Category: Cover Reveal

New AETHERIAL TALES eBook editions!

Posted on Saturday, February 8th, 2020

We’re very happy to report that the first two novels in Freda Warrington‘s Aetherial Tales fantasy series are available again as eBooks! Published in the UK and US via JABberwocky’s eBook Program, here are some more details…

The first novel in the series is ELFLAND, first published in 2009. Here’s the synopsis…

Rosie Fox is a daughter of Aetherials, an ancient race from the Spiral — the innermost realm of the Otherworld — who live secretly among us. Yet she and her kind are bereft of their origins, because on Earth, in a beautiful village named Cloudcroft, the Great Gates between worlds stand sealed.

Her parents, Auberon and Jessica, are the warm heart of her loving family. But on the hill lives the mysterious, aloof Lawrence Wilder, Gatekeeper to the inner realms. Tortured by private demons, he is beset by trouble on all sides; his wife has vanished and his sons Jon and Sam are bitter and damaged. Lawrence is duty-bound to throw open the Gates for the Night of the Summer Stars, a ritual granting Aetherials connection to their mystical heritage. But when he bars the Gates — haunted by fears of a deadly menace within the Spiral — he defies tradition and enrages the Aetherial community. What will become of them, starved of their essential life force? Is Lawrence betraying them — or protecting them?

Growing up amid this turmoil, Rosie and her brothers, along with Sam and Jon Wilder, resign themselves to living as humans. Yet they know their elders have denied them their birth right, harbouring dark secrets in a conspiracy of silence.

When Sam is imprisoned for an all-too-human crime, age-old wounds sunder the two families… yet Rosie is drawn into his web, even as she fears the passions awoken in her by the dangerous Wilder clan. Torn between duty and desire, between worlds, Rosie unwittingly precipitates a tragedy that compels her to journey into the Otherworld, where unknown terrors await. Accompanied by the one man most perilous to her, she must learn hard lessons about life and love in order to understand her Aetherial nature… and her role in the terrifying conflict to come.

Here are some links for ordering the eBook…

First published in 2010, here’s the synopsis for MIDSUMMER NIGHT…

A century may not be enough to undo the terrible consequences of one fateful night’s mischief.

Decades ago, at the remote Cairndonan estate on a storm-lashed coastline where the veil between our world and the Aetherial realm is thin, Juliana Flagg’s uncle – a young man called Adam – vanished in mysterious circumstances. Now Dame Juliana, a visionary artist, has inherited Cairndonan where she sculpts and runs a summer art school. However, all is not well, as she is plagued by ghosts, money troubles and her sinister ex-husband.

A young athlete named Gill arrives to rent a cottage on the estate, in order to escape her own problems; a monstrous betrayal and an accident have destroyed her Olympic hopes. Now all Gill wants is solitude, but soon she’s entangled with the mischievous, flamboyant artist Peta, the creepy manservant Ned Badger and other residents of the great house – not least Juliana herself.

One day Gill wanders into a strange village called Boundry that appears on no map. There she meets the seductive Rufus and his equally attractive but silent, brooding companion, Leith. The encounter leaves her unsettled. Soon after, during a violent storm, Leith comes through the portal in a state of distress and begs shelter at Gill’s cottage. Though he can explain nothing of his past, his innocence and charm capture her heart. But Leith becomes the focus of increasingly vicious arguments among the estate’s residents. Who is he – and who is the charismatic, cruel Rufus who claims to be his brother? Are these two young men as innocent as they seem – or are they poised to visit vengeance, death and heartbreak upon the human world?

Gill, aided by Peta, stumbles into ever-greater danger as she tries to untangle the mysteries of Cairndonan’s past. But only when Dame Juliana finally dares to reveal Midsummer Night – the sinister, haunted sculpture to which she’s devoted years of her life – will the full storm break loose at last.

Here are some links for ordering the eBook…

The third novel in the series, GRAIL OF THE SUMMER STARS, will also be available via JABberwocky, and we’ll be sure to share information on that as soon as we can. Here are just a few of the reviews these novels have received…

‘A glittering treasure trove and a stunning read for Warrington’s multitude of fans.’ — Tanith Lee

‘Sensuous and intense – buy it, read it, love it.’ — Melanie Rawn

‘ELFLAND is an absorbing and gripping journey into a world where the otherworldly shivers alongside us, unseen… Sensitive characterisation and evocative scene-setting draw you into the tale; you won’t want to leave it.’ — Storm Constantine

‘A heady cocktail of urban fantasy and wild romance, invigorating and intoxicating. Warrington’s writing has lyrical beauty, and her characters are a delight to discover.’ — Justina Robson, author of GLORIOUS ANGELS

‘Romantic in every sense, richly imagined and richly told, ELFLAND is a complex fantasy of the heart, the faerie heart; and it’s a delight. Immediately engaging and intensely satisfying, this is a class act from a fine writer.’ — Chaz Brenchley

‘Warrington doesn’t miss a beat with this sinister, ghostly tale of some of the darker aspects of the Aetherial world and its denizens’ dealings with humanity.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Each book is a stand-alone volume and an absolute delight.’ — Charles de Lint

‘With its elegant but not over-the-top flowery prose, immersive setting, well-developed characters, natural dialogue and mystery-filled plot, it has left me eager for more Aetherial Tales.’ — Fantasy Café

‘A powerful sense of wild landscape and strong characterization, plus a resonance of ancient magic, make MIDSUMMER NIGHT a truly compelling read.’ — Liz Williams

‘Delicate as gossamer, rich as darkest chocolate, MIDSUMMER NIGHT is a delicious, delectable, ravishing concoction of a book that fills the senses and satisfies the dreaming mind.’ — Kari Sperring, author of LIVING WITH GHOSTS

Freda is also the author of the acclaimed Blood Wine series, published in the UK and North America by Titan Books: A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE, A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET, THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES, and THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD.

The Aetherial Tales, Blood Wine, Blackbird, Jewelfire and Dark Cathedral novels are also available as audiobooks, from Audible.

STEPHEN LEEDS Gets a New UK Jacket…

Posted on Friday, February 7th, 2020

Today, Gollancz has unveiled the cover for a new edition of Brandon Sanderson‘s acclaimed THE MANY LIVE OF STEPHEN LEEDS! A collection of the author’s Legion novellas, the new edition is due to be published on June 25th, 2020. Here’s the synopsis…

Stephen Leeds is perfectly sane. It’s his hallucinations who are mad.

A genius of unrivalled aptitude, Stephen can learn any new skill, vocation, or art in a matter of hours. However, to contain all of this, his mind creates hallucinatory people – Stephen calls them aspects – to hold and manifest the information. Wherever he goes, he is joined by a team of imaginary experts to give advice, interpretation, and explanation. He uses them to solve problems… for a price.

His brain is getting a little crowded and the aspects have a tendency of taking on lives of their own. When a company hires him to recover stolen property – a camera that can allegedly take pictures of the past – Stephen finds himself in an adventure crossing oceans and fighting terrorists. What he discovers may upend the foundation of three major world religions – and, perhaps, give him a vital clue into the true nature of his aspects.

This collection includes the novellas LEGION and SKIN DEEP, published together for the first time, as well as a brand-new Stephen Leeds novella, LIES OF THE BEHOLDER.

Brandon Sanderson is also the author of a number of best-selling, acclaimed series, including Mistborn, the Stormlight Archive, the Reckoners, and a handful of stand-alone novels — all published by Gollancz in the UK.

Here is just a small selection taken from the aforementioned acclaim the collection has received…

‘Sanderson’s contemporary fantasy is populated with superb characterizations (as evidenced by the multiple depictions of Legion’s aspects) and is surprisingly thought-provoking.’ — Kirkus

‘Readers will get drawn into the fascinating world of Stephen and his friends — real and imagined — as they work together to solve the seemingly unsolvable.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Stephen Leeds is a genius with a problem with multiple personalities… This collection combines three novellas featuring this fascinating character.’ — Locus

‘THE MANY LIVES OF STEPHEN LEEDS by Brandon Sanderson was fantastically, amazingly brilliant.’ — SF Crowsnest

‘If you haven’t checked it out yet, THE MANY LIVES OF STEPHEN LEEDS is the perfect opportunity to read Brandon Sanderson’s beloved series featuring everyone’s favorite schizophrenic genius detective.’ — Bibliosanctum

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

Two new Italian editions for Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant series!

Posted on Thursday, January 30th, 2020

Two new editions of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant novels are published today in Italy: both RIVERS OF LONDON and MOON OVER SOHO are now available in paperback, published by Fanucci! Published as I FIUMI DI LONDRA and LA LUNA SU SOHO, respectively, here’s the synopsis for the first book…

Peter Grant, un aspirante agente di polizia in attesa di accedere al famigerato Metropolitan Police Service di Londra, ha due preoccupazioni: evitare la prospettiva di un noioso lavoro d’ufficio e guadagnarsi i favori della vivace e spregiudicata collega Leslie May. Nel corso di un’inchiesta su un caso di omicidio, Peter riesce inspiegabilmente a ottenere la testimonianza di uno strano individuo, estremamente loquace ma decisamente morto, e a richiamare su di sé l’attenzione dell’enigmatico ispettore Thomas Nightingale, l’ultimo mago d’Inghilterra, capo di un’unità segreta della polizia dedicata alla magia e al soprannaturale. Peter possiede poteri magici, e deve mettere le proprie straordinarie abilità al servizio del bene comune. Aggirandosi tra covi di vampiri nei sobborghi londinesi, negoziando tregue tra le divinità del Tamigi, dissotterrando tombe a Covent Garden, Grant cercherà di governare lo spirito di ribellione della città e riportare, forse, l’ordine nel caos che domina Londra.

The novels are published by Gollancz in the UK, and Del Rey in North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis for book one…

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit – we do paperwork so real coppers don’t have to – and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I’m a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden… and there’s something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it’s falling to me to bring order out of chaos – or die trying.

The next novel in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, FALSE VALUE is due out next month — published by Orion Books (UK) and DAW Books (North America)

Ian McDonald’s LE TEMPS FUT out in two weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Ian McDonald‘s acclaimed, award-nominated novella TIME WAS is due to be available in France in two weeks! Published by Le Bélial’ as LE TEMPS FUT, and translated by Gilles Goullet, the stunning cover is above (by Aurélien Police). Here’s the synopsis…

Bouquiniste indépendant, Emmett Leigh déniche un jour un petit recueil de poèmes lors de la liquidation de la librairie d’un confrère. Un recueil, Le Temps fut, qui s’avère vite d’une qualité littéraire au mieux médiocre… En revanche, ce qui intéresse Emmett au plus haut point, c’est la lettre manuscrite qu’il découvre glissée entre les pages de l’ouvrage. Pour le bouquiniste, tout ce qui peut donner un cachet unique et personnel à un livre est bon à prendre. Il se trouve ici en présence d’une lettre d’amour qu’un certain Tom adresse à son amant, Ben, en plein cœur de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Remuant ciel et terre – et vieux papiers – afin d’identifier les deux soldats, Emmett finit par les retrouver sur diverses photos, prises à différentes époques. Or, la date présumée des photos et l’âge des protagonistes qui y figurent ne correspondent pas… Du tout.

The novella is published in the UK and North America by Tor.com. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A love story stitched across time and war, shaped by the power of books, and ultimately destroyed by it.

In the heart of World War II, Tom and Ben became lovers. Brought together by a secret project designed to hide British targets from German radar, the two founded a love that could not be revealed. When the project went wrong, Tom and Ben vanished into nothingness, presumed dead. Their bodies were never found.

Now the two are lost in time, hunting each other across decades, leaving clues in books of poetry and trying to make their desperate timelines overlap.

French readers looking for more of Ian’s work need look no further than his most recent series, Luna, which is published in France by Denoël (along with a few of Ian’s other novels).

ADLER #1 out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Friday, January 24th, 2020

The release of Lavie Tidhar‘s first comic series, ADLER, is fast approaching! Due out in two week (February 5th), the series will be published by Titan Comics. Here’s the synopsis…

For Sherlock, there was only ever one woman – now Irene Adler is on a mission to take down Moriarty! It’s the League of Extraordinary Gentlewomen, as Adler teams up with a host of famous female faces from science, history and literature to defeat the greatest criminal mastermind of all time!

Artwork for the series is by Paul McCaffrey. The first issue will also be available with multiple variant covers, including one by Butch Guice (at top), one by McCaffrey, a black & white version, and a vintage book-cover styled option…

Also, check out this sample from the interior…

Lavie Tidhar’s World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA now available in Russia!

Posted on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020

Lavie Tidhar‘s novel OSAMA, which won the World Fantasy Award in 2012, is now available in Russia! Published by Эксмо’s Fanzon SF imprint as Усама, here’s the synopsis…

Частного детектива Джо нанимает таинственная незнакомка для розыска исчезнувшего писателя Майкла Лонгшотта, автора культовой серии триллеров “Мститель”, повествующих о приключениях супергероя по имени Усама бен Ладен. Джо предстоят поиски в Лаосе, Франции, Америке, Афганистане, Марокко и Анг- лии — странах мира, столь похожего и столь отличающегося от нашего. Мира, в котором Вторая мировая война закончилась иначе, нет глобального терроризма, а реальность призрачна.

This Russian edition joins a growing number of translated editions of this excellent, thought-provoking novel. Here’s the novel’s English-language synopsis…

In an alternate world without global terrorism Joe, a private detective, is hired by a mysterious woman to find a man: the obscure author of pulp fiction novels featuring one Osama Bin Laden: Vigilante…

Joe’s quest to find the man takes him across the world, from the backwaters of Asia to the European Capitals of Paris and London, and as the mystery deepens around him there is one question he is trying hard not to ask: who is he, really, and how much of the books are fiction? Chased by unknown assailants, Joe s identity slowly fragments as he discovers the shadowy world of the refugees, ghostly entities haunting the world in which he lives.

Where do they come from? And what do they want? Joe knows how the story should end, but even he is not ready for the truths he ll find in New York and, finally, on top a quiet hill above Kabul nor for the choice he will at last have to make…

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

‘He is a political writer, an iconoclast and sometimes a provocateur … OSAMA is a remarkable and ambitious work.’ — China Mieville

‘Bears comparison with the best of Philip K Dick’s paranoid, alternate-history fantasies. It’s beautifully written and undeniably powerful.’ — Financial Times

‘OSAMA has ushered Tidhar into the limelight… OSAMA is the narrative symphony Philip K. Dick wished he could have composed. Not only is it beautifully written, it is expertly crafted… OSAMA is a work of art. And Tidhar is a word-painter, constructing vibrant and poetic landscapes of narrative in spite of the novel’s dark and brooding subject matter. Too often, I am surprised by works that win the World Fantasy Award, among others in the speculative genres (none more so than the Bram Stoker Award). Sometimes the quality of winners doesn’t hold up and their nominations seem to be a matter of sheer star power or nepotism. In this case, I’m happy to say, the judges got it dead right.’ — Los Angeles Review of Books

‘… fascinating and hypnotic … the writing is beautiful.’ — Jeff VanderMeer

‘A novel about the power of fantasy, about the proximity of dreams and reality, about ghost people and ghost realities. Lavie Tidhar has written a fine, striking, memorable piece of fiction here, one that deserves to be widely read.’ — Adam Roberts

‘A provocative and fast moving tale that raises good questions not only about the heritage of Al Qaeda, but about the slippage between reality and sensational fiction that sometimes seems to define our own confused and contorted experience of the last couple of decades.’ — Gary K. Wolfe, Locus

‘A roller-coaster ride… [a] fabulous opium-soaked political thriller… pulls out all the stops.’ — Rolling Stone (Germany)

The LIES SLEEPING audiobook is on sale in Australia (today only)!

Posted on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020

The audiobook edition of LIES SLEEPING, the seventh novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s widely-acclaimed Peter Grant series, is on sale via Audible Australia! Published by Orion Audio, and read by Olivier Award-winning Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, here’s the synopsis…

Martin Chorley, aka the Faceless Man, wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run.

Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice.

But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long term plan.

A plan that has its roots in London’s two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees.

To save his beloved city Peter’s going to need help from his former best friend and colleague – Lesley May – who brutally betrayed him and everything he thought she believed in. And, far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr Punch…

Ben’s series is published in the UK and Commonwealth by Gollancz, in North America by Del Rey and DAW Books, and widely elsewhere in translation.

The highly-anticipated next novel in the series, FALSE VALUE, is due to be published next month by Orion (UK) and DAW Books (North America).

Here are just a few reviews that LIES SLEEPING has received since it was first published…

‘[F]unny… laugh-out-loud prose… fans will delight in this outing.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘[R]ecounted with deadpan British wit and irony… packed with fascinating historical detail… Lively and amusing and different.’ — Kirkus

‘Peter Grant’s London has depth, breadth, and a complex array of recurring characters, and every one of the novels can be relied on to start with a bang… Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant has a distinctive voice, one that makes even the bureaucracy of regular police work engaging and compelling… Aaronovitch writes a tense, compelling police procedural with magic. As usual, Grant’s voice is striking, and the action gripping and intense.’ — Tor.com

‘[S]till as fresh as ever… Aaronovitch melds the magical and mundane extremely well. There’s a good mix of ‘London practicality’ and ‘unimaginable terror’ here; this isn’t a world where everyone can take the idea that magic is a real thing in their stride. Fear of the unknown keeps things in the margins, which provides a backdrop for the main characters’ struggles… The plot dives straight into strands from the previous titles, tying up plots going all the way back to book one whilst fraying new threads to keep the intrigue going. The pace is solid and steady, the action is as thrilling as ever and the whole thing ticks along like an old yet exciting friend… A must for fans of the series so far and, as always, we can’t wait to read the next one.’ — Starburst

‘Things build to a peak with thrilling confrontations, an impressively weird final battle, and a big surprise at the end… Aaronovitch has a way with surprising developments, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out.’ — Locus (Carolyn Cushman)

‘[T]hose wondering if we’ll ever get to see the end of this Faceless Man’s saga will be pleased to know, LIES SLEEPING has the final showdown and answers you’re looking for. After seven books, this resolution was a long time coming, and it was awesome… those who have always appreciated this series’ attention to the history and mythology associated with London will find lots of like about this book…’ — Bibliosanctum

New Edition of E.J. Swift’s PARIS ADRIFT out Next Month!

Posted on Friday, January 17th, 2020

There is a new edition of E.J. Swift‘s acclaimed PARIS ADRIFT on the way! Due to be published by Solaris on February 4th, it will be graced with a fantastic new cover (above). Here’s the synopsis…

Determined to escape her old life, misfit and student geologist Hallie packs up her life in England and heads to Paris. As a bartender at the notorious Millie’s, located next to the Moulin Rouge, she meets Gabriela, who guides her through this strange nocturnal world, and begins to find a new family.

But Millie’s is not all that it seems: a bird warns Hallie to get her feathers in order, a mysterious woman shows up claiming to be a chronometrist, and Gabriela is inexplicably unable to leave Paris. Then Hallie discovers a time portal located in the keg room. Over the next nine months, irate customers will be the least of her concerns as she navigates time-faring through the city’s turbulent past and future, falling in love, and coming to terms with her own precarious sense of self.

Described as ‘The Time Machine meets Midnight in Paris’, here are just some of the great reviews the novel has received…

‘As well as being a profound mediation on history and the need to defend democracy, Paris Adrift is also a gorgeous evocation of youth and growing up… a celebration of that particular moment in our lives, when we feel those connections all the more strongly because we know on some level they will come to an end.’ — Fantasy Faction

‘Paris Adrift is a different type of time travel book, one I hope to see more of, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Paris, the fear for the future, and traveling into the unknown. Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour!’ — Utopia State of Mind

‘[A]n effervescent blend of revisionist history, fantasy and science fiction… Hallie’s newfound family and bar life is utterly charming, and it’s this that holds your attention even as the plot meanders. The stakes — world-destroying as they may be — never feel higher than whether Hallie will make it through a shift at Millie’s.’ — Washington Post

‘E.J. Swift’s PARIS ADRIFT is her best novel yet: a time-travelling adventure that, despite the cosmic stakes, is bravely and beautifully intimate. Despite the apocalyptic backdrop, PARIS is also wistfully hopeful – a novel of ordinary, extraordinary heroism… PARIS ADRIFT uses science fiction’s largest and most unwieldy mechanic for its smallest and most intimate stakes: this isn’t about the world, it is about Hallie. PARIS is a story about significance at every level, individually and collectively; ultimately, whether that’s in time, life, or simply one’s outlook – this is a poetic demonstration of how little changes make big differences. Despite being a novel that’s – literally! – timeless, you couldn’t find a work more wonderfully fitting for 2018.’ — Pornokitsch

‘[A] really gripping book that was also really thought provoking and moving… [The novel] deals with many themes which are very relevant right now and Hallie’s time travel to a bleak 2042 felt too plausible… [I] loved reading about Hallie’s expeditions to 1875. Paris really came alive for me and I just loved all the sub stories going on, particularly Millie’s. PARIS ADRIFT also touches on what it’s like to feel adrift and alone in this big world, whether we’re living the best versions of ourselves. This story is about getting lost in order to find yourself. There’s a good message in this book, that doing small deeds to help strangers can have huge effects later on and the future is something we should all be thinking about.’ — British Fantasy Society

And, for the sake of completeness, here’s the novel’s original cover, by Joey Hi-Fi, which we also think is pretty fantastic…

Roger Zelazny’s classic dystopian novel DAMNATION ALLEY is out now in Croatia!

Posted on Thursday, January 16th, 2020

There is a new Croatian edition of Roger Zelazny‘s classic DAMNATION ALLEY! Published by Zagrebačka naklada, as ALEJA PROKLETSTVA TVRDI UVEZ, is it out now. Here’s the synopsis…

Nakon trodnevnog nuklearnog rata, koji je poremetio vrijeme i letove učinio nemogućima, jedini veliki džepovi preživjele civilizacije su u Kaliforniji i oko Bostona. Bostonom hara kuga, u Los Angelesu imaju lijek, ali kako ga dopremiti preko 5000 kilometara ALEJE PROKLETSTVA? Ruševine, radioaktivnost, čudovišta, mutirane životinje svih vrsta – a tamo gdje još ima ljudi, opasniji su od zvijeri. Aleja nikomu ne prašta – ubila je najboljeg bostonskog vozača, koji je vijest o kugi donio umirući. Tko želi proći kroz Aleju, mora biti najbolji.

A najbolji je Hell Tanner, posljednji preživjeli Anđeo Pakla, nasilnik, ubojica, kriminalac, koji ne želi ići – ali to je jedina šansa da se izvuče s doživotne robije. Put je gadan, ali gadan je i Hell Tanner, a tko je gadniji može otkriti samo ALEJA PROKLETSTVA.

Veličanstvena postapokaliptična pustolovina ispisana majstorskom rukom Rogera Zelaznyja, djelo je bez kojeg ne bi bilo ni Pobješnjelog Maxa ni Bijega iz New Yorka jer je on na teren pustolovine u postapokaliptičnoj pustoši zašao prije njih, i bio i ostao najbolji od svih, stvorivši antijunaka kojeg nećete lako zaboraviti.

DAMNATION ALLEY was first published in 1968, and is a classic of the dystopian sci-fi genre. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Hell Tanner isn’t the sort of guy you’d mistake for a hero: he’s a fast-driving car thief, a smuggler, and a stone-cold killer. He’s also expendable — at least in the eyes of the Secretary of Traffic for the Nation of California. Tanner doesn’t care much for those eyes. You’d also never mistake Hell Tanner for a humanitarian. Facing life in prison for his various crimes, he’s given a choice; rot away his remaining years in a tiny jail cell, or drive cross-country and deliver a case of antiserum to the plague-ridden people of Boston, Massachusetts… if anyone is still alive there to receive it, that is. The chance of a full pardon does wonders for getting his attention. And don’t mistake this mission of mercy for any kind of normal road trip — not when there are radioactive storms, hordes of carniverous beasts, and giant, mutated scorpions to be found along every deadly mile between Los Angeles and the East Coast. But then, this is no normal part of America, you see. This is DAMNATION ALLEY…

Zeno represents Roger Zelazny in Translation, on behalf of the Zelazny Estate.

Myke Cole’s SACRED THRONE trilogy audiobooks available soon in UK!

Posted on Monday, January 13th, 2020

In case you’d missed them, we wanted to draw your attention to Myke Cole‘s acclaimed Sacred Throne trilogy, which will be available in the UK as audiobooks! Published by W.F. Howes under their Clipper Audiobooks imprint, all of the book will be available soon: THE ARMORED SAINT, THE QUEEN OF CROWS, and THE KILLING LIGHT.

Here’s the synopsis for the first book…

A story of religious tyrants, arcane war-machines, and underground resistance that will enthral epic fantasy readers of all ages.

In a world where any act of magic could open a portal to hell, the Order insures that no wizard will live to summon devils, and will kill as many innocent people as they must to prevent that greater horror. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, the village girl Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village.

The Sacred Throne trilogy is available in print, published by Tor.com in North America and in the UK. Here’s just a selection of great reviews the first novella has received so far (they have all been showered in praise)…

‘Cole weaves a fantasy world that feels comfortably familiar, then goes to places you’d never expect. You won’t stop turning pages until the stunning finish.’ — Peter V. Brett

‘Cole has created a dark medieval world that by the end only has a small sliver of light in it. The spunky Heloise fights for her family and friends and makes it easy to cheer her on through her adventures. A must-read for fans of Erika Johansen’s Queen of the Tearling series.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘At first, the reader might think they have a good handle on both Heloise’s character and the dark but well-depicted world here, one that’s harshly circumscribed in the name of protecting people against a world-ending evil. But by the end of the Sacred Throne’s first installment, Cole has not only shown that Heloise and her world have unexplored depths, he’s been unsparing in depicting them and just how rapidly and painfully they can both change. The story steadily ratchets up the tension, and it seems clear where the conflict is, until the amazing ending shows that Heloise has a nearly impossible task in front of her… even before the events of this story take their toll.’ — RT Book Reviews

‘A very fast moving tale, full of energy, excitement, and… character depth.’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘[A] most satisfying fantasy, with terrific action sequences, particularly once Heloise dons the armor and takes her place as protector. She’s a fascinating character in a fascinating fantasy world, and I’m glad to have met her.’ — B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

‘THE ARMORED SAINT feels like the beginning of something special. With its grim, violence-filled world, visceral action, and magic that comes at a deadly cost, THE ARMORED SAINT has everything it needs to appeal to readers who enjoy Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire trilogy or Kameron Hurley’s epic fantasies. It also has the emotional nuance and range that will help it appeal to readers who are looking for something more along the lines of Miserere by Teresa Frohock or a Kate Elliott novel. It makes a lot of early promises, but despite feeling a little short, it delivers satisfying answers, and even more compelling questions for future volumes to answer.’ — Tor.com

Myke’s most recent book is LEGION VS. PHALANX, his first history book, which is published by Osprey Publishing. (Paperback edition out next week.)

Myke is also the author of the Shadow Ops and Reawakening trilogies, published in the UK by Headline in print, and W.F. Howes in audio.

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

Out Now: two new editions of Roger Zelazny’s JACK OF SHADOWS!

Posted on Friday, January 10th, 2020

There are two new editions of Roger Zelazny‘s classic JACK OF SHADOWS available! The novel, which was first published in 1971, is now available in Estonia and Russia (audio). Read on for more details…

The Estonian edition (cover above) is published by Faataasia as VARJUDE JACK. Here’s the synopsis…

Selle romaani peategelane elab maailmas, kus hiiglaslik masin on peatanud planeedi pöörlemise, nii et see on jagunenud päevavalguse käes asuvaks teadusmaailmaks ja ööpimedusse mattunud maagiaühiskonnaks. Peategelane Jack on ainus, kes suudab liikuda nii pimeduse- kui valgusetsoonis. Ta peab lahendama dilemma, mida selle maailma südames asuva masinaga peale hakata. See Hugo auhinnale nomineeritud romaan on mõeldud austusavaldusena ka ulmekirjanduse suurmeistri Jack Vance’i kaubamärgiks kujunenud eksootilisi ja fantastilisi maailmu kujutavale loomingule.

In Russia, the novel is now available as an audiobook, published by Студия озвучания “Глагол” as Джек из Тени…

Кому Джек из Тени, кому просто вор,
кому Господин, кому Джек из Зла,
кому даже Джеки, но ни одному
не друг
не герой
и не дай бог
чтоб враг.

В мире, разделенном на Светлую и Темную стороны, одна из которых живет Наукой, а другая Магией, был один, кто слышит свое имя, когда оно произносится в тени. Аутсайдер, темная лошадка, выдающийся мошенник, обреченный на одиночество, главная угроза мироустройству… Джек, встретившийся с самим собой.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for the novel…

The Earth no longer rotates. Science rules the dayside of the globe. Magic rules the World of Night, and Jack of Shadows, Shadowjack the Thief, who broke the Compact and duped the Lord of High Dudgeon, walks in silence and in shadows to seek vengeance upon his enemies.

Zeno represents Roger Zelazny in Translation, on behalf of the Zelazny Estate.

WHEN ALL IS SAID, Anne Griffin’s debut available in Hebrew!

Posted on Monday, January 6th, 2020

Anne Griffin‘s acclaimed, best-selling debut novel, WHEN ALL IS SAID is now available in Hebrew! Published by פן הוצאה לאור (Penn Publishing) as אחרי שהכול נאמר, the novel is translated by Rachel Penn. Here’s the synopsis…

חמש הרמות כוסית. חמישה אנשים. חיים שלמים.

פורטרט אינטימי של אדם שמביט לאחור על חייו וסיפור שהופך את הדפים כמו מעצמו ומעורר את הקוראים למחשבות על חייהם בתורם

 “אני כאן על מנת לזכור – את כל מה שהייתי ואת כל מה שלא אהיה עוד לעולם.”

מוריס האניגן בן השמונים וארבע יושב בבר של מלון גרנד בעיירה קטנה באירלנד. הוא לבדו, כרגיל, אך הערב הזה אינו ערב רגיל. תִפסו כיסא ומַלאו את הכוס, כי מוריס מוכן סוף-סוף לספר את סיפורו.

לאורך הערב הוא ירים חמש כוסות לכבודם של חמשת האנשים שהיו כל עולמו. דרך הסיפורים האלה – סיפורים על שמחה ועל אשמה, על אסון שנשמר בסוד ועל אהבה עזה שמעולם לא מצאה את קולה – ייחשפו חייו של אדם אחד בעוצמה ובחדות.

קולו שובר הלב והכובש של מוריס האניגן יישאר איתכם הרבה אחרי שהכול נאמר.

The novel is published in the UK and Ireland by Sceptre, and in North America by St. Martin’s Press. It has also been published widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Five toasts. Five people. One lifetime.

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

Here’s just a small selection taken of the aforementioned critical acclaim the novel has received so far…

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘Pitch-perfect prose… Moving and beautifully written, this is a wonderfully assured debut.’ — Mail on Sunday

‘It’s all beautifully done; a tale told in the plain but poetic prose of a man who recognises the tragic truths gleaned from a life of love and loss. A gem of a book.’ 5* — Sunday Express

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

Andrew Cartmel’s KILLER ROCK out next month in Germany!

Posted on Friday, January 3rd, 2020

On February 17th, Suhrkamp Verlag is due to published the German edition of Andrew Cartmel‘s THE RUN-OUT GROOVE! The second novel in the author’s Vinyl Detective series, it will be available as KILLER ROCK. Here’s the synopsis…

Valerian war eine britische Rock-Ikone der 1960er Jahre, die Leadsängerin der gleichnamigen Band Valerian. Sie hatte sich damals unter tragischen Umständen das Leben genommen, ihr Kind war verschwunden, entführt und getötet, wie viele Leute mutmaßen.

Und jetzt steht plötzlich ein mysteriöser Klient, »the Colonel«, auf der Matte und beauftragt den Vinyl-Detective, das Kind zu finden. Eigentlich nicht sein Job, aber im Hintergrund gibt es eine wertvolle LP als Lockmittel.

Zusammen mit seiner Crew – seiner Freundin Nevada, Kumpel Tinkler und der unwahrscheinlichen Taxifahrerin Clean Head – macht er sich an die Arbeit und gräbt sich tief in die Popgeschichte der Sixties, trifft einen Ex-Gitarristen von Frank Zappa und andere wunderliche Menschen aus der großen Ära des Rocks.

Drogen sind natürlich auch im Spiel, damals wie heute. Das macht die Sache entschieden ungemütlich. Hinzu kommt, dass an dem Schicksal des verschwundenen Kindes nicht nur nette Menschen interessiert sind…

Surhkamp has also published the first novel in the series, as MURDER SWING.

The Vinyl Detective novels are published in the UK and in North America by Titan Books, and the series currently stands at four novels: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, and FLIP BACK.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for THE RUN OUT GROOVE…

His first adventure consisted of the search for a rare record; his second begins with the discovery of one. When a mint copy of the final album by “Valerian” — England’s great lost rock band of the 1960s — surfaces in a charity shop, all hell breaks loose.

Finding this record triggers a chain of events culminating in our hero learning the true fate of the singer Valerian, who died under equivocal circumstances just after — or was it just before? — the abduction of her two-year-old son.

Along the way, the Vinyl Detective finds himself marked for death, at the wrong end of a shotgun, and unknowingly dosed with LSD as a prelude to being burned alive. And then there’s the grave robbing…

But he does find out what happened to the missing child, and it wasn’t what anyone expected — or wanted — to hear.

Here are just a handful of reviews the novel has received…

‘Part of the fun of the series is the obsessiveness of record collectors, the contradictions between the mundane places in which they hunt their treasures — charity shops, church bazaars — and the sophisticated sound systems they have set up to play what they find… the Vinyl Detective is proving to be a very amenable companion to have on a treasure hunt. This is one vinyl nerd you won’t mind spending time with.’ — Kirkus

‘… entertaining second record-spinning mystery… Cartmel treats music and records seriously, plays his strange characters for laughs, and provides a bit of danger and some unexpected twists in this affectionate nod to the vagaries of rock stardom.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘THE RUN-OUT GROOVE does a fantastic job of making its fictional history of music so fascinating and authentic that you’ll forget it isn’t all true… This a follow-up every bit the equal of its highly memorable predecessor, presenting a mystery you’ll be eager to solve and characters whose company you won’t want to leave. Written with infectious charm, the Vinyl Detective has more than proven he’s no one-hit-wonder.’ (9/10) — Alternative Magazine Online

‘Polished, fast-paced and a ton of fun, this is a fantastic read that is easy to get lost in… more polished… keeps the story rolling forward at an incredible speed – and also makes it very hard to put down… Cartmel has created an intoxicating mix of adventure, humour and mystery to lose yourself in… a truly engaging and enjoyable read. THE RUN-OUT GROOVE surpasses even the opening novel in the series for polish and fun.’ — The Crime Review

Charlaine Harris’s Gunnie Rose returns in A LONGER FALL — out in two weeks!

Posted on Monday, December 30th, 2019

This is just a reminder that Charlaine Harris‘s next novel, A LONGER FALL, is out in two weeks (January 14th)! The second book in the acclaimed Gunnie Rose series, it is due to be published in the UK by Piatkus. Here’s the synopsis…

The second of the Gunnie Rose series, in which Lizbeth is hired onto a new crew, transporting a crate into Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States. What the crate contains is something so powerful, that forces from across three territories want to possess it.

In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.

Piatkus also publishes (in the UK) the first novel in the series, AN EASY DEATH, and the author’s Aurora Teagarden cozy mystery series.

Here are just a few reviews that AN EASY DEATH has received…

‘In this fast-paced thriller fueled by magic and gunslinging, no one can be trusted. Harris’s vividly detailed story will leave readers enthralled with the fascinating setting and a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Narrator Lizbeth is a pragmatic young woman with an unshakeable work ethic who doesn’t let her gender define her and isn’t given to emotional outbursts, but there are just enough moments to remind readers that the loss of those she loves, and her desire to keep those she has left safe, is ultimately her driving force. Harris…populates her gritty, immersive new world with genuinely interesting characters, and chilling moments of horror — of both the human and supernatural kind—punctuate this relentlessly paced road trip. A refreshing and cinematic, weird Western starring a sharp-as-nails, can-do heroine. Harris’ many fans will surely follow Gunnie Rose anywhere.’ — Kirkus

‘It’s a thrill ride through a world transformed by magic and altered politics, with an excellent kick-ass guide in Gunnie Rose, making this a strong start to a new series.’ — Locus

‘Harris’s vividly detailed and bleak alternate history novel, set in a broken-up United States after Franklin Roosevelt is assassinated, stars a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2018)

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

Next year, Head of Zeus due to publish BY FORCE ALONE by Lavie Tidhar!

Posted on Friday, December 27th, 2019

Lavie Tidhar‘s highly-anticipated next novel, BY FORCE ALONE, will be out next year (March 5th, to be exact)! Due to be published in the UK by Head of Zeus, you can see the striking cover above. Here’s the synopsis…

Everyone thinks they know the story of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, but they don’t know sh*t. 

There was never a painting that showed the true Britain, that clogged sewer Rome abandoned just as soon as it could. A Britain where petty warlords murdered each other in the mud, while all the while the Angles and Saxons and – worst of all – the Jutes, were coming over here and taking our lands and taking our jobs and taking our women. 

You want to know the truth? Are you sure you can handle the truth? 

Arthur? An over-promoted gangster, in thrall to that eldritch parasite, Merlin. 

Excalibur? A shady deal with a watery arms dealer. 

The Grail Quest? Have you no idea about the aliens and the radioactive blight? 

Well, you’d better read this then.

The novel is due to be published in North America by St. Martin’s Press, later in the year (we’ll share the cover and details for that edition soon).

Lavie is the multi-award-winning author of a host of novels and short fiction, including UNHOLY GHOST, CENTRAL STATION, THE VIOLENT CENTURY, CANDY, A MAN LIES DREAMING, and many more.