SF News October 2026

From "Across the Fandomension" website, last updated September 28, 2026

NOTE: I am always looking for corrections, additions and updates; if you spot errors and omissions below, please contact me at [email protected] so that I can update this page. – G.S.

Shadowpaw Press Release
The latest from Shadowpaw Press is a literary mystery/thriller, set at the height of the COVID pandemic, from an acclaimed, award-winning author.
"Welcome to autumn, and welcome to the first fall book from Shadowpaw Press, Struck in the Heart by Sharon Butala.
"This is just a quick note to tell you about it and remind you that Christmas is coming, and that all Shadowpaw Press titles make great gifts…
"The book was released in ebook and print on Tuesday, and the official launch was held at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Saskatoon on Thursday. I was there, as was Sharon, of course, and so was Dave Margoshes, who edited the novel and interviewed Sharon at the launch, and who that very day had also won the $10,000 Cheryl and Henry Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence, which recognizes Saskatchewan writers who have written a substantial body of literary work and had a significant impact on writing in Saskatchewan. (Worth mentioning here because next summer, Shadowpaw Press will bring out Dave’s new short story collection, Some Rough Beast and Other Stories. Not only that, Dave has a story in On Spec 2026: New Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, the next Shadowpaw Press release—but more about that book in the next newsletter; it releases October 13.) …"
Edward Willett, Shadowpaw Press, Sept. 27, 2026

Flame Arrow Publishing Releases
Preorders are open for the new Flame Arrow edition of Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel and our bilingual speculative fiction anthology, Unréal.
These books reflect the growing range of our catalogue, and the values that continue to guide it. I’m proud to help bring them to your shelves.
Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel
In 1865, Victoria leaves an abusive marriage and finds refuge in Swainsburg, Wyoming, among the women of a local brothel. When eviction threatens their home, she buys it.
What follows is a story of friendship, danger, and a life Victoria never imagined she could claim, including her growing feelings for the widow Díaz.
With humour, tenderness, and a slow-burning sapphic romance, Talhí Briones explores the courage it takes to start over, the families we choose, and the possibility of finding love later in life.
Unréal
There is more than one way to imagine a city.
In Unréal, Montréal writers from diverse backgrounds bring their speculative visions to the place they call home. Across stories in English and French, the familiar opens onto something unexpected.
Montréal becomes more than a setting. Its intersecting languages, histories, and communities offer space for new possibilities and new ways of seeing the city and one another.
Montréal, autrement.
Unréal rassemble des voix d’ici autour d’une ville qui ne cesse de se réinventer. À travers des nouvelles de fiction de l’imaginaire en français et en anglais, cette anthologie explore ce que Montréal inspire, ce qu’elle pourrait devenir et les histoires extraordinaires qui peuvent naître du familier.
Un projet qui fait une place à la pluralité des regards et au plaisir d’imaginer ensemble.
For readers who love discovering different voices in short fiction, this is an invitation to explore a city through its possibilities.
If you are new to Flame Arrow or still finding your way into our catalogue, Flames of Tomorrow remains the best place to begin.
This free digital starter pack offers a cross-section of the stories and themes that shape our publishing philosophy.
The Arrow Dispatch #7, Sept. 2026

Blue Moon Directory 2026
Heath Row, formerly of Los Angeles, and Garth Spencer, still living in Vancouver, have been updating the Blue Moon Directory of Amateur Publication Associations in September 2026. A new edition of Blue Moon should be announced soon.
Garth Spencer

VCON 44: "Pick Your Punk"
November 14, 2026 at the BCIT Burnaby Campus
"For decades, VCON has been part of British Columbia’s speculative fiction history.
"Now, VCON is back as a one-day convention focused on speculative fiction, fandom, creativity, community, and the many futures we imagine, resist, build, and survive together.
"This year’s event is a deliberate rebuilding step. It will not attempt to recreate every part of past three-day VCONs all at once. Instead, VCON 44 begins with the core of what our community told us matters most: strong programming, shared fandom culture, meaningful conversations, and the chance to connect with other fans.
"Our 2026 theme is Pick Your Punk: Living Through the 21st Century.
"Cyberpunk, solarpunk, steampunk, dieselpunk, hopepunk, biopunk, mythpunk, stitchpunk, nanopunk, lunarpunk – bring your goggles, your circuits, your seedlings, your cautionary tales, and your better futures."
WCSFA Newsletter, Sept. 2, 2026

WCSFA now has a Café on Hey.Café!
Join us at https://hey.cafe/!wcsfa! Hey.Café is a Canadian-owned-and-operated, ad-free social platform: a Facebook-like space without an engagement algorithm deciding what you should see. Your feed grows from the people and Cafés you choose to follow. It’s still a relatively new platform, with a pleasantly early-Facebook feel. Features are being added regularly and its community is steadily growing–so joining Cafés and following interesting people is the best way to build a lively feed. If you’re looking for a way to step back from Meta while supporting a small Canadian business, come say hello. Everyone is welcome, wherever you live. Invite your friends, join WCSFA’s Café, and let’s build a little more speculative-fiction community online.
Welcome to the West Coast Speculative Fiction Association (WCSFA) – a vibrant nonprofit organization championing worlds of fantasy, science fiction, horror, paranormal, romantasy & more across Vancouver, BC, metro area! Our mission is to connect & celebrate fans, creators, and curious minds through storytelling, creativity, and community.
Jenni Merrifield, WCSFA Discord, Sept. 10, 2026

The 2026 Hugo Award Winners
Best Novel: THE EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow
Best Novella: THE RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar
Best Novelette: "Never Eaten Vegetables" by H.H. Pak (Clarkesworld, Issue 220)
Best Short Story: "In My Country" by Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld, Issue 223)
Best Series: "Old Man's War" by John Scalzi
Best Graphic Story or Comic: A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA: A GRAPHIC NOVEL, written by Ursula K. Le Guin, adapted and art by Fred Fordham
Best Related Work: INVENTING THE RENAISSANCE by Ada Palmer
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: SINNERS
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: MURDERBOT: "All Systems Red"
Best Game or Interactive Work: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Editor Short Form: Neil Clarke
Best Editor Long Form: Diana M. Pho
Best Professional Artist: John Picacio
Best Semiprozine: Uncanny Magazine
Best Fanzine: nerds of a feather, flock together
Best Fancast: Hugo, Girl!
Best Fan Writer: Jason Sanford
Best Fan Artist: Yuumei
Best Poem: "Hex Supply Customer Support Log" by Elis Montgomery (Strange Horizons, Issue 25 August 2025)
Lodestar Award for Best YA Book: COFFEESHOP IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE by C.B. Lee
Astounding Award for Best New Writer (sponsored by Must Read Books Publishing): Antonia Hodgson (1st year of eligibility)
MT Void, Vol. 45, No. 10, Whole Number 2448, Sept. 4, 2026)=

Upcoming Worldcons and Worldcon Bids
"The Brisbane in 2028 bid, running unopposed, won the site selection vote to become Aussiecon 5, now giving its location as Meanjin / Brisbane. Guests of Honour are Claire G. Coleman (Author GoH), David Gaider (Games GoH), Jonathan Strahan (Editor GoH), Kathleen Jennings (Artist GoH), Perry Middlemiss (Fan GoH), and Seanan McGuire (Author GoH).
Dublin in 2029 premiered the first in a series of musical pieces composed especially for the convention.
Edmonton in 2030 remains active but had no significant new news.
Texas in 2031 is pausing until after the US midterm election results are known.
(While the US has no presidential election this year, all seats in the House of Representatives and 33 of those in the Senate face elections in November, which may alter the balance of power in the legislative branch and could result in changes in US policies.)
Nantes in 2032 held a party to remind people it exists, but has no website or social media yet.
A group from the Czech Republic (their preferred term rather than Czechia) is exploring a bid for 2031 or 2032.
Glasgow in 2034 collected ideas from the Q&A audience for what they would like to see at another Glasgow Worldcon.
SMOFCon News, Sept. 2, 2026

Mythcon 2027 in Toronto
"… This annual convention, sponsored by The Mythopoeic Society, was held in Oklahoma this year [2026], and will be Toronto in 2027, Mythcon 55. We are assisting Society Convention Steward Tim Lenz (who happens to currently live in Toronto) with getting a convention hotel, and Yvonne will work with Tim on Canadian accounting practices. Onsite, Yvonne and I may be in charge of the Vendors’ Room. Mythcon usually gets anywhere between 100 and 300 people, but I can see 300 or more next year, for there are lots of Canadian fans who have been starved for any kind of convention that is fan-run, rather than pro-run. More Mythcon 55 information to come."
Lloyd Penney, letter column, The N3F Fan Gazette, Sept. 2026
"Mythcon 55 will take place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in summer 2027! And it will be chaired by Tim Lenz, the Mythopoeic Society’s Steward of Mythopoeic Conferences. Stay tuned for dates, theme, CFP, and more!
"And contact [email protected] if you’d be interested in being part of the organizing committee."
Mythcon Facebook page, Sept. 26, 2026

Trouble in Paradise:
AI Art Accusation Leads to Bite Attack
At Oz Comic-Con in Brisbane, Australia this past weekend, a heated argument between vendors escalated to one of them biting the other.
ABC News has the details:
Footage supplied to the ABC shows Zyllion stall-holder Bowie Chong in a heated argument with another vendor, Victoria Manton-Williams at about 2:40pm. Manton-Williams told the ABC she asked Chong whether his art was AI- generated, prompting him to tell her to "f*** off".
Manton-Williams alleged Chong snatched the phone away from her artist friend who was filming the scene. Manton-Williams said her friend pushed Chong, who then allegedly bit her friend’s arm and "latched on". Manton-Williams said she ran over and tried to pull Chong off of her friend and that she was pushed to the ground and kicked in the arm.
Oz Comic-Con provided a statement to ABC that "all parties" were banned from both their future events and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. However, the convention declined to describe its policy on AI art. Its website has no information on such a policy either.
AI art has been a hot topic at conventions, with a growing number banning it, and at least two instances of the police being called to events for reasons related to it last year. Human bite attacks remain rare, but last year also saw one notable instance at a convention.
SMOF News, Sept. 23, 2026

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