UNION SQUARE & CO. ANNOUNCES “SINGULARITY”: A BOLD NEW NOVELLA PROGRAM DEDICATED TO HIGH-IMPACT, ONE-SITTING FICTION

The curated line bypasses traditional page counts to champion narrative velocity across genres, kicking off September 2026 with titles from Harlan Ellison, Adam Cesare, and more.

NEW YORK, NY (August 31, 2026) – Union Square & Co., an imprint of the Grand Central Publishing Group and the Hachette Book Group, announced the launch of Singularity, an ambitious new novella program that will publish 10-12 titles each year. Launching in September 2026, and helmed by Mika Kasuga, Editorial Director, Union Square, this curated line of paperbacks with French flaps addresses a rapidly evolving reading landscape, offering voracious readers bingeworthy stories designed to be devoured in a single sitting.

Singularity is a dynamic collection that showcases the power and versatility of the novella form. Built around the idea that compelling storytelling does not require length to achieve depth, this program brings together a diverse portfolio of shorter works that span a broad range of genres, styles, and cultural perspectives. These novellas are rich narratives in a concentrated, exhilarating format—accessible, sophisticated, bite-sized delights for a world flooded by distraction.

Emily Meehan, SVP & Publisher, Union Square says, “The Singularity program was born out of conversations Mika and I had about reduced attention spans and the desire for more a more snack-sized reading experience that doesn’t compromise depth for length. We wanted to celebrate the novella as a format and use the program as yet another platform to showcase Union Square’s commitment to create books that resonate deeply with readers—especially ones looking for accessible, sophisticated stories in our ever more distracted, digital reality.”

The debut Fall 2026 slate features a dynamic mix of masterworks, cult favorites, and striking new voices:

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison (September 1, 2026): A definitive, scarily relevant new paperback edition of the multi-award-winning author’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece. This volume features a new foreword, exclusive archival photos, and historical essays by Ellison.

Zero Lives Remaining by Adam Cesare (September 1, 2026): A pulse-pounding, nostalgic “gamers versus ghosts” slasher from the Bram Stoker Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of Clown in a Cornfield.

The Waiter by Kwan Ann Tan (November 3, 2026): A speculative interactive fiction debut that allows readers to chart their own pathways through a surreal future London, with 11 different endings and countless journeys towards them.

Followed by an early 2027 selection, including

The Psalmist by John West (January 5, 2027): The story of a recovering alcoholic who finds love, unexpected community, and grace while raising his sister’s baby and reading the Psalms, by a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner

You Just Have to Ask Me by Hadeer Elsbai (February 2, 2027): A contemporary horror novella about a woman left at the altar on her wedding day, and the lengths she will go to obtain her heart’s twin desires—revenge, and the return of her beloved.

The Upper Tentacle by Amanda Helms (February 9, 2027): An anti-capitalist Lovecraftian homage featuring a murder mystery that must be solved by a beleaguered personal assistant and a body splitting alien.

Sweet Saints by Cassandra Khaw (March 3, 2027): The first cozy fantasy novella by the award-winning bestselling author, about a princess-turned-bounty hunter hired by animal wives to reclaim their missing sisters.

Shouting Distance by Cherie Priest ( April 20, 2027): A gritty supernatural southern

noir where past and present threaten to collide, by the Locus Award winning author.

About Union Square & Co.

Union Square & Co. publishes books and gift products with a point of view. What distinguishes us is our independent, entrepreneurial spirit. We collaborate with bestselling, award-winning, and debut authors and creatives to publish at the highest quality across categories. We strive to bring you entertainment, discovery, and fun through objects you can cherish. Headquartered in New York City, Union Square & Co. is an imprint of Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, and includes the adult imprints Union Square & Co., Puzzlewright Press, and Ethos; the children’s imprints Union Square Kids and Boxer Books; and the gift and stationery imprints Union Square Gift, Knock Knock, and Em & Friends.

About Hachette Book Group

Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing Group, Hachette Audio, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Workman Publishing, and Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to several publishing companies.   

Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Prize, James Beard Award, and other major honors.    

We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher.    

Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about HBG imprints. For updated news follow HBG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X.com, Snapchat, and YouTube. 