Archive for Orbit Australia

An Urban Fantasy Holiday

Oh, the holidays. It’s a special time of year when I really enjoy reflecting on all the ways I’ve tortured my characters. To celebrate this magical and highly cathartic ritual, I’ve composed what is sure to be an instant holiday classic. Feel free to sing along!

The Twelve Days of An Urban Fantasy Heroine

On the first day of my UF novel, my author gave to me a demon in my pantry.

On the second day of my UF novel, my author gave to me, two love interests–and a demon in my pantry.

On the third day of my UF novel, my author gave to me, three bullet wounds–two love interests and a demon in my pantry.

On the fourth day of my UF novel, my author gave to me four mauling hellhounds–three bullet wounds, two love interests, and a demon in my pantry. (more…)

“Like a collaboration between Stephen King and John Steinbeck…”

Bennett_Mr. Shivers (HC)

Mr. Shivers got a terrific starred review in this week’s Publishers Weekly! We think they hit the nail on the head– Robert Jackson Bennett is clearly channeling the spirits of other writers. No, seriously, we’re worried he’s stealing their souls. Someone should look into this…

“Set during the Great Depression and reading like a collaboration between Stephen King and John Steinbeck, this remarkably assured first novel relates a good man’s desperate travels through the ruins of the American heartland on the trail of his child’s murderer. ” You can find the full review here (scroll down to the SF/Fantasy/Horror Section.)

The Week That Was, As It Was

While you’re making lists of all the marvelous Orbit books you can buy for your friends and family for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other year’s end holiday of your choice (or any other time of the year, for that matter), let’s take a fast look back on what happened around these parts last week.

Our attention turned to the Southern Hemisphere last week as Marianne de Pierres reflected upon the good work done in the past year by our AUZ authors, and the nominees for the Aurealis Awards were announced.

Joe Abercrombie had a spirited interview at Patrick Rothfuss’s blog about fantasy, film editing, shameful self-promotion, Muppets, and the orbital seque sander he proposes as a useful tool for the writer’s kit.

Gail Carriger, in the persona of her character Alexia Tarabotti, presented tips for coping with the holidays Victorian-style (once the werewolf has the doily on his head, of course, all is lost).

And Orbit UK’s Rose Tremlett was pleased to report on the spectacular press in the UK that both Palmer’s Red Claw and Jesse Bullington’s The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart have received.

A Sad Tale and not for the faint of heart!

The Sad Tale of the Brothers GrossbartFollowing some great recent coverage (including an interview in SFX and a piece on the cover design in Sci-Fi Now), I thought I’d share some of the excellent reviews Jesse Bullington has been getting in the UK for his debut novel The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart.  I think the general consensus is: not for the faint of heart!

‘One glance at the minor artistic miracle that is the cover was all it took to convince me to escalate this one up the reading list – and I’m so glad I did … As debut novels go this is one of the best I’ve read… it is utterly absorbing and as fine a tale as you’ll read this year … absurd, bizarre, bawdy, laugh-out-loud funny in places and above all highly original … Jesse Bullington has a unique voice and a rare talent and his debut novel showcases both to terrific effect.’ – Sci-Fi-London, Robert Grant
(more…)

Orbit’s Southern Lights Honored by Aurealis

Orbit would like to extend hearty congratulations to our finalists in the 2009 Aurealis Awards, the winners of which will be announced at the ceremony in Brisbane on Saturday 23 Jan 2010. They include:

In the category of Best Science Fiction Novel, Sean Williams for The Grand Conjunction; (UK/AUZ)

In the category of Best Fantasy Novel, a trifecta: Trudi Canavan for The Magician’s Apprentice (UK/US/AUZ); K.E. Mills for Witches, Incorporated. (UK/US); and Glenda Larke for The Last Stormlord ( UK/US).

We would also very much like to congratulate Sean Williams once again — this time for his nomination in the Best Young Adult Novel category; and Pamela Freeman for her nomination in the category of Best Children’s Illustrated Work.

Fingers crossed for our accomplished antipodean (the word of the week here at Orbit) authors!!

The Week That Was, As it Was

Red Claw author Philip Palmer has gotten this week off to a rousing start with his exploration of evil (and why evil is very, very good — sometimes); but before Monday turns into Tuesday, let’s look back at what happened here last week.

Robert Jackson Bennett, author of next month’s hotly awaited debut Mr. Shivers, wrote a story about how to write a story, and Jaye Wells, author of Red Headed Stepchild, discussed those who have trouble with tribbles, Google, and vaginae dentata.

Nicole Peeler’s character Jane True thought it a good idea to get some pointers on being an urban fantasy heroine from Gail Carriger’s character Alexia Tarabotti.

And Philip Palmer, before he moved on to the subject of evil, talked about space travel made easy.

We noted that Jesse Bullington, author of The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart, began guest blogging at Omnivoracious.com.

Orbit editor Devi Pillai was pleased to announce that Lilith Saintcrow (author of the just-released Flesh Circus) hit the New York Times Children’s Paperback bestseller list at #5 with her YA novel Betrayals.

The Orbit UK team gave a great rundown of a great year; Darren Nash took note of Orbit UK’s 40th anniversary edition of Ursula LeGuin’s The Left Hand of Darkness; and Bella Pagan observed that the Guardian was pleased to include from Orbit UK two books, Mike Cobley’s Seeds of Earth as well as Phil Palmer’s Red Claw among the must-have items on this years’ Gadget Fiends bookshelf.

Palmer and Cobley are the latest thing …

We were delighted to see not just one, but two fabulous Orbit books in the Guardian’s stylish Saturday supplement. The Gadgets Fiends piece presented us with a photograph of the bookshelf of the future, dripping with must-have gadgets, alcohol extraction devices (ahem, fancy bottleopeners) and e-items of various sorts. And although the futuristic bookshelf was rather short on books, we spotted Mike Cobley’s trailblazing Seeds of Earth at no.5 on the legend and Philip Palmer’s explosive Red Claw (UK | US) was a shelf or so below at position 8. Please see the image below for what our future holds …

… after a selected couple of quotes for those books:

For Seeds of Earth:

‘Proper galaxy-spanning Space Opera . . . a worthy addition to the genre’ Iain M. Banks

‘A tightly plotted, action packed epic that leaves you wanting more’ SciFi Now

For Red Claw:

Red Claw is that rare treat, an intelligent action adventure replete with intellectual rigour, human insight and superb storytelling’ – Guardian

‘Philip Palmer has crafted a novel that is brimming with promise… a refreshing and alternative read’ – SciFi Now

Click on the image for a larger and slightly more readable version:

The Guardian Lifestyle, November 28, 2009

On Winter

Rather unbelievably, it’s the beginning of December, which means winter is here – for those of us in the northern hemisphere, at least.  But regardless of whether it’s currently hot or cold where you live, if you’re a serious reader of science fiction, ‘winter’ should bring to mind the same much-loved book. Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel. A classic of modern literature. A book set on the planet Gethen – also known as Winter.

I’m delighted to draw your attention to the stunning 40th Anniversary edition of Ursula K. LeGuin‘s magnificent The Left Hand of Darkness, recently published by Orbit in the UK. Including background notes, map sketches and a new 40th anniversary letter from the author, as well as the related story ‘Coming of Age in Karhide’, this is a beautiful celebration of a wonderful book. Ursula K. LeGuin is a giant of modern literature and a tireless champion of our oft-maligned genre, and The Left Hand of Darkness is considered by many to be her finest work. I highly recommend it.

Nothing makes the chill winds of December seem hospitable like taking a trip to Winter.

The Left Hand of Darkness