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Press Release: Orbit announces plans to expand in the US and UK

The Orbit Team — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:48:15 +0000

Following its successful launch in the US in 2007, and a record year for the imprint in the UK, Orbit announces its intention to expand both lists. In the US, Orbit is going to double the size of the list over the next 3 years, taking its title output to 70-80 titles per year by 2011. In the UK, where Orbit is already the biggest SFF imprint, it will increase the size of the list by approximately 10% each year over the next three years. (more…)

Win a signed copy of Pamela Freeman’s ‘Blood Ties’

Darren Turpin — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:57:21 +0000

We’ve teamed up with Chris, The Book Swede for this one: another incredibly simple-to-enter email sweepstake, with a copy of Blood Ties [UK / US] - the first part of Pamela Freeman’s Castings Trilogy - up for grabs by one lucky winner.

The book is out now in the US but won’t be be published next month in the UK. So if you’re a UK reader then this is a great chance to get your hands on an early copy… signed by the author, no less! And the Book Swede has also reviewed the novel, concluding: “Blood Ties is an excellent book, fun, clever, and well written, with distinctive characterisations, and I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series!”

Full entry terms and conditions are available over on the Book Swede’s blog. Good luck!

‘Midnight Never Come’: four-star SFX review

Darren Turpin — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:49:20 +0000

The UK’s biggest sci-fi magazine, SFX, has posted a four-star review of Midnight Never Come [UK / US], the new novel by Marie Brennan, out now from Orbit UK, and published next month by Orbit US.

The book, which is set towards the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, impressed reviewer Eddie Robson with its mix of an authentic Elizabethan atmopshere and darker, fae elements: “…firmly rooted in real history, set in a convincingly-constructed Elizabethan England, but with a secret faerie court existing beneath London. Its ruler, Invidiana, is a cruel capricious sort, whose subjects live in dread of her schemes and whims.”

Eddie also enjoyed Midnight Never Come’s highly-intriguing plot: “…refreshingly for this genre, [it’s] a political thriller, with conspiracies, spies and shady machinations … The novel starts slowly, concentrating first on world-building and putting pieces on the board, but it keeps you hooked until the plot really kicks in.”

Midnight Never Come is out now in the UK and will be published next month in the US. To read the full review, pick up a copy of the June 2008 edition of SFX Magazine.

Where Do All Those Villains Come From?

Alex Lencicki — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:48:14 +0000

Anyone who’s read EMPRESS – or any of the early reviews of the novel – will know that it’s a book with a very unsympathetic central character (and that there aren’t a lot of hugs to go around at the end.)

Over at Grasping for the Wind, John Ottinger talks to Karen about how the book upends the expectations of epic fantasy:

GFTW: Although Hekat is a sympathetic character at the beginning of the novel, we have come to dislike her very much by the end. How were you able to write a character that rather than having an upward spiral toward a “happily ever after” instead moved on a downward spiral filled with selfishness and hate?”

Read Karen’s responses here.

You can read the first chapter of EMPRESS here.

Brian Ruckley talks to Mania.com

Darren Turpin — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:21:08 +0000

There’s a new interview with Orbit’s own Brian Ruckley online over at Mania.com.

Pat Ferrara asks Brian about how he got started as a fantasy writer, his major inspirations, the influence of Scotland on the lands of the Godless World, what fans can expect from the soon-to-be-published sequel, Bloodheir [UK / US] and where Brian will be turning his writerly attention to, once his debut series is finished.

They’ve also posted a great review of Winterbirth [UK / US] which says things like: “…the author’s ability to balance meticulously calculated plot with heart-pounding action is second to none. Winterbirth steadily gains momentum as it unloads backstory, building to a climactic ending…”

Read the full review at www.mania.com as well.

Orbit Links for May 02 2008

The Orbit Team — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:46:18 +0000

Welcome to another quick round-up of links of interest featuring Orbit authors:

Daniel Abraham’s Hugo-nominated short story, ‘The Cambist and Lord Iron’ has been made available to read online at issuu.com.
Marie Brennan is working on a very useful-looking glossary of [publishing] business terms and is inviting contributions from anyone who can think of anything she’s missed so far. Marie has also posted a few thoughts on magic and its use in fantasy fiction over on her Livejournal page, and has been interviewed by The Book Swede.
J.V. Jones has posted part one of a new epic fantasy quiz (just for fun, no prizes, no write-ins required) over on her blog at JVJ.com.
Glenda Larke has posted the interview that was originally published as a ‘DVD extra’ in her latest Orbit title, Song of the Shiver Barrens, in three parts over on her ‘Tropic Temper’ blog: one, two and three.
Time Magazine asks whether Stephenie Meyer is indeed a new J.K. Rowling? “Meyer has, like one of her vampires, turned into something rare and more than merely human: a literary phenomenon. How?”
Philip Palmer has been out and about recently and has shared his experiences of Alt.Fiction in Derby last Saturday and the Arthur C. Clarke Awards in London on Wednesday.
Brian Ruckley has likewise posted his impressions of a day out at Alt.Fiction.
Lilith Saintcrow really liked Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

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!

Mike Carey books up for grabs

Darren Turpin — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:22:03 +0000

Another online giveaway to tell you about: this time, we’ve teamed up with Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review to give away a pair of Mike Carey novels - his first two ‘Felix Castor’ titles, The Devil You Know and Vicious Circle, to be precise - and all you have to do to enter the sweepstake is send an email to Graeme by May 6th.

For details, see the competition post at www.graemesfantasybookreview.com.

Tom Holt Talks Time Travel

Samantha Smith — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:04:40 +0000

Tom Holt’s latest work of comic genius, The Better Mousetrap, is out today and to mark the occasion, Tom was kind enough to write a piece for our blog. Hope you all enjoy and be sure to look out for The Better Mousetrap, in stores now!

Suppose, just suppose, you actually could travel faster than light -

There would be problems, of course. For one thing, you wouldn’t be able to see where you’re going, which means you’d run an unacceptably high risk of bumping into something solid, like an asteroid, or unpleasantly warm, like a star. For another, you’d arrive before you left, with the inevitable result that, no matter how meticulous you might be about planning your journey, you’d always arrive at your destination to find that you’d left the tickets or the hotel reservations at home. And, of course, there’d be all the aggravation with your luggage. It’s bad enough travelling sublight and finding that your spongebag and nightwear have wound up on a different tectonic plate. Factor in a fourth dimension, and the possibilities are as infinite as the multiverse itself.

But just suppose. Time travel; piece of cake. When do you want to go today?

(more…)

Marie Brennan talks to The Book Swede

Darren Turpin — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:47:41 +0000

Over at The Book Swede’s blog, Chris talks to Orbit author Marie Brennan about her forthcoming novel of Elizabethan faerie intrigue, Midnight Never Come, which we’re delighted to say is out now in the UK and will be published next month in the US.

Marie talks about her Shakespearean inspiration, the detailed historical research that went into every aspect of the novel’s background and back-story, her favourite folk tales and much more.

Read the full interview over at thebookswede.blogspot.com and catch up with Marie’s blog at her LiveJournal page.

Arthur C Clarke Giveaway

Samantha Smith — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:19:57 +0000

Tonight the winner of the 2008 Arthur C Clarke awards will be announced and, while we know who we’re rooting for, we thought what better way to celebrate than to give away a book by the great man himself! Up for grabs is a special hardback edition of 2001: A Space Odyssey* by Arthur C Clarke, complete with a foreword by Stephen Baxter, one of this year’s shortlisted authors.

To enter, send your name with the title line “Arthur C Clarke” to orbit@littlebrown.co.uk. The winner will be chosen at random two weeks from today (May 14th). Good luck!

* This link doesn’t take you to the edition we’re giving away, but to the paperback copy that’s available to buy now.