NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: Comedy And Cultural Commentary Collide In Collection of Radio Play Scripts

Hugh A. D. Spencer continues to push the boundaries of science fiction with his next book, The Fabulist Play Cycle, coming this October from Brain Lag.

Departing from his previous novel and short story releases, The Fabulist Play Cycle tells the story of disillusioned science fiction writers from the early- to mid-20th century in an underutilized genre—a series of radio plays. These scripts follow the trials and tribulations of aspiring writers during the Golden Age of science fiction through their varying careers, relationships, and levels of success, including one whose popularity spawns a cult religion that takes the world (and the IRS) by storm.

Delivered with Spencer’s usual wit and satire of popular culture, The Fabulist Play Cycle delivers five individual tales that together form a cohesive, novel-length collection. The plays have been performed by Shoestring Radio Theater in San Francisco and broadcast through NPR satellite networks in the U.S. The book will be released in October in trade paperback and ebook formats. The cover art will be revealed and preorders will open June 16.

The Fabulist Play Cycle is the fifth book by Spencer from publisher Brain Lag, following up his novels Extreme Dentistry (2014) and The Hard Side of the Moon (2021) and his collections Why I Hunt Flying Saucers and Other Fantasticals (2016) and The Progressive Apparatus and More Fantasticals(2021). Spencer, who most recently had a story published in Monstrous Futures (presented by Dark Matter Magazine) and gave a reading as part of the launch of a new exhibit at Black Creek Pioneer Village, lives in Toronto after travelling across four different continents as a museum consultant. His work has twice been nominated for Canada’s Aurora Award.

The Fabulist Play Cycle will be Brain Lag’s 49th released title. This is the publisher’s ninth release of eleven planned for 2023. Spencer and Brain Lag are also working with artist Will O’Brien to create a graphic novel interpretation of H. G. Wells’ classic novel When the Sleeper Wakes.

Media inquiries and requests to contact the author can be directed to publishing@brain-lag.com.