The Quest for Comps
Every querying author is tasked with providing a curated selection of similar book titles that agents, editors, and publishers can use to gauge the audience. Some authors tackle this challenge with the flawless execution of Katniss and her quiver of arrows. I’ve gone at it like Dr. Frankenstein, hacking several books into bits, stitching them together, and hoping lightning strikes and my comp list can walk.
The challenge that I’ve had is that my book is a complete genre mash-up. It has a speculative setting that tips into sci-fi. Its core conflict is a noir-framed mystery that side-steps the meticulous due diligence of a classic police procedural. It carries the pacing of an action/adventure novel but after the first act twist, it leans into a slow-burn romance with light steam.
Essentially, this is sci-fi for readers who aren’t really into sci-fi, romance for those who steer away from capital-R romance, and crime fiction for people who want the case cracked at a sprint with bullets whizzing by. While this approach has made for a really fun read, it’s made the comp search a bit messy.
Below, I’ve listed comp titles, their genre, and the narrative elements that make them a fit for my novel, Into Lost Territory.
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters (Sci-fi Mystery)
Detective Hank Palace is a good guy who wants to do the right thing, even as the world unravels around him. He chases down leads, putting his life on the line to get to the bottom of a case that keeps spiraling out. While this story’s romance angle is handled with a very light touch, his love interest is connected to the case. Prior to finding this novel, I most frequently comped my book to Blade Runner (1982).
I enjoyed this novel, but wished the romantic angle played out in a more interesting and compelling way. I did my best to capitalize on this in Into Lost Territory.
Station Eleven Emily St. John Mandel (Speculative Upmarket)
Set decades after a pandemic has ravaged the population, mankind has clawed back towards some semblance of civilization.
A religious zealot and his loyal followers pursue a girl with relentless and violent determination.
This was a great read but maintains a slower pace than I typically prefer.
A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh (Crime, Suspense)
Amidst a setting of tragedy and loss, a reluctant but inevitable love story blooms between a world-weary detective and a wounded but tough local woman.
Will they survive long enough to see things through?
I loved this book. It’s transportive and moody with a slow burn romance that you can root for.
The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson (Speculative Dystopian)
A rage-inducing virus spreads, throwing the world into chaos. Society moves on, but nothing is as it was.
The characters have to reevaluate their own mental approach to survival in order to persevere and actually live.
Though this book wasn’t an ideal comp, I tore through it. It builds great momentum and tension and has a very satisfying conclusion.
The Preserve by Ariel S. Winter (Sci-fi Dystopian Crime)
In a future where the vast majority of mankind has been wiped out, the doomsday clock is ticking.
A colony of survivors is threatened by an elite class that is skeptical of their right to life. Police Chief Jesse Laughton has to crack the case by following the trail of blood, money, and power.
This book had an interesting premise, and clearly, I’m a sucker for sci-fi detective stories. This tips towards a police procedural, but the world-building gives it a boost.
Lexicon by Max Barry (Sci-fi, Mystery, Thriller)
A dark past must be uprooted if mankind has any chance of survival. And it must be done at a breakneck speed.
Knowing who you are and where you came from can change the entire landscape and reveal the only path forward.
I loved this book and will definitely be reading more from this author. The pacing escalates quickly and doesn’t let up. I was so drawn into the characters and the unique “power” of words.
Role Call - Potential Comp List:
The Wind-up Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (Dystopian Detective)
Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor (Detective)
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby (Noir)
Trouble is What I Do by Walter Mosley (Hard-boiled Detective)
Countdown City by Ben H. Winters (Dystopian Detective)
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (Sci-Fi Mystery)
Bloodlines by Peter Hartog (Sci-fi Fantasy Detective)
The City and The City by China Miéville (Speculative Detective)
The Beginning at the End by Mike Chen (Post-apocalyptic)
Legend by Marie Lu (Dystopian Adventure)
Zero Day by David Baldacci (Detective with Romantic Subplot)
New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson (Dystopian)
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (Sci-Fi Mystery)
Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson (Dystopian Power Struggle)
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (Speculative Mystery)
The Rule of One by Ashley and Leslie Saunders (Dystopian)
Hard Cash Valley by Brian Panowich (Detective)