Category: Cover Reveal

Coming Soon: YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER by Brandon Sanderson

Posted on Friday, August 18th, 2023

In case you missed it, Gollancz recently unveiled the cover for Brandon Sanderson‘s third Secret Projects novel, YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER! Due to be published in the UK on October 3rd, here’s the synopsis…

From Number 1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson – creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn Saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy – comes this gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different cultures must work together to save their worlds from certain disaster.

Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society – but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero – a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.

Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.

‘This was utterly brilliant and satisfying. YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER will be the best of the secret project novels, and it is easily one of Sanderson’s finest books in his career’ — Novel Notions

The first two novels in the Secret Projects series are out now, also published by Gollancz in the UK: TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA and THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND.

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

North American edition of Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Monday, August 14th, 2023

The North American edition of Alice Bell‘s critically-acclaimed debut mystery, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is due out in three weeks! To be published by Vintage on September 5th, here’s the synopsis…

A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder.

Almost-authentic medium Claire and her best friend, Sophie, agree to take on a seemingly simple job at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside: performing a seance for the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. The pair have been friends since before Sophie went missing when they were seventeen. Everyone else is convinced Sophie simply ran away, but Claire knows the truth. Claire knows Sophie was murdered because Sophie has been haunting her ever since.

Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mention Sophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds.

What follows is somewhat irregular detective work involving stealing a priest’s cassock, getting too drunk to remember to question your suspect, and of course, Chekhov’s sparkly purple dildo. As Claire desperately tries to keep a lid on the shameful secret that would definitely alienate her new friends, the gang must race against their own incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.

The UK edition of the novel is published by Corvus, and out now!

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

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

Coming Soon: THE BEST OF ROGER ZELAZNY SF Masterworks Edition!

Posted on Friday, August 11th, 2023

On October 26th, Gollancz are due to publish THE BEST OF ROGER ZELAZNY, a new collection of Roger Zelazny‘s short fiction, as part of their SF Masterworks series!

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

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

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

A must read for fans of the author, but also a great introduction to the scope and breadth of his imagination.

Gollancz also publishes Zelazny’s acclaimed fantasy classic Chronicles of Amber series; and the stand-alone novels ROADMARKS and LORD OF LIGHT — all out now, published as SF Masterworks.

RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #2 & #3 Covers!

Posted on Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

The second and third issues in the new Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS, are due to be published by Titan Comics on August 23rd and September 6th, respectively. We thought we’d take the opportunity to share with you the covers! Above are the two variants for issue 2, and below are the covers for issue 3.

Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, series artwork is by José María Beroy. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And its name… Wyvern!

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

Issue #2 covers are by Veronica Fish and Patricio Clarey; Issue #3 covers are by Abigail Harding and Gyula Nemeth.

Ben’s latest book is WINTER’S GIFTS, a novel set in the Rivers of London universe — published by Gollancz in the UK (out now) and Subterranean Press in North America (forthcoming). Andrew’s latest book is DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in his new Paperback Sleuth series — out now, published by Titan Books in the UK and North America.

ALL THE DEAD SHALL WEEP… in Four Weeks!

Posted on Monday, August 7th, 2023

In four weeks, Piatkus Books are due to publish the fifth novel in Charlaine Harris‘s acclaimed Gunnie Rose series. ALL THE DEAD SHALL WEEP will be available on September 5th in the UK. Here’s the synopsis…

Charlaine Harris returns to her alternate history of the United States where magic is an acknowledged but despised power in this fifth installment of the Gunnie Rose series.

Following the murderous events of The Serpent of Heaven, Lizbeth Rose is awaiting the arrival of her sister Felicia and her husband’s younger brother Eli in Texoma. Both needed to leave the seat of the Holy Russian Empire in San Diego after Felicia’s burgeoning wizardly power in death magic became the reason for kidnapping and assassination attempts from her mother’s family of high-powered wizards in Mexico.

Yet bad news has travelled ahead of them, as Eli is called back to San Diego, taking Peter along with him, splitting them apart in more ways than one as their enemies’ plans for revenge come to fruition…

Love The Walking Dead, Westworld or True Blood? You will ADORE this gritty and wildly entertaining tale, set in a parallel reality of the United States where magic is an outlawed power.

The first four titles in the series are also available in the UK, published by Piatkus, and now in paperback: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, THE RUSSIAN CAGE, and THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN.

Here are just a few of the reviews the series 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) on AN EASY DEATH

‘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 on AN EASY DEATH

‘Harris has a remarkable talent for world building […] In all, this looks like another winning series from a sure-bet author.’ — Booklist on AN EASY DEATH

‘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 on AN EASY DEATH

‘[A] shoot’em-up, rollicking ride.’ — Kirkus on A LONGER FALL

‘Harris’ imagination is on high alert as she takes chances with A LONGER FALL and her characters.’ — Sun Sentinel

‘Left me wanting more’ — Locus on A LONGER FALL

‘Mixing in tidbits of real history with her own fictitious saga, the imaginative Harris creates an absorbing modern fantasy steeped in thoughtful action in THE RUSSIAN CAGE.’ — Sun Sentinel

‘An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series.’ — Kirkus on THE RUSSIAN CAGE

‘Rarely a dull moment. Fans of Harris’s daring heroine will be pleased to accompany her on her latest adventure.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RUSSIAN CAGE

‘The fourth ‘Gunnie Rose’ novel… moves the setting from the rural west to an urban city, but contains just as much intrigue and action as the previous books.’ — Library Journal on THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN

‘Felicia proves an equally strong and magnetic heroine who’s sure to win fans over in the end. This takes the series in an exciting new direction.’ — Publisher’s Weekly on THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN

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

New LEGENDS & LATTES Kickstarter is Live… And Fully Funded!

Posted on Friday, August 4th, 2023

Fans of Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed and best-selling debut novel, LEGENDS & LATTES will be pleased to learn (if they haven’t already) that there is a Kickstarter for a deluxe edition of the novel! To be produced by Wraithmarked, it has a gorgeous new cover — and, as it happens, is fully funded already! There are 19 days left to go, if you’d like to take part in the project and get one of these deluxe editions!

The “regular” editions of LEGENDS & LATTES are published by Tor Books in the UK and North America.

Here’s the synopsis…

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

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

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

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

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts – perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher.

Travis’s next book is BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, a prequel to his debut! It’s due to be published in November, also by Tor Books in the UK and North America.

New Edition of Roger Zelazny’s HERR DES LICHTS Out Next Month!

Posted on Monday, July 31st, 2023

A new German edition of Roger Zelazny‘s LORD OF LIGHT is due out in one month! To be published on August 31st by Piper Verlag, as HERR DES LICHTS, here’s the synopsis…

Roger Zelazny war einer der einflussreichsten Autoren der Science-Fiction, der viele bedeutende Autoren wie George R. R. Martin und Neil Gaiman geprägt hat. Für seine Werke gewann er zahlreiche Preise, darunter den Hugo Award für „Herr des Lichts“. Nun ist das Meisterwerk endlich wieder auf Deutsch verfügbar – in einer neu überarbeiteten, hochwertigen Ausgabe mit einem Nachwort von George R. R. Martin.

In diesem Roman ist die Erde schon lange verlassen. Auf einem Kolonieplaneten hat eine Gruppe Siedler eine Reinkarnationstechnologie erfunden, mit deren Hilfe sie als gottgleiche Wesen eine tyrannische Herrschaft aufgebaut haben. Als Vorbild dient ihnen das hinduistische Götterpantheon. Nur einer wagt es, sich ihnen entgegenzustellen: Mahasamatman, genannt „Sam“. Der Herr des Lichts.

The Hugo Award-winning novel is available in the UK, published as part of Gollancz‘s SF Masterworks series. George R.R. Martin has said that LORD OF LIGHT is ‘One of the five best SF novels ever written.’ Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Imagine a distant world where gods walk as men, but wield vast and hidden powers. Here they have made the stage on which they build a subtle pattern of alliance, love, and deadly enmity. Are they truly immortal? Who are these gods who rule the destiny of a teeming world?

Their names include Brahma, Kali, Krishna and also he who was called Buddha, the Lord of Light, but who now prefers to be known simply as Sam. The gradual unfolding of the story – how the colonization of another planet became a re-enactment of Eastern mythology – is one of the great imaginative feats of modern science fiction.

New Edition of RZEKI LONDYNU Out Now in Poland!

Posted on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023

RIVERS OF LONDON, the first of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels, is available in a new Polish edition! Published by Zysk I S-Ka Wydawnictwo as RZEKI LONDYNU, and translated by Małgorzata Szypuła, here’s the synopsis…

Pierwszy tom bestsellerowego cyklu o magicznym Londynie, który pokochali czytelnicy na całym świecie. Peter Grant, młody funkcjonariusz londyńskiej policji, marzy o zostaniu detektywem. Jednak po odebraniu zeznań świadka, który okazał się… duchem, Grant zwraca na siebie uwagę detektywa Thomasa Nightingale’a zajmującego się przestępstwami związanymi z wszel kimi przejawami niesamowitości. Tak zaczynają się jego przygody w pełnym magii mieście, w którym duchy, bogowie i wampiry żyją tuż obok zwykłych mieszkańców, a pradawne zło powraca wraz z falą dziwnych, brutalnych morderstw. Rzeki Londynu to niesamowita i dowcipna podróż w świat magicznych przygód, czarujących postaci i kryminalnych zagadek, która nie pozostawi obojętnym żadnego czytelnika.

RIVERS OF LONDON has been published far and wide, all around the world. Here are just a few of the editions that have been published so far…

RIVERS OF LONDON and the rest of Ben’s series is published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion; and in North America by JABberwocky (#1-3), DAW Books (#4-), and Subterranean Press (novellas).

Ben was recently in Poland for a literary festival, and he was interviewed about his books. Check out the interview, below…

Cierra Block’s NEW YORK BLOCK BY BLOCK Out in September!

Posted on Monday, July 24th, 2023

The second book from the acclaimed author and illustrator Cierra Block is due out in September! NEW YORK BLOCK BY BLOCK is due to be published by Welbeck Publishing’s OH! Editions on September 14th. Here’s the synopsis…

Whether you’re a fast-talking, swift-walking local or a tourist visiting the Big Apple for the first time, this book is for you.

Arguably the most iconic city in the world, New York has more places to eat and things to see than you could manage in a lifetime. In New York Block by Block, artist Cierra Block reveals the best of the city, covering everything from secret leafy streets to inspiring bookstores, world-class museums to the best pizza, all accompanied by 40 vibrant maps. Featuring the most notable places to eat, what to see, where to walk and what to do, this is a guide like no other. Wander around Brooklyn like a local, grab the best bagels in town or see priceless masterpieces; the possibilities are endless. That’s the wonderful thing about New York – there’s always more to explore!

Block’s previous book, the acclaimed LONDON BLOCK BY BLOCK is also published by OH! Editions; it is also available in Spain, published by Lunwerg Editores.

J.T. Greathouse’s THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023

THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD, the thrilling conclusion to the J.T. Greathouse‘s acclaimed Pact and Pattern series is due out in two weeks! Due to be published by Gollancz in the UK, here’s the synopsis…

THE PACTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THE REBELLION HAS FAILED.

Foolish Cur has fallen into a trap. By resorting to forbidden magic when he failed to overthrow the Emperor, he has done exactly as the gods wanted. Now they are free to wage their war, twisting the world into new forms, as strange and terrible beasts walk the earth.

To fix what he has caused will take every ounce of Foolish Cur’s cunning. But mending the pattern of the world is too large a task for one man alone. As the Empire, rebellion and the landscape itself crumble, he and those still fighting for freedom will be drawn together to end the struggle against Emperor Tenet and the gods for good.

But Foolish Cur does not know what such a task will ask of him. And, powerful though he may be, the costs may be more than he is willing to pay . . .

The breath-taking conclusion to the Pact and Pattern series, this British Fantasy Award-nominated story is filled to the brim with magic, mystery and political intrigue.

Gollancz also publishes the first two books in the series: THE HAND OF THE SUN KING and THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE — both are out now!

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

‘THE HAND OF THE SUN KING fundamentally explores the right to make our own choices in life, to make sacrifices to serve the greater good and to use power to uplift the oppressed. Greathouse delivers a debut full of complexities, passion and grace, and I’m already longing for more.’ — Fantasy Hive

‘An excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair.’ — Grimdark Magazine on THE HAND OF THE SUN KING

‘Add in a very cool magic system with weighty consequences, a cast of meaningful, well-developed characters, and a lush world that carefully considers its lore, economic struggles, and religious history, it’s easy for me to call THE HAND OF THE SUN KING one of my top reads of 2021.’ (10/10) — Fantasy Book Review

‘JT Greathouse shows no first-time jitters wit his impressive and compelling debut novel… Greathouse casts an engrossing spell, establishing himself as an exciting new voice in epic fantasy.’ — SFX Magazine on THE HAND OF THE SUN KING

‘HAND OF THE SUN KING is an exotic, original fantasy filled with magic and culture, the story of a character torn between two names, two loyalties, and two definitions of good and evil.’ — Kevin J. Anderson

‘In short, THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE is a worthy read for those who like their fantasy epic. I think it is one of the best fantasy series I have read recently, and is therefore worthy of your attention.’ — SFFWorld

‘Broader in scope, seeped in electrifying magic and topped with a heart stopping finale, this is a sequel not to be missed.’ — The Fantasy Hive on THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE

‘Wild twists and shocking revelations will leave you begging for the finale.’ — Under the Radar SFF Books on THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE

‘[A]n absolutely amazing piece of fantasy fiction that somehow manages to expand on an already richly described world with great characters and a driving plot, and I for one, cannot wait to see how this story ends.’ — Fantasy Book Nerd on THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE

Zeno represents J. T. Greathouse in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

UK Hardcover Edition of Brandon Sanderson’s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND Out Next Week!

Posted on Monday, July 17th, 2023

The UK hardcover edition of Brandon Sanderson‘s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is due to be published next week by Gollancz! The second novel from the author’s smash-success Secret Projects Kickstarter, this book has been described as ‘mesh[ing] Jason Bourne, epic fantasy, and time travel’. Here’s the synopsis…

An amnesiac wizard’s only hope of survival in medieval England lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

In addition to Sanderson’s Mistborn, Stormlight Archive and Skyward series, Gollancz also publishes the first book in the Secret Projects range, TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, in the UK.

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

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s SILVER NITRATE Out Next Week!

Posted on Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

SILVER NITRATE, the latest gripping horror/mystery from Silvia Moreno-Garcia is out next week in the UK! Due to be published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

A breathtaking blend of Mexican horror movies and dark occultism from the bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

Montserrat has always been overlooked. She’s a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star, even though she’s been in love with him since childhood.

Then Tristán discovers his new neighbour is the cult horror director Abel Urueta, and the legendary auteur claims he has a way to change their lives – even if his tales of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed.

Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse… but Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her.

As they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and the obscure occultist who once roamed their city, Montserrat and Tristán might just find out that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies…

Jo Fletcher Books also publishes a number of the author’s other books in the UK:

Here are just a few of the many great reviews SILVER NITRATE has already received…

‘Combining real history with unsettling magic, Moreno-Garcia effortlessly ties explorations of misogyny, addiction, antisemitism, and racism into a plot that never falters from its breakneck pace… This is a knockout.’ — Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

‘[T]his heart-pounding paranormal thriller melds real history with things that go bump in the night.’ — TIME

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of the most unique and exciting voices in contemporary fiction, so when it comes to Silver Nitrate, each of these things only makes me want to read the novel even more. Moreno-Garcia makes darkness shine, and this one promises to be very dark.’ — NPR

‘Our lady of suspenseful horror, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is back with another trip into a spooky Mexico City’ — Shondaland

‘The intricate plot is supported by a fully realized setting and seamlessly integrated information about the detailed work of sound editing. Recommend to fans of Night Film, by Marisha Pessl (2013), Last Days, by Adam Nevill (2013), or Ring, by Koji Suzuki (2003).’ — Booklist

‘An engaging, inventive story of moviemaking and the occult for film geeks and genre buffs.’ — Kirkus

‘Moreno-Garcia effortlessly delivers the details of place and Montserrat and Tristán’s complicated personal relationship without sacrificing the novel’s compelling pace and intriguing plot, one that contemplates racism and sexism. Moreno-Garcia…has written a love letter to Mexico City’s film industry and an excellent entry into the popular horror subgenre of occult films.’ — Library Journal

‘This book has everything, and I could not recommend it enough!’ — CrimeReads

‘Moreno-Garcia is a master of pacing, gradually ramping up the supernatural stakes while peppering the tale with fascinating bits of occult esoterica….Moreno Garcia’s affection for a nearly forgotten corner of film history, as well as her almost gleeful appreciation of occult arcana, are undeniable fun, as are her two engrossing main leads.’ — Locus

‘I’m still thinking about this book. Still turning elements of it over to examine them, to better appreciate them. It’s a fabulous novel.’ — Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine

‘SILVER NITRATE is a popcorn thrill ride into the underbelly of 90s Mexican horror movie and occultism—Moreno-Garcia crafts a world so rich with details and history that you won’t be able to look away. Beyond being a break-neck read, this is a book that forces readers to reckon with the monsters that scare us, on screen and in the shadows.’ — Dana Schwartz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anatomy: A Love Story

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a treasure and SILVER NITRATE is a gem: a chilling roller coaster of a tale that captures perfectly why we love horror movies, scary books, and things that go bump in the night.’ — Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of The Lioness

‘You don’t just read this book, you live in it — and it will charm you, intrigue you, and scare the daylights out of you.’ — Tim Powers, World Fantasy Award winning author of The Anubis Gates

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Ian McDonald’s TIEMPO QUE FUE Out Now!

Posted on Monday, July 10th, 2023

The Spanish edition of Ian McDonald‘s acclaimed and BSFA Award-winning TIME WAS is out today! Published by Dolmen Editorial as TIEMPO QUE FUE, here’s the synopsis…

Novela de ciencia ficción sobre una historia de amor en tiempos de guerra que atraviesa los límites marcados por el tiempo.

Una historia de amor cosida a través del tiempo y la guerra, moldeada por el poder de los libros, y finalmente destruida por ella. En el corazón de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Tom y Ben se convirtieron en amantes. Reunidos por un proyecto secreto diseñado para ocultar objetivos británicos del radar alemán, los dos consolidaron un amor que no podía ser revelado. Cuando el proyecto salió mal, Tom y Ben desaparecieron en la nada, presuntamente muertos. Sus cuerpos nunca fueron encontrados.

TIME WAS is published in the UK and North America by Tor.com; it is also available in France (LE TEMPS FUT — Bélial’) and Japan (時ありて — 早川書房/Hayakawa).

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.

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

‘[E]ntrances readers with this multigenerational novella of two time-crossed lovers who can only meet for brief moments separated by several years… beautiful writing… Fans of science fiction who enjoy a dash of history and legend will savor this tender story.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘With echoes of H. G. Wells’s The Time Machine and replete with the inimitable scent of used bookstores, TIME WAS weaves an exquisite spell of love, war and quantum physics that is timeless in its appeal. A scientific romance in the most evocative sense of the word.’ — Nina Allan

‘Throughout his career, Ian McDonald has demon­strated a remarkable versatility of style and language. His recent fiction has ranged from the YA sense-of-wonder exuberance of his parallel-world Everness series to the efficient social melodrama narration of the Luna novels, but he’s always been equally capable of great lyricism, and his new novella, TIME WAS, is a persuasive and gorgeous example of it. Essentially a timeslip romance in which the romance is evoked not by dramatic clinches but by a heightened sensuality, an acute awareness of nature, and a haunting sense of imminent loss, it nevertheless introduces enough chatter about quan­tum indeterminacy to work as SF. In a fascinating way, the two “time-crossed lovers,” Ben and Tom, come to represent the dual aesthetic of any good SF romance: Ben is a physicist working on a complex new experiment with his “Uncertainty Squad,” while Tom is a poet and part-time amateur actor who, when we meet him, is working for the Signal Corps. Early on, Ben confesses that he doesn’t have the soul of a poet, and Tom admits he doesn’t “have the soul of a scientist,” but, as McDonald well knows, you need both to tell a story like this… one of the most purely beautiful pieces of writing McDonald has given us in years.’ — Gary K. Wolfe (Locus)

‘This slender, poignant queer romance incorporates time travel and hints of hard science into a story as devastatingly sad—which isn’t to say bleak—as anything you’ll read this year.’ — B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog (Best SFF Books of the Year So Far, 2018, Honourable Mention)

‘TIME WAS… a peculiar story of time, mystery, books, love, and war, compact as a parable, layered like a complex metaphor… and in some ways, strikingly unsettling… very well put together, and gorgeously written.’ — Tor.com

Roger Zelazny’s FOR A BREATH I TARRY Out Next Week in South Korea!

Posted on Friday, June 30th, 2023

A new, Korean edition of Roger Zelazny‘s FOR A BREATH I TARRY is out next week! Due to be published by 데이원 (Day One Press) on July 7th, as 프로스트와 베타, it’s translated by 조호근 (Jo Ho-geun). Here’s the synopsis…

휴고상 여섯 번, 네뷸러상 세 번을 수상한 뉴웨이브 SF의 거장 로저 젤라즈니.

150편이 넘는 그의 단편 중 백미라 불리는 <프로스트와 베타>가 돌아왔다.

작가인 로저 젤라즈니가 가장 아끼는 작품 중 하나라고 언급한 <프로스트와 베타>는 1967년에 휴고상 최우수 소설상 후보에 올랐으며 출간 후 50년이 지난 현대에 이르러서도 꾸준히 사랑받고 있는 작품이다.

인간이 모두 자취를 감춘 황폐한 세상, 지구에는 인간이 만든 기계들이 남아 목적을 잃은 재건 작업을 끊임없이 수행하고 있다. 지구의 북반구를 관장하는 기묘한 피조물 프로스트는 우연한 계기로 인간이라는 존재에 흥미를 갖게 되며 자신이 노력하면 인간이 될 수 있을 거라고 믿는다. 그는 지구에서 가장 능률적이고 논리적인 존재이기에. 그러나 모르델이라는 또 다른 기계는 비인간이 인간이 되는 건 불가능하다고 주장한다. 이에 프로스트는 큰 대가를 걸고 모르델과 내기를 하게 되고, 인간으로 거듭나기 위한 지난한 탐구의 시간을 보낸다.

인간성이란 터득할 수 있는 특성일까? 무엇이 인간을 가장 인간답게 만드는 것일까? 인간과 인공지능의 경계가 희미해지고 있는 오늘날, 1960년대에 쓰인 이 아름다운 소설은 인간성에 대한 깊은 사유라는 과제를 우리에게 던진다.

First published in 1966, here’s the English-language synopsis…

Taking place long after the self-extinction of Man, “For a Breath I Tarry” recounts the tale of Frost, a sentient machine (“…a silver-blue box, 40x40x40 feet,… featured in whatever manner he chose.”) Though Man has disappeared, his robotic creations (and their creations in turn) continue to function.

Along the way, the story explores the differences between Man and Machine, the former experiencing the world qualitatively, while the latter do so quantitatively. “A machine is a Man turned inside-out, because it can describe all the details of a process, which a Man cannot, but it cannot experience that process itself as a Man can.”

THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE Audiobook Out Tomorrow in North America!

Posted on Monday, June 26th, 2023

The North American audiobook edition of Aliette de Bodard‘s critically-acclaimed and award-nominated THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE is out tomorrow! Narrated by Aoife Hinds and published by Podium Audio, here’s the synopsis…

When tech scavenger Xích Si is captured and imprisoned by the infamous pirates of the Red Banner, she expects to be tortured or killed. Instead, their leader, Rice Fish, makes Xích Si an utterly incredible proposition: an offer of marriage.

Both have their reasons for this arrangement: Xích Si needs protection; Rice Fish, a sentient spaceship, needs a technical expert to investigate the death of her first wife, the Red Scholar. That’s all there is to it.

But as the interstellar war against piracy rages on and their own investigation reaches a dire conclusion, the two of them discover that their arrangement has evolved into something much less business-focused and more personal…and tender. And maybe the best thing that’s ever happened to either of them—but only if they can find a way to survive together.
A rich space opera and an intensely soft romance from an exceptional SF author.

The print and eBook editions of THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE are published in North America by JABberwocky, and in the UK by Gollancz (who also publish the audiobook edition in the UK — also narrated by Aoife Hinds).

THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE has been shortlisted for the 2023 BSFA Award for Best Novel and the 2023 Arthur C. Clarke Award!

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

‘With a unique world, a thought-provoking plot and a fragile, achingly believable relationship forming against the odds in the midst of rampant inequality and ever-present danger, this is a perfect novel for readers wanting emotional complexity, warmth and heartache in their space opera.’ — British Fantasy Society

‘Aliette’s prose is outstanding. It is descriptive and evocative without being overwrought, it is witty and full of emotion. Every character, every scene comes to life immediately and plastically, drawing the reader into this world of space pirates, family biological and found and relationships of all sorts….I could not recommend THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE more.’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘While bringing together two such unlikely lovers seems to be one of the most common conventions of romance, de Bodard places the melodrama against the backdrop of flat-out space opera, which she excels at.’ — Locus Magazine

‘But beyond the romance, THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE also shines both when it comes to the action packed mystery of unravelling the Red Scholar’s death, and in the wider implications about piracy, freedom and emancipation which that plot entails.’ — Nerds of a Feather

‘A top-notch science fiction romance… THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE spins a thrilling yarn about pirate rivalries and epic battles, while proving a more-than-worthy addition to the canon of post-human space opera. And the romance is really, really hot. You’ll want to read this one twice: First to hold your breath as these two wives discover each other. And second to soak up all the clever ideas and lovely moment that feel totally human, even in this star-spanning context.’ — Washington Post

‘Aliette de Bodard summons the spirit of HG Wells… in some far-flung future galaxy, love blossoms between two lesbian space pirates, one human, the other a sentient ship… Soon the pair are navigating the tricky waters of mutual attraction and virtual sex but must also deal with shifting allegiances among the pirate clans and rescue Xich Si’s daughter Khanh from slavery.’ — Financial Times (Best New Science Fiction Novels, January 2023)

Aliette’s next highly-anticipated new novel is A FIRE BORN OF EXILE, due to be published by Gollancz in October.