A major wave of excitement is sweeping the science fiction and fantasy literary community as October 2025 brings a remarkable lineup of new releases from acclaimed authors Ken Liu, Alix E. Harrow, Eric Heisserer, and others. This month’s slate showcases genre-defining cyberpunk, speculative thrillers, gothic mysteries, and inventive short fiction collections, setting a vibrant tone for the spooky season.
Ken Liu’s Cyberpunk Thriller Breaks New Ground
One of the most eagerly anticipated releases is Ken Liu’s All That We See or Seem, marking his first foray into a full-length science fiction thriller. The novel immerses readers in a dazzling cyberpunk noir world, following bounty hunter Julia Z as she navigates AI-driven realities and unravel sinister secrets tied to powerful dream artists and crime lords. Early previews praise Liu’s signature blend of immersive world-building and sharp philosophical themes.
Eric Heisserer’s Debut Novel Melds Thriller and Science Fiction
Another highlight is Eric Heisserer’s Simultaneous, which fuses a time-jumping speculative thriller setup with psychological intrigue. The story follows federal agent Grant Lukather from Homeland Security’s Predictive Analytics team, teaming up with past-life hypnotherapist Sarah Newcomb to prevent a disaster, exploring themes of reincarnation, fate, and the interplay between past and future identities. Heisserer’s reputation from screenwriting, notably Arrival, fuels anticipation for this original narrative.
Gothic Mystery and Innovative Short Fiction Collections
Amber Sparks delivers a gothic-inflected debut in Happy People Don’t Live Here, centered on a mother-daughter pair drawn into strange happenings in a converted sanatorium apartment building. Kristina Ten’s collection Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine captures the zeitgeist with urban legends reimagined through a speculative lens, blending humor and horror in accessible, quick-read stories that pay homage to late twentieth-century adolescence and internet culture.
