Hodderscape signs Becky Chambers' ‘astonishing’ new duology
Hodderscape has acquired an “astonishing” new science fiction duology from Becky Chambers, the bestselling author of the Wayfarers series.
World rights were acquired from Seth Fishman at The Gernert Company, with associate publisher Molly Powell to publish the first book – As You Wake, Break the Shell – in October 2026. HarperVoyager will be publishing in the US and rights have so far been sold in four other territories, including to L’Atalante (France), S Fischer Verlag (Germany), Runas/Alianza (Spain) and Studio of A (Bulgaria).
Told in alternating timelines, As You Wake, Break the Shell is described as a “heartfelt and hopeful story, exploring what it means to be human and what it means to come together”.
The blurb reads: “Pilot Cora and botanist Signy eke out life on the inhospitable planet Fortune. When Cora seeks help for a rare and dangerous medical condition, Signy is the only one who can help – but to do so, she must break the rules that govern their lives, risking her livelihood and the other colonists who rely on her for survival. As the two women navigate their balance of risk and trust, they confront what they owe to each other and to their community – and whether survival alone is enough.”
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Powell said: “To read Becky’s novel is a joy. To publish it is an honour. I’ve been a fan of Becky’s work ever since The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet enraptured me with its compelling blend of tenderness, empathy and aliens, and it has been a wonder to work with her at Hodderscape. As You Wake, Break the Shell is sure to delight long-time fans and new readers alike. It is an astonishing work: insightful, honest and arresting. I simply cannot wait for October!”
Chambers said: “It’s so good to be back in space. As You Wake, Break the Shell is maybe the most personal work I’ve written thus far, and I am buzzing with excitement over finally getting to share this brand-new world with my readers (or, well, a few new worlds; that’s how planetary systems work, after all). I am, at heart, an incurable romantic, and nervous as I was to do a front-and-centre love story for the first time, it’s also something I pulled straight out of my chest. I found this book equally challenging and liberating to write, and I hope those qualities come through to everybody who joins me for the ride.”
