Well, a couple of days ago if I’m honest, but behold this shiny finished copy of mighty Michael Cobley‘s THE ORPHANED WORLDS, book two in the Humanity’s Fire series and due to be published in trade paperback by Orbit on April 29th.

‘Darien is no longer a lost outpost of humanity, but the prize in an intergalactic power struggle. Hegemony forces have a stranglehold over the planet and crack troops patrol its hotspots while Earth watches, passive, rendered impotent by galactic politics. But its Darien ambassador will soon become a player in a greater conflict. There is more at stake than a turf war on a newly discovered world. An ancient Uvovo temple hides access to a hyperspace prison, housing the greatest threat sentient life has ever known. Millennia ago, malignant intelligences were caged there following an apocalyptic war. And their servants work on their release. However, Darien’s guardians have not been idle, gathering resistance on the planet’s forest moon. Knowledge has been lost since great races battled in eons past, and now time is short. The galaxy will depend on the Uvovo reclaiming their past – and humanity must look to its future. For a new war is coming.‘

Already picked up in both France and Germany, Zeno still has other rights available for this superb series, described by Iain M. Banks as ‘Proper galaxy-spanning Space Opera‘ – so drop us a line if you’d like to make an enquiry. Additionally, we’re going to be at this year’s London Book Fair, so be sure to come and chat to us about it!