Cirencester Book Festival One Month to Gosaturday 16th May 2026 10:30-16:00 Free Entry Bingham Hall, Cirencester www.rosiesretrobazaar.co.uk
People of #Cirencester who love #books! In one month's time The Slab Press will be one of many traders bringing their wares to your town. Pop the date in your diary! #booksky
Career milestone achieved: One of my stories got referenced in a blog about trees in folk horror! Thanks @stephellis.bsky.social 😎
cc @theslabpress.bsky.social @wishusdonna.bsky.social
“The fear I have of space is the same fear I have of the dark, and of being underwater. All around you is the unknown, and its mere existence threatens your life. Imagine thousands, even millions of miles around you, and the ship around you is the only life.” Obsidian Author: Addison Smith What scares you about deep space? Preorder from Theslab.press Out April 30th
Meet author Addison Smith, whose brilliant story "Flesh Soft as Memory" can be found in Obsidian. Pre-order details available here: theslab.press/store/
It was there! At least for a while... Best of British Science Fiction 2025 sold out!
“The distance, unquestionably. It is impossible for me, and I suspect for any human, to really grasp just how remote deep space is, how far you are from help; this is something which made it particularly into the dénouement of ‘The Tumbleweed’. If something comes for you out there, even the inexorable dangers of depressurisation or suffocation, civilisations will have risen and fallen by the time you are discovered.“ Obsidian Author: Caolán Mac an Aircinn What scares you about space? Preorder from Theslab.press Out April 30th
As Artemis rushes moonward, it's time to meet one more author from Obsidian. This time, Caolán Mac an Aircinn, who also had a story in Vivid Worlds.
Live launch tomorrow at 7.30pm in Sussex, Hilton Metropole, Birmingham as part of Iridescence Eastercon.
Pre-order details here: theslab.press/store/
ICYMI we have a new open call for submissions. Window is way off in November, mind.
theslab.press/calls-for-su...
Iridescence Incoming
A week tomorrow, The Slab Press will be winging its way to Birmingham for Eastercon where we will be selling books all weekend in the Dealers' Room. In addition, we have a live launch event for Obsidian, shared with Guardbridge Books on Friday at 7.30 pm in Sussex. Do join us…
Space background Obsidian book cover Photo of author wearing neon 80s shades. “’Contingency Protocol’ was written on a dare. I like to challenge myself as a person and a writer. Science is very challenging to my non-scientific brain. Consequently, most science fiction I write is of the "soft" variety. So I challenged myself to write hard sci-fi, et voilà! A story was born.” Obsidian Author: Mia Dalia What inspired this story? Preorder from Theslab.press Out April 30th
Meet Obsidian author Mia Dalia, whose novelette "Contingency Protocol" about the ill-fated crew of the Prometheus 4, whose terraforming mission to Mars goes disturbingly awry, is in the dark space anthology.
daliaverse.wixsite.com/author
Pre-order details here: theslab.press/store/
Space background, black book cover. Photo of author standing near a rock. Obsidian Author: Elana Gomel “The immensity of space is something that is impossible for us to comprehend. When we are confronted with the idea of infinity, our minds just shut down. It's not fear exactly, but more like terror and awe mixed together: the sublime. Deep space is sublime.” What really scares you about space? Preorder from Theslab.press Out April 30th
Meet Elana Gomel whose novelette City of Voices is being published in the Obsidian anthology, exploring dark stories from the depths of space.
www.citiesoflightanddarkness.com
theslab.press/store/
Space background with book and picture of the Editor, a blonde smiling woman in glasses. Obsidian Edited by Donna Scott With stories by Robert Bagnall, Elana Gomel, Mia Dalia, Caolán Mac an Aircinn, Addison Smith and Aatiqa Mankani. What really scares you about space? “Space is dark and isolating. I would struggle as much with limited human company as the lack of gravity, I reckon. Not to mention the increased risk of death, just getting up there.” Pre-order from theslab.press Out April 30th
Not long until Obsidian is out! April 30th!
For readers who prefer their space fiction unsettling, introspective, and brutal.
Pre-order on Kindle around the world, or in the UK in Paperback from The Slab Press. theslab.press/store/
The Good Book Life with The Slab. An open book, pink petals and a yellow flower head, and a smiling bee buzzing in front.
Interesting first go at Whatnot... I'm giving it another go on Thursday at 9pm. Join me then!
www.whatnot.com/live/f0fff34...
Blue poster with pink letters, petals and books spelling out The Good Book Life. In the centre is a yellow circle saying "with The Slab". An open book with sparkles is at the bottom and a smiling cartoon bee flies in front.
I'm trying something a bit unusual tomorrow... I'm doing my first 'show' on Whatnot!
There will be some buy now options for The Slab Press books, and a few preloved bargains for auction too. Join me Monday 16th at 3pm here!
www.whatnot.com/live/23d0ff1...
Obsidian and Award News
Hello everyone Long time, no post, but I am very excited to share some very exciting news with you. First of all, huge congratulations to Rick Danforth, whose short story "One Step at a Time" from The Slab Press's solarpunk anthology Vivid Worlds has been shortlisted for…
Vivid Worlds Book cover - green space ship and leaf design. edited by Donna Scott with stories by Ana Sun Cévile Cristofari David Cleden Liam Hogan Holly Schofield and many more...
Many congratulations to @rickandwrite.bsky.social whose story "One Step at a Time" from The Slab Press's anthology Vivid Worlds has been shortlisted for the BSFA Awards, Best Short Fiction.
Poster reads: Coventry Book Extravaganza Join us at the Albany Theatre Saturday 28th February 2026 10:30 - 16:00 Albany Theatre, Coventry www.rosiesretrobazaar.co.uk
Just two days to go!
I'm up late to send some emails...
If you have submitted a story for Obsidian, you will be hearing from us by Tuesday.
This book is coming out like a whirlwind. Exciting stuff!
Black book cover, Obsidian edited by Donna Scott with stories by TBA
A first look at the cover for The Slab Press's dark space anthology Obsidian. The submission window is still open, but the sooner you submit, the better. theslab.press/calls-for-su...
A book floating in space surrounded by words. Solar punk, hopeful, cute recycling robots, whales, living in trees, human solutions, monkeys and mangoes, airship murder mystery, awesome stories.
Are you a member of @bsfa.bsky.social? Reminder, today, 19th Feb, is your last day to nominate. I'd really love you to consider Vivid Worlds for Best Collection and "One Step at a Time" by @rickandwrite.bsky.social and "Tractors in the Mist" by Cécile Cristofari.
Coventry Book Extravaganza over 40 stalls including indie publishers and authors fresh talent & poets Comic creators & illustrators Literary societies second-hand book dealers book crafts & prints Merchandise & memorabilia Free Entry Saturday 28th February 2026 10:30-16:00 Albany Theatre Coventry www.rosiesretrobazaar.co.uk
In just over 3 weeks, The Slab will be here! Come join us!
Also on the 'other site' it's £1.77 (the lowest it will go), or equivalent prices elsewhere in the world, but you can get Kindle format from Payhip and then send to your Device.
This is my favourite story I had out last year. Not only is it longlisted alongside a great (and also longlisted) collection but it's now available for 99p!
What's not to love? 😁
Hello, EPUB is available on the Payhip link.
Cover of Vivid Worlds book BSFA Longlisted E-Pub/Kindle 99p Until Sunday 15th February 2026 Vivid Worlds - Payhip https://payhip.com/b/LNWd2
To celebrate the BSFA Award longlisting of Vivid Worlds, together with stories "One Step at a Time" by @rickandwrite.bsky.social and "Tractors in the Mist" by Cécile Cristofari the e-book is only 99p until 15th Feb via Payhip! payhip.com/b/LNWd2
(Price slashed on the other site too)
Black book cover, Obsidian edited by Donna Scott with stories by TBA
A first look at the cover for The Slab Press's dark space anthology Obsidian. The submission window is still open, but the sooner you submit, the better. theslab.press/calls-for-su...
Back at the hall there was more noise. Dafydd Adren was trying to address the crowd. “Yes, we have heard from the government this afternoon. They noted the drop in power as one of the turbines collapsed into the sea. We informed them that this was the result of a Cetaceous attack, which they do not believe. We have been accused of failing to maintain the farm, and therefore the grid. We know that this is wrong and have suggested that they send someone out to check if they do not believe us. They are sending out some inspection boats.” Finally, Dafydd had been met with approval, though he himself just looked tired. Daniel had been analysing his findings with help from Mary and was frustrated that they had not been able to operate the sonar radar and the recorder at the same time. “I’m not sure there’s a correlation between that low hum and the approach of the storm.” “What are you getting at, Mary?” “I first thought it was the wind farm, but it’s not. I think there’s something else.” Mary waved various different pads of notes at each of them. “That extra hum is always there but something must vary. We need more info. We need to go out again.” CJ Hooper “The Cymric Sea” in Vivid Worlds from The Slab Press
It is Book Quote Wednesday and the word is 'tired'. This extract is from a story by CJ Hooper and is available in Vivid Worlds #BookQW #BookSky
theslab.press/store/
Still got some copies in stock if anyone needs a great book gift, but don't wait too long...
Massive thanks to @sjtownend.bsky.social for reviewing this anthology and singling out my story as the reason for picking it up in the first place!
Hiding Under the Leaves is still available from @theslabpress.bsky.social as a great Chrissy pressie for the folk horror fan in your life...
Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'blue' #BookQW
Our latest anthology Hiding Under the Leaves is full of spooky reads, perfect for Christmas.
Order from the usual places or check out more options at theslab.press/store/
Bedsocks and biscuits. Fire. Christmas tree. Cold Outside? Stay indoors, stay cosy. And read some creepy folk horror. Hiding Under the Leaves. “excellent tales and very much worthy of anyone’s time” Horror Tree “Highly Recommended” Run Along the Shelves
We have a few copies of all our paperbacks in stock, so you can still order in time for Christmas. Last date for posting from our stocks is December 18th (UK only).
US readers can order from our POD links, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.
E-books also available!
theslab.press/store/