J. Kenton Pierce wins Prometheus Award for best novel

Raconteur Press scored its first Prometheus Award win as J. Kenton Pierce’s debut novel, A KISS FOR DAMOCLES, took Best Novel honors from the Libertarian Futurist Society. The award underscores a breakout moment for the Texas indie publisher and for Pierce’s expanding “Tales from the Long Night” series.

Why it matters: - A KISS FOR DAMOCLES gives Raconteur Press its first Prometheus Award win. - The recognition raises the profile of J. Kenton Pierce’s debut novel and the broader “Tales from the Long Night” universe. - The award is one of the longest-running fan-based honors in science fiction, so a win can carry durable genre credibility.

What happened: - J. Kenton Pierce’s debut novel, A KISS FOR DAMOCLES, won the 2026 Prometheus Award for Best Novel. - The Libertarian Futurist Society named Pierce a finalist earlier in the year with four other novels. - The award is for work published in the prior year. - The Prometheus Awards will be presented at the Libertarian Futurist Society’s annual online ceremony on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 16, 2026.

The details: - Raconteur Press is a Texas-based independent publisher founded in 2022. - A KISS FOR DAMOCLES launched Pierce’s “Tales from the Long Night” universe. - The novel introduces Shaifennen Roehe, a young homesteader on Hesperides Colony. - Shai becomes a catalyst for her world’s political and civilizational restoration. - The novel is the first entry in an expanding series that now includes THE WARLORD OF GREENLINE TOWN and STORMJAMMER. - Pierce said old brick buildings and rust from Southwestern Pennsylvania often shape his stories. - Pierce is a Gulf War veteran and Pittsburgh native. - Pierce drew on influences including H. Rider Haggard, Andre Norton, and Lois McMaster Bujold in building the Hesperides universe. - A KISS FOR DAMOCLES is available in paperback and ebook at Amazon and in paperback at IngramSpark. - Pierce is available for interviews, podcasts, and media appearances.

Between the lines: - The win suggests Raconteur Press is punching above its weight: two of its authors were nominated in the same award cycle. - Ian McMurtrie said the press was thrilled that two novels from the small publisher were nominated and called Pierce’s win thrilling but not surprising. - McMurtrie described the book’s worldbuilding as “genuinely crunchy,” with characters making hard choices. - The Society’s history adds context: past Prometheus winners include Neal Stephenson, Poul Anderson, Vernor Vinge, Terry Pratchett, and Cory Doctorow. - Raconteur Press also notes that previous Prometheus winner Dave Freer’s STORM-DRAGON was a finalist in the same award cycle that first put Pierce on the ballot.

What’s next: - Raconteur Press said Pierce is available for media opportunities and can provide a review copy, press kit, author bio, cover image, award logo, and interview scheduling on request. - The Libertarian Futurist Society’s online ceremony on Aug. 16 is the next public milestone for the award. - The expanding “Tales from the Long Night” line suggests more books from Pierce are likely to follow.