Rider, who can take to the skies on the back of a naga, Mokoya must confront conspiracy and betrayal, buried secrets and deadly magic while navigating her own trauma and grief.
Come for the incisive deconstruction of power in a bloody sisterhood of matriarchal nuns; stay for the haqules, the giant, swift-footed, fork-tailed feline steeds that the high-ranking members of the sisterhood ride. Elfreda Raughn wants out of the Sisterhood of Aytrium, which offers her great power at a gruesome cost. Sometimes, that means riding giant cats while making one’s dramatic escape. Sometimes, that also means evading giant cats whilst making one’s dramatic escape, but such are the dangers of infiltrating and rebelling against a cannibalistic priestesshood.
If you’ve ever looked at 14th century Europe and thought to yourself that it would be improved by the addition of dinosaurs, look no further. Mercenary and Dinosaur Lord Karyl Bogomirsky has been betrayed and left for dead, but he won’t let his story end there. Milán crafts a world full of dinosaurs as wildlife, as husbandry, as pets, and of course—as steeds of war.
When the House of Atreides accepts stewardship over the planet of Arrakis, young Paul Atreides is flung into a storm of interstellar intrigue and deadly competition. Arrakis is inhospitable, desolate, and covered primarily in harsh deserts; it is also the only source of melange, a rare and exclusive spice that can both extend life and heighten mental abilities. The catch? The spice is guarded by the giant sandworms of Arrakis, who are made of little more than teeth and territorial instinct. With an upcoming film this fall featuring a powerhouse cast of Oscar Isaac, Timothée Chalamet, and Zendaya, we’re looking forward to at least one scene where a character rides the famed sandworms.
A big THANK YOU to all our amazing friends and fans who joined us for TorCon 2021. We hope you had an amazing time and hope to see you again for our next virtual event!
If you’re bummed you couldn’t make it to all of the activities, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. You can see the recordings of almost all of TorCon PLUS some short recaps here!
Gillian Flynn and Catriona Ward, in conversation
Catriona Ward’s twisty and terrifying The Last House on Needless Street is one of the most anticipated books of the fall–and who better to join her to discuss all things thrilling and chilling than #1 New York Times bestselling author Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Dark Places, Sharp Objects)? Check out this powerhouse duo here! Thank you to Den of Geek for co-hosting.
Rewatch below via Facebook:
Chaotic Storytelling–Take 2!
It’s time for Chaotic Storytelling: 2 Chaotic, 2 Furious! Christopher Buehlman (The Blacktongue Thief), J.S. Dewes (The Last Watch), Andrea Hairston (Master of Poisons), Jenn Lyons (The House of Always), and Neil Sharpson (When the Sparrow Falls) incorporated writing prompts from the audience to create a brand new story—and talk about their craft and inspirations along the way. This panel was co-hosted by LitHub and moderated by Drew Broussard.
Rewatch below via Facebook:
Nightfire Family *Blood* Feud
Our new horror imprint, Nightfire, brought together some of your favorite horror and gothic authors as they went head-to-head in a horror-inspired version of the favorite game show… What tropes are fan favorites? Which movie franchise is the scariest? Check out Gretchen Felker-Martin (Manhunt), Cassandra Khaw (Nothing But Blackened Teeth), Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Hex, Echo), Silvia Moreno Garcia (Certain Dark Things), and host Lee Mandelo (Summer Sons) as they found out during Nightfire’s Horror Feud!
Rewatch below via Facebook:
Holly Black & James Rollins in conversation
Holly Black joined James Rollins to discuss his new epic novel, The Starless Crown–plus an exclusive announcement for Holly’s fans! Check out these two #1 New York Times bestsellers as they talked bringing the thrills to fantasy, fighting the moon, stealing a god, new projects…and even a sneak peek at some of their latest work. Holly announced her adult debut from Tor, coming next summer, Book of Night. This panel was co-hosted by Den of Geek.
Rewatch below via Facebook:
All the Feels: Emotional Storytelling in SFF
SFF has the coolest story elements, but the *real* reason we love these books is that they hit us right in the feels. Becky Chambers (A Psalm for the Wild-Built), Kerstin Hall (Star Eater), T.L. Huchu (The Library of the Dead), Alex Pheby (Mordew), Lucinda Roy (The Freedom Race), and moderator TJ Klune (Under the Whispering Door) joined us to discuss making stories more than just words on a page, and mastermind an evil plot to make us have FEELINGS!
Rewatch below via Facebook:
Ethereal & Eerie: A Glimpse at Captivating Fall Reads
Check out internationally bestselling author Charlie Jane Anders (Victories Greater than Death, Never Say You Can’t Survive) in conversation with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author TJ Klune (The House in the Cerulean Sea, Flash Fire) as they discussed writing SFF for adults and teens, crafting authentic queer narratives, and everlasting fictional characters that stay with readers long after they’ve finished the book. This panel was co-hosted by Den of Geek.
Rewatch below via Facebook:
Space is Gay!
Only two things are infinite: Space and Gay. Check out Charlie Jane Anders (Victories Greater than Death), Ryka Aoki (Light From Uncommon Stars), A.K. Larkwood (The Unspoken Name), Everina Maxwell (Winter’s Orbit), and moderator K.M. Szpara (First, Become Ashes) as they discussed queer science fiction spaces, extraterrestrial OTPs, and how in space, no one can hear your gay pining. Attendees were able to enter for a chance to win one of Tor’s limited edition Space is Gay pins.
Rewatch below via Facebook:
Conjuring the Diaspora: Myths, Legends, and Classics Reimagined
Joe Pera, from the Adult Swim show Joe Pera Talks With You, has been lauded for his warmhearted comedic stylings. Now, check out him and Jo Firestone to present a preview of his first book! A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroom as an Escape is a funny and sincere guide to regaining calm and confidence when you’re hiding in the bathroom from life’s stresses. This panel was co-hosted by Den of Geek. It is not available for rewatch.
TorCon 2021 Presents: Cooking the Books!
As a special treat, we asked three of our authors to share some of their favorite food-related tidbits. Check out their choices below!
Becky Chambers, author of A Psalm for the Wild-Built, shared some of her favorite teas with the audience, DRAMATIC READING STYLE.
J. S. Dewes, author of The Last Watch, shared her quest to find the best gum! Do you agree with her choices?
Aliette de Bodard, author of Fireheart Tiger, made a strong cup of tea to give a ‘cheers’ to the final day of the convention.
New York Comic Con is once again coming to us virtually in 2021 and we are so excited to participate! Join the convention from October 7-10 (tickets for virtual access can be bought 
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Star Eater
You Sexy Thing
Dune 