Seeking comp titles

[davidlevine]

Hey folks, I'm looking for some help. My recently completed novel Vaudevaliens is historical science fiction, taking place in the 1910s in New York and elsewhere in America. It's a "voicey" novel with a first-person narrator and involves Vaudeville, Tesla, Jewish Americans, and aliens. It's unlike my previously published work and I'm seeking comparable titles, preferably recent, and possible publishers. One possible comp title is The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker but that's over 10 years old. Any other suggestions?

Comments

[naomikritzer]

Heh. I immediately thought of Helene's work (but the more recent one, THE HIDDEN PALACE.)

Maybe take a look at JR Dawson's THE FIRST BRIGHT THING? (Which I haven't read yet! I know Jen, though, and it's Jewish, historical, and about a circus, which is like vaudeville's even more disreputable cousin.)

[madrobins]

I was going to say the sequel to Golem and the Jinni, but Naomi beat me to it.

[davidlevine]

Thanks all for your help! Here's the list I came up with.

First, older titles that I think are very good comps apart from their age:

- The Golem & the Jinni by Helene Wecker (2013)
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon (2012)
- The Troupe by Robert Jackson Bennett (2012)
- Loving Little Egypt by Thomas McMahon (1987)
- The Prestige by Christopher Priest (1995)

Next, newer titles. They are listed in priority order based on a handwavy combination of similarity, recency, and popularity (sales, awards, and reviews) with the best ones first.

- The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson (2023)
- The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison (2022)
- Vivian In Red by Kristina Riggle (2024)
- The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (2022)
- The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer (2020)
- The Hidden Place by Helene Wecker (2022)
- The Eterna Files by Leanna Renee Hieber (2024)
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (2023)
- The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman (2023)
- When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb (2022)
- The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (2022)
- Coup de Coeur by Halli Starling (2024)
- Improbable by Rysa Walker (2024)
- The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros (2021)
- The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis (2021)
- The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis (2022)
- The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss (2018)