Welcome to the media and speaker resources for Out of the Aethers, the debut novel from Lucina Press. This page provides background information, publication details, images, and discussion topics for journalists, reviewers, podcasters, convention organizers, and event hosts interested in exploring the history, research, and creative traditions behind the book.
Sara Light-Waller is an independent researcher, publisher, illustrator, and speaker whose work explores the forgotten history of popular fiction, illustration, and publishing during the first half of the twentieth century. Through Lucina Press, she combines historical research with contemporary publishing to preserve, interpret, and continue the traditions of imaginative storytelling.
The resources below are designed to support interviews, reviews, panel discussions, and presentations related to Out of the Aethers, pulp history, speculative fiction, book illustration, and the enduring influence of early popular literature.
Book cover
Out of the Aethers features a hand-painted dust jacket inspired by the dramatic work of Earle K. Bergey, while the frontispiece and interior pen-and-ink illustrations recall the visual tradition of the science fiction pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s. The dust jacket design also pays homage to the pictorial jackets of the Chelsea House novels, the distinguished hardcover imprint of Street & Smith, whose publications introduced generations of readers to authors such as Max Brand and Johnston McCulley.
Produced as a durable hardcover edition with a full-color dust jacket, Out of the Aethers reflects Lucina Press’s continuing commitment to preserving and extending the traditions of classic popular fiction.
Book Description
In the hush of a darkened cave, a young man and a young woman stand hand in hand before a towering arch of light. They wear uniforms from a future that never quite was. Sparks crackle along the frame like captive stars. She steps forward, turns once with a gaze both fearful and trusting, and vanishes into the brilliance. He remains behind—sentinel and anchor—watching the place where she had been.
They are Phylesse and Mytah. She is a Time Keeper trained from childhood to travel the Time Roads. He is her partner and anchor, the only one of his kind unable to touch the shared genetic memories of their people. Now separated across worlds, she drifts through fragments of returning memory while he struggles to escape captivity and return to her. Only he can restore their bond. Only she can remember what they were meant to protect.
Out of the Aethers unfolds as two interconnected stories—Anchor and Traveler—woven into a single epic adventure of duty, fractured memory, and steadfast partnership across the gulfs of time and empire.
Book Details
Title: Out of the Aethers
Format: Hardcover edition with illustrated dust jacket
Length: 384 pages
Trim Size: 5.5 × 8.5 inches
ISBN: 979-8-9927922-3-2
Publisher: Lucina Press
Publication Date: August 5, 2026
Catalog Page →
Press Release
Sample Chapters
Read an excerpt from Out of the Aethers.
Sara Light-Waller, author
Short Biography
Sara Light-Waller is a pulp fiction writer, illustrator, and independent archivist specializing in early science fiction and adventure literature. Trained as an anthropological archaeologist and scientific illustrator, she approaches pulp as material culture to be preserved and contextualized rather than modernized. She is the publisher of Lucina Press and host of The Rocketeer podcast.
Long Biography
Sara Light-Waller is a pulp fiction writer, illustrator, and independent archivist specializing in early science fiction and adventure literature of the 1920s–1940s. She is the publisher behind Lucina Press, a small imprint devoted to historically grounded pulp revival and archival storytelling.
Trained as an anthropological archaeologist, Light-Waller holds an M.A. from the University of Arizona, where she specialized in zooarchaeology and served as a teaching assistant in both archaeological science and historic archaeology. She also studied scientific illustration under Donald Sayner, one of the leading figures in the field, an influence that continues to shape her approach to visual and textual fidelity.
Her work approaches pulp as material culture — to be preserved, contextualized, and re-presented without modern softening or revision. Through her books, essays, and The Rocketeer podcast, she explores how early science fiction functioned as a psychological and cultural survival system during periods of social stress, particularly the Great Depression and WWII.
Author Expertise & Interview Topics
Author Expertise & Interview Topics
Sara Light-Waller brings together research, illustration, publishing, and historical analysis in her exploration of early twentieth-century popular fiction and speculative storytelling. Interview topics include:
The Archaeology of Popular Fiction
- Recovering overlooked authors, publishers, illustrators, and traditions from the first half of the twentieth century
- How popular fiction reflects the cultural imagination of its era
- The importance of preserving ephemeral literature, from pulp magazines to popular novels
The Golden Age of Science Fiction and Its Roots
- The development of science fiction before and during the pulp era
- The relationship between early science fiction, fantasy, adventure fiction, and popular storytelling
- How forgotten works continue to influence contemporary speculative fiction
Independent Publishing as Cultural Preservation
- Why small presses can serve as curators of literary history
- The role of independent publishers in reviving neglected traditions
- Creating books as physical artifacts rather than simply digital products
Illustration, Design, and the Art of the Book
- The relationship between cover art, illustration, and storytelling
- Historical illustration techniques and their continued relevance
- Designing modern editions inspired by classic publishing traditions
The History Behind Out of the Aethers
- The tradition of dimensional and alternate-world stories in speculative fiction
- Earlier approaches to “multiple worlds” storytelling
- The influence of Golden Age science fiction traditions on contemporary fiction
Research, Scholarship, and Storytelling
- Moving between academic research and public engagement
- Bringing historical investigation to general audiences
- The role of curiosity, archives, and discovery in creative work
Suggested Discussion Topics
Beyond the Multiverse: The Long History of Other Worlds in Science Fiction
Exploring how writers imagined alternate realities, parallel worlds, and dimensional travel long before today’s multiverse boom.
Pulp Archaeology: Rediscovering the Forgotten Worlds of Popular Fiction
A journey into the authors, publishers, magazines, and stories that shaped speculative fiction but have faded from public memory.
From Amazing Stories to Modern Science Fiction: Building a Tradition
How early science fiction magazines created a foundation for the genre we know today.
The Lost Art of the Illustrated Book
How cover artists, interior illustrators, and book designers shaped readers’ expectations and experiences.
The Independent Press as Museum: Publishing as Preservation
How small publishers can preserve, interpret, and extend literary traditions.
What Makes a Classic? Recovering Forgotten Voices from Literary History
Why some stories survive while others disappear—and how researchers can bring them back.
Creating Out of the Aethers: A Modern Novel in Conversation with the Pulp Tradition
The research, design choices, and creative decisions behind creating a new science fiction story inspired by earlier traditions.
The Future of the Past: Why Old Stories Still Matter
How historical fiction and speculative fiction can reconnect readers with earlier ideas, concerns, and imagination.
Contact information
Contact Sara Light-Waller at info@lucinapress.com.