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Out Now: UK Edition of Alice Bell’s “fabulous” GRAVE EXPECTATIONS!

Posted on Thursday, May 4th, 2023

Alice Bell‘s highly-anticipated debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out today in the UK! Published by Corvus, here’s the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators…

Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true crime fan working as a freelance medium. When she is Invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.

When the pair arrive at The Cloisters it’s clear this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire realizes someone has recently met an untimely end at the house. Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage reactionary Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them, in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

Fans of mystery and the supernatural will definitely want to check this out! The novel has already received plenty of great responses and blurbs…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The North American edition of the novel is due to be published by Vintage Books, on September 5th.

Out Tomorrow: New UK Paperback edition of THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN!

Posted on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

A new paperback edition of THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN, Charlaine Harris‘s hotly-anticipated fourth Gunnie Rose novel is out tomorrow in the UK! Published by Piatkus, here’s the synopsis…

Felicia, Lizbeth Rose’s younger half-sister and student at the Grigori school within the capital of the New Holy Russian Empire in San Diego, is caught between secrets and powerful family struggles. As a distant relative to the Tsar, she provides an essential service to him by providing blood transfusions for his hemophilia, and she is thus given rare access and dismissed as if cattle. At the Grigori school she is seen as a charity case, a poor orphan with no prospects and no sign of magical prowess-the latter which Felicia keeps purposefully hidden. And yet, when a kidnapping attempt is made upon Felicia her past and her future crash together in violent ways.

Continuing immediately after The Russian Cage, this fantastical fourth book takes a side step, exploring the Holy Russian Empire while also showcasing the dynamic depths of magic within Harris’s alternate North America in curious mysteries. Felicia, it turns out, is far more than the Russian-Mexican waif Lizbeth rescued, and the journey of discovery she is on is filled with magical assassins and desperation, but above it all is her courage to never give in to the limitations imposed upon her.

The first three novels in the Gunnie Rose series are also published in the UK by Piatkus, and out now in paperback and eBook: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, and THE RUSSIAN CAGE.

The fifth novel in the series is due out in September 2023, also via Piatkus in the UK: ALL THE DEAD SHALL WEEP. (No cover at the time of writing, but we’ll share it as soon as we have it.)

Here are a few reviews that the series has received so far…

‘In this fast-paced thriller fueled by magic and gunslinging, no one can be trusted. Harris’s vividly detailed story will leave readers enthralled with the fascinating setting and a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on AN EASY DEATH

‘Harris […] populates her gritty, immersive new world with genuinely interesting characters, and chilling moments of horror—of both the human and supernatural kind—punctuate this relentlessly paced road trip. A refreshing and cinematic, weird Western starring a sharp-as-nails, can-do heroine. Harris’ many fans will surely follow Gunnie Rose anywhere.’ — Kirkus on AN EASY DEATH

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

‘It’s a thrill ride through a world transformed by magic and altered politics, with an excellent kick-ass guide in Gunnie Rose, making this a strong start to a new series.’ — Locus on AN EASY DEATH

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

‘Everything a reader wants or can expect is here. Mystery, magic, romance, adventure, action, and best of all, a fascinatingly imagined alternate America peopled with intriguing characters.’ — Writing Pages on A LONGER FALL

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

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

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

‘A fun adventure…a series worth reading.’ — Fantasy Literature on THE RUSSIAN CAGE

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

WE DON’T SWIM HERE by Vincent Tirado — Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023

Vincent Tirado‘s latest chilling YA horror novel, WE DON’T SWIM HERE, is out today! Published by Sourcebooks Fire, here’s the synopsis…

Anais knows the rules keep everyone in Hillwoods safe. Her cousin is intent on breaking them. A new, chill-inducing YA Horror for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson and Lamar Giles.

Bronwyn is only supposed to be in rural Hillwoods for a year. Her grandmother is in hospice, and her father needs to get her affairs in order. And they’re all meant to make some final memories together.

Except Bronwyn is miserable. Her grandmother is dying, everyone is standoffish, and she can’t even go swimming. All she hears are warnings about going in the water, despite a gorgeous lake. And a pool at the abandoned rec center. And another in the high school basement.

Anais tries her hardest to protect Bronwyn from the shadows of Hillwoods. She follows her own rituals to avoid any unnecessary attention—and if she can just get Bronwyn to stop asking questions, she can protect her too. The less Bronwyn pays attention to Hillwoods, the less Hillwoods will pay attention to Bronwyn. She doesn’t get that the lore is, well, truth. History. Pain. The living aren’t the only ones who seek retribution when they’re wronged. But when Bronwyn does more exploring than she should, they are both in for danger they couldn’t expect.

Tirado’s acclaimed debut novel, BURN DOWN, RISE UP is also available, published by Sourcebooks Fire.

‘A speculative horror that blends elements of horror with a history of gentrification and systemic racism.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘Tirado’s unsettling debut is a love letter to the Bronx and the community that makes it. The perfect pick for horror lovers still looking for a light at the end of the tunnel.’ – Booklist

‘BURN DOWN, RISE UP is a brilliant contemporary horror that masterfully emphasizes the dark history of the Bronx into the thing of urban legends. The writing and the wonderful world-building is sure to stick with you for days after you read.’ v Bookish Brews

‘A queer, heart-pounding thrill ride. Fans of Attack the Block and Vampires vs. the Bronx: prepare for your newest obsession.’ — Ryan Douglass, New York Times bestselling author

‘It is like if Nightmare on Elm Street, Get Out, and The Get Down had a baby.’ – Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi bookstore

Peter A. Flannery’s BATTLE MAGE Out Now in Italy!

Posted on Friday, April 28th, 2023

Peter A. Flannery‘s acclaimed fantasy novel BATTLE MAGE is out now in Italy! Published by Armenia as BATTLE MAGE: L’ERIEDITÀ DI FALCO, here’s the synopsis…

Il mondo sta cadendo sotto l’ombra ardente dei Posseduti e solo il potere di un Mago da battaglia può salvarlo. Ma l’antico legame con la razza dei draghi sta venendo meno. Di quelli che rispondono alla convocazione, troppi sono Draghi Neri e i Draghi Neri sono i nemici dell’umanità. I Draghi Neri sono pazzi…

Falco, l’unica persona che potrà salvare il mondo dalla catastrofe, è un debole in un mondo di guerrieri, ma peggio ancora è figlio di un pazzo. Spinto dal dolore per avere inconsapevolmente permesso a un’orda di demoni di distruggere il suo villaggio, Falco prende una decisione che lo porterà sull’orlo della disperazione.

Nel disperato tentativo di fare ammenda, il ragazzo decide di seguire i suoi amici all’Accademia della Guerra, una scuola di addestramento d’élite dedicata all’eccellenza marziale. Ma mentre i suoi amici fanno progressi, Falco lotta per superare i suoi dubbi e la sua insicurezza. Anche la Regina nutre seri dubbi su di lui…

Ma mentre la Regina cerca di unire i regni contro i Posseduti, Falco lotta per superare le sue paure.
Riuscirà a sbloccare il potere intrappolato in lui o soccomberà alla follia e all’omicidio come suo padre?

The novel is also available in France, Germany, Poland (where it was nominated for a Best Novel award), and Czechia.

Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The world is falling to the burning shadow of the Possessed and only the power of a battle mage can save it. But the ancient bond with dragonkind is failing. Of those that answer a summoning too many are black. Black dragons are the enemy of humankind. Black dragons are mad.

Falco Dante is a weakling in a world of warriors, but worse than this, he is the son of a madman. Driven by grief, Falco makes a decision that will drive him to the brink of despair. As he tries to come to terms with his actions Falco follows his friends to the Academy of War, an elite training school dedicated to martial excellence. But while his friends make progress he struggles to overcome his doubts and insecurity. Even Queen Catherine of Wrath has her doubts about Falco’s training.

While the Queen tries to unite the Kingdoms against the Possessed, Falco struggles to overcome his fears. Will he unlock the power trapped inside of him or will he succumb to madness and murder like his father?

Zeno represents Peter A. Flannery in translation.

Roger Zelazny’s STRASSE NACH ÜBERALLHIN Out Now in Germany!

Posted on Thursday, April 27th, 2023

The new German translation of Roger Zelazny‘s ROADMARKS, one of the author’s (many) classic and acclaimed science fiction novels, is out now! Published by Piper Verlag, and translated by Jakob Schmidt, here’s the synopsis for STRASSE NACH ÜBERALLHIN…

Red Dorakeen hat sich einen mächtigen Feind gemacht. Kreuz und quer flieht er vor dessen Attentätern durch die Epochen der

Menschheitsgeschichte – denn die „Straße nach Überallhin“ ermöglicht es ihm, von der unvorstellbar fernen Vergangenheit bis in die weite Zukunft zu reisen.

Dieser vergessene Schatz der Science-Fiction lässt seine Leser: innen auf jeder Seite von Neuem staunen, rätseln und mitfiebern – Zelaznys besondere Erzählweise bietet ein absolut außergewöhnliches Leseerlebnis.

The novel is also available in the UK, in a new SF Masterworks edition published by Gollancz in mid-January of this year. 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.

Interest in the novel was revived and given a boost by the news that HBO is in the process of developing it for a television adaptation.

Simon R. Green’s A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE Out Now in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, April 25th, 2023

A new North American paperback edition of Simon R. Green‘s second Gideon Sable novel, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE is out today! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Master thief, rogue and chancer Gideon Sable is back for another fast-paced supernatural heist – and this time he has the vault of a Las Vegas casino in his sights.

Judi Rifkin is one of the world’s most successful collectors of the weird and unnatural. In a London underworld filled with criminals with very special talents, Judi is a force to be reckoned with.

And Gideon Sable – thief, rogue and chancer – owes her a very large favour.

Judi makes him an offer he can’t refuse: steal her the legendary Masque of Ra, kept safe in a Las Vegas casino, and she’ll wipe the slate clean.

This isn’t Gideon’s first heist by a long shot. But with old grudges threatening to cloud his judgment, an unpredictable crew who don’t entirely trust each other and a formidable supernatural security team guarding his target, this job might be a gamble too far…

Severn House also publishes the three other novels in the series — THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL (#1) and WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG (#3) — and are due to publish the fourth book, NOT OF THIS WORLD, in April 2023.

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

‘It’s a wonderfully imagined setting, which will be no surprise for those familiar with Green’s oeuvre. The Sable novels make perfect fare for fans of urban fantasy, thrillers, or caper novels (or, especially, blends of all three).’ — Booklist

‘I had a cracking good time with Gideon Sable and his more-misfit-than-usual crew as they took on Las Vegas. Calling this book a fantastic, slightly supernatural version of Ocean’s Eleven – complete with ALL the wisecracks – would be more accurate, and more fun, than anyone might have expected.’ — Reading Reality

‘This adventure is a delightful escapist read, providing plenty of surprises along with the humour.’ — Brainfluff

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

Ben Aaronovitch’s DIE SCHLAFENDEN GEISTER DES LAKE SUPERIOR Out Now in Germany!

Posted on Thursday, April 20th, 2023

DIE SCHLAFENDEN GEISTER DES LAKE SUPERIOR, the German edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated, latest Rivers of London novella is out now in Germany! Published by DTV, it stars FBI Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Here’s the synopsis…

Agentin Kimberley Reynolds arbeitet in einer Spezialabteilung des FBI, zuständig für seltsame, übernatürliche und schlichtweg okkulte Dinge. Nach dem rätselhaften Hilferuf ihres Exkollegen Henderson muss Reynolds abrupt nach Eloise, Wisconsin, reisen. Die Situation dort ist dramatisch: Ein Eistornado hat Stadtverwaltung und Polizeirevier in einen Trümmerhaufen verwandelt. Henderson ist spurlos verschwunden. Alles deutet darauf hin, dass er gewaltsam entführt wurde – von etwas, das kein Mensch war. Und unversehens hat Reynolds einen Fall am Hals, gegen den jede ›Akte X‹ wie ein Kinderspiel aussieht.

WINTER’S GIFTS is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz, on June 8th. (Details and cover still to come.)

Lavie Tidhar’s HEBREWPUNK Available Again!

Posted on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023

Lavie Tidhar‘s collection of Jewish fantasy, HEBREWPUNK is available once again! Published by JABberwocky, here’s the synopsis…

In HebrewPunk, World Fantasy Award winning author Lavie Tidhar had reinvented pulp fantasy fiction in Jewish terms, creating a hidden world where fantasy, horror and history intertwine.

Featuring the Rabbi, the Rat and the Tzaddik, their stories take us on a journey from an expedition to an alternate world in Kenya in 1904 to the drug-soaked streets of 1920s London and to Transylvania in the Second World War.

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

‘Imagine Hard-Boiled Kabbalah… If you like your otherworld fun noir, have I got a book for you!’ – Kage Baker, author of In the Garden of Iden

‘Wondrous, adventurous, and thought-provoking.’ – Ellen Datlow, co-editor of The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror

‘Tidhar writes a sort of intensified supernatural action-surrealism that fair rattles along and is full of surprises—not only plot twists and thrills but a level of conceptual surprise, a reinvigoration of some of the more tired conventions of the fantasy-horror genre… not to be missed.’ – Adam Roberts, author of The Thing Itself

Lavie is the author of a great number of critically acclaimed, award-winning and award-nominated novels, novellas, and short stories. His latest novels are MAROR (Head of Zeus) and NEOM (Tachyon Publications) — both out now.

Bulgarian Edition of Roger Zelazny’s ROADMARKS Out Now!

Posted on Friday, April 14th, 2023

The Bulgarian edition of Roger Zelazny‘s ROADMARKS is out now! Published by Бард as Хронобандити, here’s the synopsis…

ПЪТЯТ може да води навсякъде. ПЪТЯТ може да води до всеки момент. Почти!

Ред Доракийн отдавна кръстосва Пътя, построен от драконите на Бел’куинит. Път, който се простира безкрай от миналото към далечното бъдеще, с изходи, които водят навсякъде и до всякога.

Но Ред все не може да намери мястото, където иска да бъде.

И не е единственият, който пътува по Пътя, а хората, които идват и си отиват, могат да променят миналото или бъдещето както им хрумне. Изходите се затварят, обрастват и да измислиш какво да промениш, за да се върнеш в някой предишен момент, отнема, ами… цяла вечност.

За щастие, Ред разполага с цялото време на света.

ХРОНОБАНДИТИ е главозамайващ фантастичен роман от един от най-значимите автори в жанра. Той заплита линейни и нелинейни сюжети в един завладяващ разказ, пълен с мистерия и магия!

ROADMARKS is available in the UK as part of the SF Masterworks series, published by Gollancz. 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.

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.

UK Paperback Edition of Adam Oyebanji’s DAY BRAKING Out This Week!

Posted on Tuesday, April 11th, 2023

The paperback edition of BRAKING DAY, Adam Oyebanji‘s acclaimed and Canopus Award-finalist debut science fiction novel, is out this week in the UK! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, on April 13th, here’s the synopsis…

Interstellar Vehicle Archimedes has been hurtling through space for more than five generations, an oasis of heat and light in the middle of absolutely nowhere. But now the ageing starship is preparing to brake, for it is arriving at Destination Star: Tau Ceti, the new home for the space-born descendants of the First Crew.

For trainee engineer Ravinder MacLeod, the world he knows is coming to an end. Once Archimedes succumbs to the gravitational pull of the Destination Star and its (hopefully) habitable planet, there will be no going back – or anywhere else. As Braking Day approaches, Ravi finds himself caught between the rigid requirements of the officer class to which he aspires and his blue-collar, ne’er-do-well family. Unfortunately for Ravi, Boz, his brilliant ex-con cousin, seems determined to make his life difficult – not least by her experiments with forbidden technology.

Then Ravi is assigned to routine maintenance deep in the massive engines of the Archimedes, where, alone and out of contact, he comes face to face with something impossible – mind-breakingly impossible.

Plagued by nightmares and visions and worried that his grip on reality is slipping, Ravi turns to Boz for help. Their search for answers takes them to the jagged place where the ship’s future intersects with its long past. For not everyone is excited to be reaching journey’s end, and the ghosts of the First Crew may not have been fully laid to rest.

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

‘Oyebanji’s brilliant debut […] builds intrigue upon intrigue through the novel’s first half and pays off the suspense with a series of jaw-dropping revelations. Innovative worldbuilding, a plot packed with surprises, and Oyebanji’s nuanced exploration of social and cultural shifts make this a must-read for space opera fans.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Engaging, fast-moving, and inventive. The characters and the space environment feel totally real, as do the life and death challenges that never miss a step.’ — Jack Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of the Lost Fleet series

‘Adam Oyebanji’s BRAKING DAY blows the airlocks off the science fiction mainstay of generation ships with a vibrant world within bulkheads that’s as convincing as it is fresh. The characters are fabulous, the world-building impeccable yet never in-your-face, and the plot is breathtaking. All I can say is this is the best SF novel I’ve read in decades and it may be the best I’ve ever read. This author is now a must-read for me, and I’m sure he will be for you. Bravo!!’ — Julie E. Czerneda, Aurora Award-winning author

‘Oyebanji crafts an amazing lived-in world aboard a sprawling generation ship, and a twisty mystery that’ll keep you guessing to the very end.’ — Dan Moren, author of the Galactic Cold War series

‘BRAKING DAY is an outstanding debut novel that features exceptional world-building and a really well-realized generation ship society. Filled with twists and turns, it kept me guessing in the best way right up until the end.’ — Michael Mammay

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

THE BEST OF WORLD SF, Volume 2 Paperback Out This Week!

Posted on Monday, April 10th, 2023

The paperback edition of THE BEST OF WORLD SF, Volume 2 is out this week! Edited by Lavie Tidhar, it is published by Head of Zeus/AdAstra on April 13th. Here’s the synopsis…

Twenty-nine new short stories representing the state of the art in international science fiction.

The second annual instalment to the ‘rare and wonderful’ (The Times) The Best of World SF Volume 1, this collection features twenty-nine stories, including eight written exclusively for this collection. This is not a retrospective of what science fiction around the world used to look like. This is a snapshot of what some of it looks like now. And it’s never been more exciting.

Navigating around the globe, The Best of World SF Volume 2 features writers from: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Bolivia, China, Czech Republic, Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Each story has been selected by World SF expert and award-winning author Lavie Tidhar in a collection which traces the ever-changing meaning of the genre from some the most exciting voices writing today.

Here’s the full Table of Contents…

Nadia Afifi, THE BAHRAIN UNDERGROUND BAZAAR (Bahrain)
Lavanya Lakshminarayan, THE TEN-PERCENT THIEF (India)
Frances Ogamba, AT DESK 9501 (Nigeria) *
Isabel Yap, MILAGROSO (The Philippines)
Saad Z. Hossain, BRING YOUR OWN SPOON (Bangladesh)
Yukimi Ogawa, BLUE GREY BLUE (Japan)
Xing He, YOUR MULTICOLORED LIFE (China), trans. Andy Dudak
Nalo Hopkinson, THE EASTHOUND (Jamaica)
Pan Haitian, DEAD MAN, AWAKE, SING TO THE SUN! (China), trans. Joel Martinsen *
Jacques Barcia, SALVAGING GODS (Brazil)
Edmundo Paz Soldán, THE NEXT MOVE (Bolivia), trans. Jessica Sequeira *
Dilman Dila, THE CLAY CHILD (Uganda) *
Natalia Theodoridou, TO SET AT TWILIGHT IN A LAND OF REEDS (Greece)
Bef, THE BEAST HAS DIED (Mexico), trans. Brian L. Price
Alberto Chimal, TWENTY ABOUT ROBOTS (Mexico), trans. Fionn Petch
Wole Talabi, THE REGRESSION TEST (Nigeria),
William Tham Wai Liang, KAKAK (Malaysia)
Usman T. Malik, BEYOND THESE STARS OTHER TRIBULATIONS OF LOVE (Pakistan)
Julie Novakova, A FLAW IN THE WORKS (Czech Republic), trans. by author *
Cassandra Khaw, WHEN WE DIE ON MARS (Malaysia)
Karen Lord and Tobias S. Buckell, THE MIGHTY SLINGER (Barbados/Grenada)
T.L. Huchu, CORIALIS (Zimbabwe)
Clelia Farris, THE SUBSTANCE OF IDEAS (Italy), trans. Rachel S. Cordasco
Agnieszka Hałas, SLEEPING BEAUTIES (Poland), trans. by author *
Samit Basu, WAKING NYDRA (India) *
Neon Yang, BETWEEN THE FIRMAMENTS (Singapore)
Bo-Young Kim, WHALE SNOWS DOWN (South Korea), trans. Sophie Bowman
Hassan Blasim, THE GARDENS OF BABYLON (Iraq), trans. Jonathan Wright
K.A. Teryna, THE FARCTORY (Russia), trans. Alex Shvartsman *

(Stories indicated with an * are original for this volume.)

Here are some of the reviews the first has volume received…

‘This handsome volume from Head of Zeus is a major step on a 45-year journey to bring global speculative fiction to Anglophone attention… The print edition of THE BEST OF WORLD SF: Volume 1 is truly a thing of beauty, providing gravitas and a wider audience for the authors it collects… There are many striking stories in the collection… This anthology is just the start of a whole new game for speculative fiction authors around the world’ — LA Review of Books

‘An excellent, lovingly curated collection that is also uniformly well translated’ — Financial Times

‘Tidhar gives a cheerful, fannish introduction to the stories, drawn from 26 countries on five continents, and encompassing a dizzying range of tones and approaches’ — The Times

THE BEST OF WORLD SF, Volume 1 is also out now in paperback, published by AdAstra/Head of Zeus.

German Edition of Roger Zelazny’s ROADMARKS Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Friday, April 7th, 2023

A new German edition of ROADMARKS by Roger Zelazny is due out in three weeks! Due to be published by Piper Verlag on April 27th, as STRASSE NACH ÜBERALLHIN, here’s the synopsis…

Red Dorakeen hat sich einen mächtigen Feind gemacht. Kreuz und quer flieht er vor dessen Attentätern durch die Epochen der Menschheitsgeschichte – denn die „Straße nach Überallhin“ ermöglicht es ihm, von der unvorstellbar fernen Vergangenheit bis in die weite Zukunft zu reisen.

Dieser vergessene Schatz der Science-Fiction lässt seine Leser:innen auf jeder Seite von Neuem staunen, rätseln und mitfiebern – Zelaznys besondere Erzählweise bietet ein absolut außergewöhnliches Leseerlebnis.

The novel has been translated by Jakob Schmidt.

ROADMARKS was first published in 1979, the novel is also 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.

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.

Simon R. Green’s NOT OF THIS WORLD Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

The fourth novel in Simon R. Green‘s Gideon Sable series, NOT OF THIS WORLD, is out now in North America and in the UK! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

This might be his biggest coup yet! Legendary master thief Gideon Sable is on the hunt for the ghost of an alien-possessed man in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.

The Preserve in Bath – the British Area 51 – is the secret government dumping ground for all things supernatural and out of space. It is one of the most heavily-guarded places in the world. However, it’s not what protects it that makes it so dangerous but the things that are inside . . .

Gideon Sable – master thief, con artist and self-proclaimed vigilante – faces a challenge he can’t refuse. His client, the former Head of the British Rocketry Group, Professor Neil Sharpe, wants him to break into the Preserve. Once inside, Gideon and his crew of supernatural misfits can get any mystical artefact they desire out of the Preserve’s collection. The catch? To reach it, they must go through the treacherous Box Tunnel complex and not only face trained guards and booby traps but steal something that can’t normally be stolen – a ghost!

Sharpe’s obscure motive leaves Gideon uncertain and suspicious. The only thing he knows for sure is that he can steal anything with just the right amount of preparation – but will he be prepared enough to face whatever the Preserve holds, or will he find himself a permanent part of the government’s collection?

Severn House also publishes the first three novels in the series: THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE, and WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG.

‘A blast for urban-fantasy readers looking for a broken fourth wall riddled with dry-witted commentary, evil getting its just deserts, and the good walking away to fight the good fight.’ — Library Journal on NOT OF THIS WORLD

‘Master thief and con man Gideon Sable has a plan. He intends to breach the private vault of Fredric Hammer, noted bad guy, and rob him blind. To do that, he needs to assemble a crack team of professionals. But this is no ordinary team, because this is no ordinary London. This is an alternate London, wherein ghosts and demons and people with special gifts coexist with regular human folk. And Gideon’s team consists of former girlfriend Annie Anybody, whose gift is luck; a fellow known as the Damned (because he’s, you know, damned); the Ghost, who retains the memory of what it is to be a man; and the Wild Card, who sees all the truths in the world. Each of them has a score to settle with Hammer, and each of them is willing to risk plenty to get revenge. This novel by the author of the terrific Ishmael Jones series is a treat for anyone who relishes the blending of alternate-world fantasy, urban fantasy, and the caper novel. Exciting, witty, and stuffed full of fun.’ — Booklist on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL

‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL

‘This book is pure fun.’ — Grimdark Magazine on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL

‘[F]eatures a crew of criminals with hearts of gold and one of the snarkiest antiheroes to ever front an urban fantasy series, turning the murder and mayhem up to 11 while telling a story where disaster is always just on the other side of the door.’ — Library Journal on WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG

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

Vincent Tirado’s BURN DOWN, RISE UP: New North American Paperback Edition Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

The new paperback edition of Vincent Tirado‘s BURN DOWN, RISE UP is out now in North America! Published by Sourcebooks Fire, here’s the synopsis…

Mysterious disappearances. An urban legend rumored to be responsible. And one group of friends determined to save their city at any cost. Stranger Things meets Jordan Peele in this utterly original debut from an incredible new voice.

For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize’s cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention-especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances.

Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York’s past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart-or die trying.

The paperback edition is available in the UK from May 4th. Tirado’s next novel is WE DON’T SWIM HERE, which is also due to be published by Sourcebooks Fire on May 4th.

Here are just a few of the reviews BURN DOWN, RISE UP has received…

‘A speculative horror that blends elements of horror with a history of gentrification and systemic racism.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘A queer, heart-pounding thrill ride. Fans of Attack the Block and Vampires vs. the Bronx: prepare for your newest obsession.’ — Ryan Douglass, New York Times bestselling author

‘It is like if Nightmare on Elm Street, Get Out, and The Get Down had a baby.’ – Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi bookstore

TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, the first of Brandon Sanderson‘s Secret Projects novels, is out in the UK tomorrow! A standalone Cosmere adventure, it is published by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Gollancz are also due to publish Brandon’s three other Secret Projects novels: THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (June 2023), YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER (October 2023), and THE SUNLIT MAN (January 2024).

‘Sanderson’s storytelling rhythm makes this a fun excursion into an ancillary world of the Cosmere, where a world-building whim — in this case, seas made of spores rather than water — grows into a full fledged adventure… An original fairy tale that will delight fans of William Goldman’s The Princess Bride and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust’ — Booklist

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