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Ian Tregillis’s THE MECHANICAL out now in Italy!

Posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016

THE MECHANICAL, the critically-acclaimed novel by Ian Tregillis, is out today in Italy! Published by Mondadori as L’OBBLIGO, here’s the synopsis…

Olanda, 1926. Sono passati ormai 250 anni da quando l’Impero olandese ha conquistato l’Europa con le sue armate di soldati meccanici, perfetti ordigni da guerra frutto di una sapienza che unisce arte dell’orologeria e alchimia. Come Jax, fedele servitore del Trono d’Ottone, schiavo dei voleri del suo padrone umano. Ma ora Jax ha deciso che sarà libero. Il suo destino si intreccia con quello di Berenice, astuta spia del Re di Francia in esilio, e di Visser, agente cattolico che vive sotto copertura nel cuore stesso dell’Impero. La lotta contro il potere degli orologiai sta per cominciare… Acclamato in tutto il mondo come un capolavoro di narrazione a cavallo dei generi, il primo romanzo della trilogia “Alchemy Wars” fonde fantascienza, spionaggio, storia d’amore, romanzo storico e distopico dai toni steampunk, apologo filosofico sul libero arbitrio, e molto altro ancora. Il risultato è una macchina narrativa perfetta e implacabile.

The first novel in the Alchemy Wars series, THE MECHANICAL is followed by THE RISING and the upcoming THE LIBERATION. All three novels are published in the UK (and US) by Orbit Books.

Here’s some of the aforementioned critical acclaim mentioned above…

‘Launches a series with this superb alternate history filled with clockwork men and ethical questions on the nature of free will… Tregillis’s complex setting is elegantly delivered, and the rich characters and gripping story really make this tale soar.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘A fascinating world… Tregillis is a capable sculptor of narrative. He rarely drags on in his descriptions, painting a complex picture of his world one section at a time. He imbues most characters with a specific internal voice, ably switching between points of view without it ever jarring. And the central character, a Clakker known as Jax, is the most engaging automaton you’ll encounter in any recent book. This opener to the Alchemy Wars trilogy delivers a mostly fresh breath of sci-fi fantasy.’ — SciFi Now

‘This is the kind of novel you’re reading on the bus or train and you actually resent reaching your destination because it means you have to pause your reading… One of the sharpest, most intelligent, hugely compelling works I’ve read this year, and I cannot wake to see where Tregillis takes this series next.’ — Forbidden Planet Blog

Orbit Books has also published Ian’s equally acclaimed Milkweed Triptych: BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR, and NECESSARY EVIL.

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

Ian Tregillis’s THE MECHANICAL out very soon in Italy!

Posted on Tuesday, October 25th, 2016

The tremendous first novel in Ian Tregillis‘s Alchemy Wars series, THE MECHANICAL, is due to be published in Italy in two weeks! Published by Mondadori as L’OBBLIGO, here’s the synopsis…

THE MECHANICAL is published in the UK by Orbit Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

THE MECHANICAL was met with a storm of praise upon publication. Here’s just a small selection from the great reviews…

‘The first thing readers will say after finishing this splendid book is: “Wow.” … This is a rousing SF/fantasy adventure, with a brilliantly imagined and beautifully rendered alternate world… a major leap forward.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘… launches a series with this superb alternate history filled with clockwork men and ethical questions on the nature of free will… Tregillis’s complex setting is elegantly delivered, and the rich characters and gripping story really make this tale soar.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘This is the kind of novel you’re reading on the bus or train and you actually resent reaching your destination because it means you have to pause your reading … One of the sharpest, most intelligent, hugely compelling works I’ve read this year, and I cannot wake to see where Tregillis takes this series next.’ — Forbidden Planet Blog

‘An excellent novel. Truly excellent: I have rarely found myself this gripped by a book… Tregillis has an excellent eye for characterisation, and a master’s grasp of how to build tension to a breaking point: the sheer narrative drive here, the way in which the storylines of the three point-of-view characters support and reinforce the tension in each other, is a thing of beauty.’ — Locus

The second novel in the series, THE RISING, is also out now. The third, THE LIBERATION, is due to be published in December 2016.

Orbit Books has also published Tregillis’s critically-acclaimed Milkweed Triptych in the UK: BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL.

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

Michael Cobley’s ANCESTRAL MACHINES out today in paperback (UK)!

Posted on Thursday, September 22nd, 2016

Michael Cobley‘s fourth novel in his critically-acclaimed Humanity’s Fire series is out today in the UK, in mass-market paperback! Published by Orbit Books, ANCESTRAL MACHINES is a stand-alone story. Here’s the synopsis…

The Warcage is a feat of unprecedented stellar engineering: two hundred worlds harnessed to an artificial sun. Built to travel through space as a monument to peace between alien species, its voracious rulers have turned it into a nightmarish wasteland, capturing new planets for slaves and resources, then discarding the old.

Now, when a verdant agri-world is pulled out of its orbit and a deal goes bad, it is up to the captain of a smuggling ship to journey into the Warcage and rescue his crew.

The novel is also published in the US by Orbit Books. The first three novels in the series, a connected trilogy, are also published by Orbit Books (in the UK and US): SEEDS OF EARTH, THE ORPHANED WORLDS, and THE ASCENDANT STARS.

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

‘There’s a grand tradition within SF of galaxy-wide, aeon-spanning scenarios, with escalating magnitudes of scale and concomitant ramping up of narrative tension, and Michael Cobley’s Humanity’s Fire series is the latest example… Cobley excels at presenting his thoroughly lived-in future with a slew of technological marvels and an engaging cast of characters.’ — Guardian on ANCESTRAL MACHINES

‘Cobley wastes no time in flaunting his honed, merciless skills… Cobley is taking the techniques pioneered by van Vogt, Charles Harness and other bold visionaries and ramping them up for a purely twenty-first-century kind of SF that others such as Paul McAuley, Iain Banks and Ken MacLeod have hitherto essayed… Cobley takes all these characters, plus others, and pushes them along a non-stop, unrelenting, madcap set of adventures. The brio and joy of this storytelling is contagious. Here is a space opera which unashamedly honors the roots of the genre while expanding the remit of the mode… A predominant feature of Cobley’s storytelling is an exuberant humor, a kind of high spirits that is exactly the opposite of so much of the ultra-serious gravitas seen in other space operas… If you want a rousing space adventure full of sense of wonder that is also ideationally challenging, then you need look no further than ANCESTRAL MACHINES.’ — Locus

‘If you want some solid sci-fi with cracking, fully-rounded characters backed up with solid prose alongside dialogue in fairly dark future, then Michael’s Humanity’s Fire series has probably already been on your radar for quite some time… a book that has cracking action, quirky humour as well as people that you really care about. Back this up with a cracking overall arc makes this perhaps the best book set in this world for me. Magic.’ — Falcata Times on ANCESTRAL MACHINES

‘An absolute cracker of a space opera, fast-paced despite being over 400 pages… the larger scale exciting the imagination, the personal scale keeping it nicely relatable, with characters we genuinely care about.’ — Forbidden Planet on ANCESTRAL MACHINES

‘Cobley’s debut, first published in the U.K. in 2009, is a well-constructed space opera with a sense of vast scope, populated with an array of beautifully differentiated intelligences both organic and artificial… this is a thick and satisfying 10-course meal of starchy pageantry, meaty characters, bitter losses, and sweet romance.’ — Publishers Weekly on SEEDS OF EARTH

‘The story is huge, complex and moves between its varied cast with assured purpose… a tightly plotted, action packed epic that leaves you wanting more.’ — SciFi Now on SEEDS OF EARTH

‘Fast and exciting… an excellent middle book in the trilogy, expanding on SEEDS OF EARTH and setting everything in place for a thrilling conclusion.’ — Waterstone’s Book Quarterly on THE ORPHANED WORLDS

‘Cobley writes energetic space opera, rarely dallying with sentiment and mostly assaulting the reader with exotic locations and sudden skirmishes. There are joyous moments of invention but overall there’s too much going on… Fortunately, as the saga progresses, THE ORPHANED WORLDS begins knotting some of the threads together – it still feels like an over-shaken can of fizzy diet Banks…’ — SFX

‘THE ASCENDANT STARS is the culminating book in the Humanity’s Fire trilogy, a space opera of mind-bending depth and scope which sets complexly thought-out alien races and chilling cyborg armies against humans riven by competing political philosophies and agendas. The result is a marvellously readable examination of people under extreme stress, a convincing depiction of startlingly alien aliens, and a mature political analysis often lacking in the genre. Cobley expertly juggles multiple plot-lines and brings them to thematically satisfying conclusions while providing the landmark trilogy with a thrilling finale.’ — Guardian

Trailer for Michael Cobley’s ANCESTRAL MACHINES

Posted on Monday, September 19th, 2016

Above is the rather nifty trailer Michael Cobley‘s made for his latest novel, ANCESTRAL MACHINES. The novel, published by Orbit Books in the UK and North America, is released in paperback later this week. Here’s the synopsis…

Now, when a verdant agri-world is pulled out of its orbit and a deal goes bad, it is up to the captain of a smuggling ship to journey into the Warcage and rescue his crew.

The novel is a stand-alone story in Cobley’s Humanity’s Fire series. The first trilogy in the series, also published by Orbit Books, includes SEEDS OF EARTH, THE ORPHANED WORLDS and THE ASCENDANT STARS. Continue reading “Trailer for Michael Cobley’s ANCESTRAL MACHINES” →

Gemmell Award Long-List Voting Closes Tomorrow

Posted on Thursday, June 23rd, 2016

Voting on the Gemmell Award long-lists ends tomorrow! As we reported when they were first announced, a number of Zeno clients are nominated. Specifically…

Aliette de Bodard‘s THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS…

A superb murder mystery, on an epic scale, set against the fall out — literally — of a war in heaven

Paris in the aftermath of the Great Magicians War. Its streets are lined with haunted ruins, Notre-Dame is a burnt-out shell, and the Seine runs black, thick with ashes and rubble. Yet life continues among the wreckage. The citizens retain their irrepressible appetite for novelty and distraction, and The Great Houses still vie for dominion over France’s once grand capital.

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

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

The first novel in the Dominion of the Fallen series, THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS is published by Gollancz in the UK and Roc Books in the US.

Peter V. Brett‘s THE SKULL THRONE…

Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, the Skull Throne of Krasia is a seat of honour and powerful magic that keeps the demon corelings at bay.

From atop it, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging a unified army to end the demon war once and for all.

Arlen Bales, the Painted Man, stood against this course, challenging Jardir to a duel to the death. Rather than risk defeat, Arlen cast Jardir and himself from a precipice, opening a struggle for succession that threatens to tear the Free Cities of Thesa apart.

Renna Bales may know the fate of Arlen and Jadir, but she, too, has disappeared. Now Jardir’s sons clash to claim the throne, and risk a civil war among their people. Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn struggle to unite the duchies of Angiers and Miln against the Krasians.

Caught in the crossfire, the rich and unprotected duchy of Lakton sits ripe for conquest. All the while, the corelings have grown stronger — and without Arlen and Jardir, none may be able to stop them.

The fourth novel in the internationally best-selling Demon Cycle series, THE SKULL THRONE is published in the UK by Voyager.

Edward Cox‘s THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS…

In the end, all things are known. Return to the world of THE RELIC GUILD with this remarkable fantasy novel

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

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

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

The second novel in the Relic Guild series, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS is published by Gollancz.

Brandon Sanderson‘s SHADOWS OF SELF…

Return to Mistborn, and join the a hunt for a mysterious assassin.

The criminal elite of Elendel were invited to an auction — which became a massacre, when an unknown assailant slaughtered everyone in attendance.

Now Wax and Wayne, both able to use magic, both lawmen from the rough and ungoverned frontier territories, are on the case. All the clues suggest the killer is a rogue kandra — a secretive, almost mythical, figure who acts from the shadows – called Bleeder… and that the governor is her next target. Bleeder, and the conspiracy behind the killings, has to be stopped… before the city is plunged into chaos.

The fifth Mistborn novel, SHADOWS OF SELF is published in the UK by Gollancz.

Ian Tregillis‘s THE MECHANICAL…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

The second and third novels in the series, THE RISING and THE LIBERATION (December 2016) are also published in the UK by Orbit Books.

The first novel in the Alchemy Wars series, THE MECHANICAL is published in the UK by Orbit.

Voting on the short-list will take place between July 8th-August 19th. The award will be presented on September 24th, at Fantasycon in Scarborough.

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

Many Zeno Clients on the Gemmell Legend Award Long-List!

Posted on Friday, May 20th, 2016

Five Zeno clients have made the Gemmell Legend Award long-list! We’d like you to join us in congratulating Edward Cox, Aliette de Bodard, Peter V. Brett, Brandon Sanderson and Ian Tregillis!

Voting on the long-list is open until June 24th; voting on the short-list will take place between July 8th-August 19th. The award will be presented on September 24th, at Fantasycon in Scarborough.

Here are some details on the nominated novels…

Edward Cox‘s second Relic Guild novel, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS, published in the UK by Gollancz…

In the end, all things are known. Return to the world of THE RELIC GUILD with this remarkable fantasy novel

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

Ed’s debut, THE RELIC GUILD and the third novel in the series, THE WATCHER OF DEAD TIME (August 2016) are also published by Gollancz.

Aliette de Bodard‘s THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Roc Books…

A superb murder mystery, on an epic scale, set against the fall out — literally — of a war in heaven

The next novel in this series, THE HOUSE OF BINDING THORNS, is forthcoming.

Peter V. Brett‘s fourth Demon Cycle novel, THE SKULL THRONE, published in the UK by Voyager…

Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, the Skull Throne of Krasia is a seat of honour and powerful magic that keeps the demon corelings at bay.

From atop it, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging a unified army to end the demon war once and for all.

The first three novels in the Demon Cycle series are also published in the UK by Voyager: THE PAINTED MAN, THE DESERT SPEAR and THE DAYLIGHT WAR.

Brandon Sanderson‘s fifth Mistborn novel, SHADOWS OF SELF, published in the UK by Gollancz…

Return to Mistborn, and join the a hunt for a mysterious assassin.

The criminal elite of Elendel were invited to an auction — which became a massacre, when an unknown assailant slaughtered everyone in attendance.

Gollancz also publishes the other five novels in the Mistborn series in the UK: THE FINAL EMPIRE, THE WELL OF ASCENSION, THE HERO OF AGES, THE ALLOY OF LAW and THE BANDS OF MOURNING.

Ian Tregillis‘s first Alchemy Wars novel, THE MECHANICAL, published in the UK by Orbit Books…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

The second and third novels in the series, THE RISING and THE LIBERATION (December 2016) are also published in the UK by Orbit Books.

Zeno Authors are the Best…

Posted on Monday, December 14th, 2015

… and so appropriately, a number of our clients have landed on Best SFF of 2015 lists this year. We thought we’d take this opportunity to share some of them.

Ben Aaronovitch‘s FOXGLOVE SUMMER was selected by iTunes Germany as Best Fantasy of the year! Published by DTV in Germany as FINGERHUT-SOMMER, it’s published in the UK by Gollancz and North America by DAW Books. 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…

The fourth novel in Peter V. Brett‘s best-selling Demon Cycle series, THE SKULL THRONE, has been selected by BuzzFeed as one of the best Fantasy novels of the year. The novel ‘expands and deepens his endlessly fascinating and increasingly complex world of humans beset by powerful demons who prey on them at night’. The novel was also selected by Waterstones as one of their favourite Fantasy novels of the year. Published in the UK by Voyager, here’s the synopsis…

The Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Gibson‘s THE PERIPHERAL was selected as one of the Best Science Fiction novels of the year by Waterstones. Published in the UK by Penguin, here’s the synopsis…

Flynne Fisher lives in rural near-future America where jobs are scarce and veterans from the wars are finding it hard to recover. She scrapes a living doing some freelance online game-playing, participating in some pretty weird stuff. Wilf Netherton lives in London, seventy-some years later, on the far side of decades of slow-motion apocalypse. Things though are good for the haves, and there aren’t many have-nots left.

Flynne and Wilf are about to meet one another. Her world will be altered utterly, and Wilf’s, for all its decadence and power, will learn that some of these third-world types from the distant past can be real badass.

Ian McDonald‘s LUNA: NEW MOON was selected by Adam Roberts for the Guardian’s Best Science Fiction novels of the year: ‘Ian McDonald’s cut-throat colonised moon in Luna (Gollancz) is not the sort of place you’d want to live, but it certainly makes for a gripping narrative.’ Niall Alexander also selected LUNA among his best novels of the year, for Tor.com., and it was picked by Waterstones as one of the Best Science Fiction novels of the year. LUNA is published in the UK by Gollancz and in the US by Tor Books. Here’s the synopsis…

A corporate SF thriller and the deepest evocation yet of the terrors and rigours of life on the moon.

The Moon wants to kill you.

She has a thousand ways to do it. The bitter cold of vaccum. The lethal sheet of radiation. Choking dust as old as the Earth. Your weakening bones…

Or you could run out of money for water. Or air. Or simply run foul of one of the Five Dragons: the corporations that rule the Moon and control its vast resources. But you stay, because the moon can make you richer than you can imagine. For as long as you can stay alive…

Victor Milán‘s THE DINOSAUR LORDS was also selected by BuzzFeed as one of the best Fantasy novels of the year. Indeed, they veritably gushed: ‘High fantasy with dinosaurs. Is that enough to make you want to read it? Here, let me put it another way… EPIC BATTLES BETWEEN HEROIC KNIGHTS, AND THEY’RE ALL RIDING DINOSAURS. What’s not to like about that? It’s as crazy and fun as it sounds.’ Published in Brazil by Darkside Books as OS SENHORES DOS DINOSSAUROS, here’s the English-language synopsis…

A world made by the Eight Creators on which to play out their games of passion and power, Paradise is a sprawling, diverse, often brutal place. Men and women live on Paradise as do dogs, cats, ferrets, goats, and horses. But dinosaurs predominate: wildlife, monsters, beasts of burden – and of war. Colossal plant-eaters like Brachiosaurus; terrifying meat-eaters like Allosaurus, and the most feared of all, Tyrannosaurus rex. Giant lizards swim warm seas. Birds (some with teeth) share the sky with flying reptiles that range in size from bat-sized insectivores to majestic and deadly Dragons.

Two of Brand Sanderson‘s novels have landed on best-of lists: the fifth Mistborn novel, SHADOWS OF SELF, has been selected as one of Waterstones‘ best Fantasy books of the year, as well as one of BuzzFeed’s Best Fantasy novels of 2015 — ‘delivers more excitement, adventure, and magic in a newly industrialized world that is as richly realized as any of Sanderson’s creations.’ In addition, FIREFIGHT, the second Reckoners novel, has been picked as one of BuzzFeed’s Best Science Fiction novels of the year — ‘incredibly satisfying YA trilogy about a world ruled by insane super-villains continues to delight… lots of action and plot in a rare sequel that doesn’t suffer from a sophomore slump.’ Both novels are published in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis for SHADOWS OF SELF…

It is more than 300 years after the events of the The Final Empire shaped Scadrial. Waxillium Ladrian has returned to the capital city of Elendel from the far flung roughs. Elendel is crisscrossed by canals and railways and towers reach for the sky but this is still a city of dangers and of magic; Allomancy and Feruchemy can still change the world. Wax faces many more adventures.

Ian Tregillis‘s THE MECHANICAL has landed on Waterstones’ Best Fantasy list, and BuzzFeed’s Best SF novels of the year, described thus: ‘as enthralling as it is imaginative.’ The novel was also selected as one of the Speculative Herald‘s best books of the year. The sequel in the Alchemy Wars series, THE RISING, was selected as one of Amazon’s Best SFF of December 2015. The novels are published by Orbit Books. Here’s the synopsis for the first novel…

A thrilling and heart-breaking tale of one individual’s struggle for freedom…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

Zeno represents Peter V. Brett and Brandon Sanderson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York; William Gibson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Martha Millard at Sterling Lord Literistic; and Ian Tregillis and Victor Milan in the UK and in translation, on behalf of Kay McCauley at Aurous, Inc.

BITTER SEEDS now available in Czech!

Posted on Friday, December 11th, 2015

Continuing the theme of sharing Czech covers, today we have Ian Tregillis‘s BITTER SEEDS. Published by Kosmas as HOŘKÁ SETBA, here’s the synopsis…

Píše se rok 1939. Na straně nacistů se k boji chystají nadlidé, na straně Britů démoni. Co čeká obyčejného člověka, který se mezi ně připlete?

Britského tajného agenta Rayboulda Marshe pronásleduje vzpomínka na Němku, kterou těsně před koncem španělské občanské války letmo zahlédl v barcelonském přístavu. Mrkala na něho jako stará známá. A do otvorů v lebce jí vedly dráty.

Krátce po vypuknutí druhé světové války nasadí Třetí říše na zvláštní mise vojáky s nadpřirozenými schopnostmi.<brJe právě na Marshovi, aby svoji vlast uchránil před ženou, která se umí učinit neviditelnou, před mužem procházejícím zdmi a před onou neznámou z Barcelony, které její schopnost nahlížet do budoucnosti umožňuje přetvářet přítomnost. Aby odvrátil bezprostředně hrozící invazi, vystopuje Marsh britské čaroděje, hrstku podivínů tajících svoji existenci před světem. Každé kouzlo si ovšem žádá oběť, a Británie možná za svou obranu zaplatí stejně strašlivou daň jako za opravdovou bitvu…

Nadpřirozený příběh z alternativního dvacátého století, přes veškerou podobnost tak nepodobného tomu našemu, je prvním dílem triptychu, ve kterém si Otčina Roberta Harrise podává ruku s Alanem Moorem.

The first in Tregillis’s critically-acclaimed Milkweed Triptych, it is published in the UK by Orbit Books, who also publish the rest of the series — THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The year is 1939. Raybould Marsh and other members of British Intelligence have gathered to watch a damaged reel of film in a darkened room. It appears to show German troops walking through walls, bursting into flames and hurling tanks into the air from afar.

If the British are to believe their eyes, a twisted Nazi scientist has been endowing German troops with unnatural, unstoppable powers. And Raybould will be forced to resort to dark methods to hold the impending invasion at bay.

But dealing with the occult exacts a price. And that price must be paid in blood.

Ian Tregillis’ Bitter Seeds is a chilling masterpiece – a tale of a twentieth century like our own and also profoundly different.

Ian’s latest series, The Alchemy Wars, is also published in the UK by Orbit: THE MECHANICAL and THE RISING. Released only recently, the latter novel has already been generating some stellar reviews.

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

Out now: THE RISING by Ian Tregillis

Posted on Thursday, December 3rd, 2015

Ian Tregillis‘s new novel, THE RISING, is published today in the UK by Orbit Books! The second novel in the Alchemy Wars series, here’s the synopsis…

They called me Jax.

That was the name given by those who built me and enslaved me. But a miracle has happened, and now my bonds are broken.

Now I must flee – because a rogue mechanical is a very dangerous thing.

But I will not run forever.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, this is the second novel in a stunning new series by Ian Tregillis, confirming his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

Orbit also publish in the UK the first in the series, THE MECHANICAL, and the author’s previous series, the Milkweed Triptych. Here’s just a small selection of the great reviews Ian’s novels have received…

‘An original approach to a well-known subject matter; human ethics and free will… a fascinating world… Tregillis is a capable sculptor of narrative. He rarely drags on in his descriptions, painting a complex picture of his world one section at a time. He imbues most characters with a specific internal voice, ably switching between points of view without it ever jarring… This opener to the Alchemy Wars trilogy delivers a mostly fresh breath of sci-fi fantasy.’ — SciFi Now on THE MECHANICAL

‘Truly excellent: I have rarely found myself this gripped by a book… Tregillis has an excellent eye for characterisation, and a master’s grasp of how to build tension to a breaking point: the sheer narrative drive here, the way in which the storylines of the three point-of-view characters support and reinforce the tension in each other, is a thing of beauty… I’m very much on board to see what happens next. Even though it’s probably going to horrify me more.’ — Locus on THE MECHANICAL

‘Far deeper than you might expect… Aside from the depth of characters and meanings, this book is filled with the kinds of exciting, intelligent and intense scenes that you’ll find in only the best page turners… written so damned beautifully… Tregillis writes with authority while displaying a firm understanding of the subtler things that make us human… Whether you are looking for a cool alternate history that questions the core of humanity or just a damned brilliant story with twisted powers and great action, you should check this out and be wowed. It’s one hell of a ride.’ — Fantasy Faction on BITTER SEEDS

‘Engrossing… Tregillis ably mixes cold war paranoia with his mythology, also nicely expanding characters… The monstrous, extra-dimensional Eidolons add a genuinely convincing menace that transcends the more banal evil motivations of the political game players, although Gretel’s more complicated motivations really drive the action. A few nice twists keep things interesting, and the cliffhanger ending sets up the concluding volume quite well…’ — Publishers Weekly on THE COLDEST WAR

‘Ian Tregillis triumphantly concludes his astonishing, brilliant, pulse-pounding debut trilogy… unexpected and chilling… questions of loyalty and betrayal so thorny that they need a time-travel loop to really be explored… spy-thriller action sequences that will keep you up under the covers with a flashlight, turning pages and unable to sleep. This is a remarkable set of books, and with all three in hand, would make a fabulous spring read.’ — BoingBoing on NECESSARY EVIL

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

New ONYX COURT Re-Issue Covers and Details (UK)

Posted on Friday, October 30th, 2015

Above you can see the first two new covers for Marie Brennan‘s Onyx Court series. These re-issues are due to be published by Titan Books in the UK in 2015-16. Here’s the synopsis for MIDNIGHT NEVER COME…

England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs. But a great light casts a great shadow.

In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected only by a few.

Two courtiers, both struggling for royal favor, are about to uncover the secrets that lie behind these two thrones. When the faerie lady Lune is sent to monitor and manipulate Elizabeth’s spymaster, Walsingham, her path crosses that of Michael Deven, a mortal gentleman and agent of Walsingham’s. His discovery of the “hidden player” in English politics will test Lune’s loyalty and Deven’s courage alike. Will she betray her Queen for the sake of a world that is not hers? And can he survive in the alien and Machiavellian world of the fae? For only together will they be able to find the source of Invidiana’s power — find it, and break it…

A breathtaking fantasy novel of intrigue and betrayal set in Elizabethan England; Midnight Never Come seamlessly weaves together history and the fantastic to dazzling effect.

MIDNIGHT NEVER COME is due to be published next month. The Onyx Court series also includes IN ASHES LIE (June 2016), A STAR SHALL FALL (release date TBC) and WITH FATE CONSPIRE (release date TBC). The novels were originally published in the UK by Orbit Books.

Marie Brennan is also the critically-acclaimed author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent fantasy series, also published in the UK by Titan Books.

‘Stunningly conceived and exquisitely achieved…’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on MIDNIGHT NEVER COME

‘Strong prose, tight plotting, mischievous humor, quick pacing and wonderful storytelling that fully engages the reader.’ — Fantasy Book Critic on MIDNIGHT NEVER COME

‘Brennan has created a fascinating hidden underworld beneath London, and it’s enhanced by prose that has an elegance perfect for historical fantasy.’ — RT Book Reviews on IN ASHES LIE

‘Marie Brennan juggled complex politics, plague, and fire to great effect in IN ASHES LIE.’ — Strange Horizons on IN ASHES LIE

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

Cover: THE RISING by Ian Tregillis

Posted on Friday, August 7th, 2015

This week, the cover for Ian Tregillis‘s THE RISING was unveiled by Orbit Books. The second novel in the Alchemy Wars series, here is the synopsis…

The second book in the Alchemy Wars trilogy by Ian Tregillis, an epic tale of liberation and war.

Jax, a rogue Clakker, has wreaked havoc upon the Clockmakers’ Guild by destroying the Grand Forge. Reborn in the flames, he must begin his life as a free Clakker, but liberation proves its own burden.

Berenice, formerly the legendary spymaster of New France, mastermind behind her nation’s attempts to undermine the Dutch Hegemony — has been banished from her homeland and captured by the Clockmakers Guild’s draconian secret police force.

Meanwhile, Captain Hugo Longchamp is faced with rallying the beleaguered and untested defenders of Marseilles-in-the-West for the inevitable onslaught from the Brasswork Throne and its army of mechanical soldiers.

THE RISING is due to be published in the UK on December 3rd, 2015. It is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed THE MECHANICAL, which was published by Orbit Books in March 2015. Orbit also published Ian’s widely-praised Milkweed Triptych in the UK: BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL.

THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis Available Tomorrow in the UK

Posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

Tomorrow, Orbit Books publish THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis in the UK in eBook. The print edition will arrive in stores this Thursday. The first novel in his new alternative history fantasy series, The Alchemy Wars, here’s the synopsis…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

THE MECHANICAL has already garnered a handful of great advance reviews. Here are just a couple…

‘A rousing SF/fantasy adventure, with a brilliantly imagined and beautifully rendered alternate world.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

Tregillis is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Milkweed Triptych – BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL – which was also published by Orbit Books in the UK.

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

Cover Reveal: Latvian Edition of NECESSARY EVIL by Ian Tregillis

Posted on Friday, December 19th, 2014

Above we have the Latvian edition of Ian Tregillis‘s critically-acclaimed NECESSARY EVIL. The third novel in the Milkweed Triptych, it is published in Latvia by Prometejs as NEPIECIEŠAMAIS ĻAUNUMS. Prometejs have also published the first two novels in the series: BITTER SEEDS and THE COLDEST WAR — as RŪGTĀS SĒKLAS and VUSAUKSTĀKAIS KARŠ, respectively.

The Milkweed Trilogy is published in the UK by Orbit Books. Here is the English-language synopsis for NECESSARY EVIL…

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

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

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

Below are the Latvian covers for RŪGTĀS SĒKLAS and VUSAUKSTĀKAIS KARŠ and also the UK covers…

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

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

‘The historic backdrop of World War Two is intricately detailed, and captures the British wartime spirit well. A suitably epic end to the magnificent Milkweed Triptych (aka trilogy!), this draws you in and keeps you glued to the page until the very end.’ — British Fantasy Society

‘The masterful conclusion… In the final book in Tregillis’s awesome Milkweed Triptych, superhumans and dark magic collide once again in a secret, supernatural history of early Twentieth Century. A series that has consistently impressed me, and improved with each book, NECESSARY EVIL brings the story to a close with aplomb… Gretel is an absolutely fascinating character, and one of my favourites in any book or series: she is both star and villain; Machiavellian in the extreme and ultimately tragic… Ultimately, Tregillis brings the novel and series to a brilliant close. The ending of NECESSARY EVIL is heart-wrenching… but it feels right, given what’s come before. The Milkweed Triptych is one of my all-time favourite series. It is a must-read. Very highly recommended.’ — Civilian Reader

‘[The] Milkweed Triptych is one of the most enjoyable and clever series on the market right now… one of the best novels I’ve read… If you like Science Fiction, this is the series for you. If you like Alternate History, this is the series for you. If you like Urban Fantasy, yes, this series is also for you. If you just like well-written novels with well-made characters and an expertly crafted story, then this series is for you. NECESSARY EVIL is the perfect conclusion to what is now one of my favorite series ever.’ — Elitist Book Reviews

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

Cover Reveal: THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis

Posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2014

We are absolutely delighted to share with you today the cover for Ian Tregillis‘s highly-anticipated next novel, THE MECHANICAL. Due to be published by Orbit Books in March 2015, it is the first in a new trilogy – The Alchemy Wars. Here’s the synopsis…

My name is Jax.

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

I am a clakker: a mechanical man, powered by alchemy. Armies of my kind have conquered the world – and made the Brasswork Throne the sole superpower.

I am a faithful servant. I am the ultimate fighting machine. I am endowed with great strength and boundless stamina.

But I am beholden to the wishes of my human masters.

I am a slave. But I shall be free.

Ian is the author of the critically-acclaimed Milkweed Triptych – BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL. Not so long ago, we shared some effusive responses to that trilogy from multiple Orbit staffers. It would appear that THE MECHANICAL is causing a similar stir already. Here’s senior editor Anna Gregson, writing for the publisher’s own cover reveal post:

‘THE MECHANICAL – in my humble opinion – is going to blow people’s minds… Part science fiction, part fantasy and part alternate history, this book shows the incredible imagination of an exceptionally skilled author… It’s a truly stunning book. Intricately crafted, hauntingly atmospheric, and just gripping. You won’t want to miss this one.’

Naturally, we agree. You can find more reviews of Ian’s Milkweed Triptych here.

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

New International Covers for Ian Tregillis!

Posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2014

Ian Tregillis‘s Milkweed Triptych has been praised far and wide – by critics, contemporaries and almost everyone at his publisher! We are very pleased, therefore, to share with you information about and artwork for the growing number of international editions. All three novels in the trilogy – BITTER SEEDS, THE COLDEST WAR and NECESSARY EVIL – are out now in the UK, published by Orbit Books.

First, we have a complete set of German covers, published by Festa Verlag, an acquisition we announced back in February…

Next, here are the French, Polish and Latvian covers for BITTER SEEDS…

BITTER SEEDS is published in France by Eclipse, Poland by MAG, and Latvia by Ventspils Biblioteka. We’ll share the next covers for these territories as soon as they are unveiled.

And, finally, we have an Italian cover for Ian’s supernatural noir thriller, SOMETHING MORE THAN NIGHT, published by Asengard…

Ian’s next novel, THE MECHANICAL, is due out in the UK in November 2014, and will also be published by Orbit Books. It is the first in a new, exciting fantasy-steampunk series.

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