Oh and as part of prep for my forthcoming novel THE FIST OF MEMORY, I'm making a list of science fiction novels by BIPOC or non-Western authors that include either 1) First Contact or 2) a Big Dumb Object (BDO) or 3) A Hivemind. Really want to get as many as possible. All recommendations welcome!

Where are my sci-fi readers who like a little bit of thriller in their sci-fi and my thriller readers who like a little bit of sci-fi in their thrillers? #booksky

Here we go again. The annual 100 best books/novels list discourse that does nothing but reinforce the fact that the reading experience is extremely personal and subjective.

Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon (2023)

Estrellas.

Oh hey here's a reminder that my novel THE FIST OF MEMORY which is kinda what happens when you put Atomic Blonde + Arrival + Pluribus + The 3 Body Problem in my brain blender and add a lot of Africanfuturist sauce to it, is available on Netgalley right now. www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

Oh hey here's a reminder that my novel THE FIST OF MEMORY which is kinda what happens when you put Atomic Blonde + Arrival + Pluribus + The 3 Body Problem in my brain blender and add a lot of Africanfuturist sauce to it, is available on Netgalley right now. www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

The Fist of Memory is a hard science-fiction novel featuring an assassin-for-hire, a witchdoctor, and an astronomer, this fast-paced thriller is perfect for fans of Arrival Request this first contact novel today on NetGalley or Edelweiss!

The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch. I picked it up on the recommendation of my favorite bookseller in Perth. I walked in and asked him for a thriller with speculative elements that starts off mostly normal and goes a absolutely bonkers by the end. I got exactly what I wanted 🙂

Just started reading this. 12 pages in and am already hooked.

The UK folks can preorder from bookshop org. uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-... Looking forward to reading it! 💜📚🚀

RIP to whatever was next in my TBR

yaas

Wole Talabi’s first novel was a World Fantasy award nominated masterpiece that put him on my “Must Read” list. Run out and pre order his new novel (or grab a galley and tell people about it if you are lucky enough to be part of the net galley mafia)!

I had a wonderful time reading and listening at Story Hour last night. Thank you to @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social and @danmarcus.bsky.social for hosting me, and to @premeemohamed.com for a very interesting story!

Oh that's a nice cover.

🔥

Hey y'all. I've just been informed by my publishers that THE FIST OF MEMORY is available on NetGalley so you can read this action-packed near-future first contact novel right now! 🙂📚🌌 www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

The cover of THE FIST OF MEMORY by award-winning author Wole Talabi has landed! A strange alien spacecraft suddenly appears in the sky in this electrifying, action-packed first contact novel set in near-future Nigeria. Cover Design by Adam Aurebach Preorder now, available 10/27: buff.ly/X3CHaZk

W00t!!

A First Contact Thriller coming from @wtalabi.com !

Grateful for this thoughtful review of MOJORHYTHM in Locus. It is excellent to have @wtalabi.com back in the critic’s chair.

Unveiling the cover for THE FIST OF MEMORY: My New Sci-Fi Novel it’s finally here. The US cover for my forthcoming novel THE FIST OF MEMORY! Check it out!

Ok ok ok here we go! Cover reveal for my next novel: THE FIST OF MEMORY. Check out that lovely dynamic design. And look at those amazing quotes by the incredibly generous @aptshadow.bsky.social and @annaleen.bsky.social to whom I am greatly indebted! Get the book y'all! buff.ly/X3CHaZk

Mojorhythm by Sheree Renée Thomas: Review by Wole Talabi locusmag.com/review/...

Its been a while since I wrote a review for Locus but I'm back on game now. My latest review for Mojorythm by @shereereneethomas.bsky.social is up on the website. Check it out and check out this excellent collection by one of SFFs major figures.

The campaign to bring #WorldCon to #BrisbaneIn2028 needs your support! #AustralasianSFF#MeanjinIn2028 Follow us! Share our bluesky posts!

Ohhh looks like I have some big news coming later this week Heh

Damn. Someone in my office shouted "may the Fourth be with you" as they were leaving and only two of us understood the reference. These may not the colleagues I was looking for...

Lotta talk lately about the F dominating the SFF well callin it now this is gonna be A BANGER YEAR FOR SCIFI 🔥 CODE AND CODEX by @deuceofgearsmusic.bsky.social 🔥 THE FIST OF MEMORY by @wtalabi.com 🔥 THE SUBTLE ART OF FOLDING SPACE by @johnchu.bsky.social (also THE LANGUAGE OF LIARS by meeeee)

A little nuance never killed anyone.

Posted this elsewhere for #worldbookday2026📚🌎 But better late than never. Books are a minor magic and so its cool to look back at all the books I've written and edited. Also exciting to know another will join them soon. Watch this space for more on THE FIST OF MEMORY. Happy reading y'all.

Probably the best novella you will read this year. Get it.

One of the things I frequently have to tell editors is how a particular construction is a Nigerian use of English. It probably feels/reads wrong to British or American ears. It's not wrong. It's how we remixed it.

Bad idea #3442: a Ringworld and Dune crossover novel called Ringworm.

Meet with Hugo and Nebula nominated author and Locus book-reviewer Wole Talabi. You can ask about process, worldbuilding, Wole's world travels and more. Donate at https://twp.ai/9Pc8Pi or through our bio!

17 hours on a plane, 4 hours on a train and 3 hours in an automobile. Its been a day.

So is this when we find out that actually, the moon isnt a harsh mistress, she's just been feeling a bit abandoned?

I read Shigidi like a year ago and am still recommending it to people. I've read & recc'd plenty of other good stuff since but that book just stays with me.

Best stand-alones in the last 5 years : The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz, as well as Automatic Noodle by same Shigidi & The Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughan The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Bass

Let's talk hive minds! The Many comes out 4/21 and it's a hive mind story from the perspective of the "hiveminded" (think reverse Pluribus). First question, what are your favorite hive minds from any kind of fiction? (books, movie, tv, games...)

Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by @wtalabi.com is queer inclusive.

In a world where savvy book coverage and short fiction reviews are becoming harder to find, Locus' critics are working to keep genre publishing healthy and innovative--but as @charliejane.bsky.social reminds us, they need our support to keep going:

My joyful Eastercon is over, and I’m at the Birmingham airport ready to start my travels home, but before I take flight, one final photo — my reading with @emilytesh.net and a virtual @wtalabi.com. We had some connectivity issues, but still, it was a delight to see them both.

Weird weather today. But good for tea and reading, at least.

The award for Best Shorter Fiction goes to… Tade Thompson for The Apologists

can never thank you enough for suggesting Shigidi. definitely is a favorite recent read and the last few pages of the ending chapter, FOLDED me

Couldn't complete my scheduled reading at @easterconuk.bsky.social, due to technical difficulties. Made 2 attempts, no luck. But at least I could hear @emilytesh.net and @scottedelman.bsky.social read from their brilliant stories. Apologies to everyone who showed up expecting to hear from me. 🙏🏾

Great visual reminder that despite all the noise and chaos, we're all in this together. All on this earth living our fragile interconnected lives. And we have to keep finding better ways to coexist, as hard as it may seem sometimes.

You think I'm kidding but if a convention books me to do it I'll TED Talk the shit out of Jason's speculative timeline.