4 Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts from Writers

Updated 3/26/23

Here are four science fiction and fantasy publishers that don't require an agent. Several offer competitive advances and royalties.

In publishing, as with all businesses, it is "brand recognition" that counts, and some of the names on this list are very well known.

Related posts:

Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

Top 5 Sites for Science Fiction Writers


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Edge Publishing

Small Canadian press. You do not have to be Canadian to submit your work, they accept manuscripts from any nationality worldwide. They have a distribution throughout North America.

What they are looking for: Science Fiction and Fantasy between 75,000 and 100,000 words. Adult audience (20 and up).

Terms: Advance and royalties. "We rarely ever negotiate the royalty percentages and/or advances that we offer, and if we do so, then only with previously published writers."
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Aethon

Aethon is open to all genre fiction, with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy. "We don’t care what sub-genre you write in. Hard Sci-fi, Epic Fantasy, Space opera, Military SF, Alt/History, Time Travel and more." Aethon does not offer an advance, though they do give royalties. Books are published in all English-language territories – notably the US, Canada, UK and Australia – and are distributed through Ingram. Length should be between 60,000 and 80,000 words. Read their guidelines here.

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Baen Books

Baen Books was founded in 1983 by science fiction editor and publisher Jim Baen (now deceased). Baen was one of the first publishers to use the Internet as a means of "spreading the word" about a book or author. Publishes in digital and print format.

What they are looking for: Science fiction with powerful plots with solid scientific and philosophical underpinnings are essential for science fiction submissions. For fantasy, any magical system must be both rigorously coherent and integral to the plot, and overall the work must at least strive for originality. Manuscripts should be at least 100,000 words. 

How to Submit: Send your manuscript by using the submission form at: https://www.baen.com/slush/index/submit

Attach the manuscript as a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file. Any other format will not be considered.

Send the manuscript as a single file (do not break it into separate chapter files). The form only accepts a single file so any synopsis and contact info needs to be in the file with your manuscript.

Your submission must include your name, email address*, postal mailing address, and telephone number on both your cover letter and the first page of the manuscript. *[If you have an alternate permanent email address, please include it, in case your primary account goes out of service.] Include a plot outline if possible.

Click HERE for more details.
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Arcadia

Arcadia (UK) is Quercus’ imprint for science fiction, fantasy and horror. Established in 2011 as Jo Fletcher Books, and helmed by the inimitable Jo herself, the imprint established a reputation as the home for a small and beautifully curated list of incredible authors and modern classics 

Submissions: See their guidelines here.