12 Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers Accepting Submissions in 2024
As is now tradition, here’s my annual list of the fantasy and science fiction publishers accepting unsolicited manuscript submissions.
If you have a nearly-finished work in progress (WIP) or a completed manuscript, go ahead and browse the publishers and submission guidance below.
Most of these small publishers specialise in science fiction and fantasy (SFF) writing. And, unlike many big publishers, they’re happy to accept unagented submissions. This makes them a great avenue for writers who don’t yet have a literary agent.
Note: All information contained in this article is correct at the time of writing (March 2024). But if you’re here in 2025 or beyond, it’s worth double checking whether these publishers are still accepting submissions.
Okay, disclaimer done. Now, here’s a list of 12 science fiction and fantasy publishers accepting unsolicited manuscript submissions in 2024.
1. Arcadia
Previously known as Jo Fletcher Books, this science fiction and fantasy publisher changed its name to Arcadia last year.
Arcadia is a well-respected UK publisher. It’s currently accepting unsolicited submissions in science fiction, fantasy and horror genres. They’ll also consider young adult (YA) novels with adult appeal.
Your submission should be a complete, full-length novel (not a WIP). Arcadia doesn’t accept short stories, novellas or anthologies of short works.
You can head over to the Arcadia submissions page for more guidance on submissions and submission formatting.
2. Polis Books
Another publisher accepting unsolicited submissions this year is Polis Books.
They accept a wide variety of genres including fantasy, science fiction, supernatural, YA and thrillers. They’ll also consider nonfiction in pop culture and true crime genres.
When submitting your story to Polis, make sure it’s at least 60,000 words long – they don’t accept novellas or short stories.
To submit your work, you need to send:
A query letter
Three sample chapters
An author biography with links to personal blogs and social media handles where relevant
You can read more about the Polis Books submission process on their submissions page.
3. Edge
The next on our list of science fiction and fantasy publishers accepting submissions is the Canadian publisher, Edge.
Edge specialises in science fiction and fantasy. They sometimes also take on other works within the speculative fiction genre. And they work with both new and established authors.
Here are a few of their submission guidelines:
They only accept submissions of novels that are between 75,000 and 100,000 words long
They don’t accept erotica, religious fiction, short stories (other than for a specific anthology), dark/gruesome fantasy or poetry
YA isn’t an Edge favourite so any YA speculative fiction has to be aimed at a mature, well-read audience
Works in progress aren’t considered so you need to complete your novel before submitting it. Edge also specifies that novels need to have undergone an extensive editing process.
This is just a summary of what you need to do. So be sure to read Edge’s full submission guidelines here.
Still to edit your manuscript? A professional editor will look at your story with fresh, critical eyes. Then suggest ways for you to fine-tune it ready for submission.
Take a look at my fiction editing services to find out more.
4. Kensington Books
Kensington Books provides a list of its editors alongside their publishing preferences. You have to choose just one editor to send your submission to.
Science fiction doesn’t feature as a preference and nobody is accepting YA or poetry right now. However, two editors are looking for fantasy stories.
Elizabeth May is looking for romantasy and magical crossover novels. Elizabeth Trout is looking for novels with a speculative or magical realism tilt, as long as they’re grounded in our world.
You can visit the Kensington Books submission page for more details.
Kensington also has a speculative fiction imprint called Erewhon Books. Their unsolicited submissions are currently closed but it’s worth checking their submissions page later in the year and in 2025.
5. Blind Eye Books
Blind Eye Books publishes fantasy, science fiction, mystery and romance novels that feature LGBTQ protagonists.
They tend to take full-length novels with a word count ranging from 70,000 to 150,000. And they don’t publish short story collections, poetry, erotica, horror or nonfiction.
A few pet peeves of the editor include works written in the second person and stories with a downbeat ending. You can read her full list of dislikes (and get more submission guidance) on the Blind Eye Books submission page.
If your book fails to fit with the editor’s preferences, you may want to find another publisher or commit to a bit of rewriting.
When it comes to your submission, Blind Eye Books likes to see a full manuscript and asks you to write a story synopsis. They won’t consider books that are submitted anonymously or that you’ve already submitted to another publisher.
6. Snowbooks
Snowbooks is an award-winning publisher that’s been up and running since 2003. Their fun but totally straightforward approach really sets them apart.
They stick to just three genres – horror, fantasy and sci-fi. And Snowbooks is currently accepting unsolicited submissions in all of these genres.
To submit your story, you need to send a finished version of your manuscript by email. They ask that any work you send them is “the best you can make it”. So taking the time to edit your work is important.
They also specify that all stories should be a least 70,000 words long, and ideally over 80,000 words long.
Snowbooks are looking for authors who stand out. So you need to be prepared to sell yourself and your work. They also request quite a lot of info at the submission stage. They want to see:
A website
Social media handles and links
An author bio
A blurb as it would be printed on the back of your book
A pitch that covers the unique selling points of your book
A cover letter
A full manuscript, plus a separate first page
There’s a lot of useful information on the Snowbooks website. So why not make yourself a cuppa and take a read?
7. Baen
Baen is a traditional publisher that exclusively publishes science fiction and fantasy stories.
For sci-fi, they look for “powerful plots with solid scientific and philosophical underpinnings”. For fantasy, they like to see magic systems that are “rigorously coherent and integral to the plot”. All novels need good plot and characterisation.
Their word count preference is somewhere between 100,000 and 130,000 words but there seems to be some flexibility on this. And they like to see a finished manuscript plus a synopsis.
Be warned that Baen is quite specific about submission formatting. So read their full guidance before sending your manuscript.
8. Aethon Books
Aethon Books is another science fiction and fantasy publisher accepting unsolicited submissions in 2024. They’re happy to accept submissions in any SFF sub-genre and are open to thriller novels too.
In terms of restrictions, they’re only currently publishing novel-length work. They won’t accept novellas and short stories. Nor will they look at poetry, plays, graphic novels or nonfiction.
To be successful, your work needs to demonstrate all of the following:
A strong voice, written in either first person, third person limited or third person omniscient
Good pacing
Three-dimensional characters
A unique universe
Unpredictability
To submit your work, you need to send a cover letter and the first 50 pages of your novel by email. Read Aethon’s full submission guidelines for more details.
9. Flame Tree Publishing
Flame Tree Publishing is another publisher accepting unsolicited submissions. They work with science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural and suspense stories.
Their preference is for novels of between 70,000 and 120,000 words that haven’t been previously published.
They also occasionally accept short story submissions for specific anthologies. Anthology announcements go up on their blog, as well as Facebook and X profiles.
So what do you need to include in a submission? Flame Tree Publishing likes to see:
Your entire manuscript
A synopsis, a maximum of three paragraphs long
A word count
A writer’s CV including previous publications/awards/recognition for your work
A note to tell them if you’ve submitted your manuscript elsewhere
You can take a look at the full submission guidance here.
Unlike the previous publishers, the following publishers don’t generally accept unagented and unsolicited submissions. However, they occasionally announce a brief submission window for authors without agents.
For this reason, it’s worth following these publishers on social media and checking in with them so you don’t miss out.
10. Angry Robot Books
Angry Robot Books is an independent publisher of weird and wonderful SFF stories.
They consider themselves “genre-fluid” and actively look for stories that “push the boundaries of genre fiction, mess them about, and put them back together again in all kinds of awesome ways”.
They look for stories that are 70,000 words or more and only publish young adult fiction when there is real crossover appeal.
Angry Robot have yet to announce if they’ll be opening up their submissions in 2024. So in the meantime, take a look at their submission guidance and stay up-to-date with Angry Robot news on Facebook or Instagram.
11. Gollancz
Gollancz is one of the most prolific horror, fantasy and science fiction publishers out there. They occasionally accept unagented manuscripts and in 2022 they opened their doors for the whole month of June.
So far, there’s been no announcement about submissions in 2024. But you can follow them on X to stay in the loop.
12. Luna Press Publishing
Luna Press Publishing accepts unagented and unsolicited submissions every year.
This publisher specialises in speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy genres. They also provide lots of useful guidance for submissions and pitches via their Writers’ Den playlist on YouTube.
Unfortunately, their submission window for 2024 has already closed. But be ready for 2025 by following Luna Press on Facebook or Instagram.
And that’s a wrap! A list of science fiction and fantasy publishers accepting unsolicited manuscript submissions this year.
I wish you the best of luck with your submissions. And if you’d like me to run an expert eye over your manuscript before you send it, take a look at my editing services.
Pre-submission critique and copyedit: comments and suggested edits for the first 10,000 words of your manuscript
Manuscript assessment: feedback on big picture story elements, like point of view, pacing, plot and characterisation
Manuscript mentoring: ongoing editorial support including extensive comments and suggested edits
These services are ideal for authors looking to get their manuscript in the best possible shape before submission. And for those who want to make improvements after a dreaded publisher rejection.
If you’re unsure which editing service is right for you, get in touch and I’ll be happy to advise.
Until next time!
Candida
