New science‑fantasy epic The Spiral Stair debuts 18 April 2026 at the LA Times Festival of Books
Author and world‑builder Preston Pyle will unveil the first volume of his ambitious science‑fantasy saga The Windows of the World this weekend.
Los Angeles, CA – 17 April 2026 — Author and world‑builder Preston Pyle will unveil the first volume of his ambitious science‑fantasy saga The Windows of the World this weekend. The novel, titled The Spiral Stair, will be released on 18 April 2026 both digitally and at the L.A. Times Festival of Books on the University of Southern California campus.
A story where quantum‑powered magic meets archaeological mystery
Set in the volatile Prehanda Valley, The Spiral Stair follows Imperium officer Atuma Harksgard, whose obsession with a dangerous excavation—and a narcotic that fuels his descent—causes him to unravel. As he digs, ancient histories resurface and the novel explores how power, addiction and buried technologies shape societies. The book blends quantum‑physics‑inspired abilities with archaeological intrigue, political machinations and moral complexity.
Pyle describes the world of The Windows of the World as “post‑societal fiction”: stories about what happens when systems fail and meaning collapses. “Time is a spiral stair,” he says. “Each descent uncovers another layer of the past while hinting at what lies beneath.”
Launching at the country’s largest outdoor book festival
The timing of the release coincides with the 2026 L.A. Times Festival of Books, which takes place 18–19 April at the University of Southern California. The festival is the nation’s biggest outdoor literary event; more than 150,000 booklovers, writers and publishers fill the USC campus each year for exhibitions, panel discussions, signings and workshops. Pyle will be on hand to meet readers, sign copies and discuss the novel’s themes and future volumes in the series.
The Spiral Stair will be available in e‑book and print. Readers who pre‑order the Kindle edition will have it automatically delivered to their devices on 18 April. Physical copies and limited signed editions can be purchased at the festival or through PrestonPyle.com.
About Preston Pyle
Preston Pyle is a Kansas‑born author whose work blends geopolitics, physics, economics and philosophy into quiet, haunting fiction. The Spiral Stair—initially drafted at over 320 000 words and later honed to a leaner volume—begins his multi‑book exploration of power, memory and the forces that endure when civilizations fall.
About The Windows of the World
The Windows of the World is an ongoing science‑fantasy series that will spiral through multiple volumes and characters. Each book can be read on its own but together they will reveal a larger narrative about time, empire and the weight of forgotten systems.
For more information, visit PrestonPyle.com. Press inquiries can be directed to pylepreston21@gmail.com.