A selection of recent science fiction and fantasy books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors has been showcased amid AAPI Heritage Month celebrations. The list features stories ranging from parallel universes to space samurai adventures. It encourages readers to support these creators during the May observance.
May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, commemorating events like the first Japanese American immigrant's arrival and the transcontinental railroad's completion. The tradition began as a week in the late 1970s and expanded to a full month in the early 1990s. President Joe Biden recognized it as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2021, though the Trump administration later reverted federal recognition to AAPI Heritage Month in May 2025 after eliminating it on Inauguration Day 2025. Published on April 30, the roundup spotlights new works by AAPI authors from East, Southeast, South Asia, and Pacific Islands, including Hawai’i, urging readers to buy books or leave reviews on platforms like Goodreads and Amazon. Among the titles is The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed, where Chicago teen Aria Patel navigates parallel universes and rekindles feelings for her ex, Rohan, amid unfinished business in her home world. Roshani Chokshi’s The Swan’s Daughter depicts a cursed prince and a wingless swan-girl whose truth-compelling song leads to an unexpected romance during a royal competition. S.L. Huang’s novella The Language of Liars follows spy Ro impersonating a Star Eater alien to learn its language and uncover why the species is fading, revealing far more than expected. Fonda Lee’s The Last Contract of Isako presents space samurai Isako on a final corporate espionage mission to block a board nominee, unearthing a secret threatening humanity. Makana Yamamoto’s The Obake Code brings back hacker Malia, who rigs sports bets and takes on a politician for a gang leader to save her life.