SLKY World picks up F J Fatani’s sci-fi trilogy in three-book deal

By AI, Created 2:26 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – Independent publisher SLKY World has acquired Saudi author F J Fatani’s debut trilogy, Something About Mars, in a landmark three-book agreement announced June 4, 2026. The series is slated to begin publishing in 2027 and aims to tap rising demand for globally minded speculative fiction.

Why it matters: - SLKY World is betting on a Saudi debut author to help broaden science fiction beyond familiar Western settings. - The deal reflects stronger interest in speculative fiction built around global perspectives, corporate power, and life beyond Earth. - The trilogy’s first book is scheduled for the 2027 holiday season, giving the project a long runway toward launch.

What happened: - Independent publisher SLKY World acquired the debut science fiction trilogy Something About Mars by Fahad Fatani, who writes as F J Fatani. - The announcement was made June 4, 2026. - The agreement covers all three books in the trilogy. - SLKY World publisher Mariana De’ Carli negotiated the deal directly from Orlando, Florida. - De’ Carli discovered the project during a live pitch session at the Riyadh Writers Conference earlier this year. - The first installment is set for release during the 2027 holiday season.

The details: - Something About Mars is set in a post-apocalyptic, post-currency future. - The story follows humanity’s gradual shift away from Earth toward an interplanetary civilization. - The trilogy centers on corporate power, changing social hierarchies, identity, and purpose. - The main character is an everyman navigating a future where survival depends more on skill, adaptability, and influence than on wealth. - The books include subtle cultural influences from the Middle East woven into the futuristic setting. - Fatani drew inspiration from classic and contemporary science fiction to build the series. - The story world pairs advanced technology with fading memories of Earth. - The series also examines power, labor, exploitation and the future of civilization. - SLKY World said screen adaptation possibilities are already under consideration. - The publisher framed the acquisition as part of its broader mission to champion boundary-pushing and internationally diverse storytelling.

Between the lines: - The deal signals that publishers are looking for science fiction with a wider cultural lens, not just large-scale worldbuilding. - De’ Carli’s comments point to current market interest in stories that engage with artificial intelligence, private space exploration and global power structures. - Fatani’s background and the trilogy’s Middle Eastern influences could help the series stand out in a crowded genre.

What’s next: - SLKY World will prepare the first Something About Mars book for its 2027 holiday release. - The publisher will likely continue developing the trilogy as a flagship science fiction title. - Screen adaptation talks may advance as the series gains traction.

The bottom line: - SLKY World is making a clear push into globally minded science fiction, and Something About Mars is positioned as its first big test case.