Category: New Titles
- James Long - July 6th, 2011
THE PRODIGAL MAGE (UK/US), book one of The Fisherman’s Children duology, saw Karen Miller returning to the world of her bestselling debut novel THE INNOCENT MAGE (UK/US), spinning an epic tale of a kingdom threatened by a natural cataclysm, where the only hope of salvation was the forbidden talents of a young man named Rafel.
This absorbing story is concluded in THE RELUCTANT MAGE (UK/US), which sees Rafel’s sister Deenie setting out on a desperate quest to find her brother, missing beyond Barl’s treacherous mountains. Deenie is convinced that only her brother’s magic can heal a fractured land, yet the more she sees of the dark sorceror Morg’s deadly legacy, the more she starts to suspect her brother is somehow involved in the scheme of an evil power that now seems reborn . . .
For a taster of this powerful fantasy, check out this exclusive excerpt.
Here’s what readers have been saying about The Fisherman’s Children:
“A compelling portrait of a blighted world in the company of flawed, fascinating people” SFX
“The Reluctant Mage is one of those rare tales that keep you entertained from beginning to end” SFBOOK.COM
“All the elements that will please fans of fantasy, and above all else it’s the characters that really bring this book to life” FALCATA TIMES
by James Long • Post a Comment • Posted in: New Titles, Orbit UK, Orbit US, Uncategorized
- The Orbit Team - July 5th, 2011
As this is Echo City’s (UK | ANZ) launch week, we thought we’d take time to examine the man behind the city, as it
were. We were driven by a misson to explain and examine, and I guess a deep nosiness regarding our authors. But perhaps I’d best not go into that and instead go into these answers Tim was kind enough to provide …
Why are you so dark?!
The most interesting stories for me are those featuring characters either in extreme peril, or whose lives are in turmoil. The peril might be of a spiritual or psychological nature, or it could be someone threatened by a great big monster, and Echo City features characters in both situations (and sometimes at the same time!). I like creating characters, making myself and hopefully readers empathise with them … and then challenging them with some of the most dreadful trials. That’s dark. But in truth, I see light and hope in everything I write, however dark it may be perceived. Echo City is no exception. Read the rest of this entry »
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: Interviews, New Titles, Orbit Australia, Orbit UK
- James Long - July 4th, 2011
This week sees the release of ECHO CITY, an atmospheric dark fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Tim Lebbon. Described by Steven Erikson as “brilliantly conceived and exquisitely well written” ECHO CITY explores the consequences of a stranger’s arrival in a society where the outside world is no more than a myth.
Echo City lies at the heart of a poisonous desert. It is a place ruled by tradition, where history has been forgotten and the secrets of the past are little more than echoes beneath the dusty streets. The inhabitants of this labyrinthine metropolis know but one truth: they are alone in the world. No life exists beyond their walls.
So when a stranger from beyond the desert arrives, everything they’ve believed in is suddenly proven false. As centuries of tradition and stasis come to an end, different political groups prepare to fight a war for the future of their city.
Yet soon they will face a far greater threat. For unknown to them, an ancient force is awakening in the darkness below Echo City . . . and soon it will reach the surface.
ECHO CITY has already received considerable praise from both print and online media.
“Lebbon fuses high fantasy with his trademark gut-churning horror to produce a fascinating examination of calamitous change after a period of stasis” – GUARDIAN
“Lebbon’s prose is a pleasure, and so too his seamless hybridisation of horror and dark fantasy – were there to be another novel set in the same world, I’d gladly go back for a second helping” – SPECULATIVE SCOTSMAN
“Echo City is a gloriously atmospheric piece that pulls you right into the various Cantons and leaves you on the wall of the city, staring out across the desert and wondering what lies beyond the horizon . . . An engrossing story” - GRAEME’S FANTASY BOOK REVIEW
For a taster of what is one of the fantasy releases of 2011, check out this exclusive extract.
by James Long • Post a Comment • Posted in: New Titles, Orbit UK, Uncategorized
author post
Bearers of the Black Staff begins a new chapter in the pre-history of the Shannara world - now revealed to be our own at a time in the distant future. I got started on this with the Genesis of Shannara trilogy which chronicled the destruction of civilization in the Old World and the efforts of a handful of survivors to escape what would prove to be an even greater cataclysm. Having gotten past that, we now pick up on their descendants some five hundred years later and find – I am sure, to no one’s great surprise – that things haven’t yet been resolved and that survival of those who remain is not yet assured.
What’s both interesting and difficult is that having written the Shannara books early on, I now have to find ways to make this current series dovetail into all the stories we already know while at the same time making everything seem new and interesting and revealing secrets that to this point I haven’t. For example, how did the various Races come to be? How did the magic evolve? We have Knights of the Word in the pre-history, so what happened to them? Did they end up becoming the Druids in the Shannara world of the future? Read the rest of this entry »
by Terry Brooks •1 Comment • Categories: Guest Post, New Titles, Orbit Australia, Orbit UK • Tags: Terry Brooks
- Anna Gregson - July 1st, 2011
Out now worldwide is the explosive conclusion to the Avery Cates series, The Final Evolution (UK / US/ ANZ).
I just can’t express enough how much I’ve loved the post-apocalyptic, action-noir thrill ride that is the Avery Cates series. But I can try…
*Ahem*. In alphabetical order:
It’s attitude-drenched, balls-to-the-wall, cybernetic, ducking-and-diving, electric-monk-thumping, filthy-mouthing, gung-ho, hell-bent, intelligent, jugular-grabbing, killa-kool, lily-liver-kicking , mind-blowingly-apocalypting, nasty-ass, octane-fast, punks-en-masse, quick-witted, right-fisted, slidin’-slammin’, twisting-turning, unrelentingly-unforgiving, voraciously-violent, world-class-wrecking-balling, YEAH!, zip-zoomingly-zeighteisty.
Read the rest of this entry »
by Anna Gregson • Post a Comment • Posted in: New Titles, Orbit Australia, Orbit UK, Orbit US
- Devi Pillai - June 29th, 2011
Eat, Slay, Love is one of my favorite titles to date! I think it captures the book — a novel of zombies –perfectly.
Sarah and David have survived the zombie apocalypse. They stood side by side and fought the undead, mad scientists, and even bionic monsters until the unthinkable happened. A zombie bite. But not even that could stop them. Now, with a possible cure in hand, they’re headed east, looking for a safe zone behind the rumored “Wall.” They’re feeling pretty optimistic.
That is until Dave stops sleeping and starts lifting huge objects.
Eat. Slay. Love.
Because they haven’t got a prayer.
Eat, Slay, Love is the third book in the Jesse Petersen’s Living With the Dead series. We published Married with Zombies and Flip This Zombie last fall. Jesse also has a short fiction, Shambling with the Dead, over at Orbit Short Fiction.
And if you ever wanted to find out if you would survive the zombie apocalypse — take Jesse’s Quiz!
by Devi Pillai • Post a Comment • Posted in: New Titles, Orbit US
- Devi Pillai - June 28th, 2011
Alexia Tarabotti-Maccon is back in her newest adventure! And this time she’s on the warpath. With an assassination attempt on the Queen, and dealing with a pregnancy, Alexia has more than enough to keep her occupied.
A bit more about Heartless:
Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband’s past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux’s latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.
Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf’s clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama’s second best closet?
We’re releasing the first chapter of Heartless on Facebook and you can find Gail on twitter @gailcarriger.
And for those of you who have yet to read the first three– we’ll be doing an ebook bundle of the first three books at $9.99 in the US. So that’s Soulless, Blameless and Changeless in one bundle starting July 5th!
Timeless is the final book in the Alexia Tarabotti-Maccon series and it will be published in March 2012. If you’d like a sneak peak at the cover of Timeless, find it here.
by Devi Pillai • Post a Comment • Posted in: New Titles, Orbit UK, Orbit US
- The Orbit Team - June 28th, 2011
Robert Jackson Bennett’s most recent novel, THE COMPANY MAN, published by Orbit in April, has been receiving rave reviews across the board:
“Bennett does the seemingly impossible here. He’s written an alternate-history novel that measures up in every respect to Philip K. Dick’s masterful The Man In the High Castle.” — Booklist
“The novel is a genuine original, something like an episode of ‘The X-Files’ written by Clifford Odets. Strongly recommended.” –Michael Berry, San Francisco Chronicle
“THE COMPANY MAN made me realize how far sci-fi has come in my lifetime.” –Tom Shippey, Wall Street Journal
Robert knows plenty about plot. On his blog he has just posted a piece in which he talks about the point of plot, expressing his forthright opinions on the academic’s view of plot as opposed to the reader’s; the different uses of plot, character, and voice; and how and for what reason spoilers can be advantageously ignored.
“The very best novels are a space in your head, a secret little corner only you know about, and you want to return to that place and spend a few hours enjoying yourself. What goes on in that place could matter less.”
Check out Robert’s thoughts at his blog; and if you haven’t yet read THE COMPANY MAN or his first novel, the critically acclaimed, multiple award-nominated MR. SHIVERS — do.
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: Commentary, New Titles, Orbit Australia, Orbit UK, Orbit US
- The Orbit Team - June 21st, 2011
We are very excited to unveil, at last, the stunning cover for The Dread (US | UK | ANZ). The Dread is the epic concluding volume in Gail Z. Martin’s Fallen Kings Cycle and is fantasy adventure at its most adventuresome. We published the first book, The Sworn (US | UK | ANZ), in February 2011 and The Dread will be available from February 2012. Both covers have been illustrated by talented fantasy artist Steve Stone and Peter Cotton developed the designs to great effect.
Today’s cover launch comes as part of Gail Z. Martin’s annual summer solstice online book ‘event’ . So please do check out her site for details of a sneak peek from the new book itself, plus there will be giveaway contests, interviews and online goodies spread across her website, blog, social media pages and also on other selected host sites.
And for a little look at just some of the great quotes we’ve had in for The Sworn, see below, a taster of what’s to come!
Top notch, engrossing fantasy”
SFRevu.com
“Very well-written and intricately plotted…I can’t wait for the second book in the cycle, The Dread”
The Civilian Reader blog
“I found myself caught up in the story and the characters almost from the first page …very enjoyable”
Bookgeeks.co.uk
“Those who enjoy the large-scale fantasy of George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan should enjoy this”
Library Journal
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: Art, Covers, New Titles, Orbit Australia, Orbit UK, Orbit US
- Devi Pillai - June 20th, 2011
Today we have two short fiction releases over at Orbit Short Fiction.
We have a new Jaz Parks adventure — or rather — a blast from the past for Jaz Parks fans.
An Evening for Vayl and Jaz takes place after the events of Bitten To Death -- when Vayl and Jaz spend a romantic evening together. Told from both their perspectives, it’s one of the few times we see the story from Vayl’s perspective.
We have more Jaz Parks stories here, but Jaz Parks series is now finished (this month!) with the Deadliest Bite.
So if you like this one — check out the whole series starting with Once Bitten, Twice Shy.
From the hilarious Jesse Petersen, we also have SHAMBLING WITH THE STARS.
While the short fiction piece is set in the Living with the Dead series, the story is told from the viewpoint of completely different characters.
Avery Andrews is her name and directing celebrity telethons after tragedies is her game. But the Northwestern Zombie Outbreak isn’t your average tragedy… and once the infection spreads to the studio, Avery and her crew will have to worry about staying alive, not ratings.
Jesse Petersen is the author of Married with Zombies, Flip this Zombie — and out next month– Eat, Slay, Love.
Find out more about them–and other short fiction titles–at Orbit Short Fiction!
by Devi Pillai • 1 Comment • Posted in: New Titles, Orbit US, Uncategorized
