Reviews - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Early Praise for Samit Basu’s RESISTANCE!

Posted on Friday, May 16th, 2014

RESISTANCE, the much-anticipated sequel to Samit Basu‘s super-hero novel TURBULENCE will be published this summer. This means, of course, that we’re starting to see some great early praise for the book. Most recently, we’re very happy to see that, after he ‘begged’ a copy from Titan Books, author Nick Harkaway was particularly impressed with the novel! Here’s some of what he had to say…

‘I really enjoyed Samit Basu’s Turbulence – because it was just a terrifically enjoyable new angle on the superhero actioner. It’s centred on Asia rather than North America, and the difference permeates everything in the story and straightforwardly makes the book(s) infinitely more interesting. Basu has a great sense of pop culture cool mediated by a nicely ironic awareness of ubiquitous human frailty and our lack of self-knowledge… [RESISTANCE is] every bit as zinging… the scene is set for exactly the kind of heroics and unravellings you’d hope for. Fresh, exciting heroics with a serious spine. What’s not to like?’

TURBULENCE is out now in the UK and US. RESISTANCE is due to be published in July 2014! Here’s the synopsis…

Eleven years after the passengers of flight BA142 from London to Delhi developed extraordinary abilities corresponding to their innermost desires, the world is overrun with supers. Some use their powers for good, others for evil, and some just want to smash up iconic monuments and get on TV. But now someone is hunting down supers, killing heroes and villains both, and it’s up to the Unit to stop them…

Trailer and Advance Praise for Charlaine Harris’s MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD

Posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Charlaine Harris‘s new novel MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is due to be published in the UK next week by Gollancz, who produced the above trailer to mark the occasion. The novel is published in the US by Ace Books.

The novel is the first in a new series from the author of the mega-popular and successful Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood urban fantasy series. Along with that trailer, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD has received some great advance praise…

‘A gently paced mystery with a supernatural slant, populated by endearing, varied and well-constructed characters… Definitely recommend.’ — Civilian Reader

‘I enjoy this kind of story, a mystery/crime/thriller/urban fantasy novel, there is something for everyone here and enough loose ends to keep you intrigued to find out what could happen next. If you have read anything by Charlaine Harris I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t read anything by Charlaine Harris, then MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD might be the book to get you started.’ — Fantasy Book Review

‘MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a strong opener of the new series and often feels like a love letter from Charlaine to her faithful readers. This gentle mystery shows an author confident in her writing and perhaps heralds the arrival of the best stage of her work – one where she writes primarily because of the sheer love for writing. An excellent read.’ — Upcoming4.Me

‘I can see many nights being lost to the wonder of Midnight. 4/5’ — Backwards Compatible

‘A slow burning novel which successfully juggles setting the scene for an ongoing series with a self-contained story. 7/10’ — SciFi Bulletin

‘Fans might be sad to say good-bye to Sookie, but they’ll be so intrigued by the denizens of Midnight they won’t have time to mourn.’ — A Knife & A Quill

‘MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is another compelling book by Charlaine Harris. I love her storytelling style and the wonderful characters she creates.’ — Following the Nerd

‘I was blown away by Midnight Crossroad. It’s a wholly immersive, stunningly written adventure that I couldn’t put down. The characters are spot on and unforgettable, the plot is exciting – the only negative thing is that I have to (very impatiently) wait for book two!!!’ — Carly Bennett

‘The inclusion of a mystery that starts simply and then winds out of control so that no one can be trusted makes this is a blast to read. Everyone is your friend in Midnight, but you don’t know everything about anyone. I can’t wait for Midnight to come again. Overall grade: A’ — SciFi Pulse

In one additional piece of news, Audible UK are currently running a fantastic promotion for the whole of Charlaine’s mega-successful Sookie Stackhouse series! The audiobooks are just £4.99 each. This offer will end at 10am on May 2nd.

Zeno represents Charlaine Harris in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Publication Day – Tanya Huff’s THE HEART OF VALOUR (UK)

Posted on Friday, February 7th, 2014

Today, Titan Books publishes Tanya Huff‘s third Confederation novel, THE HEART OF VALOUR! This is the first time the novel has been published in the UK, and we’re delighted that Titan are bringing them all to these shores. Here is the synopsis…

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr was a Confederation Marine’s marine. She’d survived more deadly encounters-and kept more of her officers and enlistees alive-than anyone in the Corps, and she was determined to keep that record intact. But since her last mission, she’d been sidelined into endless briefings and debriefings with no end in sight. So, of course, she’d jumped at the chance to go to Crucible-the Marine Corps training planet-as a temporary aide to Major Svensson. The major had been reduced to little more than a brain and a spinal cord in his last combat, and he and his doctor were anxious to field-test his newly regrown body. It should have been an easy twenty-day run. After all, Crucible was only set up to simulate battle situations so that recruits could be trained safely. But they were barely on-planet when someone started blasting the training scenarios to smithereens. Suddenly, Kerr found herself not only responsible for the major and his doctor but caught in a desperate fight to keep a platoon of Marine recruits alive until someone could discover what was happening on Crucible.

THE HEART OF VALOUR follows VALOUR’S CHOICE and THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR. Two more books in the series, and a number of Huff’s other titles, are due to be published by Titan in 2014.

Here’s what critics have said about the series in the past…

‘Fast-paced. The intriguing and well-designed aliens and intricate plotting keep the reader guessing.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE HEART OF VALOUR

‘The notable Tanya Huff proves herself equally adept at military science fiction as contemporary fantasy in her riveting new novel… A writer of great versatility, Ms. Huff captures the ambiance of an elite military group and adds a rare depth to skillful characterization to make each personality stand up and be counted. Dont miss this one…’ — RT Book Reviews on VALOUR’S CHOICE

‘Huff’s characerization and knowledge of military subculture bring the book to a suspense-filled and rousing finale once again allowing Torin Kerr to shine in her role as the touch, resourceful and supremely competent leader.’ — Locus on THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR

Zeno represents Tanya Huff in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Cory Doctorow on Ian McDonald’s OUT ON BLUE SIX (and more…)

Posted on Tuesday, January 21st, 2014

‘For ten years, I’ve been singing the praises of OUT ON BLUE SIX, Ian McDonald’s 1989 science fiction novel that defies description and beggars the imagination… as you’ll read, this book is one of those once-in-a-generation, brain-melting flashes of brilliance that makes you fall in love with a writer’s work forever.’

… So wrote Cory Doctorow, recently, about Ian McDonald‘s OUT ON BLUE SIX, a novel that has as much impact today as it did when it was first published in 1989. Here’s the synopsis…

In a far-future city where happiness and stability are law, a group of rebels will fight for what it means to be human.

The Compassionate Society was designed as a utopia, where people’s genetic predispositions and aptitudes—rather than random choice—guide their lives, and pain of any kind is illegal. In the self-contained city, happiness is the most cherished value, and the Ministry of Pain swiftly prosecutes anyone who interferes with the contentment of another. For many of its citizens—who were matched to their jobs, spouses, and friends—the Compassionate Society is perfect. But to Courtney Hall, a political cartoonist, it is a place of stifling mediocrity. When her satirical work makes her a target of the government, Courtney goes on the run, only to discover an entire underground network of dissidents, each fighting against the stagnation imposed by the Compassionate Society—a struggle that could stand as humanity’s last chance for growth, innovation, and ultimately, survival.

Thrilling and inventive, Out on Blue Six is Ian McDonald’s engrossing story of free will and self-determination, and of the true value of a life ruled not by fear, but by hope.

As Doctorow points out in his post, the novel has been out of print for a long while, but has just been re-issued by Open Road Media in eBook format. Doctorow was asked to write the introduction to the new edition (you can read that introduction if you follow the link, above).

Open Road Media has also published eBook editions of SCISSORS CUT PAPER WRAP STONE, SACRIFICE OF FOOLS, KING OF MORNING QUEEN OF DAY and THE BROKEN LAND.

In related eBook news, the JABberwocky eBook program will be releasing more of Ian’s backlist titles over the course of 2014, including: CHAGA, KIRINYA, TENDELEO’S STORY, DESOLATION ROAD, ARES EXPRESS and EMPIRE DREAMS.

John McHugo Transmission Award

Posted on Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

We are delighted to announce that John McHugo has been nominated for the 2014 Transmission Prize! The prize, launched in 2013 by Salon London, is designed to ‘celebrate inspired ideas, brilliantly communicated’.

John is nominated for his work related to his most recent book, A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE ARABS (published by Saqi Books), and a little bit more on that can be found here.

Many congratulations indeed to John! A very well-deserved nomination.

Here is the synopsis for John’s book…

The key to understanding the Arab world – today and in the future – lies in unlocking its past.

John McHugo unfolds centuries of political, social and intellectual development, from the Roman Empire right up to the present day. Taking the reader beyond the headlines, McHugo presents a series of turning points in Arab history: the mission of the Prophet Muhammad, the expansion of Islam, the conflicts of the medieval and modern ages, the struggles against foreign domination, the rise of Islamism, and the end of the rule of dictators.

Accessible and penetrating, this concise history reveals how the Arab world has come to assume its present form and illuminates the choices that lie ahead in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Here’s some of what critics have said about the book…

‘Highly readable … Ideal for novices, it is also a useful and exciting read for those who have read much about the area but never had the whole story summed up in a single volume.’ — Jordan Times

‘Thrilling and poignant, woven with a layered texture of knowledge and empathy that deftly stitches familiar figures into the narrative in a fresh way.’ — David Gardner, International Affairs Editor, Financial Times

‘… for those who wish to know the background behind the news headlines, the book is a good—if somewhat demanding—place to start; and for those who at some point had some background in parts of subject, the book acts as a useful refresher.’ — Asian Review of Books

‘… always erudite…’ — The National

‘… provide[s] substantial help in understanding the political developments in the Middle East, including the Arab Spring.’ — The Tablet

Speaking of John’s work, we thought you might also be interested in his article from last year, about coffee and ‘How a drink for Arab mystics went global‘. If, like us, you are a committed drinker of coffee, this is a great read.

Samit Basu’s TURBULENCE Now Available in Audio!

Posted on Tuesday, January 14th, 2014

We’re delighted to report that Samit Basu‘s critically-acclaimed super-hero novel TURBULENCE is available in audio book! Released by Audible, the audio book is available worldwide in English.

In case you’ve missed our earlier coverage of TURBULENCE – and its upcoming sequel, RESISTANCE – here is the synopsis…

Aman Sen is smart, young, ambitious and going nowhere. He thinks this is because he doesn’t have the right connections, but then he gets off a plane from London to Delhi and discovers that he has turned into a communications demigod. Indeed, everyone on Aman’s flight now has extraordinary abilities corresponding to their innermost desires. Vir, an Air Force pilot, can now fly. Uzma, an aspiring Bollywood actress, now possesses infinite charisma. And then there’s Jai, an indestructible one-man army with a good old-fashioned goal: to rule the world!

Aman wants to ensure that their new powers aren’t wasted on costumed crime-fighting, celebrity endorsements, or reality television. He wants to heal the planet, but with each step he takes, he finds helping some means harming others. Will it all end, as 80 years of superhero fiction suggest, in a meaningless, explosive slugfest?

Turbulence features the 21st-century Indian subcontinent in all its insane glory: F-16s, Bollywood, radical religious parties, nuclear plants, cricket, terrorists, luxury resorts, crazy TV shows, but it is essentially about two very human questions: How would you feel if you actually got what you wanted? And what would you do if you could really change the world?

And, in case that wasn’t enough, here is just a small fraction of what has been said about TURBULENCE by critics the world over…

‘… I finished reading with that rare sense of loss you get when you finish a book you never really wanted to end… it involves superpowers, politics, the limits of human responsibility and is fast paced, deep, crisply written, full of vim, vigour, wit, wisdom and zest. Plus it’s really, really funny… You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll gasp and you will demand a sequel!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Turbulence has it all… Solid writing, great character development, humor, personal loss, and excellent points to ponder in every chapter.’ — Wired

‘The characters are brilliantly written… With a globe-trotting sensibility even James Bond would be proud of, the cinematic action sequences are as breath-taking as anything Hollywood has to offer, so the campaign for a big-screen version, or failing that, at least a sequel to the book begins here!’ — IGN

‘Basu blends tongue-in-cheek humor with philosophical questions about what obligations (if any) people would have if suddenly blessed with super powers… The book is a treasure trove of funny moments and one-liners.’ — The Los Angeles Beat

‘Basu knows his stuff… he conjures up a vast array of imaginative powers… unflinchingly depicts the costly consequences…’ — SFX

‘TURBULENCE is an excellent book, a thoughtful read that throws out questions without any easy answers, that opens up the superhero genre to deeper analysis, and yet is also an incredibly enjoyable superhero story itself.’ — Fantasy Faction

TURBULENCE is out now in the UK and US, published by Titan Books. RESISTANCE is due to follow in July 2014.

Lavie Tidhar’s THE VIOLENT CENTURY is a Best SFF of 2013! Twice!!

Posted on Monday, December 9th, 2013

We’re very happy to report that Lavie Tidhar‘s THE VIOLENT CENTURY, published by Hodder Books in the UK, has been selected for two Best of 2013 lists! Both the Guardian and Daily Mail newspapers featured the novel in their end-of-year selections. Here’s what they had to say…

‘THE VIOLENT CENTURY… may be his best yet: a blistering alt-historical retelling of a 20th century lousy with superheroes.’ — The Guardian, Best SFF of 2013

‘Part pulp fiction, part spy novel… Startling, moving and cleverly turned (spot the walk-on parts for real comic book artists) the novel delivers epic scale, sharply observed detail and a real emotional wallop.’ — Daily Mail 12 Books for Christmas 2013

THE VIOLENT CENTURY has racked up an impressive number of gushing reviews already. Here’s the synopsis, in case you somehow missed it…

They’d never meant to be heroes.

For seventy years they guarded the British Empire. Oblivion and Fogg, inseparable friends, bound together by a shared fate. Until one night in Berlin, in the aftermath of the Second World War, and a secret that tore them apart.

But there must always be an account… and the past has a habit of catching up to the present.

Now, recalled to the Retirement Bureau from which no one can retire, Fogg and Oblivion must face up to a past of terrible war and unacknowledged heroism – a life of dusty corridors and secret rooms, of furtive meetings and blood-stained fields – to answer one last, impossible question:

What makes a hero?

The UK Newspapers Love Lavie Tidhar’s THE VIOLENT CENTURY…

Posted on Monday, November 11th, 2013

Only a week since publication, Lavie Tidhar‘s latest novel, THE VIOLENT CENTURY, has been showered with praise. We described the novel as ‘Watchmen meets John le Carre’, but here are what some in the British national press have been saying…

‘Tidhar synthesises the geeky and the political in a vision of world events that breaks new superhero ground… Lavie Tidhar’s new novel breaks new ground in terms of the “superhero novel”… THE VIOLENT CENTURY extends [an] eerie synthesis of the geeky and the political, conjuring a version of the 20th and 21st century where everything we know still happened, only with added superheroes… The novel turns out to be a melancholy sort of love story, but the world-building is so profoundly smart that one can easily forgive and even thrill to the slightly predictable tale of amours, betrayals, repressed adoration and stifled expediency… Comics, of course, have been doing “what if they were real?” for ages, from Alan Moore’s Watchmen to Pat Mills’s Marshal Law. But the politics in Tidhar’s novel are very much about real-world subterfuge… the truly clever thing here is that while the reader has to suspend disbelief in the existence of superheroes, the superheroes themselves struggle to believe in the war, and especially the Holocaust: repeatedly they refer to it as being like a fiction rather than reality. The war becomes, again, something unthinkable. Using fantasy to reassert the awful reality of the 20th century is a smart piece of defamiliarisation.’ — The Guardian

‘While perhaps not as politically loaded as OSAMA, Tidhar’s THE VIOLENT CENTURY… is no less powerful. He imagines a world where superheroes are real. But while the Americans go for the brash costumes and public displays of power, Tidhar’s British heroes – primarily Oblivion and Fog – operate in the shadows, and bear witness to the major events of the 20th century in what is quite simply a stunning masterpiece.’ — The Independent

‘Good fantasy creates new worlds for us to dream in. Great fantasy, such as THE VIOLENT CENTURY, holds a dark mirror up to these dreams and tests them to the limit… Espionage inhabits a sort of parallel universe. Lavie Tidhar has taken this idea and run with it, creating a sophisticated, moving and gripping take on 20th century conflicts and our capacity for love and hate, honour and betrayal.‘ — Daily Mail (Who knew the Daily Mail reviewed SFF?)

‘It’s the X-Men as written by John le Carré, a shadowy alternate history in which cynical Cold War compromises are all too real. Agents Fogg and Oblivion investigate a conspiracy dating back 75 years to post-war Berlin. The British duo haven’t aged since 1932, when hundreds of mutants were created from the sub-atomic wave unleashed by a German scientist. Several years later, warring nations rally the troops with front-line superheroes but some end up as grisly Übermenschen experiments in Auschwitz. Tidhar’s Jewish heritage enriches his self-aware, tersely styled narrative. A love story and meditation on heroism, this is an elegiac espionage adventure that demands a second reading.’ — Metro

THE VIOLENT CENTURY is published by Hodder in the UK.

Iain Sinclair’s AMERICAN SMOKE Tour – Updates & Extra Details

Posted on Wednesday, November 6th, 2013

We announced some early details regarding Iain Sinclair‘s upcoming book tour, but there have since been some additional dates and events added to the schedule. Celebrating the release of Iain’s much-anticipated new book, AMERICAN SMOKE, there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about the book and also hear the author speak on the topic. AMERICAN SMOKE is due to be published in the UK in November 2013 (Hamish Hamilton) and in the US in April 2014 (Farrar Strauss).

First up, we want to draw your attention to some recent coverage. The mainstream British has been filled with praise for AMERICAN SMOKE. The Saturday Telegraph magazine featured an interview with the author, ‘Iain Sinclair on walking, markets and his impossible challenge’. Also on Saturday, reviews of AMERICAN SMOKE appeared in the Financial Times – ‘In AMERICAN SMOKE his voice is still urgent; it still has things to tell us. If we know what’s good for us, we’ll listen.’ – and also in The Times (sadly, behind the pay-wall). We understand that there are many more reviews on the way, from across the media. The Telegraph also ran a review, in which AMERICAN SMOKE is described as a ‘wonderful’ book, one the reviewer ‘loved’. A review in The Guardian states that, while reading the book, ‘the US wafts away, as grippingly haunted as Sinclair’s prose.’

And there’s still more to come: Esquire will run a piece by Iain in their December issue, about Kill Your Darlings film. Dazed and Confused‘s December will feature an interview with Iain, as will the Big Issue and The Hackney Citizen.

The London Review Bookshop is offering three wonderful special editions of AMERICAN SMOKE (one of which is pictured, below) – any one of these is a must for Sinclair and Beat Generation aficionados everywhere. Although, be quick – stock is selling out fast.

And finally, to re-cap, here are the rest of the dates for Sinclair’s tour:

Wednesday November 6th (today!) — Royal Society of Literature

Thursday November 7th — Iain Sinclair and Gary Walkow present Beat at the Whitechapel Gallery

Friday November 8th — LAUNCH of American Smoke at the Sea Cadets Building in Stoke Newington

Wednesday November 20th — ICA

Thursday November 21st — LRB Bookshop

Thursday November 28th — Topping and Company Bath

Wednesday December 4th — Broadway Bookshop event

Wednesday January 8th — Central St Martins

Praise Keeps Pouring in for Charlie Human’s APOCALYPSE NOW NOW!

Posted on Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

Charlie Human‘s brilliant debut novel, APOCALYPSE NOW NOW, has been out in the UK for a couple of weeks, now, and great reviews just keep flooding in. We shared with you some of the responses from other authors a little while back. Now, we’re happy to share some reviewer comments, just in case you still need convincing to check out the novel (and whet your appetite for it’s forthcoming sequel)…

‘Brilliantly entertaining.’ — British Fantasy Society

‘… a riot – a firebomb of a novel, exploding with sick humour, violence and depravity… it’s never less than very funny, and the ongoing question of Baxter’s sanity adds a degree of mystery. There’s warmth here, too – you’ll likely feel sympathy for Bax by the end.’ — SFX Magazine

‘… gloriously twisted… Imaginative, slightly demented and wonderfully odd, it’s a striking debut that delivers a dark monster-filled tale at a frenetically enjoyable pace… run[s] rampant with brutal violence, freaky nightmare creatures and African mythology… flamboyant characters, jolly gung-ho violence and a perverse sense of humour… If you want the dark imaginative wonder of Gaiman injected with the reckless, carefree abandon of a Tarantino flick, you’d be a fool not to hitch a ride into the mysterious world of Charlie Human’s South Africa.’ — Starburst

‘Think Lauren Beukes meets Neil Gaiman, with bounty hunters.’ — Wired (UK)

‘… pure, unbridled joy… absolutely none of it is paint by numbers… a fever dream of an urban fantasy, something where everything’s been flung against the wall and, against all odds, it sticks… Mr. Human has built a ridiculously infectious world… It is hard not to be swept up by the joy of it all… Unbridled, unhinged joy and a bit of thoughtful characterisation? APOCALYPSE NOW NOW may truly signify the end of days.’ — Pornokitsch

‘… wonderfully detailed scenarios, it’s fantastic… APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is often hilarious and tremendous fun… its target audience will have a blast.’ — SciFi Now

‘Charlie Human, a native South African who has the writing ability of a seasoned pro… From start to finish this just kept getting better and better… The book has everything from giant crows to dwarfs to mind controlling spiders… I would definitely recommend this to all. If you’re a fan of fantasy adventure you are going to love this…’ — PopBucket

‘Human blends a lot of the staples of the genre together and gives the resultant mix more than a few twists of his own (playing on reader expectations very neatly) to create a story that will appeal to fans of very dark urban fantasy… Not for the weak of stomach, this is hopefully just the first adventure for Baxter and Jackson Ronin… Recommended.’ — Sci-Fi Bulletin

‘… a bowl of fireworks… It has porn-peddling adolescents, ginger bearded monk ninjas, killer crows and zombie-filled sex dungeons ruled over by parasitic mega-spiders. What’s not to love!?!’ — J For Jetpack

‘… an extremely strong debut novel, from an author who exhibits a great deal of talent and potential. APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is bonkers, twisted, very funny, and utterly engaging… Human’s writing is immediate, addictive, funny, and expertly crafted… original, very well-written, funny, dark, and genre-blending. Charlie is definitely an author to watch.’ — Civilian Reader

‘… breakneck pace and mad imagination… APOCALYPSE NOW NOW [is] such an addictive experience. As one of an associate of Ronin’s remarks: “There’s no pause button, you understand? … Once it starts you have to see it through.” All too true!’ — Tor.com

‘… Charlie Human’s formidable imagination… is splattered over every page…. In much the same way as Paul Cornell did in London Falling, APOCALYPSE NOW NOW shows the supernatural living uneasily in the city shadows. But Cape Town is given a far more jaundiced view through the eyes of this disillusioned South African 21st century Holden Caulfield, and Human’s use of African superstition and his own bizarre creatures makes it a far more exotic and dangerous place… an attention-grabbing debut novel… certainly one you won’t forget reading in a hurry.’ — Cultbox

‘… weirdly and gruesomely awesome! … I laughed (a lot), I got drawn in to the action… Not your run of the mill scifi or fantasy novel and defo not one for the easily offended or feint of heart… if you want a book that blurs the genre lines, delves into South African mythology and has a whole heap of weird eroticism in it then this is defo one for you. Go forth and envelop this crazy arsed book!’ — Book Geek Says

‘Like Gaiman and Tarantino, Charlie Human plays with different genres and their cliches… It is fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny… Baxter’s voice is brilliant… Baxter’s commentary, with its irony and awareness, also helps keep the book from being overwhelmed by weirdness… This is [Charlie’s] debut novel and a very impressive one at that.’ — Magic Realism

‘Mr. Human’s insane brain rips the carpet that you think you know from underneath you, rolls you up in it and transports you into a strange, twisted world… It’s stupendous… The supporting cast is written well, with the important players given enough back story and hints of motives to flesh them out. Honestly, read this book… it’s written beautifully. I can’t wait to read his next. 9/10’ — Fantasy Opinion

Be sure to keep checking Charlie’s author page, which we will update as-and-when new reviews come in. APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is published in the UK by Century, and in South Africa by Random House/Struik (in English and Afrikaans – BOKVELD BINNEKORT).

Some Initial Reactions to Lavie Tidhar’s VIOLENT CENTURY…

Posted on Friday, August 23rd, 2013

Review proofs of Lavie Tidhar‘s upcoming THE VIOLENT CENTURY have been sent out to readers and reviewers, and we’ve spotted some great responses on Twitter. We think Lavie’s outdone himself with this novel, so we decided to share some of these early comments…

‘My God, @lavietidhar’s THE VIOLENT CENTURY is bloody brilliant. Actually refused a lift home from work last night so I could read on the bus’ – David Barnett (Guardian)

‘Finished THE VIOLENT CENTURY by @lavietidhar. Wonderful. Puts the “human” in “super-human”. And the “super”, come to that.’ – David Barnett, again (Guardian)

‘Just finished @lavietidhar’s VIOLENT CENTURY. It’s NIGHT CIRCUS meets BITTER SEEDS. Wow.’ – Justin Landon (Staffer’s Book Review)

‘Finished Tidhar’s The Violent Century over lunch. War, history, heroism, memory: best thing he’s done to date, very impressive.’ – Niall Harrison (Editor-In-Chief, Strange Horizons)

‘Sat down to for a minute to read the start of @lavietidhar’s THE VIOLENT CENTURY. Half an hour later, and it’s really, really good.’ – James Smythe (author of The Explorer)

THE VIOLENT CENTURY is due to be published by Hodder Books in the UK, on October 24th, 2013. More news coming soon (including a cover reveal later in the month).

Early Praise for Charlie Human’s APOCALYPSE NOW NOW…

Posted on Thursday, July 11th, 2013

We’ve been talking about it for months, but now that early copies of Charlie Human‘s amazing debut novel, APOCALYPSE NOW NOW, have made their way into the hands of a select few readers and reviewers, we’re in the position to say WE TOLD YOU SO!!!!…

‘It’s mad, dark, irreverent and wonderfully twisted in all the right ways.’ — Lauren Beukes, award-winning author of the Shining Girls

‘I don’t even know how to describe reading this book, so just look at my wide eyes and my silently mumbling mouth and take my shell-shock as a good sign that you need to read this book right now.’ — Chuck Wendig, author of Blackbirds

‘With a wild imagination and savage glee, Charlie Human throws us into a school yard battle zone that’s part teenage wasteland, part Lovecraft fever dream. Rock and Roll High School meets the apocalypse.’ — Richard Kadrey, New York Times bestselling author of the Sandman Slim series

‘Brilliantly entertaining.’ — British Science Fiction Association

APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is due to be published in August 2013, by Century (UK), and Random House Struik (South Africa).

Happy Publication Day, Brandon Sanderson

Posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Brandon Sanderson‘s exciting new YA fantasy, THE RITHMATIST is published today by Orion Children’s. The books was released in the US last week, and hit the New York Times Bestseller list at #6! Fingers crossed for a similar reception over here in the UK!

Here’s the synopsis…

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings—merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery, one that will change Rithmatics—and their world—forever.

Here’s what reviewers have been saying so far…

‘Featuring ingenious magic (complete with profuse chalk drawing–style diagrams and illustrations from McSweeney), feisty characters, and a complex plot likely to unwind over several volumes, this high-spirited, exciting story will appeal to readers of all ages.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Fantasy readers should devour this well-crafted mix of action and setup, enriched by thoroughly detailed cultural and historical background and capped by a distinctly unsettling twist.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘The first novel in a brand new series from much-lauded adult fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, THE RITHMATIST is an imaginative, action-packed SFF adventure – entertaining, fun, and with oodles of future potential. In other words: get your chalk out, folks, because this is another good one from Brandon Sanderson. True to form, THE RITHMATIST‘s greatest strength lies with its wonderfully unique magical system. I will never tire or cease to be impressed by Sanderson’s imaginative applications and rules of magic-making…’ — The Book Smugglers – also hosted Brandon for an interview

‘The story is compelling and the main characters of Joel and Melody are ones that we can relate to — even their wishes, desires, hopes, and dreams ring true… While THE RITHMATIST is marketed for teen and young adults, I believe that it would be of interest to readers of all ages. Only the age of the main characters makes this a young adult story, for the problems and issues are germane to humans of all ages. Highly recommended.’ — SF Revu

Brandon Sanderson is represented in the UK and Commonwealth on behalf of JABberwocky Literary Agency.

BITTER SEEDS – Editorial Love-In…

Posted on Friday, May 17th, 2013

We’re bowled over to see such fantastic support from the editorial team at Orbit Books for Ian Tregillis‘s superb Milkweed trilogy. Over on the Orbit Books blog, Editorial Assistant James Long has taken the time to write about how much the series blew him away…

‘As an editor, there’s no better feeling than reading a submission that blinds you with its sheer brilliance. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’s one of the most exciting things about working in publishing… [BITTER SEEDS] left amazed by its vivid prose, bold action sequences and the wonderful depth of its characterisation. Not to mention the underlying plot that regularly crosses into the realms of sheer genius.’

The whole UK editorial team at Orbit has, in fact, gone on record with their gushing praise for Ian’s series.

‘I love the way the plot threads around and twists back on itself, just when you think you’ve got it all worked out, both within the books and between them. Every new page gives you another thread to pull. The writing itself is phenomenal, but it’s the characters and the plot – my god, the plot! – that have got me so hooked. I can’t wait to read Necessary Evil and find out how Ian manages to resolve such a tangled web. Ian’s poor protagonists dance like puppets for the unbearably sinister Gretel, but there must be a master plan behind it all. I can’t believe she doesn’t have one – though I do hope poor Raybould foils it and that he finds the redemption he so desperately wants. He deserves a break after all he’s been through!’ — Anne Clark, Orbit Editorial Director, after reading THE COLDEST WAR

‘After having devoured the entire Milkweed Triptych at the speed of light, I can only conclude is that Ian Tregillis is an absolute genius. The Milkweed books are simply one of the cleverest, most engrossing series I’ve ever read. I often found myself chuckling out loud in public places at the pure brilliance of the plotting, the devious intellect of the protagonists, and the masterful skill of the author’s turn of phrase… Ian Tregillis takes an idea which is already hugely exciting in a very superhero-comic kind of way (mad warlocks fighting scientifically-enhanced Nazi übermensch), but then delivers the concept with such intelligence, such emotional power and such literary flair that you cannot help but fall head-over-heels for him as a writer.’ — Anna Gregson, Orbit Commissioning Editor

The Milkweed trilogy – BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL – is out now in the UK. If you haven’t tried it yet… well, get thee to a bookshop!

And if you have read this series, note that Orbit have another series in the pipeline from Ian. More on that in due course.

Happy Publication Day (+1), Freda Warrington…

Posted on Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

We are delighted to report that Freda Warrington‘s third Aetherial Tale, GRAIL OF THE SUMMER STARS, was published yesterday in the US by Tor Books!

The climactic concluding novel in the spellbinding magical contemporary fantasy Aetherial Tales trilogy

A painting, depicting haunting scenes of a ruined palace and a scarlet-haired goddess in front of a fiery city, arrives unheralded in an art gallery with a cryptic note saying, “The world needs to see this.” The painting begins to change the lives of the woman who is the gallery’s curator and that of an ancient man of the fey Aetherial folk who has mysteriously risen from the depths of the ocean. Neither human nor fairy knows how they are connected, but when the painting is stolen, both are compelled to discover the meaning behind the painting and the key it holds to their future.

If you’d like to try the novel, head on over to Tor.com, who have shared an excerpt. In addition, Freda has been busy around the SFF blogosphere of late, and recently wrote two great guest posts: The Unashamed Escapist for Fade into Fantasy, and Painting with Words for the Fantasy Book Cafe (as part of their Women in SF&F Month series).

Here’s what the critics have been saying so far…

‘A classy, beautifully rendered tale that persuasively builds from low-key beginnings into a complex enterprise with real heft, a rich back story and characters that grow with the narrative. A must for existing fans, while being easily accessible to newcomers.’ — Kirkus

‘If Freda Warrington didn’t write, it would be a crime against humanity. This woman was born to write and tell stories and she does it incredibly well… I absolutely love Warrington’s world… There’s romance, friendship, betrayal, growth, revelations and much more. Basically, it’s anything anyone could possibly want in a book… [Warrington] know[s] how to write an incredible story full of emotional drama, depth and amazing world building. Freda Warrington doesn’t just write urban fantasy. She’s mastered it.’ — Bookworm Blues