For our August Genre Spotlight feature, Library Journal will be previewing fall and winter sf/fantasy/horror titles, with a focus on notable debuts, series launches, and stand-alones released between August 2017 and January 2018. Marlene Harris, who is writing the article, will also explore the current state of the genre. Among the issues to be covered:

• Increased diversity and inclusiveness. How are publishers meeting the demand for more stories by voices previously not heard in the sf/fantasy mainstream: women, authors of color, and LGBT writers? What promising newcomers are breaking the standard tropes, milieus, and narrative styles?
• Genre trends. What settings/subgenres are waxing and waning this season? What's so new that it can't yet claim to be a subgenre but has potential to grow?
• Noteworthy debut authors, series launches, stand-alones. What have you seen in-house or from other publishers that is the most original and mind-blowing this season?
• Readalikes. What titles and authors are you releasing that are similar to Neil Gaiman, John Scalzi, and other popular writers?
• Publishing issues. What sort of exciting works in translation are you seeing? Are you finding outstanding self-published novels to release? There is a sense that ebook sales in general have leveled off—how, if at all, is this affecting speculative fiction?
• With the box office success of superhero movies and more sf/fantasy television shows like American Gods and The Expanse now airing or in development, Hollywood is obviously looking for more material to adapt. How is this trend affecting what you publish? Does it change the focus of your acquisition efforts?
• In the aftermath of last year’s presidential election, the issues raised in the campaign are more highly charged than ever. Is this influencing the kind of stories you are seeing?
• Speculative fiction often contrasts humanity with various nonhuman beings (whether they be aliens, fantasy races, monsters, or artificial intelligences—what are some of your favorite nonhumans this season?

Please email the following information: author, title, publication date, ISBN, page count, price, marketing plans, formats available (print, audio, ebook), and a brief description—catalog copy will suffice—to Marlene Harris at marlene@readingreality.net and be sure to cc Wilda Williams at wwilliams@mediasourceinc.com.

The deadline is Monday, May 19, 2017.

Thank you so much for your help and participation.

Sincerely,

Wilda Williams
Fiction Editor
Library Journal
123 William St., Suite 802
New York, NY 10038