Author Archive

Ann Leckie’s ANCILLARY JUSTICE nominated for a Philip K. Dick Award!

The nominees for the 2013 Philip K. Dick Award were announced today, and we’re thrilled that Ann Leckie’s science fiction debut ANCILLARY JUSTICE (US | UK | ANZ) is among them! Here’s the full list:

  • A CALCULATED LIFE by Anne Charnock (47North)]
  • THE MAD SCIENTIST’S DAUGHTER by Cassandra Rose Clarke (Angry Robot)
  • SELF-REFERENCE ENGINE by Toh EnJoe, trans. Terry Gallagher (Haikasoru)
  • ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
  • LIFE ON THE PRESERVATION by Jack Skillingstead (Solaris)
  • SOLARIS RISING 2: THE NEW SOLARIS BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION edited by Ian Whates (Solaris)
  • COUNTDOWN CITY by Ben H. Winters (Quirk Books)

Congratulations to Ann and the rest of the nominees! The award will be presented at Norwescon in Seattle, WA, on Friday, April 18th.

Barnes & Noble Discovery Friday

This year, Barnes & Noble is debuting a new promotion called “Discovery Friday” to give you a start to your holiday shopping. On Friday, November 22nd, there will be events and activities at Barnes & Noble bookstores across the country. A number of Orbit authors will be participating at their local B&Ns. Check the list below to see if one of them will be near you!

œFortune's Pawn cover Carlson_ColdBlooded-TP Dalglish_ADanceOfCloaks_TP Grant_Parasite-HC Leckie_AncillaryJustice_TP McClellan_PromiseOfBlood_FINAL_HC Sullivan_RoseandThorn-TP

No author events near you this weekend?

You can still watch our online event, “A Night at the Space Opera,” on YouTube! Science fiction authors Daniel Abraham (James S.A. Corey), Ann Leckie, and Rachel Bach were joined by Scientific American associate editor Clara Moskowitz to talk about the genre and humanity’s future in space.

James S.A. Corey is the author of the Expanse series, starting with the Hugo Award nominated LEVIATHAN WAKES (US | UK | ANZ); the most recent book was ABADDON’S GATE (US | UK | ANZ). Look for CIBOLA BURN in June 2014!

Ann Leckie is the author of the debut novel ANCILLARY JUSTICE (US | UK | ANZ). io9 called it “the mind-blowing space opera you’ve been needing,” and NPR Books called it “assured, gripping, and stylish.”

Rachel Bach is the author of FORTUNE’S PAWN (US | UK | ANZ), which came out on Tuesday! Look for the sequel, HONOR’S KNIGHT (US | UK) in February 2014. She is also the author, as Rachel Aaron, of the Eli Monpress epic fantasy series.

November Events

This weekend is World Fantasy Convention in Brighton, England, and the Orbit UK crew will be out in force! Good luck to all of the nominees for the World Fantasy Award.

November 1: Mira Grant’s PARASITE tour continues! B&N #2280, 401 NE Northgate Way #1100, Seattle, WA, 7 PM

November 2: Mira Grant’s PARASITE tour continues! B&N #2262, 12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 2 PM

November 1-3: Marlene Perez at the Vegas Valley Book Festival

November 7: A Night at the Space Opera, a Google Hangout online event with James S.A. Corey, Ann Leckie, and Rachel Bach, 7:30 PM

November 9: Michael J. Sullivan at the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County, 7 PM

November 22: Several Orbit authors will be participating in Barnes & Noble’s “Discovery Friday,” a nationwide event with promotions and events at local stores!

Brent Weeks wins the David Gemmell Award!

We’re thrilled that Brent Weeks has won the David Gemmell Award for Best Fantasy Novel for his book THE BLINDING KNIFE (US | UK | ANZ).

New Orbit US author John Gwynne was also honored with the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut for his novel MALICE (US), which will be released in the US in December.

Congratulations, Brent and John!

Cover of Brent Weeks's THE BLINDING KNIFE.    Cover of John Gwynne's MALICE

A Night at the Space Opera

On Thursday evening, November 7th, at 7:30 PM, three of Orbit’s science fiction authors will be talking space opera, science fiction, and all other subjects under the sun (or out of its orbit) in a space-tacular online event: A Night at the Space Opera: Science Fiction Writers on Our Future in Space!

You doubtless already know James S.A. Corey, author of LEVIATHAN WAKES (US | UK | ANZ) and its sequels in the Expanse series; he will be represented by Daniel Abraham, one half of the Corey writing duo.

Ann Leckie is the author of ANCILLARY JUSTICE (US | UK | ANZ), a debut that came out in October and is already being praised as one of the best science fiction books of the year.

Rachel Bach is the pseudonym of epic fantasy author Rachel Aaron, whose science fiction debut FORTUNE’S PAWN (US | UK | ANZ) will be out on November 5th.

The three of them will be in conversation with Clara Moskowitz, associate editor at Scientific American covering space and physics.

Leckie_AncillaryJustice_TP œFortune's Pawn cover

Because this is an online event, fans from all over the world will be able to join in and watch — and ask questions — live. More information is available at the Google+ event page, and we’ll be updating it as the event draws closer.

October Events

October 1: Kate Locke at New York Review of Science Fiction, New York, NY, 7 PM

October 3: Ann Leckie at Subterranean Books, St. Louis, MO, 6 PM

October 4-6: Mur Lafferty at VCon, Vancouver, British Columbia

October 11-13: Kate Elliott at Sirens, Portland, OR

October 12: Brian McClellan at Books by the Banks, Cincinnati, OH
Marlene Perez at Los Angeles Teen Book Fest, Los Angeles, CA

October 12-13: Michael J. Sullivan at Capclave, Gaithersburg, MD

And, New York Comic Con is October 10-13! Orbit will be there, in booth # 2218; our authors N.K. Jemisin, Michael J. Sullivan, and Kate Locke will also be appearing at the con.

October 20: Trudi Canavan at Forbidden Planet, London UK – 1pm

And World Fantasy Con is in Brighton, UK this year!  October 31-November 3.  Lots of Orbit authors will be there, including Trudi Canavan, Mike Carey, Charles Stross, Francis Knight, Tim Lebbon and Jon Courtenay Grimwood among others.  Check out the full programme and attending members list on the website.

Announcing Mira Grant’s PARASITE tour!

First she had us on the run from zombies. Now Mira Grant is delving into the dangers that might hiding inside our own bodies.

PARASITE (US | UK | ANZ), out in October, starts a brand-new series from the bestselling author of FEED (US | UK | ANZ), DEADLINE (US | UK | ANZ), and BLACKOUT (US | UK | ANZ). In PARASITE, disease is virtually unknown thanks to SymboGen Corporation’s Intestinal Bodyguard, a genetically engineered tapeworm. But there are some unanticipated side effects…

You can get a taste of PARASITE in this excerpt at Popular Science. And, if you’re on the west coast, Mira may be coming to your city when PARASITE is released! Details of the tour are below.

Tuesday, October 29
7 PM: Borderlands, 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, October 30
7 PM: Books Inc. Mountain View, 301 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA

Thursday, October 31
7 PM: Mysterious Galaxy, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA

Friday, November 1
7 PM: B&N #2280, 401 NE Northgate Way #1100, Seattle, WA

Saturday, November 2
2 PM: B&N #2262, 12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR

Campbell Award winner Mur Lafferty!

The Hugo Awards were presented this past weekend at Worldcon — as was the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, which, we’re thrilled to report, was won by our own Mur Lafferty!

Lafferty_ShamblingGuidetoNYC-TPWe published Mur’s book THE SHAMBLING GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY (US | UK | AUS)  back in May, and it garnered some stellar reviews:

“The hip, knowing and sometimes hysterically funny narrative, interspersed with excerpts from the guide of the title, lurches along in splendid fashion. Combine wit, style and acute observation: The result is irresistible.” — Kirkus (starred review)

“Lafferty … introduces a spirited, indomitable heroine who is bound to be a favorite of urban fantasy devotees.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“This is a funny, thoughtfully conceived, and thoroughly entertaining romp that will be a sure bet for urban-fantasy readers—and might even surprise people who don’t think they’d enjoy a paranormal novel.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Shambling Guide is a mash-up of the workplace comedy and the standard urban fantasy “saving the world” type stuff. … [Zoe is] seriously the kind of heroine we need more of in urban fantasy: smart and resourceful.” — io9

“[T]here’s love, war, humor and a lot of heart, and by the time it’s done, you know exactly why so many writers have been buzzing about Mur Lafferty for so many years. It’s as strong a debut as I can remember reading, and I can’t wait for the follow-on volumes.” — Boing Boing

“[A] hilariously enjoyable tale.” — Cleveland Plain Dealer

Mur is chatting with readers on io9 today; stop by and ask your questions!

Orbit author Mira Grant (as Seanan McGuire) also shared a Hugo Award for her work on the SF Squeecast podcast.

Congratulations to Mur, Seanan, and the rest of the Hugo Award winners!