Ben Aaronovitch - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Cityreads London Starts Next Week!

Posted on Friday, March 27th, 2015

This year, Ben Aaronovitch‘s RIVERS OF LONDON is the Cityreads London title! Throughout April 2015, Ben will be taking part in events, and libraries across the city will be holding readings and festivities of their own. You can find all the information about Ben’s and other events taking place around London on the Cityreads website, but to make things a bit easier for you, we’re going to post a list of events each Friday for the following week.

RIVERS OF LONDON is the first novel in the bestselling Peter Grant urban fantasy series, which is published in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the 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 voluable, 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 also includes MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER. More books are planned for the series. (As ever, watch this space for more news!) The series has been published widely in translation.

The event officially kicks off in Covent Garden (see below), but there have already been a couple of events, and Ben’s Library Tour begins on Wednesday 1st.

Starting on Friday 3rd, the Westminster Reference Library begins holding a special “training” session for those who think they have what it takes to join Peter Grant in the Met’s top secret secret paranormal unit! This is a ticketed event, taking place every weekend, the price of which includes a special edition of the novel.

Below you can see Ben’s full Library Tour schedule for April…

UPDATE: If you can’t make any of the events in London, but still want to take part in the discussion, be sure to join the Goodreads Group dedicated to the RIVERS OF LONDON Cityread.

International Edition: Ben Aaronovitch’s MOON OVER SOHO in Russian!

Posted on Friday, January 23rd, 2015

MOON OVER SOHO, the second novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Sunday Times-bestselling Peter Grant series is now available in Russian! Published by Фантастика Книжный Клуб as Луна над Сохо, it is out now. Фантастика Книжный Клуб also published a Russian edition of RIVERS OF LONDON (Реки Лондона, Бен Ааронович).

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

Peter Grant is not just a lowly Detective Constable, he’s also apprenticed to the last wizard in Britain: policing will never be the same again!

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.

Published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Del Rey, MOON OVER SOHO has also been published in German (DTV), French (J’ai Lu), Japanese (Hayakawa), Portuguese and Polish.

If you are in London on Monday (January 26th), Blackwell’s will be hosting Ben Aaronovitch for an evening of SFF discussion. You can find details of that event here.

The Peter Grant series includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER, with more novels on the way! Here are the UK covers for the five available novels…

US Publication Day: FOXGLOVE SUMMER by Ben Aaronovitch

Posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2015

The wait is finally over for book lovers in North America: Ben Aaronovitch‘s much-anticipated FOXGLOVE SUMMER is published today by DAW Books! Published to great acclaim in the UK by Gollancz, in November of last year, many across the Atlantic have been clamouring to return to the bestselling Peter Grant series. Here’s the synopsis…

When two young girls go missing in rural Herefordshire, police constable and wizard-in-training Peter Grant is sent out of London to check that nothing supernatural is involved.

It’s purely routine — Nightingale, Peter’s superior, thinks he’ll be done in less than a day. But Peter’s never been one to walk away from someone in trouble, so when nothing overtly magical turns up he volunteers his services to the local police, who need all the help they can get. But because the universe likes a joke as much as the next sadistic megalomaniac, Peter soon comes to realize that dark secrets underlie the picturesque fields and villages of the countryside and there might just be work for Britain’s most junior wizard after all.

Soon Peter’s in a vicious race against time, in a world where the boundaries between reality and fairy have never been less clear…

Here’s a selection of the great reviews the novel has already received…

‘[Aaronovitch’s] ability to construct a fast, tense, readable police procedural (with magic) is inarguable. The combination—and frequently, the clash—of modern policing methods with magic and folklore remains a compelling juxtaposition, one that’s funny more often than not… Peter’s voice remains compelling. It’s one of the most appealing things about this series. In removing him from his usual stomping grounds to the countryside, Aaronovitch takes the opportunity to cast a minor side-eye at the white uniformity and unthinking assumptions of part of Britain: as a mixed-race lad from London, Peter sticks out in Leominster… It’s amusing. It’s diverting. It’s fun…’ — Tor.com

‘Ben Aaronovitch is in top form in this fifth Peter Grant novel, as his beloved police constable ventures into the wilds of the English countryside. As ever, the realistic police procedural details ground the plot, but the wonderful and unexpected fantasy world that lurks just below the surface of reality makes this tale the rousing success that it is. The tension is high from the opening of this unpredictable story, but the gravity of Grant’s newest case doesn’t keep his snarky humor or his wry insight from shining through, making this a book that new readers and fans alike will relish.’ — RT Book Reviews (January 2015 Top Pick)

‘This book is a great example of how a series and its main character can grow while still retaining everything that makes the previous novels so great. An extraordinary fun ride that’s not to be missed.’ — Bibliosanctum (5* Review)

‘FOXGLOVE SUMMER is a bold and exciting new beginning for Peter Grant and I can’t wait to find out where will Ben Aaronovitch take him next.’ — Upcoming4Me

The first three novels in the series – MIDNIGHT RIOT, MOON OVER SOHO and WHISPERS UNDERGROUND – were published in the US by Del Rey. BROKEN HOMES, the fourth novel, was also published by DAW Books. The whole series is published by Gollancz in the UK. The first four books have been published in Germany by DTV and in France by J’ai Lu.

Zeno Titles in Audible’s 2014 Bestsellers Lists!

Posted on Friday, December 12th, 2014

Ben Aaronovitch‘s FOXGLOVE SUMMER and Brandon Sanderson‘s WORDS OF RADIANCE are among the bestselling audiobooks released in 2014 on Audible UK (of all genres)! Especially incredible is the fact that FOXGLOVE SUMMER makes the list having only been published on November 11th! (Just four weeks ago!)

Additionally, and equally great news, Ben’s RIVERS OF LONDON and BROKEN HOMES and Brandon’s THE WAY OF KINGS are also among the 2014 Best-Sellers – All Time Releases!

RIVERS OF LONDON, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER are the first, fourth and fifth books in Ben’s Peter Grant urban fantasy series, published by Gollancz in the UK. The series is narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Here’s the synopsis for RIVERS OF LONDON…

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 (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 voluable, 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 WAY OF KINGS and WORDS OF RADIANCE are the first two novels in Brandon’s Stormlight Archive epic fantasy series, also published by Gollancz in the UK. The series is narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Here’s the synopsis for the THE WAY OF KINGS…

According to mythology mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms. And the Voidbringers followed…

They came against man ten thousand times. To help them cope, the Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and mystical weapons, known as Shardblades. Led by ten angelic Heralds and ten orders of knights known as Radiants, mankind finally won.

Or so the legends say. Today, the only remnants of those supposed battles are the Shardblades, the possession of which makes a man nearly invincible on the battlefield. The entire world is at war with itself – and has been for centuries since the Radiants turned against mankind. Kings strive to win more Shardblades, each secretly wishing to be the one who will finally unite all of mankind under a single throne.

On a world scoured down to the rock by terrifying hurricanes that blow through every few day a young spearman forced into the army of a Shardbearer, led to war against an enemy he doesn’t understand and doesn’t really want to fight.

What happened deep in mankind’s past?

Why did the Radiants turn against mankind, and what happened to the magic they used to wield?

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

Coming Soon: RIVERS OF LONDON – BODY WORK!

Posted on Tuesday, December 9th, 2014

Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant series has been a huge success, and only becomes more popular with the release of each new novel. FOXGLOVE SUMMER, the fifth book, was released last month in the UK by Gollancz, and will be published in the US by DAW Books in January. The series has also been optioned for television.

Today, we share with you the cover for the first graphic novel set in the RIVERS OF LONDON universe, BODY WORK! Adapted for the medium by Ben himself and Andrew Cartmel, the book will be published by Titan Comics in 2015. Details are still a little thin on the ground, but we’ll be sure to share them with you as soon as we have them.

The Peter Grant series includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER. Ben is currently at work on the next book in the series.

Ben Aaronovitch’s DER BÖSE ORT is a Best of 2014!

Posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Ben Aaronovitch‘s DER BÖSE ORT (BROKEN HOMES) has won third prize in German reading community Lovely Reads’ Best Fantasy Books of 2014! This repeats Ben’s success last year, when EIN WISPERN UNTER BAKER STREET picked up a Leserpreis as well.

The fourth novel in Ben’s critically-acclaimed and best-selling Peter Grant series, DER BOSE ORT is published in Germany by DTV, who have also published the first three novels in the series. Here’s the German synopsis…

Seltsame Dinge geschehen im Skygarden Tower, einem berüchtigten Sozialwohnblock in Südlondon. Dinge, die eine magische Anziehungskraft auf Police Constable und Zauberlehrling Peter Grant ausüben. Zunächst geht es nur um ein gestohlenes altes Buch über Magie, das aus der Weißen Bibliothek zu Weimar stammt. Doch dann weitet sich der Fall rasant aus. Denn der Erbauer des Tower, Erik Stromberg, ein brillanter, wenngleich leicht gestörter Architekt, hatte sich einst in seiner Zeit am Bauhaus offenbar nicht nur mit modernem Design, sondern auch mit Magie befasst. Was erklären könnte, warum der Skygarden Tower einen unablässigen Strom von begabten Künstlern, Politikern, Drogendealern, Serienmördern und Irren hervorgebracht hat. Und warum der unheimliche gesichtslose Magier, den Peter noch in schlechtester Erinnerung hat, ein so eingehendes Interesse daran an den Tag legt.

And, for non-German speakers, here’s the English-language synopsis…

A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil; an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common or garden serial killer?

Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load.

So far so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on an housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate.

Is there a connection?

And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River?

The Peter Grant Series is published in the UK by Gollancz, in the US by Del Rey (#1-3) and DAW Books, and in France by J’ai Lu.

Speaking of the UK editions, we reported a little while ago that Cityreads London had selected RIVERS OF LONDON as their 2015 read. The new Cityreads 2015 website is up and running, complete with information about the event and book! Here’s what Ben had to say about RIVERS OF LONDON‘s selection: ‘As a native Londoner it’s hard to imagine a more exciting honour than having my book selected to be the London Cityread for 2015. Added to that is the sheer pleasure of working with and helping support the public libraries of London.’

Ben Aaronovitch’s FOXGLOVE SUMMER is Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

The wait is almost over! Ben Aaronovitch‘s FOXGLOVE SUMMER is officially published in the UK tomorrow by Gollancz! (It has already been available at a few signings this past week.) The highly-anticipated fifth novel in Ben’s Peter Grant series, a lot of people have been very eager to get their hands on it! Here’s the 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…

We would also just like to mention again the great news that RIVERS OF LONDON, the first in the series, has been selected by Cityreads London for the April 2015 title! You can read more about that, here. All of the novels are published in the UK by Gollancz.

FOXGLOVE SUMMER is available in hardcover, eBook, and also unabridged audio – narrated by the very talented Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. The novel will be published in the US by DAW Books, on January 6th, 2015.

And, finally, Gollancz are running a limited special offer for people who pre-ordered FOXGLOVE SUMMER…

Next Year, the City Reads RIVERS OF LONDON!

Posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2014

Cityread London have selected their 2015 read, and we’re delighted to report that it is Ben Aaronovitch‘s RIVERS OF LONDON! The novel is the critically-acclaimed, best-selling first book in the Peter Grant Series. Cityread London is London’s biggest annual bookclub, a ‘celebration of literature that aims to bring reading to life for the whole capital’. Published in the UK by Gollancz, here’s the 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 voluable, 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.

You can follow Cityread London on Facebook, and find more information on their website.

The Peter Grant Series includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER, which is published in the UK next Thursday! The series is published by Del Rey and DAW Books in the US, DTV in Germany, J’ai Lu in France, Hayakawa in Japan, and a number of other territories.

Ben Aaronovitch’s FOXGLOVE SUMMER Tour Details!

Posted on Monday, October 13th, 2014

The release of FOXGLOVE SUMMER, Ben Aaronovitch‘s fifth Peter Grant novel, is fast approaching. This, of course, means we can now share with you the details of his upcoming book tour! Here are the details…
Friday 7th November
– 7-9pm – St Albans Literary Festival

Sunday 9th November

– 2-4pm – Wimbourne Book Festival

Monday 10th November

– 1-2pm – Forbidden Planet London

– 6.30pm – Waterstone’s Trafalgar Talk with Kobna Holdbrook Smith

Tuesday 11th November

– 1-2pm – Hatchards Kings Cross St Pancras Singing

– 7pm – Nottingham Waterstone’s Solo Talk

Wednesday 12th November

– 1pm – Leeds signing

– 6.30pm – Manchester Waterstone’s Solo Talk

Thursday 13th November

– 1pm – Liverpool Waterstone’s signing

– 7.30pm – Birmingham Waterstone’s Solo Talk

Friday 14th November

– 7pm – Ledbury Books Solo Talk

Saturday 15th November

– 1-2pm – Toppings Bath Solo Talk

Sunday 30th November

– 2-3pm – Reading and Signing at the London Museum of Water and Steam

Sunday 7th December

– 2-4pm – Solo Talk and Signing at Kingston Waterstone’s

FOXGLOVE SUMMER is due to be published by Gollancz in the UK on November 13th, 2014. The novel is due to be published in the US by DAW Books in January 2015. Here’s the 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…

RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, and BROKEN HOMES are out now in the UK, US, Germany, France and Japan, as well as select other markets.

Ben Aaronovitch at the Cheltenham Festivals this Friday!

Posted on Monday, October 6th, 2014

We’re very happy to report that Ben Aaronovitch is taking part in an event as part of the Cheltenham Festivals this week! Ben will be on the panel for ‘Science fiction and Fantasy: A Celebration‘, joining fellow authors Joe Abercrombie, Mitch Benn, Sarah Pinborough and David Barnett.

‘Once regarded as a niche genre, Sci Fi and Fantasy continues to capture the imaginations of new readers Four of the genre’s leading voices… celebrate its rise and discuss their latest work.’

Here are the event’s details:

Date: Friday, 10th October, 2014 – 8:30pm – 9:30pm
Venue: THE INKPOT, Imperial Square
Tickets: £8 – Members 10% Off

Ben Aaronovitch is the critically-acclaimed, best-selling author of the Peter Grant urban fantasy series, which includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, and the upcoming FOXGLOVE SUMMER. All of the novels are published in the UK by Gollancz, and the latter is due out mid-November 2014. Here’s the 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…

Cover Reveal: Ben Aaronovitch’s MOON OVER SOHO in Polish!

Posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

We’re delighted to share with you the Polish cover for the second novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant Series, MOON OVER SOHO! The novel – KSIĘŻYC NAD SOHO – was just published by MAG. Here’s the English-language synopsis for the novel…

Peter Grant is not just a lowly Detective Constable, he’s also apprenticed to the last wizard in Britain: policing will never be the same again!

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.

We shared the Polish cover for RIVERS OF LONDON earlier this year.

The Peter Grant Series includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOME, and the upcoming FOXGLOVE SUMMER, all published in the UK by Gollancz.

RIVERS OF LONDON is a British Library Staff Pick!

Posted on Friday, August 29th, 2014

Above, you’ll see a screen capture from the British Library‘s homepage. And yes, that is indeed Ben Aaronovitch‘s RIVERS OF LONDON oh-so-wonderfully prominent! The image (and link connected to it) relates to the Library staff’s recommended reads for the summer. We’re delighted that they’ve selected Ben’s novel – and, of course, we agree wholeheartedly.

RIVERS OF LONDON is the first novel in Ben’s urban fantasy series set in London. It is followed by MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and the forthcoming FOXGLOVE SUMMER. More novels in the series are planned. The books are published in the UK by Gollancz; in the US by Del Rey (#1-3) and DAW Books (#4-6); Germany by DTV; France by J’ai Lu; and numerous other publishers in translation around the world.

Zeno Clients to attend Fantasy in the Court Next Week!

Posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014

Next week, Goldsboro Books, Tor UK and Voyager Books are hosting in London a science fiction and fantasy extravaganza, Fantasy in the Court! A ticketed event, it is celebrates the SFF genres and offers fans an informal setting to meet some of today’s best authors of science fiction and fantasy. Tickets are available from Goldsboro Books, and more information can be found here. Zeno clients in attendance are Ben Aaronovitch, Edward Cox, E.J. Swift, and Lavie Tidhar.

Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the bestselling and critically-acclaimed Rivers of London series, the fifth book of which – FOXGLOVE SUMMER – is published later this year by Gollancz. Edward Cox is the debut author of THE RELIC GUILD, due out in September 2014 from Gollancz. E.J. Swift is the author of the Osiris Project science fiction series – the second book, CATAVEIRO, was published earlier this year by Del Rey UK. Lavie Tidhar is the author of OSAMA (winner of the World Fantasy Award), THE VIOLENT CENTURY, and the upcoming A MAN LIES DREAMING – to be published later this September by Hodder.

Ben Aaronovitch’s BROKEN HOMES has a Japanese Cover…

Posted on Monday, July 28th, 2014

Today, we want to share with you the Japanese cover for Ben Aaronovitch‘s BROKEN HOMES, the fourth novel in his Peter Grant/Rivers of London urban fantasy series. Published by Hayakawa, 空中庭園の魔術師 is available now. Here’s the Japanese synopsis…

ロンドン警視庁特殊犯罪課４　魔術に魅せられた建築家が設計したスカイガーデン・タワーに隠された、驚くべき秘密!?

きっかけはロンドン郊外で起きた交通事故だった。車内にあった謎の血痕から、やがて顔を散弾でつぶされた女性の死体が森の中で発見される。そして都市計画を担当する役人の不可解な投身自殺に、身体を内側から焼かれたプロの金庫破りの死体…すべての事件に“顔のない男”の魔手が見てとれた。事件を追ううちに、ピーターとレスリーはドイツから亡命した高名な建築家が設計した高層住宅“空中庭園（スカイガーデン）”へと行き着くが…

For those non-Japanese speakers, here’s the English-language synopsis…

A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil; an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common or garden serial killer?

Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load.

So far so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on an housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate.

Is there a connection?

And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River?

Full of warmth, sly humour and a rich cornucopia of things you never knew about London, Aaronovitch’s series has swiftly added Grant’s magical London to Rebus’ Edinburgh and Morse’s Oxford as a destination of choice for those who love their crime with something a little extra.

BROKEN HOMES is published in the UK by Gollancz, as are the first three novels in the series – RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, and WHISPERS UNDERGROUND. Gollancz will also be published the highly-anticipated fifth book in the series, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, later this year. The series is published in Germany by DTV, and France by J’ai Lu. The first three novels were published by Del Rey Books in the US, and the second three novels are to be published by DAW Books.

For you enjoyment, here are the Japanese covers for the first three titles in the series…

Upcoming Event: Gollancz Festival 2014

Posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

We are very pleased to share with you the news that two of Zeno’s clients will be participating in the inaugural Gollancz Festival! Jointly hosted by Gollancz and Waterstone’s Piccadilly, the event takes place on August 13th, from 6pm-9pm. The evening brings together some of Gollancz’s leading authors of science-fiction and fantasy to discuss the genre and their books.

The full schedule can be found here, but here are the Zeno-specific details…

Room 1: 7.15-7.45pm: Ben Aaronovitch takes part in the discussion, ‘Is fantasy by definition consolatory?’, chaired by Sarah Pinborough and also featuring Peter Higgins, James Barclay, and Joanne M. Harris.
Room 2: 6.45-7.15pm: Edward Cox takes part in the ‘Class of 2014’ panel, chaired by Gillian Redfearn and also featuring Den Patrick, Jon Wallace, and John Hornor Jacobs.

More details about the event will be released via the Gollancz Twitter feed, and also through the hashtag #gollanczfest.

Ben Aaronovitch is the critically-acclaimed best-selling author of the Peter Grant series. The next novel in the series, FOXTROT SUMMER, is due to be published in September 2014. Edward Cox is the author of the upcoming debut fantasy THE RELIC GUILD, also due to be published in September 2014.