Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing — 2026-09-17
The 37th Galaxy Awards in China made headlines with a rare vacancy for the Best Novel category and a surge of support for 90s-born debut authors. In the US, Locus Magazine reported a major leadership shift at Nightmare Magazine, while Rachel Gillig’s latest fantasy sequel dominated the weekly bestseller charts. <!-- /headline --> **China's Galaxy Awards Leave Top Novel Prize Vacant as New Voices Rise** <!-- /headline -->
Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing — 2026-09-17
The 37th Galaxy Awards in China made headlines with a rare vacancy for the Best Novel category and a surge of support for 90s-born debut authors. In the US, Locus Magazine reported a major leadership shift at Nightmare Magazine, while Rachel Gillig’s latest fantasy sequel dominated the weekly bestseller charts.
<!-- /headline -->China's Galaxy Awards Leave Top Novel Prize Vacant as New Voices Rise
<!-- /headline -->Top developments
China’s Galaxy Awards Skip Best Novel, Crown New Generation
On September 11, the 37th Galaxy Awards ceremony was held in Zigong, Sichuan, marking the first time the event has been hosted outside its traditional hubs. In a significant move, the jury left the "Best Long Novel" award vacant, citing the high bar for world-building and narrative scale required for the prize. Meanwhile, post-90s author Hua Yanxin emerged as a standout, winning three awards including Best New Writer, signaling a strong generational shift in Chinese SF. The event also celebrated the 20th anniversary of Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem, with literary figures like A Lai and Liu Cixin himself in attendance.
Nightmare Magazine Editor-in-Chief Steps Down
Locus Magazine’s September People & Publishing Roundup announced that Wendy N. Wagner is stepping down as editor-in-chief of Nightmare Magazine and senior editor of Lightspeed to focus on her own writing. Founding editor John Joseph Adams will resume the role at Nightmare starting with the January 2027 issue. This leadership change marks a significant moment for two of the genre's most respected short fiction outlets, which have been central to launching many Hugo and Nebula Award contenders.
Rachel Gillig’s "The Knave and the Moon" Tops Bestseller Lists
For the week ending September 14, Rachel Gillig’s The Knave and the Moon (Orbit), the second book in the Stonewater Kingdom series, debuted at #1 on three of the four major print lists tracked by Locus. This strong performance underscores the commercial power of romantasy and epic fantasy hybrids in the current market. Additionally, Chloe Benjamin’s literary SF novel Under Story (Putnam's) debuted on three lists, indicating robust sales for adult speculative fiction beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Local view
China Local media heavily focused on the cultural crossover aspect of this year's Galaxy Awards, particularly singer Deng Ziqi (G.E.M.)’s nomination for her novel Revelation Road. Although she did not win, her participation reportedly drove over 119,000 submissions to the preliminary rounds, highlighting how celebrity involvement can boost visibility for genre literature. Commentators noted that the vacancy for the top novel prize reflects a rigorous standard that prioritizes quality over filling slots, a stance praised by critics as maintaining the award's prestige.
Context & numbers
- Galaxy Awards Submissions: The inclusion of celebrity author Deng Ziqi resulted in 119,524 submissions during the preliminary selection phase, a spike attributed to her fanbase.
- Bestseller Rankings: The Knave and the Moon secured the #1 spot on three out of four Locus-tracked print lists for the week of September 14.
- Award History: The Galaxy Awards, founded in 1985, are considered China's most prestigious SF prize; this year marked their 37th iteration and the first time held in Zigong.
On the radar
- Warhammer Black Library Updates: Community forums are buzzing about upcoming releases, with rumors circulating about a campaign book dealing with the Nachtmund Gauntlet potentially serving as a lead-up to Warhammer 40k 11th Edition.
- Fall Release Wave: Major publishers are pushing heavy hitters for late 2026, with Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas, and Brandon Sanderson all having new titles slated for the October/November window, aiming to capitalize on holiday sales.
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