Author Archive

The Legend of Eli Monpress

The whimsical fantasy tale The Legend of Eli Monpress containing The Spirit Thief, The Spirit Rebellion and The Spirit Eater, perfect for fans of K. E. Mills' Rogue Agent series and Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora Released in February is The Legend of Eli Monpress ( US | UK | ANZ) – Rachel Aaron‘s fantasy tale of the incorrigible thief who plans to pull of the greatest heist in history . . . If you’re a fan of K. E. Mills’ Rogue Agent series or Scott Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamora then this is likely right up your street. You can sample the delights of an extract right here.

This edition contains the three titles The Spirit Thief, The Spirit Rebellion and The Spirit Eater – all in one handy volume and topped off with this gorgeous packaging from Sam Weber (see this great post here showing him at work in his studio on these very illustrations).

Take a minute to stop by Rachel Aaron’s attractive new site, where’s she’s posted some very interesting tidbits recently, such as this fantastic book trailer put together by our friends at Orbit France for the très sophistiquée French version of The Legend of Eli Monpress. Also, check out this extremely creative pictorial review for The Spirit Thief, part one of the Legend. Good effort!

Read on for the blurb and some great reviews: (more…)

Ender’s Game

Hype continues to build for the movie adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s classic novel Ender’s Game. It’s due for release in 2013 and will be directed by Gavin Hood, whose previous work includes X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This is one of the most highly anticipated book-to-movie adaptations ever – and all over the interwebs fans have been getting excited that this book will finally be reaching the big screen.

Following the news that the role of Ender will be played by Asa Butterfield, star of Martin Scorsese’s Hugo,  rumours are circulating about who will feature alongside him. The Hollywood Reporter announced recently that True Grit’s Hailee Steinfeld is likely to play the role of Petra, and just today we’ve heard the news that Ben Kingsley, known for movies such as Schindler’s List, Shutter Island and Species, is also in talks to star in the movie. Even Harrison Ford has been mentioned as a possible Colonel Hyrum Graff.

We here at Orbit just can’t wait to see how it turns out, and I’m sure Card’s legion of fans can’t either. But who else would you like to see starring in this movie? Personally, I’m intrigued to see who will play Valentine and Peter . . .

In the meantime, look out for our reissue of Ender’s Game the novel (UK / ANZ), released this month in a shiny new package, and with a boy on the cover who looks not too dissimilar to Asa Butterfield coincidentally . . . (we must be psychic)

SHADOWHEART by Tad Williams

In case you haven’t spotted it yet, Shadowheart (UK / ANZ) was released this month in paperback. It’s the breathtaking conclusion to Tad Williams’  sweeping epic fantasy, the Shadowmarch series. The finale to this tale sees Barrick Eddon, prince of Southmarch, choosing where his loyalties lie – with the humans, or with the dark Qar race, whose legacy he has promised to safeguard . . . 

It’s a fantastic ending to a knock-out series and, as a massive Tad Williams fan, I must say this is certainly not to be missed. A few other people think so too:

‘Rich in detail and exploding with imagination. Dive in there and lose yourself’ SFX

‘It’s always bittersweet to see a series come to an end; as fans, we are always eager to find out what happens to our heroes and heroines, but, equally, we don’t want them to ever leave our lives . . . Williams convinced me to care utterly for his characters and there’s a hole now in my life where they once lived. Few storytellers can do that. Williams does it with alarming regularity’ A Dribble of Ink

‘Shadowrise and Shadowheart are as good an ending to a fantasy saga as I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading . . .’ Fantasy Book Critic

Read an extract right here. Tad Williams has also been under the Orbit spotlight this month, so if you haven’t tried Tad yet, go here to see just what you’re missing.

Ian Tregillis joins Orbit UK!

I’m very happy to announce that Orbit UK has acquired Bitter Seeds  plus two further novels by the highly talented Ian Tregillis.

Bitter Seeds is an audacious fantasy retelling of the events of World War II – where Nazis create superhumans that can throw fire, see the future and turn invisible, whilst the British warlocks use dark magics to hold back the German invasion. I was totally wowed by the deliciously sinister atmosphere of this novel, with its endlessly imaginative plot twists and awesome superhero-like characters. Ian has a very bright future ahead of him and I’m so glad that we’ve been able to take him on in the UK.

Bitter Seeds was released in the US last year to huge acclaim – here’s what people have said so far:

‘A major talent… I can’t wait to see more’ George R. R. Martin

‘Mad English warlocks battling twisted Nazi psychics? Yes please, thank you. Tregillis’s debut has a white-knuckle plot, beautiful descriptions, and complex characters– an unstoppable Vickers of a novel’ Cory Doctorow
 
‘Tregillis delivers a dynamite first novel in Bitter Seeds’ SFRevu.com
 
‘Bitter Seeds is hands down the best debut of 2010 so far’ Fantasy Book Critic
 
‘The crème de la crème of SFF debuts this year!’ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist

Look out for Bitter Seeds in December next year! Its sequels The Coldest War and Necessary Evil will be released in February 2013 and April 2013 respectively.

The Measure of the Magic & A Very Special Auction

Released 01/09/2011

This week Terry Brooks’ The Measure of the Magic (UK /ANZ) is released. It’s the striking conclusion to his Legends of Shannara duology, which began with Bearers of the Black Staff  (UK / ANZ) and explores the pre-history of Terry’s beloved Shannara world. You can read a sample chapter here.

To mark the occasion, we’d like to draw your attention to a special auction that is happening for a very good cause.

Stuart Finnie, who lives in Scotland and is undoubtedly one of Terry Brooks’ biggest ever fans, has been collecting Terry Brooks books and memorabilia of all kinds since age 11. From manuscripts, proof copies and first editions, to a spectacular sword and stunning maps, the collection is extremely extensive and wide-ranging, with almost all of the items included signed by Terry or the artists involved. The estimated value of Stuart’s entire collection, which he calls his “whole life”, is £30,000.

And Stuart has now decided to auction this whole collection off, with proceeds going to the cancer charity Macmillan. Having suffered from cancer himself, Stuart now wants to give back to the people who have helped him. We and Terry think this is a fantastically generous idea and wish Stuart all the best with the auction. You can read more about it in this article from the Evening Times.

Anyone who is interested in buying the collection or would like further information please contact April Andrews at Macmillan on 0141 952 0085 or e-mail westofscotland@macmillan.org.uk

Nicole Peeler’s Jane True makes a splash in the UK

Released this month in the UK, Australia and NZ are Tempest Rising (UK│ANZ) and Tracking the Tempest (UK│ANZ) – with a spangly new cover style. They’re books one and two in Nicole Peeler‘s sexy storm of a series, the Jane True novels. Books three and four, Tempest’s Legacy (UK│ANZ) and Eye of the Tempest (UK│ANZ), will follow hot on their heels this September and October respectively. So not long to wait to get your urban-fantasy-grabbing mitts on them!

 

Two weeks ago we ran a Twitter competition for UK readers to vote for their favourite of the above four covers. The result was Tempest Rising – good news as it’s the perfect place to dive into the world of supernatural halfling Jane True. You’ll see her coming to grips with her new-found powers over water (not to mention coming to grips with the rather dashing members of the supernatural community she meets for the first time…). The winner of the competition was Julie Fallon – congrats! Copies of the first four books will be winging (or more appropriately: swimming?) their way to you soon.   

 

THE EDINBURGH DEAD: Murder, body-snatching and black magic

Every August the city of Edinburgh is put in the spotlight due to the festival of comedy, music and theatre that’s held there. But lurking beneath this surface of joviality and hedonism, there is a much darker, more disturbing side to this city that most festival-goers don’t see. It’s a sinister and murky history littered with murder, grave robbing, executions and witchery . . . and it happens to be a wickedly exhilarating backdrop for an exceptional book we have out this month.  

From Brian Ruckley, author of the critically acclaimed Godless World trilogy, comes The Edinburgh Dead  (UK | US | ANZ), a darkly thrilling tale of murder, body-snatching and black magic. And it’s woven throughout with real-life characters and happenings from the shocking, all-too real history of the city.

The book is set in a period when medical scientists were experimenting the gruesome practice of dissection for the first time. In the operating theatres of Edinburgh, corpses were being sliced apart in front of the eyes of horrified and entranced spectators. The bodies used were supposedly obtained by honourable means. But those who know their Scottish history know that a certain pair called William Burke and William Hare were looking to make a tidy profit off these recent advancements in anatomical science. They realised how much a corpse could fetch on the black market at the time. However, they weren’t quite prepared to wait for their victims to die of natural causes before selling on their bodies . . .  

When Brian turned his eternally eloquent hand to this dark episode from history, and elaborated the facts with a gripping fantastical twist, I was amazed at the results. Drenched in atmosphere, heart-stoppingly suspenseful and thoroughly transfixing – I urge you to read this excerpt to see just what’s in store for you.

The Edinburgh Dead  (UK | US | ANZ) is out now worldwide. Read on for the blurb… (more…)

Cover launch: The Revenge of the Dwarves

The Dwarves are back. And they will have their vengeance…

Presenting our cover for the third book in this epic series from international bestseller Markus Heitz – about the bravest, sturdiest and most formidable of warriors, the Dwarves. Their hero Tungdil is back – and if you think he’s been through the wars so far then I assure you there is much more adversity waiting on the horizon for this unfortunate fellow. It’s just lucky that he’s a dwarf through and through, because the courage of the dwarves has never been questioned…

The fantastic cover comes from the talented illustrator Bob Lea. His site here is well worth a look – but beware: you could be lost in there for days marvelling at its treasures!

I’m delighted with this image because it’s exactly how I picture the Dwarves:  fearlessly heroic, ever-armed for battle and raising the ferocious war cry. For me the cover says: “In the face of danger, a dwarf never surrenders!”  Well, that – and also: “MWWWAAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!!” 

And I’m honoured to say that The Revenge of the Dwarves will be storming the Orbit defences worldwide this coming October. Read on for the blurb and a larger image below… (more…)

WIN! An exclusive advance copy of THE MEASURE OF THE MAGIC

To celebrate today’s release of Terry Brooks’ Bearers of the Black Staff in paperback, we’re giving a few lucky UK readers the chance to be extremely smug and read its sequel The Measure of the Magic weeks before anyone else!

The official UK release date of The Measure of the Magic, the second book in the Legends of Shannara duology, is 1st September 2011. But at the start of August, we’ll be giving away 5 exclusive advance copies, allowing 5 people the chance to get their hands on it weeks before publication.

All you have to do to enter is be based in the UK and enter your details in the form below. The closing date is 22nd July, and winners will be announced on 1st August 2011 via the Orbit Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Good luck everyone! (more…)

Cover launch: UK look for Jane True series by Nicole Peeler

Here in the UK, Nicole Peeler’s Jane True series has got a brand new look – and I’m very excited to now be able to unveil it.

Presenting the first 4 covers for the series, designed by the talented illustrator Mark Swan:

 

Tempest Rising and Tracking the Tempest will be re-released in this brand new style this coming August. Then hot on their heels, Tempest’s Legacy will be released in September, followed by Eye of the Tempest in October. So Nicole Peeler will truly be making a splash in the UK this summer!

And if you haven’t discovered The Jane True series yet, here’s what people have been saying about it:

‘Peeler packs a hell of a punch with writing that is bold, bawdy, and bright, and breaks the usual paranormal boundaries with sensitivity and style to burn. I can’t wait for the next one!’ Kat Richardson

‘A new star is rising in the urban fantasy world. With her Jane True character, Peeler launches a first-person series that’s an exciting journey of self-discovery and murder mystery . . . A notable debut’ Romantic Times

‘A fascinating, fast-paced sexy storm of a book’ Rachel Caine

 ‘Peeler’s Jane True series is one that readers will want to see through to the end’ Impact

Look below for the covers in their full glory:

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