Yudhanjaya Wijeratne’s NUMBERCASTE Out Now in Russia!


A new, Russian edition of Yudhanjaya Wijeratne‘s NUMBERCASTE is out now! Published by Эксплорер Букс, as Цифровая каста, here’s the synopsis…

Добро пожаловать в новый мировой порядок.

Когда корпорация NumberCorp предлагает Патрику Удо должность маркетолога, тот моментально собирает вещи и переезжает в Кремниевую долину. Как-никак, жизнь в 2030-х нелегка, и работы здесь на дороге не валяются.

Но Патрик еще не знает, что вскоре станет частью одного из самых амбициозных предприятий за всю историю человечества. Перемалывая громадные объемы данных в социальных сетях, NumberCorp создает новое общество, где социальное окружение подвергается тщательному анализу, поступки обретают количественное выражение, а ценность личности сосредотачивается во всемогущем «Номере». Общество, где все, от дома до образования и возможности попасть в местный клуб, зависит от приложения, которое оценивает вашу значимость как человека. Но с ростом могущества и влияния NumberCorp люди начинают задавать вопросы. Какова цена идеального государства? И где грань, перейдя которую, понимаешь, что зашел слишком далеко?

Here’s the English-language synopsis…

When Patrick Udo is offered a marketing job at NumberCorp, he packs his bags and leaves for Silicon Valley. After all, the 2030s are a difficult time, and jobs are rare.

Little does he know that he’s joining one of the most ambitious undertakings of his time. NumberCorp is hell-bent on building a new world order – one where everyone’s social circles are quantified, their activities examined, and their importance distilled into the all-powerful Number. A society where everything from your home, to your education, to your job depends on an app that shows exactly how important you are. A utopia of truth and order.

As NumberCorp rises in power and in influence, the questions start coming in. What would you do to build the perfect state? And how far, exactly, is too far?

Yah Yah Scholfield’s ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS Out in January 2026!


On January 29th, 2026, Solstice Books are due to publish ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS by Yah Yah Scholfield! Here’s the synopsis…

Lone Women meets Sorrowland in this sinister and surreal Southern Gothic debut about a woman who escapes her family home to the uncanny woods of northern Georgia and must now contend with haints, ghosts and a literal beast in the woods.

When Judith Rice ran away from the house she grew up in, she thought she severed her abusive mother’s hold on her. Seventeen years later, she’s made a home for herself in a cottage secluded deep in the forests of northern Georgia. Jude believes she’s settled into a quiet life.

But when an enigmatic woman shows up on her doorstep, Jude’s tentative peace is threatened by the stranger’s presence. The woman is beautiful but unsettling, captivating but uncanny. Caught between her desire for this woman and the violence that seems to simmer just beneath her skin, Jude’s past and present clash as the woman stirs up memories that force her to reckon with the violence of her escape years ago.

Haunting and thought-provoking, On Sundays She Picked Flowers is a propulsive debut exploring retribution, family trauma and the power of building oneself back up after breaking down.

UK-based book reviewers can request the novel on NetGalley now. The novel has already racked up a fair number of great early reviewers. Here are just a few of them…

‘[S]lickly stylish and graphically cannibalistic…Scholfield’s prose is impressive… Caitlin Starling fans will enjoy this gory mix of toxic sapphic romance and body horror.’Publishers Weekly

‘Yah Yah Scholfield has written one of the most visceral, intense, brutal, and yet honest, works of horror I have read in a long time. ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS is about the trauma of family, relationships, and the monsters we let in when we fail to confront what wounds us. You will devour this book—unless it devours you first.’P. Djèlí Clark

‘ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS marks the debut of a ferociously talented writer. Yah Yah Scholfield writes with insight, beauty and the wildness of real art. This is a love story, a healing story, a tale of hard-won survival. Real, in the way all good fairy tales are.’Victor LaValle

‘ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS is a luminous, weighty Southern Gothic imbued with suffering, rage, secrets, and isolation… an arresting, astounding exploration of inherited trauma, retribution, and the fortitude necessary to continue on.’Her Infinite Archive

‘Atmospheric and engrossing. On Sundays… is written with the same dark love and shadow magic it explores. An essential debut.’Johnny Compton, author of The Spite House

‘ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS is a beauty of a debut. Scholfield’s sharp prose effortlessly carries scenes of sweetness and brutality. It grabbed me from the first page, did not let me go till the final one, and I can still feel it lingering long after the end. This is the kind of novel I crave as a reader.’Erin E. Adams, author of Jackal and One of You

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

UK Paperback Edition of Ian McDonald’s THE WILDING Out Today!


The new paperback edition of the acclaimed THE WILDING by Ian McDonald , a stand-alone novel of suspense, is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

Five kids are on a sleepover in a restored wilderness project in Ireland. With them, three teachers and one Ranger: Lisa. She is 26, longing to leave her job, out of her depth and soon to find herself mired in a nightmare.

Strange things have been happening at Lough Carrow, a vast rewilding project on the site of a former commercial peat-bog. Livestock mutilations. Rumours, myths from the neighbouring villages. Strange, unidentifiable tracks. On the trek in to the sleepover site they sight animals that have not yet been introduced to the park – wolves, wolverines, things older. Things thought long extinct.

As they near the centre of the wilding a boy realises he’s forgotten his meds. A teacher volunteers to take him back to the visitor centre. Sure, what could go wrong?

That night the camp is attacked. A teacher is dragged away. Lisa’s group is marooned in the wild. It is night, the four remaining kids are terrified, they need to get back to the ARK, but the wilderness seems to be playing with time and distance and something is out there. Something hungry and hunting…

The Irish Times called THE WILDING ‘a sharp thriller with a healthy dose of folk horror… With strong characterisation, a deep sense of place and real wit… entertaining and often surprising.’

Ian McDonald is the author of a many acclaimed and award-winning novels and series. His most recent works are the stand-alone novel HOPELAND, and the Luna series — both published by Gollancz in the UK, and Tor Books in North America.

Brandon Sanderson’s TAILORED REALITIES Out in Two Weeks!


In two weeks (December 9th), Gollancz are due to publish TAILORED REALITIES by Brandon Sanderson! A collection of nine of the author’s short fiction, ranging across and beyond his Cosmere series. Here’s the official synopsis…

Spanning the genres of fantasy and science fiction, this collection features stories from beyond the bounds of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe.

Along with the never-before-seen novella ‘Moment Zero’, Tailored Realities will include ‘Snapshot’, ‘Perfect State’, ‘Defending Elysium’ (a novella set within the world of Skyward), and five other stories that were originally published individually elsewhere — never before collected into one volume, and many never before available in print.

The collection will also include a stunning black-and-white illustration for each story.

All of Sanderson’s Cosmere novels and novellas are published in the UK by Gollancz — out now in a variety of formats (hardcover, paperback, eBook).

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

Katy Nyquist’s A FARM GIRL’S GUIDE TO RULING AS A BLOODTHIRSTY TYRANT Out in Three Weeks!


In three weeks, Podium Entertainment will publish the second novel in Katy Nyquist‘s Scandals of the Gifted series: A FARM GIRL’S GUIDE TO RULING AS A BLOODTHIRSTY TYRANT! Available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook (read by Hollie Jackson), here’s the synopsis…

When Bora swaps bodies with a homicidal duchess, the sweet-tempered wallflower must embrace her inner villainess to survive and save her country.

Within an hour of Bora’s arrival in Arahasnor, she runs into her toxic ex-boyfriend, offends a malicious noblewoman, and narrowly escapes from the city guards. Never the type for adventures — unlike her sister, Holy Maiden Ysabel, who left the family farm and scandalously eloped with Dark Lord Kaine — Bora intends to quickly return home and settle back into her usual role as the plain, boring sister. That is, until there’s a freak magical accident.

Suddenly, Bora finds herself in the life — and body — of the Blood Duchess, a woman who once threatened to have her killed. Now a noblewoman in a kingdom on the verge of economic collapse, the citizenry hangs her in effigy, and her staff spits in her food. It’s too much for a farm girl without a mean bone in her body to handle. Unfortunately, the previous ruler sold Arahasnor to three different foreign powers, and only their crippling fear of the Blood Duchess is holding them off… as long as Bora can successfully embody the ruthless villainess. At least she’s not alone in this bizarre charade; she has the support of Countess Donya, her heroic celebrity crush.

And she’ll need it. Because if Bora’s real identity gets uncovered, she’ll die. But after an assassin named Ari mistakenly targets her for revenge, she strikes a deal with him: she’ll help find the actual duchess in exchange for his protection. As someone who struggles with body-image issues, Bora feels drawn to Ari’s confidence, rakish charm, and gender queerness. But a love triangle may be a distraction she can’t afford, especially when it turns out her sister is among the enemies coming to town to challenge the Blood Duchess.

After spending years obsessing over her weight, the death threats scare Bora less than showing off her extremely generous curves in the Blood Duchess’s low-cut dresses. But if she can embrace the beauty of her new body, she might just learn to love her true self as well. Though, appearances will be irrelevant if the duchess’s adversaries remove her head from her shoulders…

The first book in the series is A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED — out now in paperback, eBook, and audiobook (also read by Hollie Jackson), also published by Podium.

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

‘This fantasy story is a wild ride, featuring a fascinating cast of characters that keep the story rolling. Ysabel is such a compelling character as she dodges corrupt leaders, warriors, and others who think they have a right to her… this story sucked me right in. A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED by Katy Nyquist is a fast-paced romp full of intrigue, adventure, and steam!’ — Readers’ Favorite

‘[A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED features] a protagonist with a strong voice and unique character facets like face blindness and a healing gift… and some nice worldbuilding, both in broad strokes and specific detailing.’ — Elayne Audrey Becker, author of the Forestborn duology

‘Absolutely fell in love with Ysabel and Kaine… The ‘opposites attract’ trope worked so well for this story… The stakes are high throughout… Great craft and storytelling!’ — April L. Wood, author of the Season of the Witch series

‘Both [Ysabel and Kaine are] strongly drawn and very relatable.’ — Bogi Takács, author of Power to Yield

New Illustrated Edition of Chronicles Of Amber in Russia!


A third illustrated omnibus Chronicles of Amber edition is available in Russia! Published by Fanzon/Эксмо, Хроники Амбера. Том 3. Двор Хаоса. Амбер и амбериты collects Roger Zelazny‘s THE COURTS OF CHAOS (translated by Михаила Пчелинцева) and THE AMBER TALES, a selection of Amber short stories (translated by Романа Демидова). The book is illustrated by Гордеева (Gordeev). Here’s the synopsis…

Подарочное издание с иллюстрациями Дениса Гордеева!

Номинация на премию «Хьюго».

Пятый роман «Хроник Амбера», грандиозной саги мастера фэнтези Роджера Желязны. Блистательный эпилог «Пятикнижия Корвина».

«Двор Хаоса»

Не только Амбер, но и все отбрасываемые им Тени на грани уничтожения. Король Оберон пытается исправить повреждения, которые принц Бранд нанес Образу Амбера своим кровавым ритуалом. К тому же Бранд заручился помощью демонических Лордов Хаоса, обитающих на противоположном полюсе бытия — в краю абсолютного беспорядка. Если Оберон погибнет, его безумный сын разрушит вселенную, чтобы заново создать ее по своему вкусу. Лишь Корвин способен противостоять брату, но для этого ему придется отправиться к месту финальной битвы — ко Дворам Хаоса.

Книга дополнена рассказами Роджера Желязны об Амбере, которые не только дополняют ранее известные сюжеты, но и начинают новые, так и не написанные романы. Помимо них издание дополняют карта Амбера, комментарии Желязны, ряд эссе и интервью, а также «весьма откровенная эротическая сцена», вырезанная из второго романа цикла.

Произведения публикуются в новой специальной редакции, а рассказы — в новом переводе. Приложения издаются на русском впервые.

“Двор Хаоса” — пятый роман знаменитых “Хроник Амбера”, закрывающий “Пятикнижие Корвина”. На этот раз принцу придется отправиться в опасное путешествие, чтобы спасти не только Амбер, но и все остальные миры и при этом остаться в живых.

“Амбер и амбериты” — сборник рассказов, раскрывающих тайны мира Амбера, дополненный впервые переведенными на русский язык приложениями с комментариями, фрагментами интервью и эссе Роджера Желязны. Все произведения публикуются в новой специальной редакции, для части из них предприняты новые переводы.

The Chronicles of Amber series is available in the UK, published by Gollancz in two SF Masterworks omnibus editions. Here’s the English-language synopsis for the first collection…

Amber is the one real world, casting infinite reflections of itself – Shadow worlds, that can be manipulated by those of royal Amberite blood. But the royal family is torn apart by jealousies and suspicion; the disappearance of the Patriarch Oberon has intensified the internal conflict by leaving the throne apparently up for grabs.

In a hospital on the Shadow Earth, a young man is recovering from a freak car accident; amnesia has robbed him of all his memory, even the fact that he is Corwin, Crown Prince of Amber, rightful heir to the throne – and he is in deadly peril…

The five books, Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon, Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon and The Courts of Chaos, together make up The Chronicles of Amber, Roger Zelazny’s finest work of fantasy and an undisputed classic of the genre.

Out Now: New Jonathan Carroll Audiobooks!


We’re very happy to report that Brilliance Audio has published a handful of new Jonathan Carroll audiobooks! Here are the details (in alphabetical-by-title order)…

BONES OF THE MOON

Bones of the Moon is the story of a young woman named Cullen James who leads a dual life, one in the real world and the other in her vivid night dreams set in a magical land called Rondua. In these dreams, Cullen embarks on a quest to find the Bones of the Moon, five bones that hold power over Rondua. As the dreams intensify, they begin to impact her waking life, leading to unsettling and frightening intersections between the two worlds. Alongside an enigmatic little boy also seeking the bones, and Mr. Tracy, a dog the size of a hot-air balloon, Cullen navigates through both realms in search of these mystical bones.

Read by Kristin Watson Heintz; eBook edition published by JABberwocky.

FROM THE TEETH OF ANGELS

Offers a convergence of three characters and three fates: Ian McGann, whose life depends on Death’s answers to his questions; Arlen Ford, who flees Hollywood into the arms of a war correspondent; and Wyatt Leonard, terminally ill in Vienna but able to raise the dead.

Read by Carly Robins, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, and Christian Barillas. Nominated for World Fantasy Award and Bram Stoker Award (1995).

THE GHOST IN LOVE

One day Ben Gould slips on the ice, hits his head, and is supposed to die. But he doesn’t. Instead, Gould finds himself in a strange situation where he continues to live as if nothing happened. As a result, a ghost that was originally sent to guide Ben to the Afterlife is stuck on earth while its bosses try to figure out what went wrong. The situation catches the attention of various supernatural entities, besides the ghost. The story weaves through the perspectives of Ben, the ghost, his girlfriend German Landis, and even a talking dog named Pilot.

As Ben and these characters grapple with the implications of his non-death, they start to uncover deeper mysteries about love, destiny, and the reasons why some people are chosen to live or die. The story delves into the complexities of human emotions and connections, with a focus on how love can transcend even death itself and the invisible forces that shape our destinies.

Read by Malcolm Hillgartner; eBook edition published by JABberwocky.

GLASS SOUP

Glass Soup is a loose sequel to Jonathan Carroll’s earlier work, White Apples. The story continues to explore themes of life, death, love, and the metaphysical battle between good and evil.

The novel follows Vincent Ettrich and his lover, Isabelle Neukor, who were central to the plot of White Apples. Having died, Vincent is once again alive, recently resurrected for some mysterious reason. Isabelle, pregnant with their child, discovers that their unborn son is destined to play a crucial role in the cosmic struggle between chaos and order.

The stakes are high as the forces of chaos, represented by a group of powerful and malevolent beings, seek to manipulate the unborn child for their own ends. The narrative weaves through various dimensions and states of existence, blurring the line between the living and the dead. Characters move freely between life and the afterlife, where reality itself seems to be constantly shifting.

In the afterlife, which is depicted as a surreal, dreamlike landscape, Vincent and Isabelle must navigate a series of strange and dangerous encounters. They meet bizarre and memorable characters, each with their own role in the unfolding cosmic drama. Among them is a particularly sinister figure who seeks to disrupt the balance of the universe and plunge everything into chaos.

As the story progresses, the boundary between dreams and reality becomes increasingly porous and dangerous for the couple while they must fight with everything they have to protect their child.

Read by David de Vries; eBook edition published by JABberwocky.

THE LAND OF LAUGHS

For some, the magic of certain books lasts a lifetime. For Thomas Abbey, the works of reclusive children’s fantasy author Marshall France have been an essential part of his life ever since he was a boy.

Son of a famous movie star, Abbey is now approaching middle age having spent too many years trying to get out from under the shadow of just ‘being the son of…’ and finding something meaningful in his life.

When he meets the puppeteer Saxony Gardner, who shares his passion for the France books, together they decide to collaborate on a biography of their favorite author. To do so, they must travel to the small town of Galen where France spent much of his life. Once there, they must gain the permission to write the book from France’s daughter Anna who is very protective of her father’s legacy.

What happens to them after they arrive in Galen and receive Anna’s blessing to write the story of her father’s life is beyond their wildest dreams. A story that Marshall France himself might have written…

Read by Braden Wright; eBook edition published by JABberwocky.

MR. BREAKFAST

Graham Patterson’s life has hit a dead end. His career as a comedian is failing. The love of his life recently broke up with him and he literally has no idea what to do next. With nothing to lose, he buys a new car and hits the road, planning to drive across country and hopefully figure out his next moves before reaching California.

But along the way Patterson does something his old self would never have even considered: he gets tattooed by a brilliant tattoo artist in North Carolina. The decision sets off a series of extraordinary events that changes his life forever in ways he never could have imagined. Among other things, Patterson is gifted with the ability to see in real time three different lives that are available to him. The choice is his: The life he is leading right now, or two very different ones. In all of them there is love or fame and of course danger because once he has chosen, there is no telling what will happen next.

Mr. Breakfast is a dazzling, absorbing and deeply moving novel about the choices that we have to confront and face, confirming Jonathan Carroll’s status as one of our greatest and most imaginative storytellers.

Read by Scott Merriman; paperback and eBook editions published by Melville House.

WHITE APPLES

Vincent Ettrich is a charming carefree man who discovers he has recently died but been mysteriously resurrected. As he tries to piece together the circumstances of his death and the reason for his return, he learns his resurrection is not just a second chance at life but also a pivotal event in a cosmic battle.

Vincent’s lover, Isabelle, plays a crucial role in this mystery. She is pregnant with their child, who is destined to be a key figure in this vast struggle. Their child, however, will only survive if Vincent can protect the delicate balance between life and death. This responsibility forces him to confront his past, his relationships, and the metaphysical forces that govern the universe.

As Vincent uncovers the truth about his resurrection, he encounters a series of enigmatic characters and surreal events that challenge his understanding of reality. The novel delves deeply into themes of love, fate, and the cyclical nature of existence, all while maintaining a dreamlike and haunting atmosphere.

Read by David de Vries; eBook edition published by JABberwocky. Nominated for British Fantasy Award (2003).

THE WOODEN SEA

Frannie McCabe, police chief of Crane’s View, New York discovers a dead three-legged dog in the middle of the street. When he decides to bury it, strange things begin to happen. The dog inexplicably reappears, first in his office and then alive, kicking off a series of bizarre events that make McCabe question both his sanity and reality.

As Frannie navigates these odd occurrences, he encounters a mysterious stranger who seems to know a lot about him and the strange events taking place all around him. This figure leads him on a journey through time, revealing that Frannie is caught in a loop, and that the choices he makes have far-reaching implications not just for his own life, but for the entire town and beyond.

McCabe finds himself grappling with questions about free will, the nature of reality, and the possibility of alternate universes. His journey becomes one of self-discovery, as he uncovers hidden truths about his past, his family, and his future.

In the end, The Wooden Sea leaves readers pondering the mysteries of existence, the choices we make, and the unseen forces that shape our lives.

Read by Neil Hellegers; eBook edition published by JABberwocky. Nominated for World Fantasy Award (2002).

Lavie Tidhar’s NEOM Out Now in Russia!


NEOM, the second novel in Lavie Tidhar‘s Central Station series, is now available in Russia! Published by Fanzon/Эксмо as Неом, it was translated by Полити Мажуноной. As you can see, the publisher has used the Takeshi Oga artwork, first used for the Japanese edition of the novel. Here’s the synopsis…

Финалист премий «Локус», «Дракон» и Сэйун!

Лучшая книга по версии Gizmodo, Foreword Reviews, Antick Musings и The Speculative Shelf!

Город под названием Неом — это хаотичный мегаполис и техноутопия на берегу Красного моря, последняя остановка перед Центральной Станцией — перевалочным пунктом между Землей и космическими колониями.

В пустыне мальчик-сирота по имени Салех присоединяется к торговому каравану, надеясь заработать возможность покинуть планету. Но среди песков скрываются механические артефакты: некоторые загадочны, другие опасны и не все они разумны. А недавно ироничный безымянный робот откопал одну из главных тайн региона — останки Золотого человека.

Тем временем в Неом прибывает Насу — художница-террорист, потерявшая память и не завершившая свою последнюю миссию.

И, возможно, одна-единственная машина — с розой в руке и утраченной любовью в сердце — способна изменить судьбу целого города.

Fanzon/Эксмо also publishes CENTRAL STATION in Russia — Центральная станция.

CENTRAL STATION and NEOM are published by Tachyon Publications in the UK and North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis for NEOM

Today, Neom is a utopian dream—a megacity of the future yet to be built in the Saudi desert. In this deeply imaginative novel from the award-winning universe of Central Station, far-future Neom is already old. Sentient machines roam the desert searching for purpose, works of art can be more deadly than weapons, and the spark of a long-overdue revolution is in the wind. Only the rekindling of an impossible love affair may slow the inevitable sands of time.

The city known as Neom is many things to many beings, human or otherwise. It is a tech wonderland for the rich and beautiful, an urban sprawl along the Red Sea, and a port of call between Earth and the stars.

In the desert, young orphan Elias has joined a caravan, hoping to earn his passage off-world. But the desert is full of mechanical artefacts, some unexplained and some unexploded. Recently, a wry, unnamed robot has unearthed one of the region’s biggest mysteries: the vestiges of a golden man.

In Neom, childhood affection is rekindling between loyal shurta-officer Nasir and hardworking flower-seller Mariam. But Nasu, a deadly terrorartist, has come to the city with missing memories and unfinished business. Just one robot can change a city’s destiny with a single rose—especially when that robot is in search of lost love.

Lavie Tidhar’s (Unholy Land, The Escapement) newest lushly immersive novel, Neom, which includes a guide to the Central Station universe, is at turns gritty, comedic, transportive, and fascinatingly plausible.

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

‘World Fantasy Award winner Tidhar takes readers back to the fascinating far-future world of 2016’s CENTRAL STATION in this gentle narrative about self-fulfillment and one robot’s quest to reunite with a lost love… Tidhar offers a heartfelt exploration of artificially intelligent beings’ struggles to find existential meaning while being restrained by both coding and form. Fans of literary sci-fi are sure to be enchanted by the imaginative worldbuilding and tenderly wrought characters.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Tidhar’s narrative takes on a gentle, ruminative air, and while that helps establish the atmosphere of a convincing, lived-in city, veteran SF readers will also find plenty of playful and affectionate Easter eggs… Neom easily joins the list of SF cities we’d like to visit.’ — Locus

‘This is Tidhar at his best: the crazily proliferating imagination, the textures, the ideas, the dazzling storytelling. A brilliant portrait of community and its possibilities.’ — Adam Roberts, author of Purgatory Mount

‘This was superb and I’m in awe of Tidhar’s vision. He’s conjured up a futuristic city that feels simultaneously ultramodern and also run down. The rich histories of the region and its cultures are seamlessly interwoven into the fabric of this fully-realized world.’The Speculative Shelf

‘Always expect the unexpected with Lavie Tidhar, and this welcome return to the sprawling space-operatic world of CENTRAL STATION delivers oodles of poetry, action, memorable characters, wonderfully bizarre landscapes and wild imagination. No two books by Tidhar are ever the same, but each is a revelation.’ — Maxim Jakubowski, author of The Piper’s Dance

NEOM is a real place. A completely batshit crazy place. Nonetheless, Lavie Tidhar, standing on the shoulders of Vance, Smith, and Ballard and others, imagines stories set in that place, a city in a wasteland near the Gulf of Suez, in a future filled with robots and AI and terrorartists and young boys and talking jackals and a wonderful, terrible solar system packed with life.’ — Jonathan Strahan

‘If you are not familiar with the work of the award-winning Lavie Tidhar, this is a great place to start. Before picking up NEOM, I had not read his CENTRAL STATION, which makes use of the same extensive future history. Hence, I must warn you: immediately upon finishing Neom, you may find yourself smitten with the need to plunge into the idea-dense milieu of Central Station. Here’s hoping Tidhar will treat us to more visits to absolutely anywhere in his astounding future, whether that’s on or off our home planet.’ — Analog (July/August 2023)

‘NEOM is a thoughtful, beautifully written story about what we have, what we want, how we achieve our desires, and what, and whom, we are willing to risk for our own benefit.’ — Los Angeles Public Library

Andrew Cartmel’s EL DETECTIVE DEL VINILO Arrives in Spain!


The new, Spanish edition of WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX is out now! The first novel in Andrew Cartmel‘s widely-acclaimed Vinyl Detective series, it’s published by Liburuak as ESCRITO EN EL ESPACIO MUERTO, and was translated by Miguel Jiménez. The cover is by Ane Arzelus. Here’s the synopsis…

Un detective único, un encargo imposible y un misterio que suena a vinilo

El primer título en castellano de la exitosa serie El Detective del Vinilo nos sumerge entre cajas polvorientas de discos y tiendas de segunda mano, donde hay quien busca oro y hay quien busca música. Nuestro protagonista hace ambas. Capaz de rastrear vinilos imposibles de encontrar con un instinto que roza lo sobrenatural, El detective del vinilo ha convertido su obsesión en su profesión.  

Pero todo cambia el día en que una mujer misteriosa irrumpe en su vida con una oferta irresistible: localizar un álbum legendario, una grabación de jazz perdida que muy pocos han visto y que casi nadie cree que exista. Tras ella, un cliente tan rico como tenebroso mueve los hilos en las sombras, con un interés que parece ir mucho más allá de lo musical.  

Lo que empieza como un encargo curioso pronto se convierte en una búsqueda peligrosa, un viaje que lo llevará por sótanos polvorientos, colecciones privadas y rincones donde la pasión por la música se mezcla con la avaricia, el engaño y algo mucho más oscuro. Entre secretos enterrados y personajes dispuestos a todo por protegerlos, el Detective del Vinilo descubrirá que algunos discos esconden más que melodías: guardan historias que podrían costarle la vida.  

 Un misterio vibrante, cargado de suspense y ritmo, donde cada pista es tan valiosa — y peligrosa — como el disco que todos buscan.

Expect more from El Detective del Vinilo in the near future!

The series is published in the UK and North America by Titan Books — currently, there are eight novels available, with the others being: THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, LOW ACTION, ATTACK AND DECAY, NOISE FLOOR, and UNDERSCORE.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

He is a record collector — a connoisseur of vinyl, hunting out rare and elusive LPs. His business card describes him as the “Vinyl Detective” and some people take this more literally than others.

Like the beautiful, mysterious woman who wants to pay him a large sum of money to find a priceless lost recording — on behalf of an extremely wealthy (and rather sinister) shadowy client.

Given that he’s just about to run out of cat biscuits, this gets our hero’s full attention. So begins a painful and dangerous odyssey in search of the rarest jazz record of them all…

Cartmel is also the author of the acclaimed Paperback Sleuth series, also published by Titan Books in the UK and North America.

BUTTER COOKIES AND DEMON CLAWS by Peter V. Brett Out in Three Weeks!


BUTTER COOKIES AND DEMON CLAWS, the new Demon Cycle novella by Peter V. Brett, is out in three weeks! Due to be published in the UK by Harper Voyager, on December 4th, here’s the synopsis…

A thrilling and tantalising cosy fantasy novella set in the engrossing world of The Demon Cycle from internationally bestselling fantasy author Peter V. Brett.

DEMON CLAWS

The battle against the demons has been won. The town of Tibbet’s Brook is enjoying a peaceful winter until the body of local businessman Rusco Hog is discovered on the old Tanner farm, his fatal injuries pointing towards a demon attack.

BUTTER COOKIES

For Selia Barren, the Town Speaker, the evidence doesn’t add up. She suspects foul play. Rusco didn’t become the richest man in town by making friends, and it seems everyone in Tibbet’s Brook has a motive. And she’s willing to go to any length to find the truth – including trading her delicious butter cookies for secrets, which are proving too tempting to resist.

Harper Voyager also publishes the other Demon Cycle and Nightfall Saga novels and novellas in the UK — all available now in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

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

EXO by Colin Brush Out in Two Weeks!


Colin Brush‘s debut novel, EXO is out in two weeks! Selected by Library Journal as their SFF Debut of the Month, it’s due to be published by Diversion Books on November 18th. Here’s the synopsis…

A debut sci-fi mystery set on an abandoned future Earth, featuring a twisty mystery straight out of a John le Carré novel, a group of larger-than-life characters who’d be at home in the work of John Scalzi, and a deeply weird and dangerous hyperdimensional entity to haunt the dreams of any reader of Kim Stanley Robinson.

Humanity is dying. Banished from the Earth, our descendants eke out lives in orbital habitats and moon colonies — and look with longing on our former home.

But Earth is deadly. Over hundreds of years, its oceans have transformed into an annihilating liquid entity — the Caul. Every living creature approaching its shores is irresistibly compelled to enter. . . and is never seen again.

Scientists, some of the few inhabitants left, work in facilities seeking to understand and stop the Caul. And scavenging the shores are the penitents — those who resist its siren lure.

Among them is penitent Mae Jameson, an octogenarian former Service agent who arrived on Earth thirty years ago to find her lover. When she encounters Siofra, a mute girl, wandering alone by the shore and returns her home, they discover the girl’s father, rogue scientist Carl Magellan, hanging from a noose. He’s been murdered. Unwilling to leave the matter in the hands of the facility Carl abandoned years ago, Mae takes Carl’s journals — which detail his obsession with the Caul and its mysteries — and sets about investigating.

In this page-turning, dual-timeline novel, both Mae and Carl’s quests for the truth put them at the center of a dangerous conspiracy. Someone believes they can use the secret of the Caul to shape humanity’s future, and they aren’t afraid to kill to keep control of it.

The audiobook edition, read by Gildart Jackson, is also released on November 18th, published by Dreamscape Media.

The novel has already received some great early responses, including…

‘Brush keeps the pages turning with twisty conspiracy theories and exciting scenes of Mae wielding her survival skills with cinematic flourish… the earnest and detailed characterizations and worldbuilding mark Brush as a sci-fi writer worth keeping tabs on.’Publishers Weekly

‘Dual timelines, a shockingly hyperdimensional setting, and flawed characters make this a must-read that recalls the work of Kim Stanley Robinson. Brush gives a familiar trope an original and exciting twist.’Library Journal (SFF Debut of the Month)

Two New Russian Editions of Roger Zelazny’s A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER and JACK OF SHADOWS!


Rather appropriately for Halloween, we’re happy to report that there are two new Russian Roger Zelazny omnibus editions out now, both of which include the fan-favourite A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER and JACK OF SHADOWS. The first (cover above) is a special illustrated edition, the other is “regular” (cover below). Published by Fanzon/Эксмо, Here’s the synopsis…

Премии «Хьюго», Академии НФ, фэнтези и хоррора, «Сталкер» и «Италия». Номинант на премию «Небьюла».

«Джек из Тени»

Джек тихо крадется среди теней, чтобы свершить возмездие над теми, кто встал у него на пути.

Всеми, кто унизил его и отнял одну из жизней. Всеми, кто служит Повелителю Летучих мышей, Полковнику, Который Никогда Не Умирал, Боршину и Куазеру — чемпионам Адских Игр и похитителям пленительной Ивин. Джек выследит их всех — одного за другим. И, обретая силу с каждой победой, доведет месть до конца. А после — рассчитается со всеми остальными, кто был против него. Объединит Темную сторону и принесет мир в Теневые земли.

Но чтобы осуществить все это, Джеку из Тени предстоит найти Колвинию — Великий Ключ, Который Был Утерян…

«Ночь в тоскливом октябре»

Викторианская Англия. Каждую полночь верный пес Нюх сопровождает загадочного джентльмена с ножом по имени Джек. Вместе они собирают жуткие ингредиенты для потустороннего ритуала, который должен состояться вскоре после смерти Луны. Но Нюх и его хозяин — не единственные участники этой магической игры. По городу уже собираются Игроки — люди и не только — со своими древними артефактами и спутниками-фамильярами.

Именно преданный Нюх должен определить правила Игры, следить за каждым Игроком — Ведьмой, Безумным Монахом, мстительным Викарием, Графом, что спит днем, Доктором и его Монстром. А еще — держать на расстоянии Тварей, следить за ходом Луны… и все время опережать Великого Сыщика, который явно знает больше, чем говорит.

Оригинальный роман «Ночь в тоскливом октябре» — это темный, сверкающий драгоценный камень на стыке ужасов, юмора, мистики и фэнтези. У книги есть своя традиция: поклонники читают ее каждый октябрь, по одной главе в день — и даже Нил Гейман вдохновлялся ею, создавая свой рассказ «Просто опять конец света».

The novel is available in the UK, published by Farrago Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

All is not what it seems…

In the murky London gloom, a knife-wielding gentleman named Jack prowls the midnight streets with his faithful watchdog Snuff – gathering together the grisly ingredients they will need for an ancient and unearthly rite. For soon after the death of the moon, black magic will summon the Elder Gods back into the world. And all manner of Players, both human and undead, are preparing to participate.

Some have come to open the gates. Some have come to slam them shut. And now the dread night approaches – so let the Game begin.

Ben Aaronovitch’s FOXGLOVE SUMMER Available Now in Slovakia!


We are very happy to report that Ben Aaronovitch‘s fifth Rivers of London novel, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, is out now in Slovakia! Published by Slovart as LETO NA VIDIEKU, it was translated by Oľga Kralovičová. Here’s the synopsis…

Po zrade kolegyne Lesley Mayovej je Peter Grant vykoľajený a podľa jeho nadriadeného inšpektora Nightingala mu prospeje pobyt na vidieku. Peter sa tak ocitne mimo svojej komfortnej zóny nielen preto, že nie je vo svojom geografickom rajóne, ale pre policajta z veľkomesta je malá dedina v herefordshirskom grófstve neznáme prostredie. Napriek tomu ponúkne pomoc miestnej polícii pri pátraní po dvoch nezvestných jedenásťročných dievčatách. Má totiž silné podozrenie, že za zmiznutím dievčat je niečo, čo patrí pod záležitosti Pavilónu.

FOXGLOVE SUMMER is published in the UK by Gollancz and in North America by DAW Books — it is also available widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

In the fifth of his bestselling series Ben Aaronovitch takes Peter Grant out of whatever comfort zone he might have found and takes him out of London – to a small village in Herefordshire where the local police are reluctant to admit that there might be a supernatural element to the disappearance of some local children. But while you can take the London copper out of London, you can’t take the London out of the copper.

Travelling west with Beverley Brook, Peter soon finds himself caught up in a deep mystery and having to tackle local cops and local gods. And what’s more, all the shops are closed by 4pm…

The latest novel in the series is the instant-bestseller STONE & SKY, out now and published by Orion (UK) and DAW Books (North America).

‘This isn’t London. The rules are different up here, and so are the allegiances.’

Detective Sergeant Peter Grant takes a much-needed holiday up in Scotland. And he’ll need one when this is over…

If more’s the merrier, then it’s ecstatic as his partner Beverley, their young twins, his mum, dad, his dad’s band and their dodgy manager all tag along. Even his boss, DCI Thomas Nightingale, takes in the coastal airs as he trains Peter’s cousin Abigail in the arcane arts.

And they’ll need them too, because Scotland’s Granite City has more than its fair share of history and mystery, myth … and murder.

When a body is found in a bus stop, fresh from the sea, the case smells fishy from the off.

Something may be stirring beyond the bay – but there’s something far stranger in the sky…

WHITE APPLES by Jonathan Carroll Available in Germany!


In case you missed it, Festa has published a special German edition of Jonathan Carroll‘s WHITE APPLES — numbered and signed by the author. Here’s the synopsis…

Schürzenjäger Vincent Ettrich erwacht von den Toten. Aber er hat weder eine Ahnung, weshalb das passiert, noch was er auf der anderen Seite erlebt hat.

Bald findet er heraus, dass er von seiner großen Liebe Isabelle zurückgeholt wurde. Sie ist schwanger, mit seinem Kind. Und dieses Kind könnte eine entscheidende Rolle für die Zukunft des Universums spielen.

Deshalb muss es wissen, was Vincent im Jenseits gelernt hat – könnte er sich nur daran erinnern…

White Apples ist eine skurrile, fantastische und unwiderstehliche Geschichte über die Liebe, den Tod und über das Leben, wie sie nur der große Erzähler Jonathan Carroll schreiben kann. Dieser Autor lässt seine Leser die Welt mit neuen Augen sehen.

WHITE APPLES is now available as an English-language eBook, published by JABberwocky (who have recently published a whole host of the author’s novels and collections). Here’s the synopsis…

Vincent Ettrich is a charming carefree man who discovers he has recently died but been mysteriously resurrected. As he tries to piece together the circumstances of his death and the reason for his return, he learns his resurrection is not just a second chance at life but also a pivotal event in a cosmic battle.

Vincent’s lover, Isabelle, plays a crucial role in this mystery. She is pregnant with their child, who is destined to be a key figure in this vast struggle. Their child, however, will only survive if Vincent can protect the delicate balance between life and death. This responsibility forces him to confront his past, his relationships, and the metaphysical forces that govern the universe.

As Vincent uncovers the truth about his resurrection, he encounters a series of enigmatic characters and surreal events that challenge his understanding of reality. The novel delves deeply into themes of love, fate, and the cyclical nature of existence, all while maintaining a dreamlike and haunting atmosphere.

ICYMI: STAZIONE CENTRALE by Lavie Tidhar


In case you missed it, there’s a new Italian edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s multi-award-winning CENTRAL STATION! Published by Urania as STAZIONE CENTRALE, it was translated by Francesca Noto. Here’s the synopsis…

Tel Aviv si è trasformata: nel cuore della città ora sorge un avveniristico spazioporto, un crocevia fra la Terra e le stelle. Qui, nel viavai di androidi e macchine, si intrecciano le esistenze di chi è rimasto indietro. Boris Chong è di ritorno da Marte per ricucire il rapporto con il padre e affrontare il mistero che grava sulla sua famiglia; Mama Jones aspetta ogni venerdì con un bambino “speciale”, capace di incantare l’acqua. Carmel, una vampira che divora dati, si muove nell’ombra; il Signore delle Cose Abbandonate raccoglie frammenti del mondo dimenticato. A Tel Aviv le connessioni umane sfidano i confini fra tecnologia, fede e genetica.

CENTRAL STATION is published in the UK and North America by Tachyon Publications — who also publish the sequel, NEOM. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A worldwide diaspora has left a quarter of a million people at the foot of a space station. Cultures collide in real life and virtual reality. Life is cheap, and data is cheaper.

When Boris Chong returns to Tel Aviv from Mars, much has changed. Boris’s ex-lover is raising a strangely familiar child who can tap into the datastream of a mind with the touch of a finger. His cousin is infatuated with a robotnik — a damaged cyborg soldier who might as well be begging for parts. His father is terminally-ill with a multigenerational mind-plague. And a hunted data-vampire has followed Boris to where she is forbidden to return.

Rising above them is Central Station, the interplanetary hub between all things: the constantly shifting Tel Aviv; a powerful virtual arena, and the space colonies where humanity has gone to escape the ravages of poverty and war. Everything is connected by the Others, powerful alien entities who, through the Conversation — a shifting, flowing stream of consciousness — are just the beginning of irrevocable change.

At Central Station, humans and machines continue to adapt, thrive… and even evolve.

Here are just some of the awards and commendations the novel has won so far…

  • John W. Campbell Award Winner
  • Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award Winner
  • Xingyun Award Winner
  • Arthur C. Clarke Award, Shortlist
  • British Science Fiction Award, Longlist
  • Geffen Award nominee, Best Translated Science Fiction Book
  • Premio Italia, Best International Novel, Finalist
  • Kurd Laßwitz Preis Shortlist
  • NPR Best Books
  • Amazon Featured Monthly Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
  • Barnes and Noble Best Science Fiction and Fantasy
  • 2016 Locus Recommended Reading List

Lavie’s latest novel is the acclaimed GOLGOTHA, published by Apollo/Head of Zeus.