Author Interviews - Zeno Agency Ltd.

This weekend: Ian McDonald is a Guest of Honour at Norwescon!

Posted on Tuesday, April 11th, 2017

This weekend, best-selling author Ian McDonald is a Guest of Honour at Norwescon! Here’s his con schedule…

Thursday, 13th

5:00-6:30pm — Guest of Honour Banquet (Grand 2)
7:00-8:00pm — Opening Ceremonies (Grand 3)

Friday, 14th

11:00am-noon — Guest of Honour Reading (Grand 2)

Saturday, 15th

noon-1:00pm — Interview and Q&A with Ian McDonald (Evergreen 1&2)
2:00-3:00pm — autographing session 1 (Grand 2)
3:00-4:00pm — autographing session 2 (Grand 2)

Sunday, 16th

4:00-5:00pm — closing ceremonies (Evergreen 3&4)

Ian’s latest series is the critically-acclaimed Luna series: NEW MOON and WOLF MOON. The series is published by Gollancz in the UK and Tor Books in the US. The series has also been published in a number of other languages (more on the way!). Here’s the synopsis for the first novel…

A corporate SF thriller and the deepest evocation yet of the terrors and rigours of life on the moon.

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

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

‘Smart, funny, passionate and at times quite dark, McDonald brings the touch we’ve seen in RIVER OF GODS and DERVISH HOUSE to an entirely new culture as it evolves in a distant hostile place where business or family rules all… it’s terrific. My only complaint: it leaves you wanting the second book right now!’ — Jonathan Strahan on LUNA: NEW MOON

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

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

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

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

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

‘A Howling Good Read… No one builds a world like Ian McDonald does… There are no wasted moves, nothing that isn’t vital because, in the end, everything is vital. Everything matters… it is fascinating, all of it… McDonald’s corporate war is a gorgeous thing, fought with every tool available… McDonald is able to wrap the biggest events in constellations of the smallest so that a cocktail party here, a discussion of ’80s retro fashion (all mall-hair and WHAM! T-shirts), a love story and a day at work for a guy who cleans solar panels all build and coalesce to form the background radiation of life in this unstable future. Every moment with his characters makes them precious, real and alive.’ — NPR on LUNA: WOLF MOON

Ben Aaronovitch interview and upcoming event

Posted on Tuesday, April 4th, 2017

Ben Aaronovitch was recently interviewed for The Bestseller Experiment podcast…

Also, on July 1st, Ben is scheduled to lead a workshop on the key elements of writing fantasy fiction, as part of a Writers & Artists event in London!

Ben is the critically-acclaimed, best-selling author of the Peter Grant urban fantasy series. The series so far includes six novels, published in the UK by Gollancz, in the US by Del Rey and DAW Books, and widely in translation…

… an upcoming novella, due to be published by Gollancz and Subterranean Press…

… and three comic series published by Titan Comics…

Interview with Ben Aaronovitch on Audible!

Posted on Wednesday, January 18th, 2017

As part of its Audible Sessions series of author interviews, you can get a free audiobook interview with best-selling author Ben Aaronovitch! The interview was conducted shortly before Ben’s latest novel, THE HANGING TREE, was published.

THE HANGING TREE is the sixth novel in the Peter Grant series. It is out now in the UK, published by Gollancz; it’s due to be published in the US by DAW Books on January 31st. Here’s the synopsis…

Suspicious deaths are not usually the concern of Police Constable Peter Grant or the Folly — London’s police department for supernatural cases — even when they happen at an exclusive party in one of the flats of the most expensive apartment blocks in London. But the daughter of Lady Ty, influential goddess of the Tyburn river, was there, and Peter owes Lady Ty a favor.

Plunged into the alien world of the super-rich, where the basements are bigger than the houses, where the law is something bought and sold on the open market, a sensible young copper would keep his head down and his nose clean.

But this is Peter Grant we’re talking about.

He’s been given an unparalleled opportunity to alienate old friends and create new enemies at the point where the world of magic and that of privilege intersect. Assuming he survives the week…

All six of the Peter Grant series are available through Audible (UK and US). The novels are published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-6), as well as widely in translation.

Lavie Tidhar and Anne Lyle’s Nine Worlds 2016 Schedules

Posted on Tuesday, August 9th, 2016

This weekend, Nine Worlds Geekfest 2016 is taking place between August 12-14th, 2016, at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith. Two Zeno clients will be in attendance: Lavie Tidhar and Anne Lyle. Here are where you’ll be able to find them…

Lavie Tidhar…

Saturday August 13th

10am — “The end of the world, and why we love it” (Reims)
11:45am — “How to Idea” (Cremant)

Lavie’s latest novel, CENTRAL STATION, was published this year by Tachyon Publications. His previous work includes A MAN LIES DREAMING, winner of the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Award, published in the UK by Hodder, in the US by Melville House; the World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA (PS Publishing); the critically-acclaimed THE VIOLENT CENTURY (Hodder/Thomas Dunne); and the recently re-issued Bookman Histories series (Angry Robot Books).

Anne Lyle…

Saturday August 13th

5pm — “Making and breaking a hero” (Mouton Cadet)

Sunday August 14th

1:30pm — “Writing Utopia” (Bouzy)

Anne Lyle’s critically-acclaimed Night’s Masque trilogy is published by Angry Robot Books, and includes: THE ALCHEMIST OF SOULS, THE MERCHANT OF DREAMS and THE PRINCE OF LIES.

Marie Brennan Signing at Forbidden Planet Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, June 1st, 2016

Tomorrow from 6-7pm, Forbidden Planet in London will host Marie Brennan for a signing event! The author’s latest novel, IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES was recently published by Titan Books in the UK. Here’s the synopsis…

The thrilling new book in the acclaimed fantasy series from Marie Brennan, as the glamorous Lady Trent takes her adventurous explorations to the deserts of Akhia.

Even those who take no interest in the field of dragon naturalism have heard of Lady Trent’s expedition to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia. Her discoveries there are the stuff of romantic legend, catapulting her from scholarly obscurity to worldwide fame. The details of her personal life during that time are hardly less private, having provided fodder for gossips in several countries.

As is so often the case in the career of this illustrious woman, the public story is far from complete. In this, the fourth volume of her memoirs, Lady Trent relates how she acquired her position with the Royal Scirling Army; how foreign saboteurs imperiled both her work and her well-being; and how her determined pursuit of knowledge took her into the deepest reaches of the Labyrinth of Drakes, where the chance action of a dragon set the stage for her greatest achievement yet.

Titan Books has also published the first three novels in the Memoirs of Lady Trent series: A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS, THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS and VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK. Brennan’s previous series, the Onyx Court urban fantasy, is being re-issued by Titan Books this year, and includes: MIDNIGHT NEVER COME (out now), IN ASHES LIE (June 14th) and A STAR SHALL FALL (September 13th).

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

Edward Cox Event at Blackwell’s Next Week

Posted on Friday, January 15th, 2016

Next Tuesday (January 19th), Edward Cox will be taking part in a Q&A event at Blackwell’s in Holborn, London, at 6:30. The event will also include fellow fantasy authors Den Patrick and Jen Williams.

Cox’s Relic Guild series is published in the UK by Gollancz: THE RELIC GUILD, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS and the forthcoming THE WATCHER OF DEAD TIME. Here’s the synopsis for THE RELIC GUILD, in case you haven’t had the chance to check it out, yet…

In the sealed Labyrinth, a young woman must find a way to control her magic and escape her prison in this remarkable debut fantasy.

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

The series has received some great reviews, so far…

‘A terrific debut novel, with plenty of scope for expansion and some really good world-building. Most importantly, lots of fun. Looking forward to the next one.’ — Joanne Harris on THE RELIC GUILD

‘An exciting blend of steampunk, fantasy, horror, and pulp adventure… incredibly detailed, but it never threatens to take over the narrative… Cox avoids the fantasy cliché of characters being little more than their occupations or particular field of expertise, and the format of past and present allows the reader to see how much some of them have changed and developed, and why… THE RELIC GUILD is an intriguing, original and enjoyable book, a daring mix of genres that initially feels like it shouldn’t work, but is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts.’ — Starburst

‘Tightly woven together and all storylines move forward with clarity and purpose: no character is a spare part; no passages tread water. The book accelerates to its conclusion with juicy revelations but a shock held back for the final pages… everything a reader would want to compel them onto the final book of the trilogy… touches of fantasy, horror and the weird but eschewing many of the regular tropes of the genre: it is quite an achievement to create something so different and so fresh… Every page bursts with magic… fervid and sensual writing… an impressive sequel, building on its predecessor in its sheer inventiveness, scope and story development. It is hard to call anything ‘unique’, but perhaps this is as close as fantasy gets.‘ — British Fantasy Society on THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS

‘THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS is… both more of the same whilst being filled with fresh ideas at the same time… a blend of horror, fantasy and civilised steampunk adventure. It’s also quite a bit more cinematic than the first book… Cox has taken the time to explore both the world and his characters with this sequel. The Guild is part typical fantasy adventuring party and partially a superhero team, and this time round we get to learn more about what makes them tick. Not only do we discover more about the heroes, but the scenery-chewing bad guys also get to have their own backstory as well. Add on top the gentle bringing together of existing storylines and some rather entertaining self-discoveries by the main characters, and what we have here is an excellent middle book… leaves us wanting more…’ — Starburst

Tim Powers Talks Steampunk

Posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some Clips from Brandon Sanderson’s SHADOWS OF SELF Book Tour

Posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2015

Brandon Sanderson‘s fifth Mistborn novel, SHADOWS OF SELF, was released two weeks ago in the UK. Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis for the novel…

It is more than 300 years after the events of the The Final Empire shaped Scadrial. Waxillium Ladrian has returned to the capital city of Elendel from the far flung roughs. Elendel is crisscrossed by canals and railways and towers reach for the sky but this is still a city of dangers and of magic; Allomancy and Feruchemy can still change the world. Wax faces many more adventures.

The next novel in the Mistborn series, THE BANDS OF MOURNING, is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz, on January 28th, 2016.

Sanderson took part in some GollanczFest events and also some solo book tour signings and readings. Some of this tour was captured on video, and below you’ll find three clips. First, Brandon reads from the novel…

Next, Brandon twirls his Gemmell Award trophy axe (and announces the tour that has now finished)…

And, finally, an interview with Brandon…

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

Ben Aaronovitch Interviewed by Amazon about RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK

Posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2015

Last week, Ben Aaronovitch was interviewed for Amazon’s Kindle Blog about his new comic series, RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK. Co-authored by Andrew Cartmel, the comics are set between books four and five of Ben’s Peter Grant urban fantasy series. Here are a couple of snippets from the interview…

Amazon: Have the comics enabled you to explore anything that the books didn’t allow, and is there anything that you’d like to explore in future series?

BEN: The books are written in a very strict first-person narrative style and the comics are much looser – you can follow other characters, do quick one panel flashbacks, memories and other omniscient narrator stuff – which opens up a wide array of possibilities of expanding the world beyond the books.

There are also jokes and action sequences that wouldn’t work within the prose style of the books. Surprise splash pages, rapid chronological intercutting and ironic caption/image counterpoints are tools that aren’t available to me in the books allowing me to expand the story in new ways…

Amazon: Both the comics and the books include rich detail about local history, myths, and legends. What do you enjoy most about the research process?

BEN: The best thing about research is that it’s not actually work in any way or form. Actually that’s not the best thing; the best thing is finding out stuff that you never knew – like the existence of a coffee shop on the Thames in the 18th Century that was called ‘The Folly’. Things like that just drop into your lap and seamlessly integrate into your story as if you’d planned them from the start – it makes you look good.

The first four issues of the comic, published by Titan Comics, are out now. Issue 5 is out next month. The series is illustrated by Lee Sullivan and coloured by Luis Guerrero. Here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant is one of only two members of a very special branch of London’s Metropolitan Police. He is, in fact, pretty much a wizard and it’s his job to investigate those shadowy crimes that involve urban vampires, weird folk in the underground and, in this case, why cars are suddenly taking on lives of their own and killing innocent folk

The Peter Grant series is published in the UK by Gollancz; in the US by Del Rey and DAW Books; in Germany by DTV; in France by J’ai Lu; and in multiple other territories and languages.

Zeno At GollanczFest15

Posted on Monday, October 12th, 2015

This weekend, Gollancz is hosting the second Gollancz Festival, in Manchester and London. A number of Zeno clients will be in attendance, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the schedules…

The first day of the Festival, October 16th, is in Manchester. There will have two rooms of events, and here are the Zeno appearances…

6:15-6:45pm — ‘Second World Fantasy vs. Real World Fantasy’ — Brandon Sanderson
6:45-7:15pm — ‘Detectives vs. Demons vs. The Apocalypse vs. Space Soldiers’ — Ben Aaronovitch
7:30-8:00pm — ‘Introducing the Class of 2015’ — Aliette de Bodard
8:00-8:30pm — ‘Human Modification in SF’ — Ian McDonald and Justina Robson

In the second Manchester Room…

6:15-6:45pm — ‘Introducing the Class of 2015’ — Aliette de Bodard (so there are two opportunities to meet Gollancz’s new authors)
6:45-7:15pm — ‘Predictions of the Future in SF: Does Reality Matter?’ — Ian McDonald and Justina Robson
7:30-8:00pm — ‘These Aren’t My: Writing Outside Your Own Experiences’ — Ben Aaronovitch
8:00-8:30pm — ‘Would I Lie to You: Author Tell Truths and Lies About their Upcoming Works’ — Brandon Sanderson

For the second day of GollanczFest, in London on October 18th, here’s how and when Zeno is represented…

12:30-1:45pm — John Berlyne is hosting ‘Introducing the Class of 2015: The Trials and Tribulations of Being a New Writer’
2:00-2:15pm — Ben Aaronovitch discusses the Process of World Building, with his editor Simon Spanton
2:15-2:30pm — ‘The Role of the Agent in the Publishing Process’ with John Berlyne

Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the best-selling Peter Grant urban fantasy series — the latest novel is FOXGLOVE SUMMER. Aliette de Bodard’s latest novel is the critically-acclaimed THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS. Ian McDonald’s latest novel is the critically acclaimed LUNA: NEW MOON (which has also been optioned for TV by CBS). Justina Robson’s latest novel is THE GLORIOUS ANGELS. Brandon Sanderson’s latest novel is SHADOWS OF SELF, the fifth novel in the Mistborn series. All of these novels are published in the UK by Gollancz.

Upcoming US Event: McDonald & Snodgrass at The Last Bookstore

Posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015

This Thursday, Ian McDonald and Melinda Snodgrass will be hosted by The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles for interviews and book signing. The event is on September 24th, and starts at 7pm (full details at the link above).

Ian McDonald is the author of, most recently, LUNA: NEW MOON. The first in a two-part science fiction series set on the moon, it is published today in the US by Tor Books, and in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

The Moon wants to kill you. Whether it’s being unable to pay your per diem for your allotted food, water, and air, or you just get caught up in a fight between the Moon’s ruling corporations, the Five Dragons. You must fight for every inch you want to gain in the Moon’s near feudal society. And that is just what Adriana Corta did.

As the leader of the Moon’s newest “dragon,” Adriana has wrested control of the Moon’s Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family’s new status. Now, at the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation, Corta Helio, surrounded by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana’s five children must defend their mother’s empire from her many enemies… and each other.

You can read an excerpt from the novel, here. Here’s a selection of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

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

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

‘A refreshing and complex science fiction of the best kind – one that is universally clever and thought provoking, and one that stays with you long after you close the final page.’ — Upcoming4Me

Melinda Snodgrass is the author of the critically-acclaimed Edge series: THE EDGE OF REASON, THE EDGE OF RUIN, THE EDGE OF DAWN. Published in the US by Tor Books, it is published in the UK by Titan Books. Here’s the synopsis for the first in the series…

A contemporary fantasy that explores the tensions between science and rationality, religion and superstition. An intelligent blend of Dante’s Inferno and Urban Fantasy…

Richard Oort is a cop. He’s also the last Paladin: a reluctant hero, fated to defend the world against demonic forces that threaten to plunge us into another Dark Age.

Richard is on patrol one night when he leaps to the defense of a terrified young woman fleeing something impossible: beings that can only be described as monsters. Beings that can only have been created by magic. But in saving the beautiful Rhianna, he gets drawn into the machinations of a mysterious billionaire who just might be Prometheus and Lucifer. And who claims to be waging a millennia-old war on the side of reason and light, defending humanity from others of his kind who want nothing more than to see us destroy ourselves with superstition, religion, darkness, fear.

But when Richard discovers he’s a Paladin — product of a genetic fluke that enables him to wield Lucifer’s sword — he becomes a central figure in the battle between Light and Darkness. But is he strong enough to bear the burden?

Here’s a selection of reviews the Edge series has received…

‘[A] gritty narrative of a war between light and dark… Balanc[es] a harsh critique of organized religion with touches of humor and a good-hearted priest who grounds his faith in the Golden Rule…’ — Publishers Weekly on THE EDGE OF REASON

‘Snodgrass has a thick, meaty writing style that will satisfy the hungriest reader… she deftly weaves [her characters’] stories together to bind the interest and excitement of the story. Events in this novel will challenge the beliefs and thought systems of many and leave readers questioning themselves – but in a highly satisfying manner.’ — RT Book Reviews on THE EDGE OF RUIN

‘A rousing finale… A terrific conclusion to this epic urban fantasy, Snodgrass continues to define the genre on her own terms. This is one book readers should grab on to now, because it might prove to be a harbinger for the next phase of urban fantasy. Recommended.‘ — SF Revu on THE EDGE OF DAWN

Zeno represents Melinda Snodgrass in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Kay McCauley at Aurous, Inc.

Aliette de Bodard Interviewed on Coode St Podcast

Posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2015

Last week, Aliette de Bodard was interviewed by Jonathan Strahan for the Coode Street Podcast. You can listen to the episode below or at the cast’s website.

The interview coincided with the release of THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, which is out now in the UK (Gollancz) and the US (Roc Books). Here’s the synopsis…

Paris has survived the Great Houses War – just. Its streets are lined with haunted ruins, Notre-Dame is a burnt-out shell, and the Seine runs black with ashes and rubble. Yet life continues among the wreckage. The citizens continue to live, love, fight and survive in their war-torn city, and The Great Houses still vie for dominion over the once grand capital.

House Silverspires, previously the leader of those power games, lies in disarray. Its magic is ailing; its founder, Morningstar, has been missing for decades; and now something from the shadows stalks its people inside their very own walls.

Within the House, three very different people must come together: a naive but powerful Fallen, an alchemist with a self-destructive addiction, and a resentful young man wielding spells from the Far East. They may be Silverspires’ salvation. They may be the architects of its last, irreversible fall…

The novel has received some great reviews so far, and we expect even more to come in. Here’s just a sample…

‘A gripping tragedy of forlorn individuals caught up in an angelic version of the Cold War… De Bodard aptly mixes moral conflicts and the desperate need to survive in a fantastical spy thriller that reads like a hybrid of le Carré and Milton, all tinged with the melancholy of golden ages lost.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Will grab readers and force them to pay attention to the amazing writing and the phenomenal characters. de Bodard will sweep you up into the dark and dirty world Paris has become… It’s a whirlwind, it’s heartbreaking and it’s one of the best fantasy novels of 2015.’ — RT Book Reviews (Top Pick August 2015)

‘A beautifully crafted novel full of complex characters… vivid and fast-paced battles and intense political manoeuvrings… with carefully crafted characters both with layers and depth, De Bodard reflects the best and worst of human nature in her novel… an intriguing mystery, elegantly written… Something any avid fantasy reader with an open mind will devour!’ — Guardian

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

Posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

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

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

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

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

Ben Aaronovitch & Lavie Tidhar at Greenwich Literary Festival this weekend

Posted on Tuesday, May 19th, 2015

As the summer begins, many Zeno clients will be attending many of the myriad literary festivals taking place. This weekend, Ben Aaronovitch and Lavie Tidhar will be attending the Greenwich Literature Festival.

Friday, May 22nd…

Who: Lavie Tidhar
What: ‘Greenwich: where science and fiction meet – Science Fiction Night at Greenwich Book Festival’ — From the race to define longitude to the discovery of ‘canals’ on Mars, the Royal Greenwich has been a hotbed of creative scientific thought for more than three centuries. In what ways does science intersect with fiction, and how do they contribute to each other? And how has the venerable institution itself proven fertile ground for visionaries of all stripes over the decades? Tom Harper (Zodiac Station), Paul McAuley (Something Coming Through) Sarah Lotz (Day Four) and Lavie Tidhar (A Man Lies Dreaming) as they discuss science, fiction and the legacy of the Royal Greenwich. The event will be chaired by Anne C. Perry (editor, Hodder & Stoughton).
When: 8:00-9:30pm
More details here.

Lavie Tidhar is the author of, most recently, the critically-acclaimed A MAN LIES DREAMING (Hodder) and THE VIOLENT CENTURY (Hodder and Thomas Dunne Books), the World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA (Solaris), The Bookman Histories (Angry Robot), and numerous award-nominated and critically-acclaimed novellas and short stories. Later this year, Titan Comics will publish his first comic series, ADLER.

Saturday, May 23rd…

Who: Ben Aaronovitch
What: ‘Life, But Not as we Know It: creating alternate realities – Ben Aaronovitch at the Greenwich Book Festival. Age 14+*’ — Imagine a London populated not just by you and me, but by tired ghosts and mischievous trickster gods, by magical musicians and apprentice sorcerers, who go about their ordinary days alongside us. A world where the gods of the River Thames still exist, and have day jobs in the City. There’s magic all around, if only you could see it… Join Ben Aaronovich, author of the bestselling, London-bending series Rivers of London, in conversation with his former editor Rebecca Levene, author of Smiler’s Fair and Ghost Dance, as they discuss the tricks, tips, and travails of writing a world that’s very much like our own… except when it isn’t.
When: 12:00-1:00pm
More details here.

Ben Aaronovitch is the critically-acclaimed, best-selling author of the Peter Grant series. The series includes (thus far): RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER and the upcoming THE HANGING TREE. The series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in the US by Del Rey (#1-3) and DAW Books. This July, Titan Comics will publish the first issue of a new RIVERS OF LONDON comic series, BODY WORK, which is also written by Ben.

Justina Robson & Ben Aaronovitch at Bradford Literature Festival this weekend

Posted on Friday, May 15th, 2015

This weekend, Zeno clients Justina Robson and Ben Aaronovitch will be attending the Bradford Literature Festival. Both will have events on Sunday, 17 May.

Justina…

When: 10:30am-12:30pm
What: Masterclass – Fantasy Writing – ‘Science fiction and fantasy writing have never been more popular. Now you can learn the key components of this genre in a masterclass with successful author Justina Robson. In this practical masterclass, Justina will explain how the genre works and teach you how to create credible worlds, compelling plots and engaging characters.’
Tickets: £10.00
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Ben…

When: 1:30pm-2:30pm
What: Ben will be in conversation with David Barnett at Bradford Waterstones, to discuss his latest Peter Grant novel, FOXGLOVE SUMMER.
Tickets: £6.00
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Justina Robson is the author of, most recently, THE GLORIOUS ANGELS, published by Gollancz. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed Quantum Gravity sci-fi series (published by Gollancz in the UK and Pyr Books in the US), and a number of equally praise stand-alone novels.

Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Peter Grant urban fantasy series, which includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER and the upcoming THE HANGING TREE. The series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and has been published widely in translation.