Archive for Fiction

Two Orbit Authors on BSFA Shortlist

Congratulations to two Orbit authors who have had their titles shortlisted for this year’s BSFA Awards!

Claire North’s THE FIRST FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST (UK | US | ANZ) and Ann Leckie’s ANCILLARY SWORD (UK | US | ANZ) have both been nominated in the Best Novel category.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North and Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie - both nominated for the BSFA Award 2014

You can see the full list of nominees here.

Voting will now be opened to BSFA members and attending members of Eastercon. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the 66th Eastercon, aka Dysprosium, taking place from 3-6 April 2015.

New Short Fiction for the New Year!

Happy New Years everyone! We hope 2015 is already off to a smashing start for each and every one of you. To kick off another great year of publishing, let us tell you about two brand new novellas that are available now in the US and UK! If you made a resolution to read more this year, there is no time like the present to get started!

FireWater_JayeWellsFIRE WATER by Jaye Wells

Rookie cop Kate Prospero only has one more training assignment to pass before she’s officially sworn in to Babylon Police Department. But the veteran cop in charge of the river patrol boat is a salty old guy isn’t happy about playing tour guide to a rookie and seems even less interested in real police work. But while on patrol, they stumble on to what appears to be a floating dirty magic lab. This highly combustible situation might finally be the key to these two unlikely partners finding common ground.

For more adventures of Kate Prospero, check out DIRTY MAGIC (US | UK | AUS).

ReturnToHonorRETURN TO HONOR by Brian McClellan

Captain Vlora is a powder mage in the Adran army. Once the favored, adopted daughter of the field marshal, she is now a pariah amongst those she called her family. Her superior officers would like nothing more than to send her to a far off posting and forget about her, but no one is exempt when there is a war – and powder mages are desperately needed.

When a traitorous guard captain goes on the run with information that could harm the war effort, Vlora is sent on his trail. She has three days to find him; she will have to make new friends and test the limits of her skills. Fail, and good soldiers will die. Succeed and maybe, just maybe, she can begin to work her way back into the field marshal’s good graces.

A new story set in the world of the Powder Mage trilogy, the most acclaimed and action-packed new epic fantasy series in recent years. RETURN TO HONOR takes place directly following the events of book one, PROMISE OF BLOOD (US | UK | AUS).

Meet Rob Boffard – author of the upcoming TRACER

Rob Boffard, author of the upcoming science fiction thriller TRACER

Tracer, the upcoming science fiction thriller from Rob Boffard

 

 

 

 

 

We’re delighted to introduce Rob Boffard, author of the upcoming TRACER, a heart-stopping SF novel set in space which will be released next summer.

As a newbie to the Orbit list, we asked Rob a few questions about what we can expect from him in 2015 . . .

– Tell us a bit about yourself!

I come from Johannesburg, and can speak enough Zulu to prove it. I have glasses, terrible hair, and exceptionally long arms. I’m 29, obsessed with hip-hop, tattoos, plane tickets, snowboarding, and the Chicago Bulls. And good stories. Both telling them, and reading them.

For the majority of my adult life, I’ve worked as a journalist, being paid specifically to not make stuff up. The fact that I can now do the exact opposite at a place like Orbit is both weird and amazing.

– What can readers expect from your new book TRACER?

I wanted to make this the baddest, fastest, craziest, most intense scifi thriller you’re going to read next year, or any year after it. It’s set on a massive space station, Outer Earth, which holds the last humans in the universe. The station’s been there for a while – everything is broken, rusted, falling apart. Nothing works anymore. (more…)

New Short Fiction: FOOL’S GOLD by Jaye Wells!

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SABINA KANE IS BACK in a brand new novella from USA TODAY bestselling author Jaye Wells.

In the 1970s, Sabina Kane was a rookie assassin looking for first big kill. But when the day finally comes to prove her skills to the Dominae, she finds herself shadowing Slade Corbin, a more experienced assassin with a huge chip on his shoulder. Together, they must track down a blackmailer who’s threatening to expose the existence of vampires to the world. Will Sabina and Slade be able to find the blackmailer in time, and, more important, will they be able to get through the mission without killing each other?

And in case you haven’t been yet met Sabina, here are stellar some introductions to the Jaye Wells series that started with Red-Headed Stepchild:

“Hold on tight — a gritty new heroine has joined the pantheon of shoot-first, ask-questions-later protagonists.”
— RT Book Reviews on Red-Headed Stepchild

“Fast-paced and fun!” — Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series on Red-Headed Stepchild

“Urban fantasy doesn’t get much better than this. ”
— scifichick.com on Red-Headed Stepchild

“Jaye Wells is the next coming of Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison.” — Paul Goat Allen, bn.com, on Green-Eyed Demon

“Wells hits the sweet spot in combining wise-ass humor and mind-numbing danger. It’s outstanding!”
— RT Book Reviews Top Pick on Blue-Blooded Vamp

FOOL’S GOLD released today in the U.S. and Canada. It will be available next week in the U.K!

New Short Fiction: PACK by Lilith Saintcrow

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If you’ve been waiting on the edge of your seat for the latest from urban fantasy star, Lilith Saintcrow, wait no more! PACK, a brand new e-only standalone, is now available.

When the world falls apart, Lydia knows all you need is a gun and a dog. Unfortunately, she’s going to find out that’s not quite enough…

If you’re a fan of the Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet books, this urban fantasy should be on your must-read list. It’s also a great entry point work if you haven’t had the chance to sink your teeth into one of Lilith Saintcrow’s book’s yet.

And just in case you need another reason to check out this latest from Lilith Saintcrow, see what others have had to say about this master of urban fantasy!

“No one does gritty and paranormal better than Saintcrow.” — RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

“She’s fabulous. ”  — Christine Feehan

“What’s not to love? Fans of Laurel K. Hamilton should warm to Saintcrow’s dark evocative debut.”
—Publishers Weekly

If the Victorian era is more your style, check out Lilith Saintcrow’s THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR and the rest of the Bannon & Clare series – available in print and e-book.

THE FIRST FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST is a Richard and Judy pick!

The cover for The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North, a Richard and Judy Book Club 2014 pick
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Today we release the UK paperback edition of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, and we have some very exciting news to announce with it . . .

Harry August has been picked as a Richard and Judy Book Club title for 2014! This is a hugely important promotion in the UK, and we couldn’t be more delighted for the author Claire North (aka Catherine Webb). She’s an incredible talent and the novel is simply exceptional.

Given the fact that the novel was already chosen as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick in April, this is turning out to be a fantastic year for Harry!

If you haven’t read this story yet – one of friendship and betrayal, love and loneliness, loyalty and redemption and the inevitable march of time – then don’t you think it’s about time?

And if you have already met Harry, why not join in the chat on Twitter using the hashtag #HarryAugust

‘From first line to beautiful denouement, Claire North’s The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a gripping read’ Guardian

‘Fantastic’ Simon Mayo, BBC Radio 2

‘A masterful literary thriller’ – io9

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

The Mechanical – the stunning new Ian Tregillis novel

The book cover for The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis, called "A major talent" by George R. R. Martin - fantasy meets science fiction meets alternate historyI’m very proud to present the cover for a phenomenal new novel we have coming from Ian Tregillis next March.

Ian’s novels have been described as:

‘Addictively brilliant’ i09

‘Eloquent and utterly compelling’ Kirkus

‘Exciting and intense’ Publishers Weekly

‘Striking’ Locus

And now, The Mechanical (UK | US | ANZ) – in my humble opinion – is going to blow people’s minds.

Part science fiction, part fantasy and part alternate history, this book shows the incredible imagination of an exceptionally skilled author – or “a major new talent” in the words of George R. R. Martin.

It’s a novel that centers on a character called Jax – a mechanical man, or “Clakker”. His kind were created by the Dutch back in the 17th Century to serve their human masters. And an army of mechanical men like him have managed to make The Netherlands the most powerful nation in the world.

But these Clakkers are no more than slaves to human kind. And soon, Jax is going to make a bid for freedom – an act that will rock the world of the Brasswork Throne to its core . . .

It’s a truly stunning book. Intricately crafted, hauntingly atmospheric, and just gripping. You won’t want to miss this one.

My name is Jax.

That is the name granted to me by my human masters.

I am a slave.

But I shall be free.

 

MTV Acquires Shannara TV Series!

The exciting news broke over the weekend that MTV have ordered 10 episodes of a TV adaptation of Terry Brooks’ Shannara novels. After years of fans worldwide calling for this epic fantasy series to make it to the small screen, it’s fantastic to hear that it’s finally been green-lighted.

The first season will be based on The Elfstones of Shannara (UK | ANZ), which when first released spent 16 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Directing will be Jonathan Liebesman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and the script is written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar. Terry Brooks himself will be taking an executive producer role, along with Jon Favreau and Dan Farah.

The casting is yet to begin – the question is: who would you all like to see starring?

To catch up on the latest in the Shannara world, check out Terry Brooks’ recently released The High Druid’s Blade (UK | ANZ) – a standalone novel which is a great entry-point into the Shannara world.

Cover launch! SHIFTING SHADOWS by Patricia Briggs

The book cover for SHIFTING SHADOWS, a collection of short stories based in the world of Mercy Thompson, mechanice , shapeshifter and fighter, by Patricia Briggs We’re very happy to unveil our cover for an exciting new book coming from Patricia Briggs on 2nd September 2014! It’s called SHIFTING SHADOWS (UK | ANZ), and it’s a collection of fantastic short stories set in the world of Mercy Thompson.

Patricia Briggs is a number one New York Times bestseller and one of the most popular urban fantasy authors writing today. This anthology revolves around her much-loved character Mercy Thompson – mechanic, shapeshifter and fighter – and the people she calls friends. It includes numerous brand-new stories which you won’t have seen anywhere else.

Mercy fans – this is a must! And for anyone who hasn’t read Patricia Briggs yet, this might be a good time to check out why Kelley Armstrong calls the Mercy Thompson series ‘the best new urban fantasy series I’ve read in years’.

The High Druid’s Blade & Shannara Family Tree

This week sees the release of THE HIGH DRUID’S BLADE (UK | ANZ), a brand new stand-alone novel by Terry Brooks, set in the Legendary world of Shannara.

This exciting epic fantasy adventure tells the tale of Paxon Leah, a descendant of the royals and warriors who once waged war with magical weapons. But to Paxon, those days of legend are long gone now, and he leads a quiet life – until extraordinary circumstances will rewrite his destiny . . .

To celebrate the release, we’ve designed the beautiful Shannara family tree below (click to enlarge it!) showing the Ohmsford and Leah family lineage. It really demonstrates the richness of the Shannara world. But the great thing about the new book THE HIGH DRUID’S BLADE is that it’s a stand-alone novel, so a great place to discover this world for the first time. You can read an extract here.

Readers in the UK now have the chance to win a beautiful A2 poster of this family tree.Check out our competition on the Orbit UK Facebook Page.

Ohmsford and Leah family tree

Click to see the full size