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Swords and Spaceships

Pre-Order-Palooza: 2022 Black SFF To Preorder Now

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I have some pre-orders that you should consider this lovely February, as well as a few fun links to check out. We’re not quite halfway through the month, but I’ll admit my thoughts are nothing but screaming about the video game Destiny (if you want to see why…) because it’s t-minus eleven days until it swallows my life. Until then, books! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday.

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here’s somewhere to start: NDN Collective and Jane’s Due Process


News and Views

The Wheel of Time from a Geological Perspective

Futurama is coming back, on Hulu

Alex Brown’s selection of must-read speculative short fiction from January 2022

New issue of Imaginary Papers!

Marlon James did an AMA

The National Book Foundation Science + Literature program has selected 3 titles for this year

On Book Riot

Queer Retellings Coming Out 2022

This week’s SFF Yeah! podcast is about some favorite SF/F magazines

How I Fell in Love With YA Fantasy

Don’t forget to check out our new line of bookish, Wordle-inspired merch! There are mugs, t-shirts, hoodies, and more. The campaign is temporary, so order yours now!

You have until February 14 to register to win a copy of Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher. Or register by February 16 to win an audio copy of Our Dark Duet and This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab.

This month, you can enter to win a year of tailored book recommendations, a $200 gift card to the Ripped Bodice, and $50 at your favorite indie bookstore.

Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!

Free Association Friday: Pre-Order-Palooza

Since February is Black History Month, I like to celebrate it by showing as many awesome Black SFF authors as possible some pre-order love. So if you’d like to join me, here’s a non-exhaustive list of what’s coming up in 2022! (Please note that release dates seem to be… flexible these days.)

Cover of The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe

The Memory Librarian (And Other Stories of Dirty Computer) by Janelle Monáe (April 19)

This is a collection of stories by Janelle Monáe and a collection of collaborators expanding upon her landmark album Dirty Computer, telling the stories of a world where thought and memory can be controlled or erased by a few elites who believe they have the right to control the fate of everyone.

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna (May 31)

Sequel to The Gilded Ones. Six months after freeing the goddesses and discovering the truth of her identity, Deka faces a kingdom at war with itself and a people who call her and those like her monster. And the battle has only begun…

Cover of Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson

Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson (March 29)

An aspiring journalist named Jamal Lawson heads to Baltimore to document a protest against police brutality after the murder of a Black man. But Baltimore implements a new safety protocol: a dome that surrounds the city and enforces a militarized shutdown. No one can leave. Jamal must find what allies he can in the increasingly violent and oppressive lockdown if he wants to free the city… and survive.

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn (November 8)

Sequel to Legendborn. Bree has become much more than she never expected: medium, bloodcrafter, scion. She’s infiltrated the Legendborn Order and discovered her own power. But now she must use this power to take her place in the ancient war between the demons and the Order.

Cover of Sweep of Stars by Maurice Broaddus

Sweep of Stars by Maurice Broaddus (March 29)

It’s taken generations for the Muungano Empire, a coalition of city-states that stretches from original Earth to Titan, to free itself from the endless wars and oppression of Earth and build into a true utopia. But the powers remaining behind on Earth aren’t interested in letting them thrive and will stop at nothing to destroy everything they’ve built.

Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James (February 15)

The sequel to Black Leopard, Red Wolf. After her clashes with Tracker in the previous book, the 177-year-old Moon Witch Sogolon has her own tale to tell.

Cover of The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport (April 5)

Ikenna, the granddaughter of a murdered Legatus, seeks justice and revenge for his death. In order to do this, she must become one of the Praetorian Guard, and to achieve that she must first pass the trials, a brutal contest that kills three quarters of those who attempt it. Beyond that, her half-Khanaian heritage and her gender direct far more prejudice upon her head. But truth–and revenge–will not wait.

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse (April 19)

Sequel to Black Sun. After the Crow God’s eclipse, the great city of Tova has been shattered, and a comet that heralds death is about to make its appearance in the skies. Ordinary people and living avatars struggle for survival and self as enemies no longer held by empire prepare for war.

Cover of The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings

The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings (June 21)

Perilous “Perry” Graves is a failed magician who makes his home in the gorgeous, wonder-filled city of Nola, where music is magic and haints dance in the night. But nine songs of power have escaped the city’s heart, and if they aren’t recovered, Nola will fall. It’s up to Perry and his sister to find the songs and save Nola.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!


See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.