New BRIDGE OF ASHES Audiobook Out Now!


Roger Zelazny‘s BRIDGE OF ASHES is available in a new audiobook edition! Published by Tantor Media, and narrated by TJ Clark, here’s the synopsis…

Mankind has been manipulated over the millennia by an alien race that seeks to use it to transform our planet into a world that they can live on. They’ve patiently encouraged us to adapt technologies that would bring on climate change making our world hotter and more hospitable to them all the while making it less hospitable for mankind.

Dennis Guise the most powerful telepath every born is a thirteen-year-old boy, and humanities only hope of escaping oblivion. He is a bridge to our future and a bridge to our past. But can that be enough to save us and our planet?

BRIDGE OF ASHES was first published in 1976.

Audiobook Edition of Lavie Tidhar’s MAROR Out Now!


The audiobook edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed novel MAROR is out now! Published by W. F. Howes, and narrated by Levi Goldmeir, here’s the synopsis…

A multi-generational saga with cultural and political depth, drawing on the rich, often troubling recent history of Israel, for fans of A History of Seven Killings or The White Tiger. How do you build a nation? It takes statesmen and soldiers, farmers and factory workers, of course. But it also takes thieves, prostitutes and policemen. Nation-building demands sacrifice. And one man knows exactly where those bodies are buried: Cohen, a man who loves his country.

A reasonable man for unreasonable times. A car bomb in the back streets of Tel Aviv. A diamond robbery in Haifa. Civil war in Lebanon. Rebel fighters in the Colombian jungle. A double murder in Los Angeles. How do they all connect? Only Cohen knows.

Maror is the story of a war for a country’s soul – a dazzling spread of narrative gunshots across four decades and three continents. It is a true story. All of these things happened.

The print and eBook editions of MAROR are published by Head of Zeus. Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received…

‘Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire… MAROR is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating.’ — Junot Díaz

‘One of the boldest, most visionary writers I’ve ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It’s like the Jewish Godfather!’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

MAROR blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement.’ — Kevin Jared Hosein

‘A masterpiece of the sacred and the profane … a literary triumph.’ — Guardian

‘Amos Oz’s A Tale of Love and Darkness… Fade[s] into oblivion compared with Lavie Tidhar’s magnificent novel MAROR, a panoramic look at four decades of the dark, despicable side of Israel, of death, corruption, violence and drugs… It’s a brilliant undertaking.’ — Jewish Chronicle

‘A bloody beast of a book… MAROR is to Israeli history what Tarantino is to American movie culture’ — Daily Mail

‘Radiant with all the brutally elegant atmosphere of crime noir, and the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James’ A Brief History of Seven Killings, it’s a genre-busting novel that will catch your breath … At once illuminating, thrilling and thought-provoking, this tale of corruption, killings, sacrifice and the souls that make up a nation is a symphonic feat of fiction.’ — LoveReading

New Audiobook Edition of THIS IMMORTAL Out Now!


THIS IMMORTAL, Roger Zelazny‘s acclaimed first novel, is now available in a new audiobook edition! Published by Tantor Media, and read by Peter Berkrot, here’s the synopsis…

Conrad Nomikos has a long, rich personal history that he’d rather not talk about. And, as Arts Commissioner, he’s been given a job he’d rather not do. Escorting an alien grandee on a guided tour of the shattered remains of Earth is not something he relishes — especially when it is apparent that this places him at the center of high-level intrigue that has some bearing on the future of Earth itself!

First published in 1966, THIS IMMORTAL went on to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the Geffen Award for best SF Book, and also Japan’s Seiun Award for Best Foreign Novel.

Roger Zelazny’s THE DREAM MASTER Audiobook Edition Out Now!


Roger Zelazny‘s classic science fiction novel THE DREAM MASTER is out now in a new audiobook edition! Published by Tantor Media, and narrated by George Newbern, here’s the synopsis…

His name is Charles Render, and he is a psychoanalyst, and a mechanic of dreams. A Shaper. In a warm womb of metal, his patients dream their neuroses, while Render, intricately connected to their brains, dreams with them, makes delicate adjustments, and ultimately explains and heals. Her name is Eileen Shallot, a resident in psychiatry. She wants desperately to become a Shaper, though she has been blind from birth. Together, they will explore the depths of the human mind — and the terrors that lurk therein.

THE DREAM MASTER was first published in 1966. THE DREAM MASTER joins a number of other new Zelazny audiobooks that have been published over the last couple of years: ROADMARKS, CREATURES OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS, LORD OF LIGHT, and A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER.

Aliette de Bodard’s ON A RED STATION, DRIFTING is on Sale This Month!


The audiobook edition of Aliette de Bodard‘s acclaimed ON A RED STATION, DRIFTING is on sale this month! Audiobooks.com is currently offering the book with a whopping 75% discount!

Published by Tantor, and read by Emily Woo Zeller, here’s the synopsis…

For generations Prosper Station has thrived under the guidance of its Honoured Ancestress: born of a human womb, the station’s artificial intelligence has offered guidance and protection to its human relatives.

But war has come to the Dai Viet Empire. Prosper’s brightest minds have been called away to defend the Emperor; and a flood of disorientated refugees strain the station’s resources. As deprivations cause the station’s ordinary life to unravel, uncovering old grudges and tearing apart the decimated family, Station Mistress Quyen and the Honoured Ancestress struggle to keep their relatives united and safe. What Quyen does not know is that the Honoured Ancestress herself is faltering, her mind eaten away by a disease that seems to have no cure; and that the future of the station itself might hang in the balance…

ON A RED STATION, DRIFTING was nominated for the Locus, Hugo, and Nebula Best Novella Awards.

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


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 McGuireNew 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

New Cast-Adaptation of FINGERHUT-SOMMER Out Now!


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).

DEFYING THE DRAGON Audiobook Out Tomorrow!


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

Alexia Casale’s HOUSE OF WINDOWS Audiobook Out Tomorrow!


Tomorrow, Tantor Media are due to publish the audiobook edition of Alexia Casale‘s HOUSE OF WINDOWS! Narrated by Stewart Crank, here’s the synopsis…

“The body is a house of many windows: there we all sit, showing ourselves and crying on the passers-by to come and love us.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

Nick hates it when people call him a genius. Sure, he’s going to Cambridge University aged fifteen, but he says that’s just because he works hard. And, secretly, he only works hard to get some kind of attention from his workaholic father.

Not that his strategy is working.

When he arrives at Cambridge, he finds the work hard and socializing even harder. Until, that is, he starts to cox for the college rowing crew and all hell breaks loose…

Tantor also publishes the audiobook edition of Casale’s THE BONE DRAGON.

Audio Spotlight: THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP by Grady Hendrix


THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP, Grady Hendrix‘s latest acclaimed novel, is available as an audiobook in the UK, published by W. F. Howes‘s Jammer imprint! The winner of the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award in the Horror category, it is narrated by Adrienne King. Here’s the synopsis…

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for…

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington survived a massacre 22 years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she’s not alone. For more than a decade she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette’s worst fears are realized — someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up. 

The print and eBook editions of the novel are published in the UK by Titan Books. Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A wildly entertaining romp through the conventions of horror’s slasher film subgenre… Hendrix masterfully evokes the paranoid existences of his diverse cast in the aftermath of their traumatic ordeals, and he so explicitly details the massacres and fictional film sagas that grew out of them that readers may believe them to be real. The result is a wonderfully suspenseful and darkly comic novel that cleverly subverts popular culture.Horror fans will be wowed.’ Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Hendrix presents yet another thought-provoking, fun, and chilling winner.’ Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘A bloody and grotesque but ultimately entertaining and inspiring take on horror movies, trauma, and self-determination.’ Kirkus

‘[An] entertaining, fast-paced, and darkly humorous novel that reads like a sequel to a spooky ’80s horror flick.’ Booklist

‘Hendrix’s cinematic knowledge is deployed with skill, and it’s not necessary to be a fan of slasher movies to enjoy this very clever, gleefully violent, self-aware deconstruction of the genre.’ Guardian

‘This is a must-read for stalk ‘n’ slash fans and another hit from a horror writer at the top of his game.’ — SFX Magazine

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

Lavie Tidhar’s THE HOOD Out Now in Audio!


The audiobook edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s THE HOOD is out now! The second novel in the author’s Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet, it’s published by W. F. Howes, and is narrated by Toby Longworth. Here’s the synopsis…

The Hood is the second book in Lavie Tidhar’s ambitious Anti-Matter of Britain Quartet – 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.

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.

The novel is published in print and eBook by Head of Zeus, who also publish the first novel in the series, BY FORCE ALONE (also available in North America via Tor Books).

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)

‘I have never read anything quite like THE HOOD… very punk rock.’SFBook

‘So much fun… Delivers its myth and magic with a splatter of sweary violence and comedy in all the right places in what is one of the most unique and masterful reads of 2021.’FanFiAddict

‘I don’t think there is anybody operating quite like Lavie Tidhar right now. THE HOOD is a multi-layered novel. Brash and bombastic on the surface but thoughtful and reverential underneath. Tidhar has a knack for setting novels in the past that at the same time remain wholly contemporary. Some may find his style abrasive…but that’s sort of the point; the merry men were not that merry… Whilst examining our past and the stories we tell, Lavie Tidhar is encouraging us to look closely at the future we are creating right now.’Geek Dad

Alexia Casale’s THE BONE DRAGON Audiobook out tomorrow!


The audiobook edition of Alexia Casale‘s THE BONE DRAGON is out tomorrow! Narrated by Sasha Higgins, and published by Tantor Media, here’s the synopsis…

Evie’s shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed — the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength.

Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real.

As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can’t fix for her: a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it.

This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can’t talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable.

A blend of psychological thriller and fairy tale, The Bone Dragon explores the fragile boundaries between real life and fantasy, and the darkest corners of the human mind.

You can listen to a clip from the audiobook, below.

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

‘With a relentless emotional charge and unexpected twists, Alexia Casale’s first novel will captivate readers… Beautifully evoked… Dark, with unexpected twists and a strong – if disturbing – ending, the narrative has a relentless emotional charge… an outstanding debut that vividly portrays the power and fragility of the human heart and mind.’Guardian

‘Casale’s dazzling debut begins with a sick girl who, when presented with a fragment of her own rib, carves it into the shape of a dragon. And then it just gets stranger. A haunting portrayal of damage, resilience and revenge, and one of the finest novels of the year – in any category.’Financial Times (Books of the Year 2013)

‘Beautifully written, poetic and haunting, this is a superlative debut.’Financial Times (Summer Books Guide)

‘There are numerous young adult novels dealing with dark subjects such as bereavement, illness and abuse, but THE BONE DRAGON stands apart from the crowd. Bold, brave and often unsettling, this tale of a teenage girl profoundly affected by a past that she cannot talk about – even to herself – is also both understated and beautifully-written. As well as dealing with challenging issues, with its positive and thoughtful depiction of adoption and adoptive parents, it is a tribute to unconventional families and friendships of all different kinds. An intriguing blend of psychological thriller and fantasy, this is an impressive and unusual debut.’Book Trust

‘Please read this book: I confess to feeling a certain sense of trepidation in writing this review for fear that my words will not do the book justice. To put it simply, this book has that ‘something special’ factor. From the first few pages I was immersed in this unsettling, hypnotic story that flits seamlessly between real life and reality. The plot is engaging despite the difficult subject matter; Evie is a courageous yet damaged individual and at times her pain and anger is so raw it can be uncomfortable to read. The book also poses a moral question as it explores the idea of revenge and whether you could exact it and live with the consequences. This is a totally original novel and Evie is a character I’ll find hard to forget and I would urge everyone to read this exceptional novel.’Waterstones (Brentwood)

THE BONE DRAGON was published as Fantasy fiction for older children but it could equally have been marketed as a psychological thriller for adults. It all depends on how you interpret what you are reading… a deceptively clever novel… has the scariest happy ending since the original Grimm (in every sense) version of `Snow White’. Whether it is Fantasy fiction or a novel about living out your fantasy is up to each individual reader to decide. Either way, Evie’s story is a mesmerising read.’Fantasy Reads

Lavie Tidhar’s OSAMA Now Available in Audio!


Today, audiobook fans can get their hands (ears?) on a new audiobook edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s World Fantasy Award-winning novel, OSAMA! Published by W. F. Howes, and narrated by Jeff Harding, here’s the synopsis…

A private detective is hired by a mysterious woman to find a man…

The quarry? An obscure author of pulp fiction novels featuring one Osama Bin Laden: Vigilante.

Our detective pursues his quarry from the backwaters of Asia to the Capitals of Europe, the New World, and into a realm of shadows. Here he finds the refugees, ghostly entities haunting reality. Where do they come from? And what do they want?

OSAMA was recently re-issued by Head of Zeus, who have also published Lavie’s A MAN LIES DREAMING, BY FORCE ALONE, and THE HOOD.

‘He is a political writer, an iconoclast and sometimes a provocateur … OSAMA is a remarkable and ambitious work.’ — China Mieville

‘… deserves to be widely read.’ — Adam Roberts

‘A provocative and fast moving tale that raises good questions not only about the heritage of Al Qaeda, but about the slippage between reality and sensational fiction that sometimes seems to define our own confused and contorted experience of the last couple of decades.’ — Gary K. Wolfe, Locus

‘A roller-coaster ride… [a] fabulous opium-soaked political thriller… pulls out all the stops.’ — Rolling Stone (Germany)

‘Moving seamlessly between intense realism and equally intense surrealism, OSAMA is a powerful and disturbing political fantasy by a talent who deserves the attention of all serious readers.’ — Strange Horizons

‘Not a writer to mess around with half measures … brings to mind Philip K Dick’s seminal science fiction novel The Man in the High Castle.’ — The Guardian

OSAMA is written with both an obvious affection for genre fiction and a sense of wild-eyed disbelief at the insanity of a world where people fly planes into skyscrapers. 4.5/5 stars.’ — SFX

‘Offers perhaps the weirdest fictional take yet on Osama Bin Laden in this offbeat and enigmatic thriller.’ — Publishers Weekly

OSAMA is exceptional. Compelling, confrontational, and surprisingly moving, it is one of the best novels yet on terror in our times.’ — World Literature Today

CD Editions of THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE Audiobook Now Available in the UK!


The UK audiobook edition of THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE, the classic steampunk novel by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, is available now as a CD and MP3 CD! Narrated by Andrew Cullum, the audiobook is published by Clipper, an imprint of W. F. Howes. Here’s the synopsis…

1855: The Industrial Revolution is in full swing, powered by steam-driven cybernetic Engines. Charles Babbage perfects his Analytical Engine, and the computer age arrives a century ahead of its time. Three extraordinary characters race toward a rendezvous with the future: Sybil Gerard – fallen woman, politician’s tart, daughter of a Luddite agitator; Edward Leviathan Mallory — explorer and palaeontologist; Laurence Oliphant — diplomat, mystic, and spy. Their adventure begins with the discovery of a box of punched Engine cards of unknown origin and purpose. Cards someone wants badly enough to kill for.

Part detective story, part historical thriller, The Difference Engine took the science fiction community by storm when it was first published. It is a prime example of the steampunk sub-genre; It posits a Victorian Britain in which great technological and social change has occurred after entrepreneurial inventor Charles Babbage succeeded in his ambition to build a mechanical computer called Engines.

Provocative, compelling, and intensely imagined, this audiobook is poised to impress a whole new generation.

W. F. Howes have also recently published UK audio editions of Gibson’s NEUROMANCER, PATTERN RECOGNITION, and DISTRUST THAT PARTICULAR FLAVOUR (with more on the way!).

Gibson’s latest novels — THE PERIPHERAL and AGENCY — are published in the UK by Penguin. His classic Neuromancer series is published in the UK by Gollancz.

Marie Brennan’s TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT Available Now in UK Audio!


The sixth novel set in Marie Brennan‘s Memoirs of Lady Trent / Natural History of Dragons fantasy world, TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT, is now available in the UK as an audiobook! Published by the Clipper imprint at W. F. Howes, the novel is narrated by Raphael Corkhill and Barrie Kreinik. Here’s the synopsis…

As the renowned granddaughter of Isabella Camherst (Lady Trent, of the riveting and daring Draconic adventure memoirs) Audrey Camherst has always known she, too, would want to make her scholarly mark upon a chosen field of study.

When Lord Gleinleigh recruits Audrey to decipher a series of ancient tablets holding the secrets of the ancient Draconean civilization, she has no idea that her research will plunge her into an intricate conspiracy, one meant to incite rebellion and invoke war. Alongside dearest childhood friend and fellow archeologist Kudshayn, she must find proof of the conspiracy before it’s too late.

Here are just a handful of reviews TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT has received…

TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT works beautifully as a standalone novel for newcomers to her elaborate, dragon-centric world.’ — NPR

‘… will appeal greatly to readers who love science and the simple pleasures of discovery and learning.’ — Bibliosanctum

‘Like the related series, TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT is perfect for those readers who ap­preciate a light touch, thoughtful characters, and antagonists who almost but not quite topple into one-dimensional props in a melodrama.’ — Locus

W. F. Howes has also published the audiobook editions of the rest of the series in the UK. The print and eBook editions are published in the UK by Titan Books: A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS, THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS, VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK, IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES, and WITHIN THE SANCTUARY OF WINGS.

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

‘Brennan’s world-building is wonderfully subtle, rendering a familiar land alien with casual details. Fans of fantasy, science, and history will adore this rich and absorbing tale of discovery.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS

‘Told in the style of a Victorian memoir, courageous, intelligent and determined Isabella’s account is colorful, vigorous and absorbing. A sort of Victorian why-what-whodunit embellished by Brennan’s singular upgrade of a fantasy bromide and revitalizingly different viewpoint.’ — Kirkus on A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS

A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS is a tale historical fiction lovers and fantasy fans alike will adore. Isabella is a heroine readers will root for, and fans of Naomi Novik and Mary Robinette Kowal will especially enjoy this book.’ — RT Book Review (4.5/4.5 *)

‘Downton Abbey, but with dragons! … A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS is a mellow and agreeable memoir, an absorbing and entertaining novel, and I want more.’ — Tor.com

‘What’s truly great about this novel is the seamless merging of fantasy themes and incredibly realistic scientific and social details. Come for the dragon adventure — because there’s a lot of it. But stay for characters whose stories feel as real as Marie Curie’s.’ — io9.com on THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS

‘Where the first volume set the foundation for a series mingling character study with adventure, THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS has the transitional air and faster pace of an episode in a new environment… The Memoirs of Lady Trent feature a bright, observant woman (two of them here) who follows a need to explore the most enduring mysteries of her planet wherever they may take her. Lacking starships or dragon rides, these chronicles have the power of fabulous and historic voyages, along with a wry wit that refuses to accept the standard notions of any era – past, present, or future.’ — Locus (April 2014)

THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS: A Memoir By Lady Trent brings dragons into the Victorian world, and flawlessly so… [it] gives fantasy readers another good reason to enter Brennan’s fantastical world.’ — Washington Post

‘A rollicking adventure in which women wearing unnerving amounts of underwear tromp through jungles on dragon-hunting safaris. Really, that should be more than enough for just about everyone.’ — New York Times on THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS

‘The third installment in Lady Trent’s series of reflective memoirs does not disappoint. Isabella’s familiar audacity as she circles the globe in search of unfamiliar dragons – with her son by her side, no less – makes for an enchanting story. And the romantic interest she finds in Suhail is a much welcome addition.’ — RT Book Reviews on VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK

‘[Lady Trent] continues her memoirs of dragon hunting in a gently paced but always entertaining adventure. Fans of Patrick O’Brian’s “Aubrey-Maturin” series protagonist, Stephen Maturin, will appreciate Isabella’s devotion to her studies, and those who like the Victorian feel of steampunk might want to try this variation on the theme.’ — Library Journal on VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK

VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK combines grand adventure with fascinating insights into the principles behind a world that could almost be our own.’ — Locus

‘Her two-year round-the-world voyage takes her and her young Jake into dangers and predicaments of almost every imaginable sort, all of which make this book one superbly civilized entertainment.’ — Barnes & Noble on VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK

‘Solid fourth book of the Lady Trent series… It’s a time of changes for the main character, but this mix of scientific and fantastic creatures remains in fine form.’ — Publishers Weekly on IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES

‘Once again, the work is a delight. Its most appealing aspect isn’t the genre-bending riffs on genuine events so much as the level-headed outlook that people like Lady Trent bring to both fantasy and romance.’ — Locus on IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES

‘The locations are so clearly described and so reminiscent of actual awe-inspiring places, that the book is a joy to read. The scene setting almost makes the reader into part of the story—casting you as the reader back home in her own land who the book is written for, and so putting you into the world as you read it. It’s a clever, exciting, informative book, sure of its characters and its world, and striking out in new directions further into that world in every chapter. May all of them be as fun to read as this one!’ — New York Journal of Books on IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES

‘Brennan delights with this fifth and final memoir… Lady Trent is the perfect heroine for this history-flavored fantasy romp.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A thoroughly absorbing conclusion to this refreshingly different and consistently intriguing pentalogy.’ — Kirkus (Starred review)

‘While fans will be sad to leave the series behind, Lady Trent has earned her retirement.’ — Library Journal

‘Brennan brings the fifth and final adventure of the fearless Lady Isabella Trent to a conclusion that is perfectly triumphant and absolutely touching.’ — RT Book Reviews

‘Lady Trent has captivated hearts along with fierce minds. This concluding volume will finally reveal the truths behind her most notorious adventure – scaling the tallest peak in the world, buried behind the territory of Scirland’s enemies – and what she discovered there, WITHIN THE SANCTUARY OF WINGS.’ — Fantasy-Faction (Best Fantasy Books of 2017)

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