Intro to Self-Published Speculative Fiction

Self-publishing has come a long way in recent years, and several of us at The Fantasy Inn love finding new favorites from self-published writers. That’s why this time, we’ve compiled some amazing stories that can offer something new to both experienced and novice readers of speculative fiction.

For similar flowcharts with different focuses, check out these:

• Intro to Female-Authored Speculative Fiction
• Intro to Speculative Fiction Audio Dramas
• Intro to Speculative Fiction by People of Color

Some housekeeping:

1. This flowchart is by no means comprehensive, nor do we claim that these are “objectively” the best self-published stories out there.
2. Feature a variety of storytelling mediums, such as graphic novels, short fiction, and audio dramas.
3. Only first books in a series are included, and each author is only listed once (with the exception of anthologies).
4. The term “self-published” means different things to different people. That said, if you feel that a work has been incorrectly included here, let us know and we can update the flowchart.

The final flowchart has 126 entries, and we could’ve included many more if we had room. Feel strongly about a story we left out? Let us know in a comment!

Here’s the chart:

Higher resolution image here.

If any of these books strike your fancy, here they are in list form with links to Goodreads and Amazon. Enjoy!

Formerly Self-Published

Science Fiction

• The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Martian by Andy Weir | Goodreads | Amazon
• Wool by Hugh Howey | Goodreads | Amazon

Fantasy

• Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso | Goodreads | Amazon
• We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson | Goodreads | Amazon

Urban Fantasy

• Solomon’s Seal by Skyla Dawn Cameron | Goodreads | Amazon
• Paternus: Rise of Gods by Dyrk Ashton | Goodreads | Amazon
• Hero Forged by Josh Erikson | Goodreads | Amazon
• Under Ordshaw by Phil Williams | Goodreads | Amazon
• No Such Thing As Werewolves by Chris Fox | Goodreads | Amazon

Paranormal Romance

• Sin & Chocolate by K.F. Breene | Goodreads | Amazon
• Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa | Goodreads | Amazon
• Blade Song by J.C. Daniels | Goodreads | Amazon

Erotic Fantasy

• Wolf’s Wife by Julie Midnight | Goodreads | Amazon
• Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins | Goodreads | Amazon

Science Fantasy

• Zeroth Law by Guerric Haché | Goodreads | Amazon

Science Fiction

• Traitor by Krista D. Ball | Goodreads | Amazon

Apocalyptic Fantasy

• Schism by Britt Holewinski | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Thin White Line by Craig DiLouie | Goodreads | Amazon

Gaslamp Fantasy

• The Half-Killed by Quenby Olson | Goodreads | Amazon

Steampunk

• The Emperor’s Edge by Lindsay Buroker | Goodreads | Amazon
• Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher | Goodreads | Amazon

Historical Fantasy

• Fionn: Defence of Ráth Bládhma by Brian O’Sullivan | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Prince of Cats by D.E. Olesen | Goodreads | Amazon

Zombie Fiction

• Broken World by Kate L. Mary | Goodreads | Amazon
• Until the End of the World by Sarah Lyons Fleming | Goodreads | Amazon

Superhero Fiction

• Super Powereds by Drew Hayes | Goodreads | Amazon
• Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon | Goodreads | Amazon

Grimdark

• Song by Jesse Teller | Goodreads | Amazon
• Black Cross by J.P Ashman | Goodreads | Amazon
• What Remains of Heroes by David Benem | Goodreads | Amazon
• Chasing Graves by Ben Galley | Goodreads | Amazon
• Blood of Heirs by Alicia Wanstall-Burke | Goodreads | Amazon
• Darkblade Assassin by Andy Peloquin | Goodreads | Amazon
• Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn | Goodreads | Amazon
• Vultures by Luke Tarzian | Goodreads | Amazon

Hopeful Fantasy

• Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron | Goodreads | Amazon

Comedic Fantasy

• Mid-Lich Crisis by Steve Thomas | Goodreads | Amazon
• Trench by Ethan Childress | Goodreads | Amazon
• Robocopter Ski Patrol by Aaron C. Cross | Goodreads | Amazon
• Hero in a Halfling by William Tyler Davis | Goodreads | Amazon
• Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin | Goodreads | Amazon
• Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike | Goodreads | Amazon

Epic Fantasy

• Kingshold by D.P. Woolliscroft | Goodreads | Amazon
• Winter’s Reach by Craig Schaefer | Goodreads | Amazon
• Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord | Goodreads | Amazon
• Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw | Goodreads | Amazon
• Child of the Daystar by Bryce O’Connor | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Path of Flames by Phil Tucker | Goodreads | Amazon
• Symphony of the Wind by Steven McKinnon | Goodreads | Amazon
• Lady of the Helm by T.O. Munro | Goodreads | Amazon
• Banebringer by Carol A. Park | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Path of Man by Matt Moss | Goodreads | Amazon

Flintlock Fantasy

• A Sea of Broken Glass by Sonya M. Black | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Woven Ring by M.D. Presley | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Silver Mask by Christian Ellingsen | Goodreads | Amazon

Norse Mythology

• Queens of the Wyrd by Timandra Whitecastle | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Blood-Tainted Winter by T.L. Greylock | Goodreads | Amazon

GameLit

• Changing Faces by Sarah Lin | Goodreads | Amazon
• Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko | Goodreads | Amazon
• Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe | Goodreads | Amazon
• Threadbare by Andrew Seiple | Goodreads | Amazon
• Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout | Goodreads | Amazon

Non-Western Fantasy

• Songs of Insurrection by JC Kang | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Stone Road by G.R. Matthews | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Crimson Queen by Alec Hutson | Goodreads | Amazon
• Never Die by Rob J. Hayes | Goodreads | Amazon

Xianxia

• Desolate Era by Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi (I Eat Tomatoes) | Goodreads | Read Online
• Unsouled by Will Wight | Goodreads | Amazon

Fairy Tale

• Those Brave Foolish Souls from the City of Swords by Benedict Patrick | Goodreads | Amazon

Slice of Life

• The Healer’s Road by S.E. Robertson | Goodreads | Amazon

Non-Human Protagonist

• Construct by Luke Matthews | Goodreads | Amazon

Romantic Fantasy

• Sorcerous Rivalry by Kayleigh Nicol | Goodreads | Amazon
• Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr | Goodreads | Amazon
• Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Fire Mages by Pauline M. Ross | Goodreads | Amazon

Horror

• The Narrows by Travis M. Riddle | Goodreads | Amazon

Dark Fantasy

• Faithless by Graham Austin-King | Goodreads | Amazon
• Darkmage by M.L. Spencer | Goodreads | Amazon
• Devil’s Night Dawning by Damien Black | Goodreads | Amazon

Weird Fiction

• Orford Parish Murder Houses: A Visitor’s Guide by Tom Breen | Goodreads | Amazon
• Gateways to Abomination by Matthew M. Bartlett | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Things That Grow With Us by Jordan R. Anderson | Goodreads | Amazon

Sword and Sorcery

• Assassin’s Charge by Claire M. Frank | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Thief Who Pulled On Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung | Goodreads | Amazon
• Aching God by Mike Shel | Goodreads | Amazon

Weird Western

• A Demon in the Desert by Ashe Armstrong | Goodreads | Amazon

Heist

• River of Thieves by Clayton Snyder | Goodreads | Amazon

Fantasy of Manners

• Black Blossom by M.C.A. Hogarth | Goodreads | Amazon
• Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis | Goodreads | Amazon

Web Serials

• Worm by J.C. McCrae | Goodreads | Website
• The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba | Goodreads | Amazon | Website
• A Practical Guide to Evil by David Verburg | Goodreads | Website
• Mother of Learning by Domagoj Kurmaic | Goodreads | Website

Web Comics

• The Phoenix Requiem by Sarah Ellerton | Goodreads | Website
• The Groom by Emily Carroll | Goodreads | Website
• Schlock Mercenary by Howard Taylor | Goodreads |Amazon | Website
• Thunderpaw: In the Ashes of Fire Mountain by Jen Lee | Website
• Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe | Goodreads | Website
• The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill | Goodreads | Amazon | Website
• Always Human by Ari Walkingnorth | Goodreads | Website

Graphic Novels

• Bone by Jeff Smith | Goodreads | Amazon
• reMind by Jason Brubaker | Goodreads | Amazon
• Elements: Fire by Taneka Stotts | Goodreads | Comixology
• Hex11 by Lisa K. Weber and Kelly Sue Milano | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Chancellor and the Citadel by Maria Capelle Frantz | Goodreads | Amazon
• Chimera by Tyler Ellis | Goodreads | Amazon
• Newdini by Richie Pope | Gumroad
• Weapon Brown by Jason Yungbluth | Goodreads | Amazon

Audio Drama

• Mount Olympus University Raeanna Nicole Larson | Website
• Among the Stars and Bones by Chris Magilton | Website
• Fan Wars: The Empire Claps Back by Shenee Howard | Website
• Gay Future by Connor Wright, Christina Friel, & Ben Lapidus | Website
• Moonbase Theta Out by D.J. Sylvis | Website
• Solutions to Problems by Nathan Comstock, Michael F. Gill, & Austin Hendricks | Website

Short Story Anthologies

• Art of War, edited by Petros Triantafyllou | Goodreads | Amazon
• Heroes Wanted by Terrible Ten | Goodreads | Amazon

Novellas

• Danse Macabre by Laura M. Hughes | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Dragon Bone Flute by M. Todd Gallowglass | Goodreads | Amazon

Standalone

• Ours is the Storm by D Thourson Palmer | Goodreads | Amazon
• Coven Queen by Jeramy Goble | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Music Box Girl by K.A. Stewart | Goodreads | Amazon
• The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang | Goodreads | Amazon
• Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R. Fletcher | Goodreads | Amazon