Archive for Orbit UK

In Their Own Words: Ian Irvine on THE CURSE ON THE CHOSEN

Ian says:

The Curse on the Chosen by Ian IrvineWho is the Numinator, the never-seen figure who has manipulated the world of Santhenar for more than a hundred and fifty years, for some unknown, terrible purpose?

That’s the most frequently asked question by my fans, and it’s why I’ve been dying to write The Curse on the Chosen. I too wanted to find out who he (or she, or it) really was, and the answer shocked me as much as it astonished our old friends Nish, Maelys and Flydd, who are in dire trouble once again.

I love storytelling. My chief pleasure in life is making my characters suffer until they can take no more – and then making things much, much worse for them, until they’re lining up to march out of the book, take the author by his scrawny throat and put a stop to their agony forever. But he’s thought of that one too – ha, ha! – and their suffering continues to the ultimate cliffhanger ending. This time, there really is no way out.

The author types on, laughing maniacally …

The Curse on the Chosen (UK) is out now from Orbit and is available from all good booksellers. The story is part two of Ian’s current series, The Song of the Tears and is part of his ongoing ‘Three Worlds’ story arc, which began with the View From the Mirror quartet – see Orbit Editor Bella Pagan’s overview of the entire saga for more information.

You can find out more about Ian Irvine and his Three Worlds books at his website, www.ian-irvine.com.

In Their Own Words: Sean Williams on EARTH ASCENDANT

Sean says:

Earth Ascendant by Sean WilliamsFrom its conception, I pictured Astropolis as three fundamentally different books: Saturn Returns is about Imre putting the pieces of his mind and team back together; The Grand Conjunction is a chase novel ranging far and wide across the Milky Way. Earth Ascendant, then, is the “empire” section of Imre’s story, taking a long, hard look at how difficult it would be for someone like us to rule the galaxy, especially someone literally warring with another version of himself.

Like Saturn Returns, this draws inspiration from one of my favourite Gothic classics, this time: ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ by Edgar Allen Poe. The image of a fractured façade made it irresistible, along with many other wonderful aspects of that story. Astropolis is a Gothic tale, and a wildly anachronistic one, so it made sense to trawl for inspiration in the works of the masters. Any excuse.

The same goes with Render, Imre’s friend who speaks solely in Gary Numan lyrics. You won’t find much of me in the gender-bending sex scenes, but in the nerdy stuff, definitely.

Earth Ascendant (UK | AUS) is out now from Orbit and is available from all good booksellers. The first part of the Astropolis series, Saturn Returns, is also available from Orbit [UK | AUS].

You can find out more about Sean Williams‘ work at his website, www.seanwilliams.com, and keep up with his latest news and developments via his blog at ladnews.livejournal.com.

LIVING WITH THE DEAD tops UK SF/F chart!

Living With the Dead by Kelley Armstrong, UK hardbackCongratulations to Kelley Armstrong! According to official sales figures from Nielsen BookData, her brand new ‘Otherworld’ novel, Living With the Dead [UK] was the best-selling SF / Fantasy hardback in the UK last week.

Here’s the trailer-text to give you a flavour:

Robyn Peltier has always lived a normal life. So when her boss is murdered and she is named prime suspect, she is way out of her depth. As the bodies pile up only her friend Hope, and Hope’s somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl, are on her side.

Hope, meanwhile, has a few secrets of her own. Namely that she is half-demon, and her ‘spooky’ boyfriend is actually a werewolf. Hope also knows that Robyn has accidentally stumbled into a bloody supernatural turf war. And the only way she can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she’s safer knowing nothing about …

We recently posted Kelley’s own thoughts on Living With the Dead, and you can find plenty more information on all her books, as well as background material and short fiction set in the ‘Otherworld’ milieu, at Kelley’s official website: www.kelleyarmstrong.com.

In Their Own Words: Brent Weeks on SHADOW’S EDGE

Brent says:

ShadowShadow’s Edge is a much more ambitious book than The Way of Shadows. If you look at the map at the beginning of TWoS, that whole book takes place within about one square centimeter on the map. In Shadow’s Edge, you’re going to get a fuller sense of this huge world. More cultures, more people. The surprises definitely continue. In fact, I can’t even say the two things I think readers are going to love most because they’re both spoilers.

This much I can say: deep, conflicted characters who continue to grow throughout the whole trilogy, impossible dilemmas, truly awful bad guys, more magic, more surprises, and a huge battle that changes everything. But this book IS a complete story that has an actual ending – no lame cliffhangers just to squeeze another eight pounds out of you.

And of course, there’s one more thing that’s brilliant: you don’t have to wait five years to get your hands on the next book. If you like the first one, you can grab this one right away, and if you like this one, at most you have to wait a month for the last one. You also have the assurance that it’s going to be a trilogy and be finished…

Shadow’s Edge (UK | US | AUS) is out now and you can find it at all good high street and online booksellers.

Don’t forget to read book one, The Way of Shadows before you start on this one. You can get a taste of how the series starts by reading an extract here and see what Brent had to say about the first instalment here.

The final part of the Night Angel Trilogy, Beyond the Shadows, will be published next month, so look out for one more ITOW from Brent Weeks in a few weeks . . .

In Their Own Words: Kelley Armstrong on LIVING WITH THE DEAD

Kelley says:

Living With the Dead by Kelley Armstrong, UK hardbackThis is a story I’ve wanted to tell since I first decided that Bitten would launch a series, rather than be the stand-alone novel I originally intended. In the Otherworld, I’ve introduced a lot of women, and they’ve all had one thing in common: they’re supernaturals. But what about the humans? What if a human woman was thrown into this universe? It’s taken nine books, but here I finally get to tell that story. Robyn Peltier is the very human friend of Hope Adams (from Personal Demon). Robyn knows nothing about her friend’s secret life … but she’s about to find out, as she becomes embroiled in a supernatural murder.

Living With the Dead, the brand new novel in Kelley Armstrong‘s best-selling Otherworld series, is out now from Orbit in the UK and is available now from all good bookstores and online retailers.

And don’t forget to check out Kelley’s official website at www.kelleyarmstrong.com for loads of background information on her Otherworld series, including a number of serialised novellas and short stories set in the same world that haven’t been published elsewhere… just yet.

2 out of 10!

MatterWe’re thrilled to point to the Amazon Editors’ Best of 2008 top 10 list in Science Fiction & Fantasy, which includes both Matter by Iain M. Banks (US|UK) and Black Ships by Jo Graham! (US|UK)

Black ShipsJo Graham’s next book, Hand of Isis, will be out in March 2009. You can keep up with the author and enter to win an advance copy of the book at her livejournal.

And at the official Iain M. Banks site you can catch up on our recent fan QAs with the author (part one, part two, part three) and read an extract from Matter.

Orbit UK schedule update: January 2009

We’ve just updated the Orbit UK Schedule page with details of the first batch of great new Orbit titles for 2009. The following titles will be available from all good booksellers and online retailers as of January 15th:

  • Hammer of God by Karen Miller – Conflict threatens to erupt between the nations of Mijak and Ethrea in the third part of the Godspeaker epic fantasy series.
  • Orphan’s Alliance by Robert Buettner – Jason Wander is called on to take the fight to the enemy in this fourth instalment of this highly-rated military sf series.
  • The Judging Eye by R. Scott Bakker – Part one of a brand new epic fantasy series, set in the same world as The Thousandfold Thought.
  • Shadow Gate by Kate Elliott – Part two of the Crossroads epic fantasy series sees Majit fighting for her life against an ancient and deadly enemy.
  • The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills – The first in a brand new comic fantasy series about Gerald the hapless career-wizard.
  • One More Bite by Jennifer Rardin – The fifth book in the Jaz Parks series finds our heroine caught right in the middle of a supernatural power struggle.
  • The Destiny of the Dead by Ian Irvine – The apocalyptic final volume of the Song of Tears epic fantasy series.

WIN a copy of Star Wars Republic Commando: Order 66

Order 66 coverStar Wars Republic Commando: Order 66 is the exciting new title in the Republic Commando series written by the fantastic Karen Traviss. We have 10 copies to give away and all you have to do to enter is sign up to the Orbit UK e-newsletter this November.

The Orbit e-newsletter has tons of exciting information about new titles, including chapter downloads, first look covers and exclusive competitions.

You can sign up for it here.

Already receiving the newsletter? Don’t worry, we’ll be doing a special giveaway for everyone that’s already signed up!

Orbit Links for October 31st 2008

Hello and a very Happy Hallowe’en / All Hallows’ Eve / Stuff-Your-Face-With-Candy Night to you all. Here are a few online treats (no tricks, we promise!) featuring Orbit Authors or coverage of their books:

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…)