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Next Week’s RIVERS OF LONDON Cityread London Events

Posted on Friday, April 17th, 2015

Here are Ben Aaronovitch‘s events for next week, continuing the tremendously successful RIVERS OF LONDON Cityread London month-long celebrations…

April 20th

2:30-4:00pm — Kensington & Chelsea: Kensington Central Library — Ben will speak about RIVERS OF LONON, followed by a Q&A and book signing. You can book tickets for the event here.

6:30-8:00pm — Brent: Kilburn Library — Author talk

April 21st

6:00-7:30pm — Hounslow: Chiswick Library — Author talk

April 22nd

2:00-4:00pm — Hammersmith & Fulham: Hammersmith Library — Author talk

6:00-7:30pm — Westminster: Charing Cross Library — Author talk

April 23rd

2:30-4:30pm — Ealing Central Library — Author talk

7:30-8:30pm — Hillingdon: The Great Barn —‘Talking about his book Rivers of London, author Ben Aaronovitch will be interviewed by a local competition-winning student, scenes from his book will be acted out in a special Punch and Judy Show, and there will be opportunity for book signing. All this takes place in the beautiful Great Barn at Manor Farm in Ruislip. Tickets are free and can be booked in advance from any Hillingdon Library.’ More details here.

April 24th

11:15am-12:45pm — Harrow: Roxeth Library — Reading Group Session

6:00-8:00pm — Barnet: Chipping Barnet Library — ‘Ben will be talking about his books, answering questions and signing. Contact the library on 020 8359 4040 for more information. Entry is FREE but book your place early to avoid disappointment!’ More details here.

April 25th

4:00-5:00pm — Camden: Swiss Cottage Library Gallery — ‘Pictures from archive echoing themes of book and creative writing submissions displayed’ and Author talk

A city-wide celebration of reading, Cityread London’s 2015 title is Ben’s magnificent debut, RIVERS OF LONDON. You can find more details of Ben’s full schedule on his website. We mentioned in the past that there was a Cityreads London Goodreads group dedicated to RIVERS OF LONDON – so, if you’ve been enjoying the coverage, don’t live in London, and want to take part, that’s a great place to join in the fun.

The Peter Grant series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and so far includes RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER.

As a bonus, here’s a short video-clip from London Live about the Cityread event and RIVERS OF LONDON…

And another clip, this time an interview with Ben, from 1000 Londoners…

THE RELIC GUILD Long-Listed for Two Gemmell Awards

Posted on Thursday, April 16th, 2015

Edward Cox‘s debut fantasy, THE RELIC GUILD, has been nominated in two categories for this year’s Gemmell Awards! Specifically, the novel has been nominated in the Morningstar (best fantasy debut) and Legend (best fantasy novel) award categories.

The first in a planned trilogy, THE RELIC GUILD is published by Gollancz. Out now in hardcover, it is due to be published in paperback in June 2015. Here’s the synopsis…

In the sealed Labyrinth, a young woman must find a way to control her magic and escape her prison in this remarkable debut fantasy.

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

Here are just a few of the great reviews THE RELIC GUILD has received…

‘A terrific debut novel, with plenty of scope for expansion and some really good world-building. Most importantly, lots of fun. Looking forward to the next one.’ — Joanne Harris

‘An exciting blend of steampunk, fantasy, horror, and pulp adventure… an intriguing, original and enjoyable book, a daring mix of genres that initially feels like it shouldn’t work, but is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts.’ — Starburst

‘A fast and pleasurable read… He knows how to craft a tale and to write engaging characters and I’ve also loved his use of the Labyrinth as a vehicle for setting a fully immersive dystopian (with a dash of noir) atmosphere. It is a magical creation and a true feat of imagination which I’m looking forward to exploring more… A promising debut…’ — Upcoming4Me

We recently unveiled the cover for the hotly-anticipated sequel, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS, which is also due to be published by Gollancz, in September 2015. Here it is again…

Ben Aaronovitch’s Cityread London Schedule for Next Week…

Posted on Friday, April 10th, 2015

Here are Ben Aaronovitch‘s events for next week’s continuing Cityreads London celebrations…

Monday, April 13th

1:00pm-6:00pm — Newham: The Gate Library — ‘Celebratory events… animation work shop, magic show/workshop, lost rivers interactive lecture, punch and Judy show/discussion and also a discussion by the police / scenes of crime investigators’

6:00pm — Newham: The Gate Library — Talk from Ben

Tuesday, April 14th

6:00-8:00pm — Hackney Central Library

Wednesday, April 15th

7:00-8:30pm — City of London: Barbican Library

Thursday, April 16th

1:00pm — Tower Hamlets: Idea Store

7:00pm — Enfield Town Library

Friday, April 17th

6:30-8:00pm — Havering: Hornchurch Library

Saturday, April 18th

2:30-4:00pm — Barking & Dagenham: Barking Learning Centre

Sunday, April 19th

2:00-4:00pm — Haringey: Hornsey Library

Cityreads London is a city-wide celebration of reading, and the 2015 title is Ben’s debut, RIVERS OF LONDON. Thus far, the events have been huge successes and great fun — certainly judging from reactions from across social media platforms. You can find more details of Ben’s schedule on his website.

We mentioned in the past that there was a Cityreads London Goodreads group dedicated to RIVERS OF LONDON. Below you’ll find Ben’s introductory video, which includes some comments on the novel and reading in general…

We mentioned last week that the Cityread launch was held at Covent Garden. The Londonist shot a bit of video at the event…

RIVERS OF LONDON and the other Peter Grant novels are published in the UK by Gollancz. So far, the series also includes MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER. As a bonus, here is a video clip Ben and Gollancz made for release of FOXGLOVE SUMMER…

Out Today: New Books by Charlie Human & Tim Powers

Posted on Thursday, April 9th, 2015

The paperback edition of Charlie Human‘s second novel, KILL BAXTER, is released today. Published in the UK by Arrow Books, it is the sequel to the tremendously well-reviewed APOCALYPSE NOW NOW. Here’s the synopsis…

AND HE THOUGHT THE HARD PART WAS OVER…

The world has been massively unappreciative of sixteen-year-old Baxter Zevcenko. His bloodline may be a combination of ancient Boer mystic and giant shape-shifting crow, and he may have won an inter-dimensional battle and saved the world, but does anyone care? No.

Instead he’s packed off to Hexpoort, a magical training school that’s part reformatory, part military school, and just like Hogwarts (except with sex, drugs, and better internet access). The problem is that Baxter sucks at magic. He’s also desperately attempting to control his new ability to dreamwalk, all the while being singled out by the school’s resident bully, who just so happens to be the Chosen One.

But when the school comes under attack, Baxter needs to forget all that and step into action. The only way is joining forces with his favourite recovering alcoholic of a supernatural bounty hunter, Ronin, to try and save the world from the apocalypse. Again.

Here are just a couple of reviews KILL BAXTER has received…

‘This detailed world is one all fans of urban fantasy or comedy will enjoy.’ — Sun

‘A hilarious, imaginative and gloriously insane treat…laugh out loud funny and fiendishly creative…Dark, mad, imaginative, and hilarious; Kill Baxter is a joy.’ — SciFi Now

Gollancz also publishes today the latest novel in the Fantasy Masterworks series: Tim Powers‘s EXPIRATION DATE. The second novel in the author’s Fault Lines sequence, here’s the synopsis…

Growing up in the L.A. of the 1990s, all young Koot Parganas wants is to be normal, but his weird parents won’t allow it. They venerate the spirits of dead Mahatmas. Feeling he has no alternative, Koot disobeys his parents and breaks into a bust of Dante and steals a small glass vial that was concealed inside the bust. The vial contains the preserved ghost of Thomas Edison. Now, aided by allies as strange as his enemies, Koot is pursued through the dark underside of the city.

Tim Powers is the award-winning author of many great fantasy and science fiction novels, including THE ANUBIS GATES, LAST CALL, ON STRANGER TIDES (an inspiration for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie), and most recently HIDE ME AMONG THE GRAVES.

Zeno represents Tim Powers in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Russell Galen at the Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.

Out Tomorrow: New Books by Peter V. Brett and Charlaine Harris!

Posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015

The wait is almost over — tomorrow, THE SKULL THRONE is published in the UK! The fourth novel in Peter V. Brett‘s Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling Demon Cycle series is published by Voyager Books. Here’s the synopsis…

The Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty.

Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, it is a seat of honour and ancient, powerful magic, keeping the demon corelings at bay. From atop the throne, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging its isolated peoples into a unified army to rise up and end the demon war once and for all.

But Arlen Bales, the Painted Man, stood against this course, challenging Jardir to a duel he could not in honour refuse. Rather than risk defeat, Arlen cast them both from a precipice, leaving the world without a saviour, and opening a struggle for succession that threatens to tear the Free Cities of Thesa apart.

In the south, Inevera, Jardir’s first wife, must find a way to keep their sons from killing one another and plunging their people into civil war as they strive for enough glory to make a claim on the throne.

In the north, Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn struggle to forge an alliance between the duchies of Angiers and Miln against the Krasians before it is too late.

Caught in the crossfire is the duchy of Lakton – rich and unprotected, ripe for conquest.

All the while, the corelings have been growing stronger, and without Arlen and Jardir there may be none strong enough to stop them.

Only Renna Bales may know more about the fate of the missing men, but she, too, has disappeared…

The Demon Cycle series also includes THE PAINTED MAN, THE DESERT SPEAR and THE DAYLIGHT WAR. The series also includes the novellas BRAYAN’S GOLD AND THE GREAT BAZAAR and MESSENGER’S LEGACY. All of these books are published in the UK by Voyager Books.

Also out tomorrow is the paperback edition of Charlaine Harris‘s MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD, the first novel in the bestselling author’s new urban fantasy series. The novel is published in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.

There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own).

Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth…

Gollancz are due to publish the next novel in this series, DAY SHIFT, in May 2015. Charlaine Harris is, of course, the world-renowned author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, which was adapted into HBO’s True Blood TV series.

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

Next Week’s RIVERS OF LONDON Cityread Events

Posted on Friday, April 3rd, 2015

The RIVERS OF LONDON Cityread London festivities continue, after a very strong and successful first week. Ben Aaronovitch has attended a number of venues for talks and readings, all of which have been very popular and great times have been had by all.

One event last week of particular note was a reading at London’s Mail Rail. At this event, Doc Brown read KING OF RATS, a brand new short story Ben wrote for the occasion. Below you’ll find a video clip of the event…

This is not Doc Brown’s first brush with the RIVERS OF LONDON world. He works with Ben’s nephew Mikis Michaelides, who produced this music video for RIVERS OF LONDON…

Here are Ben’s events for this second week of Cityread London (be sure to check your library’s websites for more/full details)…

April 7th
- 7-8:30pm – Sutton Library – Meet & Greet, Talk and Signing
April 8th
- 2-3:30pm – Kingston-upon-Thames, Surbiton Library
- 6:30 – Lambeth, Brixton Library
April 9th
- 7:00-8:30pm – Wandsworth, Balham Library Hall – Request attendees book in advance, due to limited space (free admission)
April 10th
- 6:30pm – Waltham Forest, Walthamstow Library – Refreshments, puppet show, talk and Q&A session
April 11th
- 2:30-4:00pm – Richmond, Twickenham Library
- 7:00pm – Merton, Wimbledon Library

You can find more details of Ben’s schedule on his website.

RIVERS OF LONDON and the other Peter Grant novels are published in the UK by Gollancz. They have been published widely in translation, also.

Cover: THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS by Edward Cox

Posted on Tuesday, March 31st, 2015

Above is the stunning cover for Edward Cox‘s second novel, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS. The sequel to THE RELIC GUILD, the novel is due to be published by Gollancz in October 2015 (late September in eBook). Here’s the synopsis…

Divided, hunted and short on resources, the surviving members of the Relic Guild are in real trouble. Their old enemy, the Genii, and their resurrected master have infiltrated Labrys Town and taken over the police force.

So the Relic Guild must flee their home, and set off on a dangerous journey across the worlds of the Aelfir. One that will lead them to a weapon which might destroy the Genii. Or the whole universe…

And forty years before all this, the war which led to the fall of the Genii continues. And what happens to the Relic Guild during that conflict will change the course of their desperate flight.

And, in case the stunning cover and synopsis didn’t convince you, here is just a handful of the great reviews THE RELIC GUILD has received…

‘A terrific debut novel, with plenty of scope for expansion and some really good world-building. Most importantly, lots of fun. Looking forward to the next one.’ — Joanne Harris

‘Part science fantasy, part steampunk thriller, part horror novel… THE RELIC GUILD reads in places like a vividly-described high fantasy merged with Victorian penny dreadful ‘appening… colourful characters… Cox has written a mighty fine first novel… I was hooked…’ — Interzone

‘An exciting blend of steampunk, fantasy, horror, and pulp adventure… THE RELIC GUILD is an intriguing, original and enjoyable book, a daring mix of genres…’ — Starburst

‘THE RELIC GUILD is a formidable debut from an author with huge potential, and I will be one of the first clamouring for a copy of the sequel.’ — Fantasy Faction

‘THE RELIC GUILD, the debut novel from Edward Cox, is all kinds of magic… Stylistically it is a rich brew… always full of flavour… a high concept fantasy packed with ideas, weird and wonderful characters and a mix of styles, at times evoking noir, urban fantasy, flavours of steampunk (in the depiction of anachronistic technology) and grotesque body-horror David Cronenberg would be proud of. Thought you knew where modern fantasy was at? THE RELIC GUILD will challenge your assumptions.’ — British Fantasy Society

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.

Justina Robson’s GLORIOUS ANGELS Out Today in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, March 19th, 2015

Justina Robson‘s highly-anticipated new science fiction novel, GLORIOUS ANGELS, is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

The groundbreaking new novel from one of the genre’s most respected authors: a thrilling mix of science, magic and sexual politics.

On a world where science and magic are hard to tell apart, a stranger arrives in a remote town with news of political turmoil to come. And a young woman learns that she must free herself from the role she has accepted.

Always vivid, always full of stunning ideas and imagery, Justina Robson is the ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD shortlisted author of some of our most exciting, yet philosophical SF. A new novel from her is a major event in the SF calendar.

Justina Robson is the critically-acclaimed, award-winning author of multiple science fiction novels, including SILVER SCREEN, MAPPA MUNDI, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THE GOD OF LOVE, NATURAL HISTORY and the Quantum Gravity series.

Justina, who has long been considered ‘a novelist of real vision’ (Zadie Smith), seems to be maintaining this position, if early reviews for GLORIOUS ANGELS are anything to go by…

‘A novel that demands a lot from the reader – but its rewards are immensely satisfying… a slow-burner of a novel, beautifully written, and Robson drip-feeds the world-building and the various plot-strands at a stately pace that picks up to become a taut thriller swimming in high concepts.’ — Independent

‘A showcase for the authors relentless imagination. It tap dances along the lines between genre boundaries, kicking up its heels with a giddy, ferociously smart inventiveness.’ — SFX

Cover Reveal: HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS by Aliette de Bodard (US)

Posted on Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

Above you can see the striking US cover for Aliette de Bodard‘s upcoming HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS. The first in a new, highly-anticipated duology, the novel is due to be published in the US by Roc Books on September 1st, 2015. Here’s the synopsis…

Multi-award winning author Aliette de Bodard, brings her story of 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 Great Magicians’ War left a trail of devastation in its wake. The Grand Magasins have been reduced to piles of debris, Notre-Dame is a burnt-out shell, and the Seine has turned black with ashes and rubble and the remnants of the spells that tore the city apart. But those that survived 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. Its magic is ailing; its founder, Morningstar, has been missing for decades; and now something from the shadows stalks its people inside their very own walls.

Within the House, 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.

HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz on August 20th, 2015.

Aliette is also the author of the Obsidian & Blood trilogy, published by Angry Robot Books; as well as multiple award-winning and nominated short stories and novellas. She has won two Nebula Awards, a British SF Association Award, and a Locus Award.

Aliette de Bodard to attend the North London Literary Festival

Posted on Monday, March 16th, 2015

Critically-acclaimed author Aliette de Bodard is due to attend the North London Literary Festival next week, March 24th, where she will take part in a special event sponsored by the Science Fiction Foundation. Specifically, at 5:30pm, she will be discussing speculative fiction with fellow author Stephanie Saulter, and Farah Mendlesohn (who will chair the discussion).

Aliette is the author of the Obsidian & Blood trilogy, published by Angry Robot Books; multiple award-winning and nominated short stories and novellas; and also the highly anticipated upcoming new novel HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS (the first in a planned duology). Rights for the latter were recently sold to Gollancz in the UK and Roc Books in the US – both are due to publish in August 2015. Here’s the synopsis from Aliette’s website:

A superb murder mystery, on an epic scale, set against the fall out – literally – of a war in Heaven.

Paris has survived the Great Magicians War – just. Its streets are lined with haunted ruins, Notre-Dame is a burnt-out shell, and the Seine runs black with ashes and rubble. Yet life continues among the wreckage. The citizens continue to live, love, fight and survive in their war-torn city, and The Great Houses still vie for dominion over the once grand capital.

House Silverspires, previously the leader of those power games, lies in disarray. Its magic is ailing; its founder, Morningstar, has been missing for decades; and now something from the shadows stalks its people inside their very own walls.

Within the House, three very different people must come together: a naive but powerful Fallen, an alchemist with a self-destructive addiction, and a resentful young man wielding spells from the Far East. They may be Silverspires’ salvation. They may be the architects of its last, irreversible fall…

UK Publication Day: WORDS OF RADIANCE by Brandon Sanderson

Posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2015

Today, Brandon Sanderson‘s WORDS OF RADIANCE is published in paperback. Gollancz are publishing the novel, the second in Sanderson’s New York Times (#1) and Sunday Times (#2) bestselling Stormlight Archives series, in two parts. Here’s the synopsis…

Return to a planet swept by apocalyptic storms, a world tipping into war as aristocratic families move to control the shard blades and shard plates, ancient artifacts from a past civilisation that can win wars.

As the world tips into a war for control of the mythical artifacts of power made from Shard, characters are swept up into new dangers which will threaten their integrity and their lives.

Gollancz also published the first novel in the series, THE WAY OF KINGS. They also publish Sanderson’s critically-acclaimed and bestselling Mistborn series (four books so far, more to come), The Reckoners series (two novels and a novella so far), and the stand-alone novels ELANTRIS and WARBREAKER. We have some more news about the first Stormlight Archive novel coming up soon, so be sure to keep checking back. Sanderson’s YA fantasy novel, THE RITHMATIST was published last week in the UK by Tor Books.

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

Nebula Nomination for Aliette de Bodard

Posted on Monday, February 23rd, 2015

As announced over the weekend, Aliette de Bodard has racked up yet another well-deserved award nomination. Aliette’s THE BREATH OF WAR has been nominated in the short story category. The story originally appeared in the March 6th, 2014 issue of Beneath Ceaseless Skies (#142). The story is also free to read online, here.

But you wouldn’t know, Rechan thought, chilled. You’d be quite happy, either way. That’s what you were carved for, to give your breath to Akanlam’s babies, and even if you hadn’t been born knowing it, everyone in our society has been telling you that for as long as you can remember. How much responsibility did people have for their carvings? How much of themselves had they put into them; and how much had they taught them?

Aliette de Bodard is the multi-award nominated and winning author of a great many short stories. She is also the author of the Obsidian & Blood trilogy, published by Angry Robot Books; and the upcoming, highly-anticipated new novel THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, which is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz and the US by Roc Books, in August 2015.

Zeno Clients Amongst Editors’ Most-Anticipated…

Posted on Thursday, February 19th, 2015

Every year, Fantasy Faction sits down with SFF publishers in the UK and asks them about their most anticipated novels of the year. This year, four Zeno clients get a mention, including (in alphabetical order)…

Peter V. Brett‘s THE SKULL THRONE, due to be published by Voyager at the beginning of April 2015: ‘Peat left his readers will a real cliffhanger at the end of THE DAYLIGHT WAR in 2013 so the fourth novel in his stunning series is the most hotly anticipated title ever. Plus massive news for fans – Peat will be touring the UK in April 2015 – watch this space!’

We’ll share the full details for Brett’s book tour as soon as we can. The cover above is also the US artwork, as the UK artwork has not yet be revealed, but we’ll share it here as soon as we can. Here’s the (US) synopsis…

The Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty.

Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, it is a seat of honor and ancient, powerful magic, keeping the demon corelings at bay. From atop the throne, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging its isolated peoples into a unified army to rise up and end the demon war once and for all.

But Arlen Bales, the Warded Man, stood against this course, challenging Jardir to a duel he could not in honor refuse. Rather than risk defeat, Arlen cast them both from a precipice, leaving the world without a savior, and opening a struggle for succession that threatens to tear the Free Cities of Thesa apart.

In the south, Inevera, Jardir’s first wife, must find a way to keep their sons from killing one another and plunging their people into civil war as they strive for glory enough to make a claim on the throne.

In the north, Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn struggle to forge an alliance between the duchies of Angiers and Miln against the Krasians before it is too late.

Caught in the crossfire is the duchy of Lakton—rich and unprotected, ripe for conquest.

All the while, the corelings have been growing stronger, and without Arlen and Jardir there may be none strong enough to stop them. Only Renna Bales may know more about the fate of the missing men, but she, too, has disappeared…

Aliette de Bodard‘s THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, due to be published by Gollancz in August 2015. Here’s what Gillian Redfearn had to say: ‘This is a stunning, stunning work. De Bodard is rightly a much-lauded writer already, within the SF community, and has a vivid and sharp imagination –here, she’s used it to craft a superb murder mystery (with a twist I never saw coming) within the most extraordinary dystopian landscape. For me, she has redefined noir fantasy, and I’m so delighted we’re publishing this exceptional and genuinely exciting novel.’

No cover yet for THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, but we will definitely be sharing it with you here when it is unveiled. The novel is also due to be published in the US by Roc Books. Here’s the synopsis…

A superb murder mystery, on an epic scale, set against the fall out – literally – of a war in Heaven.

Ian Tregillis‘s THE MECHANICAL, due to be published by Orbit Books on March 10th, 2015: ‘Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.’

Here’s the synopsis…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Simon K. Unsworth‘s THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, due to be published by Del Rey UK on March 12th, 2015: ‘Every now and again you get sent a book that is so well written, so fascinatingly different, you just have to publish it. Simon’s debut is a masterfully realised blend of crime thriller and horror novel about Hell’s very own policeman, Thomas Fool. It’ll keep you up reading and then give you sleepless nights.’

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is also due to be published in the US by Doubleday, on March 3rd, 2015. Here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to hell…

…. where skinless demons patrol the lakes and the waves of Limbo wash against the outer walls, while the souls of the Damned float on their surface, waiting to be collected.

When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered, the case is assigned to Thomas Fool, one of Hell’s detectives, known as ‘Information Men’. But how do you investigate a murder where death is commonplace and everyone is guilty of something?

A stunningly original blend of crime, horror and suspense, The Devil’s Detective is a bold new thriller that will shock and amaze.

Zeno represents Peter V. Brett in the UK and Commonwealth on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency; and Ian Tregillis in the UK and Translation, on behalf of Kay McCauley at Aurous, Inc.

Cover Reveal: EXPIRATION DATE by Tim Powers

Posted on Monday, February 9th, 2015

Above is the cover for the Fantasy Masterwork edition of Tim Powers‘s EXPIRATION DATE. Due to be published by Gollancz on April 9th, 2015, it is the second book in the author’s Fault Lines sequence.

Here is the synopsis…

Twelve-year-old Koot Hoomie Parganas’s parents prepared him for a career as a metaphysical holy man – but after they’re brutally murdered one night he finds himself a fugitive in the darkest corners of Los Angeles, pursued by denizens of a dark underworld who want what Kootie’s parents have been hiding for forty years – the ghost of Thomas Edison contained in a bust of Dante.

But Kootie has broken the bust and inhaled the ghost, and now has in his head the lively personality of Edison himself – and together Kootie and Edison must learn the harsh rules of the occult world existing behind the glitter of modern Los Angeles, and find a way to save Kootie’s life and free Edison’s ghost from its earthly Purgatory.

The first novel in the Fault Lines sequence, LAST CALL, was published as part of the Fantasy Masterwork series in 2013.

Zeno represents Tim Powers in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Russel Galen at the Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.