Category: Contents
- The Orbit Team - August 29th, 2008
Over at the official Iain [M] Banks website, we’ve just posted the second Iain Banks email Q&A session, in which Iain answers selected questions from his fans and readers.
This time around you can discover Iain’s predictions for the next big UK literary stars, his view of the Minds’ attitude toward the rest of the Culture, a question as to would he / wouldn’t he write an episode of Doctor Who, whether he thinks there will ever be a Culture-based MMORPG, and more…
Head on over to www.iain-banks.net to read the full piece.
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: Interviews, Orbit UK, Orbit US
- The Orbit Team - August 27th, 2008
Just a reminder that Karen Miller will be in the UK signing at:
Waterstone’s Bracknell at 1pm tomorrow
and
Waterstone’s Basingstoke at 6pm tomorrow.
Hope to see you there!
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: All posts, Contents, Orbit UK, Signings and Events
- The Orbit Team - August 27th, 2008
Two Orbit Authors – Brian Ruckley and Jeff Somers – recently took part in the first BookGeeks SF and Fantasy Writers’ Panel.
The round-robin discussion, which also includes contributions from authors Alastair Reynolds and Jaine Fenn, is on the subject of the marriage of prose and visuals. Specifically: maps (is their inclusion in sf / fantasy books a good thing / bad thing?), cover art (should an on-cover portrayal of a book’s characters or vehicles be encouraged / avoided?) and visualised representations of the authors’ work (what would they like to see, what would work best – games, comcis, movies?)
The piece is presented in round-robin format, with each authors’ responses to the three questions then commented upon by the other three authors, which works quite nicely to build up a the discussion between the participants. It all makes for some very interesting reading. Do check it out and do leave your own comments; pieces like this always work best with plenty of feedback.
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: Commentary, Interviews, Orbit UK, Orbit US, Reviews
- The Orbit Team - August 22nd, 2008
It’s Friday lunchtime, which can mean only one thing (well, around here, anyhow): it’s time for our weekly round-up post of links to items of interest featuring Orbit authors:
- Marie Brennan comments on varying reader reactions to her work, and possible reasons therefore, over at sfnovelists.com.
- Marianne de Pierres and Sean Williams have both contributed to an article entitled ‘How I Write‘ over at ConceptSciFi.com.
- Robert Jordan fans and collectors, take note: large parts of his collection of antique and reproduction swords, spears, hatchets and knives will be auctioned via eBay in the next couple of weeks.
- Stan Nicholls (author of Orcs, out this September from Orbit US) was interviewed on the Wonderlands ning community.
- Jennifer Rardin‘s kick-ass heroine Jaz Parks is the latest guest of Jezebel the Demon over at the Cat and Muse radio talk-show.
- A fresh slice of writing advice from Lilith Saintcrow, this time on the subject of avoiding unnecessary deletion.
- And Lilith Saintcrow has launched a Wiki to provide background for her writing – check out The Shadow Journal and feel free to contribute (as per submission guidelines).
- Sean Williams talks to ConceptSciFi.com about his recent work, including the Astropolis series and his work on the official novelisation of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
- Over at Grasping For the Wind, there’s an interesting discussion developing on the merits of urban fantasy (a subject very dear to the Orbit team’s collective heart) and what a select group of bloggers think might be the Next Big Thing, genre or sub-genre-wise.
As always, if you see any online articles, reviews or interviews that feature an Orbit author, please feel free to drop us a line and let us know! We’ll happily name-check your website or blog with a heads-up credit in return (please remember to provide us with a link…)
by The Orbit Team • 2 Comments • Posted in: Commentary, Interviews, Orbit Australia, Orbit UK, Orbit US, Reviews
- Alex Lencicki - August 20th, 2008
Lilith Saintcrow – author of the Dante Valentine Series and the new Jill Kismet Series – has just launched a free serial novel: Selene. Set in the world of the Dante Valentine series, Selene expands on the Saint City adventures of Selene and Nikolai. New chapters will be posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can read the serial here – or subscribe to follow it on your rss reader here. Enjoy!
by Alex Lencicki • 1 Comment • Posted in: Contents, News, Orbit UK, Orbit US
- Alex Lencicki - August 20th, 2008
If you’re in New York City this evening, stop by K.G.B. bar to see the always entertaining (and frequently blurry) Jeff Somers reading at the Fantastic Fiction series. Complete details here — see you there!
by Alex Lencicki • Post a Comment • Posted in: Contents, Orbit US, Signings and Events
- The Orbit Team - August 19th, 2008
Karen Miller , the bestselling fantasy debut author of 2007, is coming to the UK! She’s going to be signing copies of all her novels, including The Innocent Mage, The Awakened Mage and Empress
Thursday, August 28th at:
1:00pm: Waterstone’s Bracknell
17 Stanley Walk, Bracknell RG12 1HA.
For more information, call the store on 01344 488124 or visit www.waterstones.com
6:00pm: Waterstone’s Basingstoke
35 Wesley Walk, Basingstoke RG21 7BE.
For more information, call the store on 01256460646 or visit www.waterstones.com
Hope to see you there!
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: All posts, Contents, Orbit UK, Signings and Events
- The Orbit Team - August 19th, 2008
We’re hugely excited about the recent release of Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series here in the UK. Shapeshifters, werewolves, vampires and mechanics? We were hooked!
And now there’s not one but two opportunity to win the entire series – Moon Called, Blood Bound, and Iron Kissed – and check them out for yourself. Visit LoveVampires.com and Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review for your chance(s) to win today!
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: All posts, Contents, Contests, News, Orbit UK
- The Orbit Team - August 19th, 2008
Charlie Huston, author of the Joe Pitt series, is over at Fantasy Book Critic talking to Rob about his upcoming book, Every Last Drop, published by Orbit in March 0’09:
Q: To begin with, for someone who has never read a Charlie Huston novel, how would you describe your writing style and where would you recommend they start?
Charlie: I think my prose is very direct. There’s a writer’s voice, and I have a style that’s meant to keep things moving, but the stories are delivered without much in the way of decoration. Dark, violent and profane are all apt adjectives…
You can read the full interview here or an excerpt from Every Last Drop over at Charlie’s blog.
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: All posts, Contents, Extracts, Interviews, Orbit UK
- The Orbit Team - August 18th, 2008
Alex Davis, the organiser of Derby’s annual Alt.Fiction event, has recently announced two additions to the Alt.Fiction calendar:
Alt-Fiction Writing Weekend
Alex tells us: “Alt.Fiction is proud to present its first writing weekend, set in the stunning hills of the Peak District. Join guest authors Conrad Williams and Kim Lakin-Smith for a weekend of writing workshops, discussions and free writing time- the ideal retreat for anyone interested in horror and dark fantasy.
“Weekend rates (including two nights stay, all meals and soft drinks) at £150. For further information, or to book your place, contact Alex on 07768 635293 or at alexdavisevents@hotmail.co.uk”
Sounds like an ideal opportunity for all the aspiring sf / fantasy / horror writers out there to hone your skills and learn your craft. And judging by the volume of enquiries we receive in the Orbit inbox every month, we know there are a fair few of you around.
Alt-Fiction 2009
Alex has also confirmed the date, and a venue-change, for the fourth main Alt.Fiction event:
“The fourth Alt:Fiction will move from being a one-day event to being a weekend-long festival on Friday 24th to Sunday 26th April. The extension will allow programme development and will offer the opportunity for the festival to offer greater content and value for money.
“The festival will also change venue, from Derby’s Assembly Rooms to QUAD, the city’s new centre for art and film, to allow organisers to develop an added element of quality genre cinema to the festival offer.”
More information on the line-up and programming will be released in due course, but if the last three events were anything to go by, then it should be a lively, interesting and author-packed event indeed.
In the meantime, check out our coverage of Orbit authors Philip Palmer, Brian Ruckley, Charles Stross and Mike Carey reading from their latest works at this year’s Alt.Fiction event, for a flavour of what the weekend will be all about.
by The Orbit Team • Post a Comment • Posted in: Contents
