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Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26From two of the most acclaimed writers in the field today, a groundbreaking look at how SF and fantasy writing—and reading!
Jo Walton and Ada Palmer are two of the most innovative and insightful writers to emerge in the SF and fantasy genres in this century. As writers of fiction they’ve each won multiple awards. As commenters on SF and fantasy in print and in visual media, they’ve both sparked new conversations that expanded our imaginations and understanding of how SF and fantasy work, and what more it could be doing.
Now, in Trace Elements, Walton and Palmer have come together to write a book-length and supremely entertaining look at modern science fiction and fantasy, at how our genre is written and how it is read, that will join nonfiction works like Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Language of the Night, Samuel R. Delany’s The Jewel-Hinged Jaw, and Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud on the short shelf of titles essential to all readers of our genre.
Subjects covered include the nature of genre itself, the history of SF publishing, the implicit contract between author and reader, the ways SF and fantasy disguise themselves as one another, what SF&F can learn from outside influences ranging from Shakespeare to Diderot to anime, the role of complicity in reading, the need to expand our “sphere of empathy”, and finally the need for optimism, the importance of rejecting “purity” culture, and the fact that the human story for centuries to come will be composed of hard work.
Jo Walton and Ada Palmer are two of the most innovative and insightful writers to emerge in the SF and fantasy genres in this century. As writers of fiction they’ve each won multiple awards. As commenters on SF and fantasy in print and in visual media, they’ve both sparked new conversations that expanded our imaginations and understanding of how SF and fantasy work, and what more it could be doing.
Now, in Trace Elements, Walton and Palmer have come together to write a book-length and supremely entertaining look at modern science fiction and fantasy, at how our genre is written and how it is read, that will join nonfiction works like Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Language of the Night, Samuel R. Delany’s The Jewel-Hinged Jaw, and Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud on the short shelf of titles essential to all readers of our genre.
Subjects covered include the nature of genre itself, the history of SF publishing, the implicit contract between author and reader, the ways SF and fantasy disguise themselves as one another, what SF&F can learn from outside influences ranging from Shakespeare to Diderot to anime, the role of complicity in reading, the need to expand our “sphere of empathy”, and finally the need for optimism, the importance of rejecting “purity” culture, and the fact that the human story for centuries to come will be composed of hard work.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 24, 2026
2673 people want to read
About the author
Jo Walton
86 books3,091 followersJo Walton writes science fiction and fantasy novels and reads a lot and eats great food. It worries her slightly that this is so exactly what she always wanted to do when she grew up. She comes from Wales, but lives in Montreal.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 1, 2025
I've been a big fan of Jo Walton's takes on science fiction for years (Tooth and Claw is my favorite of her books I've read so far, but her Thessaly trilogy is overdue for a reread). She reads omnivorously and has the best-informed perspective on what SF has been and is becoming. Her book on the Hugo's is an example of some of my favorite kind of writing about books. I don't know Ada Palmer's work at all, but clearly she brings a deep knowledge of manga and anime to the mix, as well as a more overtly political viewpoint.
Some thoughts, in no particular order:
This collection includes personal essays from both women, giving us insight into their journeys to publication and experiences with disability. Definitely worth a read. (There are also poems, which I mostly skipped, but ymmv.)
Some of my favorite essays here are the ones that zoom out for an industry-wide view. The examination of imprint SF vs. "external" SF gave voice to ideas I've felt but struggled to articulate - why, for example, Ishiguro's highly praised Klara and the Sun feels so boringly basic to me, who grew up reading Asimov's Robot stories. Literary SF annoys me because it's written and praised by people who don't read SF and think they're offering original takes on topics that have been well-mapped by generations of SF writers. For Walton and Palmer, they much more diplomatically describe it as the difference between a 101 explanation and one written for people in a 300-level class.
The essay breaking down the history of fantasy/SF publication was fascinating, and I learned a ton about mass market paperbacks that I never knew, even as a librarian. I got less out of the multiple essays about manga, only because I always find that literature difficult to get into. (It's so mind-bogglingly vast and the number of volumes you have to read for a single story is not inviting for an "external" reader who has barely dipped a toe into the format.)
Walton's essay "What's Reading For?" answered some lingering questions I have had about her ability to finish several books a day, and gave me a new place to aspire to in my reading life: "Reading is the most fun I can have at any given moment." Delightful.
The essay "Spear Point Theory" is immediately going into my canon of useful ideas from its very first sentence. As a lifelong SF fan, I live for the moment the spear punches through at full power. I'm now going to have to reread some favorites (and re-watch Farscape) to re-experience those moments with this fresh insight.
I very much disagree with Palmer's critiques of "Providentialist" thinking. I do believe in Providence because I'm a Christian. Though I appreciate the way SF explores interesting ideas in an infinite variety of possible worlds, in our world there are wrong answers to certain questions. At one point Palmer writes "Western SF basically never pauses to ask whether extinction is a better choice than the bomb. When this does come up in Western SF, it is, sadly, often unexamined and the answer is always to keep killing, and even when it is examined, with the idea that the killing has a cost, that cost is always paid." I'm not totally sure what she means in the second sentence, but choosing extinction is insane. Next question.
As a stylistic quibble, I think both writers should lay off using italics for emphasis. I've always thought italics should be used as sparingly as exclamation points. The sentences rarely changes meaning without the italicized words, so if it lacks punch use stronger words.
Overall, anyone who loves SF and fantasy would get a lot out of these thoughtful essays. I'm glad I read them, and they've added to my reading list (check out my "jo-walton-says" tag for books I've added over the years because of her essays).
Received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Some thoughts, in no particular order:
This collection includes personal essays from both women, giving us insight into their journeys to publication and experiences with disability. Definitely worth a read. (There are also poems, which I mostly skipped, but ymmv.)
Some of my favorite essays here are the ones that zoom out for an industry-wide view. The examination of imprint SF vs. "external" SF gave voice to ideas I've felt but struggled to articulate - why, for example, Ishiguro's highly praised Klara and the Sun feels so boringly basic to me, who grew up reading Asimov's Robot stories. Literary SF annoys me because it's written and praised by people who don't read SF and think they're offering original takes on topics that have been well-mapped by generations of SF writers. For Walton and Palmer, they much more diplomatically describe it as the difference between a 101 explanation and one written for people in a 300-level class.
The essay breaking down the history of fantasy/SF publication was fascinating, and I learned a ton about mass market paperbacks that I never knew, even as a librarian. I got less out of the multiple essays about manga, only because I always find that literature difficult to get into. (It's so mind-bogglingly vast and the number of volumes you have to read for a single story is not inviting for an "external" reader who has barely dipped a toe into the format.)
Walton's essay "What's Reading For?" answered some lingering questions I have had about her ability to finish several books a day, and gave me a new place to aspire to in my reading life: "Reading is the most fun I can have at any given moment." Delightful.
The essay "Spear Point Theory" is immediately going into my canon of useful ideas from its very first sentence. As a lifelong SF fan, I live for the moment the spear punches through at full power. I'm now going to have to reread some favorites (and re-watch Farscape) to re-experience those moments with this fresh insight.
I very much disagree with Palmer's critiques of "Providentialist" thinking. I do believe in Providence because I'm a Christian. Though I appreciate the way SF explores interesting ideas in an infinite variety of possible worlds, in our world there are wrong answers to certain questions. At one point Palmer writes "Western SF basically never pauses to ask whether extinction is a better choice than the bomb. When this does come up in Western SF, it is, sadly, often unexamined and the answer is always to keep killing, and even when it is examined, with the idea that the killing has a cost, that cost is always paid." I'm not totally sure what she means in the second sentence, but choosing extinction is insane. Next question.
As a stylistic quibble, I think both writers should lay off using italics for emphasis. I've always thought italics should be used as sparingly as exclamation points. The sentences rarely changes meaning without the italicized words, so if it lacks punch use stronger words.
Overall, anyone who loves SF and fantasy would get a lot out of these thoughtful essays. I'm glad I read them, and they've added to my reading list (check out my "jo-walton-says" tag for books I've added over the years because of her essays).
Received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2025
**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.**
I don't read much writing that dissects genre, writing trends, or the possibilities of fiction, so this was a real feast for me. There are a lot of wonderfully interesting essays here, some thought-provoking, and some eye-opening. The first three in particular are really excellent at the latter: getting into the weeds of why imprint SFF and external SFF feel different was incredible in a did-not-know-I-needed-to-hear-that way. I also really enjoyed the deep dives into anime and romance and The Princess Bride. (I was way less enthused by all the mentions of AI rights. I know it's meant to refer to person-like AI, but spending the last year or so watching artists and writers get their hard work ripped off by AI, plus having it obtrusively shoved into every corner of online life has given me a reflexive flinch to "AI," never mind the much more galling "AI rights." Crazy how fast the night changes, huh? But even that element was thought-provoking.)
There are, of course, a few less than interesting pieces. I'm not sure why we needed the acknowledgements of another book in this book (and since they were there, why wasn't the standard form for acknowledgements played with a bit? after all these essays on trying out new narrative styles in writing, c'mon!) and some of the poems didn't really hit for me. But overall, this is a really compelling collection. If you're at all interested in genre fiction, or, hell, just love thinking about fiction in general there is definitely something you'll enjoy here.
On the other hand, if you're looking to keep your TBR - or To Be Watched list - nice and lean (why, though?)...run, don't walk. This is not the book to help you with that!
I don't read much writing that dissects genre, writing trends, or the possibilities of fiction, so this was a real feast for me. There are a lot of wonderfully interesting essays here, some thought-provoking, and some eye-opening. The first three in particular are really excellent at the latter: getting into the weeds of why imprint SFF and external SFF feel different was incredible in a did-not-know-I-needed-to-hear-that way. I also really enjoyed the deep dives into anime and romance and The Princess Bride. (I was way less enthused by all the mentions of AI rights. I know it's meant to refer to person-like AI, but spending the last year or so watching artists and writers get their hard work ripped off by AI, plus having it obtrusively shoved into every corner of online life has given me a reflexive flinch to "AI," never mind the much more galling "AI rights." Crazy how fast the night changes, huh? But even that element was thought-provoking.)
There are, of course, a few less than interesting pieces. I'm not sure why we needed the acknowledgements of another book in this book (and since they were there, why wasn't the standard form for acknowledgements played with a bit? after all these essays on trying out new narrative styles in writing, c'mon!) and some of the poems didn't really hit for me. But overall, this is a really compelling collection. If you're at all interested in genre fiction, or, hell, just love thinking about fiction in general there is definitely something you'll enjoy here.
On the other hand, if you're looking to keep your TBR - or To Be Watched list - nice and lean (why, though?)...run, don't walk. This is not the book to help you with that!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this new book that looks at the genre of science fiction through various points of views, examining the history, what makes good stories work, writing for a living, and bringing one's viewpoints and expectations to a genus of literature that has changed with the times, but always looks towards the future.
I don't trust memoirs as I know as a human I have forgotten, misconstrued, or reimagined many things in my past. Such as when I started getting into science fiction. If asked I would have said that Star Wars and Star Trek were my gateway drugs. Recently though I found an entire set of Tom Swift books in a box in my Mom's attic, along with Hardy Boys and others. So were the boy inventor's adventures my first science fiction? And does is matter. That is the great thing about speculative fiction. There are so many possibilities in stories. Boy inventors, space the final frontier, galaxies far, far away. Even twenty minutes into the future. Science fiction is a wonderful world to explore, and this new book shows us new worlds and new adventures, along with how to understand, even in some places how to write our own worlds. Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy are a collection of essays written by Jo Walton and Ada Palmer which looks at the genre that many of us love, that shaped our understanding of the world, examing why we do, what it gives us, what we should expect, and what we can learn from it varied history.
The book is a series of essays, some previously published, some commissioned for the book, written by both writers together, or separately. The first is new and is about what the reader of a story expects not just from science fiction, but from certain stories, the covenant that links readers and writers, and what happens when that trust fails, or expectations messed with. The book also has a look at the history of science fiction publishing, discussing the magazines, the early days of the golden age, and those gate keepers who advanced in some ways the field, and others who excluded certain voices, a legacy the genre is still dealing with. The authors look also at fantasy stories, their shared traits and what defines the different forms of fantasy. Plus there is a big section on Japanese manga and anime, which might serves as a good introduction for new readers and watchers.
Considering the authors, one knows this will be well-written, well-researched, and well-thought out. The essays cover a lot of different subjects, including diversity and even an essay on disability in science fiction from a writer's point of view. The essays cover more subjects than I listed, and go into different sub-genres, enjoyment of science fiction and even writing tips. Added to that are poems that serves as a slight breather from the more headier subjects these essays delve into. There are a lot of titles that are mentioned that should be added to a person's to be read list. As with many collections some essays land just right with a reader, and some don't, so results might vary depending on the point of view of the reader. All of them are quite good, and offer information and new ways of thinking about the genre, that are quite enjoyable.
For fans of the two authors and for those enjoy the field of science fiction in all its myriad ways. The authors offer a lot of new ways of thinking, new looks at what was a familiar past, and much hope for the future in both science fiction, publishing, and for all of us.
I don't trust memoirs as I know as a human I have forgotten, misconstrued, or reimagined many things in my past. Such as when I started getting into science fiction. If asked I would have said that Star Wars and Star Trek were my gateway drugs. Recently though I found an entire set of Tom Swift books in a box in my Mom's attic, along with Hardy Boys and others. So were the boy inventor's adventures my first science fiction? And does is matter. That is the great thing about speculative fiction. There are so many possibilities in stories. Boy inventors, space the final frontier, galaxies far, far away. Even twenty minutes into the future. Science fiction is a wonderful world to explore, and this new book shows us new worlds and new adventures, along with how to understand, even in some places how to write our own worlds. Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy are a collection of essays written by Jo Walton and Ada Palmer which looks at the genre that many of us love, that shaped our understanding of the world, examing why we do, what it gives us, what we should expect, and what we can learn from it varied history.
The book is a series of essays, some previously published, some commissioned for the book, written by both writers together, or separately. The first is new and is about what the reader of a story expects not just from science fiction, but from certain stories, the covenant that links readers and writers, and what happens when that trust fails, or expectations messed with. The book also has a look at the history of science fiction publishing, discussing the magazines, the early days of the golden age, and those gate keepers who advanced in some ways the field, and others who excluded certain voices, a legacy the genre is still dealing with. The authors look also at fantasy stories, their shared traits and what defines the different forms of fantasy. Plus there is a big section on Japanese manga and anime, which might serves as a good introduction for new readers and watchers.
Considering the authors, one knows this will be well-written, well-researched, and well-thought out. The essays cover a lot of different subjects, including diversity and even an essay on disability in science fiction from a writer's point of view. The essays cover more subjects than I listed, and go into different sub-genres, enjoyment of science fiction and even writing tips. Added to that are poems that serves as a slight breather from the more headier subjects these essays delve into. There are a lot of titles that are mentioned that should be added to a person's to be read list. As with many collections some essays land just right with a reader, and some don't, so results might vary depending on the point of view of the reader. All of them are quite good, and offer information and new ways of thinking about the genre, that are quite enjoyable.
For fans of the two authors and for those enjoy the field of science fiction in all its myriad ways. The authors offer a lot of new ways of thinking, new looks at what was a familiar past, and much hope for the future in both science fiction, publishing, and for all of us.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
First off, I think it's important to know that I entered the giveaway for this book knowing that I love the works of one author and had a bad experience with the other. I thought this might level the field, as it were.
In short: this is a great set of essays on a broad range of science fiction & fantasy topics. It gives the reader a lot of think about, from pondering what counts as science fiction - and the even hotter topic of where fantasy fits in - disability in fiction, English-centric scifi/fantasy and how that has shaped the genre(s), the history of publishing, authors who use scifi/fantasy but don't claim it (what the two authors here call "external SF&F"), reasons for writing, etc. There's something in here for any scifi/fantasy fan - and I daresay for those who aren't fans.
The tone is approachable and very easy to read, though I think the way the book was advertised as a conversation between the authors is a bit of a stretch. Many of the chapters were published elsewhere first, so it's not all original content, but many republished chapters have been expanded and revised for this book.
I think my favorite chapter was The Ghost Did What?! Translation Exposing Providentialist Thinking, which discusses how more scifi/fantasy in translation is appearing in the English publishing world. For decades, the trend has been mainly that English-language scifi/fantasy gets translated to other languages, but as for other genres, English-language publishers don't bother getting books translated into English, and we're all poorer for it. This is starting to change, and here Palmer explains just a short bit of why, using Japanese ghost stories as an example. I wish there'd been more about more languages, not just Japanese, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers.
First off, I think it's important to know that I entered the giveaway for this book knowing that I love the works of one author and had a bad experience with the other. I thought this might level the field, as it were.
In short: this is a great set of essays on a broad range of science fiction & fantasy topics. It gives the reader a lot of think about, from pondering what counts as science fiction - and the even hotter topic of where fantasy fits in - disability in fiction, English-centric scifi/fantasy and how that has shaped the genre(s), the history of publishing, authors who use scifi/fantasy but don't claim it (what the two authors here call "external SF&F"), reasons for writing, etc. There's something in here for any scifi/fantasy fan - and I daresay for those who aren't fans.
The tone is approachable and very easy to read, though I think the way the book was advertised as a conversation between the authors is a bit of a stretch. Many of the chapters were published elsewhere first, so it's not all original content, but many republished chapters have been expanded and revised for this book.
I think my favorite chapter was The Ghost Did What?! Translation Exposing Providentialist Thinking, which discusses how more scifi/fantasy in translation is appearing in the English publishing world. For decades, the trend has been mainly that English-language scifi/fantasy gets translated to other languages, but as for other genres, English-language publishers don't bother getting books translated into English, and we're all poorer for it. This is starting to change, and here Palmer explains just a short bit of why, using Japanese ghost stories as an example. I wish there'd been more about more languages, not just Japanese, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Take two award winning authors who are friends and turn them loose on the broad definition of science fiction and fantasy (SF&F). What comes out is Trace Elements - a compilation of previously published and newly written essays, genre reflections, poems, and biography that lets the reader peek behind the curtain and watch a bit of sausage-making.
Jo and Ada divided Trace Elements into three sections. Section 1: Genre, Or the Modern Proteus has thirteen essays and poems dealing with the contract between the author and reader, the history of science fiction, definitions, why science fiction or fantasy might pretend to be the other genre, plus the role of robots, and the interaction of SF&F with romance, manga/anime, and mysteries.
Section 2: Anyone Who Says Differently is Selling Something provides the reader a glimpse into how each author works and how they became the author that they are over the course of five essays.
Section 3: Craft contains twelve essays and poems on the purpose of writing science fiction and/or fantasy, why reading, the necessity of diversity in protagonists, the issue of censorship and writing around it, and a very interesting look at The Princess Bride (both the book and the movie).
So if you are looking for different approaches to science fiction/fantasy or you just enjoy reading well crafted essays on a variety of topics, do pick up this volume and delve into it yourself. Your time will be well spent!
Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the fun of reading this title
Jo and Ada divided Trace Elements into three sections. Section 1: Genre, Or the Modern Proteus has thirteen essays and poems dealing with the contract between the author and reader, the history of science fiction, definitions, why science fiction or fantasy might pretend to be the other genre, plus the role of robots, and the interaction of SF&F with romance, manga/anime, and mysteries.
Section 2: Anyone Who Says Differently is Selling Something provides the reader a glimpse into how each author works and how they became the author that they are over the course of five essays.
Section 3: Craft contains twelve essays and poems on the purpose of writing science fiction and/or fantasy, why reading, the necessity of diversity in protagonists, the issue of censorship and writing around it, and a very interesting look at The Princess Bride (both the book and the movie).
So if you are looking for different approaches to science fiction/fantasy or you just enjoy reading well crafted essays on a variety of topics, do pick up this volume and delve into it yourself. Your time will be well spent!
Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the fun of reading this title
November 18, 2025
It really is essays about reading and writing science fiction & fantasy. But even for a scifi/fantasy reader, it was pretty dull. Only recommend for aspiring writers.
Only giving it three stars because its Jo Walton.
I received an ARC of this work from Netgalley for my honest review.
Only giving it three stars because its Jo Walton.
I received an ARC of this work from Netgalley for my honest review.
Want to read
November 10, 2025Rec. by: Previous work, and a Goodreads giveaway
Review of advance copy
Introduces some heady concepts on what science fiction is, how disability affects people, and how writing is often a way of developing, or at least exploring, our individual identities.
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