BESTSELLING SFF DEBUTS OF 2008
- - January 14th, 2009
As well as publishing many established writers, Orbit is committed to launching new authors — and we put a lot of effort into our publishing plans for them. Early success for an author isn’t always necessary to ensure a successful writing career (and it doesn’t always guarantee one), but it’s certainly a great help and encouragement to all concerned.
We’re happy, thrilled, and pleased as punch, to report that in 2008 Orbit published the bestselling SFF debut novels in both the UK and the US.
In the UK, the bestselling SFF debut of 2008 was THE WAY OF SHADOWS, by Brent Weeks. The first book in the Night Angel Trilogy, we published it in October, and with the second and third volumes following in subsequent months it quickly became clear that fans everywhere were talking about Brent and THE WAY OF SHADOWS. This year has also got off to a great start for Brent: this week, the three books in the Night Angel Trilogy are the first, second, and third bestselling mass-market paperbacks in the UK SFF market.
In the US, Orbit published the two bestselling debuts of the year. Double happy! The bestselling SFF debut of 2008 was ACROSS THE FACE OF THE WORLD, by Russell Kirkpatrick, the first volume in the Fire of Heaven Trilogy. This is a great fantasy adventure series, with world-building and storytelling equally epic in scope. The second bestselling debut of 2008 in the US was Brent Weeks’ THE WAY OF SHADOWS (see above!).
Congratulations from all at Orbit to Russell and Brent … and here’s wishing a Happy New Year to everyone — especially the loyal readers who helped make Russell and Brent so successful.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Do you know what the best selling Science Fiction debut was in the UK? (I realise that the genre boundary might be hard to define.) Or even, more interesting, the raw stats / top 10 that Orbit sold in 2008?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Brent Weeks is a stud. Please make sure to crack that whip and get him writing future books. He has a talent. Thanks for publishing him.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Well, Russell, you can take this as a threat or as a promise, but the next time we both debut in the same year as SFF authors, I’m going to kick your–oh, wait. Uh, nevermind. (Seriously, congrats!)
-Brent Weeks
January 15th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Sorry to say Russell Kirkpatrick was missed by my radar this year, an error I hope to rectify soon. I think i’ve already established how much I liked the other guys books.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Congrats to Brent, Russell and Orbit. Definitely sad we have a long wait for the next book by Brent. I just started reading Path of Revenge by Russell Kirkpatrick and I must say its off to a really good start.