Clients - Zeno Agency Ltd.

HOPELAND Paperback Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, November 9th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Ian McDonald‘s acclaimed novel HOPELAND is out now! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

Hopeland is not a nation. It is not a cult. It is not a religion.

Hopeland is a community. It is a culture. It is a family.

When Raisa Hopeland, determined to win her race to become the next electromancer of London, bumps into Amon Brightbourne – tweed-suited, otherworldly, guided by the Grace – in the middle of a London riot, she sets in motion a series of events which will span decades, continents and a series of events which will change the world.

Amon falls in love in that moment of chaos, but being loved by him can have a cost. And while Raisa has Hopeland, Amon has a family of his own, and they have their own secrets.

From rioting London to geothermal Iceland to the climate-struck islands of Polynesia, from birth to life to death, from tranquillity to terror to joy, Raisa’s journey will encompass the world. But one thing will always be true.

Hopeland is family.

HOPELAND is also out now in North America, published by Tor Books.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A story of the near future, it starts out as an urban fantasy love story before twisting to become a magical realism-tinged tale and a show-don’t-tell philosophical novel that’s also a rollicking sea-based adventure… HOPELAND is a profoundly optimistic novel, even one tinged with utopianism. Indeed, it often has a vibe similar to the work of another great optimist, lain Banks… By some distance Ian McDonald’s best novel — which is saying something, considering how good so many of his other books have been — this is the work of a writer at the peak of his powers.’ — SFX (5* Review!)

‘… a unique take on time-travel and electromancy… An eccentric and adventurous love story mixed with a rich and picturesque family saga. The popping action sequences reinforce McDonald’s swift and distinctive writing style.’ — Library Journal

‘[M]arries magic realism to solid, near-future speculative fiction… An essential work of climate fiction.’ — Guardian

‘HOPELAND is extraordinary — a deep-dive into pyschogeographic wonders that’s galvanised by jolts of romance and conspiracy…. HOPELAND works a sort of magic on the reader. Resist and you get lost. Submit to its mad energy and you’ll be swept from Spitalfields to Ireland, Iceland to Polynesia by the sheer variety of Ian McDonald’s imagination and the power of his vision.’ — Daily Mail

‘A novel so eerily good it almost made me angry… amazing, uncategorizable, unsummarizable, weird, sprawling, hairball of a novel…’ — Cory Doctorow, Medium

‘On display in this book is a familiar virtue of McDonald’s, seen in works such as River of Gods and Brasyl: the ability to depict a culture in both large and granular details across historical eras. But new to his quiver is the intense lyricism of the prose… Replete with deft, unforgettable character portraits… powerful, never overplayed themes… wise and expansive…’ — Locus (Paul di Filippo)

Gollancz and Tor Books also published Ian’s acclaimed Luna series.

Travis Baldree’s KSIĘGARNIE I KOŚCIOPYŁ Out Now in Poland!

Posted on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023

The Polish edition of Travis Baldree‘s highly-anticipated second novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, is out now! Published by Insignis as KSIĘGARNIE I KOŚCIOPYŁ, and translated by Patrycja Zarawska, here’s the synopsis…

Za jakiś czas otworzy kawiarnię z pyszną latte…

Dziś jeszcze walczy z potworami.

***

Kariera Viv w drużynie Kruków, sławnych najemników, zostaje nagle przerwana. Podczas polowania na potężną nekromantkę orczyca odnosi rany i wbrew swojej woli trafia na rekonwalescencję do spokojnego nadmorskiego miasteczka Murk. Niewiele się tam dzieje, no i wszystko wskazuje na to, że zbyt prędko nie będzie mogła wrócić na pola bitew. Co za pech dla wojowniczki

Przyjaźń z właścicielką podupadającej księgarni – szczurołaczką o niewyparzonym języku – to ostatnie, czego Viv mogłaby się spodziewać. Ale to nie wszystko! Okaże się, że Murk zapewni jej znacznie więcej wrażeń, niż początkowo zakładała…

Bywa, że właściwe rzeczy zdarzają się w niewłaściwym czasie. Bywa, że poszukujemy zupełnie nie tego, czego nam potrzeba. Bywa też, że odnajdujemy się w historiach, które przeżywamy wspólnie z drugą osobą.

***

Akcja „Księgarń i kościopyłu” rozgrywa się dwadzieścia lat przed tym, o czym czytaliśmy w „Legendach i Latte”. To kolejna, niezależna, nastrojowa fantasy Travisa Baldree, który tym razem opowiada, jak potężną moc mają dobra księgarnia, oddani przyjaciele i nieoczekiwane wybory, których dokonujemy na ścieżce naszego życia.

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST was published yesterday in North America, by Tor Books; it is due to be published in the UK tomorrow, by Tor Books (although, you may be able to find some copies on shelves in shops already…). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and secondhand books.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Here are just a few of the many great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘What I love about Travis Baldree is that set against an epic world of adventure, he writes about the small victories that make life worthwhile. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST does this and it is glorious’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘… a lovely coming-of-age story about a character trained for war who learns that there’s more to life than endless battles. What makes the story special is the way that so many stock fantasy archetypes are cast against type and find new modes of prospering that don’t involve big weapons and bigger wars… This prequel is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review), SFF Pick of the Month

‘Baldree’s prequel to Legends and Lattes (2022) cements his talent for cozy fantasy, engaging characters, and anachronistic references that would be at home in a Discworld novel… Knowing where a character ends up often drains tension from a prequel, but Baldree avoids that pitfall because the joy of reading here isn’t a simple uncertainty over who lives or dies but rather watching friendships blossom and characters grow. Folks who enjoyed the camaraderie and settings of this year’s Dungeons & Dragons movie—as well as anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons—should check out Viv’s adventures.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘Bestseller Baldree’s cozy standalone sequel to LEGENDS & LATTES shows that even a battle-hungry orc can find happiness in life’s simple pleasures… The innocent joy of Viv and Fern’s love is delightful and Baldree’s formula of placing low-stakes stories in high-fantasy settings remains good fun. Series fans will eat this up.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Literary Hub

‘Travis Baldree has worked his magic again to create a story full of heart, and some of the loveliest characters that I’ve read. There’s a wholesome ensemble, some glimpses of Viv’s mercenary skills, as well as enough growth to help her grow into her coffee-shop persona, all tightly written. Highly recommended, and definitely one of my top reads this year.’ — Fantasy Book Critic

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is Out This Week!

Posted on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023

The wait is finally over for Travis Baldree‘s highly-anticipated new novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST! Published by Tor Books in North America today, and on Thursday in the UK, it is a prequel to the author’s best-selling and word-of-mouth sensation, LEGENDS & LATTES. Here’s the synopsis…

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk — so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST received an incredible amount of early praise, and we’re sure even more great reviews are going to start pouring in as more people are able to read the novel. Here are just a few of the great advance reviews…

‘What I love about Travis Baldree is that set against an epic world of adventure, he writes about the small victories that make life worthwhile. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST does this and it is glorious’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘… a lovely coming-of-age story about a character trained for war who learns that there’s more to life than endless battles. What makes the story special is the way that so many stock fantasy archetypes are cast against type and find new modes of prospering that don’t involve big weapons and bigger wars… This prequel is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review), SFF Pick of the Month

‘Baldree’s prequel to Legends and Lattes (2022) cements his talent for cozy fantasy, engaging characters, and anachronistic references that would be at home in a Discworld novel… Knowing where a character ends up often drains tension from a prequel, but Baldree avoids that pitfall because the joy of reading here isn’t a simple uncertainty over who lives or dies but rather watching friendships blossom and characters grow. Folks who enjoyed the camaraderie and settings of this year’s Dungeons & Dragons movie — as well as anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons — should check out Viv’s adventures.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Literary Hub

‘Travis Baldree has worked his magic again to create a story full of heart, and some of the loveliest characters that I’ve read. There’s a wholesome ensemble, some glimpses of Viv’s mercenary skills, as well as enough growth to help her grow into her coffee-shop persona, all tightly written. Highly recommended, and definitely one of my top reads this year.’ — Fantasy Book Critic

In case you haven’t read it, yet, LEGENDS & LATTES is of course available now, in paperback, also published by Tor Books in North America and in the UK.

The first book has been slowly taking over the world, too, with eight translated editions available to date: Hungary (Fumax), Germany (DTV), Spain (Roca Editorial), Poland (Insignis), France (Ynnis), Italy (Mondadori), Czechia (Laser), Romania (Alice Books). The novel has also been published in a number of special editions — the same will be true for BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST; starting with Waterstones and Broken Binding editions.

New Russian Edition of Ian McDonald’s NECROVILLE Out Now!

Posted on Monday, November 6th, 2023

A new Russian edition of Ian McDonald‘s award-winning NECROVILLE is out now! Published by ACT as Некровиль, here’s the synopsis…

Первое полное издание классического цикла «Некровиль» на русском языке! От автора трилогии «Новая луна».

Двадцать первый век – время всепоглощающего научного прогресса. Всего несколько десятилетий назад, с изобретением революционной технологии воскрешения людей, человечество победило смерть… Однако теперь, в 2063 году, бывшие мертвецы обречены быть рабами из Некровилей – гетто для таких, как они. Человек боится смерти. Но что, если он не умрёт никогда?.. Киберанк, каким он должен быть: яркая и захватывающая история человечества, охватывающая множество веков и миров.

Нанотехнологии радикально преобразовали законы жизни и смерти. Воскрешенные мертвецы теперь составляют практически одну треть населения Земли, они лишены прав, юридически не считаются людьми и стали главной рабочей силой нового общества. У них сложилась своя культура, образовались свои собственные гетто, некровили. А Ночь мертвых принадлежит только им. Пять человек входят в некровиль, чтобы исполнить данное друг другу обещание или же обрести смысл жизни. И чем сильнее пересекаются их судьбы, тем глубже они погружаются в жизни мертвецов, тем более невероятные сцены предстают перед ними. Они еще не подозревают, что эта ночь перевернет судьбу Земли и заложит основу новой истории, необратимо изменив человечество и открыв перед ним врата пространства и времени.

The novel, which won the 1995 BSFA Award, is published in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

In the Los Angeles ghetto of Necroville, the yearly celebration of the Night of the Dead – where the dead are resurrected through the miracle of nanotechnology and live their second lives as non-citizens – becomes a journey of discovery and revelation for five individuals on the run from their pasts.

With his customary flair for making the bizarre both credible and fascinating, McDonald tosses aside the line of demarcation between living and dead in a story that confronts the central quandary of human existence: the essence of non-being.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received…

‘McDonald’s lush prose paints a vivid and credible Armageddon. World-building SF that’s punk, funky, and frightening: a fantastic acid trip to the end of the world.’ — Kirkus

‘McDonald, who won the Philip K. Dick Award for KING OF THE MORNING QUEEN OF THE DAY, reveals the workings of his bizarre society through the exploits of five friends as they search for the meaning of life in the Necroville at Los Angeles on the Night of the Dead. Sorting through five points of view requires some patience, but it is well rewarded. In the best science fiction tradition, McDonald provokes reexamination of current societal standards through the prism of another time and place.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘McDonald revels in the creation of brilliantly described near-futures and lushly exotic settings, and has more ideas in a book than most writers dream up in a lifetime. Here death is no more: the dead are reborn thanks to nanotechnology in Jesus-tanks and decanted into “techtoplastic” bodies. Drug-designer Santiago Columbar invites his friends to join him in the Terminal café in the suburb of LA known as Necroville, and in the resulting free-wheeling, mind-spinning novel we follow the friends as they travel to meet him, encountering genetically engineered dinosaurs, undead prostitutes, werewolves and an invasion of Earth by resurrected space workers. In Necroville, decay sits next to fabulous invention, terrible privation next to limitless possibility. The book…offers a graphic dystopian vision.’ — Guardian

Ian McDonald’s WOLF MOON Available Now in Croatia!

Posted on Friday, November 3rd, 2023

WOLF MOON, the second novel in Ian McDonald‘s acclaimed Luna series, is now available in a new Croatian edition! Published by Vorto Palabra as VUČJI MJESEC, it was translated by Kristian Vlašić. Here’s the synopsis…

Zmaj je mrtav. Pala je Corta Hélio, jedna od pet obiteljskih korporacija koje vladaju Mjesecom. Njezino vlasništvo razgrabili su mnogobrojni neprijatelji, a preživjeli članovi obitelji razbježali su se na sve strane.

Prošlo je osamnaest mjeseci. Preostala djeca obitelji Corta, Lucasinho i Luna, pod zaštitom su moćnih Asamoaha, a Robson, koji se još oporavlja od nasilne smrti roditelja, sada je štićenik – ili, točnije, talac – Mackenzie Metalsa. Posljednji je nasljednik obitelji, Lucas, nestao s Mjeseca. Samo Lady Sun, doajenka Taiyanga, sumnja da Lucas Corta nije poginuo i, što je još važnije, da je i dalje jedan od najvažnijih igrača u novonastalim okolnostima.

Lucas je oduvijek bio spletkaroš koji ni smrti ne bi dopustio da ga spriječi u namjeri da vrati sve što mu je oduzeto i izgradi novu Corta Hélio, jaču nego ikada prije. No korporaciji trebaju saveznici i on kreće na odvažno, nemoguće putovanje – na Zemlju. U nestabilnoj atmosferi Mjeseca, političke spletke i krhka lojalnost svih obitelji kovitlaju se u smrtonosnom metežu i vode prema jedinom mogućem kraju – otvorenom ratu…

Trilogiju “Luna” nazivaju jednom od najuzbudljivijih i najvažnijih znanstveno-fantastičkih serijala desetljeća i opisuju kao “Igru prijestolja u svemiru”. Radnje smještene u dalekoj budućnosti, oko pedeset godina nakon koloniziranja Mjeseca, ovo je uzbudljiv triler o članovima jedne obitelji uhvaćenima u žestokoj i nemilosrdnoj borbi za prevlast u surovom okruženju Mjeseca. Prateći sudbine raznolikih likova, “Luna” pruža nezaboravan prikaz zastrašujućeg novog doma čovječanstva.

The Luna series — which begins with NEW MOON and ends with MOON RISING — is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Tor Books. THE MENACE FROM FARSIDE, a prequel, is published by Tor.com in the UK and North America.

NEW MOON is also available in Croatia, published by Vorto Palabra as MLADI MJESEC, and translated by Kristian Vlašić.

Here’s the English-language synopsis of WOLF MOON…

Corta Helio, one of the five family corporations that rule the Moon, has fallen. Its riches are divided up among its many enemies, its survivors scattered. Eighteen months have passed.

The remaining Helio children, Lucasinho and Luna, are under the protection of the powerful Asamoahs, while Robson, still reeling from witnessing his parent’s violent deaths, is now a ward – virtually a hostage – of Mackenzie Metals. And the last appointed heir, Lucas, has vanished from the surface of the moon.

Only Lady Sun, dowager of Taiyang, suspects that Lucas Corta is not dead, and – more to the point – that he is still a major player in the game. After all, Lucas always was a schemer, and even in death, he would go to any lengths to take back everything and build a new Corta Helio, more powerful than before. But Corta Helio needs allies, and to find them, the fleeing son undertakes an audacious, impossible journey – to Earth.

In an unstable lunar environment, the shifting loyalties and political machinations of each family reach the zenith of their most fertile plots as outright war between the families erupts.

Here are just a few of the many great reviews WOLF MOON has received…

‘… powerful sequel… compelling throughout. Each of McDonald’s viewpoint characters is made human in fascinating and occasionally disturbing detail, and the solar system of the 22nd century is wonderfully delineated. Fans of the first volume will love this one and eagerly look forward to the next.‘ — Publishers Weekly

‘NEW MOON was one of the most interesting sci-fi novels of 2015, with smart ideas on humanity and economies matched by street smarts, political brawls and murder in the streets. LUNA: WOLF MOON turns that up to eleven – it’s a fascinating story, which is also a tense, enthralling read.’ — Sci-Fi & Fantasy Review

‘The fights and vengeance that follow are more vicious and intricate than anything in Game of Thrones, full of great acts of self-sacrifice and viciousness alike, brave cavalry charges and last stands, cowardice and avarice. McDonald’s great gift is to hold the micro- and macro-scale in his hand at once. Starting with his debut novel, 1988’s Desolation Road, McDonald has used his intense, finely crafted and small personal stories of his vast casts of characters as the pixels in an unimaginably vast display on which he projects some of the field’s most audacious worldbuilding — never worldbuilding for its own sake, either, but always in the service of slyly parodying, critiquing or lionizing elements of our present-day world.’ — Boing Boing

‘A Howling Good Read… No one builds a world like Ian McDonald does. Piece by piece and brick by brick. Spare, simple, elegant when he needs to be…, deep and meaty when he wants to be…, he does his work like an artisan pulling a sculpture from stone. There are no wasted moves, nothing that isn’t vital because, in the end, everything is vital. Everything matters… it is fascinating, all of it. Because McDonald has made a world that is ruthless in its consistency and living, breathing reality, and then made characters who are not just living in it, but wholly and fully of it… McDonald’s corporate war is a gorgeous thing, fought with every tool available… McDonald is able to wrap the biggest events in constellations of the smallest so that a cocktail party here, a discussion of ’80s retro fashion (all mall-hair and WHAM! T-shirts), a love story and a day at work for a guy who cleans solar panels all build and coalesce to form the background radiation of life in this unstable future. Every moment with his characters makes them precious, real and alive.’ — NPR

‘LUNA: NEW MOON was a “magnificent bastard of a book,” as I put it in my review. Part two, it’s my pleasure to tell you, is just as awesome, and just as masterfully nasty.’ — Tor.com

Ian’s latest novel is the highly-acclaimed stand-alone HOPELAND, also published by Gollancz (UK) and Tor Books (North America).

New Paperback Edition of DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, the ninth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed and internationally best-selling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, is getting a new German paperback edition in two weeks! Published by DTV as DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE, translated by Christine Blum. Here’s the synopsis…

Der neunte Peter-Grant-Roman aus der Bestsellerserie ›Die Flüsse von London‹ — jetzt im Taschenbuch!

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall. In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf – als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus – in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt…

The Rivers of London series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by JABberwocky (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). The series is also available widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis for AMONGST OUR WEAPONS…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

Travis Baldree’s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST North American Tour Starts Next Week!

Posted on Wednesday, November 1st, 2023

With BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST releasing next week(!), Travis Baldree is heading out on a North American book tour! Full details can be found on Tor Books.

The highly-anticipated prequel to the author’s best-selling and critically-acclaimed debut, LEGENDS & LATTES, the novel is due to be published by Tor Books in North America (November 7th) and in the UK (November 9th). Here’s the synopsis…

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and secondhand books.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk — so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Also, if you have pre-ordered the novel, don’t forget about the offer that Tor Books is running at the moment…

Here are just a few of the many great reviews the novel has already received, in advance of publication…

‘What I love about Travis Baldree is that set against an epic world of adventure, he writes about the small victories that make life worthwhile. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST does this and it is glorious’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘… a lovely coming-of-age story about a character trained for war who learns that there’s more to life than endless battles. What makes the story special is the way that so many stock fantasy archetypes are cast against type and find new modes of prospering that don’t involve big weapons and bigger wars… This prequel is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review), SFF Pick of the Month

‘Baldree’s prequel to Legends and Lattes (2022) cements his talent for cozy fantasy, engaging characters, and anachronistic references that would be at home in a Discworld novel… Knowing where a character ends up often drains tension from a prequel, but Baldree avoids that pitfall because the joy of reading here isn’t a simple uncertainty over who lives or dies but rather watching friendships blossom and characters grow. Folks who enjoyed the camaraderie and settings of this year’s Dungeons & Dragons movie—as well as anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons—should check out Viv’s adventures.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘Bestseller Baldree’s cozy standalone sequel to LEGENDS & LATTES shows that even a battle-hungry orc can find happiness in life’s simple pleasures… The innocent joy of Viv and Fern’s love is delightful and Baldree’s formula of placing low-stakes stories in high-fantasy settings remains good fun. Series fans will eat this up.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Literary Hub

Ian McDonald’s LUNA YENİ AY Out Now in Turkey!

Posted on Tuesday, October 31st, 2023

A new Turkish edition of Ian McDonald‘s acclaimed first Luna novel, NEW MOON, is available now! Published by Salon Yayınları as YENİ AY, it was translated by Zeynep Eski. Here’s the synopsis…

Önce onları yakalıyor…

Sonra da işlerini bitiriyor…

Polis müfettişi dedektif Luc Callanach yeni çalışma ortamına tam adımını atmıştı ki kayıp Elaine vakası ile yüzyüze geldi ve işler sarpasarıp cinayet soruşturmasına dönerek ortalık kızıştı. O İnterpol’deki kariyer vadeden görevinden ayrıldıktan sonra yeni ekibine kendini ispatlama derdinde. Ama anladı ki Edinburgh Lyon’a çok uzakta ve Elaine’nin katili ayakizlerini çok titizce bir dikkatle yok ediyor.

Çok geçmeden başka bir kadın kapısının önünden çok ustaca kaçırılıyor ve Callanach da kendini zamanla yarışta buluyor. Ya da o öyle sanıyor…Kaçırılan kadınların gerçek yazgısı onun tahmin edemeyeceği kadar karmakarışık.

The Luna series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Tor Books — NEW MOON is followed by WOLF MOON and MOON RISING. A prequel to the series, THE MENACE FROM FARSIDE, is published by Tor.com. Here’s the English-language synopsis to the first novel…

The Moon wants to kill you. It might not get there first.

Luna is a gripping thriller about five corporate families caught in a bitter battle for supremacy in the harsh environment of the moon. It’s very easy to die on the moon, but with its vast mineral wealth it’s also easy to make your fortune.

Following the fortunes of a handful of disparate characters, from one of the lowliest workers on the moon to the heads of one of the most powerful families, LUNA provides a vast mosaic of life on this airless and terrifying new home for humanity.

This is SF that will be perfect for fans of Kim Stanley Robinson and Ken Macleod alike.

Here are just a few of the many great reviews NEW MOON has received…

‘McDonald… begins his superb near-future series… scintillating, violent, and decadent world. McDonald creates a complex and fascinating civilization featuring believable technology, and the characters are fully developed, with individually gripping stories. Watch for this brilliantly constructed family saga on next year’s award ballots.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Mafia-style mining families clash in a compelling fantasy that offers up all the pleasures of a cut-throat soap opera in space…That McDonald is able to spin a compelling story from this unforgiving set-up is testament to his skill as a writer… One thing Luna does exceptionally well is to puncture Old Heinlein’s assumption that a frontier society based on the primacy of the family and a disregard of conventional laws would end up like idealised smalltown America. Luna argues that any realistic future colonisation of the moon will be much more The Sopranos than The Waltons. LUNA is as gripping as it is colourful, and as colourful as it is nasty.’ — Guardian

‘No one writes like Ian McDonald, and no one’s Moon is nearly so beautiful and terrible… Ian McDonald’s never written a bad novel, but this is a great Ian McDonald novel… McDonald has ten details for every detail proffered by other sf writers. Not gratuitous details, either: gracious ones. The fashion sense of William Gibson, the design sense of Bruce Sterling, the eye for family drama of Connie Willis, the poesie of Bradbury, and the dirty sex of Kathe Koja and Samuel Delany… McDonald’s moon is omnisexual, kinky, violent, passionate, beautiful, awful, vibrant and crushing. As the family saga of the Cortas unravels, we meet a self-sexual ninja lawyer, a werewolf who loses his mind in the Full Earth, a family tyrant whose ruthlessness is matched only by his crepulance, and a panoply of great passions and low desires. LUNA: NEW MOON is the first book of a two-book cycle. Now I’m all a-quiver for the next one.‘ — BoingBoing

‘Fans of cerebral, high-concept science fiction will love this exploration of society on the moon many decades after it has been colonized. The focus is more on concept and plot than on character, but the former are compelling enough to make this an addictive page-turner. Including the stories of many characters gives the reader important insights into different facets of society, and although the book starts at a slow pace, it accelerates into a mesmerizing political thriller.’ — RT Book Reviews

‘LUNA: NEW MOON is the best moon novel I’ve seen in many years, but it’s also something of a piece with the recent movement on the part of Paul McAuley, Kim Stanley Robinson, and others to confine novels to the solar system, out of a realistic assessment that this is likely all we’ll have to work with – but McDonald takes this a step further. Possibly the most chilling lines in the book for an SF reader come from Adriana herself, in her own narrative: ‘‘There was no law, no justice,’’ she writes, ‘‘only management. The moon was the frontier, but it was the frontier to nothing. There was nowhere to run.’’ Inasmuch as it challenges one of the cherished master narratives of SF, in which the moon is only a stepping-stone, and despite what it owes to the tropes of ’70s-era social melodrama, McDonald’s novel has some formidable SF stingers not far beneath its densely textured surface.’ — Locus

Ian’s latest novel is the highly-acclaimed stand-alone HOPELAND, also published by Gollancz (UK) and Tor Books (North America).

THE BEST OF ROGER ZELAZNY Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, October 26th, 2023

Today, Gollancz publishes a new collection of Roger Zelazny‘s short fiction, THE BEST OF ROGER ZELAZNY! Widely known for his multi-award-winning novels and series, this is a great opportunity for readers — old and new alike — to try his short fiction. The collection is published as part of Gollancz’s SF Masterworks series.

Here’s the synopsis…

From the far reaches of space to the hidden corners of Earth, from aliens to wizards and everything in between…

One of the most influential SFF writers of modern times, Roger Zelazny wrote across a wide range of subgenres and themes, experimenting with form and story with mastery. He won many awards throughout his lifetime, including six Hugo awards, three Nebula awards and two Locus awards. He has inspired many of today’s great SFF authors.

This new collection contains a selection of his short stories and novellas which span the depth and breadth of the human imagination.

As part of the SF Masterworks series, Gollancz also publishes Zelanzy’s Chronicles of Amber series (in two omnibus editions) and the stand-alone novels ROADMARKS and LORD OF LIGHT.

Judge Dee Investigates the THE LOCKED COFFIN!

Posted on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

We’re very happy to share the news that there’s a new Judge Dee short story by Lavie Tidhar! Published by Tor.com — on their website, and also as an eBook — THE LOCKED COFFIN is the sixth outing for the author’s vampire sleuth. The cover is by Red Nose Studio. Here’s the synopsis…

While visiting the mysterious castle of Maidstone for an investigation, Judge Dee and Jonathan discover the only thing more menacing than a vampire child is twin vampire children…

The first five Judge Dee tales are out now (also with fantastic covers by Red Nose Studio), also available on Tor.com and as eBooks.

Lavie’s latest novels are ADAMA (Apollo/Head of Zeus) and THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WORLD (Tachyon) — both out now.

Three Weeks: Ian McDonald’s HOPELAND UK Paperback Edition

Posted on Tuesday, October 24th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Ian McDonald‘s latest acclaimed novel, HOPELAND is out in three weeks! Due to be published by Gollancz, on November 9th, here’s the synopsis…

Hopeland is not a nation. It is not a cult. It is not a religion.

Hopeland is a community. It is a culture. It is a family.

When Raisa Hopeland, determined to win her race to become the next electromancer of London, bumps into Amon Brightbourne – tweed-suited, otherworldly, guided by the Grace – in the middle of a London riot, she sets in motion a series of events which will span decades, continents and a series of events which will change the world.

Amon falls in love in that moment of chaos, but being loved by him can have a cost. And while Raisa has Hopeland, Amon has a family of his own, and they have their own secrets.

From rioting London to geothermal Iceland to the climate-struck islands of Polynesia, from birth to life to death, from tranquillity to terror to joy, Raisa’s journey will encompass the world. But one thing will always be true.

Hopeland is family.

HOPELAND is also out now in North America, published by Tor Books.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A story of the near future, it starts out as an urban fantasy love story before twisting to become a magical realism-tinged tale and a show-don’t-tell philosophical novel that’s also a rollicking sea-based adventure… HOPELAND is a profoundly optimistic novel, even one tinged with utopianism. Indeed, it often has a vibe similar to the work of another great optimist, lain Banks… By some distance Ian McDonald’s best novel — which is saying something, considering how good so many of his other books have been — this is the work of a writer at the peak of his powers.’ — SFX (5* Review!)

‘… a unique take on time-travel and electromancy… An eccentric and adventurous love story mixed with a rich and picturesque family saga. The popping action sequences reinforce McDonald’s swift and distinctive writing style.’ — Library Journal

‘[M]arries magic realism to solid, near-future speculative fiction… An essential work of climate fiction.’ — Guardian

‘HOPELAND is extraordinary — a deep-dive into pyschogeographic wonders that’s galvanised by jolts of romance and conspiracy…. HOPELAND works a sort of magic on the reader. Resist and you get lost. Submit to its mad energy and you’ll be swept from Spitalfields to Ireland, Iceland to Polynesia by the sheer variety of Ian McDonald’s imagination and the power of his vision.’ — Daily Mail

‘A novel so eerily good it almost made me angry… amazing, uncategorizable, unsummarizable, weird, sprawling, hairball of a novel…’ — Cory Doctorow, Medium

‘On display in this book is a familiar virtue of McDonald’s, seen in works such as River of Gods and Brasyl: the ability to depict a culture in both large and granular details across historical eras. But new to his quiver is the intense lyricism of the prose… Replete with deft, unforgettable character portraits… With its powerful, never overplayed themes of country versus city, arctic versus tropical, male energies versus female energies, tradition versus innovation, kids versus adults, life versus death, this wise and expansive tale beautifully embodies the famous saying of David Ben-Gurion: “Anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles is not a realist.”’ — Locus (Paul di Filippo)

Gollancz and Tor Books also published Ian’s acclaimed Luna series.

Coming Soon: THE HIDDEN QUEEN by Peter V. Brett

Posted on Monday, October 23rd, 2023

In case you missed the recent news, the second novel in Peter V. Brett‘s Nightfall Saga is on the way! THE HIDDEN QUEEN is due to be published in the UK by Harper Voyager, on March 28th, 2024! The sequel to acclaimed and best-selling THE DESERT PRINCE, here’s the synopsis…

Humanity thought the war with demonkind was over. Now, after humanity has had less than a generation to rebuild, the demon corelings have returned with a vengeance. The Spear of Ala — the fortress that stands at the gates of the demon’s hive — is the last bastion against the horde, and reports say it may already have fallen.

Olive Paper is expected to take the vanguard in the fight. Only an heir of Kaji can wield the artifact that opens the gates of the Spear of Ala, and as Ahmann Jardir’s child, Olive seems destined for a role as leader and savior. But Olive does not wish to follow in her father’s footsteps any more than she did her mother’s.

Darin Bales was born with supernatural senses that he struggles to process, but even those who love him believe he can barely take care of himself. Yet to save his mother from the clutches of Alagai Ka, the demon king, Darin will brave anything to mount a rescue.

Darin and Olive each strive to walk their own path but find themselves inextricably tied to the legacies of their parents and to a fated confrontation with the demon king and his new hatchling queen. If they fail, humanity may not survive.

THE DESERT PRINCE and the Demon Cycle novels and novellas are all published in the UK by Harper Voyager, in paperback, eBook, and audiobook editions.

Zeno represents Peter V. Brett in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

LEGENDS & LATTES UK Paperback Edition Out Today!

Posted on Thursday, October 19th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed, internationally best-selling debut novel, LEGENDS & LATTES is out today! Published by Tor Books, here’s the synopsis…

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts…

High fantasy, low stakes – with a double-shot of coffee.

After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.

But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined…

LEGENDS & LATTES is also available in paperback in North America, published by Tor Books.

Here is just a small selection taken from the incredible reviews the novel has received since it was first published and became a word-of-mouth bestseller…

‘This is a story about following your dreams, even when they take you away from who you thought you had to be. It’s sweet, beautiful and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book.’ — Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway

‘The most fun I’ve ever had in a coffee shop.’ — Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London

‘A gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop… This charming outing will please anyone who’s ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This slice-of-life cozy fantasy novel has everything you’ve been searching for.’ — Buzzfeed

‘An orc retires from adventuring to start a fantasy city’s very first coffee shop. This setup combined with the positive messages of defying societal stereotypes, letting go of violence to build peace, and trusting in your friends feels like a premise from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld… LEGENDS & LATTES is a novel, and shop, that will delight anyone who enjoys coffee-shop alternate universes, slow-burn romances, and the vindication of friendship.’ — Booklist, starred review

‘LEGENDS & LATTES isn’t just a cosy, slice-of-life fantasy, it is a hug after a long day, it’s that first bite of chocolate you’ve been desperately craving or that first sip of coffee, it’s pyjamas and blankets and everything else which brings comfort and warmth. This is a tale so simple yet so wholesome and adorable, it has made me see just how versatile the fantasy genre can be… Believe the hype… this book deserves all the praise… Baldree delivers a tale to soothe the soul, a tale which had me smiling and crying with happiness from beginning to end.’ — Fantasy Hive

The author’s next novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, is a prequel to LEGENDS & LATTES — it is out in just a few weeks (November 7th and 9th, in North America and the UK).

RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #4 Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

The fourth (and final) issue in the latest Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS is out now! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, it’s published by Titan Comics in print and digital versions. Here’s the brief synopsis…

After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attacked by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called in to investigate.

Series artwork is by José María Beroy, and the cover for this issue are by Vv Glass.

HERE BE DRAGONS is the eleventh Rivers of London comic series — all of which are published by Titan Comics. The comics fit into the larger chronology and story of Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London fiction series. The first 10 series are now available in collected editions, as well as single issues. If you’d like to know how the comics, novels, and novellas all fit together chronologically, check out this handy graphic from Titan Comics…

Out Now: THE WAKING OF ANGANTYR by Marie Brennan!

Posted on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023

Marie Brennan‘s latest superb fantasy novel, THE WAKING OF ANGANTYR, is out now in the UK! Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

The bondmaid Hervor is used to dead men whispering in her sleep. They’ve been doing it for as long as she can remember; it’s the living she has to watch out for. And when a new arrival at her holding triggers her into a berserker fury, she’s forced to flee the contract that enslaves her and into the arms of an uncertain future.

Unchained from the living, Hervor goes in search of a way to silence the dead, but it will take much more than grit and determination to make that happen. She’ll need the help of a ruthless Viking, an ailing jarl, a mad witch, and more — for the treachery that killed her ghosts isn’t nearly as dead as they are, and the path to peace must first traverse a river of blood.

Titan Books also publishes the author’s Memoirs of Lady Trent and Onyx Court series in the UK.

Zeno represents Marie Brennan in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Jabberwocky Literary Agency in New York.