Steampunk - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Cover & Details: THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LANGDON ST. IVES!

Posted on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016

This July, Subterranean Press is due to published James P. Blaylock‘s latest Langdon St. Ives anthology, THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LANGDON ST. IVES! The anthology includes three classic adventures, a new novella and novelette, and more than forty illustrations by J. K. Potter, and will be available in a Limited Edition (only 200, signed and numbered), and a trade edition. Here’s the synopsis…

Langdon St. Ives, explorer, scientist, naturalist, and family man rarely has a restful day: adventure befalls him and a colorful cast of characters around every seemingly innocent turn.

In this chronicle, St. Ives descends beneath the quicksand of Morecambe Bay into a dark, unknown corner of the ocean littered with human bones and the castaway detritus of humanity in search of a strange, possible alien machine.

Madness at the Explorers Club in London and the disappearance of St. Ives’s wife Alice leads him to the underground lair of evil genius Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, who has undertaken to set the entirety of London into a lunatic frenzy.

A simple excursion to the West Indies is interrupted by bloodthirsty pirates whose depredations pale before the fury of the pagan god that erupts from beneath the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

An inexplicable cataract of water falling from a cloudless sky sets into motion a ballooning adventure in which St. Ives disappears through a hole in the sky.

And on a holiday in London, St. Ives investigates the insidious patent medicine salesman Diogenes, whose pills awaken strange longings and eons-old memories of man’s ascent from the fishes.

Subterranean Press publish a number of titles by James P. Blaylock, including three other Langdon St. Ives titles: THE EBB TIDE, THE AFFAIR OF THE CHALK CLIFFS and THE RING OF STONES.

Blaylock’s Langdon St. Ives novels are published by Titan Books, and so far include: HOMUNCULUS, LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE, THE AYLESFORD SKULL and BENEATH LONDON. Earlier this year, HOMUNCULUS was published in France by Bragelonne.

James P. Blaylock’s HOMUNCULUS Out Now in France!

Posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

HOMUNCULUS, the Philip K. Dick Award-winning first novel in James P. Blaylock‘s fan-favourite and critically-acclaimed Langdon St. Ives series, is out now in France! Published by Bragelonne, here’s the synopsis…

Londres, fin du xixe siècle.

Une compétition acharnée oppose une bande de scientifiques géniaux à une sinistre ligue constituée d’un milliardaire débauché, d’un savant aussi dément qu’amoral et d’une horde de morts-vivants.

L’objet de leur lutte?

Un homuncule, créature fantastique à l’existence tenue secrète et dotée de tous les pouvoirs, capable de triompher de la mort et du temps. Et celui qui réussira à s’en emparer règnera sur l’éternité… reste à savoir quel camp l’emportera le premier!

HOMUNCULUS is published in the UK and US by Titan Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

It is the late 19th century and a mysterious airship orbits through the foggy skies. Its terrible secrets are sought by many, including the Royal Society, a fraudulent evangelist, a fiendish vivisectionist, an evil millionaire and an assorted group led by the scientist and explorer Professor Langdon St. Ives. Can St. Ives keep the alien homunculus out of the claws of the villainous Ignacio Narbondo?

Bragelonne are also due to publish the second novel in the series, LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE. More details to come. Titan Books has published the first four novels in the series — LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE, THE AYLESFORD SKULL and BENEATH LONDON.

New BOOKMAN HISTORIES Covers

Posted on Friday, February 12th, 2016

The new US covers for Lavie Tidhar‘s superb Bookman Histories steampunk series were unveiled last week. Published by Angry Robot Books, the three new editions will be published this summer: THE BOOKMAN (June), CAMERA OBSCURA (July) and THE GREAT GAME (August). Here’s the synopsis for the first novel…

When his beloved is killed in a terrorist atrocity committed by the sinister Bookman, young poet Orphan becomes enmeshed in a web of secrets and lies. His quest to uncover the truth takes him from the hidden catacombs of a London on the brink of revolution, through pirate-infested seas, to the mysterious island that may hold the secret to the origin, not only of the shadowy Bookman, but of Orphan himself…

Tor.com published a piece by the designer of the new covers, Sarah Anne Langton, about the creative process.

Tidhar is also the author of the World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA, the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Award-winning A MAN LIES DREAMING, and the critically-acclaimed THE VIOLENT CENTURY.

A MAN LIES DREAMING is published in the UK by Hodder, in the US by Melville House (March), and in Italy by Frassinelli. THE VIOLENT CENTURY is also published in the UK by Hodder, and in the US by Thomas Dunne Books.

Lavie’s next book, CENTRAL STATION, is due to be published by Tachyon Publications, in May 2016.

Brandon Sanderson’s THE BANDS OF MOURNING out now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, January 28th, 2016

THE BANDS OF MOURNING, the latest novel in Brandon Sanderson‘s best-selling Mistborn series is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metalminds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.

THE BANDS OF MOURNING is also available in an audiobook edition, and you can hear a sample from that here.

Sanderson’s other Mistborn novels are also published in the UK by Gollancz: THE FINAL EMPIRE, THE WELL OF ASCENSION, THE HERO OF AGES, THE ALLOY OF LAW and SHADOWS OF SELF. Gollancz also publishes a number of other titles and series by Sanderson — for more, see here.

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

James P. Blaylock’s HOMUNCULUS soon available in French!

Posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2016

James P. Blaylock‘s HOMUNCULUS, the first Langdon St. Ives adventure, will be available in French this February! Due to be published by Bragelonne on the 19th February, here’s the synopsis…

Londres, fin du xixe siècle.

Une compétition acharnée oppose une bande de scientifiques géniaux à une sinistre ligue constituée d’un milliardaire débauché, d’un savant aussi dément qu’amoral et d’une horde de morts-vivants.

L’objet de leur lutte?

Un homuncule, créature fantastique à l’existence tenue secrète et dotée de tous les pouvoirs, capable de triompher de la mort et du temps. Et celui qui réussira à s’en emparer règnera sur l’éternité… reste à savoir quel camp l’emportera le premier!

HOMUNCULUS is published in the UK and US by Titan Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

It is the late 19th century and a mysterious airship orbits through the foggy skies. Its terrible secrets are sought by many, including the Royal Society, a fraudulent evangelist, a fiendish vivisectionist, an evil millionaire and an assorted group led by the scientist and explorer Professor Langdon St. Ives. Can St. Ives keep the alien homunculus out of the claws of the villainous Ignacio Narbondo?

Titan also publish the other Langdon St. Ives novels: LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE, THE AYLESFORD SKULL and BENEATH LONDON.

In related Blaylock news, we wanted to also share this link to a piece he wrote, about Philip K. Dick.

Tim Powers Talks Steampunk

Posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

The above clip is a couple of years old, but because we’re starting to think about Tim Powers‘s upcoming new novel — MEDUSA’S WEB — we thought we’d share the video here.

MEDUSA’S WEB is due to be published in the UK by Corvus, on January 21st, 2016. Here’s the synopsis…

In the wake of their Aunt Amity’s suicide, Scott and Madeline Madden are summoned to Caveat, the eerie, decaying mansion in the Hollywood hills in which they were raised. But their decadent and reclusive cousins, the malicious wheelchair-bound Claimayne and his sister, Ariel, do not welcome Scott and Madeline’s return to the childhood home they once shared. While Scott desperately wants to go back to their shabby south of Sunset lives, he cannot pry his sister away from this old house that is a conduit for the supernatural.

Decorated by bits salvaged from old hotels and movie sets, Caveat hides a dark family secret that stretches back to the golden days of Rudolph Valentino and the silent film stars. A collection of hypnotic abstract images inked on paper allows the Maddens to briefly fragment and flatten time – to transport themselves into the past and future in visions that are both puzzling and terrifying.

As Madeline falls more completely under Caveat’s spell, Scott must fight to protect her. But will he unravel the mystery of the Madden family’s past and finally free them… or be pulled deeper into their deadly web?

Corvus publishes five other novels by Tim Powers: ON STRANGER TIDES, THE STRESS OF HER REGARD, THREE DAYS TO NEVER, DECLARE, and HIDE ME AMONG THE GRAVES.

Powers’s Fault Lines trilogy has recently been published in the UK by Gollancz, as part of the Fantasy Masterworks series, and includes: LAST CALL, EXPIRATION DATE, and EARTHQUAKE WEATHER.

Zeno represents Tim Powers in the UK, on behalf of Russell Galen at the Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.

Out Tomorrow: Mark Hodder’s THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS

Posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2015

THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS, the sixth-and-final volume in Mark Hodder‘s fan-favourite Burton & Swinburne Adventures will be published tomorrow in the UK. Published by Del Rey UK, here’s the synopsis…

Burton and Swinburne return for their final thrilling adventure!

Sir Richard Francis Burton’s expedition has returned from the future, bringing with it knowledge of technologies which must remain secret for history to follow its natural course.

Betrayed by one of their own, Burton and Swinburne watch in horror as the Empire’s elite use this knowledge to secure their positions for all eternity, branding any who oppose them as enemies of the State.

Can their band of hunted revolutionaries overthrow the ultimate automated autocrat – their King?.

Betrayed by one of their own,Burton and Swinburne watch in horror as the Empire’s elite use this knowledge to secure their positions for all eternity, branding any who oppose them as enemies of the State. Can their band of hunted revolutionaries overthrow the ultimate automated autocrat – their King?

The series also includes: THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK, THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CLOCKWORK MAN, EXPEDITION TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON (Snowbooks), THE SECRET OF ABDU EL YEZDI and THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN (Del Rey). Del Rey UK also publishes THE RED SUN ALSO RISES, a stand-alone novel, in the UK.

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

Cover & Details: THE BANDS OF MOURNING by Brandon Sanderson

Posted on Monday, October 5th, 2015

At the end of last week, Gollancz unveiled another fantastic cover for the UK edition of Brandon Sanderson‘s upcoming sixth Mistborn novel, THE BANDS OF MOURNING. Due to be published in January 2016, here’s the synopsis (take from the US edition, published by Tor)…

The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metalminds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.

The fifth novel in the tremendously-popular series, SHADOWS OF SELF, is due to be published next week in the UK, also by Gollancz. Brandon will be in the UK, touring in support of the novel’s release. You can find details here.

Check back later this week for more Brandon news…

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

Out Tomorrow: THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN by Mark Hodder

Posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2015

THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN, the fifth novel in Mark Hodder‘s Burton & Swinburne Adventures series, is out tomorrow in paperback! Published in the UK by Del Rey, here’s the synopsis…

Burton and Swinburne return in a new wildly imaginative steampunk adventure, and this time they’re facing their greatest foe…

Leicester Square, London. Blood red snow falls from the sky and a strange creature, disorientated and apparently insane, materialises out of thin air. Spring Heeled Jack has returned, and he is intent on one thing: hunting Sir Richard Francis Burton.

Burton is experiencing one hallucination after another; visions of parallel realities and future history plague his every thought. These send him, and his companions, on an unimaginable expedition – a voyage through time itself…

Del Rey UK also publishes THE SECRET OF ABDU EL YEZDI and the forthcoming THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS in the same series. They also publish Mark’s stand-alone novel, A RED SUN ALSO RISES.

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

UK Cover for Mark Hodder’s THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS

Posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2015

The sixth book in Mark Hodder‘s Burton & Swinburne steampunk series has a cover! THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS is due to be published in the UK by Del Rey on November 5th, 2015. Here’s the synopsis…

Burton and Swinburne return for their final thrilling adventure!

Sir Richard Francis Burton’s expedition has returned from the future, bringing with it knowledge of technologies which must remain secret for history to follow its natural course.

Betrayed by one of their own, Burton and Swinburne watch in horror as the Empire’s elite use this knowledge to secure their positions for all eternity, branding any who oppose them as enemies of the State.

Can their band of hunted revolutionaries overthrow the ultimate automated autocrat – their King?.

Betrayed by one of their own,Burton and Swinburne watch in horror as the Empire’s elite use this knowledge to secure their positions for all eternity, branding any who oppose them as enemies of the State. Can their band of hunted revolutionaries overthrow the ultimate automated autocrat – their King?

The Burton & Swinburne series also includes: THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK, THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CLOCKWORK MAN, EXPEDITION TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON, THE SECRET OF ABDU EL-YEZDI and THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN. The first three books were published by Snowbooks, the latest three novels in the series have been published in the UK by Del Rey. Del Rey also publishes A RED SUN ALSO RISES, a stand-alone novel.

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

James P. Blaylock’s BENEATH LONDON out this week in US & UK!

Posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2015

BENEATH LONDON, the fourth novel in James P. Blaylock‘s critically-acclaimed Langdon St. Ives steampunk series, is out this week in the US (today) and UK (Thursday). Published in both territories by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

The collapse of the Victoria Embankment uncovers a passage to an unknown realm beneath the city. Langdon St. Ives sets out to explore it, not knowing that a brilliant and wealthy psychopathic murderer is working to keep the underworld’s secrets hidden for reasons of his own.

St. Ives and his stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly crimes: the gruesome death of a witch, the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl, and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi, serve the strange, murderous ends of perhaps St. Ives’s most dangerous nemesis yet.

You can read a short extract from the novel here. Widely considered one of the founding fathers of the Steampunk genre, Blaylock’s work has been praised far and wide. For example…

‘Blaylock is a true one-of-a-kind original.’ — Neil Gaiman

‘Blaylock is a singular American fabulist.‘ — William Gibson

‘Blaylock allows us to see the mundane world through new eyes, to perceive the familiar as strange, and therefore exciting.’ — Charles de Lint

‘James P Blaylock has been underpublished on this side of the Atlantic, a state of affairs Titan are addressing with THE AYLESFORD SKULL (£7.99), the first of three titles by one of the founders of the steampunk genre… Blaylock throws in all the furniture of the genre: derring-do and cliffhangers, a vivid portrayal of Victorian London, a gallery of grotesque characters and the obligatory airship, but the strength of the novel is his rendering of St Ives caught between his love of the chase and his commitment to family.’ — Guardian on THE AYLESFORD SKULL

‘Packed with high adventure, mad science and derring do, THE AYLESFORD SKULL is a perfect place to start the Langdon St Ives books and, with Titan re-releasing the other books in the series, there’s plenty to keep you and St Ives busy. Which is, I suspect, just how he likes it.’ — SFX

‘Populated by pirates, elves, and leviathans, the book is no mere battle of good versus evil; it’s a triumph of imagination over greed.’ — LA Magazine

Titan Books also publish the first three novels in the series: HOMUNCULUS, LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE, and THE AYLESFORD SKULL.

Read an Excerpt from Blaylock’s BENEATH LONDON

Posted on Monday, May 25th, 2015

The publication date for the next Langdon St. Ives novel, BENEATH LONDON, is fast approaching. The fourth novel in James P. Blaylock‘s pioneering steampunk series is due to be published in the UK by Titan Books on June 12th, 2015. To celebrate the upcoming release, the publisher have given Carabas a short excerpt from the novel.

Here’s the synopsis…

When the sudden collapse of the Victoria Embankment uncovers a passage to an unknown realm beneath London, Langdon St. Ives sets out explore it, not knowing that a brilliant and wealthy psychopathic murderer is working to keep the underworld’s secrets hidden for reasons of his own.

Assumed to be dead and buried deep beneath London, St. Ives lives secretly on the streets of the great city where he, Alice St. Ives, and their stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly crimes: the gruesome death of a witch in a forest hovel, the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl who can see into the human soul, and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi serve the strange, murderous ends of St. Ives’s greatest and most dangerous nemesis.

The Langdon St. Ives series also includes: HOMUNCULUS, LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE and THE AYLESFORD SKULL. The whole series is published in the UK by Titan Books.

Ian MacLeod and Simon Green on ‘What is Steampunk?’

Posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

Open Road Media have produced a short video, ‘What Is Steampunk?’, which features two Zeno clients: Ian MacLeod and Simon R. Green. So, we thought we’d share it with you here…

Ian MacLeod is the author of a number of critically-acclaimed and award-winning novels, some of which have been issued as eBooks by Open Road Media. These include THE LIGHT AGES, THE SUMMER ISLES, SONG OF TIME and others. His most recent book, the anthology FROST ON GLASS, was published by PS Publishing in April 2015.

Simon R. Green is the New York Times-bestselling author of the Nightside and Secret Histories series, both of which have been published in the UK by Jo Fletcher Books, in eBook. He is also the author of novelisation of the ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES movie, among others. His most recent novel, THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD, was published in the UK and US by Severn House.

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Cover Reveal: THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis

Posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2014

We are absolutely delighted to share with you today the cover for Ian Tregillis‘s highly-anticipated next novel, THE MECHANICAL. Due to be published by Orbit Books in March 2015, it is the first in a new trilogy – The Alchemy Wars. Here’s the synopsis…

My name is Jax.

That is the name granted to me by my human masters.

I am a clakker: a mechanical man, powered by alchemy. Armies of my kind have conquered the world – and made the Brasswork Throne the sole superpower.

I am a faithful servant. I am the ultimate fighting machine. I am endowed with great strength and boundless stamina.

But I am beholden to the wishes of my human masters.

I am a slave. But I shall be free.

Ian is the author of the critically-acclaimed Milkweed Triptych – BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL. Not so long ago, we shared some effusive responses to that trilogy from multiple Orbit staffers. It would appear that THE MECHANICAL is causing a similar stir already. Here’s senior editor Anna Gregson, writing for the publisher’s own cover reveal post:

‘THE MECHANICAL – in my humble opinion – is going to blow people’s minds… Part science fiction, part fantasy and part alternate history, this book shows the incredible imagination of an exceptionally skilled author… It’s a truly stunning book. Intricately crafted, hauntingly atmospheric, and just gripping. You won’t want to miss this one.’

Naturally, we agree. You can find more reviews of Ian’s Milkweed Triptych here.

Zeno represents Ian Tregillis in the UK and translation, on behalf of Kay McCauley of Aurous, Inc.

UK Publication Day for Mark Hodder’s THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN

Posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Today’s the day! Mark Hodder‘s fifth Burton & Swinburne novel – THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN – is now available in the UK! Published by Del Rey UK, the novels have become one of the most popular modern steampunk series. Here’s the synopsis for the new book…

Burton and Swinburne return in a new wildly imaginative steampunk adventure, and this time they’re facing their greatest foe…

Leicester Square, London. Blood red snow falls from the sky and a strange creature, disorientated and apparently insane, materialises out of thin air. Spring Heeled Jack has returned, and he is intent on one thing: hunting Sir Richard Francis Burton.

Burton is experiencing one hallucination after another; visions of parallel realities and future history plague his every thought. These send him, and his companions, on an unimaginable expedition – a voyage through time itself…

The Burton & Swinburne Adventures also include THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK, THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CLOCKWORK MAN, EXPEDITION TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON (published by Snowbooks), and THE SECRET OF ABDU EL YEZDI (published by Del Rey UK). Mark is currently working on the sixth, as-yet-untitled book in the series. He is also the author of the stand-alone novel A RED SUN ALSO RISES, which is also published in the UK by Del Rey UK.

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