This week is the 2026 Strange Horizons Criticism Special, which includes a new essay and review every day, a podcast, an editorial, and a roundtable: “Giving Permission: A Roundtable on the Obscurity of Influence” with Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, Charles Payseur, Daniel A. Rabuzzi, and me. You can read the entire discussion here.

Here’s a bit about the overall premise from the preamble:

“We were seeking to identify a score or so authors who defy easy classification, whose unique style and/or creative philosophy have influenced other writers (and are recognized as such by other writers) in perhaps subtle and oblique but demonstrable ways—even if they did not establish a ‘school’ or ‘distinct group of self-defined disciples.’”

I had a lot of fun with this: both thinking about unique works and influence and seeing what everyone else in this wonderful group thought and recommended. My to-read list kept growing while working on this, so be prepared to add more books to yours!