New Science-Fiction Releases for October 2026

Readers looking forward to new works by prominent authors can celebrate a new novel from Annalee Newitz, who features a slime mould as the protagonist. In addition to Newitz, Adam Roberts and Claire North, both past contributors to the New Scientist Book Club, have new titles launching this month. Audrey Niffenegger returns with a sequel to her best-selling novel *The Time Traveler’s Wife*, while Becky Chambers offers another engaging sci-fi tale.

**As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers** details the story of Cora, a pilot on the planet Fortune, where a poisonous atmosphere affects life forms. Cora has a special bond with an alien creature, Colibri, but struggles with the need to seek treatment for her condition, fearing it may sever their connection. She meets botanist Signy, who may provide the help she needs.

**Dark Reading Matter by Jasper Fforde** marks the final appearance of literary detective Thursday Next. In this installment, she confronts Martians escaping from an H.G. Wells novel and deals with issues surrounding Reality Field Distortion experiments. The title alludes to a realm where unpublished works and unrealized ideas reside.

In **Exhumation by Nicholas Binge**, a private investigator named Arlo seeks Sophie Banik, who is presumed dead but had been investigating bizarre experiments that manipulate the lines between life and death.

**Frankenstein Rex by Adam Roberts** reimagines the narrative of Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein*. The plot follows the monster, described as superior to humanity, as he takes control of Europe, exploring themes of power.

**As We Fall Through Time by Claire North** explores two intertwined love stories linked by time travel, from the perspective of Cal, who seeks to save a soldier from death during the French Revolution, to Fadimatu, who discovers her mummified remains in a museum.

Niffenegger’s sequel, **Life Out of Order**, follows Alba, the time-traveling daughter of Claire and Henry from *The Time Traveler’s Wife*. Alba navigates relationships with two men, Zach and Oliver, while dealing with serious themes including climate change and social issues.

**A Wall Is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz** tells the story of Gardenpath, a slime mould from an ancient civilization and a graduate biology student, who embarks on a journey to discover something rare on a dangerous planet.

**The Floating World by Ben Eastham**, published by the small press Fitzcarraldo, features a billionaire creating a utopia for the wealthy on a Greek island. A journalist discovers unsettling realities beneath the surface of this exclusive community.

The graphic novel **Ready Player One**, illustrated by Meredith Laxton, revisits the original story set in 2045 of Wade Watts, who faces fierce competition while solving puzzles left by the OASIS creator to win control of the virtual reality.

Finally, **Incarnate by Alma Katsu** presents a gripping tale of Dorothy, who creates an idealized social media figure, Isabella. As Isabella gains fame, Dorothy finds it increasingly difficult to distinguish her own identity from her creation.