Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin Dying for You by Jenny Frame Harsh Reality by Elle E. Ire What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher BOYS, BEASTS & MEN by Sam J. Miller Bite Me! (You Know I Like It) by Fae Quin Cougar Woods by Tiana Warner All the White Spaces by Ally Wilkes
They’re bright, they’re colorful, and they’re doing the meaningful work of ensnaring a potential reader’s eye. These are the boldest and most original book covers of the year, as selected by BookPage’s designer.
The aptly named Elizabeth Story, Tachyon’s lead designer, is that rare and fantastic unicorn who combines artistic, technical, and verbal skills.
She came to Tachyon in 2009 as an editorial intern, having graduated with honors from the Creative Writing department at UC Santa Cruz. Her prior experience included creating motivational posters, newsletters, and comic strips for a children’s tutoring center; editing a campus literary magazine; and assisting in a perfumery.
Cover by Elizabeth StoryCover by Elizabeth StoryCover by Elizabeth StoryCover by Elizabeth StoryCover by Elizabeth Story2022 covers by Elizabeth Story
Once Story dashed off some impromptu promotional materials in Photoshop, it became clear that she was destined to work as Tachyon as an artist instead of an editor. Since that time, Story has designed many of Tachyon’s most creative book covers and interiors, press kits, holiday cards, and catalogs.Story, also, generates the content for Tachyon’s Instagram.
Self Caricature
Even after earning her M.F.A., Story still sleeps very little while remaining wittier than most people you know. It is said that she locked her first novel, which may or may not have been illustrated, in a drawer because it tried to bite her.
Tachyon wishes the incredible Elizabeth a very happy birthday, and hopes that she doesn’t get cheated out of holiday presents just because she was born on the wrong day.
The aptly named Elizabeth Story, Tachyon’s lead designer, is that rare and wondrous unicorn who combines artistic, technical, and verbal skills.
She came to Tachyon in 2009 as an editorial intern, having graduated with honors from the Creative Writing department at UC Santa Cruz. Her prior experience included creating motivational posters, newsletters, and comic strips for a children’s tutoring center; editing a campus literary magazine; and assisting in a perfumery.
2021 covers by Elizabeth Story
Once Story dashed off some impromptu promotional materials in Photoshop, it became clear that she was destined to work as Tachyon as an artist instead of an editor. Since that time, Story has designed many of Tachyon’s most creative book covers and interiors, press kits, holiday cards, and catalogs.Story, also, generates the content for Tachyon’s Instagram.
Self caricature
Even after earning her M.F.A., Story still sleeps very little while remaining wittier than most people you know. It is said that she locked her first novel, which may or may not have been illustrated, in a drawer because it tried to bite her.
Tachyon wishes the incredible Elizabeth a very happy birthday, and hopes that she doesn’t get cheated of holiday presents just because she was born on the wrong day.
The aptly named Elizabeth Story, Tachyon’s lead designer, is that rare and wondrous unicorn who combines artistic, technical, and verbal skills.
Nicole Kornher-Stace as envisioned by Elizabeth Story
Elizabeth Story Caricature by Elizabeth Story
She came to Tachyon in 2009 as an editorial intern, having graduated with honors from the Creative Writing department at UC Santa Cruz. Her prior experience included creating motivational posters, newsletters, and comic strips for a children’s tutoring center; editing a campus literary magazine; and assisting in a perfumery.
Once Story dashed off some impromptu promotional materials in Photoshop, it became clear that she was destined to work as Tachyon as an artist instead of an editor. Since that time, Story has designed many of Tachyon’s most creative book covers and interiors, press kits, holiday cards, and catalogs.Story, also, generates the content for Tachyon’s Instagram.
Based on initial concepts by Francesca Myman
2020 covers by Elizabeth Story
Even after earning her M.F.A., Story still sleeps very little while remaining wittier than most people you know. It is said that she locked her first novel, which may or may not have been illustrated, in a drawer because it tried to bite her.
Tachyon wishes the incredible Elizabeth a very happy birthday, and hopes that she doesn’t get cheated of holiday presents just because she was born on the wrong day.
OF MICE AND MINESTRONE – HAP AND LEONARD: THE EARLY YEARS provides a look at events that shaped Hap and Leonard into the men they would become. You don’t have to be a H&L fan to enjoy the book, but if you are you’ll enjoy it all the more. My favorite story gave the book it’s title. Lansdale sets up a classic situation and then throws in twists along the way (doesn’t he always) that will leave you smiling at his storytelling ability and sad at the situations the characters are in. There’s not a weak story in the book and even though I’m not much of a cook, I think I’ll give a recipe or two a shot.
SEA CHANGE is a welcome addition to the growing subgenre of climate change fiction that bursts with hope. If nothing else, if we ignored Kress’s clever worldbuilding and her engaging characterizations, that belief in hope makes it worthy.
Unfortunately, Dick, or Richard Anselm III, is today’s prize. I’m given to understand that the full saying used to be “dick is in abundance and of low value,” but with the ongoing red plague, that hasn’t been the case, since it kills off mostly people with a Y chromosome. Not quite an apocalypse, but many communities, mine included, are still reeling at the sudden imbalance. Who knew the lack of cis dudes would be such a problem? And of course, those of us in the rural communities were hit the worst, and college-attending daughters, including yours truly, were summoned home. Because a little thing like the plague killing off most of the cis boys doesn’t signal the end of the patriarchy, there is now an uptick in those husband-finding competitions, and general misogynist douchebaggery.
Due to this heinous string of events, here I am on a televised contest trying to win the heart of this dude. My family had sent me because I’m witty and pretty, which is another way of saying, you’re useless on the homestead, so go use your smart mouth and bag us fresh genetic material. The producer said that I had “interviewed well” which I think means, “what a bitch, put her in for the drama.”
Speaking of Goh, LIBRARYTHING is giving away ebook copies of Crystal M. Huff’s anthology RECOGNIZE FASCISM. The book includes the Goh story “Scholar Miaka’s Brief Summary of Memories Imbued in Memory Object Exhibit 132.NW.1.”
Making an audiobook is expensive, but it’s not difficult. Publishing is such an outsource-oriented business that you can hire exactly the same people to do exactly the same job in exactly the same studio that the audiobook would be made in if you’d sold your rights to a real publisher.
What’s more, you can do better than a real publisher would — it’s your show, so you can cast the voice actors, sit in on the production, and make something really incredible. Which is what I did.
To narrate, I hired Amber Benson – author (Echo Park Coven and more), actor (Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more) and all round excellent human being, who previously performed on the audiobook for my 2017 novel Walkaway.
To direct, I hired Cassandra de Cuir from Skyboat Media, who have produced many of my audiobooks with readers ranging from Tim Curry to Anne Hathaway.
And for mastering, I hired John Taylor Williams, the engineer who masters my weekly podcast – a polymath musician, sound engineer, brewer, carpenter and all-round brilliant fellow.
Nebula-nominated Lemberg’s first novella, set in their deeply queer “Birdverse” universe, presents a beautiful, heartfelt story of change, family, identity, and courage. Centering two older transgender protagonists in the midst of emotional and physical journeys highlights the deep, meaningful prose that Lemberg always brings to their stories.
R. B. Lemberg’s first foray into long-form fiction has left me breathless. The Four Profound Weaves is a love ballad sung straight into the hearts of those who most need to hear it. I was instantly captivated by the poetic, lyrical prose and drawn in with dreams of sandbirds. It’s the queer, Middle-Eastern fairy tale we’ve been waiting for.
THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES is a beautiful novella. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that as a physical object, the book is beautiful too. The interior illustrations by Elizabeth Story (who also designed the cover) are absolutely gorgeous, and the whole book just has a lovely, well laid out feel.
Ada Hoffman on their Patreon is looking forward to discussing the work.
I really have an embarrassment of riches right now, in terms of ARCs from non-neurotypical authors I love. The next few Autistic Book Party episodes will be drawn from these ARCs – Richard Ford Burley’s “Displacement,” R.B. Lemberg’s THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES, and possibly a new one from Ennis Bashe, although I haven’t confirmed that one.
A series of informal, intimate talks given by literary and cultural luminaries, In Conversation With The Rosenbach delves into fascinating histories, intellectual curiosities, and inspiring ideas. Each program offers audience members a chance to join the conversation after the talk and share their own thoughts and questions.
Seating is limited; advance registration is strongly recommended.
The aptly named Elizabeth Story, Tachyon’s lead designer, is that rare and wondrous unicorn who combines artistic, technical, and verbal skills.
2019 Holiday Card
She came to Tachyon in 2009 as an editorial intern, having graduated with honors from the Creative Writing department at UC Santa Cruz. Her prior experience included creating motivational posters, newsletters, and comic strips for a children’s tutoring center; editing a campus literary magazine; and assisting in a perfumery.
Once Story dashed off some impromptu promotional materials in Photoshop, it became clear that she was destined to work as Tachyon as an artist instead of an editor. Since that time, Story has designed many of Tachyon’s most creative book covers and interiors, press kits, holiday cards, and catalogs.
Cover by Elizabeth Story
Cover by Carl Sutton Design by Elizabeth Story
Cover by Elizabeth Story
Cover by Elizabeth Story
Even after earning her M.F.A., Story still sleeps very little while remaining wittier than most people you know. It is said that she locked her first novel, which may or may not have been illustrated, in a drawer because it tried to bite her.
Tachyon wishes the incredible Elizabeth a very happy birthday, and
hopes that she doesn’t get cheated of Christmas presents just because
she was born on the wrong day.
The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.
Caitlín R. Kiernan (photo: Kyle Cassidy, Joe R. Lansdale (Karen Lansdale), Patricia A. McKillip (Stephen Gold/Wikimedia Commons), and Jeff VanderMeer (Kyle Cassidy)
Jessica Avery of BOOK RIOT names Caitlín R. Kiernan as one of
Am I ever going to stop talking about Caitlín R. Kiernan’s collection? Probably not. THE VERY BEST OF CAITLÍN R. KIERNAN
came along just as I was making the slide from dark fantasy in to
outright horror, and I could not have wished for a better guide. Like
King, Kiernan’s short fiction covers a broad range of subjects and
genres, from science fiction to fantasy to the cosmic horror that she’s
become so well known for with her novella Agents of Dreamland.
Her stories are strange, beautiful, and full of emotion. They have the
sort of staying power that makes them linger with you for months.
There are a few slice of life shorts like
“Death by Chili” and “Not Our Kind” and a vignette titled “The Oak and
the Pond,” which are glimpses into the characters’ lives outside of
their big adventures, These are fun to read and provide some more
character development than you might expect, but the stand-out for me
among these shorter stories is “The Boy Who Became Invisible.” It’s
about Hap’s childhood and Hap’s failure when his friend is bullied into
invisibility before the friend briefly flashes back into existence in a
terrible way. It resonates in general, but perhaps because I was the
subject of such childhood bullying it hit home a lot more for me.
Patricia McKillip creates a world of magic and beauty. The action
doesn’t hum along, but there’s a dreamlike quality to her writing that
envelopes the reader and floats them along on this journey. It’s hard to
describe, but everything comes together from tone and mood to
description and imagination. McKillip created a wonderful book that is
both quiet and powerful.
AMC Studios has acquired the television rights to Jeff VanderMeer’s popular Borne
universe novels to develop as a potential series. The books all take
place within the same mysterious, mind-bending universe VanderMeer
launched in 2017 with Borne, followed by The Strange Bird, and the latest, Dead Astronauts, set to publish today. VanderMeer will serve as an executive producer and creative consultant on the project.
For more info about THE VERY BEST OF CAITLÍN R. KIERNAN, visit the Tachyon page.
In celebration for the release of the irreverent, self-depreciating, profane, and funny PETER WATTS IS AN ANGRY SENTIENT TUMOR, Tachyon presents glimpses from the essay collection.
