Bestselling author Annalee Newitz invites us to explore a large and not-so-lonely universe in this science fiction adventure about what happens when the alien becomes familiar–and beloved.

Gardenpath is a graduate student. They also happen to be an amoeba–a slime mold, to be exact–from an ancient civilization that dwells in the space between the stars. And when they turn their many eyes to researching a remote spot on one spiral arm of the galaxy, they stumble upon a discovery that will change everything they thought they knew: a mysterious planet teeming with unexpected life, language, and culture.

One of these alien animals is a creature named Murtis, who lives in a city she calls Pompeii and works in a brothel known as “the lupanar.” Unfazed when her strange visitor says she’s from the stars, Murtis takes Gardenpath into her care, introducing her to the seaside tourist town full of immigrants and shopkeepers who are just trying to get by.

Before they met Murtis, Gardenpath expected to finish their research, present their discovery, and return home to become an acclaimed scientist. But as they look into their new friend’s bizarre sensor bulbs from within the suit that allows them to survive and blend in on her surprising planet, they are beginning to wonder if there’s more to life than academic achievement.

They're not sure what it is, but they're going to use science to find out.

A thought-provoking and heartwarming novel about science, the meaning of life, and love, perfect for fans of Becky Chambers, Ryka Aoki, and Martha Wells.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.



Praise for this book

Praise for A Wall Is Also a Road

"I love a book that makes me think and feel. A Wall Is Also a Road gave me happy tears and a lot of Very Big Thoughts."—Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo Award-winning author

“A brilliant, wholly original adventure of an alien scholar who stumbles upon a discovery that could upend scientific understanding of life in the universe: us. Only Newitz could deliver such a daring, mind-bending yet tender story of Roman history, anthropology, academia, and ethics. Single-celled eukaryotes have never been so sexy."—Yume Kitasei, author of The Stardust Grail and Saltcrop

"All at once a beautiful cluster of navigating the perils and pitfalls of academia and scientific ambition, a sweet romance on finding love amidst the stars and oneself, and a rollicking good ride into space and our own history. The alien (and familiar) will knock you sideways."—CB Lee, bestselling author of Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

"An absolutely magnificent work of cosmic imagination. If you need to know that another universe is possible, A Wall Is Also a Road is the book for you.”—Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, bestselling author of The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie

"A hilarious, brilliant, and absolutely unique novel that will make you see the universe--and the world around you--in an entirely new light."—Alyssa Cole, New York Times bestselling author of An Extraordinary Union and When No One Is Watching

"Readers seeking wonder, problem-solving, and an emotionally grounded alien encounter like that of Project Hail Mary may find this inventive science-fiction adventure a rewarding next read."—ScreenRant

“A story of queer romance and academic ambition, science colliding with the literary.”—Autostraddle

“Turns the traditional alien-contact story on its head…For readers of Becky Chambers and Martha Wells, with science, love and the meaning of life at the center of the story.”—Woman’s World

“With as much heart and humor as it has philosophical depth, A Wall Is Also a Road is a truly rare effort bound to be one of the year's most special, original, and daring sci-fi books.”—Collider

“If I were to consistently trust any author with the perspective of a non-human protagonist, it would be Annalee Newitz…a mind-expanding premise and a fascinating vision of intelligent life in space beyond our little planet.”—LitHub

“A wonderful story.”—BookRiot

"Very strange and strangely satisfying"—Kirkus (starred review)

"A story about learning to communicate with the utterly alien, how difficult it is to breach the wall of prejudices, and standing up for what’s right.... will strike a chord with lovers of Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary and The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler."—Library Journal (starred review)

"A compelling exploration of the ethics of discovery, the change that can come from studying difference, and the potential for even the most incomprehensible-seeming alien life to be on some level just like our own."—Booklist (starred review)

"It’s no small feat to make a character that’s so nontraditional and physically unusual feel so sympathetic...you’ll be delighted."—BookPage

"An imaginative and heartfelt tale of first contact"—Publishers Weekly




About the AuthorAnnalee Newitz writes science fiction and nonfiction. They are the USA Today bestselling author of the novella Automatic Noodle, the books Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age and Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind, and the novels The Terraformers (a Nebula Award finalist), The Future of Another Timeline (winner of the Sidewise Award), and Autonomous (winner of a Lambda Literary Award). As a science journalist, they are a writer for the New York Times and elsewhere, and have a monthly column in New Scientist. They have published in The Washington Post, Slate, Popular Science, Ars Technica, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among others. They are also the co-host of the three-time Hugo Award-winning podcast Our Opinions Are Correct. Previously, they were the founder of io9, and served as the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo.
Title: A Wall Is Also a Road
Author(s): Annalee Newitz
ISBN: 9781250228055
Copyright 2026
Release Date: October 06, 2026
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Countries: United States, Canada | Learn more about available countries
Language: English
Format: ePub | Learn More about our supported formats
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