Category: Release

DEFYING THE DRAGON Audiobook Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Monday, May 16th, 2022

We’re happy to report that the audiobook edition of Stephen Vines‘s acclaimed DEFYING THE DRAGON is out tomorrow! To be published by Tantor Media, the book is read by Kathleen Li. Here’s the synopsis…

Defying the Dragon tells a remarkable story of audacity: of how the people of Hong Kong challenged the PRC’s authority, just as its president reached the height of his powers. Is Xi’s China as unshakeable as it seems? What are its real interests in Hong Kong? Why are Beijing’s time-honored means of control no longer working there? And where does this leave Hongkongers themselves?

Stephen Vines has lived in Hong Kong for over three decades. His book shrewdly unpacks the Hong Kong-China relationship and its wider significance — right up to the astonishing convergence of political turmoil and international crisis with Covid-19 and the 2020-21 crackdown.

Vividly describing the uprising from street level, Vines explains how and why it unfolded, and its global repercussions. Now, the international community is reassessing relations with Beijing, just as Hong Kong’s rebellion and China’s handling of the pandemic have exposed the regime’s weakness. In a crisis that has become existential all round, what lies ahead for Hong Kong, China and the world?

The print and eBook editions of the book are published by Hurst Publishers (UK) and Oxford University Press (North America).

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

‘A detailed chronicle of Hong Kong’s fight in the face of repression. Anyone who cares about Hong Kong and China will definitely want to read this book.’ — Joshua Wong, Hong Kong’s most famous democracy advocate

‘A definitive, compelling account of a drama that has gripped the world. Vines interweaves frontline reporting, insights from key players and a local’s knowledge to chronicle Hong Kong’s defiant challenge to the might of Xi Jinping’s China.’ — Philip Sherwell, Asia correspondent, Sunday Times

‘A superb book about Beijing’s ruthless and depressing efforts to stamp out Hong Kong’s freedoms, erode its rule of law and attack its identity as an open society. Vines, a brave and distinguished journalist, sets this sad story of a great international city within the brutal politics of the Chinese regime.’ — Lord Chris Patten, last British governor of Hong Kong

‘One of the most important stories of our times of the fight against authoritarian regimes. The best way to understand China is through the lens of Hong Kong’s struggles.’ — Nathan Law, leading democracy activist

‘A compelling narrative set against two major crises facing China —control of Hong Kong and unprecedented international pushback. With his signature dry wit and razor-sharp pen, Vines skewers Quislings, dysfunctional bureaucracies and self-interested elites, arguing that we shouldn’t bet against Hongkongers just yet.’ — Sharon Hom, Executive Director of Human Rights in China and Adjunct Professor, New York University

‘Written with honesty and integrity, [DEFYING THE DRAGON] chronicles a critical moment in Hong Kong’s history as the city prepares for an unclear future.’ — South China Post Magazine

RIVERS OF LONDON: DEADLY EVER AFTER #1 Out Next Week!

Posted on Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

The first issue in the new Rivers of London comic series, DEADLY EVER AFTER, is out next week! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman, and with art by José Maria Beroy. Published by Titan Comics, 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 1800s before they become victims of a lethal sorcery.

The issue is available with four striking covers, by the following artists: Jung-Geun Yoon (above), Abigail Harding (below, left), Veronica Fish (below, centre), and David M Buisan (below, right).

DEADLY EVER AFTER is the tenth Rivers of London comic series — the first nine are also published in the UK and North America by Titan Comics, and are available now in collected editions (print and digital).

[An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the issue was out today — it has been delayed by a week. Apologies for any confusion.]

Italian Edition of THE MENACE FROM FARSIDE Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, May 10th, 2022

A new Italian edition of Ian McDonald‘s THE MENACE FROM FARSIDE is now available! Published by Urania/Mondadori as MINACCIA DA FARSIDE, it’s a prequel novella to the acclaimed Luna series. Here’s the synopsis…

Preparatevi a tornare nel mondo dei Dragoni, i signori della celeberrima trilogia Luna creata dalla penna di Ian McDonald.

A Regina Sud, città della famiglia Taiyang, la società è organizzata tramite “anelli”, ovvero famiglie poliamorose. E per Carid, figlia di un “matrimonio anulare”, l’arrivo di una nuova sorellastra in famiglia è una tragedia.

Sidibe non è solo bella d’aspetto e altera di carattere, ma possiede delle rarissime ali con cui incanta tutti, compresi Jair e Kobe, i fratellastri di Carid. La ragazza ha solo venti giorni di tempo prima che venga sancito ufficialmente il nuovo legame della sua famiglia allargata. E di certo non ha intenzione di restarsene con le mani in mano.

Con la scusa di un originale regalo di nozze, trascina la nuova arrivata e i due fratellastri in un’avventura… alla ricerca della prima impronta umana sulla Luna, lasciata cento anni prima nel Mare della Tranquillità dallo stivale di Neil Armstrong.

Cosa potrebbe andare storto?

Conoscendo Ian McDonald, il George R.R. Martin dello spazio, tutto…

In addition to THE MENACE FROM FARSIDE, the volume also includes translations of two short stories in the same setting: IL QUINTO DRAGONE (THE FIFTH DRAGON, originally published in 2014) and CADUTA (THE FALLS, 2015).

THE MENACE FROM FARSIDE is published in the UK and North America by Tor.com (cover above). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Ian McDonald returns to his elegantly wound solar system of the twenty-second century, full of political intrigue and complicated families.

Remember: Lady Luna knows a thousand ways to kill you, but family is what you know. Family is what works.

Cariad Corcoran has a new sister who is everything she is not: tall, beautiful, confident. They’re unlikely allies and even unlikelier sisters, but they’re determined to find the moon’s first footprint, even if the lunar frontier is doing its best to kill them before they get there.

Urania also publishes the three Luna novels: LUNA NUOVA (NEW MOON), LUNA PIENA (WOLF MOON), and LUNA CRESCENTE (MOON RISING). An omnibus edition (or, ‘Titan Edition‘) is also available in Italy.

The Luna novels are published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Tor Books.

The series has also been published in Poland, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Romania, Hungary, Russia, Croatia, China, Taiwan, and Serbia. Here are the covers for NEW MOON…

Vincent Tirado’s BURN DOWN, RISE UP eBook Edition is out now!

Posted on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022

Vincent Tirado‘s highly-anticipated debut novel, BURN DOWN, RISE UP is out today in eBook! 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 print edition of the novel is due to be published in June.

‘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

‘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

‘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

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

Brandon Sanderson’s RHYTHM OF WAR, Parts 1 & 2 Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, April 28th, 2022

The paperback editions of RHYTHM OF WAR are out today in the UK! The fourth instalment in Brandon Sanderson‘s best-selling, critically-acclaimed Stormlight Archive series. Here is 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 Stormlight Archive series has been an acclaimed best-seller on both sides of the Atlantic. Here are just a few of the reviews RHYTHM OF WAR has received so far…

‘[RHYTHM OF WAR] certainly delivers the dense fantasy epic long-time readers will expect.’ — Booklist

‘It is the sign of a skilled author if they can draw laughter and tears from you in the space of a few chapters or even a few lines, and well Sanderson [is] the master of emotions.’ — The Fantasy Hive

‘Storms, this was a fantastic book. Highs and lows, laughter and tears, joy and grief—it was all there.’ — Tor.com

The first three instalments in the series are also available in the UK, in various formats, published by Gollancz: THE WAY OF KINGS, WORDS OF RADIANCE, and OATHBRINGER.

The first two novels in the series are also available in special hardcover editions, also published in the UK by Gollancz.

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

USPB Edition of Simon R. Green’s THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL, Simon R. Green‘s first Gideon Sable novel, is now available in paperback in North America! Released a little while ago in the UK, it is published by Severn House. Here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to London, but not as you know it. A place where magics and horror run free, wonders and miracles are everyday things, and the dark streets are full of very shadowy people…

Gideon Sable is a thief and a con man. He specializes in stealing the kind of things that can’t normally be stolen. Like a ghost’s clothes, or a photo from a country that never existed. He even stole his current identity. Who was he originally? Now, that would be telling. One thing’s for sure though, he’s not the bad guy. The people he steals from always have it coming.

Gideon’s planning a heist, to steal the only thing that matters from the worst man in the world. To get past his security, he’s going to need a crew who can do the impossible… but luckily, he has the right people in mind. The Damned, the Ghost, the Wild Card… and his ex-girlfriend, Annie Anybody. A woman who can be anyone, with the power to make technology fall in love with her.

If things go well, they’ll all get what they want. And if they’re lucky, they might not even die trying…

The second novel in the series, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE, is also published by Severn House — it’s out now in both North America and in the UK.

Here are just a few of the reviews THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL has received so far…

‘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

‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly

‘You don’t so much read a Simon R Green novel as grab on with both hands and hope you’re still alive at the end of the ride… [Green’s] writing is the very definition of pure, unadulterated escapism.’ — The Eloquent Page

‘If you like the idea of a snark-sparked team coming together in order to pull off the caper of the century, Gideon Sable might just be your jam.’ — Reading Reality

‘If you like gritty, funny, slapdash urban fantasy heist novels with crazy characters… you will enjoy this.’ — Hidden in Pages

‘[Featuring] pacey writing, strong characters and tongue-in-cheek humour that doesn’t take itself too seriously.’ — Brain Fluff

Severn House is also the publisher of Green’s Ishmael Jones mystery series, in the UK and North America.

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

New Taiwanese Covers for Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series!

Posted on Thursday, April 21st, 2022

The first four books in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, internationally best-selling Rivers of London series (倫敦探案系列) have been given new covers in Taiwan! Originally published between 2016-17, by Marco Polo (馬可孛羅文化事業), read on for some more details for each novel as well as the stunning new covers.

RIVERS OF LONDON, the first in the series, is published in Taiwan as 倫敦河惡靈騷動, and is translated by Zheng Yuxin (鄭郁欣). The new cover is above, and here’s the synopsis…

寒冷週二的凌晨時分，柯芬園聖保羅教堂的西門廊前躺著一具沒有頭的屍體。就要結束實習工作、接下來將分派到倫敦警察廳所屬轄區警局的菜鳥彼得．葛蘭特，基於職責在案發現場盤問了一名衣著老派過時的矮小男子，沒想到對方竟一五一十細細陳述了案發經過，其內容可信度非常高，只不過彼得恐怕沒辦法將這段證詞呈報給調查小組──

誰會相信一個平凡人光揮舞一根球棒就能將被害者的頭敲飛？誰又能接受提供證詞的這位老先生，是個死了足足一百二十年、站在光線下整個人變透明的鬼魂？

不過彼得相信，對現代警察來說，「看得見不存在的事物」是個不可或缺的重要技能，沒想到納丁格爾督察長不但願意接受這聽起來像胡謅的說法，還將彼得納入警察廳內最神祕的特殊犯罪部，聯手調查這樁超自然色彩濃厚的謀殺案。

在這個魔法捲土重來、惡靈騷動再起的時刻，暴力與叛亂已在古老的倫敦城內甦醒，想要解決一連串的詭譎怪案，還得有點福爾摩斯的腦袋與哈利波特的能力才行…

The second novel in the series, MOON OVER SOHO, is published in Taiwan as 蘇活月爵士魅影, and is also translated by Zheng Yuxin.

蘇活區，倫敦夜晚最熱鬧的地方，同時也是爵士樂發展的中心。在那裡，你可以找到歷史悠久且風格各異的酒吧和俱樂部，樂手們全都嚮往登上此處的表演舞臺，演奏最道地動聽的音樂。

一具被判定為自然死亡的屍體上，彼得．葛蘭特聽見了經典爵士樂曲的魔法殘跡，經調查後發現，過去一段時間大倫敦地區每年至少有三名爵士音樂家在演出後二十四小時內死亡，很可能是有某個術士或鬼魂、精靈之類的存在，正有計畫地殺害倫敦的爵士樂人──幾天後，再次傳來某個長號手暴斃的噩耗。

棘手的死亡事件不只一樁，就在魔法爵士殺手再度犯案的當晚，一名中年男子陰莖遭割裂、失血過多死在俱樂部裡，英國最後一位巫師警官納丁格爾告訴彼得，這是「陰牙」造成的傷口，很可能是某種超自然生物所為。

這下子彼得可頭大了，一個以爵士樂手為目標的魔法殺手，與一個擁有傷人利齒的超自然生物，該從哪個方向展開調查才好？首先，彼得必須找尋爵士樂專家的幫助，而他心底已經有了最佳人選……

悠揚輕柔的爵士樂聲響起，為流連倫敦街頭的人們帶來多少歡愉，

曲終人散的某個闇暗角落，躺著一具被魔法奪走性命的沉默軀體。

誰能同時扮演福爾摩斯與哈利波特的角色？只有菜鳥警察彼得．葛蘭特！

Translated by Han Yichen (韓宜辰) and Lin Zhaoling (林詔伶), WHISPERS UNDERGROUND is published as 地底城魔法暗湧 in Taiwan.

二次世界大戰後，英國的巫師所剩無幾，魔法逐漸式微、光明隨之遠離，除了納丁格爾與他唯一認可的學徒彼得．葛蘭特之外，再沒有人使用和練習魔法。然而，黑魔法師無臉男的出現，徹底打破了納丁格爾的認知，原來自一九五○年代起，就有巫師在牛津大學祕密教授魔法，更有學員加入黑暗勢力，製造出邪惡的超自然生物，讓倫敦陷入危機。

找出黑魔法師的真實身分，成為菜鳥警察彼得的當務之急，一樁發生在倫敦地鐵站的命案，卻令彼得不得不分心轉向追查，因為殺害死者的凶器，竟是一塊殘留魔法的陶器碎片。同時，命案死者的敏感身分，也招來了美國FBI派探員跨海介入調查。

死者是否又是一名非法學習法術的巫師？沾有魔法殘跡的陶器從何而來？被要求加入凶案調查小組的彼得，不但得全力追查凶器來源與凶手，還不能讓FBI發現任何「不尋常」的異狀。一方面諜對諜作戰，一方面向河神、半妖等超自然生物打聽情報，彼得這才驚異地發現，在倫敦紛亂複雜的地下鐵深處，很可能潛藏了一座不為人知的神祕之城……

And last, but by no means least, the fourth novel in the series, BROKEN HOMES, is published in Taiwan as 天空塔黑巫再現. Lin Zhaoling also translated this novel.

地底城事件結束後，納丁格爾與他的學徒彼得．葛蘭特體認到，黑魔法師無臉男的勢力已經擴張到他們難以察覺的深處，無論這位黑魔法師真正的目的為何，徹查所有的小鱷魚名單、找出無臉男的真實身分，絕對是當務之急。因此，即便是一樁看似簡單的交通意外，也不能錯過任何線索。

彼得的直覺沒錯，小鱷魚成員的交通意外演變為一件毀屍滅跡的凶殺案；不久之後，竟有第二名可疑的小鱷魚成員在地鐵站內跳軌自殺。一具屍體或許只是意外，但兩具屍體就不可能只是巧合，而且一定與無臉男有關。

為了化被動為主動，彼得決定設下誘餌引無臉男出現，沒想到出現的卻是令他們意想不到的另一個熟面孔，死去的伍德維爾．詹托的看護——凡倫卡，來自俄羅斯的魔法學徒，危險度極高的暗夜女巫。

現在，倫敦有兩名出手凶狠的非法巫師逍遙法外了。最令人擔心的是，暗夜女巫是否與黑魔法師相互聯手？小鱷魚的命案又是何人所為？此時，彼得追查到一本遭竊的德國魔法書，屬於瘋狂建築師艾瑞克．史騰堡所有，更進一步發現這些喪命的死者，都與史騰堡所蓋的空中花園大樓有關……

高掛空中的冠冕，點亮城市的火炬，

魔法與工業的結合，是不切實際的空想，還是真實存在的世紀之作？

The Rivers of London series is published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); in Germany by DTV; and widely elsewhere in translation.

The ninth novel in the series, the Sunday Times #1 AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, was published this month by Orion Books (UK), DAW Books (North America), and DTV (Germany).

Ian R. MacLeod’s SONG OF TIME Out Now in Italy!

Posted on Tuesday, April 19th, 2022

A new Italian edition of Ian R. MacLeod‘s multi-award-winning SONG OF TIME is out now! Published by Urania as LA CANZONE DEL TEMPO, here’s the synopsis…

Durante una passeggiata su una spiaggia della Cornovaglia, l’anziana Roushana Maitland, celebre violinista di fama mondiale, trova un uomo nudo, inerme, riverso sulla sabbia come se fosse stato trasportato lì dal mare.

Sotto le alghe, i graffi e i lividi bluastri, c’è un giovane bello come un dio greco. Ben presto appare chiaro che il ragazzo non è annegato ma è vivo, anche se privo della memoria. Da dove sia arrivato è un mistero; potrebbe essere uno schiavo sfuggito a qualche destino infame, o un criminale evaso.

Roushana soccorre “Adam”, come decide di chiamarlo, e mentre se ne prende cura, gli racconta della sua lunga e incredibile vita, ricca di grandi successi e cadute devastanti: dall’infanzia a Birmingham tra gli incubi del terrorismo biologico, passando per i viaggi in India all’epoca di un grande disastro nucleare, fino alla sfavillante carriera musicale a Parigi e alla sua vita bohemien.

Nel frattempo là fuori, oltre le mura protettive della casa, c’è un mondo morente: un futuro malinconicamente distopico, tra vulcani in eruzione e tempeste di polvere.

Tuttavia la morte non è più una barriera: è possibile caricare la propria memoria in un “cristallo” all’interno del proprio cervello, e raggiungere così l’immortalità digitale.

Un passo che Roushana, in fin di vita, si accinge a fare a breve per raggiungere coloro che ha amato, gli amici che già l’attendono oltre il velo.

Ma un oscuro segreto la trattiene dal compiere il passaggio…

First published in 2009, SONG OF TIME won the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. It is available in the UK and North America, published by JABberwocky (alongside a number of other MacLeod titles).

‘MacLeod’s quiet, meditative novels and stories have been winning critical acclaim for years, and Song of Time sees him at the height of his powers. At the end of a long and eventful life, celebrated violinist Roushana Maitland orders her memories before she passes from the world of the flesh to a virtual afterlife. When she finds a mysterious stranger washed up on the beach of her Cornish retreat, he facilitates the process of remembrance. In flashback chapters we follow Roushana’s turbulent life through the cataclysmic events of the 21st century, taking in the deaths of loved ones, marriage to a conductor-entrepreneur, and a final heartbreaking revelation, SONG OF TIME is a slow, sensitive first-person account of what it means to be human and vulnerable, and confirms MacLeod as one of the country’s very best literary SF writers.’ — Guardian

New WORDS OF RADIANCE Hardcovers Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, April 14th, 2022

The new hardcover editions of Brandon Sanderson‘s WORDS OF RADIANCE are out today in the UK! The second instalment in the acclaimed and best-selling Stormlight Archive epic fantasy series, it published in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status “darkeyes.” Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.

The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin’s master has much deeper motives.

Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.

Here are just a few of the reviews WORDS OF RADIANCE has received…

‘Balancing fascinating worldbuilding with a page-turner of a plot, this is a series fantasy fans won’t want to miss.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘Brandon Sanderson’s reputation is finally as big as his novels.’ — New York Times

‘Sanderson has used the room afforded by a book of this size to build it in loving detail […] the characterization is on the whole as as meticulous as the world-building. A very impressive continuation.’ — Booklist

‘Sanderson’s skill at world building is unmatched, and in the Stormlight Archive series he has developed an innovative magical system and combined it with rich, complex characters to create a compelling story. His eagerly awaited sequel to THE WAY OF KINGS exceeds expectations. This developing epic series is a must-read for all fantasy fans.’ — Library Journal

‘WORDS OF RADIANCE may be the most accomplished followup to a popular first novel in the last 15 years and the time and energy that Sanderson put into this work tells throughout the novel.’ — Buzzfeed

‘WORDS OF RADIANCE is excellent […] [it] cranks up the level of intrigue to dizzying extremes […] Sanderson’s experiment is working, and he gets better with every book. The journey will be worth it. Yes, you should buy this book. Yes, this is a series worth following to the end.’ — Tor.com

‘Whether you’ve been hyped for WORDS OF RADIANCE or not, you are not prepared for how fantastic it is […] it absolutely revels in its fantasy world, one of actual gods, bizarre magic, knights with superpowers, spirits and sorcery, monsters, demons, and magic sword called Shardblades. It embraces the fantastic, and does so with an astonishing amount of creativity […] WORDS OF RADIANCE is a must-read.’ — io9.com

Gollancz has also released THE WAY OF KINGS in new hardcover editions (out now) and are due to publish the third instalment in the series, OATHBRINGER, in new editions in July 2022.

The fourth instalment in the series, RHYTHM OF WAR, is also published in the UK by Gollancz, and is due out in new paperback editions on April 28th.

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

Paperback Edition of THE BEST OF WORLD SF, Volume 1 is Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, April 13th, 2022

The paperback edition of the acclaimed THE BEST OF WORLD SF, Volume 1 anthology is out tomorrow! Published by Ad Astra/Head of Zeus, the collection is edited by Lavie Tidhar. Here’s the synopsis…

The future is coming. It knows no bounds, and neither should science fiction.

They say the more things change the more they stay the same. But over the last hundred years, science fiction has changed. Vibrant new generations of writers have sprung up across the globe, proving the old adage false. From Ghana to India, from Mexico to France, from Singapore to Cuba, they draw on their unique backgrounds and culture, changing the face of the genre one story at a time.

Prepare yourself for a journey through the wildest reaches of the imagination, to visions of Earth as it might be and the far corners of the universe. Along the way, you will meet robots and monsters, adventurers and time travellers, rogues and royalty.

In The Best of World SF, award-winning author Lavie Tidhar acts as guide and companion to a world of stories, from never-before-seen originals to award winners, from twenty-three countries and seven languages. Because the future is coming and it belongs to us all.

Here’s the full Table of Contents:

  • IMMERSION by Aliette de Bodard
  • DEBTLESS by Chen Qiufan (trans. from Chinese by Blake Stone-Banks)
  • FANDOM FOR ROBOTS by Vina Jie-Min Prasad
  • VIRTUAL SNAPSHOTS by Tlotlo Tsamaase
  • WHAT THE DEAD MAN SAID by Chinelo Onwualu
  • DELHI by Vandana Singh
  • THE WHEEL OF SAMSARA by Han Song (trans. from Chinese by the author)
  • XINGZHOU by Yi-Sheng Ng
  • PRAYER by Taiyo Fujii (trans. from Japanese by Kamil Spychalski)
  • THE GREEN SHIP by Francesco Verso (trans. from Italian by Michael Colbert)
  • EYES OF THE CROCODILE by Malena Salazar Maciá (trans. from Spanish by Toshiya Kamei)
  • BOOTBLACK by Tade Thompson
  • THE EMPTINESS IN THE HEART OF ALL THINGS by Fabio Fernandes
  • THE SUN FROM BOTH SIDES by R.S.A. Garcia
  • DUMP by Cristina Jurado (trans. from Spanish by Steve Redwood)
  • RUE CHAIR by Gerardo Horacio Porcayo (trans. from Spanish by the author)
  • HIS MASTER’S VOICE by Hannu Rajaniemi
  • BENJAMIN SCHNEIDER’S LITTLE GREYS by Nir Yaniv (trans. from Hebrew by Lavie Tidhar)
  • THE CRYPTID by Emil H. Petersen (trans. from Icelandic by the author)
  • THE BANK OF BURKINA FASO by Ekaterina Sedia
  • AN INCOMPLETE GUIDE… by Kuzhali Manickavel
  • THE OLD MAN WITH THE THIRD HAND by Kofi Nyameye
  • THE GREEN by Lauren Beukes
  • THE LAST VOYAGE OF SKIDBLADNIR by Karin Tidbeck
  • PRIME MERIDIAN by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED by Zen Cho

THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER Omnibus out this week in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022

This Thursday (April 14th), Gollancz are due to publish the new Chronicles of Amber omnibus, as part of their SF Masterworks series! Including the first five novels in Roger Zelazny‘s classic series, here’s the synopsis…

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.

Originally published between 1970-91, the Chronicles of Amber series is beloved across the world, and is available widely in translation (in a variety of individual and omnibus editions). For more details, check out Zelazny’s page.

Zelazny’s LORD OF LIGHT is also available in the UK, as part of Gollancz‘s SF Masterworks series.

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS Out Tomorrow in North America!

Posted on Monday, April 11th, 2022

North American fans of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London series only have to wait one more day before they can get their hands on book nine in the series! AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is out tomorrow, published by DAW Books in North America. Here’s the 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 paparazzi convention.

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…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining — step into the world of the much-loved, bestselling Rivers of London series.

The novel was published last week in the UK, by Orion. It will also be published in Germany on April 13th, by DTV.

The other books in the series are published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas).

Ben Aaronovitch’s AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, April 7th, 2022

The wait is finally over: AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated ninth Rivers of London novel is out today in the UK! Published in the UK by Orion Books, here’s the 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…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

The novel is also available as an audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. The novel is due to be published in North America by DAW Books (April 12th) and in Germany by DTV (April 14th).

The other novels and novellas in the Rivers of London series are published in the UK by Gollancz; by DTV in Germany; and by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas) in North America.

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

Posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2022

The North American hardcover edition of Simon R. Green‘s second Gideon Sable novel, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE is out now! 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…

The novel is available in the UK (published back in January), and also widely available in eBook (published in March). The first book in the series, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL is also available, published by Severn House.

Here are just a few of the reviews the first in the series has received…

‘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

‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly

‘You don’t so much read a Simon R Green novel as grab on with both hands and hope you’re still alive at the end of the ride… [Green’s] writing is the very definition of pure, unadulterated escapism.’ — The Eloquent Page

‘If you like the idea of a snark-sparked team coming together in order to pull off the caper of the century, Gideon Sable might just be your jam.’ — Reading Reality

‘If you like gritty, funny, slapdash urban fantasy heist novels with crazy characters… you will enjoy this.’ — Hidden in Pages

‘[Featuring] pacey writing, strong characters and tongue-in-cheek humour that doesn’t take itself too seriously.’ — Brain Fluff

Green’s Ishmael Jones mystery series is also published by Severn House in the UK and North America.

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

Adam Oyebanji’s BRAKING DAY is out now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, April 5th, 2022

BRAKING DAY, Adam Oyebanji‘s highly-anticipated debut, is out now in the UK! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, 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.