Zeno Literary Agency Ltd.

Zeno Agency is delighted to announce that we now represent multi-award winning fantasy author James P Blaylock worldwide.

Jim Blaylock’s credentials and achievements are almost too many to list! He is the author of nearly twenty published novels and numerous shorter works. His 1978 story ‘The Ape-Box Affair’ is acknowledged as the first Steampunk story and the many further adventures of his much loved character Langdon St. Ives, in both shorter and longer forms (notably in the Philip K. Dick Award winning novel HOMUNCULUS and LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE) have made him the central figure in the original Steampunk triptych alongside Tim Powers (also represented by Zeno in the UK) and K.W. Jeter. He continues to collaborate with Powers, maintaining a partnership that has lasted since the two met in college back in the mid-70s and one only occasionally hampered by the interference of William Ashbless.

Blaylock has received multiple nominations for the World Fantasy Award, winning it on two occasions – for short stories ‘Paper Dragons‘ and his collection ‘Thirteen Phantasms‘. Over the years his work has consistently ranked the highest positions in the annual LOCUS Magazine poll and his story ‘Unidentified Objects‘ was included in Prize Stories 1990, the O. Henry Awards.

‘I have admired Jim’s work for over two decades now,’ says Zeno agent John Berlyne, ‘In fact – gushing fanboy that I am – I realise I’ve read every word of  his published fiction! Aside from being, by a country mile, the best short fiction writer I’ve ever come across, he is, and remains, a truly original voice – unique in fact – and a hugely respected and cherished genre figure.’

James P. Blaylock lives in Orange, CA with his wife, Viki. He teaches creative writing at Chapman University where he is Assistant Professor of English. Read the rest of this entry »

Proof copies of the forthcoming Gollancz edition of Ian McDonald’s staggeringly brilliant new novel THE DERVISH HOUSE to be published in late July…

‘In the CHAGA novels McDonald brought an Africa in the grip of a bizarre ailien invasion to life, in RIVER OF GODS he painted a rich portrait of India in 2047, in BRASYL he looked at different Brazils, past present and future. Ian McDonald has found reknown at the cutting adge of a movement to take SF away from its British and American white roots and out into the rich cultures of the world. THE DERVISH HOUSE continues that journey and centres on Istanbul in 2025. Turkey is part of Europe but sited on the edge, it is an Islamic country that looks to the West. THE DERVISH HOUSE is the story of the families that live in and around its titular house, it is at once a rich mosaic of Islamic life in the new century and telling novel of future possibilities.’

… and as if that wasn’t enough, we also received today two copies of US the mass market edition of Freda Warrington‘s ELFLAND, published by Tor with a cover rosette that loudly and proudly advertsises the fact that the book is the winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best fantasy Novel of 2009. Congratulations to Freda!

‘This dreamlike, nuanced and sensual novel is reminiscent of the best of early Charles de Lint and is compulsively readable. Rose is a memorable, unique and wholly sympathetic protagonist, and the supporting cast is equally well drawn. The story of Rose and Sam is compelling, enchanting and utterly enthralling. This is simply one of the best fantasy novels of the year.’ — RT Book Reviews

Congratulations to Iain Sinclair, whose book Hackney: That Rose-Red Empire has been announced as one of the short-listed titles for this year’s Ondaatje Prize, hosted by The Royal Society of Literature.

The £10,000 award is given annually ‘for a distinguished work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry, evoking the spirit of a place‘ and this year’s ceremony will take place on May 24th in London.

The 2010 judges, Kathleen Jamie, Professor Steve Jones and Penelope Lively, commended ‘compelling, individual voices, taut narrative and impressive research in six remarkable books from across a complete range of genres’.

Hackney: That Rose-Red Empire is now available in paperback from Hamish Hamilton.

I’m delighted to announce that Stephen Volk‘s novella Vardøger, a chilling psychological thriller published by Grey Friar Press has been nominated in the relevant novella category in this year’s Shirley Jackson Awards, a prize ‘established for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic.’

The winners will be announced at Readercon 21, taking place in Burlington, Massachusetts, this coming July.

Ian MacDonald’s superb short story collection CYBERABAD DAYS has won the judges ‘Special Citation’ at this years Philip K. Dick Awards, effectively placing it as runner up to the winning book, C. L. Anderson’s BITTER ANGEL (Bantam Spectra).

The prize is awarded annually for the most distinguished original science fiction paperback published for the first time during the previous year in the U.S.A and Ian was on hand to receive his citation, which was presented at Norwestcon 2010 in Seattle. (See here for Ian’s short blog post on the subject).

Ian previously won the award in 1992 for KING OF MORNING, QUEEN OF DAY and his novel SCISSORS CUT PAPER WRAPS STONE, was nominated in 1995.

CYBERABAD DAYS is published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Pyr. Congratulations to all involved.

Our client Professor Richard Weston, one of whose current projects involves working with images of natural materials and minerals in in the context of fashion and interior design, has sent of news of a recent triumph…

‘Following the Best of British Open Design Call held at Liberty of London on 6 February, which attracted almost 1,000 entrants, I have been chosen to supply a collection of silk scarves. I will also be appearing in a BBC2 series showing products develop from idea to high street shelf, to be presented by Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis!‘

For the last five years Richard has been developing a digital database of high-resolution images from natural materials such as minerals and rocks with which to make everything from fashion fabrics to jewellery, architectural glass to rugs and carpets. He comments: ‘I’m delighted at this opportunity because I’ve always seen Liberty as the ideal outlet for much of what I do. But getting into a store of its stature was next to impossible until this radical new approach to finding talent, which was pioneered in New York by Ed Burstell, their new Director of Buying.’

The image above right shows a dress from the “Tectonica” Collection by Sophie Shardelow, made using silk printed with designs from agate.

The LOCUS Index to SF Awards proudly lists Ian McDonald as the winner of  “1 Hugo, 1 Sturgeon, 1 Philip K. Dick Award, 1 Locus Award, 4 British SF Awards, 2 Kurd Laáwitz”. Not a bad clutch of gongs by anyone’s standards, eh?

We’re delighted to report that we’ve just got word that Ian’s recent short story collection CYBERADBAD DAYS is one of seven works to be shortlisted for this year’s Philip K. Dick Award,  the prize to be awarded at Norwestcon 33 in April and one which he has, of course, won previously back in 1992 for his novel KING OF MORNING, QUEEN OF DAY.

CYBERABAD DAYS is published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Pyr.

“All in all, Cyberabad Days is a terrific book and a satisfying return to the world of River of Gods. Ian McDonald is a genius, pure and simple.” — PAT’S FANTASY HOTLIST

“McDonald’s India engulfs you with an overwhelming, perfumed, stinky embrace. A hugely impressive collection. Seven nifty, witty stories.” — Dave Langford in SFX

• Lavie’s been in touch to let us know that he’s revamped and updated his web sote – it’s now a rather smart WordPress affair, not dissimilar to this one!
  
  • Visit Lavie’s new web site

• Additionally – and I slap my own wrist for taking so long to post this here – Lavie’s anthology, THE APEX  BOOK OF WORLD SF has now been published  – see this interview with Lavie to find out more.
  
  • Visit Lavie’s WORLD SF web site

• A new story by Lavie, ‘Jews in Antarctica’ is now online at Fantasy Magazine.

• Lavie is nominated for one of Ann and Jeff Vandermeer’s Last Drink Bird Head Awards! He is up for the International Activism prize, given ‘In recognition of those who work to bring writers from other literary traditions and countries to the attention of readers in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia…’ The winners will be announced at the World Fantasy Convention in San José and the lucky recipient will receive a bird head figurine, a certificate, and chocolate. Fingers crossed (Lavie LOVES chocolate!)

• And finally, we’re delighted to announce the sale of Lavie’s novella MARTIAN SANDS, to Jason Sizemore at Apex Publications, a long time supporter and advocate of Lavie’s work. The novella will appear some time next year or in early 2011.

Man of the moment Lavie Tidhar has been nominated for the Washington Science Fiction Association’s Small Press Award for his story ‘Hard Rain at the Fortean Café‘ which was published in Issue #14 of the now sadly defunct Aeon Speculative Fiction Magazine, edited by Bridget McKenna. Luckily, as this was an online publication, copies are still available for download here.

The award, now in its third year will be presented to the winner at this years Capclave convention, which takes place in Rockville, Maryland, USA from October 16th – 18th.

Further to our post of June 10th, we’re delighted to announce that Ian MacLeod’s extraordinary novel SONG OF TIME has won this year’s John W. Campbell Award, tying for the prize with Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER – only the third time in its 35 year history that the award has had joint winners.

Ian adds this honour to the Arthur C. Clarke Award that he won for SONG OF TIME in April. The Campbell Award will be presented at this year’s Campbell Conference, which is taking place July 10 – 12, 2009 in Lawrence, Kansas and we understand that the author will be on hand to receive the award in person.

• Offical KU Press Release announcing the winner.

Having already scooped the 2009 Arthur C. Clarke Award for best novel – “the most prestigious award for science fiction in Britain” – Ian MacLeod‘s SONG OF TIME deservedly marches on towards further possible honours.

The LOCUS web site has just announced the nominees for the John W. Campbell Award and SONG OF TIME once more does literary battle with the mighty ANATHEM by Neal Stephenson. Also nominated are Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER, James Morrow’s THE PHILOSOPHER’S APPRENTICE, CITY AT THE EDGE OF TIME by Greg Egan and VALLEY OF DAY-GLO, but Nick Di Chario – the only author on the list whose work is new to me.

It’s a tough shortlist certainly, but we at Zeno have our fingers crossed!  Best of luck Ian.

Zeno is delighted to announce that multi-award winning author Ian R. MacLeod has joined us as a client and we will henceforth be acting as his primary agent.

Ian has, of course, been in the news recently having scooped the coveted Arthur C. Clarke Award last month for his wonderful novel Song of Time, published by PS Publishing. His superb backlist is also no stranger when it comes to receiving gongs – he has twice received both the World Fantasy and the Sidewise awards and has also been placed first in the Asimov readers poll and won the LOCUS award for best first novel. In addition to all this, he has made the short-lists for the Hugo, the Nebula, the BSF, the Sturgeon, the John W. Campbell and the Tiptree awards!

John Berlyne says “I’ve been a fan of Ian’s for years! He is a truly exceptional talent and one-man showcase for all that shines in British science fiction. John Parker and I are looking forward hugely to working with him.”

• Ian’s client page on the Zeno site
• Ian R. MacLeod’s home page

Congratulations to Ian McDonald, whose superb novel Brasyl has been announced as one of the six titles on the final short-list for this year’s Nebula Award. The full list of nominees in all categories can be found here.

The awards will be presented at the 2009 Nebula Awards® Weekend, April 24-26,2009 in Los Angeles, California, USA.