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J.T. Greathouse’s THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023

THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD, the thrilling conclusion to the J.T. Greathouse‘s acclaimed Pact and Pattern series is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz, 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.

The first two books in the series, THE HAND OF THE SUN KING and THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE, are also published in the UK by Gollancz— available now in paperback!

The series has received many great reviews already, and here are just a few of them…

‘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.

MAROR Paperback Edition Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023

The paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed MAROR is out tomorrow! Published by Head of Zeus, here’s the synopsis…

How do you build a nation?

It takes statesmen and soldiers, farmers and factory workers, of course. But it also takes thieves, prostitutes and policemen.

Nation-building demands sacrifice. And one man knows exactly where those bodies are buried: Cohen, a man who loves his country. A reasonable man for unreasonable times.

A car bomb in the back streets of Tel Aviv. A diamond robbery in Haifa. Civil war in Lebanon. Rebel fighters in the Colombian jungle. A double murder in Los Angeles.

How do they all connect? Only Cohen knows.

Maror is the story of a war for a country’s soul — a dazzling spread of narrative gunshots across four decades and three continents.

It is a true story. All of these things happened.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received since it was first published…

‘Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire… MAROR is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating.’ — Junot Díaz

‘One of the boldest, most visionary writers I’ve ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It’s like the Jewish Godfather!’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘MAROR blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement.’ — Kevin Jared Hosein

‘A masterpiece of the sacred and the profane … a literary triumph.’ — Guardian

‘Amos Oz’s A Tale of Love and Darkness… Fade[s] into oblivion compared with Lavie Tidhar’s magnificent novel MAROR, a panoramic look at four decades of the dark, despicable side of Israel, of death, corruption, violence and drugs… It’s a brilliant undertaking.’ — Jewish Chronicle

‘A bloody beast of a book… MAROR is to Israeli history what Tarantino is to American movie culture’ — Daily Mail

‘Radiant with all the brutally elegant atmosphere of crime noir, and the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James’ A Brief History of Seven Killings, it’s a genre-busting novel that will catch your breath … At once illuminating, thrilling and thought-provoking, this tale of corruption, killings, sacrifice and the souls that make up a nation is a symphonic feat of fiction.’ — LoveReading

‘Who can forget the savage, musical James Ellroy prose circa the L.A. Quartet books? Now we have a successor … Lavie Tidhar, a marvelous multi-genre author who never fails to delight, has now penned his noir opus. MAROR is a heady, nonstop brew of terror, violence, and mayhem, while also exuding swathes of coursing humanity.’ — Read Listen Watch

‘An unforgettably powerful saga … a sweeping portrayal of violence, corruption and chaos threaded through by veins of humanity… It is difficult to do justice to such a monumental work. So many aspects of MAROR attract superlatives but they fail to convey the range and breathtaking insight of this epic crime novel. A book for all lovers of great literature.’ — Queensland Reviewers Collective

‘This is crime writing in the tradition of Balzac and Dickens and a major achievement, full of sound, fury, drugs and blood… An earthquake of a book.’ — Crime Time

‘MAROR is a profane, irreverent, scathing, sometimes blackly humorous and often compassionate fever-dream history of Israel… possibly his best yet.’ — NewTown Review of Books

Lavie’s highly-anticipated next novel is ADAMA, due to be published by Apollo/Head of Zeus on September 14th.

Brandon Sanderson’s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2023

Brandon Sanderson‘s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is out now in the UK! Published in hardcover by Gollancz, it’s the second novel from the author’s smash-success Secret Projects Kickstarter. A blend of 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.

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…

UK Paperback Edition of THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, July 20th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s acclaimed THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is out now! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

A dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

‘The deeply atmospheric novel blends horror, science fiction, and historical events’ Time, 100 ‘Must Read Books of 2022’

Carlota Moreau: growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatan peninsula, she is the only daughter of an eccentric, and dangerous, genius. His experiments, a motley group of hybrid monstrosities, are blindly loyal to their creator.

Into Carlota’s strange but perfectly balanced world comes Eduardo Lizalde, the charming, careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patrons. In the sweltering heat of the jungle, amidst her father’s secrets and her own awakening feelings, Carlota will begin asking questions that could ignite a conflagration.

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

‘Genius . . . combine[s] contemporary political awareness with the appeal of a creepy gothic romance’ — Guardian

‘An evocative slow-burn SF drama about colonialism, heredity and scientific hubris, couched in lush prose’ — Financial Times

‘The imagination of Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a thing of wonder, restless and romantic, fearless in the face of genre, embracing the polarities of storytelling’ — New York Times

‘Paints a vivid picture that is as alluring as it is unsettling, filled with action, romance, and monsters’ — Booklist

‘She deftly combines fantasy, adventure, and even romance; the result is hard to classify but definitely a lot of fun. This isn’t the first book to riff on H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), but it’s definitely one of the better ones. A fun literary remix’ — Kirkus

‘Cements Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s incredible versatility as an amazing writer who moves between genres effortlessly’ — S.A. Cosby, bestselling author of Blacktop Wasteland

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

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s SILVER NITRATE Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, July 18th, 2023

Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s latest gripping horror/mystery novel, SILVER NITRATE is out today in the UK! 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 acclaimed and award-winning 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.

ICYMI, Rivers of London HERE BE DRAGONS #1 Out Now!

Posted on Friday, July 14th, 2023

The first issue (of four) in the latest Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS is out now! The eleventh story arc in the Rivers of London comic series, it is written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow. Here’s the synopsis…

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

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

Peter and Nightingale find themselves drawn into a battle between two groups of hunters – one human, and one fae – as they uncover a legacy of events that extend back to the 1960s. To save the skies of the city, Peter must face the enraged beast – but can he end things peacefully… or will he be forced to destroy the last wyvern?

Series artwork is by José María Beroy, who also did Cover A (above). Covers B and C (below) are by David M. Buisan and Vv Glass, respectively.

The comic series is part of the overall Rivers of London canon, so if you would prefer to follow overall Rivers of London story in chronological order, here’s a handy graphic Titan Comics has created to help you out…

The only title missing on that graphic is Ben’s latest novella, the Sunday Times-bestselling WINTER’S GIFTS, which takes the action across the pond to the United States! The book is out now, published by Orion/Gollancz.

Josh Winning’s BURN THE NEGATIVE is Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, July 11th, 2023

Josh Winning‘s latest horror/mystery masterpiece, BURN THE NEGATIVE, is out now! Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, here’s the synopsis…

Thirty years hiding from her past.
Eight deaths still unexplained.
One haunted horror film.
Nowhere left to run.

Journalist Laura Warren is mid-flight to L.A. when she learns that the streaming series she’s about to report on is a remake of a ’90s horror flick. A cursed ’90s horror flick. The one she starred in—and has been running from her whole life.

As a child star, Laura was cast as the lead in The Guesthouse. She played Tammy Manners, the little girl with the terrifying gift to tell people how the Needle Man would kill them. But her big break was her last, as eight of her cast and crew mates died in mysterious ways, and the film became infamous—a cult classic of fictional horror that somehow summoned the real thing. Hoping to move on, Laura changed her name and her accent, dyed her hair, and moved across the Atlantic Ocean.

But some scripts don’t want to stay buried.

After landing, Laura finds a yellow dress like the one she wore in the movie. Then the words “She’s here” scratched into the wall in an actor’s trailer. And then people working on the series start dying. It’s all happening again, and Laura finds herself on the run with her sister and a jaded psychic, hoping to find answers—and to stay out of the Needle Man’s lethal reach.

An homage to slasher films with a fresh take on the true price of fame, Burn the Negative is a twisty thriller best read with the lights on.

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

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

‘A pulpy exploration of the monsters we make and a love letter to cult-classic frights.’ — Kirkus

‘Like the classic horror cinema it gleefully riffs on, Winning’s latest [BURN THE NEGATIVE] crackles with both dread and dazzle… Winning keeps readers guessing… while throwing out crafty winks and nods to well-known horror films and their makers, and driving his tale to a cinematically spectacular finale with several surprising plot twists. Horror fans should grab the popcorn for this bloody and entertaining romp.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A spine-tingling, rip-roaring yarn that hearkens back to the thrills and chills of the best ’80s slasher horror. Hand this to readers who liked The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix, My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, or My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite.’ — Library Journal

‘BURN THE NEGATIVE is a creepy, twisty, compulsively readable haunted house of a book built from horror movies and our obsessive response to them. You’ll root for Laura and fear the Needle Man. Be sure to make the popcorn and dim the lights.’ — Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts

Winning’s debut novel, THE SHADOW GLASS is also available, published by Titan Books in North America and in the UK.

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

Korean Edition of Roger Zelazny’s FOR A BREATH I TARRY Out Now!

Posted on Friday, July 7th, 2023

A new, Korean edition of Roger Zelazny‘s FOR A BREATH I TARRY is out now! Published by 데이원 (Day One Press) 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.”

Alexia Casale’s SING IF YOU CAN’T DANCE is out tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Alexia Casale‘s new novel, SING IF YOU CAN’T DANCE is out tomorrow in the UK! Published by Faber, here’s the synopsis…

An entirely original and much needed authentic perspective from a teenager coming to terms with her disability as she’s coming of age.

Ven has her future all planned out. Her dance group is going places and so is she… Then she collapses. On stage.

In hospital, Ven discovers that she has a medical condition – one that threatens to ruin everything. No more dancing… walking is challenging enough. But she doesn’t want your pity. Ven is determined to have a big, exciting life. Sure, her future might be different, but it’s not over… Because if you can’t dance, you can always sing!

Refreshing, uplifting and original, Sing if you Can’t Dance is the unforgettable story of a teenager living life on her own terms.

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

‘Without minimising her pain and limitations, Casale has written a flawed and fascinating heroine who is far more than her disability.’ — Financial Times

‘I’ve never read a book like this before. I’m obsessed with Ven and you will be too.’ — Holly Bourne

‘Soars with hope and heart.’ — Louisa Reid

Jack Campbell’s IMPLACABLE Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Monday, July 3rd, 2023

IMPLACABLE, the third novel in Jack Campbell‘s acclaimed Lost Fleet: Outlands series, is out now in the UK! Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

As far from explored space as any human has ever been, Geary and the Alliance fleet are on their own, protecting a diplomatic mission in territory belonging to an alien species with still-unknown motives. His already complex and dangerous mission is further imperiled by deadly challenges from other human factions seeking to harm or exploit the aliens. When another alien species whose technology is far more advanced than humanity’s arrives, the stakes are raised to the highest possible level.Only the most serious danger comes from an unexpected source. When presented with orders to carry out actions he believes not only are mistaken but would be contrary to the ideals of the Alliance, Geary has to finally decide whether he must invoke the power that his long-revered name holds, all the while knowing that this might endanger his entire fleet, tear apart the Alliance, and destroy everything he has fought for.

Titan Books has published all of Campbell’s Lost Fleet novels in the UK to date. The other novels in the Outlands series are BOUNDLESS and RESOLUTE.

Here are just a couple of great reviews for the earlier books in the series…

‘BOUNDLESS begins a third series, Outlands, in the bestselling Lost Fleets saga, and being the thirteenth book in no way jinxes the steady hand of Campbell’s command of top-notch space opera.’ — Booklist

‘Thirteen volumes in, the Lost Fleet series maintains both its ability to put characters through the rigors of military action and to keep its central figure from losing his guileless outlook and unpretentious charm. This is another winner.’ — Publisher’s Weekly on RESOLUTE

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

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.

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

Jonathan Carroll’s CEFFO Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

Today, Tor.com publish a new short story by Jonathan Carroll! CEFFO is out now, available on Tor.com’s website and also as an eBook. A great way to get a taste of the author’s fantastic writing and imagination, here’s the (succinct) synopsis…

On a trip to Italy, a woman stuck in a crumbling relationship discovers the city she loves holds a secret that could change her life…

Carroll’s latest full-length novel is the highly-acclaimed MR. BREAKFAST, published by Melville House.

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.