Category: Release

DEATH IN FINE CONDITION: The Paperback Sleuth’s First Case, Out Now!

Posted on Friday, June 9th, 2023

A DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in Andrew Cartmel‘s new Paperback Sleuth series, is out now! Published by Titan Books in the UK and North America, it’s a must read for crime/mystery fans and especially those who loved the author’s Vinyl Detective series! Here’s the synopsis…

Introducing a new series from the creator of the beloved, bestselling Vinyl Detective novels.

Cordelia knows books. An addict-turned-dealer of classic paperbacks, when she’s not spending her days combing the charity shops and jumble sales of suburban London for valuable collector’s items, she’s pining for the woman of her dreams and nimbly avoiding her landlord’s demands for rent.

The most elusive prize of all, her white whale, has surfaced — a set of magnificent, vintage Sleuth Hound crime novels. Gorgeous, and as rare as they come. Just one problem. They’re not for sale. Still, that won’t stop a resourceful woman like Cordelia… One burglary later, the books are hers. Unfortunately, the man she’s just robbed turns out be one of London’s most dangerous gangsters, and now he’s on her trail and out for blood.

Cordelia’s best laid plans to pay the rent and woo the object of her affections start to fall apart, and she realises she may have placed herself in the crosshairs of a villain torn straight from the pages of her treasured novels.

The novel has already received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly: ‘Cartmel (the Vinyl Detective mysteries) has never been better than in this darkly funny series kickoff centered on London bookseller Cordelia Stanmer, a former addict who has fallen in love with vintage paperbacks and has no scruples about how she’ll feed her growing collection… Cordelia is a memorable, devilish antihero, and Cartmel’s delightfully dexterous plotting bodes well for a sequel. Fans of Lynne Truss’s Constable Twitten novels will find much to love.’

The aforementioned Vinyl Detective novels are also published by Titan Books in the UK and North America — the first six novels are out now.

Ben Aaronovitch’s WINTER’S GIFTS Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, June 8th, 2023

The UK edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s latest Rivers of London novella, WINTER’S GIFTS is out today! The first book to star FBI Agent Kimberley Reynolds, it moves the action to the United States. Published by Gollancz, it is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook (narrated by Penelope Rawlins), here’s the synopsis…

THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE POND…

When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.

That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town – and there’s no sign of Henderson.

Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbours report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising – cutting off the town, with no way in or out…

Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases – a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness – Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…

The novella is due to be published on June 8th in Hardcover, eBook, and audiobook (narrated by Penelope Rawlins).

Also, a reminder that Ben is on tour at the moment in the UK, to celebrate the release of WINTER’S GIFTS. Including this evening, there are seven remaining stops on the tour, and you can find full information and tickets for the events at the links, below…

Zelazny’s CHRONICLES OF AMBER Available in Turkey!

Posted on Friday, May 26th, 2023

The first five novels in Roger Zelazny‘s beloved, classic Chronicles of Amber are available now in Turkey! The Amber Yıllıkları novels are published in Turkish by İthaki Yayınları, as follows…

  1. AMBER’DE DOKUZ PRENS — NINE PRINCES IN AMBER — translated by Barış Emre Alkım
  2. AVALON’UN TÜFEKLERİ — THE GUNS OF AVALON — translated by Barış Emre Alkım
  3. TEKBOYNUZUN İŞARETİ — SIGN OF THE UNICORN — translated by Barış Emre Alkım
  4. OBERON’UN ELİ — THE HAND OF OBERON — translated by Niran Elçi
  5. KAOS SARAYLARI — THE COURTS OF CHAOS — translated by Niran Elçi

Here’s the synopsis for the first novel…

“TÜM YOLLAR AMBER’E ÇIKAR…”

Amber Prensi Corwin, yüzyıllardır mahkûm edildiği sürgün hayatından kurtulup yitirdiği hafızasını tekrar kazanmak ve evine, tek gerçek dünya olan Amber’e geri dönmek üzere yola çıkar. Fakat bu yolculukta dostlarına da düşmanları kadar temkinle yaklaşmalıdır – özellikle de söz konusu entrikacı ve kurnaz kardeşleri olduğunda. Üstelik Amber’de işler değişmiş, kardeşi Eric tahtı ele geçirmiştir. Dokuz prensin tahta çıkmak için kâh meydanlarda kâh kapalı kapılar ardında savaştığı bu büyülü dünyada hiçbir şey göründüğü gibi değildir.

Çıkacağı bu tehlikeli macera Corwin’i devasa ağaçların kapladığı masalsı Arden’den, kanla lekelenmiş merdivenleri ve Amber’dekine tıpatıp benzeyen kalesiyle hayalet diyar Rebma’ya götürecektir.

Corwin’in tahta uzanan yolculuğu, Amber Yıllıkları’nın ilk kitabı Amber’de Dokuz Prens’le başlıyor!

The first five novels in the Chronicles of Amber series are available in the UK, collected into an omnibus edition, published by Gollancz as part of their SF Masterworks series. The final five novels are collected into a second omnibus, also published as a Gollancz SF Masterwork. Here’s the synopsis for the first collection…

Amber is the one real world, casting infinite reflections of itself – Shadow worlds, that can be manipulated by those of royal Amberite blood. But the royal family is torn apart by jealousies and suspicion; the disappearance of the Patriarch Oberon has intensified the internal conflict by leaving the throne apparently up for grabs.

In a hospital on the Shadow Earth, a young man is recovering from a freak car accident; amnesia has robbed him of all his memory, even the fact that he is Corwin, Crown Prince of Amber, rightful heir to the throne – and he is in deadly peril…

The five books, Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon, Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon and The Courts of Chaos, together make up The Chronicles of Amber, Roger Zelazny’s finest work of fantasy and an undisputed classic of the genre.

Cierra Block’s LONDRES SIN SECRETOS Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023

The Spanish edition of Cierra Block‘s LONDON BLOCK BY BLOCK is out now! Published by Lunwerg Editores as LONDRES SIN SECRETOS, it was translated by Carolina Smith de la Fuente. Here’s the synopsis…

Lo mejor de la capital británica a través de 40 atractivos mapas. 

Descubre dónde darte el gusto de un afternoon tea o de un helado riquísimo, explora Chelsea y Notting Hill como uno de sus vecinos, disfruta de las mejores rutas en bici.

A través de coloridas ilustraciones y preciosos mapas, esta guía presenta los lugares imprescindibles de la capital británica: desde rincones con un pasado tenebroso hasta los paseos más románticos, pasando por bonitas librerías y pintorescos mercados, aquí encontrarás los planes que no te puedes perder en tu próxima escapada a Londres.

«Mi objetivo es que las ilustraciones sean bonitas y útiles, que se puedan usar como guía para pasar un día en Londres o enmarcar y colgar como una obra de arte. En definitiva, quiero crear mapas bonitos que ayuden a la gente a vivir experiencias memorables en una de las mejores ciudades del mundo.» Cierra Block

LONDON BLOCK BY BLOCK is published in the UK and North America by OH!, an imprint of Welbeck Publishing. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

London is a spectacular place to visit, and there are endless things to see and do all year round.

In London, Block by Block, illustrator Cierra Block shares 40 maps showing the best places that London has to offer, whether it’s the food or history, culture, shopping, beautiful buildings or gardens. Each map starts with an idea — it might be, Where are the best pancakes in London? What are the places everyone should visit in Marylebone? Or, Where in London can you lose hours browsing the shelves of a beautiful bookstore? From there, Cierra has curated a list of the best places and has painted a charming accompanying map. From best afternoon tea to most impressive views, haunted places and things to do in summer, there really is something for everyone.

This book will be an inspiration for all, whether it’s your first visit to London, you’re a seasoned vacationer or an all-your-life local. That’s the wonderful thing about London — there’s always more to explore!

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Audiobook Edition Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023

James P. Blaylock‘s latest novel, PENNIES FROM HEAVEN is now available in a new audiobook edition! Published by W. F. Howes, and narrated by Laurel Lefkow, here’s the synopsis…

Jerry Larkin discovers an age-old secret buried beneath the foundation of the house that he and his wife Jane, an avid reader of ghost stories, bought six months ago in the idyllic town of Old Orange in southern California.

Jane Larkin, whose MacArthur grant led to the creation of public gardens and a farmers market in the town’s central park, works against time to save what she has built as a 100-year storm moves in off the coast.

Lettie Phibbs, a strange librarian whose Antiquity Center holds the secrets to the hidden history of Old Orange, inserts herself into the Larkin’s lives, growing increasingly eccentric and menacing, as unpredictable as the storm itself.

The print edition of PENNIES FROM HEAVEN is out now, published by PS Publishing in the UK, and JABberwocky in North America and in eBook.

Blaylock is also the author of the acclaimed Langdon St. Ives series, published by Titan Books (novels) and Subterranean Press and JABberwocky (novellas and short stories). The author has also written a substantial number of other stand-alone novels and series — check out his author page for more information.

Ukrainian Edition of ROADMARKS Out Now!

Posted on Monday, May 22nd, 2023

A new, Ukrainian edition of Roger Zelazny‘s ROADMARKS is out now! Published by Богдан/Bohdan, as Дороговкази, it was translated by Denys Dömin (Денис Дьомін). Here’s the synopsis…

Чи можна змінити минуле? Так, якщо знати дорогу. Точніше, Дорогу, єдину і неповторну — крізь час, від динозаврів і стародавніх цивілізацій аж у космічно-футуристичну добу. Обрані з різних століть уміють її долати. Тасують події, маніпулюють історією… або просто буденно собі заробляють на прожиття. Кого тут тільки не стрінеш: і горезвісних диктаторів, і славетних письменників, і безіменних пропащих відлюдників у позачассі. А серед інших їздять Дорогою двоє: батько і син, прямують назустріч долі — зльоту або загибелі. За штурманів же у тих водіїв незвичні, але поетичні, високотехнологічні та норовливі супутниці. Обидва екіпажі долають перешкоди й ворогів, шукаючи відповіді на життєво важливу загадку. Усе вирішиться при останньому повороті на Вавилон — і не обійдеться без драконів, таких любих серцю Джорджа Мартіна, що він аж екранізацію обіцяє.

The Ukrainian cover is by Олега Кіналя (Oleg Kinal).

ROADMARKS is also available in the UK, published as part of Gollancz’s SF Masterworks series. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The Road can go Anywhere.

The Road can go Anywhen.

Almost.

Red Dorakeen has been on the Road for a very long time. For all of time, in fact. It stretches infinitely into the future and past, with exits that take him wherever, or whenever, he wants to go.

But he can’t find the place he wants to be.

He’s not the only one who can travel the Road, and as people join and leave, they can alter the past, or the future, to suit their whims. Exits close off, become overgrown, and working out what to change back to return to old timelines could take, well . . . forever.

Fortunately, Red has all the time he could ever need.

Roadmarks is a fantastically mind-bending novel from one of SFF’s most influential authors. It weaves together linear and non-linear narratives in a compelling tale full of mystery and magic.

New UK Audiobook Edition of THE PERIPHERAL Out Now!

Posted on Friday, May 19th, 2023

William Gibson‘s THE PERIPHERAL is now available in a new audiobook edition in the UK! Published by W. F. Howes, and narrated by Katie Leung, here’s the synopsis…

In the near future in a broken down rural America, Flynne Fisher scrapes a living as a gamer for rich players. One night, working a game set in a futuristic but puzzlingly empty London, she sees a death that’s unnervingly vivid. Soon after she gets word that it isn’t a game after all — the future she saw is all too real, she’s the only witness to a murder and someone from that unreal tomorrow now wants her dead.

The story of a young woman caught between two worlds, The Peripheral interweaves two futures — pre-apocalypse USA and post-apocalypse London — to tell a story which gets right to heart of the way we live now.

The novel, which is the first in the author’s Jackpot series, is available in print and eBook, published by Penguin in the UK. It has also been adapted into a limited series, by Amazon Studios (check it out on Prime!).

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

‘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… Ultimately, THE PERIPHERAL is a story about people; their hopes, their fears and frustrations. Despite advances in technology, the worlds still consist of the “haves” and “have-nots”,  making Gibson’s protagonists and their companions constant battlers against the system, striving for change, for something better, something they deserve. 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

‘Seminal cyberpunk author Gibson, who has spent the last several years writing the more-or-less present-day Zero History series of novels, returns to the future with this 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

‘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

‘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

‘A smart, nuanced twist on time travel… THE PERIPHERAL is a fast-paced murder investigation and political thriller… compelling… the worlds are compelling in their own right as well, despite their desolation. Flynne’s town is dominated by big-box stores, the economy fueled by a combination of service jobs and 3D printing piracy. Netherton’s London is a rehabilitated disaster area, where you’re more likely to see telepresence robots outside than real people. But they’re as full of personality as any crowded city, described in Gibson’s pithy, poetic prose. THE PERIPHERAL also feels more accessible than his last several books.’  —  The Verge

‘While placed firmly in the sci-fi genre of his earlier works, Gibson’s latest retains the social commentary from his more recent novels… This is quintessential Gibson: gonzo yet cool, sharp-edged, sophisticated…’  —  Kirkus

‘William Gibson is one of the smartest writers around… THE PERIPHERAL starts off by throwing the reader into the deep end of a complex story set in a future world rich in highly-advanced technology. Or, actually, two future worlds. Only gradually do the pieces fall into place and you begin to understand what is going on… Gibson is not a difficult writer but he is demanding, and here those demands are well rewarded. THE PERIPHERAL is intellectual entertainment of the first order, a pop SF thriller that will make you think.’  —  Toronto Star

The second novel in the Jackpot series is AGENCY, which is out now in the UK, published by Penguin.

Zeno represents William Gibson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Nell Pierce at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Travis Baldree’s MAGIE UND MILCHSCHAUM is out Today!

Posted on Thursday, May 18th, 2023

MAGIE UND MILCHSHAUM, the German edition of Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed and bestselling LEGENDS & LATTES is out today! Published by DTV , and translated by Wolfgang Thon, here’s the synopsis…

Viv, eine wilde und tapfere Ork-Kriegerin, ist nach Jahren voller Abenteuer und Fährnisse des Kämpfens müde geworden. Sehr zum Unwillen ihrer Gefährten beschließt sie, das Schwert an den Nagel zu hängen – und dafür ein Kaffeehaus zu eröffnen. In der Hafenstadt Thune setzt sie zusammen mit dem Hobbit Cal ihren Plan in die Tat um und lockt mit dem exquisiten Getränk schon bald Krieger, Zwerge und Wesen jeglicher Art an … und leider auch den bösen Elf Fennus, der von Viv ein geheimnisvolles Artefakt stehlen will. Eines Nachts steht das Kaffeehaus in Flammen … aber auch wenn Viv sich mittlerweile in den Succubus Tandri verliebt hat, ist sie alles andere als eingerostet und nimmt den Kampf auf!

The UK and North American editions of the novel are published by Tor Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

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

‘This is a story about following your dreams, even when they take you away from who you thought you had to be. It’s sweet, beautiful and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book.’ — Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway

‘The most fun I’ve ever had in a coffee shop.’ — Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London

‘This slice-of-life cozy fantasy novel has everything you’ve been searching for.’ — Buzzfeed

‘An orc retires from adventuring to start a fantasy city’s very first coffee shop. This setup combined with the positive messages of defying societal stereotypes, letting go of violence to build peace, and trusting in your friends feels like a premise from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld… LEGENDS & LATTES is a novel, and shop, that will delight anyone who enjoys coffee-shop alternate universes, slow-burn romances, and the vindication of friendship.’ — Booklist, starred review

‘A gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop…. This charming outing will please anyone who’s ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A stunningly-well done story at every level’ — Fantasy Faction

‘If you like fantasy but you’re tired of reading about wars and general intensity, this is the book for you… Cozy fantasy at its best.’ — Literary Hub

‘LEGENDS & LATTES isn’t just a cosy, slice-of-life fantasy, it is a hug after a long day, it’s that first bite of chocolate you’ve been desperately craving or that first sip of coffee, it’s pyjamas and blankets and everything else which brings comfort and warmth. This is a tale so simple yet so wholesome and adorable, it has made me see just how versatile the fantasy genre can be… Believe the hype… this book deserves all the praise… Baldree delivers a tale to soothe the soul, a tale which had me smiling and crying with happiness from beginning to end.’ — Fantasy Hive

THE GARDEN OF EMPIRES UK Paperback Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of J.T. Greathouse‘s THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE is out tomorrow! The second novel in the author’s acclaimed Pact and Pattern series, it will be published by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

WAR MAKES MONSTERS OF EVERYONE.

Foolish Cur, once named Wen Alder, finds that his allies in the rebellion might cross any line if it means freedom from the Empire. But he can’t overcome a foe as strong as Emperor Tenet alone.

REBELLION HAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

Koro Ha, Foolish Cur’s former tutor, discovers the Empire is not so forgiving of those who raise a traitor. And their suspicion may cost him and his people more than he can imagine.

THE GODS ARE LURKING IN THE SHADOWS.

As war against the Empire rages, Foolish Cur knows there is a greater threat. The emperor plans his own coup against the gods, and they will wreak destruction if he tries. To stop him, Foolish Cur might have to risk everything – and resort to ancient magics that could tear the world apart.

THE HAND OF THE SUN KING, the first in the series, is also available in the UK, published by Gollancz. The third novel in the series, THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD, is due out in August 2023. The covers for all three novels are by Patrick Knowles.

As already suggested, the Pact & Pattern series has been acclaimed pretty widely. Here are a handful of reviews THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE has received…

‘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

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

‘[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

‘If you’ve already read Hand of the Sun King this is an absolute must read and I am already looking forward to book three.’ — The Bibliophile Chronicles

‘This book is a complete package of beautiful prose, well written characters , well explained magic with good battle scenes and immersive world-building.’ — Reading Notions

‘J.T does a brilliant job of showcasing these characters. […] It’s a great sequel, and I really recommend it!’ — FanFiAddict

‘I can’t wait to see what happens next to Wen Alder/Foolish Cur and how his decisions will continue to affect the empire and the world.’ — Grimdark Magazine

Here, too, are just a few of the great reviews THE HAND OF THE SUN KING has received so far…

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

‘An excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair.’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘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

‘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

‘Sometimes a book comes along that is truly special. J.T. Greathouse is about to take Patrick Rothfuss’s crown with The Hand of the Sun King. It’s a beautiful tale about someone trying to discover the magic within themselves, in a world where they’ll never truly fit in. Be prepared to be swept along on a unique journey where the consequences of choice echo through an empire.’ — Mike Shackle

‘A sublime debut fantasy novel set in a unique world that, through the eyes of Wen Alder, shares the delightful intricacies of world-building’ — Eternal Bookcase

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

ICYMI: Roger Zelazny’s LORD OF LIGHT Available in UK eBook for the First Time!

Posted on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023

We’re very happy to report that Roger Zelazny‘s classic, Hugo Award-winning LORD OF LIGHT is now available in the UK as an eBook — this is the first UK digital edition of the novel! Published by Gollancz, as part of their SF Masterworks series, here’s the synopsis…

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

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

Gollancz has also published Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber series and ROADMARKS, also as part of their SF Masterworks series.

Two New French eBook Editions: LORD OF LIGHT and DILVISH, THE DAMNED

Posted on Friday, May 12th, 2023

We’re very happy to report that two classic Roger Zelazny novels have been published in France as new eBook editions, both published by Denoël!

LORD OF LIGHT, one of Zelazny’s best-loved stand-alone novels, is available now as SEIGNEURS DE LUMIÈRE. Translated by Luc Carissimo, Mélusine Claudel, and Claude Saunier, here’s the synopsis…

Mondialement connu pour sa saga d’Ambre, Roger Zelazny ne s’est pas contenté de réinventer la mythologie celtique, comme le prouvent brillamment les trois romans au sommaire de ce volume, tous proposés dans des traductions révisées.

Dans Seigneur de lumière (prix Hugo 1968), sans doute son roman le plus ambitieux, Zelazny revisite le panthéon hindou ert replace la quête mystique de Siddhartha sur une planète extraterrestre dirigée par une caste d’immortels.

Dans Royaumes d’ombre et de lumière, il décrit loin dans le futur la lutte d’Osiris et Anubis,la vengeance d’Horus et les visions d’apocalypse d’Isis.

Dans L’Œil de Chat, un de ses romans les plus sous-estimés, il lance un pisteur navajo à la poursuite de la plus dangereuse des créatures intelligentes – Chat – un extraterrestre télépathe capable de changer de forme à volonté.

Winner of the 1968 Hugo Award (also nominated for the Nebula Award), LORD OF LIGHT is available in the UK as part of Gollancz’s SF Masterworks series. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

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

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

DILVISH, THE DAMNED is published as DILVISH LE DAMNÉ, and was translated by Michelle Charrier. Here’s the synopsis…

Il s’appelle Dilvish de Sélar, mais les vieilles chansons parlent plutôt de lui comme de Dilvish le Libérateur. Vaincu par Jélérak, il a été exilé plusieurs siècles durant aux enfers. Un séjour qu’il a mis à profit pour apprendre les douze Abominables Formules de la magie noire. Chevauchant un sombre cheval d’acier capable de cracher du feu, chaussé de bottes d’elfe qui ne laissent aucune empreinte derrière elles, armé de l’Épée Invisible, Dilvish est de retour. Et la route qui le mène de la résurrection à la vengeance lui fera traverser un monde magique où derrière chaque rencontre se cache un danger mortel ou un faux-semblant.

Dans ce volume est publiée pour la première fois en France l’intégralité des aventures de Dilvish le Damné, soit onze nouvelles et un roman. Au carrefour de la sword & sorcery classique et de l’hommage à H. P. Lovecraft, Dilvish le Damné fait partie des fantasies les plus assumées de Roger Zelazny.

First published in 1982, here’s the English-language synopsis for DILVISH, THE DAMNED…

Dilvish, the Damned is a collection of fantasy stories first published in 1982. Its contents were originally published as a series of separate short stories in various fantasy magazines.

The protagonist, Dilvish, was sent to Hell by the dark sorcerer Jelerak when he interrupted one of Jelerak’s rituals. The stories recount his adventures after he escapes Hell two hundred years later, with a handful of awesome, but impractical destructive spells and a sapient Steed named Black, and sets out for revenge on Jelerak.

Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES Out Now in France!

Posted on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

The French edition of LEGENDS & LATTES, Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed, best-selling debut novel is out now! Published by Ynnis Editions, as LÉGENDES & LATTES, and translated by Stéphanie Chaptal, here’s the synopsis…

Une tasse de fantasy, des tranches de vie savoureuses et un zeste de romance !

Viv, une orc mercenaire au passé sanglant, décide de changer de vie. À l’aide d’une légendaire pierre censée lui apporter la bonne fortune, elle se lance dans une entreprise audacieuse  : la création d’un café. Un pari risqué, car dans la ville de Tuine, les elfes, lutins et autres ratelins ignorent tout de ce breuvage peu ragoûtant. Et lorsque les hommes de main du Madrigal, la mafia locale, viennent s’en mêler, et que l’un de ses anciens compagnons d’armes rôde alentour, Viv sait d’expérience que son aventure ne se déroulera pas sans embûches…

Aux côtés d’une succube très perspicace, d’un hobgobelin mutique et de divers alliés improbables, Viv devra réussir à se tailler une place dans un monde qui lui est inconnu, tout en protégeant coûte que coûte ce qui compte le plus pour elle.

LEGENDS & LATTES is published by Tor Books in the UK and North America; the novel is also available in Hungary, Spain, Germany, and Poland (with more translations on the way!). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

Baldree’s next novel is BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, a prequel novel in the series — it is due to be published by Tor Books in the UK and North America, in November 2023.

Here are just a few of the great reviews LEGENDS & LATTES has received so far…

‘This is a story about following your dreams, even when they take you away from who you thought you had to be. It’s sweet, beautiful and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book.’ — Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway

‘The most fun I’ve ever had in a coffee shop.’ — Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London

‘A gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop… This charming outing will please anyone who’s ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This slice-of-life cozy fantasy novel has everything you’ve been searching for.’ — Buzzfeed

‘An orc retires from adventuring to start a fantasy city’s very first coffee shop. This setup combined with the positive messages of defying societal stereotypes, letting go of violence to build peace, and trusting in your friends feels like a premise from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld… LEGENDS & LATTES is a novel, and shop, that will delight anyone who enjoys coffee-shop alternate universes, slow-burn romances, and the vindication of friendship.’ — Booklist, starred review

‘A stunningly-well done story at every level’ — Fantasy Faction

‘If you like fantasy but you’re tired of reading about wars and general intensity, this is the book for you… Cozy fantasy at its best.’ — Literary Hub

‘LEGENDS & LATTES isn’t just a cosy, slice-of-life fantasy, it is a hug after a long day, it’s that first bite of chocolate you’ve been desperately craving or that first sip of coffee, it’s pyjamas and blankets and everything else which brings comfort and warmth. This is a tale so simple yet so wholesome and adorable, it has made me see just how versatile the fantasy genre can be… Believe the hype… this book deserves all the praise… Baldree delivers a tale to soothe the soul, a tale which had me smiling and crying with happiness from beginning to end.’ — Fantasy Hive

Ian McDonald’s TIME WAS Available in Japan

Posted on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023

Ian McDonald‘s BSFA Award-winning novella TIME WAS is available in Japan! Published by 早川書房/Hayakawa as 時ありて, here’s the synopsis…

時を超えて彷徨う二人の男の物語。英国ＳＦ協会賞受賞作 戦記ノンフィクションを専門に扱う古書ディーラーが、即売会で手にした一冊の詩集『時ありて』。彼は詩集に挟まれた手紙に書かれた事実を追ううちに、第二次大戦の戦火を生きた二人の男をめぐる迷宮を彷徨うことになる。英国SF界のレジェンドによる傑作時間SF

TIME WAS is published in North America and in the UK by Tor.com. In addition to winning the 2019 BSFA Award for Short Fiction, that year it was also a finalist for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award and Philip K. Dick Award; it also placed 6th for the Locus Award for Best Novella. The novella is also available in France, published by Le Bélial’.

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

‘[A] character-based story about the impact of a pair of time travelers on those who discover their existence. A full-length novel might have been consumed with the temporal mechanics and incidents in the lives of time-lost lovers; by eliding those details, this shorter work is, paradoxically, able to slow down and luxuriate in the story’s elegiac themes… an impressively challenging book for its length, both in McDonald’s use of language, and in its timey-wimey overlapping narratives. A story from the point of view of poets and book lovers would fall flat if the novel’s language weren’t a match for the inner monologues you’d expect from people whose interior lives are so full of words. McDonald succeeds in doing several seemingly incompatible things at once, and doing them well. TIME WAS is a time travel story that’s also, and primarily, a love story. Science fiction is typically plot-driven, occasionally to the exclusion of other elements, but this one luxuriates in characters and language. It’s a work that looks to the past, but speaks to the future of science fiction.’ — B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

‘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

Ian’s latest novel is HOPELAND, out now in the UK (Gollancz) and North America (Tor Books).

New Russian Edition of Roger Zelazny’s PRINCE OF CHAOS Out Now!

Posted on Monday, May 8th, 2023

A new Russian edition of Roger Zelazny‘s PRINCE OF CHAOS, the tenth and final Chronicles of Amber novel, is out now! Published by Эксмо as Принц Хаоса, here’s the synopsis…

«Принц Хаоса» — десятый роман «Пятикнижия Мерлина» и «Хроник Амбера». Этой книгой Роджер Желязны завершил свою знаменитую фантастическую эпопею.

Главный герой романа — Мерлин, сын Корвина Амберского и Дары из Владений Хаоса, — понимает, что его появление на свет было не случайностью, а результатом тщательно продуманного плана, осуществление которого должно привести Мерлина на трон Хаоса…

Роджер Желязны — создатель культовых «Хроник Амбера» и «Князя Света», многократный лауреат жанровых премий и лидер «Новой волны» в научной фантастике.

Эксмо has now published all ten of the Chronicles of Amber (Хроники Амбера) novels in this new series line.

First published in 1991, here’s the English-language synopsis of PRINCE OF CHAOS…

Treacheries, trickeries, assassination attempts and bloody family intrigues have finally manoeuvred Merlin, aka Merle Corey, into the Courts of Chaos — where he is third in line to occupy the throne, thanks to a series of conventionally fatal “accidents” engineered by his mother Dara and uncle Mandor.

But Merlin’s journey to the ultimate rule will not be easy. For dark enchantments still await him. There is murderous discord between Amber and Chaos to be silenced. And a captive royal father, long believed dead, must first be freed from a villain’s magic before a beleaguered Prince can deem his triumph complete.

New Hardcover Editions of RHYTHM OF WAR Part 1 & 2 Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, May 4th, 2023

The special hardcover editions of Brandon Sanderson‘s RHYTHM OF WAR Parts 1 & 2 are out today in the UK! The fourth instalment in the best-selling and acclaimed Stormlight Archive epic fantasy series, they are published by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar’s crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.

Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin’s scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure.

The first three volumes in the series are also available in special edition hardcovers, published by Gollancz in the UK: THE WAY OF KINGS, WORDS OF RADIANCE and OATHBRINGER.

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