Archive for June, 2007

Best Summer Reads

Saturday, June 30th, 2007 by George Walkley

Glasshouse by Charles StrossToday’s edition of The Times includes their choice of best summer reads, including an SF selection from critic Lisa Tuttle. There’s a good representation of Orbit UK titles: the ubiquitous Charles Stross picks up a fantastic recommendation for Glasshouse, which “twists and surprises in impressively mind-bending style.”

Meanwhile, Laurell K. Hamilton, whose latest Anita Blake novel The Harlequin is published by us this month was described as “the queen of erotic vampire thrillers . . . increasingly baroque, but still a hardcore guilty pleasure.”

Finally, two books published by our sister imprint Atom, which publishes for young adult readers, were also chosen: Scott Westerfeld’s Parasite Positive is described as “the best of the many vampire books around”, while Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight is recommended for “those who prefer the more romantic idea of the sexy vampire . . . an old-fashioned love story in modern dress.”

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Orbit in SFX #159

Friday, June 29th, 2007 by George Walkley

No Dominion by Charlie HustonHot on the heels of the coverage in the latest issue of Death Ray, the new issue of SFX just arrived. Like their rivals at Death Ray, they had good thing to say about Christopher Moore’s A Dirty Job: “The real joy . . . comes from the way that, rather than relying on the central premise to carry him through, Moore wrings so many laughs from the incidental stuff. This contrast of the domestic with the demonic draws comparisons to Buffy the Vampire Slayer but, as well as matching Joss Whedon’s whip-smart dialogue joke for joke, Moore is an exceptional novelist. At times, his prose exudes the quality of John Irving.”

They also review Charlie Huston’s new book No Dominion, the second outing for vampyre private eye Joe Pitt, of which they write: “You’ll like this . . . it’s a damn fine read and, crucially, a very interesting new take on vampires.”

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Jeff Somers’ Fugue of Pain

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 by Alex Lencicki

Jeff Somers
Jeff Somers, author of The Electric Church (Orbit US and UK Sept. 07) has been blogging (reluctantly and hilariously) at Jeffreysomers.com/blather.

Before being ‘compelled’ to blog, Jeff was a long-time zine publisher, running the The Inner Swine since 1995. (The Inner Swine has the kind of cult following that posts videos of dogs eating the latest issue.)

In his latest posts, Jeff writes about the economics of zine publishing, the mixed blessing of telecommuting, and the lengths Orbit goes to encourage our authors to blog.

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Death Ray Issue 3 Out

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 by George Walkley

A Dirty Job by Christopher MooreI’ve just received my copy of issue 3 of Death Ray, a startup glossy SF magazine. It’s good to report that there are some nice reviews of Orbit UK titles, especially Allen Steele’s Spindrift — “an interesting, entertaining, well-told tale” — and Christopher Moore’s A Dirty Job, described as “an insightful piece on the nature of death, and grief, how we deal with such things and find the strength to go on. Christopher Moore is adept at making such points even while making the reader laugh out loud at the absurdity of life in general. And that’s his greatest strength.”

There’s also an interesting feature on the young adult/SF crossover, with contributions from Orbit’s Publishing Director Tim Holman and Editorial Director Darren Nash. And though we don’t publish either of these authors, I really enjoyed the extended piece on Neil Gaiman and a shorter article on Samuel R. Delaney’s Babel-17. Death Ray is available through newsagents in the UK, and readers in the US can find it at branches of Barnes & Noble and Borders.

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Mike Carey interview

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 by George Walkley

There’s a terrific interview on Fantasy Book Critic with Mike Carey, whose series of novels featuring freelance exorcist Felix Castor is published by Orbit in the UK: The Devil You Know and Vicious Circle were published to massive acclaim last year, and the third book, Dead Men’s Boots, is due in September. Readers in America can discover just how dark and irresistible Castor’s world is in July, when our sister company Grand Central Publishing releases The Devil You Know in the US.

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Stross on Television

Monday, June 25th, 2007 by George Walkley

Orbit UK author Charles Stross can be seen on www.bookzone.tv, discussing his latest book The Atrocity Archives, which we’re publishing in paperback next month.

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Orbit Author on Radio 4

Friday, June 22nd, 2007 by Bella Pagan

Philip Palmer is the author of the fabulous debut Debatable Space, to be published by Orbit in January. He is also a dramatist of some note, and his short play Gaza is being recorded today to be broadcast on Radio 4 tomorrow at 7pm. Philip imagines what it’s like for ordinary people caught up in the violence and in-fighting in Gaza City, as well as portraying the reactions of British nationals working in the region.

The play will be repeated on Sunday, and you can catch it for a further week on the Listen Again section of the BBC website.

Do have a listen if you get the chance!

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Orbit in Australia

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 by Tim Holman

The launch of Orbit in the US is only a few months away, but it was off to Australia last week, with Orbit UK Editorial Director Darren Nash, for Convergence — the 46th Australian National SF Convention in Melbourne — and a week with our sister company Hachette Livre Australia in Sydney.

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The Top Ten SF Authors of the 00s

Monday, June 18th, 2007 by George Walkley

Marc Andreessen is one of the major figures of the Internet age — a founder of Netscape, he was a co-author of Mosaic, the first widely used web browser. Andreessen recently published his selection of the top ten SF authors this decade on his blog, and I was really pleased to see two of Orbit UK’s authors on the list.

Andreessen describes Charles Stross as ‘first among equals — the single best emerging talent’. Stross is a prolific writer: we published his acclaimed novel Glasshouse in March, and we’re due to publish his supernatural spy thriller The Atrocity Archives next month.

The other Orbit UK author picked is Ken MacLeod, of whom Andreessen writes: ‘MacLeod is incredibly creative — his imagination is second to none — and he’s a superb writer. [H]is novels certainly qualify as dizzyingly inventive and frequently rewarding.’ His most recent book, The Execution Channel, was published by us in April.

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Orbit at BEA

Friday, June 15th, 2007 by Alex Lencicki
orbit_team
Alex Lencicki, Jennifer Flax, Tim Holman, and Devi Pillai at BEA

Orbit launched in the US at Book Expo America in New York. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello. We still have ten messenger bags left, so we’re giving one to the first ten people to email us at orbit at hbgusa.com with the words “gimme one of those bags!” in the subject line. (This offer is only available to US residents.)

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Coming this Fall/Winter from Orbit US

Monday, June 11th, 2007 by Alex Lencicki

Winterbirth

By Brian Ruckley | September 2007 | ISBN: 0316067695, 9780316067690 | Fantasy | Trade Paperback

A sweeping epic of war and politics set in a harsh and brutal world…

Winterbirth Cover It is a godless world. As the third age dawns, the truce that has held for a generation will be broken. The armies of the Black Road are on the march.  On the battlefield old hatreds will reemerge, new loyalties will be forged, and all will fall under the shadow that is descending. This winter, the snow will run red with blood.

Read an extract from Winterbirth here.

The Electric Church

By Jeff Somers | September 2007| ISBN: 0316021725, 9780316021722 | Science Fiction | Trade Paperback

An explosive near-future thriller where Kill Bill meets Blade Runner…

The Electric Church CoverAvery Cates is a very bad man. Some would call him a criminal. He might even be a killer—for the right price. But right now, Avery Cates is scared. Because he’s up against the Monks: cyborgs with human brains, enhanced robotic bodies, and a small arsenal of advanced weaponry. Their mission is to convert anyone and everyone to the Electric Church.  But there is just one snag. Conversion means death.

Read chapter one of The Electric Church here.

The Dante Valentine Series

By Lilith Saintcrow

Cover

The return of one of urban fantasy’s hottest new stars…

Dante Valentine is not a happy camper.  She’s just signed away seven years of her life—and her partner’s—to hunt down four rogue demons that have escaped from hell. Maybe she’ll find them. Maybe they’ll find her.  Nobody said it was easy being the Devil’s right hand.

We are repackaging the first two novels to tie in with the release of The Devil’s Right Hand, and publishing these three new installments on a rapid bi-monthly schedule.

Read an extract of The Devil’s Right Hand here.

The Devil’s Right Hand | September 2007 | ISBN: 0316021423, 9780316021425 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

Saint City Sinners | November 2007 | ISBN: 0316021431, 9780316021432 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

To Hell and Back | January 2008 | ISBN: 0316001775, 9780316001779 Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

The Kingmaker, Kingbreaker Duology

By Karen Miller

A fast-paced fantasy adventure, with characters who leap off the page…

Innocent Mage CoverAsher is a fisherman’s son. He yearns for the city and a life away from everything—and everyone—he’s ever known. But when he finally arrives, he will realize that destiny asks for a steep price. And the sacrifice it demands may be his life.

The two books in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series will be published over two months to create instant shelf presence.

The Innocent Mage | September 2007 | ISBN: 0316067806, 9780316067805 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

The Awakened Mage | October 2007 | 0316067814, 9780316067812 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

The Jaz Parks Series

By Jennifer Rardin

An irresistible, action-packed debut from a new star in urban fantasy…

Once Bitten, Twice Shy CoverJaz Parks loves her job. She gets to travel, meet interesting people, drive fast cars… and once in a while, she even gets to kill the bad guys. There are perks to working with the C.I.A.’s top vampire assassin.

We are publishing the first three novels in this hot new series on a rapid bi-monthly schedule starting in October 2007


Once Bitten, Twice Shy | October 2007| ISBN: 031602046X, 9780316020466 | Fantasy | Trade Paperback

Another One Bites the Dust | December 2007 | 0316020575, 9780316020572| Fantasy | Trade Paperback

Biting the Bullet | February 2008 | ISBN: 0316020583, 9780316020589 | Fantasy | Trade Paperback

The Engineer Trilogy

By K.J. Parker

A brilliantly crafted tale of corruption, betrayal, and revenge…

Devices and DesiresFor a petty transgression of Guild law, an Engineer is exiled from his city and separated from his family. To get them back, he will have to design the most complex machine of all… A war.

The three books in the Engineer Trilogy will be published in three consecutive months.

 

Devices and Desires | October 2007 | ISBN: 0316003387, 9780316003384| Fantasy | Trade Paperback

Evil for Evil | November 2007 | 0316003395, 9780316003391 | Fantasy | Trade Paperback

The Escapement | December 2007 | 0316003409, 9780316003407 | Fantasy | Trade Paperback

The Fire of Heaven Trilogy

By Russell Kirkpatrick

An extraordinary feat of storytelling and world-building on a grand scale…

Across the Face of the WorldFrom a tiny snowbound village, six men and women embark on a dangerous quest to challenge an ancient evil, fulfill a prophecy, and change the course of their world’s history.

We will be publishing the Fire of Heaven Trilogy in three consecutive months.

 

Across the Face of the World | January 2008 | ISBN: 0316003417, 9780316003414 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

In the Earth Abides the Flame | February 2008 | ISBN: 0316003425, 9780316003421 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

The Right Hand of God | March 2008 | 0316003433, 9780316003438 | Fantasy | Mass Market Paperback

The Saga of Seven Suns

By Kevin J. Anderson

One of the most popular science fiction series of recent years continues…

Metal SwarmHumanity has survived many wars against the creatures of the known universe, and between themselves. But the Klikiss, a race long thought to be extinct, have returned. And they are willing to annihilate anyone who stands in their way.

 

Metal Swarm | December 2007 | ISBN: 0316021741, 9780316021746 | Science Fiction | Hardcover

Of Fire and Night | November 2007 | ISBN: 0316021733, 9780316021739 | Science Fiction | Mass Market

Debatable Space

By Philip Palmer | January 2008 | ISBN: 0316018929, 9780316018920 | Science Fiction | Trade Paperback

A wildly entertaining debut that blasts science fiction into mind-bending new territory…

Debatable SpaceFlanagan (who is, for want of a better word, a pirate) has a plan.  It involves kidnapping the daughter of the ruler of the known universe, holding her for ransom, and maybe, just maybe, ousting the Cheo from his throne and throwing the galaxy into a civil war. Too bad it hasn’t worked the previous times he’s tried it.  

Debatable Space is an audaciously executed tale of revolution and revenge set in the far future—and everywhere in-between.

Matter

By Iain M. Banks | February 2008 | ISBN:03160053633, 9780316005364| Science Fiction | Hardcover

A major novel from one of the most important voices in science fiction

The Culture is a far-future society of seemingly limitless resources and infinite technological possibilities. Yet the Culture is far from perfect, and it is still subject to brutal wars, political upheaval and intrusions from beyond the edges of known space.

The new novel from Iain M. Banks, set in the universe of the Culture, will be a major international event in the science fiction field. As part the Iain M. Banks publishing program, Orbit will also be relaunching his classic Culture novels: Consider Phlebas and The Player of Games.

Black Ships

By Jo Graham | March 2008 | ISBN: 0316068004, 9780316068000 | Fantasy | Trade Paperback

A hauntingly evocative and intensely moving historical fantasy debut…

Black Ships CoverThe world is ending. One by one, the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to floods, to raiders on both land and sea.

In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy and chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings.

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Jae Lee’s covers for The Electric Church

Monday, June 11th, 2007 by Devi Pillai

I’m Devi and I’m an Editor at Orbit and I’ll be chatting about the upcoming books, authors, reviews, etc.

I’ve just gotten early sketches for THE DIGITAL PLAGUE by Jeff Somers! That is his second book starring Avery Cates, criminal-for-hire.

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