Cover Reveal: GLORIOUS ANGELS by Justina Robson (Gollancz)


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Today we share the cover for Justina Robson‘s upcoming new science fiction novel, THE GLORIOUS ANGELS! Due to be published by Gollancz in the UK, in March 2015, it is a major new novel from the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author, and a major event for next year’s sci-fi calendar. Here’s the synopsis, for what promises to be an exciting and philosophical novel…

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.

Here are just a selection of the reviews Justina’s past work has received…

‘It’s good. It’s really very good indeed. I loved it.’ — Peter F. Hamilton on the Quantum Gravity series

Robson’s supreme strength as a writer of science fiction has always been her ability to create characters whose point of view offers a new perspective on the world in which they exist and act.’  — Strange Horizons

A novelist of real vision.’ — Zadie Smith

SILVER SCREEN and MAPPA MUNDI showed intelligence, grace and a lively but humane imagination. Robson’s considerable sense of humour lay in ambush, backed up by a postfeminist tendency to look the problem straight in the eye. Combined with a clean, powerful narrative drive and a cosmological sensibility, this clarity of vision now demonstrates itself as her major asset, making her one of the very best of the new British hard SF writers. But it proves her identity too, moving her on, like the Forged themselves, into a space of her own choosing.’ — Guardian

‘Life is anything but real in this entertaining fusion of SF and fantasy spiced with sex, rockin’ elves and drunk faeries… Deft prose helps the reader accept what in lesser hands would be merely absurd.’ — Publishers Weekly on KEEPING IT REAL

‘What Robson has constructed with LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THE GOD OF LOVE is nothing short of a modern-day fairy tale, except she doesn’t need to hide behind predatory wolves and little girls in blood-red garments to convey what’s truly at stake. Her story could not be told without technology, but it is not a story about technology. It is a story about people, whose behavior cannot be so easily predicted, whose defects cannot be so easily repaired and whose functions and purposes in the universe have yet to be determined.’ — New York Times

Ben Aaronovitch’s FOXGLOVE SUMMER is Out Tomorrow!


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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

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Hungarian Cover Reveal: BRASYL by Ian McDonald


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Ian McDonald‘s critically-acclaimed BRASYL has conquered another territory, and is out now in Hungary! Published by Ad Astra, and Gollancz in the UK, here’s the (English) synopsis…

A story that begins in the favelas, the slums of Rio, and quickly expands to take in drugs, corruption, and a frightening new technology that allows access to all the multiple worlds that have slipped into existence in other planes everytime we make a decision.

This is rich, epic SF that opens our eyes to the world around us and posits mind-blowing alternative sciences. It is a landmark work in modern SF from one of its most respected practitioners.

Here’s just a small selection of the great reviews BRASYL has received…

BRASYL is classic McDonald: a deep thinking, high-paced adventure story, exploring the quantum universe, combining sassy, believable characters with a captivating delight in language and storytelling. McDonald inhabits the Brazil – or rather, the Brazils – of this world and sweeps you along as no other writer in the field could manage.’ — Guardian

‘A beautiful story, one that cries out to be read again and again. McDonald’s light is still shining brightly, and considering the consistent quality of his titles, we say long may it burn.’ — SciFi Now

‘… outstanding SF novel channels the vitality of South America’s largest country into an edgy, post-cyberpunk free-for-all… a leading writer of intelligent, multicultural SF, and here he captures Latin America’s mingled despair and hope. Chaotic, heartbreaking and joyous, this must-read teeters on the edge of melodrama, but somehow keeps its precarious balance.’ — Publishers Weekly

Ian McDonald is also the author of a number of other critically-acclaimed and multi-award-winning sci-fi novels, including RIVER OF GODS, CYBERABAD DAYS and THE DERVISH HOUSE — all available in the UK published by Gollancz. His YA sci-fi series, Everness, is also available in the UK published by Jo Fletcher Books.

Next Year, the City Reads RIVERS OF LONDON!


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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.

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Free RIVERS OF LONDON Short Story from Ben Aaronovitch!


The UK publication of FOXGLOVE SUMMER is fast approaching. As the fifth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s best-selling and critically-acclaimed Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, a lot of people are very eager to get their hands on the book. For those who just can’t wait for their next fix, Ben has posted a short story on his website: THE HOME CROWD ADVANTAGE! (It originally appeared in a special Waterstone’s edition of RIVERS OF LONDON.)

The Rivers of London series includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES and FOXGLOVE SUMMER. The series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and has been published in multiple other countries and languages – including Germany (DTV), France (J’ai Lu), the US (Del Rey and DAW Books) and Japan (Hayakawa).

Here’s the synopsis for FOXGLOVE SUMMER, which arrives in stores on November 13th…

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…

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Ben Aaronovitch’s FOXGLOVE SUMMER Tour Details!


Aaronovitch-310x310The 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

Aaronovitch-PG5-FoxgloveSummerUK-BlogWednesday 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.

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Ben Aaronovitch at the Cheltenham Festivals this Friday!


Aaronovitch-310x310We’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…

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Coming Soon: DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Anthology


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We’re very happy to share information about the next anthology edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner, DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. The anthology features stories set in the same reality as Charlaine’s Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series, and will be published by Gollancz in the UK on November 27th, 2014. The audiobook edition has already been released. Here’s the synopsis…

Charlaine Harris’ smash-hit Sookie Stackhouse series may have reached its conclusion, but the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, lives on in this all-new collection of 15 stories.

Written by a killer line-up of authors, including: Seanan McGuire, Rachel Caine, Jonathan Maberry, MaryJanice Davidson, and with an introduction by Charlaine Harris herself.

DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN puts your favourite characters, written by some of your favourite authors, centre stage.

Charlaine and Toni’s other anthologies include: WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE, MANY BLOODY RETURNS, CRIMES BY MOONLIGHT, and DEATH’S EXCELLENT VACATION. All of these books are published in the UK by Gollancz.

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

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


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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.

STEELHEART by Brandon Sanderson Out Now in Paperback (UK)


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Today marks the release of Brandon Sanderson‘s STEELHEART in paperback. This first novel in the Reckoners series is published by Gollancz in the UK. Here’s the synopsis…

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics… nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart – the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father. For years, like the Reckoners, David’s been studying, and planning – and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He’s seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

STEELHEART is followed by MITOSIS (a novella) and FIREFIGHT (January 2015).

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

Edward Cox’s THE RELIC GUILD Launch a Huge Success!


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THE RELIC GUILD Editor Marcus Gipps (left) and Edward Cox

On September 18th, Gollancz published Edward Cox‘s superb debut fantasy novel, THE RELIC GUILD. To mark the occasion, the publisher and Goldsboro Books hosted Edward for a great book launch event.

CoxE-RelicGuildLaunch3-CropIn addition, Gollancz organised an extensive blog tour to mark the publication of the novel…

CoxE-RelicGuildBlogTourBanner15th September

Interview on Geek Planet Online

Guest Post: ‘Lies of the Father’ on Falcata Times‘how he smashed the ice when moving from a busy city to the country and how a lie can sometimes make a huge difference’

16th September

Interview on Book Plank

Guest Post: ‘A Deal’s Not a Deal Until the Deal is Done’ on Sci-Fi London‘I’ve been asked a few times about how I got signed by a major publisher. My answer always makes me sound flippant: I got an agent, and he got me a book deal. It’s a little more complicated than that, but it’s the truth. What’s also true is that it took me longer to convince my agent to represent my book than it took my agent to get the book signed by Gollancz.’

17th September

THE RELIC GUILD Audio Clip on The Cult Den

Guest Post: ‘The Feeling’ on Reader Dad‘The great question: why do I write? I’ve been asked this a number of times, and my answers have been varied. I’ve taken the pretentious route, proclaiming that no one chooses to be a writer, writing chooses you. I’ve tried to brush it off by saying that writing is the only thing I know how to do. The truth is, I definitely do know why I write, but it is difficult for me explain simply. It comes from an experience, a visceral reaction that I now call the Feeling.’

18th September

Guest Post: ‘Writing and Teaching’ on Wondrous Reads‘During the 2012-2013 academic year, I lectured in creating writing at the University of Bedfordshire. It was my privilege to spend many hours in the company of keen-minded individuals, each of whom was eager to get better at what they did. Their passion fuelled my passion. They inspired me as I tried to inspire them… I’m very proud of the work I did there. However, I’ve known a lot of people who don’t trust writing courses of any kind, and their misgivings are not without some justification.’

Interview with Alastair Stuart

19th September

Guest Post: ‘Known Things’ on Fantasy Book Critic‘A certain kind of vindication, a validation, comes with signing a book deal. Someone like Gollancz doesn’t buy your novel unless they believe it is good enough to publish. Knowing this will patch up the shaky confidence of any writer, at least for a time. However, writing a novel good enough for Gollancz is only the beginning, because when you’ve signed up for a trilogy, you sort of have to do it again…’

THE RELIC GUILD Audio Clip on Geek Native

20th September

Interview on Fantasy Book Review (and review)

Guest Post: ‘Writes & Wrongs’ on Civilian Reader – ‘I might have taken the longest route possible to getting an agent. I’m something of a blunderer by nature, and learning the hard way is the theme of my life. So much so that I sometimes wonder how I managed to get an agent at all…’

And, finally – THE RELIC GUILD, out now in Hardcover and Audiobook, is also available in eBook at just £1.99 until 25th September.

THE RELIC GUILD by Edward Cox is Out Today!


photo 3We are delighted to report that Edward Cox‘s epic debut fantasy, THE RELIC GUILD, is officially published today by Gollancz! The novel is the start of a superb, atmospheric and action-packed new series. 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.

In case that doesn’t whet your appetite, here is just a small selection of the advance praise…

‘There are many things to love about THE RELIC GUILD… an excellent story… Cox’s characters are well-realised individuals, each with a story to tell… a highly successful magic system that doesn’t require a lot of explanation and complements the setting beautifully… clever and effective, and [I] appreciated the way Cox keeps his world’s history alive and relevant to current events… 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 was a fast and pleasurable read… [Cox] 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

photo 1‘… a fantasy with plenty of original ideas, where the world is detailed and dark, where the characters intrigue and delight and where the plot draws you in and takes you on a magical journey… Edward Cox’s debut novel, THE RELIC GUILD is a real page-turner of a book and I’m already impatient for the next book in the series.’SF Crowsnest

For those who prefer to listen to your books, THE RELIC GUILD is also out today in unabridged audio, read by Imogen Church and published by Orion Audio.

Ed is currently taking a blog tour in celebration of the release, and you can find him at the following stops:

And, finally, if you’re in London this evening, be sure to pop by Goldsboro Books, who are hosting the official launch for the novel (they also have signed, first editions in stock…).

London Launch for THE RELIC GUILD Next Week!


CoxE-RG1-RelicGuild-BlogEdward Cox‘s THE RELIC GUILD has already been described as ‘a real page-turner’ (SF Crowsnest) and ‘a formidable debut from an author with huge potential’ (Fantasy Faction), with the buzz only increasing each week. With its UK publication fast approaching – September 18th, via Gollancz – we wanted to let you know about the book’s official launch, at Goldsboro Books. The event will be on Thursday September 18th, between 6:30-8:30pm. So, if you’re in London that evening, be sure to stop by!

Here’s the synopsis…

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.

New UK Charlaine Harris Editions


Harris-AfterDeadUKPB-BlogToday, we wanted to draw your attention to two new UK editions of Charlaine Harris‘s novels. First up, we have the True Blood HBO series tie-in edition of DEAD EVER AFTER, the final novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series, which is published by Gollancz today. Here’s the synopsis…

This is the final Sookie Stackhouse novel. Who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store.

Life has taken her from a waitress in Merlotte’s Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire’s girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state.

She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life. Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief… and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time.

But with life comes new trials…

The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

Harris-DeadEverAfterUKHBO-BlogAnd secondly, AFTER DEAD, the ‘what happened next’ Sookie Stackhouse anthology is available now in paperback, also published by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

A must-have collection of juicy behind-the-scenes details and illustrations, to answer the ultimate Sookie Stackhouse and True Blood question: What Happened Next?!

DEAD EVER AFTER marked the end of the Sookie Stackhouse novels – a series that garnered millions of fans and spawned the hit HBO television show TRUE BLOOD. It also stoked a hunger that will never die… A hunger to know what happened next.

With characters arranged alphabetically – from the Ancient Pythoness to Bethany Zanelli – bestselling author Charlaine Harris takes fans into the future of their favourite residents of Bon Temps and environs. You’ll learn how Michele and Jason’s marriage fared, what happened to Sookie’s cousin Hunter, and whether Tara and JB’s twins grew up to be solid citizens.

This coda provides the answers to your lingering questions – including details of Sookie’s own happily-ever-after…

The book will feature extensive interior art by acclaimed Sookie artist Lisa Desimini, including a Sookieverse Alphabet, colour endpapers, and several full-page black and white interior illustrations.

Charlaine’s latest novel, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD, was published in the UK by Gollancz, in May 2014. CEMETERY GIRL: THE PRETENDERS, the author’s first graphic novel, co-written by Christopher Golden, was published by Jo Fletcher Books in January 2014.

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

Zeno Clients attending FantasyCon 2014!


We’re very happy to report that a number of our clients will be attending this year’s British Fantasy Convention (FantasyCon), to be held between September 5th–7th 2014, at The Royal York Hotel. (This weekend!)

HarrisC-MT1-MidnightCrossroad-BlogFirst up, we’re delighted that Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series of urban fantasy novels, will be a guest of honour at FantasyCon! Charlaine’s latest novel, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD was published in the UK by Gollancz in May 2014.

Here are our other clients’ events during the convention, all of which occur on Saturday 6th…

  • 10:00am – Anne Lyle and Kari Sperring take part in the ‘Does It Make Sense?’ panel – ‘Economics of fantasy systems. If Smaug holds all the gold and it gets liberated, what does that do to the economy?’
  • Noon – Charlaine Harris in Conversation – interviewed by Adele Wearing
  • Noon – Edward Cox will take part in the ‘Dead Parents, Burned Homesteads and Wicked Stepmothers’ panel – ‘Is it essential to write out the parents before youthful characters can head out on adventures? Are adult figures always unhelpful or malign? Should writers search for ways to keep parents around — or do fantasies of a world without parents fulfil a real need?’
  • 3:00pm – Charlaine Harris will take part in the ‘She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Sister’ panel – ‘Kirk and Spock, Luke and Han, Frodo and Sam – epic friendships between men are common in fantasy, but friendships between women, or platonic relationships between men and women that stay that way – are much thinner on the ground. The panellists discuss why it matters and examine some of the rare exceptions.’
  • 3:00pm – Edward Cox will take part in the ‘Icky Romance’ panel – ‘Love and sex are powerful motivators and sources of dramatic conflict. However when combined with the conventions of SFF, there’s a lot of potential for cliché, from damsels in distress to dangerous supernatural boyfriends. But how often do complaints about the place of romance in SFF come down to a fear of girl cooties?’
  • 4:00pm – Charlaine Harris will take part in the FanFiction panel – ‘The Fan, the Pro and the Publishing Industry Writers on both sides of the fan/pro divide and writers who straddle it discuss fanfiction. After the success of E.L James, should publishers be searching for more hit writers on AO3 and Fanfic.net? What keeps talented writers away from traditional publishing?’
  • 5:00pm – Stephen Volk will take part in the ‘Horror on the Small Screen’ panel – ‘TV is getting darker, and with the recent success of American Horror Story, Black Mirror and Being Human, are we entering a new golden age of terrifying TV?’
  • 9:00pm – Edward Cox will give a reading from THE RELIC GUILD at the ‘Super Relaxed Fantasy Club’

On Sunday 7th, the British Fantasy Awards will be held at approximately 2:30pm. The full list of nominees can be found here.

Edward Cox is the author of THE RELIC GUILD, due to be published mid-September 2014 by Gollancz in the UK.

Anne Lyle is the author of the Nights Masque trilogy – THE ALCHEMIST OF SOULS, THE MERCHANT OF DREAMS, and THE PRINCE OF LIES – published by Angry Robot Books.

Kari Sperring is the author of LIVING WITH GHOSTS and THE GRASS KING’S CONCUBINE, both published by DAW Books.

Unlisted in the events, above, Simon Kurt Unsworth will also be in attendance, and may give a reading from his upcoming novel, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, due to be published in 2015 by Del Rey (UK) and Doubleday (US) – check back later this week and also next week for more news about this exciting upcoming title.

Stephen Volk is a prolific author of horror short fiction, and two of his works are up for British Fantasy Awards this year – WHISTABLE is nominated for Best Novella, and is published by Spectral Press; and MONSTERS IN THE HEART, published by Gray Friar Press, is nominated for Best Collection.

Zeno-FantasyCon2014Attendees

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