Paul Stevens is a Donald Maass Literary Agency agent and former Tor Books editor whose 15 years on the editorial side of speculative fiction give him a publisher's eye for what makes science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and suspense actually sell.
In brief
His editorial background at Tor is the most important fact about him: he spent 15 years acquiring and shaping speculative fiction at one of the genre's most prominent imprints, so he reads with a development eye, not just a sales eye.
His client roster skews heavily toward SFF — epic fantasy, science fiction, and genre-blending work dominate — confirming that SFF is his genuine core, not just a stated preference.
He has a persistent, emphatic appetite for humor woven into genre fiction; writers who can land a genuine laugh alongside strong world-building have a real edge with him.
He is explicitly not the right fit for straight contemporary crime or mystery — any mystery or suspense pitch needs a speculative hook to land well.
He is closed to YA and middle grade entirely; writers with those projects should redirect to other agents at his agency.
Lately
In his agency wishlist, Stevens emphasizes that he is actively seeking humorous, laugh-out-loud genre projects across all the categories he represents, and names Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore as the tonal benchmarks he's measuring against.
What Paul is looking for
All subgenres are welcome. His Tor editorial background means he's deeply literate in SF conventions — which is exactly why he wants work that inverts or reframes those conventions in a surprising way. Humor is a genuine differentiator here: SF that can make him laugh out loud is near the top of his wish list.
Epic fantasy is fine, but he wants something that doesn't just execute the familiar moves. A quest narrative needs an inventive angle that reframes why those tropes exist; he's looking for world-building and character work that feels genuinely fresh. Humorous fantasy in the Terry Pratchett or Christopher Moore vein is explicitly desired.
Open to all horror subgenres. Horror with a comedic or genre-hybrid bent — something that sits at the intersection of fright and wit — fits his taste especially well based on his editorial history.
He is drawn specifically to mysteries and suspense novels that carry a speculative element: think psychic detectives, unusual creatures, far-future settings, historical oddities, or otherworldly locales. A strong, memorable hook concept is essential — the kind of premise that makes a reader immediately say 'that's a clever idea.' Straight contemporary crime fiction or police procedurals without any genre element are unlikely to fit.
Humor isn't a separate category so much as a standing priority across all the genres he represents. He is actively seeking laugh-out-loud projects in SFF, horror, and speculative mystery. His reference points are Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore — absurdist, character-driven comedy with genuine genre substance underneath.
Not the right fit
On Paul's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Paul
Lead with the speculative hook — whatever makes your premise surprising or genre-subverting should be in your first sentence, not buried in paragraph three.
If your book is funny, prove it in the query letter itself; a dry description of a humorous novel will not do the work. Write the letter in a voice that reflects the book's comedy.
For mystery and suspense submissions, make the speculative element unmistakable upfront — do not let the query read as a straight crime novel with a weird detail tucked in the synopsis.
Mention diverse, well-rounded characters — LGBTQ+ representation and characters of color are explicitly a positive signal and worth noting if they are central to your story.
Do not pitch YA or MG to Stevens; the agency page directs those projects to other agents there, and sending them to him anyway signals you have not done basic research.
Point to the ways your work reframes or reinvents familiar genre conventions rather than executing them faithfully — he is looking for the unexpected angle, not competent execution of the expected one.
His Tor editorial history with A. Lee Martinez's comedic SFF titles is your clearest taste signal; if your book lives in similar tonal territory, say so and name a specific shared quality.
Always verify the live submission form status at Donald Maass Literary Agency before querying — his open/closed status was not confirmed at time of this profile's writing.