Category: Release

Audio Spotlight: Lavie Tidhar’s THE HOOD!

Posted on Monday, October 18th, 2021

As you may be aware, Lavie Tidhar‘s latest novel, THE HOOD was published last week by Head of Zeus in print and eBook. Today, we want to let you know that it is also available as an audiobook, published by W. F. Howes and narrated by Toby Longworth. The stand-alone second novel in the author’s Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet, here’s the synopsis…

A viscerally entertaining, ominously subversive and poetically profane remixing of the myths and legends that shaped our nation.

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

Don’t cross the Templars. Everybody knows that. But Will Scarlet, back from the crusades, hopped up on khat and cider, did. Stabbed thrice in the belly but somehow still alive, he’s heading home to Nottingham.

And things are not right in Nottingham.

It’s the wood, you see. Sherwood. Ice-age ancient, impenetrable, hiding a dark and secret heart. As the ancient sages say, If you go into the woods today, you may not come out tomorrow and the person who comes out may not be you…

The Hood is Lavie Tidhar’s narcotic remix of an ancient English myth, a tale knotted from legends lost to time, shredded and re-stitched for each passing century. A tale for today.

The first novel in the Quartet, BY FORCE ALONE, is also available now, and is published in the UK by Head of Zeus and in North America by Tor Books.

‘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

Two DEMON CYCLE Digital Bundles Available in the UK!

Posted on Friday, October 15th, 2021

You are hopefully aware of Peter V. Brett‘s most recent novel, THE DESERT PRINCE. The first novel in a new series, it is set in the same world as his best-selling, acclaimed Demon Cycle series (albeit, a generation afterwards). The series is published in the UK by Voyager, who have recently made the books available in two new collections!

The first (pictured above) is the THE DEMON CYCLE: COMPLETE COLLECTION…

A captivating and thrilling adventure, pulling the reader into a world of demons, darkness, and heroes, The Demon Cycle is one of the 21st century’s most acclaimed fantasy series.

AS DARKNESS FALLS, THE DEMONS RISE

For hundreds of years, demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human population. It was not always this way. Men and women did not always cower behind protective magical wards, waiting for the dawn. Once, they battled the demons on equal terms, but those days, and skills, are gone.

Now, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will do the unthinkable, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past.

Together, they will stand against the night.

The collection includes:

  • Novels: THE PAINTED MAN, THE DESERT SPEAR, THE DAYLIGHT WAR, THE SKULL THRONE, THE CORE.
  • Novellas: THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD, MESSENGER’S LEGACY, and BARREN.

The second collection is one for fans of the novels who maybe missed out on the novellas, and want to read even more set in the world.

Experience the world of The Demon Cycle to its fullest with a collection that brings together, for the first time, all of the short stories and novellas in Peter V. Brett’s bestselling series.

AS DARKNESS FALLS, THE DEMONS RISE

Humanity has been brought to the brink of extinction. A scant few hamlets and half-starved city-states are all that remain of a once-proud civilization, and it is only by hiding behind wards, ancient symbols with the power to repel the demons, that they survive.

But there are those who stand against the night.

Ragen Messenger, ready to retire from his dangerous trade, ventures into demon-haunted swamps to find a runaway child.

Arlen Bales, still an inexperienced young messenger, sets out on new adventures in the deserts of Krasia and the frozen mountains of Miln.

And Selia Square, the woman they call Barren, leads the community she has forged into a desperate battle against demons unlike any they have seen before.

As mentioned earlier, THE DESERT PRINCE (the first book in the Nightfall Saga) is out now, and already a best-seller and critically-acclaimed success!

Here are just a few of the great reviews the Demon Cycle series has received so far…

‘Brett ably blends fantasy and horror in this arresting first novel, the first in a planned series. An imaginative and exciting tale, recommended where there is interest in epic fantasy.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review) on THE PAINTED MAN

‘Brett’s fantasy debut is a highly readable adventure with a unique setting and three strong protagonists. Brett includes plenty of exciting battles, terrifying monsters, and heart-wrenching moments to make the focus of the story — the development of flawed, ordinary children into legends — believable. Consider the series this begins worth tracking.’ — Booklist on THE PAINTED MAN

‘Brett’s debut builds slowly and grimly on a classic high-fantasy framework of black-and-white mortality and bloodshed. Brett’s gritty tale will appeal to those who tire of sympathetic villains and long for old-school orc massacres.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE PAINTED MAN

‘A gripping adventure — a very promising start to a new series, and an excellent first novel.’ — Locus on THE PAINTED MAN

‘Brett spins another side story (after The Great Bazaar and Other Stories) off the deliberately harsh fantasy world first developed in 2009’s The Warded Man. This novella is a slight but enjoyable tale with a light, almost YA feel. Newcomers will get an easy introduction as Arlen, still an apprentice Messenger, takes on his first solo excursion into the demon-haunted night. When Sandar breaks his leg, Curk, Arlan’s mentor, is assigned to take his place hauling explosives to a far-off mining town. Brigands attack and Curk flees, but the ever-brave Arlan stands his ground, making himself new enemies and allies in what will become his long fight against the demons.’ — Publishers Weekly on BRAYAN’S GOLD

‘A gripping sequel […] emphasizes political and romantic intrigue without losing the urgency of the demon war.’ — Booklist on THE DESERT SPEAR

“Extends the author’s panoramic vision […] Fans of epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan and George R. R. Martin will enjoy the arrival of a strong voice in multivolume epic fantasy.’ — Library Journal on THE DESERT SPEAR

‘Sure to leave fans on tenterhooks waiting for the next installment.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE DESERT SPEAR

‘Along with Brandon Sanderson and Daniel Abraham, Peter V. Brett is at the forefront of purveyors of epic fantasy whose teeth were ground on the likes of Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Terry Brooks, and David Eddings […] in other words, with THE DAYLIGHT WAR, he’s at the top of his game. I give this my highest recommendation (including the first two novels in the series.)’ — Tor.com

‘If you like your Fantasy big, dramatic, and with characters you grow to love the Demon Cycle will be quite memorable. With THE DAYLIGHT WAR, Brett reaffirms his high place in modern Epic Fantasy.’ — Mad Hatter Reviews

‘Peter V. Brett expands and deepens his endlessly fascinating and increasingly complex world.’ — Buzzfeed on THE SKULL THRONE

‘Complex and engaging […] all I can do is recommend this book to readers. I tore through this volume, and many nights I would stay up late to read just another chapter […] or four. I can’t wait to see how this diverse cast of characters takes on the demons once and for all.’ — Fantasy Faction on THE SKULL THRONE

‘Only very rarely does a long epic fantasy series conclude satisfactorily. With THE CORE, Peter V. Brett manages to hit all the right notes, delivering the perfect ending to a great series. Through the years, Brett’s Demon Cycle became one of my very favorite fantasy series. Everything that was started throughout the series, all the potential hinted at in previous books, it all paid off in the end. THE CORE is one of the best finales I’ve ever read. If you’ve been waiting to read The Demon Cycle until it’s completed, I can very much recommend you pick it up in 2018!’ — The Ranting Dragon

Zeno represents Peter V. Brett in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Lavie Tidhar’s THE HOOD is Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021

The highly-anticipated second novel in Lavie Tidhar‘s Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet, THE HOOD is out tomorrow! Published by Head of Zeus, here’s the synopsis…

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

Don’t cross the Templars. Everybody knows that. But Will Scarlett, back from the crusades, hopped up on khat and cider, did. Stabbed thrice in the belly but somehow still alive, he’s heading home to Nottingham.

And things are not right in Nottingham.

It’s the wood, you see. Sherwood. Ice-age ancient, impenetrable, hiding a dark and secret heart. As the ancient sages say, If you go into the woods today, you may not come out tomorrow, and the person who comes out may not be you…

The Hood is Lavie Tidhar’s narcotic remix of an ancient English myth, a tale knotted from legends lost to time, shredded and restitched for each passing century. A tale for today.

The first novel in the series, BY FORCE ALONE, is out now — published by Head of Zeus in the UK and Tor Books in North America.

New Illustrated Edition of Zelazny’s Ночь в тоскливом октябре Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, October 12th, 2021

We’re very happy to report that Эксмо has released a new, illustrated edition of Roger Zelazny‘s classic novel A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER! With interior artwork by ViaEstelar, this special edition is out just in time for Halloween! Here’s the synopsis for Ночь в тоскливом октябре…

Добро пожаловать в Лондон конца XIX века! Под покровом тумана этого промозглого октября сойдутся в Великой Игре известнейшие персоны своего времени, а также их питомцы-помощники. Великий сыщик, граф, пробуждающийся по ночам, таинственный учёный и его создание – игроки не афишируют своих имён, но вы наверняка узнаете их без труда. А наградой победителю станет возможность изменить весь существующий мир…

Уникальное иллюстрированное издание знаменитого романа-трибьюта классикам фантастики и мистики, где образы Грандмастера фэнтези Роджера Желязны оживают в великолепном исполнении художницы ViaEstelar.

First published in 1993, the novel is now available in the UK via Farrago Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

All is not what it seems.

In the murky London gloom, a knife-wielding gentleman named Jack prowls the midnight streets with his faithful watchdog Snuff — gathering together the grisly ingredients they will need for an upcoming ancient and unearthly rite. For soon after the death of the moon, black magic will summon the Elder Gods back into the world. And all manner of Players, both human and undead, are preparing to participate.

Some have come to open the gates. Some have come to slam them shut. And now the dread night approaches — so let the Game begin.

Here, too, are just some of the great reviews the novel has received…

‘One of Zelazny’s most delightful books: Jack the Ripper’s dog Snuff narrates a mad game of teams to cause or prevent armageddon.’ — Neil Gaiman

‘The last great novel by one of the giants of the genre.’ — George R.R. Martin

‘A madcap blend of horror tropes and fantasy… There aren’t many authors who would set out to write a novel in which the Wolfman and Jack the Ripper were the two heroes… And I’m not sure anyone else could have made it work.’ — SF Chronicle

‘Sparkling, witty, delightful. Zelazny’s best for ages, perhaps his best ever.’ — Kirkus

‘A cheerful, witty, well-crafted fantasy… Its deft, understated good humor and spare, poetic prose reaffirm Zelazny as one of fantasy’s most skilled practitioners.’ — Publishers Weekly

Short Fiction Watch: COME THE REVOLUTION by Ian Tregillis

Posted on Monday, October 11th, 2021

You may recall that Ian Tregillis has written a prequel novella for his Alchemy Wars trilogy: COME THE REVOLUTION. First published in the March/April 2020 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, the novella has also been included in a new anthology, THE YEAR’S TOP TALES OF SPACE AND TIME, published by Infinivox.

In an alternate 18th Century Holland, a robot whose obedience is enforced through pain is determined to escape her makers’ constraints.

Ian’s highly-acclaimed Alchemy War novels are out now, published by Orbit Books in the UK and North America: THE MECHANICAL, THE RISING, and THE LIBERATION. Here’s the synopsis for the first book…

My name is Jax.

That is the name granted to me by my human masters.

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

The series has also been published in Poland, Italy, and China; and THE MECHANICAL has also been published in Hungary and Turkey.

Here are a few of the great reviews the series has received since publication…

‘The first thing readers will say after finishing this splendid book is: “Wow.” The second thing will probably be: “When can I read the next one?” … This is a rousing SF/fantasy adventure, with a brilliantly imagined and beautifully rendered alternate world. Although he keeps the pace moving at a brisk clip, the author is able to work in some Big Ideas, asking us to think about what we mean when we speak about souls and free will. This isn’t Tregillis’ first venture into alternate history — the Milkweed Triptych is set during WWII and features an alternate time line — but, in terms of the quality of writing and cleverness of ideas, this new book constitutes a major leap forward.’ — Booklist (Starred Review) on THE MECHANICAL

‘… launches a series with this superb alternate history filled with clockwork men and ethical questions on the nature of free will… Tregillis’s complex setting is elegantly delivered, and the rich characters and gripping story really make this tale soar.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on THE MECHANICAL

‘An original approach to a well-known subject matter; human ethics and free will… a fascinating world… Tregillis is a capable sculptor of narrative. He rarely drags on in his descriptions, painting a complex picture of his world one section at a time. He imbues most characters with a specific internal voice, ably switching between points of view without it ever jarring. And the central character, a Clakker known as Jax, is the most engaging automaton you’ll encounter in any recent book. This opener to the Alchemy Wars trilogy delivers a mostly fresh breath of sci-fi fantasy.’ — SciFi Now on THE MECHANICAL

‘Tregillis never fails to impress, and his writing and stories seem to be getting better with each novel. This book is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and it’s my favorite work of his to date. I can’t wait to see what the next installment in The Alchemy Wars will bring.’ — BiblioSanctum on THE MECHANICAL

‘The chases, the battles, the brutal violence, and the scheming are nonstop. As always, Tregillis offers richly textured and genuinely likable personalities with shades-of-gray morality; it’s clearly no accident that the most purely good person in the novel is the mechanical Jax, although even his sterling qualities are severely tested by the terrible situations he faces. Middle volumes are always tricky; they can often read as an obstacle to overcome on the way to the forgone conclusion of the third installment. Tregillis commendably avoids this trap, deepening his story and keeping it moving along toward an unknown horizon. Part 3 can’t come too soon.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review) on THE RISING

‘Tregillis’s splendid sequel to THE MECHANICAL is a vivid alternate history tale filled with action sequences, fascinating characters, and great worldbuilding… engrossing, with plenty of mid-story twists, and it’s well worth the ride.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RISING

‘The thoughtful, blood-soaked conclusion to an alternate-history trilogy… A frighteningly frank and brutal consideration of slavery, post-slavery, and colonialism in metallic garb.’ — Kirkus on THE LIBERATION

‘Action-packed and harrowing…’ — RT Book Reviews on THE LIBERATION

‘THE LIBERATION brings to a violent, triumphant conclusion Ian Tregillis’s epic Alchemy Wars Trilogy: one of the most entertaining, original, and thought-provoking series of recent years… It’s a wonderfully realized world, packed with fascinating characters, and Tregillis uses alternative history brilliantly to explore concerns we still have over new technologies and their potential effect, for good and ill, on our freedom.’ — Toronto Star

New Slovak Edition of RIVERS OF LONDON!

Posted on Friday, October 8th, 2021

Ten years after it was first published, Ben Aaronovitch‘s RIVERS OF LONDON continues its global conquest! A new Slovak edition of the novel is now available, published by Slovart as RIEKY LONDYNA. The first novel in the author’s Peter Grant series, here’s the synopsis…

Jedna z najúspešnejších mestských fantasy za posledných desať rokov! Keď sa Peter Grant zamestnal u londýnskych strážcov zákona, netušil, že na britskej polícií existuje akési zvláštne oddelenie mágie a nadprirodzených javov. Po nečakanom stretnutí s duchom sa však stane prvým učňom inšpektora Nightingala, jediného predstaviteľa tohto zvláštneho útvaru. A ešte ako zelenáč musí nielenže riešiť dva zdanlivo nesúvisiace zločiny a zistiť, čo robí z obyčajných ľudí krutých zabijakov, ale okrem toho aj sprostredkovať mier medzi dvoma bohmi rieky Temže, ktorí sú na vojnovej nohe.

RIVERS OF LONDON is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Del Rey (as MIDNIGHT RIOT), and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit – we do paperwork so real coppers don’t have to – and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I’m a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden … and there’s something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it’s falling to me to bring order out of chaos – or die trying.

The series has grown to include eight novels, three novellas, a short story collection, and nine comic series (to date).

MONDAY, MONDAY #4 is Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

The fourth issue in Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel‘s latest Rivers of London comics series, MONDAY, MONDAY is out today! Available with three covers — by Abigail Jill Harding (above), Vv Glass, and David Buisian (below) — it is published by Titan Comics.

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comics to date.

The Rivers of London comics are set in the same world as Ben’s internationally-bestselling, acclaimed Peter Grant / Rivers of London series of novels and novellas — published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); it is also published widely in translation.

Charlaine Harris’s THE RUSSIAN CAGE Out Now in UK Paperback!

Posted on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021

A new paperback edition of Charlaine Harris‘s THE RUSSIAN CAGE is out now in paperback! The third novel in the author’s acclaimed Gunnie Rose series, it is published in the UK by Piatkus, here’s the synopsis…

A woman fights unimaginable odds to keep her people alive after the disintegration of America…

Picking up right where A Longer Fall left off, this thrilling third instalment follows Lizbeth Rose as she takes on one of her most dangerous missions yet: rescuing her estranged partner, Prince Eli, from the Holy Russian Empire. Once in San Diego, Lizbeth is going to have to rely upon her sister Felicia, and her growing Grigori powers to navigate her way through this strange new world of royalty and deception in order to get Eli freed from jail where he’s being held for murder.

Love The Walking Dead, Westworld or True Blood? You will ADORE this gritty and wildly entertaining tale, set in a parallel reality of the United States where magic is an outlawed power.

Piatkus has also published the first two novels in the series, in the UK: AN EASY DEATH and A LONGER FALL.

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

‘An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series.’ — Kirkus

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

‘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

Piatkus also publishes Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series in the UK…

Perhaps the author’s most famous series, the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series is published in the UK by Gollancz…

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

Lavie Tidhar’s THE ESCAPEMENT Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Monday, October 4th, 2021

Lavie Tidhar‘s latest novel, THE ESCAPEMENT is available everywhere from tomorrow! Published last week in North America, fans in Europe can now get their hands on the author’s latest adventure. Published by Tachyon Publications, here’s the synopsis…

In this dazzling new novel evoking Westerns, surrealism, epic fantasy, mythology, and circus extravaganzas, World Fantasy Award winner Lavie Tidhar (Central Station) has created an incomparable dreamscape of dark comedy, heartbreak, hope, and adventure. Chronicling a lone man’s quest in parallel worlds, The Escapement offers the archetypal darkness of Stephen King’s The Gunslinger within the dark whimsy of a child’s imagination.

Into the Escapement rides the Stranger, a lone gunman on a quest to rescue his son in a strange parallel reality. But it is easy to lose one’s way on an endlessly shifting, unpredictable landscape. Especially in a place full of dangerous mirror-images of a child’s beloved things: lawless heroes, giants made of stone, downtrodden clowns, spectacular symbol storms, and an endless war between gods and shadowy beings.

As the Stranger has learned, the Escapement is a dreamscape of deep mysteries, unlikely allies, and unwinnable battles. Yet the flower the he seeks still lies beyond the Mountains of Darkness. Time is running out as the Stranger journeys deeper into the secret heart of an unimaginable world.

In his most compelling work to date, Lavie Tidhar has delivered a multicolored tapestry of dazzling imagery. The Escapement is an epic, wildly original chronicle of the extraordinary lengths to which one will go for love.

Want to give the book a try before you buy? Check out this excerpt, over on Tor.com.

Tachyon Publications has also published Lavie’s award winning novels CENTRAL STATION, UNHOLY LAND, and THE VIOLENT CENTURY.

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

A delightfully cacophonous novel, teeming with character… Tidhar’s latest offering transports readers to a liminal otherworld of spaghetti Western pastiche… The author draws from an eclectic mix of sources to create a dazzling story that is more than the sum of its parts, and much of the fun of reading it comes from recognizing its homages.’ — Kirkus

‘[F]uriously inventive and wildly eclectic… Among the most visual and even cinematic of Tidhar’s novels… it’s also, in the end, a surprisingly touching reminder of how such quests can begin in heartache.’ — Locus (Gary K. Wolfe)

‘Dazzling… Those who enter THE ESCAPEMENT should strap themselves in for horrors and wonders galore. Filled with contorted fairy tales, myths, and familiar stories, Lavie Tidhar’s latest novel is both a fantastical diversion and a moving articulation of deep parental love.’ — Foreword

‘To say THE ESCAPEMENT is unique sells it way short. It’s part weird western and part quest; half dream and half epic adventure tale set in a memorable Daliesque landscape. Tidhar lets his imagination run wild in this vivid book, all told in spare, beautiful prose. Also, there are clowns. Lots of clowns.’ — Richard Kadrey, bestselling author of the Sandman Slim series

‘THE ESCAPEMENT is absorbing, bizarre, haunting, and compelling. Lavie Tidhar continues to shatter the boundaries of literary and genre fiction with a novel that is equal parts horrifying dreamscape and an affecting meditation on parental love. There are a lot of books out there, but this is an experience.’ — David Liss, author of The Peculiarities

‘The Man With No Name travels through an impossibly alien world peopled by brutalized clowns, superhuman bounty hunters, and titanic monsters indifferent to human suffering—although being a Lavie Tidhar book, there’s a step beyond the main story that I’ll avoid revealing. A blurb from me being at worst harmless, I will comment for the record that ‘Tidhar’s brand of surreal pulp continues to be one of the few truly distinctive voices in genre fiction.’ — Daniel Polansky

‘Can we just all admit now that Lavie Tidhar’s a genius? He’s written another brilliant book-a beautiful fever dream that somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud funny, psychedelically weird, and deeply moving.’ — Daryl Gregory

‘With THE ESCAPEMENT, Lavie Tidhar fearlessly crests the wave of the New New Weird with a wild, decadent hybrid of The Dark Tower and Carnivale. A vivid beach read, if the beach was made of greasepaint and gunpowder.’ — Catherynne M. Valente

In further great news, there’s not long to wait for Lavie’s next novel: THE HOOD is due to be published by Head of Zeus next week (October 13th)! The second novel in the author’s Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet (‘a viscerally entertaining, ominously subversive and poetically profane remixing of the myths and legends that shaped our nation’), here’s the synopsis…

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

Don’t cross the Templars. Everybody knows that. But Will Scarlett, back from the crusades, hopped up on khat and cider, did. Stabbed thrice in the belly but somehow still alive, he’s heading home to Nottingham.

And things are not right in Nottingham.

It’s the wood, you see. Sherwood. Ice-age ancient, impenetrable, hiding a dark and secret heart. As the ancient sages say, If you go into the woods today, you may not come out tomorrow, and the person who comes out may not be you…

The Hood is Lavie Tidhar’s narcotic remix of an ancient English myth, a tale knotted from legends lost to time, shredded and restitched for each passing century. A tale for today.

New Spanish Paperback Editions of MOON OVER SOHO & THE HANDING TREE Out Next Month!

Posted on Friday, October 1st, 2021

Next month, Oz Editorial are due to publish new, paperback editions of MOON OVER SOHO and THE HANDING TREE! The second and sixth novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, they are published in Spanish as LA LUNA SOBRE EL SOHO and EL ARBOL DEL AHORCADO. Here’s the synopsis for the former…

Vuelve Peter Grant, el detective más mágico de Scotland Yard.

Cyrus Wilkins, bajista de jazz por las noches y contable de día, sufre un ataque al corazón durante una actuación en el Club 606 del Soho. Cuando el detective de Scotland Yard y aprendiz de mago Peter Grant examina su cadáver, no puede evitar fijarse en la canción que emerge del cuerpo de la víctima… un claro indicio de que una fuerza sobrenatural acabó con su vida. Con la ayuda de su padre, el famoso trompetista Lord Grant; el inspector Nightingale, el último mago de Inglaterra; y la hermosa y misteriosa aficionada al jazz Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter tratará de acabar con una magia muy poderosa que amenaza la vida en el célebre y pintoresco barrio del Soho.

Oz Editorial has published the first six novels in the series in Spain.

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

Here’s the English-language synopsis for MOON OVER SOHO…

I was my dad’s vinyl-wallah: I changed his records while he lounged around drinking tea, and that’s how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And it’s why, when Dr Walid called me to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognised the tune it was playing. Something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint like a wax cylinder recording. Cyrus Wilkinson, part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant, had apparently dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig in a Soho jazz club. He wasn’t the first.

No one was going to let me exhume corpses to see if they were playing my tune, so it was back to old-fashioned legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene. I didn’t trust the lovely Simone, Cyrus’ ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens’ portrait, but I needed her help: there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives.

And as I hunted them, my investigation got tangled up in another story: a brilliant trumpet player, Richard ‘Lord’ Grant – my father – who managed to destroy his own career, twice. That’s the thing about policing: most of the time you’re doing it to maintain public order. Occasionally you’re doing it for justice. And maybe once in a career, you’re doing it for revenge.

The series has also been published widely in translation, and has been an international best-seller.

Ben Aaronovitch’s FALEŠNÁ HODNOTA out now!

Posted on Thursday, September 30th, 2021

The Czech edition of FALSE VALUE is out now! The eighth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, it is published in Czechia by Argo, as FALEŠNÁ HODNOTA. Here’s the synopsis…

Nové dobrodružství Petera Granta… a zároveň nový rozjezd! Jsme stále v Londýně, ale Peter už nepracuje u metropolitní policie. Po uzavření případu Muže bez tváře a dalších peripetiích se Peter usazuje, připravuje se na otcovskou roli a zároveň čelí poněkud nejisté budoucnosti. Nastupuje do soukromého sektoru, do IT firmy Terrence Skinnera, kde věci nejsou takové, jaké se zdají být. V rámci zaměstnání se musí naučit splynout s civilisty, kteří jsou ještě větší geekové než on, byť nadále zůstává v kontaktu se starými známými, jež ho provázeli při dřívějších vyšetřováních, ať operují v Rozmaru nebo třeba v Americe. A i zde má samozřejmě slovo magie. Pracoviště skrývá tajemství, technologii, která je sice high-tech a zkoumá možnosti umělé inteligence, ale má kořeny u Ady Lovelaceové a Charlese Babbage.

V pořadí osmý román série Řeky Londýna má všechno, na co jsme byli zvyklí z dřívějších částí – humor i svérázný pohled na svět – a také něco navíc: třeba to, že firma, kde teď Peter působí, nese silný otisk světa Stopařova průvodce po galaxii!

Argo has published all of the other previous novels in Ben’s series in Czechia, as well as a couple of his novellas and comic series (the latter co-authored with Andrew Cartmel).

FALSE VALUE is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by DAW Books; it is also available in Germany, published by DTV (as EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm.

Leaving his old police life behind, he takes a job with Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner’s new London start up: the Serious Cybernetics Corporation.

Drawn into the orbit of Old Street’s famous ‘silicon roundabout’, Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle.

But magic is not finished with the Met’s first trainee wizard in fifty years…

Because a secret is hiding somewhere in the building. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological – and twice as dangerous.

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

‘Aaronovitch showcases a superlative blend of whimsy and grit in the eighth Rivers of London urban fantasy… The suspenseful mystery at the novel’s core is laced with humor and charm. Jim Butcher meets Douglas Adams in this winning series installment.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘… sees Peter taking on new responsibilities both at work and at home and there’s a definite shift in tone towards the stranger side of magic and the broader implications of what a resurgence of strangeness means to the world at large. Aaronovitch is clearly having a blast building on the world he’s already created… The main character is a delight as always… The tone is light, witty, and action packed as always. Cinematic where has to be and detective chic in other places. And, as always, the description of London is so solid and real that you can practically feel the familiar layer of grime the city has… As always, Ben Aaronovitch takes the reader on an unforgettable ride into the fantastic.’ — Starburst (9/10)

‘… my favorite current series… delightful, compulsive and fresh — with a love of multicultural London evident on every page, wonderfully diverse characters, magic, mystery, and mayhem. Once you start, you will literally not be able to put them down.’ — Lavie Tidhar in Washington Post

‘Wonderfully blending technology and magic… Aaronovitch creates a fantastic blend of real-world London, harbouring a secret magical underground, delicately interwoven with an alternative history that touches on the origins of computer programming and the work of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage… a solid crime/detective novel that provides fans of the series with another entertaining adventure for Peter Grant complete with dark humour and explosive action.’ — SciFi Now

‘FALSE VALUE is a rousing episode in the Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series’ — Canberra Times

‘[A] great read… I enjoyed the new direction and dynamics introduced here. Big things are clearly coming for Peter Grant and I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book will take us.’ — Bibliosanctum

‘[A]nother unmissable instalment of the Rivers of London series’… FALSE VALUE is a welcome addition to the collection and long may they keep coming — Crime Review

‘Packed with treasures and little bits of history and illusion this latest adventure from Ben Aaronovitch sends Peter deep into the ‘silicon roundabout’… What I love about these stories is the way they are told. You could be listening directly to the author, no filters and straightforward dialogue by real people. Peter is great and Nightingale as the much older generation is the comforting hand on the shoulder…’ — SF Crowsnest

Ian McDonald’s LUNE MONTANTE is Now Available in Paperback!

Posted on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021

The third novel in Ian McDonald‘s acclaimed Luna series, MOON RISING is now available in a new French paperback edition! Published by Folio SF as LUNE MONTANTE, here’s the synopsis…

Lucas Corta, que tout le monde croyait mort, a réussi l’impossible : survivre, lui, le natif de la Lune, à un long séjour sur la Terre. Revenu en orbite pour se venger, il a triomphé. Désormais la Lune lui appartient. Mais il a également beaucoup perdu, à commencer par son fils Lucasinho, plongé dans le coma et atteint de lésions cérébrales irréversibles. Sans compter que les Mackenzie rescapés n’ont pas dit leur dernier mot et espèrent bien rendre à Lucas la monnaie de sa pièce. Les Sun, quant à eux, fourbissent toujours leurs armes pour éliminer tous leurs concurrents. Plus que jamais, sur la Lune, la guerre entre les Cinq Dragons fait rage.

Après le succès des précédents tomes, Ian McDonald conclut avec brio l’univers violent et sans concession de Luna.

Folio SF has also published the first two novels in the series in France: NOUVELLE LUNE (NEW MOON) and LUNE DU LOUP (WOLF MOON)

Ian’s Luna series is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Tor Books, and in a growing number of translated editions. Here’s the English-language synopsis for MOON RISING…

The continuing saga of the Five Dragons, Ian McDonald’s fast-paced, intricately plotted space opera…

A hundred years in the future, a war wages between the Five Dragons — five families that control the Moon’s leading industrial companies. Each clan does everything in their power to claw their way to the top of the food chain — marriages of convenience, corporate espionage, kidnapping, and mass assassinations.

Through ingenious political manipulation and sheer force of will, Lucas Cortas rises from the ashes of corporate defeat and seizes control of the Moon. The only person who can stop him is a brilliant lunar lawyer, his sister, Ariel.

Witness the Dragons’ final battle for absolute sovereignty in Ian McDonald’s heart-stopping finale to the Luna trilogy.

Here are just a few of the reviews that MOON RISING has received so far…

‘McDonald concludes his Luna space opera trilogy in triumphant style… The political intrigue never feels too abstract or removed from 21st-century Earth. Readers will appreciate the care McDonald takes with both worldbuilding and characterization, and will enjoy little touches such as giving an assassin the job title of Corporate Conflict Resolution Officer… fans of the prior books will find this wrap-up rewarding.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘McDonald’s richly imagined Lunar culture and interplanetary poleconomy make for a superb backdrop for literally dozens of richly realized human dramas, and it’s hard to say which is more fascinating. McDonald’s wildly imaginative worldbuilding (present since his debut novel, the utterly wonderful standout OUT ON BLUE SIX) and his ability to spin out intrigues are both in full flight in this final volume.’ — Boing Boing

‘… cinematic set-pieces… so much fun to read… these entertaining, and intelligent novels, capped off by the very satisfying Luna: MOON RISING, have been about establishing a society, a community, a family that looks to the future, that lives and prospers in an environment that must always be treated with respect.’ — Locus (Ian Mond)

‘The Luna trilogy is a masterpiece of worldbuilding. Ian McDonald has created an incredibly developed, complex and astonishingly plausible future for the Moon… What stands out, though, are its threads of gorgeous storytelling… as a whole, this is an extraordinary trilogy. Ian McDonald always writes beautifully. I love what he has to say. I’ll always remember his vision of the Moon, which at times is horrifying and violent and yet at others is so heartwarming and wondrous.’ — For Winter Nights

‘[T]here are few excuses for not reading Ian McDonald’ — Cheryl Morgan

Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson’s SUNREACH is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, September 28th, 2021

SUNREACH, the first of the recently-announced Skyward Flight novellas, is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz in eBook and as an audiobook, it is the first of three novellas by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson. Here’s the synopsis…

When a planet-destroying Delver suddenly appears in the sky of Detritus and vanishes just as suddenly, FM knows that the last free human society got lucky. Her Skyward Flight companion Spensa figured out how to draw this Delver away, but it won’t be so easy next time.

The forces of the Galactic Superiority will be back-and if the Defiant Defense Force can’t figure out a way to escape the planet, humanity’s destruction is only a matter of time. Spensa’s mission to infiltrate the Superiority unveiled the secret to their hyperdrives-a cytonic slug species called the Taynix. Now FM’s flightleader Jorgen has found a large group of Taynix hiding in the caverns far below Detritus’s surface.

FM and Jorgen must work together with the engineer Rig to awaken the mysterious alien Alanik and unlock the powers of the Taynix, or humanity will be trapped. With Spensa’s friend Minister Cuna of the Superiority stranded at the outpost of Sunreach, they need to figure out how to rescue her-before her foes in the Superiority government can prepare a new weapon to wipe out Detritus once and for all.

SUNREACH is set between the second and third novels in the Skyward series — STARSIGHT and the upcoming CYTONIC (November 23rd). The other two novellas are REDAWN (October 26th) and EVERSHORE (December 28th).

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

Simon R. Green’s BURIED MEMORIES Out Next Week in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, September 28th, 2021

North American fans of Simon R. Green‘s Ishmael Jones series: the tenth novel, BURIED MEMORIES is out next week in hardcover! To be published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Returning to the small town where he crash-landed in 1963, Ishmael Jones is in search of answers. But his investigation is de-railed by a brutal murder.

“I think something very bad and very dangerous has come to your little town, Inspector…”

As long-buried memories from his hidden past begin to resurface, Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny feel compelled to return to the small country town where Ishmael crash-landed in 1963; the place where his memories began.

Norton Hedley is no ordinary town. Apparitions, sudden disappearances, sightings of unusual beasts: for centuries, the place has been plagued by a series of inexplicable events. Ishmael’s first task is to track down local author Vincent Smith, the one man he believes may have some answers.

Ishmael and Penny aren’t the only ones seeking the mysterious Mr Smith. When their search unearths a newly-dead body in the local mortuary — a body that’s definitely not supposed to be there — Ishmael becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. His only hope of discovering the truth about his origins lies in exposing a ruthless killer.

BURIED MEMORIES is already available in the UK in hardcover; and is also available as an eBook, in both the UK and North America.

Severn House has published all of the Ishmael Jones novels to date, in the UK and North America.

Earlier this year, they also published Green’s first Gideon Sable novel, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the Ishmael Jones Mysteries have received so far…

‘[A] brisk, breezy first in a new mystery series […] With convincing supernatural twists [and] witty chapter titles […] readers will be anxious for a sequel.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Genre-blending author Green introduces another wisecracking protagonist, Ishmael Jones […] Fans of the British TV series Torchwood will enjoy the irreverent, otherworldly protagonist.’ — Booklist on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘A new book from Green is always a treat for SF and urban fantasy fans, because they know that in his fictional worlds things are never quite what they seem until it’s too late. His first foray into more traditional crime fiction (albeit with an otherworldy flavor) will delight mystery readers, especially those who relish a bit of genre blending.’ — Library Journal on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Not to be taken too seriously, this meld of SF and traditional hard-boiled spy fiction hints at plenty of further adventures.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘This sequel to the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD takes the basic structure of a traditional English country house mystery and mixes it with a bit of supernatural horror and suspense. Richard Kadrey and E.E. Knight fans will particularly relish Green’s genre-blending novel.’ — Library Journal on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘Ishmael is a wonderful character, an extraterrestrial living among humans, and the series (this is the third installment) is a clever mixture of thriller and SF-horror genres. Green is best known for the Deathstalker space operas, but give this one a few more installments to develop, and it could well become Green’s masterwork.’ — Booklist, Starred Review on VERY IMPORTANT CORPSES

‘Entertaining […] Green once again smoothly blends science fiction with classic detection.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Lovers of high-quality fantasy and science fiction should make it a point to seek this guy out, if they haven’t already.’ — Booklist on DEATH SHALL COME

‘This fourth series adventure (after Very Important Corpses) is fast-paced, entertaining, and genre-bending.’ — Library Journal on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Green follows up INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR with this latest blend of SF, mystery, and horror that features the author’s trademark black humor and ratchets up the suspense with a compelling story line reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.’ — Library Journal on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘When some researchers discover what appears to be a black hole that has suddenly manifested itself in Somerset, of all places, secret agent Ishmael Jones is on the case. […] Jones is a very interesting character, a man (?) of many layers, and readers who have been following his adventures will find much to enjoy in this latest escapade. Readers who have not yet made Jones’ acquaintance need to get with the program now.’ — Booklist on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘Fans of the series will be delighted to reconnect with the quick-witted detective and to learn a little bit more about his early days on the planet.’ — Booklist on TILL SUDDEN DEATH DO US PART

‘Fun, fast-paced, light fare that passes almost as quickly as that fatal train ride.’ — Kirkus on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘Energetically written, with larger-than-life characters, stories that gleefully push the boundaries of plausibility, and plenty of neck-wrenching plot twists […] SF/fantasy fans who haven’t yet discovered the Jones novels are in for a real treat.’ — Booklist on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘A fast, fun supernatural thriller that never takes itself too seriously.’ — Kirkus on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

‘This thoroughly entertaining adventure works equally well with series followers and with newbies to the world of Ishmael Jones.’ — Booklist on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

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

Lavie Tidhar’s JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE is Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

There’s a new Judge Dee short story! Lavie Tidhar‘s JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE is out now! Published on Tor.com and as an eBook, here’s the synopsis…

Judge Dee returns to solve a new case involving a Parisian party gone wrong. But this time? Everyone in attendance is a suspect, including the judge himself.

This is the third short story in the series, following JUDGE DEE AND THE LIMITS OF THE LAW and JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS (also published by Tor.com and as eBooks).