Posts Tagged ‘science fiction’

Winner of Africa’s First Speculative Fiction Award Announced alongside Orbit Publishing Deal

 Tade Thompson, author of ROSEWATER (photo credit David Thompson)Please join us in welcoming Tade Thompson to the Orbit family! The news is out – we will be publishing his Rosewater trilogy next year.

Tade’s also just had another VERY exciting bit of news to announce, as Rosewater was awarded Best Novel today at the inaugural Nommo Awards. These are the first awards ever given for African speculative fiction or science fiction – a landmark moment for the genre and for Tade!

The winners were announced as part of the Ake Arts and Book Festival in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and also included Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti winning Best Novella and a tie between Lesley Nneka Arimah and Tendai Huchu for Best Short Story. The awards were set up by the African Speculative Fiction Society.

While Rosewater was originally published by indie press Apex Book Company agent Alexander Cochran (C+W Agency ) sold world rights in this and two more novels in the trilogy to Orbit last month. The trilogy will chronicle the effects and aftereffects of a biological catastrophe first on an individual, then on a community and finally the world.

Rosewater is a town on the edge. A community formed around the edges of a mysterious biodome, its residents comprise the hopeful, the hungry and the helpless – people eager for a glimpse inside the dome or a taste of its rumoured healing powers.
Kaaro is a government agent with a criminal past. He has seen inside the biodome, and doesn’t care to again – but when something begins killing off others like himself, Kaaro must defy his masters to search for an answer, facing his dark history and coming to a realisation about a horrifying future.

Tade Thompson is the author of Rosewater, a John W. Campbell Award finalist and Best Novel winner for the inaugural 2017 NOMMO Awards for African speculative fiction. His novella The Murders of Molly Southbourne has recently been optioned for screen adaptation. He also writes short stories, notably ‘The Apologists’ which was nominated for a British Science Fiction Association award. Born in London to Yoruba parents, he lives and works on the south coast of England where he battles an addiction to books.

Cover launch: 84K by Claire North

This is a very exciting time for Claire North.

She’s just won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel for The Sudden Appearance of Hope  (US|UK|ANZ). She’s been shortlisted for the Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Award for The End of the Day (UK|US|ANZ).

And now we’re thrilled to present the cover for her new novel 84K, coming next year.

84K by Claire North, author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

84K is remarkable, innovative, gripping and utterly thought-provoking.

It’s a startling vision of a world where nothing is so precious it can’t be bought . . . and where our lives are defined only by numbers.

Theo Miller knows the value of human life – to the very last penny. 

Working in the Criminal Audit Office, he assesses each crime that crosses his desk and makes sure the correct debt to society is paid in full.

But when his ex-lover is killed, it’s different. This is one death he can’t let become merely an entry on a balance sheet. 

Because when the richest in the world are getting away with murder, sometimes the numbers just don’t add up.

This is a book which will resonate with readers around the world, and it will confirm Claire North’s place as one of the most original voices in modern fiction.

84K is coming in May 2018, and is available for pre-order now.

Praise for Claire North’s novels:

‘Poignant and intensely gripping’ Guardian

‘Little short of a masterpiece’ Independent

‘Ambitious, immensely humane and full of philosophical panache’ Sunday Times

‘Well-paced, brilliant and balanced’ New York Times

‘Extraordinary . . . wildly impressive’ Lucy Hughes-Hallett, BBC Radio 4

‘One of the fiction highlights of the decade’ Judy Finnigan, Richard and Judy Book Club

Cover Launch: INTO THE FIRE by Elizabeth Moon

We’re delighted to reveal the stunning cover for INTO THE FIRE (UK|ANZ), the thrilling second book in the Vatta’s Peace series by Nebula-Award-winning author Elizabeth Moon.

Into the Fire

Cover design by Sean Garrehy
Illustration by Steve Stone @ Artist partners

INTO THE FIRE will be hitting shops in February 2018 and is available for pre-order now! Read on for a taste of what’s in store:

When Admiral Kylara Vatta and a ship full of strangers were marooned on an inhospitable arctic island, they uncovered secrets that someone on Ky’s planet was ready to kill to keep hidden. Now, the existence of the mysterious arctic base has been revealed, but the organisation behind it still lurks in the shadows, doing all it can to silence her.

It is up to the intrepid Ky to force the perpetrators into the light, and uncover decades’ worth of secrets – some of which lie at the very heart of her family’s greatest tragedy.

Praise for Elizabeth Moon:

‘Sheer delight’ – Anne McCaffrey
‘Absolutely compelling’ – Greg Bear
‘Full of thrills’ – Locus
‘Unforgettable’ – Jack McDevitt
‘Hard to put down’ – SFSite.com
‘Continues to get better with every volume’ – Guardian
‘Superlative’ – Booklist
‘She deserves all her success – and more’ – SciFi.com

Cover Launch: ONE WAY by S. J. Morden

We are currently in the middle of the next space race. No, not to the moon, but to Mars. And our latest acquisition, by bona fide rocket scientist S.J. Morden, posits what happens when you take that space race and add a little bit of corporate greed: Budget cuts and some dangerously slim margins for success. In ONE WAY, the corporation in charge decides the cheapest option is to send prisoners with certain skills on a one way trip to Mars to help build the first human settlement on Mars. But the landscape of Mars is a hostile one, and when you send untrained civilians to space, bad things can happen…

We’re so excited for this book that we already have a cover for it. Take a look below and make sure to say hello to the author on twitter at @ComradeMorden.

Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio
Art by Shutterstock

Cover launch: OUTER EARTH by Rob Boffard

Welcome to Outer Earth: a vivid, dangerous world where every day is a desperate struggle for survival . . . 

. . . and one wrong move could spell the end for humanity.


OUTER EARTH - a science fiction adventure from Rob Boffard

We’re very proud to present  the cover for OUTER EARTH (UK | US | ANZ), a thrilling science fiction adventure from Rob Boffard.

Outer Earth is a huge space station orbiting the ruins of our planet. Dirty, overcrowded and inescapable, it’s humanity’s last refuge . . . and possibly its final resting place. There are dark forces at work on the station who are seeking to unleash chaos. And if they succeed, there will be nowhere left to run.

This new edition of the OUTER EARTH series contains three adrenaline-fuelled novels: Tracer, Zero-G and Impact. It’s the kind of gripping story which will get a whole range of SF and space opera readers hooked, and it’s already received some very impressive praise:

‘Fast, exhilarating and unforgettable, and once you start it you can’t stop’ Sarah Lotz, author of The Three

‘Sets a new standard for all-action SF’ Ken MacLeod

‘Relentlessly fast pace . . . Vivid action scenes’ SFX

‘Exhilarating and guaranteed to keep you hooked until the very last page’ Glamour

‘If you’re after a fast-paced, action-packed, cinematic space adventure, then [this] is absolutely for you’ Civilian Reader

OUTER EARTH (UK | US | ANZ) will be entering our orbit in February 2018.

And in the meantime, we also have some very exciting news about Rob Boffard: I’m delighted to say we’ve acquired three new books from him!  The first book will be called ADRIFT and will be releasing in June 2018.

Set in the far reaches of space, ADRIFT is about a group of tourists who board a small vessel for a trip around Sigma Station – a remote space mining facility and luxury hotel. But when a mysterious ship attacks the station with devastating consequences, the tourists end up stranded in the depths of space, out of contact with civilisation and with no way home . . .

This is such a dramatic, original SF adventure and we can’t wait to tell you more . . . Stay tuned for details!

Cover Launch: A BIG SHIP AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE by Alex White

Alex White’s brilliant new book A BIG SHIP AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE has an equally brilliant cover to match. This explosive space opera tells the tale of two women, fighting for their lives and for a treasure so great it could change the universe. Look out for the book on May 15, 2018 and say hello to Alex at his website or on twitter @alexrwhite.

Boots Elsworth was a famous treasure hunter in another life, but now she’s washed up. She makes her meager living faking salvage legends and selling them to the highest bidder, but this time she might have stumbled on something real–the story of the Harrow, a famous warship, capable of untold destruction.

Nilah Brio is the top driver in the Pan Galactic Racing Federation and the darling of the racing world–until she witnesses the murder of a fellow racer. Framed for the murder and on the hunt to clear her name, Nilah only has one lead: the killer also hunts a woman named Boots.

On the wrong side of the law, the two women board a smuggler’s ship that will take them on a quest for fame, for riches, and for justice.

Cover design Lisa Marie Pompilio; Cover art Shutterstock

New Acquisition: A BIG SHIP AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE by Alex White

Alex R. WhiteSpace is filled with treasure. No, not natural resources. Actual treasure, like gigantic ancient spaceships that contain secrets and riches untold. Enter author Alex White. We’ve acquired Alex White’s breakneck science fiction adventure series, The Salvagers. The first book in the series A BIG SHIP AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE introduces you to Nilah, a gutsy young racer, and Boots, a semi-retired (to put it nicely) treasure hunter. The two become wrapped up in a dangerous hunt for a mythical spaceship at, you guessed it, the edge of the universe. If you’re looking for non-stop, action-packed science fiction, then this series is perfect for you. Go say “hi” to Alex at his website: alexrwhite.com.

Boots Elsworth was a famous treasure hunter in another life, but now she’s washed up. She makes her meager living faking salvage legends and selling them to the highest bidder, but this time she might have stumbled on something real–the story of the Harrow, a famous warship, capable of untold destruction.

Nilah Brio is the top driver in the Pan Galactic Racing Federation and the darling of the racing world–until she witnesses the murder a fellow racer. Framed for the murder and on the hunt to clear her name, Nilah only has one lead: the killer also hunts a woman named Boots.

On the wrong side of the law, the two women board a smuggler’s ship that will take them on a quest for fame, for riches, and for justice.

Orbit has acquired World rights in three books from Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Literary Agency, and the first book will hit shelves in Spring 2018.

 

New series alert! THE ETERNITY WAR by Jamie Sawyer

Conspiracy, terrorism and traitors.

Humanity is facing its greatest threat.

This is THE ETERNITY WAR.

Pariah, book one of THE ETERNITY WAR by science fiction author Jamie Sawyer

Presenting a new series from the rising SF talent, Jamie Sawyer: this is THE ETERNITY WAR.

Jamie is coming to be known for his visceral action scenes and the relentless pace of his storytelling – and this series has more excitement that you can shake a very dangerous plasma weapon at.

Think brutal deep-space battles. Deadly alien biomechs. A conspiracy threatening humanity. And a team of elite super-soldiers who are no strangers to death. But Lieutenant Jenkins and her team still have a lot to learn . . .

Jamie’s previous series THE LAZARUS WAR has earned high praise from the likes of Michael Cobley, Neal Asher, Jack Campbell and many others – and fans of the series will be pleased to hear that this new trilogy is set in the same world.

THE ETERNITY WAR is also a great jumping-off point for brand new readers, so if you enjoy the space opera of James S. A. Corey and Peter F. Hamilton – or military science fiction of any kind – this is a series you should check out.

Check out the blurb below for book one, PARIAH (UK | US | ANZ), coming in September and available for pre-order now.

 

The soldiers of the Simulant Operations Programme are mankind’s elite warriors. Veterans of a thousand battles across a hundred worlds, they undertake suicidal missions to protect humanity from the insidious Krell Empire and the mysterious machine race known as the Shard.

Lieutenant Keira Jenkins is an experienced simulant operative and leader of the Jackals, a team of raw recruits keen to taste battle. They soon get their chance when the Black Spiral terrorist network seizes control of a space station.

Yet no amount of training could have prepared the Jackals for the deadly conspiracy they soon find themselves drawn into – a conspiracy that is set to spark a furious new war across the galaxy.

Visit Jamie Sawyer’s website: jamiesawyer.com . Follow Jamie Sawyer on Twitter: @JSawyerAuthor

Cover Launch: FORBIDDEN SUNS by D. Nolan Clark

Behold, the fantastic cover for FORBIDDEN SUNS by D. Nolan Clark, the explosive conclusion to the Silence trilogy, an epic space adventure tale of fighting against impossible odds – and the terror of realizing that we’re no longer alone in the unforgiving vastness of space.

 

In the cold of space, the fire of revenge still burns.

Aleister Lanoe has been on a mission since before he can remember. Honing his skills as a fighter pilot and commander through three centuries of constant warfare, he has never met a foe he cannot best.

But now he faces a mission which may be his last: take vengeance on the alien race who has coldly and systematically erased all the sentient life in its path.

In all his years at war, the stakes have never been higher…

Praise for the Silence trilogy:

“No less intriguing and action-packed than its predecessor. Here, sci-fi tropes such as AI and space aliens are turned into something entirely thoughtful and original.”— RT Book Reviews on Forgotten Worlds

“Unforgettable characters and is jam-packed with action [and] adventure… one readers will not want to miss.” —Booklist on Forsaken Skies

“About as exciting an action story set in space as any this reviewer has seen in print in quite some time. It is worth the read… a terrific and thrilling novel.” —SciFi Magazine on Forsaken Skies

“Gripping writing, a brilliantly realized future culture and sympathetic characters… an entertaining and compelling read.” —SFX Magazine on Forsaken Skies

Design by Lauren Panepinto
Illustration by Victor Mosquera

 

Cover Launch: THE RULE OF LUCK and THE CHAOS OF LUCK

Year 2950. Humanity has survived devastating climate shifts and four world wars, coming out stronger and smarter than ever. Incredible technology is available to all, and enhancements to appearance, intelligence, and physical ability are commonplace. 

In this future, Felicia Sevigny has built her fame reading the fortunes of others.

Alexei Petriv, the most dangerous man in the TriSystem, will trust only Felicia to read his cards. But the cards foretell something darker than either of them could ever have imagined. A destiny that pits them against an all-knowing government, almost superhuman criminals, and something from Felicia’s past that she could never have predicted, but that could be the key to saving — or destroying — them all.

A thrilling new SF adventure launches in paperback this fall with Catherine Cerveny’s THE RULE OF LUCK (Nov 2017) and THE CHAOS OF LUCK (Dec 2017). Can’t wait? The ebooks are available now!

 

“A compelling and intriguing read built on a fascinating premise. Cerveny’s future world is richly drawn, and Felicia’s and Alexei’s adventure is definitely an edge-of-your-seat ride.”– Linnea Sinclair, award-winning author of the Dock Five Universe series

“A novel with depth… Cerveny has deftly blended science fiction and romance…a terrific story.” — The Qwillery

“A fresh heroine pairs with a dangerous hero to confront nuanced and compelling ethical dilemmas…fast-paced, tightly plotted.” — RT Book Reviews

The Rule of Luck, cover design: Lisa Marie Pompilio, artwork: Trevillion, Shutterstock
The Chaos of Luck, cover design: Lisa Marie Pompilio, artwork: Arcangel, Shutterstock