Lunagrad

by Andrew Joron

On the frozen world of Hurth stands Lunagrad, an inhuman city that redesigns itself. There, once-nomadic human tribes have taken shelter, dwelling in uneasy harmony with the city’s automated mechanisms. The streets are haunted by apparitions of silent Cosmonauts, who some believe may have been the city’s original residents. When a vast new structure erupts from the city’s depths, its façades dripping with a madness-inducing script, the tenuous truce maintained by the warring tribes begins to unravel.

Part planetary romance, part philosophical epic, and part cosmic mystery, Lunagrad is a visionary meditation on language, memory, technology, and becoming. Andrew Joron has imagined a dazzling speculative world in the visionary tradition of Gene Wolfe, Samuel R. Delany, M. John Harrison, and Stanisław Lem.

364 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 15, 2026

About the author

Andrew Joron was raised in Stuttgart, Germany, Lowell, MA, and Missoula, MT. He studied under anarchist philosopher Paul Feyerabend at UC Berkeley, obtaining a BA in philosophy of science. Joron began writing science-fiction poetry before turning to surrealist-influenced lyric, reflecting his association with Philip Lamantia. His translations from German include philosopher Ernst Bloch's Literary Essays.

Reviews

[Curtis]

The comparisons to M John Harrison and Gene Wolfe weren't kidding -- this book is one hell of a trip! Weird science and zany worldbuilding collide in this psychedelic puzzle box that you'll have a blast trying to predict, making new theories with every new chapter you finish. The paperback isn't out until November but you can currently buy the ebook on Lulu.

[David Agranoff]

This is an excellent high literature science fiction that borders on surrealism, mixing the vibe cyberpunk living cities with soviet infulenced planetary romance. The colony has both a living city vibe, but the colonists worship Soviet iconography. I loved this novel, that is written in poetic rhythm; I think a shorter version would have been even stronger. Still, one of the best arcs I read this year.