We know it has been a while since you have received an update about the visionary sci-fi anthology Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction From Social Justice Movements.

That is because we have been involved in a transition and re-evaluation phase. It’s the end of that phase, and we are so happy to be able to officially announce two incredible things: 1) the final list of contributors to the project, and 2) that AK Press (in conjunction with the Institute for Anarchist Studies) will publish Octavia’s Brood!

We are so ecstatic to share the list of contributors to this project, and to thank the folks who have shared their work, their words, their vision with us and Octavias’ Brood:

The book will include short stories from LeVar Burton, Terry Bisson, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Alixa Garcia, Autumn Brown, Bao Phi, David Walker, Dani McClain, Dawolu Jabari Anderson, Gabriel Teodros, Jelani Wilson, Kalamu ya Salaam, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Mia Mingus, Morrigan Phillips, Tara Betts, Tunde Oluniran, Vagabond, adrienne maree brown, and Walidah Imarisha, essays by Tananarive Due and Mumia Abu-Jamal, as well as an introduction by Sheree Renee Thomas.

In terms of publishing, our original intention was to self publish. As editors, we both knew it would be a massive amount of work but were committed to it. However, once we were immersed in the process, we found it was even more work than we could have imagined. It has turned out to be more than we actually have capacity to do on our own, especially as we move into the realm of distribution. We wanted above all else to ensure that Octavia’s Brood is the highest quality anthology, to honor the lovework that we as editors — as well all of the writers and everyone who donated and supported the project — have poured into it over the past four and a half years.

We have determined that going with an aligned publisher will allow us to actually focus more on the touring, workshops and sharing the work with all of you in ways that move beyond just book readings.

The one major change for you all to know about is that we have a spring 2015 release date. So… a little bit longer to revel in anticipation.

We know so many of you (550!) generously contributed to our indiegogo campaign, and we want to assure you those funds are still needed and very much appreciated. Going with a publisher allows us to use those funds to provide some small compensation for all of the writers who have been working on these stories for years. It also allows us to expand our tour – meaning we can bring more writers for book readings, more workshops, more organizing trainings, and more sci-fi house parties to each of y’all’s cities!

Raising a toast to AK, to us, and to all of y’all as this project continues to gain momentum! Thank you for your support, and we are excited to go into new universes with y’all, to boldly go where no anthology has gone before!