The Chronicles of Alsea is a science fiction book series by Fletcher DeLancey, consisting of ten novels: The Caphenon (2015), Without a Front: The Producer's Challenge (2015), Without a Front: The Warrior's Challenge (2015), Catalyst (2016), Vellmar the Blade (2016), Outcaste (2017), Resilience (2018), Uprising (2019), Alsea Rising: Gathering Storm (2020), and Alsea Rising: The Seventh Star (2020). The series also includes two novellas: Projection (2015) and Far Enough (2020).
DeLancey has stated that the series "is an exploration of what happens when good people make bad decisions, when politicians have lofty ideals but must compromise to achieve them, and when love—as it so often does—both impairs and enables the course of history." [1]
DeLancey has been praised for her well-crafted characters, which she says comes from three distinct approaches: "creative kaboom," where characters appear to her fully formed; "careful crafting," where she works through characters' backstories and motivations before writing; and "getting to know you," where she allows the character to develop as she writes them. [2]
Alicia Kania, writing for POMEmag, reviewed the first six books of the series, writing, "Not to be dramatic, but reading this series felt like discovering something I'd spent my life waiting for." [2] She applauded the books for being "ever so beautifully and boldly women-centric and romantic." [2] Kania continued, stating,
Sometimes, when I review great sci-fi, I use phrases like “a breath of fresh air” and/or “dessert.” This series is both of those things and so much more. It's difficult to properly articulate how meaningful it is to me, personally, to find a fascinating sci-fi/fantasy adventure with women, women's love stories, and compassion at center stage. What's more, as an aspiring novelist, I not only learned a great deal from Chronicles of Alsea, but I came away inspired to be more fearless in my own storytelling. What a gift! [2]
DeLancey's writing style has been praised in multiple reviews, [2] with one reviewer stating, "Her prose flows faultlessly." [3] In a review for a separate book, this reviewer continued, stating, "I have been reading sci-fi now for over forty years, and there is no doubt in my mind that Fletcher DeLancey is among the finest authors in this genre." [4]
Publishers Weekly applauded Without a Front: The Producer's Challenge, explaining, "DeLancey veers from a straightforward SF adventure of first-contact and galactic political maneuvering to deliver a more lighthearted romance, delighting readers with high-quality writing, confident female leaders, political machinations, and detailed world-building." [5]
LOTL also praised the novel, writing, "Fletcher DeLancey works true magic here. Her words convey an utterly vivid picture of a fully developed empathic alien society, and explores the nooks and crannies of an established caste society. There are no information dumps, but the story masterfully offers those bits and pieces." [4]
| Year | Title | Award/Honor | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Caphenon | Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror | Finalist | [6] [7] [8] |
| Without a Front: The Producer's Challenge | Goldie Award for Science Fiction/ Fantasy | Finalist | [9] | |
| Without a Front: The Warrior's Challenge | Goldie Award for Science Fiction/ Fantasy | Winner | [10] [11] | |
| 2017 | The Caphenon | Independent Publisher Book Award for Best SciFi/Fantasy/Horror eBook | Bronze | [12] |
| Catalyst | Goldie Award for Science Fiction/ Fantasy | Finalist | [13] | |
| Vellmar the Blade | SFR Galaxy Award for Best Mother-Daughter Dynamic | Winner | [14] | |
| 2019 | Resilience | Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror | Finalist | [15] [16] |
Ellen Hart is the award-winning mystery author of the Jane Lawless and Sophie Greenway series. Born in Maine, she was a professional chef for 14 years. Hart's mysteries include culinary elements similar to those of Diane Mott Davidson.
Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the United States-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works that celebrate or explore LGBT themes. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the official year of the award; the presentation ceremony is held a year later. The Lambda Literary Foundation states that its mission is "to celebrate LGBT literature and provide resources for writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, and librarians - the whole literary community."
The Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to a work of fiction on gay male themes. As the award is presented based on themes in the work, not the sexuality or gender of the writer, women and heterosexual men may also be nominated for or win the award.
The Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to a work of fiction on lesbian themes. As the award is presented based on themes in the work, not the sexuality or gender of the writer, men and heterosexual women may also be nominated for or win the award.
The Lambda Literary Award for Drama is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to an LGBT-related literary or theatrical work. Most nominees are plays, or anthologies of plays; however, non-fiction works on theatre or drama have also sometimes been nominated for the award.
The Lambda Literary Award for Debut Fiction is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to a debut work of fiction on LGBT themes. Formerly presented in two separate categories for gay male and lesbian debut fiction, beginning the 25th Lambda Literary Awards in 2013 a single award, inclusive of both male and female writers, was presented. The award was, however, discontinued after the 28th Lambda Literary Awards in 2016.
The Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to a gay-themed book of poetry by a male writer.
The Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to a lesbian-themed book of poetry by a female writer. At the first two Lambda Literary Awards in 1989 and 1990, a single award for LGBT Poetry, irrespective of gender, was presented. Beginning with the 3rd Lambda Literary Awards in 1991, the poetry award was split into two separate awards for Lesbian Poetry and Gay Poetry, which have been presented continuously since then except at the 20th Lambda Literary Awards in 2008, when a merged LGBTQ poetry award was again presented for that year only.
The Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works that celebrate or explore LGBT themes. The organization is considered to be one of the main promoters of new and emerging LGBT writers.
The Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Graphic Novel is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, to a graphic novel with LGBT themes. As the award is presented based on themes in the work, not the sexuality or gender of the writer, non-LGBT individuals may be nominated for or win the award.
The Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Memoir/Biography is an annual literary award established in 1994, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, to a memoir, biography, autobiography, or works of creative nonfiction by or about lesbians. Works published posthumously and/or written with co-authors are eligible, but anthologies are not.
The Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Studies is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, presented to scholarly work that address "issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, and oriented toward academia, libraries, cultural professionals, and the more academic reader." Most works are published by university presses.
The Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Literature is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, that awards books with bisexual content. The award can be separated into three categories: bisexual fiction, bisexual nonfiction, and bisexual poetry. Awards are granted based on literary merit and bisexual content, and therefore, the writer may be homo-, hetero-, or asexual.
The Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Romance is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, to a novel, novella, or short story collection "by a single author that focus on a central love relationship between two or more characters."
The Lambda Literary Award for Anthology is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, that awards "[c]ollections of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry" with LGBT content. The award has been included since the first Lambda Literary Award ceremony but has included different iterations.
The Lambda Literary Award for Gay Memoir/Biography is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, to a memoir, biography, autobiography, or works of creative nonfiction by or about gay men. Works published posthumously and/or written with co-authors are eligible, but anthologies are not.
The Lambda Literary Award for Nonfiction is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, that awards LGBT-themed nonfiction books whose intended audience is "general readers, as opposed to those targeted primarily to scholarly audiences." Anthologies and memoirs are not included as they have their own categories.
The Lambda Literary Award for Mystery is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, to a mystery novel by or about people in the LGBT community. Prior to 2021, the award was separated into separate categories for Gay and Lesbian Mystery.
The Lambda Literary Award for Erotica is an annual literary award established in 2002 and presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation that awards books with LGBT characters and "whose content is principally of an erotic nature." "Anthologies, novels, novellas, graphic novels, memoirs, and short story collections" are eligible for the award.
The Lambda Literary Award for Gay Romance is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, to a novel, novella, or short story collection "by a single author that focus on a central love relationship between two or more characters."