Publishers Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell of new speculative imprint Stars and Sabers Publishing acquired world English rights for The Nga’phandileh Whisperer, a genre-bending science fiction, horror, and magical realism Sauúti novella by British Fantasy Award winner and Philip K. Dick and Shirley Jackson Award finalist, Eugen Bacon (Mage of Fools – as author; Afro-Centered Futurisms in Our Speculative Fiction – as editor).
They are elated to work with Eugen Bacon again, having bought her mesmerising short story “The Shadow Eater of Órino-Rin
(A Sauútiverse Story)” for their upcoming 2025 debut cross-genre anthology, Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers.
The Sauúti Collective is an Afro-centric universe rooted in African mythologies, languages, and cultures. While reading The Nga’phandileh Whisperer, they were enthralled by the immersive, dreamlike, imaginative, captivating, resonant, and mythic world and words crafted by Eugen, who is one of the top speculative fiction voices of our time.
The Nga’phandileh Whisperer publishes September 2025.
From the Author:
I sought to craft this novella to satiate my curiosity about the Nga’phandileh, creatures of unreality in the Sauútiverse. I also wanted to write a strong female protagonist into a Sauúti story, and found this in Chant’L—a young Guardian with an affinity to hive-minded beasts, unaware that she has more sound magic than she knows how to use. I am stoked and honoured to entrust The Nga’phandileh Whisperer to Jendia Gammon and Gareth Powell, the power couple behind Stars and Sabers Publishing.”
— Eugen Bacon, British Fantasy Award winner, Philip K. Dick and Shirley Jackson Award finalist.
They are overjoyed to publish this gorgeous novella from Eugen Bacon as they expand our single-author acquisitions at Stars and Sabers Publishing.
The press can’t wait to share more of Eugen’s words with the universe!
Congratulations!
Read more about Eugen Bacon on her website.
Bongiwe T. Maphosa
Bongiwe Maphosa is a budding author with a passion for storytelling. With her thought-provoking narratives, she takes her readers on a literary adventure. Bongiwe's works on the human condition from a fresh perspective have earned her recognition and publications in the Avbob Poetry Anthology of 2019, The Writer's Club of South Africa 2021, and JAY Lit in 2021. She hopes to cement her place in the literary community.
