Paperback Release Day: GLORIOUS ANGELS by Justina Robson


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Justina Robson‘s critically-acclaimed GLORIOUS ANGELS is out today in paperback, published by Gollancz! Here’s the synopsis…

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 Clarke Award-winning author of some of our most exciting, yet philosophical SF. A new novel from her is a major event in the SF calendar.

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

‘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

‘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

‘An intriguing… tale of war, internecine politics and ancient technologies… Beautiful prose and some succulently concocted sex scenes keep one’s interest from flagging; and once the plot kicks in and the action leaves Glimshard, GLORIOUS ANGELS quickens from thoughtful to forceful.’ — FT.com

‘It’s kind of hard to define where THE GLORIOUS ANGELS fits in with other sci-fi novels. That’s not to say that it doesn’t – it just stands out from so many others… the story is incredibly intelligent and well structured… the characters are incredibly deep and personable… There’s a real mix of emotions and ideas explored across the course of the book – all told from each character’s point of view, seamlessly shifting from one perspective to another… What this book really does is tell an engaging, complex story, and it tells it well without condescending to stereotypes.’ — SciFi Now (5*)

Gollancz also publish Robson’s fan-favourite Quantum Gravity sci-fi series: KEEPING IT REAL, SELLING OUT, GOING UNDER, CHASING THE DRAGON and DOWN TO THE BONE. The series has also been published widely in translation.

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Cover: Justina Robson’s GLORIOUS ANGELS (UK paperback)


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Above is the striking cover for the paperback edition of Justina Robson‘s critically-acclaimed GLORIOUS ANGELS! The first in a planned series, the book is due to be published by Gollancz in February 2016. 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.

Here’s just a small selection from the aforementioned critical praise…

‘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

‘Stands out from so many others… the story is incredibly intelligent and well structured… the characters are incredibly deep and personable… There’s a real mix of emotions and ideas explored across the course of the book… What this book really does is tell an engaging, complex story, and it tells it well without condescending to stereotypes.’ — SciFi Now (5*)

‘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

‘An intriguing… tale of war, internecine politics and ancient technologies… Beautiful prose and some succulently concocted sex scenes keep one’s interest from flagging; and once the plot kicks in and the action leaves Glimshard, GLORIOUS ANGELS quickens from thoughtful to forceful.’ — FT.com

‘I was impressed by the boldness and scale of Robson’s vision… a compelling read… if you’re looking for a bold, unashamedly different story, then The Glorious Angels is for you.’ — Bending Over Bookwards

‘A compellingly complex novel… action, intrigue, sex and fantastic characters… what a fantastic start THE GLORIOUS ANGELS makes.’ — Flickering Myth

Zeno At GollanczFest15


This weekend, Gollancz is hosting the second Gollancz Festival, in Manchester and London. A number of Zeno clients will be in attendance, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the schedules…

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The first day of the Festival, October 16th, is in Manchester. There will have two rooms of events, and here are the Zeno appearances…

In the second Manchester Room…

  • 6:15-6:45pm — ‘Introducing the Class of 2015’ — Aliette de Bodard (so there are two opportunities to meet Gollancz’s new authors)
  • 6:45-7:15pm — ‘Predictions of the Future in SF: Does Reality Matter?’ — Ian McDonald and Justina Robson
  • 7:30-8:00pm — ‘These Aren’t My: Writing Outside Your Own Experiences’ — Ben Aaronovitch
  • 8:00-8:30pm — ‘Would I Lie to You: Author Tell Truths and Lies About their Upcoming Works’ — Brandon Sanderson

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For the second day of GollanczFest, in London on October 18th, here’s how and when Zeno is represented…

  • 12:30-1:45pm — John Berlyne is hosting ‘Introducing the Class of 2015: The Trials and Tribulations of Being a New Writer’
  • 2:00-2:15pm — Ben Aaronovitch discusses the Process of World Building, with his editor Simon Spanton
  • 2:15-2:30pm — ‘The Role of the Agent in the Publishing Process’ with John Berlyne

Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the best-selling Peter Grant urban fantasy series — the latest novel is FOXGLOVE SUMMER. Aliette de Bodard’s latest novel is the critically-acclaimed THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS. Ian McDonald’s latest novel is the critically acclaimed LUNA: NEW MOON (which has also been optioned for TV by CBS). Justina Robson’s latest novel is THE GLORIOUS ANGELS. Brandon Sanderson’s latest novel is SHADOWS OF SELF, the fifth novel in the Mistborn series. All of these novels are published in the UK by Gollancz.

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Justina Robson & Ben Aaronovitch at Bradford Literature Festival this weekend


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This weekend, Zeno clients Justina Robson and Ben Aaronovitch will be attending the Bradford Literature Festival. Both will have events on Sunday, 17 May.

Justina…

  • When: 10:30am-12:30pm
  • What: Masterclass – Fantasy Writing – ‘Science fiction and fantasy writing have never been more popular. Now you can learn the key components of this genre in a masterclass with successful author Justina Robson. In this practical masterclass, Justina will explain how the genre works and teach you how to create credible worlds, compelling plots and engaging characters.’
  • Tickets: £10.00
  • More Details

Ben…

  • When: 1:30pm-2:30pm
  • What: Ben will be in conversation with David Barnett at Bradford Waterstones, to discuss his latest Peter Grant novel, FOXGLOVE SUMMER.
  • Tickets: £6.00
  • More Details

Justina Robson is the author of, most recently, THE GLORIOUS ANGELS, published by Gollancz. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed Quantum Gravity sci-fi series (published by Gollancz in the UK and Pyr Books in the US), and a number of equally praise stand-alone novels.

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Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Peter Grant urban fantasy series, which includes: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER and the upcoming THE HANGING TREE. The series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and has been published widely in translation.

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


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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 MUNDILIVING 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

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Zeno Clients Well-Represented on Locus Magazine’s 2014 Recommended Reading List


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In the February 2015 issue of Locus Magazine, and also online, the editors have published their extensive 2014 Recommended Reading list and a good number of our clients are recommended in the various categories. Congratulations to all those listed…

Novels (SF): THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson (Viking) and AFTERPARTY by Daryl Gregory (Titan)

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Novels (Fantasy): A MAN LIES DREAMING by Lavie Tidhar (Hodder)

Novels (YA): EMPRESS OF THE SUN by Ian McDonald (Jo Fletcher Books)

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Novellas: THE ADVENTURE OF THE RING OF STONES by James P. Blaylock (Subterranean), KUR-A-LEN by Lavie Tidhar (Black Gods Kiss)

Novelettes: MEMORIALS by Aliette de Bodard (Asimov’s 1/14), THE FIFTH DRAGON by Ian McDonald (Reach for Infinity), ON SKYBOLT MOUNTAIN by Justina Robson (Fearsome Magics)

Short Stories: THE DAYS OF THE WAR, AS RED AS BLOOD, AS DARK AS BILE (Subterranean Spring ’14) and THE DUST QUEEN by Aliette de Bodard (Reach for Infinity), VLADIMIR CHONG CHOOSES TO DIE by Lavie Tidhar (Analog 9/14)

Zeno represents William Gibson and Daryl Gregory in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Martha Millard Literary Agency.

International Editions: Justina Robson in Finnish!


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Here are the rather striking Finnish covers for the first two novels in Justina Robson‘s Quantum Gravity series: KEEPING IT REAL and SELLING OUT. Published by Jalava as AITOA PELIÄ and PANOKSENA SIELU, respectively, they are out now.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for KEEPING IT REAL

A heroine who’s half robot and all attitude, a world of quantum strangeness; SF that has remembered how to have fun from the UK’s most successful female SF writer.

The Quantum Bomb of 2015 changed everything. The fabric that kept the universe’s different dimensions apart was torn and now, six years later, the people of earth exist in uneasy company with the inhabitants of, amongst others, the elven, elemental and demonic realms. Magic is real and can be even more dangerous than technology. Elves are exotic, erotic, dangerous and really bored with the constant Lord of the Rings references. Elementals are a law unto themselves and demons are best left well to themselves.

Special agent Lila Black used to be pretty but now she’s not so sure.

Her body is now more than half restless carbon and metal alloy machinery. A machine she’s barely in control of. It goes into combat mode, enough weapons for a small army springing from within itself, at the merest provocation.

As for her heart… well ever since being drawn into a Game by the elven rockstar she’s been assigned to protect, she’s not even sure she can trust that anymore either.

The Quantum Gravity series — which also includes GOING UNDER, CHASING THE DRAGON and DOWN TO THE BONE — is published in the UK by Gollancz. Here are the UK covers…

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Justina Robson’s highly anticipated next novel is GLORIOUS ANGELS, due to be published in the UK by Gollancz, on March 19th, 2015.

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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

Short Fiction Watch: Justina Robson


Various-FearsomeMagics-BlogJustina Robson has a new, great short story in FEARSOME MAGICS, the latest anthology from Solaris Books! The story is called ON SKYBOLT MOUNTAIN, and the book is published on October 7th.

Here’s the collection’s synopsis…

A cabinet of magic! A cavalcade of wonder! A collection of stories both strange and wondrous, of tales filled with wild adventure and strange imaginings. Fearsome Magics, the second New Solaris Book of Fantasy, is all these things and more. It is, we think, the best book you will read all year.

Award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan has invited some of the best and most exciting writers working in fantasy today to let their imaginations run wild and to deliver stories that will thrill and awe, delight and amuse. And above all, stories that are filled with fearsome magic! Authors commited to take part include Christopher Priest, Garth Nix, Catherine M. Valente, Ellen Klages, Isobelle Carmody, Nalo Hopkinson, Frances Hardinge, Scott Lynch, Robert Shearman, Justina Robson, Christopher Rowe, Karin Tidbeck and KJ Parker.

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

Zeno Clients at Loncon 3…


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The SFF extravaganza that is Loncon 3 will be rolling into town this weekend. Certain events have already kicked off, of course – some of which we’ve mentioned here before. From Thursday 14th to Monday 18th, a great number of Zeno clients will be participating in the festivities, events and signings.

So, below are all of the Zeno-related events, organised by day and time. If you’d rather search by author, however, here’s an alphabetical list of our clients attending, complete with links to their Loncon 3 schedule pages: Peter V. Brett, Jack Campbell, Michael CobleyMyke Cole, Edward Cox, Aliette de Bodard, Simon R. GreenDaryl Gregory, Matthew HughesTanya Huff, Anne Lyle, Ian R. MacLeod, Ian McDonald, Justina Robson, Melinda Snodgrass, Kari Sperring, E.J. Swift, Lavie Tidhar, Freda Warrington. Continue reading “Zeno Clients at Loncon 3…”

Two More Audio Editions!


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Recently, Audible have released two more titles from our clients’ backlists. This time, a collection of short stories from Justina Robson and also the final volume in Michael Cobley‘s Shadowkings fantasy trilogy. Here are the details, followed by their synopses…

New Audiobooks by Justina Robson and Michael Cobley


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Here is some information on three more new audio editions, published this past week by Audible.

First up, we have two more stand-alone novels by Justina Robson. As with SILVER SCREEN and NATURAL HISTORY, released earlier this month, these early novels further show Robson’s skill at crafting engaging, ahead-of-their-time literary science fiction novels.

Both of these novels were critically-acclaimed when they were released, and continue to receive good praise. Publishers Weekly gave MAPPA MUNDI a starred review, stating that it ‘maintains throat-tightening suspense from its teasingly enigmatic introduction of its major characters to its painful conclusion that evil will succeed if well-meaning people try to achieve good at any cost… this near-future SF thriller presents convincing characters caught in profound moral dilemmas brought home through exquisite attention to plot details and setting.’ The novel was also shortlisted for the 2001 Arthur C. Clarke Award. LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THE GOD OF LOVE garnered praise from both Publishers Weekly and the New York Times. The former suggested that, ‘If William Gibson and Norman Spinrad had dropped acid together, this fourth SF novel by British author Robson is the book they might have written.’ The NYT described the novel as one ofexquisite precision and thoughtfulness, andnothing 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.

Next, the second volume in Michael Cobley‘s Shadowkings series, SHADOWGOD is also now available. There will be some more news on this series next week, but suffice it to say, Cobley’s debut fantasy trilogy was an early pioneer of modern ‘grimdark’ fantasy. Here are the details…

  • SHADOWGOD – Shadowkings #2 (Earthlight) – Philip Rose

Jon Courtenay-Grimwood, writing for the Guardian, reviewed SHADOWGOD thus: SHADOWKINGS, was brutal, cruel and realistic in a way genre usually avoids. SHADOWGOD, his second, is not only lighter, it is better written and makes good use of the world Cobley has created… writing to rival David Gemmell.’

This Week’s New Audible Titles…


A slightly smaller influx of audio editions, this week – but by no means any less exciting! Here are the six new titles available as of today (James Blaylock’s) and tomorrow…

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The (Big) Batch of Audible Releases…


Here are the details and links for the latest batch of Audible releases, including some real gems from our clients’ backlists. As before, the title is followed by print publisher and then narrator.

March 25th…

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March 27th…

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March 28th…

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More Audible Releases for Warrington, Robson & Fallon!


This past week, Audible released a veritable flood of new audiobook editions from Freda Warrington‘s, Justina Robson‘s and Jennifer Fallon‘s backlists.

March 18th…

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March 20th…

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March 21st…

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Also, and these were slightly delayed last week, but two of Lavie Tidhar‘s backlist titles have also been released:

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