麻豆传媒

I may have to eat my hat later, but I reckon 2026 is shaping up to be an excellent year for science fiction. With eight months of books announced, the table is already loaded with delightful offerings.

In January, we welcome new books from two big hitters. There is Peter F. Hamilton鈥檚 , the first in an ark ship trilogy, and a change of pace for the author, who made his name with sprawling, science-heavy, brain-warping books. This one is short and straightforward, written from the point of view of a teenage girl. Hamilton hopes his current fans will enjoy the book, which is aimed at a younger audience.

The novel is also a change in terms of its publishing schedule, since all three books will be published this year 鈥� the second in June, the third in December. It will be interesting to see how that works for readers.

Our second big arrival is , a new novel from George Saunders, who won the 2017 Booker prize for Lincoln in the Bardo. Vigil isn鈥檛 sci-fi, but it has a claim to be climate fiction, because it centres on the death of an oil tycoon, and it certainly sounds speculative.

In February, expect by Jasmin Kirkbride, which is pitched as 鈥渢ime-travel climate fiction鈥�, and by Matthew Kressel, about a group of people who travel to witness the first rain on Mars.

There鈥檚 also by Edward Ashton, billed as 鈥減art-alien invasion story, part-buddy comedy鈥� part-workplace satire鈥�. Which is cool if it works.

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The highlight in March (for me, at least) will be the fourth book in Adrian Tchaikovsky鈥檚 Children of Time series, this one entitled , which will feature at least one uplifted mantis shrimp. I鈥檓 in.

Other notable releases in March include , the first work of sci-fi from film director and writer Neil Jordan, and by Gareth L. Powell, described by its publisher as an action-packed adventure featuring a crew of bounty hunters in a devastated solar system.

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In April comes , a debut attracting excitement because its author, John Chu, has won big awards for his short stories. We should also see by Mike Chen, marketed as 鈥渁 page-turning space opera鈥�, featuring a galactic civil war.

But that鈥檚 not all. The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva is also due out (Arrival meets Wild Dark Shore鈥�, say its publishers), as is by S. L. Huang (鈥渟cience fiction about linguistics and consequences鈥�) and by Suzanne Palmer (described as 鈥渉ope-punk sci-fi鈥�).

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Then there鈥檚 by TJ Klune. He鈥檚 an author I have never read, but know that I should. This one is about 鈥渁n older gay couple on an end-of- the-world road trip鈥�.

The highlight of May will surely be , a new work from Ann Leckie set in her magnificent Imperial Radch universe. But let鈥檚 not forget an eighth Murderbot book, , from the marvellous Martha Wells.

We can also expect by Mahmud El Sayed, described as an ambitious work of Arab Futurism, and by Temi Oh, billed as a family drama perfect for fans of Emily St John Mandel鈥檚 Station Eleven.

In June, we can look forward to by Isabel J. Kim, 鈥渁n immigrant story like no other鈥�, and by Joseph Eckert, which tells the story of a reluctant time traveller and his son. Also due out that month is by Paul Tremblay, billed as a 鈥済enre-bending near-future tech nightmare鈥� as bitingly funny as it is horrifically believable鈥�.

Last but not least, August will see the publication of by Richard Swan, another bestselling author (his books include the Empire of the Wolf trilogy). This one is apparently 鈥渁 thrilling tale of survival鈥� and 鈥渁 blistering science fiction epic鈥�.

I am excited to get stuck in.

Emily H. Wilson is the author of The Sumerians trilogy. She is currently working on her first science-fiction novel