Swords and Spaceships for March 19: Nebula Finalists

Novella finalist. With the release of Birth of a Nation in 1915, demons rose, fueled by the darkest thoughts of white people, and swelled the ranks of the KKK across the nation. Only resistance fighters are willing to take them down, with bullet, blade, and bomb, sending the demons of the Klan back to Hell.

Novella finalist. A customer goes missing in a Swedish big box store and it’s up to two minimum wage retail employees to find her in the depths of the infinite retail universe where all stores across all realities are interconnected. (Full disclosure: Nino and I have the same agent.)

Novella finalist. A small group has survived nuclear war in Africa and develop otherworldly powers. They’re expected to lead and save their people, but one woman, Imade, refuses to bend to destiny or be a mere vessel for her people.

Novella finalist. After refusing to gas a crowd of protestors, a minister is banished to the border of his country to oversee the construction of the largest anti-aircraft tower ever made. He can only reclaim his life if the construction succeeds, but there are many forces–including from within himself–that want the tower to fall.

Novella finalist. A Black girl with psychic abilities so powerful that she could level a city watches as her younger brother is incarcerated–and must decide what she will and won’t do about it as she watches him suffer through their connection.

Novella finalist. In order to defeat an evil ruler, two trans elders must learn the final weave from Death itself.

Novel finalist. At the eave of a solstice that coincides with a solar eclipse, the reincarnation of a god travels to the holy city in order to usurp power from the Sun priest.

Novel finalist. As the city of New York awakens, it embodies itself in six people instead of the more traditional one–one for each borough and one for the city itself. If the city is to survive its metaphysical birth, these people must find each other and defend the city itself from the otherworldly force that would destroy it.

Novel finalist. Noemi heads into the Mexican countryside after receiving a frantic letter from her cousin, who has just married a handsome Englishman who lives in a remote country estate belonging to a family that has fallen into ruin. This book is a love letter to classic gothic novels with an unflinching twist.

Novel finalist. Murderbot’s human associates have been captured. When someone else who is totally-not-a-friend desperately calls for assistance, Murderbot swings into action. Of course things get shot and blown up.

Novel finalist. Women with magic in Beatrice’s world have two options: remain forever alone and be allowed to pursue their magic on the margins, or get married and have their magic locked away with a collar that is totally under their husband’s control. Beatrice’s family demands she marry to save their fortune; she wants only to learn magic. And then she meets someone she actually might be able to fall in love with… but it’s a choice she doesn’t want to face.

Novel finalist. Piranesi lives in an infinite house filled with thousands of statues, which imprisons an ocean that sometimes floods up through rooms. The Other visits Piranesi twice a week and asks him to help him with his research, but soon Piranesi realizes there might be another person in there with him.