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Ben Aaronovitch Thanks Booksellers

Posted on Thursday, June 11th, 2015

Best-selling author Ben Aaronovitch has decided to say thank you to the ‘unsung heroes of the book trade’, the booksellers. A former bookseller himself, the author will deliver 1,000 flagons of Weston’s Old Rosie cider to 384 book stores in the UK (independents and Waterstone’s branches) between June 8th-19th.

Ben is the author of the bestselling Peter Grant urban fantasy series, which is published in the UK by Gollancz. The gesture of thanks precedes the paperback release of FOXGLOVE SUMMER, the fifth novel in the series, on July 9th. Here’s the synopsis…

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

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

The Peter Grant series currently includes RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER and the upcoming THE HANGING TREE. All of which are published in the UK by Gollancz. The series is published in the US by Del Rey (#1-3) and DAW Books (#4 onwards); it is also published in Germany by DTV, and France by J’ai Lu. It has been published widely in other markets/languages as well. RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK, a comic series set between books four and five, is due to start publishing from July (Titan Comics).

Cover: Ben Aaronovitch’s MOON OVER SOHO in Hungarian

Posted on Friday, June 5th, 2015

Today, we have the Hungarian cover for Ben Aaronovitch‘s MOON OVER SOHO (above). Published by Gabo as SOHO FELETT A HOLD, it is the second novel in Ben’s best-selling and critically-acclaimed Peter Grant urban fantasy crime series. Here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant közrendőr hamar rájön, hogy a dzsessz-szaxofonos Cyrus Wilkinson nem szívroham áldozata lett. Valaki vagy valami a londoni Soho utcáit járja, és az a különleges képesség vonzza, amely elválasztja a nagy zenészeket az átlagosaktól…

And, in English (published by Gollancz)…

Peter Grant is not just a lowly Detective Constable, he’s also apprenticed to the last wizard in Britain: policing will never be the same again!

I was my dad’s vinyl-wallah: I changed his records while he lounged around drinking tea, and that’s how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And it’s why, when Dr Walid called me to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognised the tune it was playing. Something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint like a wax cylinder recording. Cyrus Wilkinson, part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant, had apparently dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig in a Soho jazz club. He wasn’t the first.

No one was going to let me exhume corpses to see if they were playing my tune, so it was back to old-fashioned legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene. I didn’t trust the lovely Simone, Cyrus’ ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens’ portrait, but I needed her help: there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives.

And as I hunted them, my investigation got tangled up in another story: a brilliant trumpet player, Richard ‘Lord’ Grant – my father – who managed to destroy his own career, twice. That’s the thing about policing: most of the time you’re doing it to maintain public order. Occasionally you’re doing it for justice. And maybe once in a career, you’re doing it for revenge.

The Peter Grant series currently includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER and the upcoming THE HANGING TREE. All of the novels are published in the UK by Gollancz, and Del Rey (books 1-3) and DAW Books (books four onwards) in the US. The series has been published widely in translation. In July, Titan Comics will publish the first issue in RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK, a mini-series set between books four and five.

Andrew Hodges’ BBC Alan Turing Timeline

Posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015

Andrew Hodges, the author of the New York Times-bestelling biography ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, has put together a Turing Timeline for the BBC.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA has been adapted into an Oscar-winning movie, THE IMITATION GAME, which was released last year. Tie-in editions of the book (above) are published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press. Here’s the synopsis…

It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the British mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954) saved the Allies from the Nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decades — all before his suicide at age forty-one. This acclaimed biography of the founder of computer science, with a new preface by the author that addresses Turing’s royal pardon in 2013, is the definitive account of an extraordinary mind and life.

Capturing both the inner and outer drama of Turing’s life, Andrew Hodges tells how Turing’s revolutionary idea of 1936 — the concept of a universal machine — laid the foundation for the modern computer and how Turing brought the idea to practical realisation in 1945 with his electronic design. The book also tells how this work was directly related to Turing’s leading role in breaking the German Enigma ciphers during World War II, a scientific triumph that was critical to Allied victory in the Atlantic. At the same time, this is the tragic account of a man who, despite his wartime service, was eventually arrested, stripped of his security clearance, and forced to undergo a humiliating treatment program — all for trying to live honestly in a society that defined homosexuality as a crime.

The biography has once again hit the New York Times bestseller list, this time at #10 on the Science list:

Tanya Huff and William Gibson Nominated for Aurora Awards

Posted on Friday, May 29th, 2015

The latest books by both Tanya Huff and William Gibson have been nominated in the Best Novel category in this year’s Aurora Awards! The Awards are the premier award for Science Fiction and Fantasy in Canada.

William Gibson’s THE PERIPHERAL is published in the UK by Penguin. The novel has recently been made available as an audiobook, too. As we reported earlier this week, the novel has also been nominated for the Campbell Award. Here’s the synopsis…

Flynne Fisher lives in rural near-future America where jobs are scarce and veterans from the wars are finding it hard to recover. She scrapes a living doing some freelance online game-playing, participating in some pretty weird stuff. Wilf Netherton lives in London, seventy-some years later, on the far side of decades of slow-motion apocalypse. Things though are good for the haves, and there aren’t many have-nots left.

Flynne and Wilf are about to meet one another. Her world will be altered utterly, and Wilf’s, for all its decadence and power, will learn that some of these third-world types from the distant past can be real badass.

THE PERIPHERAL has (perhaps unsurprisingly) been praise pretty far and wide. Here’s just a sample of reviews…

‘His writing has been refined over the years, but Gibson still maintains that sparse, edgy style that has been a characteristic of his work from the very beginning… Gibson remains as unnervingly prophetic as ever, making his futures feel like they’re just around the corner, products of humankind’s inability to act when necessary, transforming a sci-fi whodunit into a work of fiction that feels both ahead of its time and frighteningly relevant to today’s world.’ 9/10* — Starburst

‘Dramatic, scary, creepy,violent, and finally satisfying… like any really well-designed thrill ride or mystery tour (or sonnet or string quartet), as soon as you get off, you want to get right on for another go-round.’ — Locus

‘In THE PERIPHERAL, William Gibson’s first futuristic novel since 1999’s ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES, we experience the fantastic synthesis of a 20th century writer — the Gibson of NEUROMANCER, eyeball-kicks of flash and noir; and the Gibson of PATTERN RECOGNITION, arch and sly and dry and keen… A perfect fusion of Gibson’s pulp heritage with his fine-tuned design and social sensibilities… From the microscale word choices to the macroscale plot, structure and themes, the book is strange and contemporary in a perfectly futuristic way.’ — Boing Boing

Tanya Huff’s THE FUTURE FALLS is published in the UK by Titan Books. It is the third novel in the author’s Enchantment Emporium urban fantasy series. Here’s the synopsis…

When Auntie Catherine warns the family of an approaching asteroid, the Gales scramble to keep humans from going the way of the dinosaurs. Fortunately for the world, they’re wielding a guitar and a dragon.

The Gale family can change the world with the charms they cast, which has caused some supernaturally complicated family shenanigans in the past. So when NASA and Doomsday Dan confirm Auntie Catherine’s dire prediction, Charlotte “Charlie” Gale turns to the family for help.

But Allie is unavailable because the universe seems determined to have her produce the seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son of a Gale. And the Aunties can’t help because they’re tied to the earth – although they are happy to provide their delicious, trademark pies. And in the end, all Charlie has is a guitar…

…and Jack. The Dragon Prince, and a Sorcerer.

But Charlie might like Jack just a little too much, and Jack might like Charlie a little too much in return. Actually, between Allie’s hormones, the Aunties trying to force her and Jack into ritual, the Courts having way too much fun at the end of days, and Jack’s sudden desire to sacrifice himself for the good of the many, Charlie’s fairly certain that the asteroid is the least of her problems.

The Gales are going to need more than pie to save the world from an incoming asteroid. But together there isn’t anything they can’t deal with – except possibly each other.

Titan Books also publish the other books in the series — THE ENCHANTMENT EMPORIUM and THE WILD WAYS. Titan also publish Huff’s stand-alone novel THE SILVERED, and the author’s Confederation science-fiction series, which currently includes five books: VALOUR’S CHOICE, THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR, THE HEART OF VALOUR, VALOUR’S TRIAL and THE TRUTH OF VALOUR.

Zeno represents Tanya Huff in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency; and William Gibson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Martha Millard Literary Agency.

Where to Start with Brandon Sanderson?

Posted on Tuesday, May 26th, 2015

Tor.com recently published a handy primer for newcomers to Brandon Sanderson‘s rich bibliography…

Not many authors are quite as consistently prolific as Brandon Sanderson, and happily, he’s not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon! For those of you who might be curious about what all the fuss is about, I’ve put together this general introduction to his work. It covers a bit about Brandon himself, addresses the awesome fact that all of his epic fantasies are connected, and suggests some titles for first-time readers to start on…

Brandon is best known for writing sweeping, epic fantasy series — including the bestselling Mistborn series and the Stormlight Archive — as well as a couple of stand-alone titles, and a smattering of novellas and other series. Most of Brandon’s work is published in the UK by Gollancz. In addition to the Tor.com piece, here are some details for good novels to start with…

ELANTRIS

Elantris was built on magic and it thrived. But then the magic began to fade and Elantris began to rot. And now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium motivated by dogged religious views. Can a young Princess unite the people of Elantris, rediscover the lost magic and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots?

Brandon’s debut novel, it took fandom by storm. His other stand alone novel is WARBREAKER.

THE FINAL EMPIRE — Mistborn #1

What if the Dark Lord won?

A thousand years ago evil came to the land and has ruled with an iron hand ever since. The sun shines fitfully under clouds of ash that float down endlessly from the constant eruption of volcanoes. A dark lord rules through the aristocratic families and ordinary folk are condemned to lives in servitude, sold as goods, labouring in the ash fields.

But now a troublemaker has arrived and there is rumour of revolt. A revolt that depends on criminal that no-one can trust and a young girl who must master Allomancy – the magic that lies in all metals.

The Mistborn series was a huge word-of-mouth success in the US, and has been hugely popular in the UK ever since this novel was published. Other novels available now in the series include THE WELL OF ASCENSION, THE HERO OF AGES and THE ALLOY OF LAW. Two more novels in the series — SHADOWS OF SELF and BANDS OF MOURNING — are due to be published in 2015-16, by Gollancz in the UK.

THE WAY OF KINGS — Stormlight Archive #1

According to mythology mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms. And the Voidbringers followed…

They came against man ten thousand times. To help them cope, the Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and mystical weapons, known as Shardblades. Led by ten angelic Heralds and ten orders of knights known as Radiants, mankind finally won.

Or so the legends say. Today, the only remnants of those supposed battles are the Shardblades, the possession of which makes a man nearly invincible on the battlefield. The entire world is at war with itself – and has been for centuries since the Radiants turned against mankind. Kings strive to win more Shardblades, each secretly wishing to be the one who will finally unite all of mankind under a single throne.

On a world scoured down to the rock by terrifying hurricanes that blow through every few day a young spearman forced into the army of a Shardbearer, led to war against an enemy he doesn’t understand and doesn’t really want to fight.

What happened deep in mankind’s past?

Why did the Radiants turn against mankind, and what happened to the magic they used to wield?

The first novel in Brandon’s planned 10-book epic. The sequel, WORDS OF RADIANCE, is also out now.

STEELHEART — Reckoners #1

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics… nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart – the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father. For years, like the Reckoners, David’s been studying, and planning – and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He’s seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

The first novel in a super-hero series, set in a dystopian future United States. MITOSIS and FIREFIGHT — a novella and sequel, respectively — are also out now.

THE RITHMATIST

This is a fast-paced adventure for readers of all ages by bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, master of fantasy fiction. Here, in a school for the magically gifted, your talent could cost you your life…

Joel is fascinated by the magic of Rithmatics, but few have the gift and he is not one of them. Undaunted, he persuades Professor Fitch to teach him magical theory. Joel can’t infuse his protective lines and circles with power, or bring his chalk-drawn creatures to life, but he’s quick to master the underlying geometric principles. His unique skills will soon face an extraordinary test when top Rithmatist students are kidnapped from his Academy.

Since he’s not a magic user, Joel appears to be safe – but he’s desperate to investigate and prove himself. Then people start dying. However, can Joel really stop a killer alone? As even more students disappear, he realizes he’ll need the help of Rithmatist apprentice Melody. Together, they must race to find clues before the killer notices them – and takes them out too.

Published in the UK by Tor Books, this is the first in a planned YA fantasy, set in a post-apocalyptic world.

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

Read an Excerpt from Blaylock’s BENEATH LONDON

Posted on Monday, May 25th, 2015

The publication date for the next Langdon St. Ives novel, BENEATH LONDON, is fast approaching. The fourth novel in James P. Blaylock‘s pioneering steampunk series is due to be published in the UK by Titan Books on June 12th, 2015. To celebrate the upcoming release, the publisher have given Carabas a short excerpt from the novel.

Here’s the synopsis…

When the sudden collapse of the Victoria Embankment uncovers a passage to an unknown realm beneath London, Langdon St. Ives sets out explore it, not knowing that a brilliant and wealthy psychopathic murderer is working to keep the underworld’s secrets hidden for reasons of his own.

Assumed to be dead and buried deep beneath London, St. Ives lives secretly on the streets of the great city where he, Alice St. Ives, and their stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly crimes: the gruesome death of a witch in a forest hovel, the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl who can see into the human soul, and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi serve the strange, murderous ends of St. Ives’s greatest and most dangerous nemesis.

The Langdon St. Ives series also includes: HOMUNCULUS, LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE and THE AYLESFORD SKULL. The whole series is published in the UK by Titan Books.

Lavie Tidhar’s A MAN LIES DREAMING Nominated for Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Award

Posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Lavie Tidhar‘s latest masterpiece, A MAN LIES DREAMING has been nominated for the 2015 Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Award.

The Award, which is now in its fifth year, is given to recognise the breadth and vibrancy of British writing today. Fifteen books have been nominated, and eight of these will be awarded a prize. The winners will be announced at a party at Jerwood Space, London, on Thursday June 18th, 2015.

A MAN LIES DREAMING is published in the UK by Hodder Books. Here’s the synopsis…

Deep in the heart of history’s most infamous concentration camp, a man lies dreaming. His name is Shomer, and before the war he was a pulp fiction author. Now, to escape the brutal reality of life in Auschwitz, Shomer spends his nights imagining another world — a world where a disgraced former dictator now known only as Wolf ekes out a miserable existence as a low-rent PI in London’s grimiest streets.

An extraordinary story of revenge and redemption, A Man Lies Dreaming is the unforgettable testament to the power of imagination.

The novel has received some fantastic reviews, too. Here is just a small selection…

‘A shocking book as well as a rather brilliant one… A twisted masterpiece.’ — Guardian

‘Savagely funny… Those who enjoy laughter in the dark will relish Tidhar’s parade of mordant ironies… This novel is weird, upsetting, unmissable.’ 5* — Telegraph

‘Tidhar’s voice itself — at times humorous, at times grim but never frivolous and always taught and controlled… As with his previous novels, Tidhar knows how to say a great deal in very little. There is eloquence and gravitas in the sparselness and brevity of noir fiction when it is good, and Tidhar’s is quite incredible.’ — Tor.com

‘Young, ambitious, skilled and original.’ — Christopher Priest, author of The Prestige

Hodder also published Lavie’s previous, critically-acclaimed novel, THE VIOLENT CENTURY — which is also published in the US by Thomas Dunne Books. Lavie is also the author of The Bookman Histories (Angry Robot) and the World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA (Solaris). As mentioned earlier this week on the site, Lavie will be attending the Greenwich Literature Festival, as part of a panel on Science Ficiton and Fantasy — more details, here.

William Gibson & Daryl Gregory Nominated for Campbell Award

Posted on Thursday, May 21st, 2015

Zeno clients William Gibson and Daryl Gregory have been nominated as finalists for the 2015 Campbell Award! The Award will be given during the Campbell Awards and Conference, which will be held over June 11-14, 2015. The books nominated are:

William Gibson’s THE PERIPHERAL, which is published in the UK by Penguin. Here’s the synopsis…

Here’s just a small selection from the great reviews THE PERIPHERAL has received…

‘Gibson remains as unnervingly prophetic as ever, making his futures feel like they’re just around the corner, products of humankind’s inability to act when necessary, transforming a sci-fi whodunit into a work of fiction that feels both ahead of its time and frighteningly relevant to today’s world.’ 9/10* — Starburst

‘[A] slow-burning thriller, ambitiously structured on either side of an economic and ecological collapse… All of Gibson’s characters are intensely real, and Flynne is a clever, compelling, stereotype-defying, unhesitating protagonist who makes this novel a standout.’ — Publishers Weekly

Daryl Gregory’s AFTERPARTY, which is published in the UK by Titan Books. Here’s the synopsis…

A near-future science fiction crime story about murder, drugs, neuroscience, more drugs, and God. It’s Elmore Leonard and Philip K. Dick road-tripping down neural pathways, with Hunter S. Thompson howling in the back seat.

‘Numinous’ opens up a portal to God – or, at least, a convincing illusion of one. In a world where God is a drug, one woman has to get sober. Lyda Rose was one of the four neuroscientists who helped create Numinous, a breakthrough drug intended to treat schizophrenia. Since unwittingly overdosing on the drug, Lyda has been haunted by visions of an angel she calls Dr. Gloria. Treated in an asylum, Lyda has to remind herself that the doctor is merely a drug- induced manifestation of her own temporal lobe, but the angel is awfully hard to argue with. Afterparty follows Lyda’s investigation into a series of Numinous-like overdoses. It is also about the ways that our brains can fool us, often for our own benefit.

Along the way the book asks twenty-first century questions: If personality, sexual orientation, religious belief, and morality can be chemically twisted, what is the self? Does free will exist? And is sin even possible?

Gregory’s novels have always received plenty of rave reviews, and AFTERPARTY is no exception. Here are some examples…

‘Brilliantly deft writing… A road-trip revelation for a new generation.’ — SciFi Now (5* review)

‘This taut, brisk, gripping narrative, dazzlingly intercut with flashbacks and sidebars, oozes warmth and wit. A hugely entertaining, surprising and perhaps prophetic package that, without seeming to, raises profound questions about the human mind and the nature of perception.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘Daryl Gregory’s AFTERPARTY is a fantastic thrill ride, presenting an all-too-real future that upends our own world and replaces it with something far more strange. This is science fiction of the cutting edge, on par with stories such as William Gibson’sNeuromancer, McIntosh’s Soft Apocalypse and Orphan Black.’ — io9.com

Zeno represents William Gibson and Daryl Gregory in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Martha Millard Literary Agency.

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.

Zeno Clients Nominated for Locus Awards!

Posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

Three Zeno clients have been nominated as finalists for 2015 Locus Awards!

Aliette de Bodard continues her tremendous record for nominations, featuring in two categories this year: MEMORIALS has been nominated in the Novelette category — originally in Asimov’s 1/14; and THE DUST QUEEN has been nominated for best Short Story — originally in REACH FOR INFINITY, published by Solaris. Aliette’s next, highly-anticipated novel is THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS – due to be published in August by Gollancz in the UK, and Roc Books in the US.

Ian McDonald‘s third Everness novel, EMPRESS OF THE SUN, has been nominated for best Young Adult Novel. Published in the UK by Jo Fletcher Books and the US by Pyr Books, here’s the synopsis…

When Everett Singh’s dad was randomly sent to one of the many parallel worlds in the multiverse, Everett discovered a way to find him on the quarantined planet E1, home of the terrifying Nahn. Now he, along with the crew of the airship Everness, has followed a trail to the next world and his father.

But this is a world where dinosaurs have had sixty-five million years to evolve, where death is the key to the throne and where the Empress of the Sun has a plan to wipe out every other creature on her planet and then take her conquest to Earth. All she needs is Everett’s infundibulum…

William Gibson‘s THE PERIPHERAL has been nominated for best Science Fiction novel. Published in the UK by Viking/Penguin, here’s the synopsis…

Zeno represents William Gibson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Martha Millard Literary Agency.

Charlie Human on the Real World Influences for APOCALYPSE NOW NOW

Posted on Tuesday, May 12th, 2015

Charlie Human‘s critically-acclaimed debut novel, APOCALYPSE NOW NOW, was recently published in the US by Titan Books. To celebrate, Charlie was invited by Boing Boing to write a piece about the novel, and he chose to write about the real world influences behind the novel…

In South Africa the spam is hand-delivered. Pamphlet-flickers (guys handing out flyers for sidewalk magicians that offer everything from debt-clearing to penis enlargement) try to outmaneuver me on my commute every morning.

Bouncing on their heels they weave from side to side to intercept passers-by with their haphazardly printed offerings. Love spells, exorcisms, magic money purses. Diagon Alley with a bit more aggression, a bit more style, a little less polish.

Make no mistake, there’s an incredibly dark side to it… There’s also a darkly comic side to this urban reality fantasy. Our tabloids are in on the game, spinning an epic serial of monsters and magic in their headlines every morning…

You can read the rest of the article here.

APOCALYPSE NOW NOW and its sequel, KILL BAXTER are published in the UK by Arrow, and in South Africa by Random Struik/Umuzi. Titan are also due to publish KILL BAXTER in the US, in November 2015. Here’s the synopsis for the first novel…

I LOVE THE SMELL OF PARALLEL DIMENSIONS IN THE MORNING

Baxter Zevcenko’s life is pretty sweet. As the 16-year-old kingpin of the Spider, his smut-peddling schoolyard syndicate, he’s making a name for himself as an up-and-coming entrepreneur. Profits are on the rise, the other gangs are staying out of his business, and he’s going out with Esme, the girl of his dreams.

But when Esme gets kidnapped, and all the clues point towards strange forces at work, things start to get seriously weird. The only man drunk enough to help is a bearded, booze-soaked, supernatural bounty hunter that goes by the name of Jackson ‘Jackie’ Ronin.

Plunged into the increasingly bizarre landscape of Cape Town’s supernatural underworld, Baxter and Ronin team up to save Esme. On a journey that takes them through the realms of impossibility, they must face every conceivable nightmare to get her back, including the odd brush with the Apocalypse.

Ian Tregillis’s THE MECHANICAL is io9’s May Bookclub Pick

Posted on Friday, May 8th, 2015

This month’s discussion title for io9.com’s bookclub is none other than Ian Tregillis‘s magnificent latest novel, THE MECHANICAL. So, if you are a fan of the novel, then you should head on over and join in the discussion. We expect spoilers, though, so if you haven’t read the novel yet (ahem, it’s out now), then proceed with caution.

The first novel in the Alchemy Wars series, THE MECHANICAL is published by Orbit Books. Here’s the synopsis…

My name is Jax.

That is the name granted to me by my human masters.

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

THE MECHANICAL has received some fantastic reviews since its release. Here’s just a small selection…

‘Launches a series with this superb alternate history filled with clockwork men and ethical questions on the nature of free will… Tregillis’s complex setting is elegantly delivered, and the rich characters and gripping story really make this tale soar.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Tregillis never fails to impress, and his writing and stories seem to be getting better with each novel. This book is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and it’s my favorite work of his to date. I can’t wait to see what the next installment in The Alchemy Wars will bring.’ — BiblioSanctum

‘An excellent novel. Truly excellent: I have rarely found myself this gripped by a book … Tregillis has an excellent eye for characterisation, and a master’s grasp of how to build tension to a breaking point… a thing of beauty…’ — Locus

Ian Tregillis is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Milkweed Triptych – BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL – which is also published by Orbit Books in the UK.

Zeno represents Ian Tregillis in the UK and translation, on behalf of Kay McCauley of Aurous, Inc.

Cityread London’s Final Week Events

Posted on Friday, April 24th, 2015

All good things must come to an end… And this, sadly, includes Cityread London. As we’re sure you’re all aware, this year’s title was Ben Aaronovitch‘s critically-acclaimed, best-selling RIVERS OF LONDON. Above and below you can see a few photos from the Covent Garden launch event (from the group’s Facebook page). Next week is the final week of official events, and here is Ben’s schedule…

Monday, April 27th

11.00-12.30pm — Croydon: Ashburton Library — Author talk

7.00pm — Lewisham: Manor House Library — Author talk

Tuesday, April 28th

3.15-4.30pm — Bexley: Bexleyheath Central Library — ‘Come and hear Ben Aaronovitch tell tales of the RIVERS OF LONDON… The first in a series of books featuring P.C. Grant, these magical and humorous stories are an unusual CSI meets urban fantasy style and Ben brings these characters to life and will also be signing books at the end of his talk.’

7.00-8.00pm — Bromley: Bromley Central Library — ‘Come and hear Ben tell us all about this story and the following three books in his series of crime / urban fantasy fiction.’ You can fin more details here.

7:00 — The Society Club — ‘Under the Underground: Comics and Urban Fantasy’: An extra event, in case you can’t attend Ben’s talk, above. Join Titan Comics editor Steve White (Rivers of London: Body Work), architect and comic book artist Alison Sampson, writer Dan Watters and comic book artist Caspar Wijngaard (Tortured Life) for a talk exploring London’s uniquely spooky underbelly and its relationship to the medium of graphic novels and comic books. Moderated by Joel Janiurek. More details, here.

Wednesday, April 29th

7.00-8.30pm — Redbridge: Wanstead Library — ‘Ben Aaronovitch will be visiting Wanstead Library as part of Cityread London. He will be speaking about his book and writing, and what inspired him, before signing copies of his books.’ You can find more details, here.

Thursday, April 30th

6.30-8.00pm — Islington: The Gallery — Author talk

Saturday, May 2nd

11:00am-4:30pm — Magical Rivers of London — An afternoon-long event featuring a number of experts and more, drawn together to discuss London’s waterways and magic. More details here.

Finished RIVERS OF LONDON and want more? You’re in luck: the next four novels in Ben’s Peter Grant series are also out now, published by Gollancz in the UK: MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER. The next novel in the series, THE HANGING TREE, is due to be published soon (more details to come).

[L-to-R: Gollancz Publicist Sophie Calder, Ben Aaronovitch and Zeno’s own John Berlyne]

A Soundtrack for Detecting in Hell…

Posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

Today, we want to share a little something from Doubleday Books. Composed and produced to celebrate the release of Simon Kurt Unsworth‘s debut novel, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, it’s ‘an absolutely hellish, rather haunting bit of the blues’ — “Playing the Fool”…

In case the plug-in, above, doesn’t work, you can listen to the song over on Soundcloud.

Simon was also recently interviewed by the Qwillery, as part of their series of 2015 Debut Author interviews. In the wide-ranging interview, Simon talks about when he first caught the writing bug…

‘… in school, at 13, I wrote a story for an English class and the teacher gave it a high mark. It was a Stephen King rip-off, but the teacher’s praise made me think I could write and from then on I was hooked.’

… and also his writing processes, influences and inspirations, his favourite moments in the novel, the importance of feathers, and more.

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, the first in a two-part series, is published in North America by Doubleday and in the UK by Del Rey.