Science Fiction Writing Workshops - Including Options that are Free, Asynchronous, or Outside of the United States

One of the great delights of my time in Utrecht was taking a science fiction writing workshop via my university's culturcentrum. Working on speculative fiction writing exercises, talking with classmates, and hearing their ideas develop, under the guidance of a supportive and thoughtful teacher (thank you, Max Urai!) was incredible. Highly, highly recommend learning new things as a coping strategy for any time of change or upheaval.

 

Having enjoyed the class and wanting to find other options, I began searching around the internet for classes. Most of the research for the following list was done in April of 2025, when I didn't know where I would be living or working next. However, the links should direct to workshops or information that is currently relevant and I have specifically noted where I have checked or updated for the latest information. Although there are a lot of "standard" lists encouraging writers to dream big and apply for major workshops like Viable Paradise and Clarion, I haven't been able to find much that lists many options for learning opportunities that are smaller scale. That's what I've tried to do here!

 

The list has two major sections--Noncompetitive and Application Required. These are probably fairly self explanatory, but the emphasis in the first section is on workshops or materials that are accessible at a beginning or intermediate level. I also wanted to include notes on how much these opportunities cost and highlight low-cost or free options. The second section is meant to highlight workshops or opportunities that have competitive admission.

Lastly, I wanted to include options that are accessible to people in a range of places and situations. At times the speculative fiction community feels very heavily US-centric (and I wasn't living there when I assembled these links). The list below is entirely focused on courses in English, but I also tried to include options accessible to students in a range of time zones and countries and to include options that might fit around a variety of work schedules. And finally, I wanted to include both options that focus on producing written work and options that include opportunities to read or reflect on speculative fiction as a genre.

This list is heavily structured around what I personally find relevant and useful, but hope that others might find it helpful. Please do leave a comment, or send me an email, if any of the information below is in need of correction.

Noncompetitive

 

Online, Paid--Asynchronous 

 

Advanced Science Fiction and Fantasy (Udemy) 

An asynchronous online course by Damien Walter, focused on mythology, with about eight and a half hours of video lectures in multiple parts and nine article readings. The course is $79.99 to purchase and access is listed as "full lifetime." 

Class Central

Offers a tremendously wide range of courses from a range of different providers such as The Great Courses, including some specifically focused on reading particular works of science fiction, and studying themes or trends within the genre and its development. Prices vary and there seem to some free trial options for access. Note that some courses listed are marked as no longer available.

Creative Writing: Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy, University of Newcastle Australia

Seems to offer a flexible online option alongside an in-person, on campus version. Unclear if open to students from outside the university and a price is not listed, but it does seem to be in the course catalogue for 2027.  Classes are about 2 hours/week and students are expected to do substantial reading and writing out of class (about 140 hours over the course of the semester). 

How Great Science Fiction Works

A lecture course by Gary K. Wolfe on the development of the genre. Consists of 24 half-hour lectures and costs about $50 to access.

National Center for Writing, UK 

While one of the science fiction course on world-building is both self-paced and free, most of them seem to be self-paced and paid; a bundle of courses can be purchased for £75.

NK Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

An article from Carolyn Cox on the Portalist (from five years ago, so many of the links are no longer functional) lists a number of classes with famous writers on the Masterclass platform; NK Jemisin's has sixteen lessons over about four hours. A Masterclass subscription is $10/month and the platform offers a thirty-day free trial.

The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers--Classes on Demand

Includes a range of on-demand classes on specific aspects of genre writing from Cat Rambo. Subscribers to Rambo's patreon can get discounts on classes or access to free classes or coaching sessions.

Science Fiction, George Brown Polytechnic Continuing Education 

A self-directed online courses via a Canadian university--teacher support is available by email. Course runs for 42 hours. A prerequisite communications course or equivalent is required. Cost is about 397CAD. 

Science Fiction and Fantasy: Creating Unique and Powerful Worlds

A class on Skillshare with Lincoln Michel. Contains twelve short video lessons, totaling about an hour and includes a few short exercises. Seems to be accessible with a free membership, or skillshare subscription, costing about $13.99/month or $168/year as of fall 2026.

Writing the Other--On Demand Classes

A small selection of Masterclasses, webinars and self-paced deep dive classes are available for purchase. Prices range from $40-$200.

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, University of Calgary

An online, asynchronous class (15 hours) which includes outlining and writing up to 4,000 words of a novel or short story. Materials are not included in the course cost, which is 329CAD.

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Writers' College 

An online, self-paced course which includes five modules, twelve assignments, and is complete over the course of six months. The tutor is Sonny Whitelaw and the cost of the course is given in NZ (895), GBP, (495) and ZAR (8495), since the sponsoring organizing has branches in New Zeeland, the UK, and South Africa.

Online, Paid--Synchronous 

 

Ad Astra Institute 

Synchronous short courses via patreon. Each seems to be about $25.

Creative Writing--NASA

A range of different workshops (flash fiction, dialogue, etc) are offered at the Gilruth Center in Houston; an online option is also available. Workshops are one day, 2-3 hours, and costs vary between $45-$75, depending on length of class and time of registration. 

Futurescapes Summer Retreat

As of 2026, the workshop was held in late June; included optional, recorded craft classes; lasted for three days; and required a $199 registration fee. 

Gotham Writers Workshop

Offers a range of online, synchronous classes including Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing I, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing II, and a two-day  Science Fiction Writing Intensive (prices range, depending on if you want individual attention or not; without it, course prices without one2ones are $464 for a ten-week class). Modalities seem to include in-person in NYC, Zoom, and asynchronous options.

The Great Escape: Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, University of Toronto

An online course led by Amanda Kallis with synchronous meetings (Tuesday evenings ET) totaling 20 hours, taking place via the University of Toronto's online learning platform. Unclear if materials are included in the course fee, which is $699. Course focuses on developing a short story.

The Muse Writers Center 

Offers hybrid, online, and in-person workshops in Norfolk, VA. Classes have in the past but do not currently (fall 2026) include a science fiction class, though there are general fiction classes and a hybrid flash horror workshop (six meetings, $295) ongoing.  

The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers

Cat Rambo (and others) offer a wide range of classes for genre writers. Currently, all links to live classes via the website seem to be down, so it is not possible to see what is being offered. Events and workshop seems to be active and ongoing via Rambo's patreon, where subscribers can get discounts on classes or access to free classes or coaching sessions, depending on their level of subscription.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel I, UCLA Extension

Course focuses on giving aspiring writers tools to plan and begin a speculative novel, including an outlining, opening, and 25-page first chapter. Note that this is the first in a sequence of three courses. Taught by Henry Lien. Classes are three hours/class, one a week, for about ten weeks. Course cost is $820.

Stanford Continuing Studies Creative Writing

Offers Zoom classes on writing in a variety of genres; the fall 2026 curriculum features classes on "The Speculative and the Fantastic" (mostly reading-focused with writing ~5,000 words of a novel), romance, and horror. Prices as of checking were about $1040/class; unclear if readings or materials are included or are an extra cost. Note that class times may vary and are frequently during the workday (PT).

Writing the Other

A workshop series specifically focused on helping writers create characters that are different from themselves "sensitively and convincingly."  A webinar (5.5 hours long) currently available for registration costs $100 plus a small registration fee.

In Person, Paid

 

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing 

An in-person course taught by Max Urai, which takes place at the Parnassus Culturcentrum in Utrecht, NL. Course takes places over seven evening meetings and focuses on writing exercises and the development of a short story. Pricing is tiered, depending on university affiliation. Warmly and enthusiastically recommended!

Space Crones and Sci-Fi Worlds

A four week, in-person course at CityLit in London, UK, focusing particularly on reading about science fiction as a literature of disrupting expectations. Fee is £139.

Free 

 

Janice Hardy's Fiction University--Free at Home Writing Workshops

 Two options for thirty-day challenges, with email prompts for either 1) finishing a novel or 2) developing ideas for one. Set up during the pandemic in 2020; not entirely clear if this is still maintained and functioning.

Imagining Other Earths

A free course on Coursera, with Princeton University astronomer David Spergel, about what life on other plants might look like. Not specifically science fiction focused. Consists of 25-modules, each of which are marked as requiring about an hour to complete. Hosted on Coursera (where there seem to be a number of free courses on writing but none specifically on scifi or fantasy).

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future 

A free online and asynchronous writing workshop taught through a series of thirteen videos and eleven lessons. Workshop registration gives participants access to a class forum. As of fall 2026, seems to be active and maintained.

National Center for Writing, UK 

Free, self-paced online writing courses, not specific to genre.

Start Writing Fiction 

A free course from the Open University, UK. Not genre-specific.

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

A self-guided free course put together by Jeffery Carter which has track for getting started quickly and a track for in-depth learning. 

Application Required

 

In-Person

 

Ad Astra Speculative Fiction Writing Workshop  

Takes place on the campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, for two weeks in the summer (2027 workshop dates are 20 June-3 July). Application requires a registration form and a story (maximum length 4000 words); they close in June 4 but often fill up before then. Costs for the upcoming workship are $1200 tuition, plus about $800 for lodgings. Food and maintenance are additional expenses on top of this, and partial scholarships are available.

A Novel-Writing Workshop and masterclasses also take place under the Ad Astra banner, with comparable dates and prices.

Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Workshop, UC San Diego

A six-week intensive writing workplace focused on speculative fiction short story writing that takes place in the summer; participants live and take classes on the campus of UCSD. Has an extremely distinguished reputation, faculty, and alumni. Application fee is $60-$75, depending on when you apply, with some fee waivers available. Workshop application includes two short stories (1,500-6,000 words long) with some specific formatting requirements. The fee for tution, room, and board is $6,750 and scholarships are available.

Taos Toolbox

Appears defunct--no application or workshop information is available after the 2024 summer workshop.

Viable Paradise

A one-week, residential workshop on Martha's Vineyard, focusing on supporting participants in writing and selling commercial science fiction, with a faculty that encompasses the who's who of modern western speculative fiction. The application requires a cover letter; a writing sample of up to 8,000 words with specific formatting requirements and a synopsis; and an application fee (tiered--submitting earlier costs less). Tuition is $2500 and includes two meals/day and course materials. Lodging is arranged separately; the workshop hotel costs are high ($336-$406/night); participants often arrange to share rooms. A scholarship is available for Writers of Color. 

Online Synchronous

 

Clarion West

A six-week intensive writing workplace focused on speculative fiction short story writing that takes place in the summer. Usually it has both an in-person (in Seattle) workshop and a virtual workshop, but in summer 2027, the workshop will be virtual only . Like the original Clarion, it has an extremely distinguished reputation, faculty, and alumni. Application fee is on a sliding scale, with some fee waivers available. Workshop application includes two short stories (7,500 words total, including synopsis, unpublished) with some specific formatting requirements. The fee for tution, room, and board is $3,200  and scholarships are available. Clarion West also offers a range of synchronous and on-demand classes (some have sliding scale pricing).

Futurescapes 

Workshops are split into a Submission Workshop (focused on those who are getting ready to submit their work for publication), which takes place over four days and has options for a morning or evening cohort; 2026 costs ranged from $274-$474 depending on application date.

There is also a 100-Page Workshop, which takes place over two days; times are not listed but the programming seems to be for a full day, and 2026 dates were in late September. 2026 costs ranged from $1290-$1790, depending on application date.

Lastly, as part of the 100-Page Workshop, Futurescapes offers additional Craft Intensives, which are available to workshop participants and the general public ($55/class, including discount passes for multi-class purchase). The classes took place in late September and participants could access recordings for thirty days afterwards.

Odyssey Online Classes

A few different options are offered. Each class is a short series (3 weeks, 90 minutes), includes homework, and (as of fall 2026) costs $279. Application requires a fee ($10), credited to tuition on acceptance and a 1000 word writing sample.

Odyssey Workshop

A personal writing workshop where applicants apply with a 4,000-word manuscript and (if accepted), choose a workshop pace of 6, 8, or 12 weeks. Tuition cost is $3600 (as of 2026) and includes materials. Scholarships are available. 

Other Useful Odds-n-Ends 

To close off, some links that aren't quite courses, classes, or workshops, but that still seem relevant to building knowledge of speculative fiction and its creation.

Book Club 

J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction 

Offers a virtual book club; no information for 2026/2027 posted. The Gunn Center does cross-list classes offered at KU, although this page is not currently accessible. When I inquired about a writing class in the summer of 2025, it was offered in-person only and tuition was about $2000. For non-KU students, the Ad Astra Institute seems to be the place to go.

Note also that KU hosts extensive special collections in science fiction, including the SFWA archives.

Critique Groups

 

Meetup 

Offers a specific category for science fiction writing groups.

Spectrum: the London Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Group

A hybrid critique group based in London, including critique groups that meet on discord and a group focused on critique and accountability for longform projects. Free to join.

Good Advice

"Networking is just making friends, a how-to guide to conventioning for authors" a post from Elizabeth Bear's substack, Throw Another Bear in the Canoe. Advice that seems both wise and straightforward, and applicable to making writing friends in context beyond conventions.

"How to Navigate the Publishing Industry with Social Anxiety" by Marie Croke on the SFWA website. Advice that focuses on identifying goals and making realistic plans for engaging with others.

Other People's Lists of Workshops

Links to Writers Workshops--a list curated by Science Fiction Writers of America. Dates from 2009.

Speculative fiction writing workshops – a list via Kelly Robson

Quora--guidance on finding classes via extension programs, with emphasis that most of these will be focused on general fiction, not genre

Reedsy has a list of "18 Best Science Fiction Writing Classes in 2026" which includes a mix of paid and free options.

r/WritingHub has a long, detailed thread on where to take beginner or intermediate writing classes

TCK Publishing.Com has an article by Joanna Regulacion, "17 Science Fiction Workshops to Help You Finish Your Short Story" 

Self Study

How to Design a Guided Self-Study--a wonderful, detailed step by step guide from Reign of Ravynn

Still and still

Last Week in October

 

The trees are undressing, and fling in many places--

On the gray road, the roof, the window-sill--

Their radiant robes and ribbons and yellow laces; 

A leaf each second so is flung at will,
Here, there, another and another, still and still.

26 October 2025

A spider's web has caught one while downcoming,

That stays there dangling when the rest pass on;
Like a suspended criminal hangs he, mumming
In golden garb, while one yet green, high yon,
Trembles, as fearing such a fate for himself anon. 

 

~ Thomas Hardy, reprinted in Autumn: an anthology for the changing seasons, edited by Melissa Harrison (London, 2016), p. 153 

Like fall

In Love with Sadness

I wish I were like fall...I wish I were like fall

I wish I were like fall, silent, with no desires at all

My wishes' leaves would one by one turn sallow-gold

My eyes' sun would grow cold

The heavens of my breast would fill with pain

And suddenly a storm of grief would seize my heart

Like rain my tears would start

And stain my dress

Oh...how lovely then, if I were like fall

Feral and bitter, with colors seeping into one another, so beautiful

In my eyes a poet would read...a heavenly poem

In my chest a lover's heart would flare with fire

And in its sparks a hidden pain

My song...

Like a breeze's voice, with broken wings,

The scent of grief would drip on hearts grown tired of things.

In front of me

The bitter face of a new winter:

Behind me

Summer's sudden love, all its commotion.

My breast

The home of sadness, pain, suspicion

I wish I were like fall...I wish I were like fall 

 

~Forugh Farrokhzad (1934-1967), in The Mirror of my Heart: A Thousand Years of Persian Poetry by Women translated by Dick Davis (New York, 2019), p. 185 

 

 

 

A Triptych on happiness

What's all this talk of exile

    as a tale of misery?

Your homeland's where you're happiest

    wherever that might be. 

 

~Ofaq Jalayer, in The Mirror of my Heart: A Thousand Years of Persian Poetry by Women translated by Dick Davis (New York, 2019), p. 51

18 June 2026

My rose, what did you see among flowers, in the garden,

Apart from scolding, spiteful thorns, what did you see?

In the bazaar, my ruby, shining with such radiance,

Apart from that mean customer, what did you see?

You went into the fields, your fate was to be caged,

Apart from this cage, captured bird, what did you see?

 

 ~Parvin Etesami (1907-1941), in The Mirror of my Heart: A Thousand Years of Persian Poetry by Women translated by Dick Davis (New York, 2019), p. 143

13 August, 2026

Making Do

I'll pick weeds if no flowers appear for me

And I'll drink drops if I can't reach the sea. 

 

~Mastureh Kurdi (1804-1848), in The Mirror of my Heart: A Thousand Years of Persian Poetry by Women translated by Dick Davis (New York, 2019), p. 102 

Now it is today

Yesterday the sun shone bright,

over a snow covered hill

yesterday a tender sight

a bird on my window sill.

15 March 2026

Yesterday the rivers flowed

cool and clean and free

yesterday it was not cold

and sights were there to see.

1 March 2026

Yesterday my heart was happy

My heart was calm and gay

yesterday was wonderful

but now it is today. 

 

~Vanessa Howard, A Screaming Whisper (New York, 1972), p. 52 

Goals for 2026

A belated happy New Year, dear reader. Wishing you and yours peace, joy, and community in the year ahead.

This now my fifth year of posting goals for the New Year and looking the world around us, I thought about taking a break from these posts. 

(I first posted this song in 2020; it seems even more apropos now...) 

 

But here we are once more. In no particular order, my goals for the coming year:

1. Participate in the 2026 Books in Translation Reading Challenge. The latter has been a real highlight of my past few years of reading, bringing me into contact with so many books I would never otherwise have read. 
2. My current contract ends halfway through 2026, so figuring out what and where's next is a particularly pressing goal. Fingers crossed!
3. The timing makes this a particularly ambitious goal, but I plan to participate in Jami Attenberg's 1000 Words of Summer, writing challenge, which starts May 30, 2026 and ends June 12, 2026.  
4. Two goals in one: revise a short story from the science fiction writing class I took in 2025 and submit it for publication. 
5. Produce at least six blog posts, including a conclusion to my "Learning New Words with Lymond" blog post series--currently halfway through the alphabet; and a post organizing the list of writing workshops and classes I made after my previous class ended.
6. Without injury, get back to regularly running 3-4 times a week, and by the end of the summer, be comfortable running 25-mile weeks again.
7. Take a weaving class or workshop.
8. Play music with other people again.
9.  In academic publication, I want to meet my current deadlines and clear the decks on work that is overdue. Right at the end of 2025, I was awarded a summer fellowship to work on a next big project, so I'd like to get a draft of a book proposal for that finished this year.
10. As a doctoral student, my weekly bread-baking hobby was an excellent way to cope with stress and uncertainty, so my goal for this year is to return to that habit. Will I be able to bake 52 different kinds of yeast bread in 2026? Let's find out!
11.  Land at least one textile UFO (unfinished objects that I can remember include a quilt, a knitted shawl, a knitted blanket, a pair of pajamas, hot pad hooked rug, bowl or hat made by nålbinding and embroidery of a seascape, so there's plenty to choose from...)
12. Volunteer in my community (food bank, animal shelter, or state park) at least three times.

What are your hopes or ambitions for the coming year? Whether you have many New Years' Resolutions or none, I wish you the best 2026 possible.

What I Read and Watched in 2025

Wow, 2025 marks my sixth year of posting about what I have read. What fun!

I hope you have had a joyful and wide-ranging year of reading, whatever that means in your particular circumstances. What were your favouite books this year? Sharing recommendations or delight in a good read is such fun--if you have read any of the books below, or have recommendations for books I need to read in 2026, do leave a comment or send me a message to let me know!

In 2025 I read 120 books...

Before we get to the full list, here are the highlights. These are the books I texted my friends and family about; the ones might surprised, delighted, or challenged me.

1. From my reading challenges...too many books to list, but A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.; all three books of the Themis Files; Fresh Water for Flowers; Your Utopia; and the the Plotters are books I had great fun reading.
2. For the historical fiction fan...Sparrow by James Hynes is not easy to read--its main character is a young boy enslaved in a late Roman brothel--and I found myself frustrated by a few of its loose ends (how and why does the main character end up marooned in post-Roman Britain, tell me), but it is a welcome and delightful addition to the very small cast of English-language historical novels about Late Antiquity. Honourable mention, also to Deep as the sky, red as the sea by Rita Chang-Eppig, a fast-paced and compulsively readable novel about a famous Chinese pirate queen, Shek Yeung.
3. For the romance fan...hockey romance is an absolute phenomenon in the romance genre, and I was completely unaware of it until the trailer for Heated Rivalry dropped in November. While waiting for the show and in between the first few episodes, I mainlined Rachel Reid's entire Game Changers series. It's hard to pick a favourite, but since the TV adaption was so much fun, we'll go with Heated Rivalry. Or, wait, Tough Guy. Or we need to talk about Role Model and also the Long Game. The entire series is very enjoyable.
4. For readers of short stories...Walking the Clouds: an anthology of indigenous science fiction was genuinely great and "When this world is all on fire" has haunted me since I first read it. At the end of the year, I read Anton Hur's translation of Your Utopia by Bora Chung; which is full of stories that delighted me.
5. As a new reader of horror...Black River Orchard was good; Stephen Graham Jones' original and terrifying conception of vampirism will keep make me turn on the light in the dark for some time to come. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter was a great read.
6. For fans of classic literature...Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (London, 2020); originally published as Lolly Willowes, or the Loving Huntsman (London, 1926) is a short and utterly delightful book about a middle-aged spinster who sells her soul to the devil and gets the better end of the bargain.
7. From previous years...Now that I've done six years of these posts, it's fun to look back on previous lists and full out a recommendation for a book that I am still thinking about: Elizabeth Moon's Speed of Dark, from my 2021 reading list. It's a near-future novel which follows a young autistic man as he wrestles with the choice of whether to accept a surgery that might "cure" his autism, and its unique voice and characters have lingered in my memory for years. Worth checking out!

Reading

After struggling to assign some of the books I read in 2024 to one category, I decided to organize 2025's list by what I finished each month. Also, it's fun to see how my reading changed at different points in the year...

 

All titles in BOLD were read as part of my 2025 reading challenges. 

 

Spells and Spaceships Virtual Badge Collection

Books in Translation Reading Challenge

January

1. A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen: Easy Seasonal Dishes for Family and Friends by Jack Bishop (Boston, 2004)
   
2. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (Mineola, New York, 2002)
3. Classic German Cooking by Luisa Weiss (New York, 2024)
4. A Slanting of the Sun: Stories by Donal Ryan (Dublin, 2016)
5.  The Pariah by Anthony Ryan (London, 2021)
   
6. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. (New York, 1959)
7. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (London, 2024)
   

February

1. The Martyr by Anthony Ryan (London, 2022)
2. The Girl in Red by Christina Henry (New York, 2019)
3. Voices of the Lost by Hoda Barakat, translated from Arabic by Marilyn Booth (London, 2021)
4. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (London, 2020); originally published as Lolly Willowes, or the Loving Huntsman (London, 1926) 
5. The People's Album of London Statues, described by Osbert Sitwell, drawn by Nina Hamnett (London, 1928)
6. The Traitor by Anthony Ryan (London, 2023)
7. Nero by Conn Iggulden (London, 2024)
8. Good Will Come From the Sea by Christos Ikonomou, translated from Greek by Karen Emmerich (Brooklyn, 2019)
9. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (New York, 2018)
   

March

1. The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang (Oxford, 2023)
2. Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Belding Brown (New York, 2014)
3. A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare, translated from Albanian by John Hodgson (London, 2023)
4. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (London, 1986)
5. My mother she killed me, my father he ate me: forty new fairy tales, edited by Kate Bernheimer and Carmen Giménez Smith (New York, 2010)
6.  The Chinese Gold Murders by Robert van Gulik (London, 1959; reprinted 2024)
7. Funny Story by Emily Henry (New York, 2024)
8. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (New York, 2018)
9. Sparrow by James Hynes (London, 2024)
10.  Walking the Clouds: an anthology of indigenous science fiction (Tucson, 2012), edited by Grace L. Dillon
    

April

1. Pyramids by Terry Pratchett (London, 1989; reissued 2012)
   
2. How to kill an asteroid: the real science of planetary defense by Robin George Andrews (London, 2024)
3.  Day by night by Tanith Lee (New York, 1980)
4.  Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (London, 2025)
5.  Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (London, 2004; reissued 2014)
6.  The Mile-Long Spaceship by Kate Wilhelm (New York, 1963)
7. The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction by Henry T. Greeley
   
8.  Sleeping Giants by Slyvain Neuvel (London, 2016)

May

1. Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (London, 1994, reissued 2013)
2. How to Survive a Summer by Nike White (New York, 2017)
3. The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste (Edinburgh, 2019)
4. Ethiopia: recipes and traditions from the horn of Africa by Yohanis Gebreysesus (London, 2018)
5. Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher (Dallas, 2021)
6. Snuff by Terry Pratchett (London, 2011)
7. Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel (London, 2017)
8. Daylight Come by Diana McCaulay (Leeds, 2020)
9.  The Alphabet of Birds by SJ Naudé translated from Afrikaans by the author (London, 2015)
10. Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup (Sword Lady Books, 2024)
11. Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel (London, 2018)
12. Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig (New York, 2023)
13. A Drop of Patience by William Melvin Kelley (New York, 1965; reprinted 2019)

June

1.  Night Boat by Alan Spence (Edinburgh, 2013)
2.  Hogfather by Terry Pratchett (London, 1996; reprinted 2013)
3. The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi (London, 2021) 
4.  Making Money by Terry Pratchett (London, 2001; reprinted 2014)
5. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (New York, 2018) 

July

1. Terminal Boredom: Stories by Izumi Suzuki, translated from Japanese by Polly Barton, Sam Bett, David Boyd, Daniel Joseph, Aiko Masubuchi, and Helen O’Horan (London, 2021)

Also reread...

1. Much Ado About You by Eloisa James (New York, 2004)
2. Kiss Me Annabel by Eloisa James (New York, 2005)
3. The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James (New York, 2006)

August 

1. Far, far away by Tom McNeal (New York, 2013) 
2. Virginia Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat Stuff by Sharon Cavileer 
3. Manners and Southern History edited by Ted Ownby (Jackson, 2007) 
4. Bride by Ali Hazelwood (New York, 2024) 

Also reread

1. 9 Rules to break when romancing a rake by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2010)
2. 10 ways to be adored when landing a lord by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2010)
3. 11 scandals to start to win a duke's heart by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2011)
4. Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James (New York, 2006)
5. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2012)
6. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2013)
7. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2013)
8. Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean (New York, 2014)
9. Duchess in Love by Eloisa James (New York, 2002)
10. Fool for Love by Eloisa James (New York, 2003)
11. Your Wicked Ways by Eloisa James (New York, 2004)
12. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (New York, 2021)
13. The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas  (New York, 2022)

September

1. Kindred Spirits: an anthology of gay and lesbian science fiction stories, edited by Jeffrey M. Elliot (Boston, 1984)
2. Deep as the sky, red as the sea by Rita Chang-Eppig (New York, 2023) 
3. Legends: New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy, edited by Robert Silverberg (New York, 1998)
4. The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle (Harmondsworth, 1957, reprinted 1971)
5. Uprooted by Naomi Novik (New York, 2016) 
6. Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo (Large Print Edition, Thorndike Press, 2022)
7. Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márquez translated from Spanish by Edith Grossman (New York, 2005)
8.  Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer (New York, 2014)
9.  Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (New York, 2021)
10.  A Rare Benedictine by Ellis Peters (New York, 1988)
11. Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher (Red Wombat Studio, 2023) 
12. The Tavern Knight by Rafael Sabatini (originally published London, 1904). Librivox Audiobook.

Also reread 

1. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (London, 2013)  
2. Niccolo Rising by Dorothy Dunnett (Harmondsworthy, 1986; Penguin edition published 1987) 

October

1. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig (New York, 2025)
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (New York, 2015)
3. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly (New York, 1988) 
4. Going for Infinity by Poul Anderson (New York, 2002)
5. Authority by Jeff Vandermeer (New York, 2014)
6. Devil House by John Darnielle (New York, 2022)
7. Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette (New York, 2021)
8. The Nebuly Coat by John Meade Falkner (London, 1903; reprinted with an introduction by A.N. Wilson, 2016)

November

1. When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri (New York, 2018)
2. The Three-Body Problem by Cinxin Liu, translated from Chinese by Ken Liu (New York, 2014)
3.  Herbs in the Kitchen: A Celebration of Flavor by Carolyn Dille and Susan Belsinger (Loveland, CO, 1992)
4.  Autumn: An anthology for the changing seasons edited by Melissa Harrison (London, 2016)
5.  Out there screaming: a new anthology of Black horror, edited by Jordan Peale (New York, 2023)
6. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (New York, 2025)
7. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (Toronto, 2019)
8. The Long Game by Rachel Reid (Toronto, 2022)
9. Role Model by Rachel Reid (Toronto, 2021)
10.  Laguardia: a very modern story of immigration by Nnedi Okorafor, illustrated by Tana Ford with James Devlin (Milwaukie, OR, 2019)
11. The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton (London, 1996; Orbit edition published New York, 2008)
12.  Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin, translated from French by Hildegarde Searle (New York, 2021)
13. Outcast by Rosemary Sutcliff (London, 1955)
14. Tough Guy by Rachel Reid (Toronto, 2020)
15. Common Goal by Rachel Reid (Toronto, 2020) 
16. Game Changer by Rachel Reid (Toronto, 2018) 

December 

1. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor (New York, 2021)
2. Chouette by Claire Oshetsky (New York, 2022)
3. Your Utopia by Bora Chung, translated from Korean by Anton Hur (New York, 2024)
4. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James (New York, 2019) 
5.  The Call of the Toad by Günter Grass, translated from German by Ralph Manheim (New York, 1992)
6. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated from Italian by the author (New York, 2021)
7.  The Plotters by Un-Su Kim, translated from Korean by Sora Kim-Russell (New York, 2018) 

Also reread 

1. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (New York, 2006, reprinted 2024) 
2.  Red Seas Under Read Skies by Scott Lynch (New York, 2007, reprinted 2025)

Best of Viewing and Listening

I gave myself a break from keeping track of what I read and watched in 2025, with the result that this section contains only the greatest hits. 

Movies

1. Dishonourable mention to One Battle After Another, which has a great soundtrack and is not my cup of tea.
2. Honourable mention to Far from the Madding Crowd, which is everything a period drama should be. 

Podcasts

1. I highly recommend the New Books Network to anyone who enjoys hearing academics talk about their work. The episode with Michelle Brown on her new book, Bede and the Theory of Everything, was a particular delight.
2.  Nobody Asked Us continues to be one of my favourite running podcasts. Listening to Des and Kara feels like overhearing a real fun conversation between two great friends at the table next to yours in a restaurant.
3. Ali on the Run--for someone who has a relentlessly hard few years, Alison Feller is incredibly positive and open and optimistic. She really is a wonderful interviewer, too, and gets great conversations going with a wide variety of runners.
4. Also, for reasons that will become apparent: the hockey podcast What Chaos and its reviews of the queer hockey romance show, Heated Rivalry.

Television

1. Watched Murderbot; loved Murderbot. Many people wanted a different actor to play Murderbot; for me Alexander Skarsgård gave the perfect performance. What a well-made show and a delight to watch. Cannot wait to see the next season.
2. Blood of My Blood had so many phenomenal actors to work with and despite many fine moments, didn't quite become the sensation I was hoping for. But as ever, Bear McCreary's score was amazing.
3. Loved the third season of the Wheel of Time, and sorry to see that it was canceled. For that matter,  
4. Rewatched all of Stranger Things in preparation for season 5; seasons 1 and 3 continue to be my absolute favourites. I didn't actually watch the new season as it dropped because I became absolutely obsessed with...
5. Heated Rivalry. What can I possibly say about this show? It is a (spicy!) adaption of a (spicy!) hockey romance novel and every single thing about it delights me to near-incoherence. Jacob Tierney adapts the source novel with such great affection and respect for the original material and its audience; all of the actors involved in the project are tremendously gifted at what they do and very easy on the eyes; the soundtrack is incredible; it's funny and queer and heartrending and delightful. My joy and excitement that it will have a second season is immense and unrestrained. Also, the fact that a number of hockey podcast got into the show, and loved it, was great fun. I particularly loved the two What Chaos episode interviewing the director Jacob Tierney.

Youtube

2025 was not a great year for Youtube-watching, but I continue to be a big fan of the videos by the multi-talented pro runner Allie Ostrander.

Previous Years of Reading

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020