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It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, so let’s take a look at some of the best new science fiction and fantasy (SFF) books by people whose ancestors hail from East, Southeast, and South Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands, including Hawai’i.
AAPI Heritage Month originated as a week in May — a month chosen to commemorate the first Japanese American immigrant’s arrival and the building of the first transcontinental railroad — and has been around since the late 1970s. The celebration was extended to a month-long period in the early 1990s, and in 2021, President Joe Biden recognized May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Biden’s move was subsequently undone by the Trump administration, which eliminated federal recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month on Inauguration Day 2025 and returned it to being AAPI Heritage Month in May 2025.
Below, you’ll find some of the best new SFF by AAPI authors out there. This list is in no way exhaustive, so we encourage you to look into AAPI SFF authors and support them however you can — from buying their books yourself to leaving reviews from library copies on Goodreads and Amazon.
The Best New SFF by AAPI Authors
The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed
Chicago teenager Aria is practical enough to let logic guide her decision making. That’s why she broke up with Rohan when they chose to head off to different colleges; statistics say they were going to break up anyway. But when Aria winds up trapped in a series of parallel universes in which Rohan is a constant, she finds herself falling for him all over again. Too bad this isn’t her world. She’s got unfinished business back home, and no clear way to return.
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The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
A prince is cursed to be murdered by his wife and spend eternity as a sentient tree. A swan-girl without wings has a song that compels anyone who hears it to tell the truth. When one joins the competition to vie for the other’s hand, they strike a bargain — one that could help the prince find true love. But as they grow closer, the swan-girl’s role in their arrangement becomes less and less clear-cut. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love… now what?
The Language of Liars by S.L. Huang
A spy takes a job impersonating a Star Eater in the hopes of becoming one himself, in this novella from the author of Zero Sum Game. The Star Eaters — alien creatures solely capable of mining a critical element used in space travel — fascinate Ro. His underground-dwelling species needs to know more about them to expand their reach across the universe, which is why Ro is learning their language. If he studies it well enough, he theorizes, he’ll be able to meld minds with one of them and find out why their species is fading away. But when Ro finally jumps into a Star Eater’s mind, he discovers much more than he bargained for.
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
A samurai space opera? Yes, please! Fonda Lee’s The Last Contract of Isako follows its title character as she takes on one last job before journeying out into the tundra to end her life. Her primary task is to prevent a recently nominated member of a corporation’s Board of Directors from taking the position. Isako plunges herself deep into corporate espionage, hoping to uncover some dirt on the Board of Directors’ new member. But is she prepared to uncover a secret with dire implications for all of humanity?
The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto
From the author of Hammajang Luck comes this sci-fi romp. Malia used to be the Obake, the best-known hacker in the quadrant, but she’s long since hung up her hacking gloves. That is, until boredom leads her to setting up sports matches to gamble on. She crosses a local gang leader, who gives her a choice: take down a politician who’s causing him trouble or lose her life. Malia knows which one she’s choosing. Soon, she’s back in the hacking saddle, but has she bitten off more than she can chew?
Want more SFF by authors of color? Check out these lists of SFF books by AAPI authors and indigenous authors.
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