Recent releases in science fiction, fantasy, and horror offer a diverse range of narratives, with several UK authors contributing to the landscape of speculative fiction. These new titles explore themes from post-apocalyptic survival and ancient folklore to Cold War espionage and psychological horror, providing readers with compelling escapes and thought-provoking stories.
Temi Oh's 'Not With a Bang' (Solstice, £20) presents a gripping tale of survival following a world-altering event. The narrative follows four sisters, prepared by their doomsday prepper father, as they navigate a devastated London. The novel, praised for its complex characterisations and conflicted relationships, delves into individual choices for survival amidst societal collapse, offering a suspenseful and human depiction of a future in turmoil. Oh, who also writes screenplays, crafts a story that is both cinematic in scope and deeply personal.
Shifting to a different kind of terror, Clare Cavenagh's debut, 'Tillinghast' (Borough, £16.99), draws inspiration from the 19th-century New England vampire panic. The story centres on Stutley Tillinghast, a reclusive former minister whose solitary existence is disrupted by the arrival of an Englishwoman searching for her mother. Cavenagh's novel offers a fresh perspective on gothic horror, moving away from conventional tropes to create a haunting and original modern tale of affliction and connection.
Benedict Anning's 'Atomic Coffin' (Bantam, £20) transports readers to 1984, blending Cold War espionage with a lurking underwater horror. The debut novel follows British agent Heidi Sperling, codename Thistle, as she uncovers a mysterious Soviet nuclear submarine between Scotland and Iceland. Forced to join a boarding party despite her inexperience, Heidi confronts unexplained phenomena and a disorienting journey into fear, where her own memories become unreliable. This novel promises a chilling blend of political thriller and supernatural dread.
For those seeking historical fantasy, Katherine Arden's 'The Unicorn Hunters' (Century, £20) offers a rich and immersive experience. Inspired by the life of Anne of Brittany in the 15th century, the story plunges into a world where Breton fairies are real and unicorns, long thought extinct, can still be encountered in the legendary forest of Brocéliande. Arden's narrative is described as wonderfully escapist, weaving together folklore and historical elements to create a magical realm.
Finally, Mark Morris's 'Bad Things Happen Here' (Flame Tree, £20) explores the unsettling idea that a malevolent spirit can travel beyond its original haunting ground. Twenty years after traumatic events at a university hall of residence, the survivors find their lives disrupted by intrusive thoughts and hallucinations. The novel builds a terrifyingly believable modern horror scenario, forcing even rationalists to consider supernatural intervention and confront the source of their enduring torment. Morris, a British Fantasy award-winning author, delivers a psychological horror that aims to captivate both believers and sceptics.