Wonderful . . . this is what science fiction should be doing now . . . a novel that tackles head-on the hard problem of writing about the near future; it does so with clarity, creativity, an eye for detail, and unfailing empathy ― Locus
A remarkable work. Beautifully written and sensitively observed, it demonstrates how great speculative fiction can speak to our present and prepare us for the future. Swift has written a powerful and necessary novel, one that beautifully captures the precarity of our current times whilst anticipating and preparing us for the struggles that will inevitably come ahead. It confirms Swift as one of modern speculative fiction’s key visionaries, and as one of our most engagingly human writers. ― Fantasy Hive
Swift’s exquisite writing brings life to everything from soil to sky…It’s a novel to make you touch grass, and dream of wolves ― SFX, (five stars)
The most important, the most courageous, the most uplifting novel I have read in years…one of the UK’s brightest younger talents in speculative fiction ― Strange Horizons
One of our best writers. Her new novel more than lives up to the expectations generated by its predecessor [The Coral Bones] ― ParSec Magazine
The use of nature is lyrically described, the power of science to explain the danger and aid us to do better is carefully explained but the human element is where this story excels, to tell us that we as a collective group can do better and this is what it could potentially look like. Coming back to that feeling of uncertainty it’s a word that also doesn’t mean all is lost there is . . . this is excellent science fiction for the twenty first century because this gives us that feeling of possibility – hope. I think When There Are Wolves Again is going to be a book hard to beat for my favourite of the year. Incredibly strongly recommended! ― Runalong The Shelves
Poetic, passionate and incredibly thoughtful . . . Swift’s insights are considered, plausible, and in the end affirmatory. Her writing, tied indivisibly as it is to her personal convictions, goes from strength to strength ― Nina Allan
Powerful, emotive stuff, and [this novel] has touched me far more deeply than I would ever have expected ― Reader Of Else
THE CORAL BONES
‘a thoughtful, immersive, very human story that speaks to current fears and hopes for our world’ – The Guardian
‘E. J. Swift’s THE CORAL BONES is a piercing and acute novel which cannot leave you indifferent. It rages like a stormy ocean, but it also offers you a serene picture of the world’s beauty – something not to be lost. Reading it is like surfing a big wave – exhilarating and mindful.’ — British Fantasy Society
‘magnificent, ambitious, and poetical… one of the best science fiction novels using climate change as a theme I’ve read in recent years’ — Runalong The Shelves
‘THE CORAL BONES is a substantial and satisfying novel with engaging protagonists that we care about and passages of outstanding writing, especially the descriptions of coral reefs.’ — ParSec #6, reviewed by Nick Hubble
THE CORAL BONES was a pick for LocusMag’s 2022 The Year in Review by Ian Mond
PARIS ADRIFT
‘an effervescent blend of revisionist history, fantasy and science fiction.’ — Washington Post
‘E. J. Swift’s PARIS ADRIFT (2018) is a sumptuous love letter to the city of Paris, its history and its people. It is a time travel novel that serves as a wakeup call, showing the fragility of freedom and democracy, and how they are worth fighting for, and the bitter consequences of failing to do so. But at its heart it is a warm and engaging coming of age tale, an exploration of identity, and the fleetingness of youth. The end result is a story that feels both personal and political, both timely and timeless.’ — Fantasy Faction
‘E. J. Swift’s PARIS ADRIFT is her best novel yet: a time-travelling adventure that, despite the cosmic stakes, is bravely and beautifully intimate. Despite the apocalyptic backdrop, PARIS is also wistfully hopeful – a novel of ordinary, extraordinary heroism… PARIS ADRIFT uses science fiction’s largest and most unwieldy mechanic for its smallest and most intimate stakes: this isn’t about the world, it is about Hallie. PARIS is a story about significance at every level, individually and collectively; ultimately, whether that’s in time, life, or simply one’s outlook – this is a poetic demonstration of how little changes make big differences. Despite being a novel that’s – literally! – timeless, you couldn’t find a work more wonderfully fitting for 2018.’ — Pornokitsch
‘A great time travel story, inventive and at times overwhelming. Hallie is a compelling character to read, as she is not all-knowing and manages to keep her sense of disbelief for as long as possible. Hallie through the book comes to find an inner strength that she didn’t know existed as she faces challenges without a lot of resources. I can’t really express how much I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from E. J. Swift soon.’ — Fantasy Book Review (9/10)
‘A great protagonist in a fascinating plot, with some refreshingly original takes on the mechanics and mechanisms of time travel, this was a very enjoyable read… This is a great book. Fantastic characters in an interesting story, excellently paced.’ — Strange Currencies
‘Swift (the Osiris Project series) delivers both an unusual take on time travel and solid characters, including a fantastic protagonist… Swift keeps things moving briskly, throwing out innocuous tidbits while scene setting that lead to surprising later payoffs.’ — Publishers Weekly
‘[A] really gripping book that was also really thought provoking and moving… [The novel] deals with many themes which are very relevant right now and Hallie’s time travel to a bleak 2042 felt too plausible… [I] loved reading about Hallie’s expeditions to 1875. Paris really came alive for me and I just loved all the sub stories going on, particularly Millie’s. PARIS ADRIFT also touches on what it’s like to feel adrift and alone in this big world, whether we’re living the best versions of ourselves. This story is about getting lost in order to find yourself. There’s a good message in this book, that doing small deeds to help strangers can have huge effects later on and the future is something we should all be thinking about.’ — British Fantasy Society
OSIRIS
“Swift’s intensely observed interplay between the two principals mirrors in microcosm the obstacles to easing tensions between the factions. This is the beauty of the picture – the brushstrokes are broad but look closer and you will discern incredible detail. An absolute gem” — Interzone (#246, May-June 2013)
“A fantastic blend of worldbuilding, excellent storytelling and complex characters.” — SF Signal reviewed by John de Nardo
“The plot works better as background mystery than – as it becomes towards the end – foreground drama; but it’s the characters, and what their lives show us of the fascinating, stratified world of Osiris, that are the heart of this promising debut novel. 4*” — SFX Magazine, April 2013
At a time when writing the far future novels is harder and harder Swift does it with style, brains and heart. OSIRIS is a fine mix of mystery and apocalyptic intrigue on a human scale.’ — Richard Kadrey (author of Sandman Slim) on OSIRIS
‘Swift’s first novel, with its brilliant near-future vision of an ecologically and socially devastated world and characters who resonate with life and passion, marks her as an author to watch.’ — Library Journal
LA Review of Books A detailed, in-depth review by Strange Horizons editor-in-chief Niall Harrison
Paper Knife reviewed by Maureen Kincaid-Speller
Staffers Book Review reviewed by Justin Landon
Strange Horizons reviewed by Martin Lewis
Bookworm Blues reviewed by Sarah Chorn
CATAVEIRO
“… the soulful latest instalment in The Osiris Project and a superior sequel… new lead characters, a fresh story and some real action… CATAVEIRO has a soulful, lonely quality as Taeo and Ramona embark on their solitary missions, haunted by memories of the past and visions of what lies ahead… Their imperfections keep them grounded and likeable, preventing EJ Swift from slipping into predictable and clichéd characterisation… as dystopian fiction goes it is an intriguing world to get lost in.” — SciFiNow:
“Like Swift’s first novel, it is stylish, memorable, beautifully written and utterly distinctive. Proper grown-up SF.” — Adam Roberts, Sibilant Fricative
: “the standard dystopian set-up has given way to a compellingly drawn post-collapse world that feels scorchingly real and virtually limitless in its horizons. This is a very human book, a boldly compassionate book, a novel bulging with important questions about our own world which cannot fail to engage the sympathy and imagination of the reader.” — Nina Allan, The Spider’s House
“If you enjoy beautifully-written, literary science fiction, with less focus on being an action-packed blockbuster, then The Osiris Project is a must read.” — Civilian Reader
TAMARUQ
“Tamaruq really is a revelation” — 4* review from SciFiNow
“A really immersive series… a great balance between the macro- and micro-scale elements of ‘Tamaruq’, setting the actions of a few individuals against the actions of nations.” — SF Crowsnest
E. J. Swift 