Czech Audiobook edition of WHISPERS UNDERGROUND now available via Audible!


The Czech audiobook edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s third Peter Grant novel, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND is available now through Audible! Published by Tympanum as ŠEPOT PODZENÍ, and read by Tomáš Kobr, here’s the synopsis…

Další případ ze světa nejúspěšnější městské fantasy uplynulého desetiletí! Peter Grant na cestě do labyrintem londýnského metra. Jmenuji se Peter Grant. Není to tak dávno, co jsem byl obyčejný četnický zelenáč v řadách londýnské Metropolitní policie. Teď jsem policejní detektiv a čarodějnický učeň. Jenže inspektor Nightingale má plné ruce práce s pátráním po Muži bez tváře, takže stojím nad mrtvolou amerického studenta na stanici metra Baker Street sám. Vlastně ne sám, FBI mi poslala na pomoc nějakou mladou ambiciózní křesťanku. No, hezká je, ale veškerá kouzla jsou pro ni jasné dílo ďáblovo. Je na čase ponořit se strašidelné hlubiny nejstarší, největší a nyní i nejvražednější podzemní dráhy na světě.

The print edition of the novel is published in Czechia by Argo. The Peter Grant series is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-), and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis for WHISPERS UNDERGROUND

Peter Grant is learning magic fast. And it’s just as well – he’s already had run-ins with the deadly supernatural children of the Thames and a terrifying killer in Soho. Progression in the Police Force is less easy. Especially when you work in a department of two. A department that doesn’t even officially exist. A department that if you did describe it to most people would get you laughed at. And then there’s his love life. The last person he fell for ended up seriously dead. It wasn’t his fault, but still.

Now something horrible is happening in the labyrinth of tunnels that make up the tube system that honeycombs the ancient foundations of London. And delays on the Northern line is the very least of it. Time to call in the Met’s Economic and Specialist Crime Unit 9, aka ‘The Folly’. Time to call in PC Peter Grant, Britain’s Last Wizard.

Here are just a handful of the reviews the novel has received…

‘One of the most refreshing things about former Doctor Who writer Aaronvitch’s Rivers of London series of magical procedurals is that they are blessedly free of manufactured rivalries. Instead, Police Constable (and freshly minted wizard) Peter Grant works for a supernatural branch of the London police department that is more interested in solving crimes than creating drama. In Grant’s third outing (after Moon over Soho), he gets called in to help with a magic-linked murder at an Underground station. The victim turns out to be the son of a U.S. senator, with a sketchy, not-quite-human roommate. To solve the murder, Grant and his associates, including disfigured fellow magician Lesley May and trigger-happy FBI agent Kimberley Reynolds, plumb the city’s depths as well as its secret history. This fast, engrossing novel is enjoyable, cheerful, and accessible to new readers.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘… the Peter Grant novels by Ben Aaronovitch are a great way to feel like you’re actually visiting the city by the Thames… Ben Aaronovitch writes some of the funniest prose in current fantasy. These books are extremely entertaining, mainly because narrator Peter Grant has a hilarious voice and a sly sense of humor… quirkily effective prose and dry humor, making it a pure pleasure to read… I’m usually not a big fan of urban fantasy, but this series is so much fun that I always look forward to the next installment. If you’re looking for a fast-moving, entertaining urban fantasy that’ll make you feel like you’re visiting London vicariously this summer, pick up series opener MIDNIGHT RIOT / RIVERS OF LONDON. And if you’ve already read the first two books, you’ll probably be glad to hear that the newest installment WHISPERS UNDER GROUND is just as good.’ — Tor.com

‘The quality of the writing is superb with an instantly engaging style and subtle humour that makes reading the novel a real joy and almost impossible to resist… The ending is pretty dramatic and very much a seat-of-your-pants cliff hanger that really does leave you wanting more, I can’t wait to read more in the life of Peter Grant.’ 5/5 — SF Book Reviews

‘The voice is persuasive and funny as all get-out, and the reader is engaged with the narrative from the very first page. Aaronovitch has written a diverse cast of characters who all feel like real people with their own specific motivations. This book is simply wonderful.’ — RT Book Reviews

The next novel in the series, FALSE VALUE, is due to be published in February 2020.

Czech edition of RIVERS OF LONDON now available from Audible


The Czech translation of Ben Aaronovitch‘s RIVERS OF LONDON is now available as an audiobook from Audible! Published by Tympanum as ŘEKY LONDÝNA, here’s the synopsis…

Jmenuji se Peter Grant. Ještě nedávno jsem byl obyčejný četnický zelenáč v řadách londýnské Metropolitní policie. Jedné noci jsem se ale při vyšetřování jisté vraždy pokusil získat svědeckou výpověď od muže, který byl sice mrtvý, ale jinak znepokojivě výřečný, což mi zajistilo pozornost vrchního inspektora Nightingalea, posledního čaroděje Anglie. A právě tehdy začal můj příběh.

Nyní jsem policejní detektiv a čarodějův učeň, první učedník za padesát let, a můj svět už není zdaleka tak jednoduchý, jak býval. Jedna z nejúspěšnějších městských fantasy uplynulého desetiletí vás zavede do Londýna, ve kterém u policie slouží čarodějové a po ulicích se prohánějí zlovolní duchové či božstva na válečné stezce.

The novel is also published in print in Czechia by Argo, as are books 2-6 in the series (more to come!).

RIVERS OF LONDON and the other novels in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series are published in the UK by Gollancz; in the US by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); and widely in translation around the world.

In case you haven’t had the chance to read RIVERS OF LONDON, yet, 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.

And last but by no means least: don’t miss the news that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have option the Rivers of London series!

Two new Roger Zelazny audiobooks available in Czechia!


The first two novels in Roger Zelazny‘s Chronicles of Amber are now available as audiobooks in Czechia! Published by Walker & Volf, here are the details…

NINE PRINCES OF AMBER is published as DEVĚT PRINCŮ (cover above), here’s the synopsis…

AMBER je opravdu jediný opravdu skutečný svět. Všechny ostatní jsou jen stíny. Nekonečný je svět Amberu vrhajícího stíny, jejichž velkolepé odlesky vytvářejí všechny ostatní světy, včetně toho, v kterém žijeme. Nekonečný jako velkolepá tajemství, před kterými se nám, smrtelníkům, tají dech. Čím však je ve skutečnosti? Z jakých rozmarů byl stvořen? Jak obrovská musí být síla, hrající si s mocnými světy jako se zrnky písku? První knihu „Devět princů Amberu“ otevírá příběh Corwina, nadčlověka se ztrátou paměti, který se probouzí na nemocničním lůžku po těžké autonehodě. Corwin netuší nic o svých příbuzných lačnících po „věčném trůnu“, ani o cestě, na jejímž počátku se právě ocitl. Nevzpomíná si na „Lorgus“ ani na jeho protipól „Vzor“. Navíc postrádá svůj balíček „trumfů“, který by mu mohl pomoci překonat pasti nastražené neznámými silami. Udržován pod vlivem narkotik zůstává sám, a někde hluboko uvnitř něho čekají na probuzení nadlidské schopnosti. Od prvního dílu knižní série „Tajemný Amber“ budete sledovat osudy rozvětvené královské rodiny, kde každý bojuje s každým. Spisovatel Roger Zelazny, velmistr žánru fantasy, disponuje jazykem plným fantazie a dočkáte se toho nejlepšího vypravěčského umění, jakým se žánr fantasy může pochlubit.

First published in 1970, the English-language synopsis…

Awakening in an Earth hospital unable to remember who he is or where he came from, Corwin is amazed to learn that he is one of the sons of Oberon, King of Amber, and is the rightful successor to the crown in a parallel world.

Amber, the one real world, wherein all others, including our own Earth, are but Shadows. Amber burns in Corwin’s blood. Exiled on Shadow Earth for centuries, the prince is about to return to Amber to make a mad and desperate rush upon the throne. From Arden to the blood-slippery Stairway into the Sea, the air is electrified with the powers of Eric, Random, Bleys, Caine, and all the princes of Amber whom Corwin must overcome. Yet, his savage path is blocked and guarded by eerie structures beyond imagining; impossible realities forged by demonic assassins and staggering horrors to challenge the might of Corwin’s superhuman fury.

GUNS OF AVALON is published as PUŠKY AVALONU

Proslulá fantasy sága pokračuje! Vstupte opět do mýtické říše Amberu!

Volné pokračování „Devíti princů Amberu“ vás uvrhne do světa velkolepých bitev, mocné magie a záludných intrik. V závěru předchozího příběhu došlo k zásadnímu zvratu, který měl rozhodující význam nejen pro život lorda Corwina, ale i pro další ze světů, tajuplný Avalon.

Potupený a raněný Corwin, jeden z princů Amberu, se vydává na cestu pomsty. Nikdo z protivníků zatím netuší, že jen on zná tajemství ničivých zbraní, s jejichž pomocí by bylo možné se probojovat do silně střeženého Kolviru. V sázce však není jen samotný trůn…

The second novel in the series was originally published in 1972, and here’s the English-language synopsis…

Across the worlds of Shadow, Corwin, prince of blood royal, heir to the throne of Amber, gathers his forces for an assault that will yield up to him the crown that is rightfully his. But, a growing darkness of his own doing threatens his plans, an evil that stretches to the heart of the perfect kingdom itself where the demonic forces of Chaos mass to annihilate Amber and all who would rule there.

Zeno represents Roger Zelazny in Translation, on behalf of the Zelazny Estate.

Lavie Tidhar’s CANDY is now available in Czechia!


Lavie Tidhar‘s first novel for young readers, CANDY is now available in Czechia! Published by Argo as PRO HRST LENTILEK, here’s the synopsis…

Slavný soukromý detektiv Phil Marlowe má vážnou konkurentku: je jí dvanáct a jmenuje se Nelle. Je chytrá, má skvělý pozorovací talent, případy řeší s věcnou elegancí, její komentáře jsou sarkasticky trefné. Nelle žije ve městě, kde byla na všechny sladkosti vyhlášena prohibice. Jenže se zákazem čokolády a bonbonů začnou okamžitě vznikat pašerácké gangy, v policii bují korupce. Když jednoho dne vstoupí do Nelliny detektivní kanceláře (ve skutečnosti zahradní kůlny) zlopověstný gangster Eddie Mentolka a požádá Nelle, aby mu našla ztraceného plyšového medvídka, hrdinka zavětří velký případ. Ale než se jí podaří méďu vypátrat, zmizí i Eddie. Že by v tom měla prsty konkurence, drsná Fidorka nebo snad Piškot McKenzie? Proč byl medvídek pro Eddieho tak důležitý? A co se skrývá v opuštěné továrně na čokoládu? Kam se poděl její majitel? Pátrání Nelle vtahuje stále hlouběji do labyrintu intrik a podvodů čokoládové mafie, vyřešení případu je dramaticky překvapivé. Zábavná „báječně čokoládová“ parafráze na slavné detektivní romány z doby americké prohibice okouzlí nejen děti, ale i hravé dospělé.

Featuring illustrations by Mark Beech, CANDY is published in the UK by Scholastic, and has also been published in Germany (Loewe) and France (Castelmore) — more editions are on the way, and we’ll keep you updated as soon as we can! Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Guard your chocolate! Imagine living in a place where Mars bars are banned and sweeties are totally outlawed. Ugh – how depressing! In this miserable place, is it any wonder that gangsters trade in illegal sweeties? We can’t even blame them. Nelle Faulkner is a twelve-year-old private detective looking for her next client. So when notorious candy gangster Eddie de Menthe walks in and asks her to find a missing teddy bear, Nelle takes the case. But as soon as the teddy turns up, Eddie himself goes missing. Can Nelle track him down before all of them come to a sticky end?

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

‘A perfectly pitched noir take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… delightful premise… a novel that for all its joyous sense of fun still packs a surprising emotional and philosophical punch… wonderful character work and his excellent prose… Most importantly, we never lose sight of the characters as children, which is necessary for the novel to carry off its conceit.’ — Fantasy Faction

‘Delicious pastiche of “noir” fiction from SF author Lavie Tidhar, set in a city where everything sweet and sugary is banned. Private eye Nelle searches for a lost teddy bear and uncovers a Chinatown-style conspiracy. You could think of it as The Malteser Falcon, or perhaps Double Inde-mint-y.’ — Financial Times (Summer Books of 2018)

‘Written in the style of the hard-boiled American detective fiction of the 1940s, this is a juggernaut of a tale with plenty of twists and turns. A challenging read for ages 10+ who enjoy suspense coupled with a dry sense of humour.’ — West Sussex Schools Library Service

‘Candy is one of those books that do not take children and teenagers for fools. The story is able to change shifts, thanks to lot of humour, to more serious subjects. Of course, we can enjoy it at any age. If possible, the book should be served in place of dessert.’ — Geektest (France)

‘Due to the wonderfully fluent writing style, the pleasantly short chapters and the rousing plot, I devoured the book in record time. For girls and boys from the age of 10, who like to read exciting, funny, imaginative detective stories, “Secret Agent Candy” is just perfect. I really hope that this is a start of a series and we will soon be able to solve their second, tricky case together with Nelle… Exciting, funny, bizarre and just awesome!’ — Die Bücherwelt von CorniHolmes (Germany)

New Czech edition of CANDY available now!


We’re very happy to report that Lavie Tidhar‘s first novel for young readers, CANDY, is now available in Czechia! Published by Argo as PRO HRST LENTILEK, here’s the synposis…

Slavný soukromý detektiv Phil Marlowe má vážnou konkurentku: je jí dvanáct a jmenuje se Nelle. Je chytrá, má skvělý pozorovací talent, případy řeší s věcnou elegancí, její komentáře jsou sarkasticky trefné. Nelle žije ve městě, kde byla na všechny sladkosti vyhlášena prohibice. Jenže se zákazem čokolády a bonbonů začnou okamžitě vznikat pašerácké gangy, v policii bují korupce. Když jednoho dne vstoupí do Nelliny detektivní kanceláře (ve skutečnosti zahradní kůlny) zlopověstný gangster Eddie Mentolka a požádá Nelle, aby mu našla ztraceného plyšového medvídka, hrdinka zavětří velký případ. Ale než se jí podaří méďu vypátrat, zmizí i Eddie. Že by v tom měla prsty konkurence, drsná Fidorka nebo snad Piškot McKenzie? Proč byl medvídek pro Eddieho tak důležitý? A co se skrývá v opuštěné továrně na čokoládu? Kam se poděl její majitel? Pátrání Nelle vtahuje stále hlouběji do labyrintu intrik a podvodů čokoládové mafie, vyřešení případu je dramaticky překvapivé. Zábavná „báječně čokoládová“ parafráze na slavné detektivní romány z doby americké prohibice okouzlí nejen děti, ale i hravé dospělé.

CANDY is published in the UK by Scholastic, and is also published in Germany (Loewe — out next week!) and France (Castelmore), with more editions on the way! Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Guard your chocolate! Imagine living in a place where Mars bars are banned and sweeties are totally outlawed. Ugh – how depressing! In this miserable place, is it any wonder that gangsters trade in illegal sweeties? We can’t even blame them. Nelle Faulkner is a twelve-year-old private detective looking for her next client. So when notorious candy gangster Eddie de Menthe walks in and asks her to find a missing teddy bear, Nelle takes the case. But as soon as the teddy turns up, Eddie himself goes missing. Can Nelle track him down before all of them come to a sticky end?

Lavie’s next novel is UNHOLY LAND, due to be published by Tachyon Publications in November.

Peter Grants reaches THE FURTHEST STATION and confronts NIGHT WITCHES tomorrow in Czechia!


Tomorrow, Argo is due to publish the Czech edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s first Peter Grant novella, THE FURTHEST STATION! Published as NEJODLEHLEJŠÍ STANICE, here’s the synopsis…

Na lince Metropolitan se začínají dít divné věci. Vyděšení cestující volají na tísňovou linku, že byli v tlačenici napadeni zvláštně oděnými lidmi, kteří se jim pokoušeli předat naléhavý vzkaz… Oběti útoků však při dalším dotazování nejsou schopny policii vysvětlit, o co přesně šlo, a během chvíle se jim střet vykouří z hlavy. Seržant Jaget Kumar, příslušník dopravní policie známý ze Šepotu v podzemí, se promptně obrací na Petera Granta, protože případy vykazují neklamné znaky působení nadpřirozených sil. Zjistit, co jsou oni duchové zač a proč zasévají takový zmatek mezi nevinné Londýňany, se Peterovi pokusí jeho mladičká a magicky nadaná sestřenice Abigail, věrný pes Toby a samozřejmě inspektor Nightingale coby klidná síla v pozadí. Vyšetřování se z metra záhy přenese na zdánlivě idylická londýnská předměstí, která se opět ukážou být semeništěm podivností, nad nimiž zůstává rozum stát a při nichž tuhne krev v žilách.

The novella is published in the UK by Gollancz and in North America by Subterranean Press. It is also available in Germany (DTV) and France (J’ai Lu). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Also out tomorrow, the Czech edition of NIGHT WITCH! The second collection in the Rivers of London comic series, by Ben and Andrew Cartmel, it is published by Argo as NOČNÍ KOUZELNICE. Here’s the synopsis…

Druhý komiksový příběh ze světa Bena Aaronovitche Řeky Londýna staví do popředí ruskou čarodějku Varvaru Sidorovnu, kterou známe už z Prokletých domovů. To ona je noční kouzelnice. Tedy alespoň jí byla během svojí služby Sovětskému svazu. Ale to je dávno. Teď má Peterovi pomoci vyšetřit únos dcery ruského emigranta, který nechal za zády Putinovo Rusko, sbalil prachy a vypadnul… Jenže když vám unese dceru lešij, pán lesů, jsou peníze k ničemu. Proto musí nastoupit odborníci: Peter Grant a Thomas Nightingale. A pochopitelně Toby. Jak se ukáže, je celý případ daleko komplikovanější, takže se můžete těšit nejen na svoje oblíbené hrdiny, ale také na jejich arcinepřítele – Muže bez tváře.

NIGHT WITCH is published in English by Titan Comics. Artwork is by Lee Sullivan, and colours by Luis Guerrero. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Press-ganged into helping a Russian oligarch hunt his missing daughter, PC Peter Grant and his boss, Thomas Nightingale, London’s only wizarding cops, find themselves caught up in a battle between Russian gunmen, a monstrous forest creature — and their nemesis: The Faceless Man.

But as Grant and Nightingale close in on the missing girl, they discover that nothing about this case is what it seems!

Czech edition of CENTRAL STATION out now!


The Czech edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s multi-award winning CENTRAL STATION is out now! Published by Argo as CENTRÁLNÍ STANICE, here’s the synopsis…

Celosvětová diaspora čtvrt milionů lidí žije u paty vesmírné stanice. Město bez pravidel bují doslova jako plevel. Život má pramalou cenu a data ještě menší. Když se Boris Chong vrátí z Marsu do Tel Avivu, rychle pozná, že se hodně věcí změnilo. Borisova bývalá milenka se stará o podivně povědomé dítě, které se dovede pouhým dotykem prstu napojit na datový proud. Borisova sestřenice je zamilovaná do robotnika – poškozeného kyborgovského vojáka, který taktak že nechodí žebrat o součástky. Borisův otec trpí smrtelným multigeneračním mozkovým morem. A hledaná datová upířice pronásledovala Borise až do míst, kam má zakázaný návrat. Nad těmi všemi se tyčí Centrální stanice, meziplanetární uzel, ve kterém se protíná všechno: konstantně se proměňující Tel Aviv; mocná virtuální kolbiště; a vesmírné kolonie, kam lidstvo prchlo před bídou a válkou. Propojení zajišťují „Druzí“: mocné mimozemské entity, které prostřednictvím Konverzace – pohyblivého, plynoucího proudu vědomí – právě zahajují nezvratnou změnu. U Centrální stanice se lidé a stroje se adaptují, vzkvétají… a dokonce se vyvíjejí.

The novel is published in English by Tachyon Publications, and a limited edition was available via PS Publishing. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A worldwide diaspora has left a quarter of a million people at the foot of a space station. Cultures collide in real life and virtual reality. Life is cheap, and data is cheaper.

When Boris Chong returns to Tel Aviv from Mars, much has changed. Boris’s ex-lover is raising a strangely familiar child who can tap into the datastream of a mind with the touch of a finger. His cousin is infatuated with a robotnik — a damaged cyborg soldier who might as well be begging for parts. His father is terminally-ill with a multigenerational mind-plague. And a hunted data-vampire has followed Boris to where she is forbidden to return.

Rising above them is Central Station, the interplanetary hub between all things: the constantly shifting Tel Aviv; a powerful virtual arena, and the space colonies where humanity has gone to escape the ravages of poverty and war. Everything is connected by the Others, powerful alien entities who, through the Conversation — a shifting, flowing stream of consciousness — are just the beginning of irrevocable change.

At Central Station, humans and machines continue to adapt, thrive… and even evolve.

Lavie’s next novels are CANDY (Scholastic) and UNHOLY LAND (Tachyon), both published later this year.

First two Peter Grant novels available in Czech audio!


Great news! The first two novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant series are now available in Czech audio editions! Produced by Tympanum, and narrated by Tomáš Kobr, the novels are published as ŘEKY LONDÝNA (RIVERS OF LONDON) and MĚSÍC NAD SOHO (MOON OVER SOHO), here’s the synopsis for the first book…

Jedna z nejúspěšnějších městských fantasy uplynulého desetiletí vás zavede do Londýna, ve kterém u policie slouží čarodějové a po ulicích se prohánějí zlovolní duchové či božstva na válečné stezce.

Jmenuji se Peter Grant. Ještě nedávno jsem byl obyčejný četnický zelenáč v řadách londýnské Metropolitní policie. Jedné noci jsem se ale při vyšetřování jisté vraždy pokusil získat svědeckou výpověď od muže, který byl sice mrtvý, ale jinak znepokojivě výřečný, což mi zajistilo pozornost vrchního inspektora Nightingalea, posledního čaroděje Anglie. A právě tehdy začal můj příběh.

Nyní jsem policejní detektiv a čarodějův učeň, první učedník za padesát let, a můj svět už není zdaleka tak jednoduchý, jak býval.

The print editions of the novels are published in Czech by Argo. The series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in the US by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-6). The English-language audiobooks are published by Orion Audio, and are narrated by the superb Kobna Holdbook-Smith. The series has also been published widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis for the first novel…

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.

Czech out this new edition of FOXGLOVE SUMMER!


The Czech edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s FOXGLOVE SUMMER is out now! The fifth book in Aaronovitch’s best-selling Peter Grant series is published by Argo as ZÁLUDNÉ LÉTO. Here’s the synopsis…

Když se ve vesnici Rushpool v západní Anglii začnou pohřešovat dvě jedenáctileté dívky, konstábl Peter Grant musí vytáhnout paty z Londýna, aby zjistil, jestli se na jejich zmizení nepodílelo něco nadpřirozeného. Jde o rutinní opatření a Nightingale je přesvědčený, že Peter bude mít v případu do večera jasno. Jenže Peter lidi v nesnázích nikdy neopouští, takže i když neobjeví žádné zjevné stopy po magických aktivitách, nabídne místnímu policejnímu sboru své služby, neboť ví, že při pátrání po nezvěstných je potřeba každé volné ruky. Netrvá však dlouho a ocitá se ve zběsilém závodě s časem, ve světě, kde hranice mezi realitou a světem skřítků a víl nikdy nebyly prostupnější…

Argo has also published the first four novels in the series in Czech: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND and BROKEN HOMES. They have also published the first Peter Grant comic series, RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK.

FOXGLOVE SUMMER, and the rest of the Peter Grant series, is published in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the English-language synopsis for the novel…

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…

Ian Tregillis’s NECESSARY EVIL available in Czech!


This week, Ian Tregillis‘s critically-acclaimed third Milkweed Novel, NECESSARY EVIL was released in Czech! Published by Argo as NUTNÉ ZLO, here’s the synopsis…

Strhující závěr románového triptychu, ve kterém si Otčina Roberta Harrise podává ruku s Alanem Moorem.

Londýnský Westminster 12. května 1940. Druhá světová válka nabírá na obrátkách. Už podruhé.

Raybould Marsh, jeden z nejlepších britských agentů, se přenesl do nové časové linie – je to poslední zoufalý pokus zachránit alespoň jediný z možných světů před lovecraftovskými monstry, kterým podlehla Marshova původní realita. Pokud má dojít k jejich porážce, nesmí na Zemi zůstat ani stopa po nadlidech stvořených nacistickou vojenskou mašinerií. Pozornost hrůzných přízraků žijících mimo čas a prostor totiž přitáhli k lidstvu právě oni…

Na své cestě za vítězstvím si Marsh bude muset především poradit s Gretel, nejmocnějším z výtvorů německého profesora von Westarpa. Díky svým schopnostem ví Gretel i v nové časové linii o všem, co se událo v Marshově zničeném světě, a pokusí se mu dokončení jeho úkolu překazit. Je odhodlaná přežít – a to navzdory tomu, že každé větvení reality, které dosud byla schopná předpovědět, končilo její smrtí.

The firs two novels in the Milkweed trilogy — BITTER SEEDS and THE COLDEST WAR — are also published in Czech by Argo.

The trilogy is published in the UK by Orbit Books. Here’s NECESSARY EVIL‘s English-language synopsis…

Superhumans and dark magic collide in secret supernatural history of Twentieth Century events — the final book in this landmark series

The history of the Twentieth Century has been shaped by a secret conflict between technology and magic. When a twisted Nazi scientist devised a way to imbue ordinary humans with supernatural abilities — to walk through walls, throw fire and see the future — his work became the prized possession of first the Third Reich, then the Soviet Army. Only Britain’s warlocks, and the dark magics they yield, have successfully countered the threat posed by these superhuman armies.

But for decades, this conflict has been manipulated by Gretel, the mad seer. And now her long plan has come to fruition. And with it, a danger vastly greater than anything the world has known. Now British Intelligence officer Raybould Marsh must make a last-ditch effort to change the course of history — if his nation, and those he loves, are to survive.

Here’s just a small sample of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘The satisfying third volume of Tregillis’s Milkwood Triptych successfully throws time travel into a mix that already included alternate history, spycraft, and mad science… Tregillis neatly juggles two viewpoints from the same character (giving the future Marsh first-person narration), and plays with notions like free will and irony while wisely avoiding headache-inducing paradox discussions. He also keeps the tale grounded in its espionage roots, providing a thrilling spy novel as much as a science fiction story.’ Publishers Weekly

‘Ian Tregillis triumphantly concludes his astonishing, brilliant, pulse-pounding debut trilogy… a book that veers precipitously from unexpected and chilling ruminations on the inherent evil of precognition; to the questions of loyalty and betrayal so thorny that they need a time-travel loop to really be explored; to spy-thriller action sequences that will keep you up under the covers with a flashlight, turning pages and unable to sleep… A remarkable set of books… fabulous.’ BoingBoing

‘The masterful conclusion… A series that has consistently impressed me, and improved with each book… Gretel is an fascinating character, and one of my favourites in any book or series: she is both star and villain; Machiavellian in the extreme and ultimately tragic… Tregillis brings the novel and series to a brilliant close. The ending of NECESSARY EVIL is heart-wrenching… but it feels right, given what’s come before. The Milkweed Triptych is one of my all-time favourite series. It is a must-read. Very highly recommended.’ Civilian Reader

‘In this bleak fantasy, World War II was fought between Nazis with devastating psychic powers and British warlocks employing Eidolons, irresistible demons beyond time and space – a struggle the British ultimately lost… intensity of the narrative, the torments of the protagonist or the deviously alluring storyline. Darkly fascinating… A thoroughly satisfying conclusion to an imaginative tour de force.’ Kirkus

NECESSARY EVIL takes everything I thought I knew about this series and then pulls the camera back to reveal we had only been peering down a microscope. All those little winks, the tiny nods to something bigger that you disregarded when reading, all the throwaway lines that you figure must get explained later and are quickly forgotten – this book is the payoff… so damned clever that it makes most other books look to be written in crayon… To sum up the Milkweed novels by Ian Tregillis in a nutshell is a bit like trying to squeeze your head into a toothpaste cap. It’s just not possible and the idea of Nazi super humans versus English warlocks really does this series a disservice. The Milkweed Triptych is a triumph of literature of any genre. It hits every note like a symphony of perfect destruction and is so scarily convincing that you can’t help but wonder, what if?’ J For Jetpack

‘A work of art so outstanding in its complexity that is difficult to imagine how Tregillis even began to plan the series out in the first place. The smallest, most insignificant things mentioned in passing in BITTER SEEDS take on world changing importance in NECESSARY EVIL. Tregillis’ alternate take on later 20th Century history is a dark and uncompromising journey into the depths of despair, constantly thought-provoking and always surprising. It’s a mind-blowing series that everyone should read… a great conclusion to one of the best series of recent times. As unpredictable as its predecessors, it’s a black magic thrill ride that makes you think as well as makes your heart race. Tregillis is a master at work, mixing so many genres together in his unique melting pot, until we are left with something so delightfully unlike anything else published today.’ Fantasy Faction

Orbit has also published Tregillis’s latest, equally critically-acclaimed trilogy, the Alchemy Wars: THE MECHANICAL, THE RISING and THE LIBERATION.

Zeno represents Ian Tregillis in the UK and Translation, on behalf of Kay McCauley at Aurous, Inc.

CENTRAL STATION coming soon in Czechia!


Above you can see the striking cover for the Czech edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s critically-acclaimed CENTRAL STATION! Due to be published by Argo in December 2017, here’s the synopsis…

Celosvětová diaspora čtvrt milionů lidí žije u paty vesmírné stanice. Město bez pravidel bují doslova jako plevel. Život má pramalou cenu a data ještě menší. Když se Boris Chong vrátí z Marsu do Tel Avivu, rychle pozná, že se hodně věcí změnilo. Borisova bývalá milenka se stará o podivně povědomé dítě, které se dovede pouhým dotykem prstu napojit na datový proud. Borisova sestřenice je zamilovaná do robotnika – poškozeného kyborgovského vojáka, který taktak že nechodí žebrat o součástky. Borisův otec trpí smrtelným multigeneračním mozkovým morem. A hledaná datová upířice pronásledovala Borise až do míst, kam má zakázaný návrat. Nad těmi všemi se tyčí Centrální stanice, meziplanetární uzel, ve kterém se protíná všechno: konstantně se proměňující Tel Aviv; mocná virtuální kolbiště; a vesmírné kolonie, kam lidstvo prchlo před bídou a válkou. Propojení zajišťují „Druzí“: mocné mimozemské entity, které prostřednictvím Konverzace – pohyblivého, plynoucího proudu vědomí – právě zahajují nezvratnou změnu. U Centrální stanice se lidé a stroje se adaptují, vzkvétají… a dokonce se vyvíjejí

CENTRAL STATION is published in English by Tachyon Publications, and is also available in a special hardcover edition via PS Publishing. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A worldwide diaspora has left a quarter of a million people at the foot of a space station. Cultures collide in real life and virtual reality. Life is cheap, and data is cheaper.

When Boris Chong returns to Tel Aviv from Mars, much has changed. Boris’s ex-lover is raising a strangely familiar child who can tap into the datastream of a mind with the touch of a finger. His cousin is infatuated with a robotnik — a damaged cyborg soldier who might as well be begging for parts. His father is terminally-ill with a multigenerational mind-plague. And a hunted data-vampire has followed Boris to where she is forbidden to return.

Rising above them is Central Station, the interplanetary hub between all things: the constantly shifting Tel Aviv; a powerful virtual arena, and the space colonies where humanity has gone to escape the ravages of poverty and war. Everything is connected by the Others, powerful alien entities who, through the Conversation — a shifting, flowing stream of consciousness — are just the beginning of irrevocable change.

At Central Station, humans and machines continue to adapt, thrive… and even evolve.

CENTRAL STATION has received a flood of praise since it was first published, winning the 2017 John W. Campbell Award, and it was in the running for both the Arthur C. Clarke Award and British Science Fiction Award. It was also an NPR Best Books of 2016, an Amazon Featured Monthly Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books, a Barnes and Noble Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2016, and was on the 2016 Locus Recommended Reading List.

‘Magnificently blends literary and speculative elements in this streetwise mosaic novel set under the towering titular spaceport… Tidhar gleefully mixes classic SF concepts with prose styles and concepts that recall the best of world literature. The byways of Central Station ring with dusty life, like the bruising, bustling Cairo streets depicted by Naguib Mahfouz. Characters wrestle with problems of identity forged under systems of oppression, much as displaced Easterners and Westerners do in the novels of Orhan Pamuk. And yet this is unmistakably SF. Readers of all persuasions will be entranced.’ Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘A fascinating future glimpsed through the lens of a tight-knit community. Tidhar changes genres with every outing, but his astounding talents guarantee something new and compelling no matter the story he tells.’ Library Journal (starred review)

‘Tidhar’s prose draws the reader in, bringing this world to life with ease… Not only intelligent, it’s emotional too, telling of loves lost and those only just begun, of those wishing to escape their past and those hoping to bring it back… Tidhar is reminiscent of an early William Gibson… cement[s] Lavie Tidhar as one of science fiction’s great voices… a compelling collection that mixes the epic and the intimate, one that succeeds at being profound, incredibly moving and, quite simply, stunning.’ (10/10) Starburst 

CENTRAL STATION is without question the best assemblage of short stories I’ve read in recent memory. Sublimely sensual, emotionally moreish, and composed with crystalline clarity irrespective of its incredible complexity.’ Tor.com

‘[Tidhar] has created a textured and original future that echoes real historical and economic tensions while satisfying veteran readers with deliberate echoes of classic science fiction… Deeply humane.’ Chicago Tribune

‘A fantastic mosaic novel.’ New York Review of Science Fiction

FOXGLOVE SUMMER coming soon in Czech!


Above is the great Czech cover for Ben Aaronovitch‘s fifth Peter Grant novel, FOXGLOVE SUMMER. Due to be published by Argo as ZÁLUDNÉ IÉTO, here’s the synopsis…

Když se ve vesnici Rushpool v západní Anglii začnou pohřešovat dvě jedenáctileté dívky, konstábl Peter Grant musí vytáhnout paty z Londýna, aby zjistil, jestli se na jejich zmizení nepodílelo něco nadpřirozeného. Jde o rutinní opatření a Nightingale je přesvědčený, že Peter bude mít v případu do večera jasno. Jenže Peter lidi v nesnázích nikdy neopouští, takže i když neobjeví žádné zjevné stopy po magických aktivitách, nabídne místnímu policejnímu sboru své služby, neboť ví, že při pátrání po nezvěstných je potřeba každé volné ruky. Netrvá však dlouho a ocitá se ve zběsilém závodě s časem, ve světě, kde hranice mezi realitou a světem skřítků a víl nikdy nebyly prostupnější…

The book is scheduled for publication on October 19th. Argo has also published the first four novels in the series, and the Czech edition of the first Rivers of London comic series, BODY WORK.

FOXGLOVE SUMMER is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in the US 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 main story functions as an interesting thriller, and the additional commentary on the way the UK handles major incidents like the disappearance of children is both thought-provoking and carefully handled… FOXGLOVE SUMMER is evocative, mysterious, engaging, and, mostly, enormous amounts of fun. Fans of the Peter Grant series will not be disappointed, and those new to the books should start with Rivers in London, safe in the knowledge that the sequels are just as good.’ Starburst

‘Ben Aaronovitch is in top form in this fifth Peter Grant novel… 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)

‘[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

Lavie Tidhar’s OSAMA out now in Czech!


Lavie Tidhar‘s World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA is now available in Czech! Published by Argo as USÁMA, here’s the synopsis…

Ve světě, kde žádný globální terorismus neexistuje, si neznámá kráska najme soukromého detektiva Joea, aby jí našel jistého muže – tajemného autora brakových románů s hlavním hrdinou jménem Usáma bin Ládin. Tak začíná Joeova cesta kolem světa, a jak se kolem něj utahuje smyčka nebezpečí a tajemství, začíná Joe sám pochybovat o tom, co je fikce a co realita. Odkud se berou uprchlíci, na které naráží v temných koutech nebezpečného světa? Jakou pravdu se dozví na kopci nad Kábulem? Lavie Tidhar v Usámovi brilantně zkoumá podvědomí světa po 11. září a s bravurou sobě vlastní v něm míchá prvky romanu noir, literatury faktu, alternativní historie i thrilleru. Výsledkem je znepokojivý, ale přesto neodolatelný portrét naší doby.

OSAMA is published in English by PS Publishing. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Lavie Tidhar was in Dar-es-Salaam during the American embassy bombings in 1998, and stayed in the same hotel as the Al Qaeda operatives in Nairobi. Since then he and his now-wife have narrowly avoided both the 2005 King’s Cross and 2004 Sinai attacks — experiences that led first to his memorable short story “My Travels with Al-Qaeda” and later to the creation of Osama.

In a world without global terrorism Joe, a private detective, is hired by a mysterious woman to find a man: the obscure author of pulp fiction novels featuring one Osama Bin Laden: Vigilante…

Joe’s quest to find the man takes him across the world, from the backwaters of Asia to the European Capitals of Paris and London, and as the mystery deepens around him there is one question he is trying hard not to ask: who is he, really, and how much of the books is fiction? Chased by unknown assailants, Joe’s identity slowly fragments as he discovers the shadowy world of the refugees, ghostly entities haunting the world in which he lives. Where do they come from? And what do they want? Joe knows how the story should end, but even he is not ready for the truths he’ll find in New York and, finally, on top a quiet hill above Kabul — nor for the choice he will at last have to make…

In Osama, Lavie Tidhar brilliantly delves into the post-9/11 global subconscious, mixing together elements of film noir, non-fiction, alternative history and international thriller to create an unsettling — yet utterly compelling — portrayal of our times.

Argo also publishes Tidhar’s award-winning A MAN LIES DREAMING in Czech, as MUŽ LEŽÍ A SNÍ. This novel is published by Hodder in the UK and Melville House in the US. Argo are also due to publish Lavie’s latest book, CENTRAL STATION, later this year — it is available now in English, published by Tachyon Publications.

Aliette de Bodard’s HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS is out now in Czech!


Aliette de Bodard‘s THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS is out now in Czech! Published by Host Nakladatelstvi as ŘÁD ZLOMENÝCH KŘÍDEL, here’s the synopsis…

První díl série fantasy špionážních thrillerů podbarvených melancholií ztraceného zlatého věku.

Paříž se zotavuje z Velké války Řádů. Její ulice lemují strašidelné ruiny, z katedrály Notre-Dame zbyly jen ohořelé zdi a Seina zčernala popelem a sutí. Mezi troskami přesto dál pokračuje život. Zoufalé gangy bojují v ulicích o přežití, zatímco Řády nadále soupeří o nadvládu nad městem.

Ve Stříbrostínu, kdysi nejmocnějším pařížském Řádu, panuje zmatek. Jeho magie slábne, zakladatel Jitřenec před desítkami let zmizel a ve stříbrostínském sídle se náhle zjevilo cosi nevítaného, cosi temného a mocného, stíny, které zabíjejí…

Své síly musí spojit tři naprosto rozdílní hrdinové: mladičká, ale mocná dívka z rodu Padlých andělů, alchymistka bojující se zničující závislostí a rozhněvaný mladý muž ovládající kouzla Dálného východu. Přinesou Stříbrostínu spásu, nebo se stanou strůjci jeho posledního, nevratného pádu?

The British Fantasy Award-winning novel is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in the US by Roc Books. The sequel, THE HOUSE OF BINDING THORNS is also published by Gollancz and Roc Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The War in Heaven to Paris, igniting the City of Light in a fantasy of divine power and deep conspiracy…

In the late twentieth century, the streets of Paris are lined with haunted ruins, the aftermath of a Great War between arcane powers. Those that survived the carnage still retain their irrepressible appetite for novelty and distraction, and The Great Houses still vie for dominion over France’s once grand capital.

Once the most powerful and formidable, House Silverspires now lies in disarray. Within its walls, three very different people must come together: a naive but powerful Fallen angel; an alchemist with a self-destructive addiction; and a resentful young man wielding spells of unknown origin. They may be Silverspires’ salvation — or the architects of its last, irreversible fall. And if Silverspires falls, so may the city itself…

RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK out now in Czech!


Ben Aaronovitch‘s first Rivers of London comic series, BODY WORK, is now available in Czech! Published by Argo as ŘEKY LONDÝNA: ČAROJÍZDA, here’s the synopsis…

Další magický případ Petera Granta — tentokrát v KOMIKSU!

Grant patří k velmi zvláštní londýnské policejní jednotce. Je na plný úvazek policistou, na částečný čarodějem. Pracuje na velmi neobvyklých zločinech – na těch, které zavánějí magií a nejrozmanitějšími podivnostmi, které vyhřezávají z temného londýnského podsvětí. Zatím poslední případ začíná na první pohled dokonale neškodným autem a jeho záhadným vražedným řáděním – bez řidiče. A než se stihnete vzpamatovat, je na scéně bosenský uprchlík, nejstrašidelnější auto v Anglii, partička teenagerů sjetých ketaminem a zejména – prostá dřevěná židle s nepěkně temnou minulostí…

RIVERS OF LONDON: BODY WORK is published in English by Titan Comics, as are the next two story arcs in the comic series: NIGHT WITCH and BLACK MOULD. Here’s the English-language synopsis for BODY WORK

Peter Grant looks look your average London police officer, but he is actually a part-time wizard in a very elite branch of the Metropolitan Police. It’s his job to investigate those crimes that regular cops don’t like to talk about because they often involve vampires or strange things in Underground tunnels.

Peter’s latest case features a self-driving killer automobile, a Serbian refugee, the Most Haunted Car in England, a handsome drug dealer with a nice paisley scarf and a seemingly harmless wooden bench with a dark past!

The first four of Ben’s Peter Grant novels have been published in Czechia by Argo:

The series is published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-6).