Fantasy becomes reality for next-gen speculative fiction authors riding self-publishing boom

Make-believe is having a moment.

At Clunes Booktown this year, a literary festival in regional Victoria, between half and two-thirds of the authors peddling their wares were writers of so-called "speculative fiction".

That term is a somewhat clumsy umbrella term that covers everything from fantasy, science fiction, and horror, to "romantasy", alternate histories, and stories set in dystopian futures.

Australian book sales also point to a boom in these genres and sub-genres.

According to Nielson Bookdata, science fiction and fantasy sales have more than doubled between 2019 and 2023 to more than $50 million annually.

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