Hi everyone,

I’m so so excited to reveal the cover for my queer dystopian novella THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS, publishing on 16th September. It’s available for preorder now, via the link!

Cover designed by the incredible Drew Huff.

I love it so much!

Here’s the blurb:

Run the race. Or die.

Britain is at war, isolated by a digital blockade. 

Dissidents run a deadly race for the public’s entertainment, while the flood-ravaged country falls apart. The Cartwright family tries to soldier on, refusing to give in to fear. But when catastrophe looms, Emma Cartwright flees – only to find that life beyond the border is anything but safe. 

The fight for survival has begun. 

This is how the world ends.

I’m still pinching myself, I still can’t quite believe this is happening!

Love,

Disco

Hi Disco Dancers!

I’m doing the official cover reveal for my book THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS on Wednesday on social media, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek ahead of time (please don’t share it until then). Preorders will also be launching on Wednesday.

My queer dystopian novella is coming!

Here’s the blurb:

Run the race. Or die.

Britain is at war, isolated by a digital blockade. 

Dissidents run a deadly race for the public’s entertainment, while the flood-ravaged country falls apart. The Cartwright family tries to soldier on, refusing to give in to fear. But when catastrophe looms, Emma Cartwright flees – only to find that life beyond the border is anything but safe. 

The fight for survival has begun. 

This is how the world ends.

And here’s the cover! Designed by the incredible Drew Huff:

I love it so much!

Love,

Disco

Hi folks!

I celebrated UK Pancake Day a little early yesterday, as I personally like to have a distraction from Valentine’s. I love love, but I’ve just never been a Valentine’s boy. For those for whom this holiday isn’t your thing, here are 3 romance-free diverse SFF books that I love.

Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh

A brilliant graphic novel by a Palestinian author about an oppressive empire, and a young girl from a marginalised group who signs up for the army as her only route to citizenship. Once she gets there however, her perception of the empire is challenged, and she sees a dire need for change.

The Upper World by Femi Fadugba

A Black boy from south east London experiences the worst day of his life, but then discovers a way to travel back in time, can he change his future?

I adore this book and the way it represents south east London, a very Black area of London and where I lived during my 20s. The dialogue is written in SE London dialect too, which is rare to see and find very well. There’s also tons of fun wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

This is a standalone Discworld novel, a comedy fantasy Mulan retelling, that follows a young ‘girl’ who signs up for the army and pretends to be a boy. I say ‘girl’ because this was the first positive transmasc rep I’d ever encountered as a kid, and many other trans people have identified with it. Terry Pratchett (my favourite author), said he was honoured that the trans community took comfort in it.

Disco xx

Hi folks!

I’ve had a wild reading week. I’ve been flat out at work and instead of cosying up with comfort reads, I delved into conceptual sci fi and weird horror instead. Everything I read was great though! But perhaps not for the squeamish.

There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm.

A mind-bending conceptual sci fi thriller about an organisation dealing with unknown entities that manipulate and wipe memories.

One of the best sci fi books I have EVER read. I’m still thinking about it. Confusing, enthralling, dark, funny… a masterful piece of writing.

Chomp Chomp by Azalea Crowley

A horror romance novella from one of my absolute favourite writers. An elegant Asian-American woman goes on a date in the 80s, but the evening has surprises in store…

This is a lot gorier than Azalea’s usually cute/creepy work, and I am so here for it. But be warned, it’s a… well… it’s a LOT. I had a blast though. I really am in my horror phase.

How to Cook and Eat the Rich by Sunyi Dean

A short story about cooking and eating the rich. I don’t want to say more than that other than I loved it! Very funny and I loved the format, all done in second person one-sided dialogue, which worked fantastically for the story.

And one of the coolest covers ever.

Let me know what you’re reading in the comments, or join us on the Discord!

Love,

Disco

Hi folks!

I have been having a brilliant reading week, filling my boots with dystopian sci fi and queer horror. Both books I read were utterly brilliant and very different.

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

How have I not read Chuck Tingle before?? This is a brilliant sci fi horror about a bisexual statistics professor who witnesses the horror of a mass ‘bad luck’ event, where 8 million people die in bizarre, unlikely ways. She withdraws from the world, but when a government agent tells her a Las Vegas casino may have had something to do with it, she tags along.

So fun, so weird, and has so much to (subtly) say about the way people in our world deal with crazy mass events. Loved it.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

A Moroccan-American woman is sent to a for-profit ‘retention facility’ after an AI algorithm that monitors her dreams flags her as a risk, likely to commit a crime. While imprisoned, she tries to figure out how it could have happened.

This was obviously very reflective of a certain… situation today, and infuriating, but also brilliant and clever and surprising. It’s pretty contemplative, not a whole ton of action, but oh man it really enraged and energised me. Brilliant book.

Happy reading!

Disco x

Hi there Disco Dancers!

Today I wanted to share some brilliant Black sci fi with you all. Growing up, I loved sci fi. I devoured books by Brian Aldiss, Philip K Dick, Frank Herbert. But I didn’t see authors or people like me in that space. Things are thankfully different now! Here are some recent favourites:

The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

This is a wild ride of a book set in a future South Africa, featuring:

An AI uprising

South African demigods

A crazy mutant virus

Black queer love

A trans politician

A pop star with multiple sclerosis and powers

It’s a crazy mish mash but it really, really works!

Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson

This is a fantastic short story about an artist with uses nano technology to make ‘African inspired’ art which recounts African people’s memories, and the Black activist who suspects there’s exploitation involved.

Augmented by Kenechi Udogu

This is a YA book set in a post apocalyptic London where people live in bubbles to protect them from the heat, and some people can sing to plants to make them grow. When a girl discovers she had that ability, she must decide whether she wants to be ‘augmented’ and use her power for the state, but she doesn’t have the whole picture.

I thought this was really fun, but did end a little too conveniently for me, obviously setting it up for a sequel. Too many things happened ‘by chance’ and took me out of it right at the end. It’s worth it for the sci fi concepts though, the vision of alternative London is really captivating. I definitely want more!

Love,

Disco