I have a new story out at Nature today. It’s about AI, unhinged billionaires, and goldfish. You know; science fiction.
New publication: “Origin Story” in Nature Futures
May 6, 2026
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
The Digital Aesthete published in China
April 5, 2026The Digital Aesthete, an anthology about the intersection of AI and art (written by humans!) is now available in China from the Shanghai Translation Publishing House and in collaboration with the Future Affairs Administration.
The Mandarin Chinese edition of the book is called AI Masters and here’s the cover:
If, for some reason, you cannot read this version of the book, this is a good time to grab yourself an English language copy!
Direct from UFO Publishing – Print – $19.99
Direct from UFO Publishing – E-book – $5.99
Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Apple / Google / Audible
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Last Chance – Planets
March 25, 2026The Kickstarter ends tomorrow (Thursday) evening, so this is your last chance to get on board. Backers will receive the ebooks significantly ahead of the release date, with print and audio books to follow as they are completed. Don’t miss out on the rewards (and the opportunity to support me as the author as well as the artists and narrators involved) without giving away a huge percentage to an equally huge third-party company.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ufopublishing/the-best-of-all-possible-planets
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Planets – Final Week on Kickstarter
March 20, 2026The Best of All Possible Planets has entered its final week on Kickstarter and as I write this we’re presently at 71% funded.
Kickstarter is all about the first 48 hours and the last 48 hours and everything else is a slog, but it’s still tough to watch the numbers climb slowly, not knowing whether the all-or-nothing campaign will fund or not. If you plan on getting this book, Kickstarter is the best way to do it. Not only are there unique rewards, but the highest percentage of the money will actually go to me (and to paying the artists, designers, audiobook narrators and the printer) as opposed to selling a copy on Amazon which often results in a royalty of only $1-2, the rest eaten up by all the middlemen. So if you want to support me rather than Jeff Bezos, please order your copy at the link below instead.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ufopublishing/the-best-of-all-possible-planets
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
BSFA Awards 2026
March 9, 2026
This weekend the Translated Short Stories finalists for the British Science Fiction Awards have been announced and I am proud to report that “Pollen” by Anna Burdenko is one of the nominees. This story was also a Clarkesworld Reader’s Poll finalist,which is great for Anna’s first English language publication!
This is my third time as a translator finalist for the BSFA Award. Will the third time be the charm? Who knows: the competition is always stiff, which is actually wonderful news because I love to see many great translations getting recognized. Either way, it feels wonderful to make it into the finalist circle. The award ceremony will take place in Birmingham, UK over the Easter weekend.
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Planets Kickstarter is live!
February 25, 2026The kickstarter campaign launched yesterday. In the first 24 hours it raised over 30% of the funding goal, earned a Project We Love badge from Kickstarter, and received several dozen solicitations from various scammers. (Don’t worry, that’s just a thing that happens; we report them to Kickstarter and send them to the spam folder. No corgis for them!)
Please visit the campaign to lock in your premium hardcover copy, or a mass market paperback, or an audiobook narrated by Eli Schiff (Succession, The White Lotus) and Lewis Black (The Daily Show, Inside Out)! Or just the humble ebook.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ufopublishing/the-best-of-all-possible-planets
Not ready to pledge? You can still help out by spreading the word about this campaign. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies — their money spends, too.
If you are a reviewer please reach out via this website’s form to get a digital advance review copy (and be sure to include which outlet you review for).
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Read the first chapter of The Best of All Possible Planets today!
February 16, 2026
The first chapter is now available!
Read online or download the first chapter here!
More exciting news regarding this book coming in the next few days. Stay tuned.
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Boskone 2026 Schedule
February 12, 2026I will be in sunny, warm Boston this weekend attending the Boskone convention. Here’s where to find me!
In unrelated news, The Best of All Possible Planets ARC has gone out to reviewers! If you should have received a copy but haven’t, please reach out ASAP!
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
The Best of All Possible Planets – Cover Reveal!
February 9, 2026This book is a space opera take on Candide written as a series of Futurama episodes. Coming July 28, 2026 in hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, and audiobook formats!
Far From Now, In a Galaxy Really, Really Close…
The last denizens of Earth, aka Planet Dirt, have a problem. Their protective force shield is breaking, which will mean annihilation. Now it’s up to a small group of intrepid dilettantes to procure a new one.
From planet to planet, danger to danger, and stupid choice to stupid choice, the team blunders their way across the galaxy, trying to save the day and survive the trip.
Don’t let the Call to Adventure go to voicemail. Follow the corgis!
Cover art by Ethemos. Cover design by Cauldron Press.
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Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Books, Booze, and Good News
February 6, 2026Good news #1: “Pollen” by Anna Burdenko is the Clarkesworld Readers’ Poll finalist! I am so glad people enjoyed this excellent story. You can vote for your favorites here, up until February 15.
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/clarke_02_26/
Good news #2: “Origin Story,” an epistolary tale of an advanced AI model responding to queries from its unhinged billionaire owner, has been accepted at Nature Futures. It should be published sometime in the next few months.
Books & Booze: I am going to be a part of this brand-new book fair organized by Randee Dawn tomorrow. Stop by and see many and many fabulous authors, as well as a few literary agents, at Industry City.
2 Comments | Acceptances & Publications, Event Appearances | Tagged: Books & Booze, clarkesworld, nature, translation | Permalink
Posted by Alex Shvartsman
Alex Shvartsman's Speculative Fiction 