Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
10 Best New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books to Read Fall 2026
Polygon has published a list of ten notable science fiction and fantasy books arriving this autumn, spanning conclusions to beloved series, high-profile debuts and long-awaited sequels. The selection highlights a strong season for genre fiction, with major authors including Leigh Bardugo, Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros all releasing new work, alongside newer voices making their mark in adult fantasy.
Standouts include the conclusion to Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House trilogy, Emily St. John Mandel's globe-spanning sci-fi novel Exit Party, and Adalyn Grace's adult fantasy debut, reportedly acquired by Macmillan for seven figures. Fans of established series can look forward to a Rebecca Yarros short story collection set in the Empyrean world, Stephen King's completion of The Talisman trilogy (using ideas from the late Peter Straub), a new instalment in Christopher Buehlman's Blacktongue Thief series, and the sixth book in Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses saga, arriving five years after its predecessor.
In short
- Polygon rounds up ten major sci-fi/fantasy releases for autumn 2026
- Highlights include new books from Stephen King and Sarah J. Maas
- Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House trilogy reaches its conclusion
Explained simply
Science fiction and fantasy use imagined worlds, future technologies and supernatural elements to explore people and societies. Books in these genres often form series, so a new release may continue a story readers have followed across several earlier novels.
This autumn’s books include work by established authors such as Leigh Bardugo, Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, as well as newer writers. Some are expected to conclude or extend popular series, while others introduce new settings and characters.
The mix matters to readers with different levels of familiarity: returning fans may want to know where a long-running story goes next, while standalone novels and debuts offer ways into the genres without catching up on earlier books.