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Baen Books
Fiction, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, Independent
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Baen Books
Baen Books is open to unagented science fiction and fantasy novels through its online form. Send the complete manuscript with a synopsis in one .rtf file; no query letter is needed. It prefers 100,000 to 130,000 words. Replies take 9 to 12 months by its submit page, or 12 to 15 by its FAQ.
Baen Books is a science fiction and fantasy publisher in Wake Forest, North Carolina, founded in 1983. It publishes only science fiction and fantasy: science fiction with strong plots and solid scientific and philosophical foundations, and fantasy whose magic systems are coherent, original and central to the story.
Baen reads complete manuscripts from any author through its online form, without an agent or a query letter. After a first screen, it judges books mainly on plot and characterization. It asks for .rtf files only, does not take email submissions or AI-generated work and prefers not to see simultaneous submissions. Its response time is long, at 9 to 15 months.
What Baen Books is looking for
- Science fiction with strong plots and solid foundations
- Fantasy with coherent, original magic systems
- Novels of 100,000 to 130,000 words
Publishes
- Fantasy and Sci-Fi
- Fiction
- Independent
Readers
- Adult
How to submit to Baen Books
From its own guidelines- Put the complete manuscript and a synopsis, with a plot outline if possible, in one .rtf file with your contact details.
- Submit it through the online form on the Baen site; hard copy only if you cannot submit electronically.
- Do not email it, and avoid sending it to other publishers at the same time.
- Allow 9 to 15 months for a reply.
Is Baen Books right for your book?
A good fit if
Science fiction and fantasy novelists with a finished, polished book who can wait many months for an answer.
Look elsewhere if
Writers of other genres, short fiction or AI-assisted work, and anyone who needs a quick decision.
Books published by Baen Books
Well-known titles- Rome to the StarsMelissa Olthoff and S.M. Stirling
Questions about Baen Books
Does Baen Books accept unagented submissions?
Yes. Baen Books reads complete science fiction and fantasy manuscripts from any author through its online form, with no agent and no query letter needed. Send the full manuscript and a synopsis together as one .rtf file. It does not accept email submissions or other file formats.
How long does Baen take to respond?
A long time. Baen's submit page says replies usually take 9 to 12 months, while its FAQ says 12 to 15 months. Plan for over a year. Baen prefers not to see simultaneous submissions, so weigh that wait before you send your novel.
What word count does Baen want?
Baen prefers novels of 100,000 to 130,000 words. It discourages books under 100,000 words, though it says exceptional work may still be sent. It publishes only science fiction and fantasy, and it does not accept material generated by AI tools.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
