Tag: Novella

Aliette de Bodard’s OF CHARMS, GHOSTS AND GRIEVANCES is out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Monday, June 13th, 2022

Aliette de Bodard‘s highly-anticipated new novella, OF CHARMS, GHOSTS AND GRIEVANCES is due out in two weeks (June 28th)! With a striking cover by Ravven, the novella is set in the same world as the award-winning Dominion of the Fallen series, and is the second book in the Dragons and Blades series. To be published by JABberwocky, here’s the synopsis…

From the author of the critically acclaimed Dominion of the Fallen trilogy comes a sparkling new romantic adventure full of kissing, sarcasm and stabbing.

It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea.

But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive.

Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can — and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they’ll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future…

A heartwarming standalone book set in a world of dark intrigue.

The Dominion of the Fallen novels are published by Gollancz in the UK, and Roc Books (1-2) and JABberwocky (3) in North America: THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, THE HOUSE OF BINDING THORNS, and THE HOUSE OF SUNDERING FLAMES. The first book in the Dragons and Blades series — OF DRAGONS, FEASTS AND MURDERS — is also published by JABberwocky.

Here are some early reviews of the new novella…

‘A darkly delicious romp full of ghosts, murder, dragons, and romance, with a couple that just keeps getting better and better as they push each other to new limits.’ — Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled and Scales and Sensibility

‘Beautifully described, deeply caring, and satisfyingly murderous, it’s an immersive delight.’ — KJ Charles, author of the Will Darling Adventures

‘This one has everything… I gulped it down when I should have savoured it like a delicate tea, but what can I say.’ — Freya Marske, author of A Marvelous Light

Coming Soon: UNTO THE GODLESS WHAT LITTLE REMAINS by Mário Coelho

Posted on Wednesday, May 4th, 2022

Announced recently by the publisher, we wanted to draw your attention to the upcoming new novella by Mário Coelho: UNTO THE GODLESS WHAT LITTLE REMAINS! Published as the part of the next series of Satellites Novellas from Solaris, here’s they synopsis…

The internet is a lonesome god.

Liverloin is a fractured man, a collection of personas — artificial constructs of wants, fears and needs — created by underground science-artists to help him hide in a hyper-connected world. But he can’t hide from Big Momma.

She is the living internet, a benevolent AI who knows everything and everyone… and somehow is in love with Liverloin.

Agent Stevly works for DAIS, an AI on the other side of the internet: the darkness to Big Momma’s light. DAIS’s agents manipulate news, information and media and pull the strings behind world events, but DAIS cannot control Big Momma or understand why she loves Liverloin. Agent Stevly, bound body and soul to DAIS, will stop at nothing to find the answer.

The novella will be published on September 14th, and will be available as an eBook and a limited, signed special edition.

Aliette de Bodard Wins BSFA Award for FIREHEART TIGER!

Posted on Monday, April 25th, 2022

In case you missed the news: Aliette de Bodard has won a BSFA Award for FIREHEART TIGER! Winning in the Best Shorter Fiction category, we hope you’ll join us in sending congratulations to Aliette!

But wait, that’s not all! Last week, it was also announced that FIREHEART TIGER is a finalist for the Ignyte Award for Best Novella!

The novella is published by Tor.com. Here’s the synopsis…

Fire burns bright and has a long memory….

Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace.

Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions.

Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate — and her own?

Aliette de Bodard & Jeremy Greathouse Finalists for Reddit Stabby Awards!

Posted on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022

We’re very happy to report that two Zeno author have been selected as finalists for this year’s r/Fantasy Stabby Awards! Voting is open now, and closes on February 7th — so get voting!

First up, Aliette de Bodard‘s highly-acclaimed FIREHEART TIGER is a finalist for Best Novella! Published by Tor.com, here’s the synopsis…

Fire burns bright and has a long memory…

Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace.

Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions.

Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate — and her own?

‘FIREHEART TIGER… is a delicate novella with threads of imperial politics, magical beings, queer romance and the psychology of trauma. It’s a bit of a miracle to feel as if you’ve read a six-book fantasy series in so few pages. This book is elegant and hypnotic as the flame of a candle, and I’ll be thinking for some time about the shadows it throws into relief.’ — New York Times Book Review

‘A fascinating story filled with strong female characters and lush prose, the relationships woven around Thanh evolve into themes of reclaiming the self and recognizing that love can hide the truth about people… a story of love, power, and what burns within. Highly recommended.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘[A] high-stakes lesbian love triangle in this tightly plotted fantasy novella… convincingly combines sex, politics, and betrayal. This is an ideal pick for fantasy fans longing for non-European settings.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘De Bodard…, as she so often does, packs the world-building and emotional punch of an epic into a shockingly slim novella. This touching romance with the delicate negotiations of a small country’s survival against an imperial adversary would be a lovely place to start with de Bodard’s work, and fans will find more of what they’ve come to love about her stories.’ — Booklist

Next up, J. T. Greathouse‘s acclaimed debut novel, THE HAND OF THE SUN KING is a finalist for Best Debut Novel! Published in the UK by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

My name is Wen Alder. My name is Foolish Cur.

All my life, I have been torn between two legacies: my father’s, whose family trace their roots back to the right hand of the Emperor. My mother’s, whose family want to bring the Empire to its knees.

I can choose between them – between the safety of empire or the freedom of rebellion – or I can seek out a better path… one filled with magic and secrets, unbound by suffocating legacy, but one which could shake my world to its very foundation.

For my quest will bring me face to face with the gods themselves. And they have been watching. Waiting to make their move…

‘A great coming of age story about a foolish boy who seeks to unravel the secrets of magic and maybe do something good in the process. I absolutely loved it’ — Nick Martell

‘THE HAND OF THE SUN KING fundamentally explores the right to make our own choices in life, to make sacrifices to serve the greater good and to use power to uplift the oppressed. Greathouse delivers a debut full of complexities, passion and grace, and I’m already longing for more.’ — Fantasy Hive

‘An excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair.’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘Add in a very cool magic system with weighty consequences, a cast of meaningful, well-developed characters, and a lush world that carefully considers its lore, economic struggles, and religious history, it’s easy for me to call THE HAND OF THE SUN KING one of my top reads of 2021.’ (10/10) — Fantasy Book Review

‘JT Greathouse shows no first-time jitters wit his impressive and compelling debut novel… Greathouse casts an engrossing spell, establishing himself as an exciting new voice in epic fantasy.’ — SFX Magazine

Zeno represents J. T. Greathouse in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

FIREHEART TIGER on the BSFA Award Longlist!

Posted on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022

We’re very happy to report that FIREHEART TIGER by Aliette de Bodard is on the 2021 BSFA Award Short Fiction longlist! The author’s latest critically-acclaimed novella, it’s out now, published by Tor.com. Here’s the synopsis…

Fire burns bright and has a long memory…

Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace.

Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions.

Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate — and her own?

Congratulations, Aliette!

In case you need more convincing to check out the book, here are just a few of the reviews it has received…

‘[A] high-stakes lesbian love triangle in this tightly plotted fantasy novella… convincingly combines sex, politics, and betrayal. This is an ideal pick for fantasy fans longing for non-European settings.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘FIREHEART TIGER… is a delicate novella with threads of imperial politics, magical beings, queer romance and the psychology of trauma. It’s a bit of a miracle to feel as if you’ve read a six-book fantasy series in so few pages. This book is elegant and hypnotic as the flame of a candle, and I’ll be thinking for some time about the shadows it throws into relief.’ — New York Times Book Review

‘A fascinating story filled with strong female characters and lush prose, the relationships woven around Thanh evolve into themes of reclaiming the self and recognizing that love can hide the truth about people… a story of love, power, and what burns within. Highly recommended.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘De Bodard…, as she so often does, packs the world-building and emotional punch of an epic into a shockingly slim novella. This touching romance with the delicate negotiations of a small country’s survival against an imperial adversary would be a lovely place to start with de Bodard’s work, and fans will find more of what they’ve come to love about her stories.’ — Booklist

‘This latest novella by Aliette de Bodard is a moving, engaging tale of politics, love, divided loyalties, and betrayal. It has many of the hallmarks of a great de Bodard story… If you are new to the author’s work, then this novella could serve as a very good introduction… Recommended.’ — Civilian Reader

Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson’s EVERSHORE is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, December 28th, 2021

We hope you’re all having a good end of year. Perhaps this will make it even better: the third Skyward Flight novella by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz as an eBook and audiobook, here’s the synopsis…

With the government of Detritus in disarray because of Superiority treachery, and with Spensa still away on her mission in the Nowhere, Jorgen must work together with the alien Alanik to pick up the pieces. They intercept a strange transmission from the planet Evershore and its Kitsen inhabitants, who say they have some of Jorgen’s people and want to return them-but can the Kitsen be trusted? And can Jorgen learn to master his increasingly erratic cytonic powers before they spiral out of control and destroy all hope of forming an alliance against the Superiority?

EVERSHORE is set after the events of Brandon’s third Skyward novel, CYTONIC, which was published in the UK by Gollancz last month.

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

REDAWN, the Second Skyward Flight Novella, is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, October 26th, 2021

Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson‘s second Skyward Flight novella, REDAWN is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz in eBook and audiobook formats, here’s the synopsis…

“Don’t trust their lies. Don’t trust their false peace.” That is the warning that Alanik of the planet ReDawn told the human pilot Spensa after Alanik’s ship crash-landed on Detritus. While accepting an invitation to meet with her people’s enemy, the Galactic Superiority, Alanik heard Spensa’s cry for help across the vastness of space, and she used her cytonic powers to hyperjump her ship to the source of that cry. What she found there was a shock-a whole planet of free humans fighting against the Superiority. Could they be the allies her people desperately needed?

When she recovered from her injuries and met the friendly humans Jorgen and FM of Skyward Flight, she found that her warning to Spensa had gone unheeded by the government of Detritus, and they were considering a peace overture from the Superiority. Now having returned to ReDawn, Alanik is dismayed to learn that her own people are falling into the exact same trap.

The faction in ReDawn’s government that wants to appease the Superiority has gained the upper hand. With Alanik’s mentor Renakin captured, she has no one to turn to but Jorgen, FM, and their friend Rig. An ancient technology may have the power to save both of their planets from disaster, but can they discover its secrets before it’s too late?

REDAWN is set between the events of SUNREACH (the first novella, which is out now) and CYTONIC (the upcoming third novel), and is a must for all fans of the Skyward series and action-packed science fiction adventures.

Brandon’s CYTONIC is due to be published by Gollancz in the UK, on November 23rd; the final novella, EVERSHORE, is due out in the UK via Gollancz, on December 28th. The first two novels in the Skyward series — SKYWARD and STARSIGHT — are out now, published by Gollancz.

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

Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson’s SUNREACH is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, September 28th, 2021

SUNREACH, the first of the recently-announced Skyward Flight novellas, is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz in eBook and as an audiobook, it is the first of three novellas by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson. Here’s the synopsis…

When a planet-destroying Delver suddenly appears in the sky of Detritus and vanishes just as suddenly, FM knows that the last free human society got lucky. Her Skyward Flight companion Spensa figured out how to draw this Delver away, but it won’t be so easy next time.

The forces of the Galactic Superiority will be back-and if the Defiant Defense Force can’t figure out a way to escape the planet, humanity’s destruction is only a matter of time. Spensa’s mission to infiltrate the Superiority unveiled the secret to their hyperdrives-a cytonic slug species called the Taynix. Now FM’s flightleader Jorgen has found a large group of Taynix hiding in the caverns far below Detritus’s surface.

FM and Jorgen must work together with the engineer Rig to awaken the mysterious alien Alanik and unlock the powers of the Taynix, or humanity will be trapped. With Spensa’s friend Minister Cuna of the Superiority stranded at the outpost of Sunreach, they need to figure out how to rescue her-before her foes in the Superiority government can prepare a new weapon to wipe out Detritus once and for all.

SUNREACH is set between the second and third novels in the Skyward series — STARSIGHT and the upcoming CYTONIC (November 23rd). The other two novellas are REDAWN (October 26th) and EVERSHORE (December 28th).

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

Three New Skyward Flight Novellas Coming Soon to the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, September 21st, 2021

In case you missed the news yesterday, we wanted to share the exciting news that Gollancz will release three novellas set in the best-selling, acclaimed Skyward universe! Written by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, the books are due to be published by Gollancz between September and December.

We don’t have covers, just yet, but the books will be available as eBooks and audiobooks (the first two of which will be read by Suzy Jackson). As you may also be aware, Brandon’s third full-length novel in the series, CYTONIC, is also due out this year. Here is the publishing schedule for the four books, which also reflects the chronological order of the story…

To further whet your appetite, here’s the synopsis for SUNREACH…

When a planet-destroying Delver suddenly appears in the sky of Detritus and vanishes just as suddenly, FM knows that the last free human society got lucky. Her Skyward Flight companion Spensa figured out how to draw this Delver away, but it won’t be so easy next time.

The forces of the Galactic Superiority will be back-and if the Defiant Defense Force can’t figure out a way to escape the planet, humanity’s destruction is only a matter of time. Spensa’s mission to infiltrate the Superiority unveiled the secret to their hyperdrives-a cytonic slug species called the Taynix. Now FM’s flightleader Jorgen has found a large group of Taynix hiding in the caverns far below Detritus’s surface.

FM and Jorgen must work together with the engineer Rig to awaken the mysterious alien Alanik and unlock the powers of the Taynix, or humanity will be trapped. With Spensa’s friend Minister Cuna of the Superiority stranded at the outpost of Sunreach, they need to figure out how to rescue her-before her foes in the Superiority government can prepare a new weapon to wipe out Detritus once and for all.

The first two novels in the series, SKYWARD and STARSIGHT are out now, published by Gollancz in the UK.

‘Sanderson plainly had a ball with this nonstop, highflying opener, and readers will too.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review) on SKYWARD

‘With this action-packed trilogy opener, Sanderson offers up a resourceful, fearless heroine and a memorable cast—including a strangely humorous, mushroom-obsessed robot—set against the backdrop of a desperate conflict. As the pulse-pounding story intensifies and reveals its secrets, a cliffhanger ending sets things up for the next installment.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on SKYWARD

‘Readers will enjoy his hallmark cinematic writing style, with plenty of strong visuals throughout the story, along with humor that some will love, and others will love to hate […] we say SKYWARD is an adventure and a half that you won’t want to miss. Even hardcore Cosmere fans will enjoy the special mix of fantasy and sci-fi that unfolds as you watch Spensa learn what it means to be truly brave.’ — Tor.com

‘Sanderson is very good at action […] the breathless rush of the dogfights is what lingers longest in the mind.’ — SFX Magazine on SKYWARD

‘SKYWARD contains a lot of heart that teaches us to never back down in the face of adversity.’ — Fantasy Faction

‘Spensa’s habitual over-the-top recklessness adds a rousing spark, and the author folds in plenty of banter as well as a colorful supporting cast.’ — Kirkus on STARSIGHT

‘STARSIGHT offers fun times just as Skyward did, with more worldbuilding, some favorite returning characters from Skyward, some amazing new characters and settings, and a ramped-up storyline.’ — Tor.com

‘The worldbuilding is of the standard I’ve come to expect from Brandon Sanderson, which is to say that it’s excellent.’ — The Fantasy Hive on STARSIGHT

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

Quick Reminder: DIE FÜCHSE VON HAMPSTEAD HEATH is Out Next Week!

Posted on Thursday, September 9th, 2021

Just a quick reminder that Ben Aaronovitch‘s WHAT ABIGAIL DID LAST SUMMER is out next week in Germany (September 17th)! Published by DTV as DIE FÜCHSE VON HAMPSTEAD HEATH, here’s the synopsis…

Eine magisch begabte Cousine

Es ist Ferienzeit in London und Abigail, Peter Grants lästige Cousine, kann mehr oder weniger tun und lassen, was sie will. Was bei allen, die sie kennen, eigentlich die Alarmglocken schrillen lassen sollte. Doch Peter ist irgendwo auf dem Land auf Einhornjagd, sodass niemand Abigail davon abhält, magischen Unfug zu treiben – und einem Geheimnis auf die Spur zu kommen: In der Gegend von Hampstead Heath verschwinden immer wieder Teenager. Nach kurzer Zeit tauchen sie wieder auf, unverletzt, aber ohne eine Erinnerung, wo sie waren. Wer hat sie fortgelockt – und warum? Unterstützt von einer Bande sprechender (und ziemlich eingebildeter) Füchse stürzt sich Abigail ins magische Abenteuer.

DTV has published all of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas in Germany. (The comic series is published in Germany by Panini.)

The novella, the first to star Abigail Kamara, is set in the Rivers of London world. It’s published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Subterranean Press. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker.

It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake.

While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home – unharmed but vague about where they’ve been.

Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they’re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly – why?

‘Aaronovitch’s trademark humor is the highlight of his ninth Rivers of London urban fantasy (after FALSE VALUE). Here, he focuses on London teenager Abigail Kamara, a supporting character in previous books who’s occasionally assisted apprentice wizard Peter Grant, a member of a supernatural branch of the Metropolitan Police… Kamara is an endearing protagonist who is more than capable of carrying future books. Series fans are sure to enjoy this.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER focuses of Abigail Kamara, Peter’s precocious teenage cousin who has caught the scent of magic and wants to know more, despite all the dangers. Abigail is intelligent, curious and very much the trouble-maker… Aaronovitch quickly finds a voice for Abigail; she’s smart and nerdy, brave and wise enough to stay alive, but really not very cautious. One of the novella’s gags come in form of various footnotes explaining her youthful turn of phrase, which is actually quite handy for the older reader. Oh, and it has the most charming map of Hampstead Heath we’ve seen in a long while, and it’s almost worth it just for that. This is a nice change of style and pace for fans of the series and a great introduction for those looking for a fun fantasy read.’ — Starburst (5* Review!)

‘Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London uni­verse keeps sending new rivulets in unex­pected directions… Abigail is smart and curi­ous, a wonderful combination but one that also puts her in peril… Not only does Aaronovitch’s writing bring Abigail fully to life, it also builds a story that is worthy of her and delivers potent insights about being a teenage girl, which is doubly remarkable because it’s not a perspective you often see out­side YA fiction…’ — Locus

‘I doubt I really need to recommend WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER to people who have read other parts of the series, but for those that have not, it is a great place to start, with an entertaining mix of humour, suspense, and a perfectly crafted world.’ — Indiependent

THE LUNACY COMMISSION by Lavie Tidhar Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2021

Lavie Tidhar‘s new short story collection, starring Wolf, THE LUNACY COMMISSION is out now! Published by JABberwocky, it is available in eBook and print-on-demand editions. Here’s the synopsis…

Lavie Tidhar’s ground-breaking, award winning novel A Man Lies Dreaming introduced Adolf Hitler as a down-at-heels private detective, forced to eke out a miserable living in 1930s London. Forgotten by history, the man now calling himself Wolf is the lowest of the low, suffering fresh humiliations at every turn.

Now Wolf is back, in five darkly comic new stories that see him take on blackmail, murder, and theft – not to mention his old comrades.

A brilliant alternate history noir with a heart, these stories are in turn shocking, horrifying and comic, as could only come from the mind of World Fantasy Award winner Lavie Tidhar.

Wolf is also the protagonist from Tidhar’s critically-acclaimed, award-winning A MAN LIES DREAMING, which is also published by JABberwocky in North America. The novel will be re-issued in the UK by Head of Zeus, on April 15th.

Both of the superb JABberwocky editions’ covers are by Sarah Anne Langton.

The eBook edition of THE LUNACY COMMISSION is available from all major retailers (POD edition via Amazon and Barnes & Noble):

Locus, Hugo, and Ignyte nominations for Aliette de Bodard!

Posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

In case you missed the great news: Aliette de Bodard has received four Locus Award nominations, a Hugo Award, and an Ignyte Award nomination! Let’s start with the Locus nominations…

Aliette’s has two novellas among the finalists in the Novella Category. OF DRAGONS, FEASTS AND MURDERS, published by JABberwocky, is a stand-alone story set in the same work as the Dominion of the Fallen series. Here’s the synopsis…

Lunar New Year should be a time for familial reunions, ancestor worship, and consumption of an unhealthy amount of candied fruit.

But when dragon prince Thuan brings home his brooding and ruthless husband Asmodeus for the New Year, they find not interminable family gatherings, but a corpse outside their quarters. Asmodeus is thrilled by the murder investigation; Thuan, who gets dragged into the political plotting he’d sworn off when he left, is less enthusiastic.

It’ll take all of Asmodeus’s skill with knives, and all of Thuan’s diplomacy, to navigate this one — as well as the troubled waters of their own relationship…

The Dominion of the Fallen series is published by Gollancz in the UK, and Roc Books and JABberwocky in North America. (While a stand-alone, this novella is set after the events of the third novel in that series, THE HOUSE OF SUNDERING FLAMES.)

The second finalist novella is SEVEN OF INFINITIES, one of the author’s many acclaimed Xuya stories, published by Subterranean Press (North America) and JABberwocky…

Vân is a scholar from a poor background, eking out a living in the orbitals of the Scattered Pearls Belt as a tutor to a rich family, while hiding the illegal artificial mem-implant she manufactured as a student. 

Sunless Woods is a mindship — and not just any mindship, but a notorious thief and a master of disguise. She’s come to the Belt to retire, but is drawn to Vân’s resolute integrity.

When a mysterious corpse is found in the quarters of Vân’s student, Vân and Sunless Woods find themselves following a trail of greed and murder that will lead them from teahouses and ascetic havens to the wreck of a mindship — and to the devastating secrets they’ve kept from each other.

Aliette’s third Locus finalist nomination is for the short story IN THE LANDS OF THE SPILL, which was published in the AVATARS INC Sci-Fi Anthology, edited by Ann Vandermeer.

Meanwhile, the novelette THE INACCESSIBILITY OF HEAVEN has been nominated for three awards! Published in the July-August 2020 issue of Uncanny Magazine, it is up for the Hugo, Locus, and Ignyte Best Novelette Awards!

Night. A night like any other in Starhollow: the headlights of cars, small and lost between the skyscrapers; the smell of hydromel and wine wafting from those few bars still open; and above me, the distant light of the stars, a constant reminder of the inaccessibility of Heaven.

I climbed the stairs to my flat, exhausted, my arms covered in claw-marks. At the shelter I worked at, drunken Fallen had started attacking some of the newcomers—and had turned on me when I’d tried to intervene…

The Locus Awards winners will be announced June 26, 2021, during the virtual Locus Awards Weekend.

Voting for the Hugo Awards are open now to members, and will close on November 19th. The award winners will be announced during DisCon III, which will be held in Washington, D.C., between December 15th-19th.

Voting for the Ignyte Awards is open now to anyone who wants to vote, and will close on May 21st. The award winners will be announced on September 18th.

Many congratulations, Aliette!

Lavie Tidhar’s THE LUNACY COMMISSION pushed back to May 25th

Posted on Friday, March 26th, 2021

We wanted to provide an update regarding Lavie Tidhar‘s anticipated new book THE LUNACY COMMISSION. It was originally intended to be published on April 13th, but it has unfortunately been pushed back: JABberwocky are due to publish both the print-on-demand edition and eBook of the short story collection on May 25th.

Starring Wolf, from Tidhar’s award-winning, critically-acclaimed A MAN LIES DREAMING, here’s the synopsis…

Lavie Tidhar’s ground-breaking, award winning novel A Man Lies Dreaming introduced Adolf Hitler as a down-at-heels private detective, forced to eke out a miserable living in 1930s London. Forgotten by history, the man now calling himself Wolf is the lowest of the low, suffering fresh humiliations at every turn.

Now Wolf is back, in five darkly comic new stories that see him take on blackmail, murder, and theft – not to mention his old comrades.

A brilliant alternate history noir with a heart, these stories are in turn shocking, horrifying and comic, as could only come from the mind of World Fantasy Award winner Lavie Tidhar.

The eBook edition can be pre-ordered from all major eBook retailers (and the print-on-demand from Amazon and Barnes & Noble):

A MAN LIES DREAMING is also published by JABberwocky in North America. The novel will soon be re-issued in the UK by Head of Zeus, on April 15th.

The covers for the JABberwocky editions are both by Sarah Anne Langton.

Ben Aaronovitch’s WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER out now!

Posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2021

Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated new novella, WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER, is out today! Starring Abigail Kamara, the novella is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Subterranean Press. Here’s the synopsis…

Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker.

It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake. While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks, chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home – unharmed but vague about where they’ve been.

Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they’re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly – why?

To celebrate the release of the novella, Ben commissioned this animated trailer…

Ben’s previous novella set in the world of his Rivers of London series, THE OCTOBER MAN, is also published by Gollancz in the UK and Subterranean Press in North America. The novels (and novella) starring Peter Grant are published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-). The series has been published widely in translation, with more editions releasing pretty frequently. (For more information, check out his author page.)

Next Month: Lavie Tidhar’s THE BIG BLIND in eBook

Posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2021

We’re very happy to announce that Lavie Tidhar‘s latest novella, THE BIG BLIND, is getting a wider release as an eBook next month! Due to be published by JABberwocky on April 6th, here’s the synopsis…

The daughter of a legendary card player with skills of her own, Claire doesn’t want to go into the family business. She’s heard the call, and she desperately wants to become a nun. But when her convent comes under financial threat, Claire must leave what she loves to save what she loves — and enter an international poker tournament.

Both a poker novella and a meditation on faith, The Big Blind is a taut, heartfelt and compelling new book from multiple award winner Lavie Tidhar.

The eBook will be available from most major eBook retailers. Here are some links:

The novella was first published by PS Publishing as a limited edition.

‘Tidhar changes genres with every outing, but his astounding talents guarantee something new and compelling no matter the story he tells.’ —Library Journal

‘Lavie Tidhar is one of the great writers of my generation.’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Mexican Gothic

‘An utterly original voice in contemporary fiction.’ — Daniel Polansky, author of The Seventh Perfection

‘In a genre entirely of his own, and quite possibly a warped genius.’ — Ian McDonald, author of TIME WAS

‘Tidhar has long taken a kind of perverse glee in his own unpredictability, sometimes blurring the line between pointed literary allusiveness and simple attention deficit…. So while the question of what Tidhar might come up with next is a perfectly reasonable one, I have to admit that the last thing I’d have expected is a sweet-natured tale that, with almost no changes, would work just fine as a 1950s Audrey Hepburn comedy about a young poker-playing Irish nun trying to save her convent from foreclosure… touching… the story unfolds like a Hollywood playbook… a feel-good ending.’ — Locus (Gary K. Wolfe)

‘A really enjoyable book, different from anything I’d read by Tidhar before (but then, I think that every time I open one of his books). Recommended.’ — Blue Book Balloon