Category: Release

BURN DOWN, RISE UP Available in Print & Vincent Tirado at YALC!

Posted on Thursday, June 30th, 2022

The print edition of Vincent Tirado‘s debut novel, BURN DOWN, RISE UP is available now! The eBook has been out for a while, but for those who prefer their books on paper, the wait is over! Published by Sourcebooks Fire in the UK and North America, 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.

If you happen to be in London during July, the author will be appearing at YALC! Full details can be found here.

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

‘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

‘Readers will be on the edge of their seats and will have the chance to explore societal issues in a new way to answer the question What are monsters?’ — School Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘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.’ — 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

‘A sense of dread and… plenty of vivid action sequences to keep readers engaged.’ — Youth Services Book Review

Jack Campbell’s RESOLUTE Out Next Month in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, June 28th, 2022

The next book in Jack Campbell‘s Lost Fleet universe, RESOLUTE is out in one month in the UK! The second novel in the Outlands/’Black Jack’ Geary series, it is due to be published by Titan Books on July 20th. Here’s the synopsis…

Admiral ‘Black Jack’ Geary commands the fleet deep into alien space and leads humanity to the galactic stage.

Admiral John ‘Black Jack’ Geary faces new frontiers as he leads his fleet on a mission that could change humanity’s understanding the of universe itself.

Having survived political warfare Geary must lead a diplomatic mission to establish a new embassy with the cryptic but welcoming Dancers. His battle group, and the scientists and ambassadors they’re escorting, must cross territory controlled by the mysterious, and deadly, Enigmas. And saboteurs and assassins still hide in his crew.

Carrying the burden of his own legend, Geary must embody the best of military leadership, whether as a brilliant tactical commander or a man who knows the price of pulling the trigger. Knowing every decision he makes will be assessed on the galactic stage.

The first book in the Outlands series, BOUNDLESS is also published by Titan Books, and out now.

All of the Lost Fleet novels (to date) are published in the UK by Titan Books — including the main series, as well as the follow-up/spin-off series Beyond the Frontier, Lost Stars, and Genesis Fleet (a prequel trilogy).

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

Aliette de Bodard’s OF CHARMS, GHOSTS AND GRIEVANCES is out tomorrow!

Posted on Tuesday, June 28th, 2022

Aliette de Bodard‘s highly-anticipated new Dragons and Blades novella, OF CHARMS, GHOSTS AND GRIEVANCES is out tomorrow! The novella is set in the same world as the award-winning Dominion of the Fallen series, and takes place after the third novel. Published by JABberwocky, here’s the synopsis…

From the author of the critically acclaimed Dominion of the Fallen trilogy comes a sparkling new romantic adventure full of kissing, sarcasm and stabbing.

It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea.

But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive.

Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can — and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they’ll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future…

A heartwarming standalone book set in a world of dark intrigue.

The cover art is by Ravven.

The Dominion of the Fallen novels are published by Gollancz in the UK, and Roc Books (1-2) and JABberwocky (3) in North America: THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, THE HOUSE OF BINDING THORNS, and THE HOUSE OF SUNDERING FLAMES. The first book in the Dragons and Blades series — OF DRAGONS, FEASTS AND MURDERS — is also published by JABberwocky.

Here are some early reviews of the new novella…

‘A darkly delicious romp full of ghosts, murder, dragons, and romance, with a couple that just keeps getting better and better as they push each other to new limits.’ — Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled and Scales and Sensibility

‘Beautifully described, deeply caring, and satisfyingly murderous, it’s an immersive delight.’ — KJ Charles, author of the Will Darling Adventures

‘This one has everything… I gulped it down when I should have savoured it like a delicate tea, but what can I say.’ — Freya Marske, author of A Marvelous Light

ICYMI: Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES Available in eBook and Audiobook in North America!

Posted on Thursday, June 23rd, 2022

There’s been a lot of buzz and news surrounding Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed LEGENDS & LATTES. A self-published sensation, it has been picked up by Tor Books in North America and in the UK. The eBook and audiobook (read by the author) are available now in North America. Here’s the synopsis…

Come take a load off at Viv’s cafe, the first & only coffee shop in Thune. Grand opening!

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv, the orc barbarian, cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.

However, her dreams of a fresh start filling mugs instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners, and a different kind of resolve.

A hot cup of fantasy, slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.

The new print editions of the novel are due to be published on November 8th in North America, and November 10th in the UK (the latter will have a new cover design, too, which we’ll share as soon as we can).

We hope to have more information about translated editions, etc., in the near future.

Here are just a few of the 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

‘LEGENDS & LATTES is a uniquely beautiful book. Its cast of endearing characters have no interest at all in killing one another. There is no Great Evil, no bloody battles, and yet the pillars of great fantasy — resilience, fellowship, and a desire to make the world a better place — are all here. It’s wonderfully wholesome, and I hope heralds the rise of a ‘slice-of-life’ sub-genre in modern fantasy.’ — Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

“Take a break from epic battles and saving the world. LEGENDS & LATTES is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what’s advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read.’ — Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart

‘LEGENDS & LATTES is a big-hearted story about the small things in life. A lovingly written ode to the genre, it is a must-read for every D&D player who has ever wondered what happens after “happily ever after.”‘ — Cassandra Khaw, USA Today bestselling author

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

‘I loved LEGENDS & LATTES and I have literally nothing bad to say about it… a warm hug on a cold day. Written with care and attention, Baldree’s delicate touch and vibrant characters make this story shine… Books have their own kind of magic. LEGENDS & LATTES was positively enchanting.’ — Bookworm Blues

‘LEGENDS & LATTES reads like a fresh cup of coffee. The novel radiates the same sort of rich warmth you feel in your belly after a sip of a freshly brewed latte. That feeling sticks throughout, making for a refreshing and cozy tale worth your time… If you’re into cozy fantasy, or you just want a break from the epic subgenre, LEGENDS & LATTES is for you.’ — Quill to Live

‘A story of friendship and found family that is nothing less than heartwarming.’ — Novel Approach

‘Deserves the hype’ — FanFiAddict

Rivers of London: DEADLY EVER AFTER #2 is out now!

Posted on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022

DEADLY EVER AFTER #2 is out now! The second issue in the tenth Rivers of London comic series, it is published by Titan Comics in print and digital editions.

The series is written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman. Here’s the synopsis:

When Chelsea and Olympia accidentally break an enchantment in the woods, deadly fairy tales from a mysterious old book begin coming to life. To set things right, Chelsea and Olympia must unravel a mystery dating back to the 1800’s before they become victims of a lethal sorcery.

The issue is available with three different covers: the first is by series artist José María Beroy (above), the second is by Gyula Nemeth, and third by Vv Glass.

Ben Aaronovitch’s latest novel is the #1 bestselling AMONGST OUR WEAPONS (Orion/DAW Books) — the ninth book in the Rivers of London series. Andrew Cartmel’s latest novel is ATTACK AND DECAY (Titan) the sixth novel in the Vinyl Detective series.

Andrew Cartmel’s ATTACK AND DECAY Available Now in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, June 14th, 2022

Andrew Cartmel‘s sixth Vinyl Detective mystery novel, ATTACK AND DECAY is out today in North America! Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

The Vinyl Detective goes Scandi noir in his sixth adventure. Disfigured corpse. Check. Grotesque snowman. Check. Headless animals. Check. But in fact the killer is taking their cue not from Scandi noir fiction but another popular Scandinavian export – death metal.

It starts with a perfectly normal evening in, except for the corpse-faced gentleman dressed all in black, with a crow on his shoulder, staring into the house, of course. And the visit from Owyn Wynter, head of Whyte Ravyn Records, who needs the Detective’s unique skills.

So begins an all-expenses-paid trip to Trollesko, Sweden for the Detective, Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha to track down a copy of the debut album from demonic metal legends, Storm Dream Troopers. Condemned by the church and banned on release, Attack and Decay is a legendary record.

But their trip to the homelands of Nordic noir is quickly thrust into a world of intrigue as the Detective closes in on the deal, the band unexpectedly converge on the peaceful town, And worse, their trip somehow coincides with a visit from Stinky Stanmer… Soon the bodies start piling up, and the Vinyl Detective is the only one who can solve the case.

ATTACK AND DECAY is also available in the UK (published last month). The first five novels in the Vinyl Detective series are all out now, also published by Titan Books: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, and LOW ACTION.

DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE Audiobook Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, June 9th, 2022

German-speaking audiobook fans of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Die Flüsse von London series rejoice: the audiobook edition of DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE is out today! Published by GoyaLiT, and narrated by Dietmar Wunder, here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall. In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf — als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus — in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt…

The print and digital editions of the novel are published in Germany by DTV, who also publish Ben’s other novels and novellas in the series. The novel was a #3 Bestseller in Germany for multiple weeks running!

The #1 Bestselling AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is published in the UK by Orion Books and in North America by DAW Books. The audiobook in the UK is also available, narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

AN OCCUPATION OF ANGELS by Lavie Tidhar is out now!

Posted on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022

Lavie Tidhar‘s novella AN OCCUPATION OF ANGELS is out now! Published by JABberwocky, it is available as an eBook and print on demand. Here’s the synopsis…

A British secret agent is caught in a plot to assassinate archangels who settled Earth after WWII in this classic thriller from the World Fantasy Award winning author!

In 1945, the Archangels materialised over the battlefields of Europe, ushering in a new Cold War. Fifty years later, they are being killed off… one by one.

But who – or what – can kill an angel?

Killarney is a shadow executive for the Bureau, British Intelligence’s most secret organisation. She is the best – and she always works alone. Sent on a desperate mission to locate a missing cryptographer who may prove the key to the murders, Killarney finds herself running for her life, from London to Paris to Moscow, leading to a confrontation with a very human evil in the frozen wastelands of Novosibirsk.

Plagued by dreams of a different world, and haunted by a swastika adorned with angel wings, it could take all of Killarney’s resources to survive, when Heaven itself may be threatened, and God herself may be walking the earth…

‘Sharp, brutal, cool — yet also stunningly imaginative and perfectly realised.’ — Michael Marshall, bestselling author of The Straw Men trilogy

THE HOOD Paperback is out this week!

Posted on Monday, June 6th, 2022

The paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s THE HOOD is out this week! The second novel in the author’s acclaimed Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet, it is published by Head of Zeus, and will officially arrive in shops on June 9th. (If you’re lucky, you may find some out there already…)

God bless you, England, on this glorious Year of Our Lord, 1145.

Things are definitely not right in Nottingham. Rebecca, daughter of a Jewish money-lender, has a sense for it.

A mad monk schemes to resurrect the Christ from body parts. A bone harpist murders creatures of legend for a price. A fae creature binds its wings and embraces a new God and his son.

And don’t even mention the Hood. The Man in Green. The Prince of Thieves. The tick-tock taker of the ten-toll tax.

What hope have the series of sheriffs sent to hold the peace?

It’s the forest, you see. Sherwood. Ice Age ancient, impenetrable, hiding a dark and secret heart. But hearts, no matter how black, no matter how hidden, are not immune to change. The old world is dying… and a terrifying new one is waiting to take its place.

Rebecca senses an opportunity. But how far is she willing to go, and what price – because there is always a price – will she have to pay?

The Hood is Lavie Tidhar’s narcotic reweirding of an ancient English myth, a tale stitched together from legends lost to time, a tale told and retold, reworked and renewed for each passing century. A tale, reader, for today.

Head of Zeus also publish the first book in the series, BY FORCE ALONE, in the UK. (It is published in North America by Tor Books.) Head of Zeus also publishes Lavie’s novels OSAMA and A MAN LIES DREAMING; THE BEST OF WORLD SF Volumes 1 and 2 edited by Lavie; and also the upcoming novel MAROR.

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

‘A wild, inventive tapestry of myth and magic, with a wry sense of humor. Tidhar’s writing is wonderfully vibrant’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia, bestselling author of Mexican Gothic

‘[THE HOOD] offers a wealth of colorful tales and memorable characters, along with the usual unexpected walk-ons and guest stars. If it sometimes feels like a bunch of legends and historical events stirred together in a big pot, isn’t that pretty much what the Matter of Britain was in the first place?’ — Locus (Gary K. Wolfe)

‘Brilliant, restless revisionist gaze’ — Daily Mail

‘Reaches impressive levels of delirium.’ — The Times

‘This is a book to experience rather than to read, as every chapter and revisionist character expands into sheer, wonderful madness. One for the ages.’ — Crime Time (Book of the Month)

THE GREAT GAME Full Cast Production Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, June 1st, 2022

Lavie Tidhar‘s third Bookman Histories novel, THE GREAT GAME is now available as a new audiobook edition from Graphic Audio. Produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music, here’s the synopsis…

When Mycroft Holmes is murdered in London, it is up to retired shadow executive Smith to track down his killer — and stumble on the greatest conspiracy of his life. Strange forces are stirring into life around the globe, and in the shadow game of spies nothing is certain. Fresh from liberating a strange alien object in Abyssinia – which might just be the mythical Ark of the Covenant — young Lucy Westerna, Holmes’ protégé, must follow her own path to the truth while, on the other side of the world, a young Harry Houdini must face his greatest feat of escape – death itself.

As their paths converge the body count mounts up, the entire world is under threat, and in a foreboding castle in the mountains of Transylvania a mysterious old man weaves a spider’s web of secrets and lies.

Airship battles, Frankenstein monsters, alien tripods and death-defying acts: The Great Game is a cranked-up steampunk thriller in which nothing is certain — not even death.

Graphic Audio has also published the first two novels in the series as full-cast productions: THE BOOKMAN and CAMERA OBSCURA.

‘[A] very fine addition to the series, and can be enjoyed without having read the others, though you owe it to yourself to read the entire series if well detailed alternate history science fiction is your sort of thing.’ –– Starburst Magazine on THE GREAT GAME

The Bookman Histories are published in print and digital editions by Angry Robot Books.

Lavie’s latest novel is THE HOOD, the second novel in his Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet (Head of Zeus); his next novels are MAROR, a stand-alone due to be published by Head of Zeus (August 4th); and NEOM, a second novel in the Central Station universe, due to be published by Tachyon Publications (November).

Ben Aaronovitch’s TALES FROM THE FOLLY Now Available in Czechia!

Posted on Friday, May 27th, 2022

Ben Aaronovitch‘s collection of short stories, set in the Rivers of London world, is now available in Czechia! Published by Argo as HISTORKY Z ROZMARU, here’s the synopsis…

Další výprava do světa Řek Londýna, tentokrát ve sbírce povídek! Ben Aaronovitch svůj fantastický svět dosud představoval v románech, novelách a komiksových příbězích. Už léta však mimo tento hlavní proud píše kratší i delší povídky, v nichž rozvíjí dílčí nápady, popisuje dosud opomíjené osudy, vypráví anekdoty, které doplňují mozaiku jedné z nejpodmanivějších sérií současnosti. S Peterem Grantem, Abigail, agentkou Reynoldsovou, Nightingalem i Tobiasem Winterem z německé obdoby londýnského Rozmaru se zde vydáme zjistit, co skrývá dálniční čerpací stanice uprostřed noci, kdo stále bloumá mezi regály populárního londýnského knihkupectví, co přesně se stalo s řekou Lugg… Každý tento střípek je doplněný autorovým úvodem a pro snadnější orientaci se u něj udává, ve které fázi série se odehrává.

S předmluvou Charlaine Harrisové

TALES FROM THE FOLLY is published in the UK by JABberwocky (print & digital) and Orion (audio); in North America by Subterranean Press; and in Germany by DTV — covers below.

Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Return to the world of Rivers of London in this first short story collection from bestselling author, Ben Aaronovitch. Tales from the Folly is a carefully curated collection that gathers together previously published stories and brand new tales in the same place for the first time.

Each tale features a new introduction from the author, filled with insight and anecdote offering the reader a deeper exploration into this absorbing fictional world. This is a must read for any Rivers of London fan.

Join Peter, Nightingale, Abigail, Agent Reynolds and Tobias Winter for a series of perfectly portioned tales. Discover what’s haunting a lonely motorway service station, who still wanders the shelves of a popular London bookshop, and what exactly happened to the River Lugg…

With an introduction from internationally bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris.

This collection includes the following stories:

  • The Home Crowd Advantage
  • The Domestic
  • The Cockpit
  • The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Granny
  • King of The Rats
  • A Rare Book of Cunning Device
  • A Dedicated Follower of Fashion
  • Favourite Uncle
  • Vanessa Sommer’s Other Christmas List
  • Three Rivers, Two Husbands and a Baby
  • Moments One-Three

J. T. Greathouse’s THE HAND OF THE SUN KING Out Now in UK Paperback!

Posted on Thursday, May 26th, 2022

The paperback edition of J. T. Greathouse‘s acclaimed debut novel, THE HAND OF THE SUN KING is out in two weeks! Due to be published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

My name is Wen Alder. My name is Foolish Cur.

All my life, I have been torn between two legacies: my father’s, whose family trace their roots back to the right hand of the Emperor. My mother’s, whose family want to bring the Empire to its knees.

I can choose between them – between the safety of empire or the freedom of rebellion – or I can seek out a better path… one filled with magic and secrets, unbound by suffocating legacy, but one which could shake my world to its very foundation.

For my quest will bring me face to face with the gods themselves. And they have been watching. Waiting to make their move…

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

‘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

‘Hands down the best debut of the year. Scratch that; this is one of the best debuts I’ve ever read’ — Novel Notions

‘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

‘This is an elegantly written, dramatic story of the terrible cost of unexamined ambition and the impossibility of opting out from a conflict you’ve been born into.’ — Morning Star Online

For those who loved the novel, there’s also not much time to wait before the sequel is available: THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE is due to be published by Gollancz in the UK, on August 4th.

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

Roger Zelazny’s FOR A BREATH I TARRY Now Available in France!

Posted on Monday, May 23rd, 2022

A new, French edition of FOR A BREATH I TARRY by Roger Zelazny is out now! Published by Le Passager Clandestin as LE TEMPS D’UN SOUFFLE JE M’ATTARDE, it was translated by Jean Baihache. Here’s the synopsis…

« — Je t’ai déjà dit que l’Homme possédait une nature fondamentalement incompréhensible. Ses perceptions étaient organiques ; les tiennes, non. Ses perceptions lui procuraient des sentiments et des émotions […]. L’Homme ne sentait pas les miles ou les mètres, les kilos ou les litres. Il sentait le chaud, Il sentait le froid. Il sentait la pesanteur et la légèreté. Il connaissait la haine et l’amour, la fierté et le désespoir. Toutes ces choses ne sont pas mesurables. Donc toi, tu ne peux pas les connaître. […] Il n’existe pas de formule pour mesurer un sentiment. »

Comment ne pas être touché par l’histoire de Gel, cette machine toute-puissante qui veut devenir humaine ? Gel est une intelligence artificielle qui oeuvre à la reconstruction d’une Terre sur laquelle ne subsiste plus aucun être humain vivant. Mais Gel a un hobby : il étudie les vestiges de l’humanité disparue, découvre les livres, le cinéma, l’art, si bien qu’il se met à désirer devenir lui-même humain, et ce à n’importe quel prix…

Au fil de la quête de Gel, ce Faust de métal tenté par l’impossible, Roger Zelazny explore à sa manière ce qui fait le propre de l’humain et proclame par avance la défaite des prétentions à la numérisation du cerveau humain et autres lubies des Folamour de la Silicon Valley.

You can read an excerpt from the novel, here.

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.” This is illustrated by a conversation Frost has with another machine named Mordel.

New Cast-Adaptation of FINGERHUT-SOMMER Out Now!

Posted on Friday, May 20th, 2022

There’s a new, full-cast audiobook edition of FINGERHUT-SOMMER! The fifth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Die magischen Fälle des Peter Grant series (Rivers of London/Peter Grant), it is available exclusively from Audible. Here’s the synopsis…

Die magischen Fälle des Peter Grant von Ben Aaronovitch sind internationale Bestseller und absoluter Kult. In seinem fünften Roman führt der ausgebildete Buchhändler und ausgezeichnete Drehbuchautor (Dr. Who) seine Hauptfigur Peter Grant erstmalig in die ländlichen Gefilde außerhalb Londons, um die mysteriöse Entführung zweier Kinder aufzuklären.

Leominster ist eine verschlafene Kleinstadt 150 Meilen nordwestlich von London und nicht gerade bekannt für seine hohe Kriminalitätsrate. Trotzdem verschlägt es Police Constable Peter Grant in den kleinen Ort in Herefordshire, denn zwei kleine Mädchen sind verschwunden und die Umstände lassen Rückschlüsse auf eine übernatürliche Beteiligung zu. Unterstützt von der Flusstochter Beverley Brook und dem ortskundigen Polizisten Dominic Croft wird Peter in ein verworrenes Netz aus Dorfintrigen, lokalen Legenden und UFO-Mythen verstrickt. Doch damit nicht genug: Peter erfährt einiges über die militärische Vergangenheit seines Mentors Thomas Nightingale. Auch der Verrat durch seine ehemalige Kollegin und Freundin Leslie May und ihr anschließendes Verschwinden nagen weiterhin an ihm – zumal sie über Peters Provinz-Aktivitäten ausgesprochen gut informiert zu sein scheint.

Audible/DTV have also published full-cast adaptations of the first four novels in the series: DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON (RIVERS OF LONDON), SCHWARZER MOND ÜBER SOHO (MOON OVER SOHO), WISPERN UNTER BAKER STREET (WHISPERS UNDERGROUND), and DER BÖSE ORT (BROKEN HOMES).

The print and digital editions of FINGERHUT-SOMMER are published by DTV (who also publish the rest of the series in Germany).

FOXGLOVE SUMMER (as it’s titled in English) is published in the UK by Gollancz and in North America by DAW Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

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

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

The latest novel in the series, the #1 Bestselling AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is out now in the UK (Gollancz), Germany (DTV), and North America (DAW Books).

ATTACK AND DECAY Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022

Andrew Cartmel‘s sixth Vinyl Detective mystery novel, ATTACK AND DECAY is out today in the UK! Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

The Vinyl Detective goes Scandi noir in his sixth adventure. Disfigured corpse. Check. Grotesque snowman. Check. Headless animals. Check. But in fact the killer is taking their cue not from Scandi noir fiction but another popular Scandinavian export – death metal.

It starts with a perfectly normal evening in, except for the corpse-faced gentleman dressed all in black, with a crow on his shoulder, staring into the house, of course. And the visit from Owyn Wynter, head of Whyte Ravyn Records, who needs the Detective’s unique skills.

So begins an all-expenses-paid trip to Trollesko, Sweden for the Detective, Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha to track down a copy of the debut album from demonic metal legends, Storm Dream Troopers. Condemned by the church and banned on release, Attack and Decay is a legendary record.

But their trip to the homelands of Nordic noir is quickly thrust into a world of intrigue as the Detective closes in on the deal, the band unexpectedly converge on the peaceful town, And worse, their trip somehow coincides with a visit from Stinky Stanmer… Soon the bodies start piling up, and the Vinyl Detective is the only one who can solve the case.

The North American release of the novel has been unfortunately delayed, but there’s not long to wait: fans across the Pond will be able to get the novel from June 14th.

The first five novels in the Vinyl Detective series are all out now, also published by Titan Books: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, and LOW ACTION.