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Charlie Human’s KILL BAXTER Out Tomorrow in US

Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2015

Charlie Human‘s second novel, KILL BAXTER, is out tomorrow in the US! Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

AND HE THOUGHT THE HARD PART WAS OVER…

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

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

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

The novel takes readers back to the urban fantastical South Africa of the author’s critically-acclaimed debut, APOCALYPSE NOW NOW. The novel is published in the UK by Arrow, and in South Africa by Random Struik/Umuzi. The first novel in the series is also available in Turkey, Italy and Japan; earlier this year, it was also recently optioned for the big screen.

‘It’s mad, dark, irreverent and wonderfully twisted in all the right ways.’ — Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls

‘Like its predecessor, KILL BAXTER is laugh out loud funny and fiendishly creative… Baxter himself is as entertaining a companion as ever… tighter and more focused, and just as gloriously insane. Dark, mad, imaginative, and hilarious; KILL BAXTER is a joy.’ — SciFiNow

‘Just as the author punctures holes in the twee/charming class system of magical boarding schools, Human also goes after many of the other traditions of epic fantasy… APOCALYPSE NOW NOW was a very clever, extremely dark book with an underpinning of real insight into the teenage mind. KILL BAXTER is a step beyond — a viciously sharp adventure that combines explosive entertainment with cutting satire; the best traditions of contemporary fantasy with the truth of what it actually means to be contemporary. The odd book that should appeal to those who love fantasy and those that hate it. And I would heartily recommend it either way.’ — Pornokitsch

‘The antidote to Harry Potter is back… a lively elaboration of the mad as pants brand of South African urban fantasy advanced in APOCALYPSE NOW NOW… everything Human’s debut did well, KILL BAXTER does better… the setting, again, is superlative… the way in which South African folklore figures into the fiction is fantastic… and KILL BAXTER is a markedly more brutal book… more than a match for Charlie Human’s addictive debut. This, then, is urban fantasy on magical meth. You will want more.’ — Tor.com

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.

Marie Brennan’s LADY TRENT Series Now in Audio

Posted on Monday, October 26th, 2015

Marie Brennan‘s critically acclaimed Lady Trent series is now available in audio. Released by W.F. Howes, so far the first two books — A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS and THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS — are available, with the third to come soon. Here’s the synopsis for the first novel in the series…

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

The Lady Trent series is published in print in the UK by Titan Books. Here’s just a small selection from the many great reviews the series has received so far…

‘Brennan’s world-building is wonderfully subtle, rendering a familiar land alien with casual details. Fans of fantasy, science, and history will adore this rich and absorbing tale of discovery.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS

‘Lady Isabella Trent is a wonderfully charming female-lead who is willing to break from the gender roles of the era and do as her heart desires, study dragons… Marie Brennan does an incredible job of writing in multiple voices… Brennan expertly maintains the balance that makes this commentary fun and informative, without pulling you from the actual story. It’s a brilliant touch that brings a level of authenticity to the memoir-style… the interior illustrations, also done by Todd Lockwood, are just as stunning.’ — Fantasy Faction on A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS

‘Uncompromisingly honest and forthright as the first, narrated in Brennan’s usual crisp, vivid style, with a heroine at once admirable, formidable and captivating. Reader, lose no time in making Isabella’s acquaintance.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review) on THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS

‘A rollicking adventure in which women wearing unnerving amounts of underwear tromp through jungles on dragon-hunting safaris. Really, that should be more than enough for just about everyone.’ — New York Times on THE TROPIC OF SERPENTS

‘VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK combines grand adventure with fascinating insights into the principles behind a world that could almost be our own.’ — Locus

‘Beautifully worked and thoroughly engrossing. Fans of this charming series won’t be disappointed.’ — Kirkus on VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK

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

Upcoming US Event: McDonald & Snodgrass at The Last Bookstore

Posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015

This Thursday, Ian McDonald and Melinda Snodgrass will be hosted by The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles for interviews and book signing. The event is on September 24th, and starts at 7pm (full details at the link above).

Ian McDonald is the author of, most recently, LUNA: NEW MOON. The first in a two-part science fiction series set on the moon, it is published today in the US by Tor Books, and in the UK by Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

The Moon wants to kill you. Whether it’s being unable to pay your per diem for your allotted food, water, and air, or you just get caught up in a fight between the Moon’s ruling corporations, the Five Dragons. You must fight for every inch you want to gain in the Moon’s near feudal society. And that is just what Adriana Corta did.

As the leader of the Moon’s newest “dragon,” Adriana has wrested control of the Moon’s Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family’s new status. Now, at the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation, Corta Helio, surrounded by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana’s five children must defend their mother’s empire from her many enemies… and each other.

You can read an excerpt from the novel, here. Here’s a selection of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘McDonald… begins his superb near-future series… scintillating, violent, and decadent world. McDonald creates a complex and fascinating civilization featuring believable technology, and the characters are fully developed, with individually gripping stories. Watch for this brilliantly constructed family saga on next year’s award ballots.‘ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Fans of cerebral, high-concept science fiction will love this exploration of society on the moon many decades after it has been colonized. The focus is more on concept and plot than on character, but the former are compelling enough to make this an addictive page-turner. Including the stories of many characters gives the reader important insights into different facets of society, and although the book starts at a slow pace, it accelerates into a mesmerizing political thriller.‘ — RT Book Reviews

‘A refreshing and complex science fiction of the best kind – one that is universally clever and thought provoking, and one that stays with you long after you close the final page.’ — Upcoming4Me

Melinda Snodgrass is the author of the critically-acclaimed Edge series: THE EDGE OF REASON, THE EDGE OF RUIN, THE EDGE OF DAWN. Published in the US by Tor Books, it is published in the UK by Titan Books. Here’s the synopsis for the first in the series…

A contemporary fantasy that explores the tensions between science and rationality, religion and superstition. An intelligent blend of Dante’s Inferno and Urban Fantasy…

Richard Oort is a cop. He’s also the last Paladin: a reluctant hero, fated to defend the world against demonic forces that threaten to plunge us into another Dark Age.

Richard is on patrol one night when he leaps to the defense of a terrified young woman fleeing something impossible: beings that can only be described as monsters. Beings that can only have been created by magic. But in saving the beautiful Rhianna, he gets drawn into the machinations of a mysterious billionaire who just might be Prometheus and Lucifer. And who claims to be waging a millennia-old war on the side of reason and light, defending humanity from others of his kind who want nothing more than to see us destroy ourselves with superstition, religion, darkness, fear.

But when Richard discovers he’s a Paladin — product of a genetic fluke that enables him to wield Lucifer’s sword — he becomes a central figure in the battle between Light and Darkness. But is he strong enough to bear the burden?

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

‘[A] gritty narrative of a war between light and dark… Balanc[es] a harsh critique of organized religion with touches of humor and a good-hearted priest who grounds his faith in the Golden Rule…’ — Publishers Weekly on THE EDGE OF REASON

‘Snodgrass has a thick, meaty writing style that will satisfy the hungriest reader… she deftly weaves [her characters’] stories together to bind the interest and excitement of the story. Events in this novel will challenge the beliefs and thought systems of many and leave readers questioning themselves – but in a highly satisfying manner.’ — RT Book Reviews on THE EDGE OF RUIN

‘A rousing finale… A terrific conclusion to this epic urban fantasy, Snodgrass continues to define the genre on her own terms. This is one book readers should grab on to now, because it might prove to be a harbinger for the next phase of urban fantasy. Recommended.‘ — SF Revu on THE EDGE OF DAWN

Zeno represents Melinda Snodgrass in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Kay McCauley at Aurous, Inc.

HALLOW POINT by Ari Marmell Out Tomorrow in the UK

Posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2015

Tomorrow, Titan Books publish Ari Marmell‘s HALLOW POINT. The second novel in the Mick Oberon urban fantasy series, here’s the synopsis…

Mick Oberon may look like just another 1930s private detective, but beneath the fedora and the overcoat, he’s got pointy ears and he’s packing a wand. The Spear of Lugh is in Chicago. And everyone, everyone wants it, for it is said that he who carries the spear into battle cannot be defeated. Those chasing it include an agent of the infamous Wild Hunt; a mobster who knows far more about these things than he should; and of course both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts — the very last people PI Mick Oberon would want getting hold of the spear…

Titan Books also published the first novel in the series, HOT LEAD, COLD IRON.

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

Out Tomorrow: THE EDGE OF DAWN by Melinda Snodgrass

Posted on Thursday, August 20th, 2015

Tomorrow, Titan Books publish the long-awaited third novel in Melinda Snodgrass‘s Edge series, THE EDGE OF DAWN. Here’s the synopsis…

The final battle approaches for a band of modern paladins, fighting for the light of science and reason, and against an ancient supernatural army poised to destroy the world.

What do you do when the Earth is under assault from monstrous creatures by alternate dimensions and you’re the only person who can wield the weapon that can destroy them? That’s the situation facing Richard Oort, hero of the Edge novels.

Lonely and overwhelmed after a series of terrifying, catastrophic global and personal events, Richard is still determined to save the world from the horrific Old Ones. He goes undercover in a Christian fundamentalist compound, playing house with an attractive FBI agent. At first, this only serves to increase his loneliness, missing his real family, but against all odds discovers another unique human who can use the paladin’s weapon, one who might be able to join him and lighten the burden of responsibility. There’s only one problem — Mosi is a nine-year-old Navajo girl.

Their enemies are trying to kill both Richard and Mosi — and have already killed Mosi’s family. To keep her safe Richard becomes her guardian, but an error in judgement leads to disaster and betrayal, and now the odd pair will need to summon all their strength to survive the coming battle. From the American southwest to a secret society in Turkey, the paladin and his ward try to stay in front of their enemies, but the world is at stake — and time is running short.

The novel is published in the US by Tor Books, who has shared an excerpt from the novel here.

The first two novels in the series, THE EDGE OF REASON and THE EDGE OF RUIN, are also published in the UK by Titan Books. Here’s some praise the series has received so far…

‘If H.P. Lovecraft and H. L. Mencken had ever collaborated, they might have come up with something like THE EDGE OF REASON. This one will delight thinkers — and outrage true believers — of all stripes.’ — George R. R. Martin

‘This riveting tale resonates on many levels. Snodgrass entertains while skillfully raising questions about the origins of religion and technology that may offend some readers. There are chills and thrills aplenty, as well as food for thought. The characters are good, especially the hero’s emotional upheaval. You’ll be hooked until the end.’ — RT Book Reviews

Zeno represents Melinda Snodgrass in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Kay McCauley at Aurous, Inc.

William C. Dietz’s REDZONE Out Now in the UK

Posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2015

Today, Titan Books publish William C. Dietz‘s REDZONE in the UK. It is the second novel in the author’s new Mutant Files urban fantasy series. Here is the synopsis…

The year is 2065, almost thirty years since a bioterrorist attack decimated the population. The world has been divided, and new nations have formed. Those mutated from exposure inhabit the red zones, while “norms” live in the green zones.

In the nation of Pacifica, Los Angeles detective Cassandra Lee is in charge of investigating a disturbing case, tracking a cop killer dubbed the Bonebreaker. But strange new murders have occurred, falling outside the normal pattern and leaving Lee and her team wondering if the serial killer has become unpredictable — or if he’s no longer acting alone…

To make matters worse, Lee’s attention is diverted after she receives a letter from her long-lost mother. Now she must venture into the red zone, a lawless land where might makes right — and where the biggest danger may be her own family.

Publishers Weekly called REDZONE a ‘sharp sequel’, and ‘its brisk pacing and suspenseful twists will suck in readers…’ The first novel in the series, DEADEYE, was also published by Titan Books, in May 2015. Titan also publish a number of Dietz’s Legion of the Damned military sci-fi novels in the UK.

Zeno represents William C. Dietz in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Short Fiction Watch: Edward Cox and Freda Warrington among LEGENDS…

Posted on Thursday, July 23rd, 2015

Zeno clients Freda Warrington and Edward Cox have stories included in the upcoming LEGENDS II anthology, honouring the legacy of David Gemmell. Published by Newcon Press on August 3rd, 2015, and edited by Ian Whates, it is a collection of stories featuring ‘Determined warriors, hideous creatures, wicked sorceries, tricksy villains and cunning lovers… as fantasy’s finest imaginations do their best and their worst…‘

Edward Cox’s story is THE LOWEST PLACE, and Freda Warrington has contributed AN OWL IN MOONLIGHT.

Edward Cox is the author of THE RELIC GUILD and upcoming sequel THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS. Both are published by Gollancz in the UK.

Freda Warrington is the author of, most recently, the Blood Wine series, published in the UK and US by Titan Books: A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE, A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET, THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES, THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD.

THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD out now in the US!

Posted on Tuesday, July 21st, 2015

The highly-anticipated fourth novel in Freda Warrington‘s Blood Wine series, THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD, is out today in the US! Published by Titan Books in both the US and UK, here’s the synopsis…

1927: In the turmoil and glamour of 1920s Europe, vampires Karl, Charlotte and Violette face threats to their very existence. Fiery, handsome dancer Emil achieves his dream to partner the legendary ballerina Violette Lenoir – until his forbidden desire for her becomes an obsession. Rejected, spiralling towards madness, he seeks solace with a mysterious beauty, Leyla. But she too is a vampire, with a hidden agenda…

Is Leyla more dangerous than the sinister activist, Goderich Mann? When Karl and Charlotte undertake an exotic, perilous journey to rescue Emil, they unearth secrets that threaten disaster for vampire-kind.

You can read an excerpt from the novel here; and also an exclusive short story set in the same reality, here.

Here are just a sample of the reviews the long-awaited novel has received…

‘Dark and sensual and atmospheric, this stunning book continues the story of Karl, Charlotte and their friends, deftly expanding the mythos of vampires and introducing new characters that are sure to become favourites.’ — Aliette de Bodard

‘Freda Warrington’s vampire novels make for lush, intense dramas involving angst-haunted, fierce undead–lovers, enemies, family members, friends, despots, sometimes religious fanatics or raving lunatics… I remain very impressed by this author and the vampire saga she has crafted.’ — Vampires.com

The other three novels in the series are also published on both sides of the Atlantic by Titan Books: A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE, A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET, THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES. The first three novels are also available as audiobooks through Audible.

Charlie Human’s APOCALYPSE NOW NOW Optioned for the Big Screen!

Posted on Monday, July 20th, 2015

As reported by Variety, the film rights for Charlie Human‘s debut urban fantasy novel, APOCALYPSE NOW NOW, have been acquired by the Canadian production house Redlab Digital, in collaboration with Los Angeles-based XYZ Films, and South Africa-based Be Phat Motel productions. Terri Tatchell, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of District 9 and Chappie has been brought on board to pen the screenplay.

About the project, Tatchell said: ‘South Africa has always pushed through the usual limits of my imagination and APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is no exception. Charlie has actually upped the game and obliterated them all altogether. I am beyond excited!’

‘District 9 has been incredibly influential for South African speculative fiction writers,’ said Charlie Human, ‘so having Terri Tatchell on board to adapt APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is mind-blowing. XYZ, Redlab and Be Phat Motel make exactly the type of films that I’m into, and it’s incredibly gratifying to have them working on a story that was born out of my love for South African urban mythology.’

APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is the first in a two-book series, followed by KILL BAXTER. Here’s the synopsis…

I LOVE THE SMELL OF PARALLEL DIMENSIONS IN THE MORNING

Baxter Zevcenko’s life is pretty sweet. As the 16-year-old kingpin of the Spider, his smut-peddling schoolyard syndicate, he’s making a name for himself as an up-and-coming entrepreneur. Profits are on the rise, the other gangs are staying out of his business, and he’s going out with Esme, the girl of his dreams.

But when Esme gets kidnapped, and all the clues point towards strange forces at work, things start to get seriously weird. The only man drunk enough to help is a bearded, booze-soaked, supernatural bounty hunter that goes by the name of Jackson ‘Jackie’ Ronin.

Plunged into the increasingly bizarre landscape of Cape Town’s supernatural underworld, Baxter and Ronin team up to save Esme. On a journey that takes them through the realms of impossibility, they must face every conceivable nightmare to get her back, including the odd brush with the Apocalypse.

APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is published in the UK by Arrow, the US by Titan Books, and in South Africa by Umuzi/Random Struik (in both English and Afrikaans). It has also been published in translation in Turkey, Japan and Italy. Here are the covers (so far)…

KILL BAXTER is also published in the UK by Arrow, in South Africa by Umuzi/Random Struik, and is due to be published in the US in November 2015 by Titan Books.

The novel has been praised far and wide for its mad genius and gloriously twisted story, voice and world-building. Here’s just a small selection of reviews it has received…

‘It’s mad, dark, irreverent and wonderfully twisted in all the right ways.’ — Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls

‘Brilliantly entertaining.’ — British Fantasy Society

‘A riot – a firebomb of a novel, exploding with sick humour, violence and depravity… it’s never less than very funny, and the ongoing question of Baxter’s sanity adds a degree of mystery. There’s warmth here, too – you’ll likely feel sympathy for Bax by the end.’ — SFX Magazine

‘Think Lauren Beukes meets Neil Gaiman, with bounty hunters.’ — Wired (UK)

‘Wonderfully detailed scenarios, it’s fantastic… APOCALYPSE NOW NOW is often hilarious and tremendous fun…’ — SciFi Now

‘Breakneck pace and mad imagination… such an addictive experience. As one of an associate of Ronin’s remarks: “There’s no pause button, you understand? … Once it starts you have to see it through.” All too true!’ — Tor.com

THE UNNOTICEABLES by Robert Brockway Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Monday, July 6th, 2015

Tomorrow, Titan Books will publish Robert Brockway‘s ‘nightmarish and hilarious’ debut novel, THE UNNOTICEABLES. Here’s the synopsis…

There are angels, and they are not beneficent or loving. But they do watch over us. They watch our lives unfold, analyzing us for repeating patterns and redundancies. When they find them, the angels simplify those patterns, they remove the redundancies, and the problem that is you gets solved.

Carey doesn’t much like that idea. As a punk living in New York City, 1977, Carey is sick and tired of watching the strange kids with the unnoticeable faces abduct his friends. He doesn’t care about the rumors of tarmonsters in the sewers, or unkillable psychopaths invading the punk scene—all he wants is drink cheap beer and dispense asskickings.

Kaitlyn isn’t sure what she’s doing with her life. She came to Hollywood in 2013 to be a stunt woman, but last night a former teen heartthrob tried to eat her, her best friend has just gone missing, and there’s an angel outside her apartment.

Whatever she plans on doing with her life, it should probably happen in the few remaining minutes she has left of it.

There are angels. There are demons. They are the same thing. It’s up to Carey and Kaitlyn to stop them. The survival of the human race is in their hands.

We are, all of us, well and truly screwed.

Here’s some early praise for the novel…

‘This is an off-kilter, offbeat piece of work…[The characters’] threads finally come together in an adrenaline-fueled climax that reads like Hunter S. Thompson went drinking with Stephen King. Brockway’s style is raw and over the top, at times too clever and convoluted for its own good, but strangely readable, with unexpected depths.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Whatever those guys are smoking over at Cracked.com is working…Just kick back and enjoy the wild ride… [a] nasty, freaky, and haphazardly funny horror story.’ — Kirkus

‘Lean, mean, and perfectly balanced… manages to genuinely terrify and excite in equal measure. It’s twisted, and original… an essential read for the fantasy lover looking for a story with a little more bite.’ — Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy

THE UNNOTICEABLES is also published tomorrow in the US, by Tor Books.

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

UK Audio Rights for Gabriel Denning Sold

Posted on Thursday, June 11th, 2015

The UK & Commonwealth audio rights for Gabriel Denning‘s riotous mash-up WARLOCK HOLMES and its two sequels have sold to W.F. Howes. The deal was negotiated on behalf of Sam Morgan at the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York. Titan Books will be publishing in the UK and US. The first novel is scheduled for May 2016.

Here’s the pitch:

Sherlock Holmes is an unparalleled genius who uses the gift of deduction and reason to solve the most vexing of crimes.

Warlock Holmes, however, is an idiot. A good man, perhaps; a font of arcane power, certainly. But he’s brilliantly dim. Frankly, he couldn’t deduce his way out of a paper bag.

The only things he really has going for him are the might of a thousand demons and his stalwart flatmate. Thankfully, Dr. Watson is always there to aid him through the treacherous shoals of Victorian propriety … and save him from a gruesome death every now and again.

Gabriel Denning was born and raised in Seattle. He has published articles for the popular games company Wizards of the Coast, worked as a editor, written a video-game script for Nintendo, and scripted and performed shows at the Epcot Center, Walt Disney World. He now lives in Las Vegas with his family. To connect with the author, be sure to follow him on Twitter.

Tanya Huff and William Gibson Nominated for Aurora Awards

Posted on Friday, May 29th, 2015

The latest books by both Tanya Huff and William Gibson have been nominated in the Best Novel category in this year’s Aurora Awards! The Awards are the premier award for Science Fiction and Fantasy in Canada.

William Gibson’s THE PERIPHERAL is published in the UK by Penguin. The novel has recently been made available as an audiobook, too. As we reported earlier this week, the novel has also been nominated for the Campbell Award. 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.

THE PERIPHERAL has (perhaps unsurprisingly) been praise pretty far and wide. Here’s just a sample of reviews…

‘His writing has been refined over the years, but Gibson still maintains that sparse, edgy style that has been a characteristic of his work from the very beginning… Gibson remains as unnervingly prophetic as ever, making his futures feel like they’re just around the corner, products of humankind’s inability to act when necessary, transforming a sci-fi whodunit into a work of fiction that feels both ahead of its time and frighteningly relevant to today’s world.’ 9/10* — Starburst

‘Dramatic, scary, creepy,violent, and finally satisfying… like any really well-designed thrill ride or mystery tour (or sonnet or string quartet), as soon as you get off, you want to get right on for another go-round.’ — Locus

‘In THE PERIPHERAL, William Gibson’s first futuristic novel since 1999’s ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES, we experience the fantastic synthesis of a 20th century writer — the Gibson of NEUROMANCER, eyeball-kicks of flash and noir; and the Gibson of PATTERN RECOGNITION, arch and sly and dry and keen… A perfect fusion of Gibson’s pulp heritage with his fine-tuned design and social sensibilities… From the microscale word choices to the macroscale plot, structure and themes, the book is strange and contemporary in a perfectly futuristic way.’ — Boing Boing

Tanya Huff’s THE FUTURE FALLS is published in the UK by Titan Books. It is the third novel in the author’s Enchantment Emporium urban fantasy series. Here’s the synopsis…

When Auntie Catherine warns the family of an approaching asteroid, the Gales scramble to keep humans from going the way of the dinosaurs. Fortunately for the world, they’re wielding a guitar and a dragon.

The Gale family can change the world with the charms they cast, which has caused some supernaturally complicated family shenanigans in the past. So when NASA and Doomsday Dan confirm Auntie Catherine’s dire prediction, Charlotte “Charlie” Gale turns to the family for help.

But Allie is unavailable because the universe seems determined to have her produce the seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son of a Gale. And the Aunties can’t help because they’re tied to the earth – although they are happy to provide their delicious, trademark pies. And in the end, all Charlie has is a guitar…

…and Jack. The Dragon Prince, and a Sorcerer.

But Charlie might like Jack just a little too much, and Jack might like Charlie a little too much in return. Actually, between Allie’s hormones, the Aunties trying to force her and Jack into ritual, the Courts having way too much fun at the end of days, and Jack’s sudden desire to sacrifice himself for the good of the many, Charlie’s fairly certain that the asteroid is the least of her problems.

The Gales are going to need more than pie to save the world from an incoming asteroid. But together there isn’t anything they can’t deal with – except possibly each other.

Titan Books also publish the other books in the series — THE ENCHANTMENT EMPORIUM and THE WILD WAYS. Titan also publish Huff’s stand-alone novel THE SILVERED, and the author’s Confederation science-fiction series, which currently includes five books: VALOUR’S CHOICE, THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR, THE HEART OF VALOUR, VALOUR’S TRIAL and THE TRUTH OF VALOUR.

Zeno represents Tanya Huff in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency; and William Gibson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Martha Millard Literary Agency.

Out tomorrow: THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD by Freda Warrington

Posted on Thursday, May 28th, 2015

Freda Warrington‘s long-awaited and highly-anticipated fourth Blood Wine novel, THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD, is published tomorrow in the UK! The novel is published by Titan Books. Here’s the synopsis…

The novel follows A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE, A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET and THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES — all of which are also published by Titan Books. You can read an extract from a rare short story set in the Blood Wine universe, AND THEIR BLOOD WILL BE PRESCIENT TO FIRE, here.

Here’s just a small selection of reviews Warrington’s novels have received so far…

‘A tale which throbs with lush romanticism.’ — The Times on A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE

‘A really, really splendid read… Warrington shows her writer’s chops, layering in exquisite period detail. Sometimes the effect is playfully satirical… but more often it’s lusciously picturesque… Freda Warrington is like a cross between Anne Rice and Kim Newman – she has the sweep of one, the cleverness of the other… not to be missed.’ — Starburst on A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE

‘I would like to reaffirm what I said before about the writing: it’s splendid, and by that I mean the style is genuinely drop-dead beautiful with a compelling elegance and subtly romantic bent — in a word, it’s seductive. In three words: charming, graceful and all-round lush.’ — British Fantasy Society on A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET

‘A full-blooded gothique that rips more than bodices… Warrington’s vampire dynasty has the grandeur of a cobwebbed cathedral, and her plot is forged in operatic passions. Treating her subjects with theatrical intensity, she creates lush images, awash in colour and shadow, and the ideal gothic mood is preserved; a dark romance to lose yourself in.’ — Time Out on A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET

‘A great novel, which is entertainingly frightening, splendidly romantic and erotic, and darkly suspenseful. The true Queen of the vampire novel.’ — Black Tears Magazine on THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES

‘The third book in Freda Warrington’s brilliantly evocative Blood Wine Sequence, and for me at least, possibly one of the best… I’ve yet to end any review of one of Freda’s books without referring to the impressive style of her writing — it’s smart, compelling, and simply fabulous… So easy to recommend this…’ — British Fantasy Society on THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES

Read an Excerpt from Blaylock’s BENEATH LONDON

Posted on Monday, May 25th, 2015

The publication date for the next Langdon St. Ives novel, BENEATH LONDON, is fast approaching. The fourth novel in James P. Blaylock‘s pioneering steampunk series is due to be published in the UK by Titan Books on June 12th, 2015. To celebrate the upcoming release, the publisher have given Carabas a short excerpt from the novel.

Here’s the synopsis…

When the sudden collapse of the Victoria Embankment uncovers a passage to an unknown realm beneath London, Langdon St. Ives sets out explore it, not knowing that a brilliant and wealthy psychopathic murderer is working to keep the underworld’s secrets hidden for reasons of his own.

Assumed to be dead and buried deep beneath London, St. Ives lives secretly on the streets of the great city where he, Alice St. Ives, and their stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly crimes: the gruesome death of a witch in a forest hovel, the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl who can see into the human soul, and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi serve the strange, murderous ends of St. Ives’s greatest and most dangerous nemesis.

The Langdon St. Ives series also includes: HOMUNCULUS, LORD KELVIN’S MACHINE and THE AYLESFORD SKULL. The whole series is published in the UK by Titan Books.