Author Archive

R. Scott Bakker on A Game of Thrones and deconstructing the epic fantasy genre

Cover for The White Luck Warrior, a man's face with a red backgroundOver the last few years, R. Scott Bakker has established himself at the forefront of the epic fantasy genre,  known not just for his tales of grand battles, dangerous intrigue and explosive sorcery, but also for his detailed worldbuilding and the philosophical undertones in his writing.

His latest novel THE WHITE-LUCK WARRIOR [UK | ANZ] is now out in mass market paperback, and is his best novel to date. Adam Whitehead, of excellent UK genre blog The Wertzone, had this to say:

“The White-Luck Warrior (*****) is a powerful, engrossing, ferociously intelligent novel that sees Bakker at the very top of his game. It leaves the reader on the edge of their seat for the concluding volume of the trilogy, The Unholy Consult, which we need yesterday.”

To celebrate the release of THE WHITE-LUCK WARRIOR, Adam conducted an interview with Scott and the result is a fascinating discussion that covers Scott’s entire career, from his original influences to the development of epic fantasy in recent years.

 Scott, I have to start by asking those most dreaded of general questions: how would you describe your books and what they are about for newcomers? Why should they read The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect-Emperor series?

I wrote The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect-Emperor for two kinds of fantasy readers: those who love believing in secondary fantasy worlds, and those who think they have ‘outgrown’ the genre. Over and above that, they’re dark, violent, cerebral and genuinely controversial. I’m beginning to think they have a real shot at becoming ‘classics.’

What was the original impetus behind writing the series? You’ve mentioned your appreciation of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert, and developing Earwa as a roleplaying setting when you were much younger. How did those influences feed into the writing of the series?

They say our neural architecture is wild and bushy throughout childhood, and then in adolescence the brain begins to prune and streamline its structure. This could be why our teenage reading stamps our sensibilities so profoundly: I’m sure when I die and the medical community dissects my brain in the name of scientific comedy they will find little Guild Navigators playing D&D with lecherous old orcs. The thing for me was never allowing university convince me I needed to turn my back on these things,  always remembering they were so popular and so appealing precisely because they were so profound.

Frodo read Nietzsche, you know. (more…)

Urban fantasy unleashed: Kate Griffin’s The Minority Council out now in the UK

The Minority Council by Kate GriffinEveryone’s favourite resurrected sorceror, Matthew Swift, is back in Kate Griffin’s latest tale of urban magic, THE MINORITY COUNCIL [UK | US | ANZ] — out now in the UK and in the US on May 1. As usual, London is in dire need of his help.

Matthew Swift, the Midnight Mayor, is in charge. He hopes. And London is having some issues.

The new drug on the market is fairy dust and it turns humans into walking drug labs. Teenage vandals are being hunted by a mystical creature and ordinary criminals are dying by magical means.

If Swift is going to save London from a rising tide of blood, he will have to learn – and fast – what it really means to be Midnight Mayor.

Check out a sample of THE MINORITY COUNCIL!

Praise for Kate’s Matthew Swift series:

A fascinating sojourn into the mind of a thoroughly unique protagonist, written in an evocative, searingly poetic style . . . We aren’t just reading about the city and its magic – we hear it, we smell it, we taste it” – ROB WILL REVIEW

“Neverwhere for the digital age . . . The best novelists transcend genre and Griffin’s excellent Matthew Swift sequence , which tells of an eldritch and fantastical London, proves this point” – SFX

“Few can claim to share the same level of creativity and individual style as Griffin” – SCIFI NOW

For more on Kate Griffin and her Matthew Swift series, be sure to stop by her website. Kate is an active blogger and regularly writes on a variety of topics, from real-life London to the changing nature of superhero powers , via the dangers of martial arts . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jayné is back, this time battling Darker Angels . . .

Cover for Darker Angels, featuring Jayné Heller in purple with cityscape of New OrleansNow available is DARKER ANGELS (UK | ANZ) – the second instalment in M. L. N. Hanover’s pacy, action-packed urban fantasy series The Black Sun’s Daughter.

After the dust had settled following the dramatic events in UNCLEAN SPIRITS (UK | ANZ), Jayné Heller was hoping for a bit of downtime to recover. As DARKER ANGELS  proves, her supernatural enemies have other plans . . .

Reining in demons and other supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayné has a team of loyal allies as well as seemingly limitless wealth. She’ll need both to tackle a bodyswitching serial killer who’s taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.

Working alongside ex-FBI agent Karen Black, Jayné races to track down the demon’s next intended host before they become yet another victim. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems . . .

Here’s what reviewers have been saying about DARKER ANGELS:

DARKER ANGELS  is an enjoyable second novel that’s even stronger than its predecessor . . . Recommended, especially for fans looking for a different type of Urban Fantasy” – THE BOOK SMUGGLERS

“So I guess I read Urban Fantasy after all. At least, I read it when it’s written by M. L. N. Hanover. This is great stuff” – READING THE LEAVES

“I’m hooked on this series . . . As a first foray into Urban Fantasy, I’m glad I chose M. L. N. Hanover to take me on a wild ride. If you enjoy fast paced stories brimming with demons, twists, and turns, you’ll love DARKER ANGELS. I highly suggest you get started!” – HOPELESS BIBLIOPHILE

There’s further good news for Jayné Heller fans – the third instalment of her adventures, VICIOUS GRACE, will be released in March, and the fourth title, KILLING RITES, will follow in April.

M. L. N. Hanover’s website is here, and he can be found on Twitter here.

Kate Griffin and Benedict Jacka signing at Forbidden Planet London this Thursday!

There is a hidden, magical London that is all around, yet often remains unseen . . . and for good reason, since it’s a dangerous place. This Thursday, Forbidden Planet are celebrating this other London, by hosting a signing session with urban fantasists Kate Griffin and Benedict Jacka. The signing will take place at Forbidden Planet’s London store on Shaftesbury Avenue from 6 – 7 pm.

Minority Council cover - a man's sillouette with electrical sparksKate Griffin will be signing her new novel THE MINORITY COUNCIL (UK | US | ANZ), the fourth book in her urban fantasy series featuring resurrected sorcerer Matthew Swift.

Matthew Swift, the Midnight Mayor, is in charge. He hopes. And London is having some issues. The new drug on the market is fairy dust and it turns humans into walking drug labs. Teenage vandals are being hunted by a mystical creature and ordinary criminals are dying by magical means. If Swift is going to save London from a rising tide of blood, he will have to learn – and fast – what it really means to be Midnight Mayor.

Kate has swiftly (bad pun fully intended) built a dedicated fanbase with her tales of a hidden London forged from urban myths, legends and magic. The critical acclaim has been equally impressive: 

NEVERWHERE for the digital age . . . The best novelists transcend genre and Griffin’s excellent Matthew Swift sequence, which tells of an eldritch and fantastical London, proves this point” SFX

“Few can claim to share the same level of creativity and individual style as Griffin” SCIFI NOW

Fated Cover - red text, with shadows of London monumentsBenedict Jacka will be a new name to many of you, but it won’t stay that way for long. Fresh from his panel appearance at the SFX Weekender, he will be signing copies of FATED – a debut novel that reveals him to be a major new talent in urban fantasy, and a book perfect for fans of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and Ben Aaronovitch’s RIVERS OF LONDON.

Camden, North London. A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads and waterways. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals and where tourists and moody teenagers mingle. In the heart of Camden, where rail meets road meets leyline, you might find the Arcana Emporium, run by one Alex Verus. He won’t sell you a wand or mix you a potion, but if you know what you’re looking for, he might just be able to help. That’s if he’s not too busy avoiding his would-be apprentice, foiling the Dark, outwitting the Light and investigating a mysterious relic that has just turned up at the British Museum.

Sunday Times bestselling author, Jim Butcher, is already a dedicated fan:

Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus tremendously – and be a little nervous around him. I just added Benedict Jacka to my must-read list. FATED is an excellent novel, a gorgeously realized world with a uniquely powerful, vulnerable protagonist. Books this good remind me why I got into the storytelling business in the first place”

FATED (UK | ANZ) will be followed by CURSED (June 2012) and TAKEN (September 2012). Be sure to get in on the ground floor of what promises to be the next huge urban fantasy series.

Both Kate Griffin and Benedict Jacka can be found online; Kate’s website is here, and Benedict’s smart new web presence is here.

Sign up to be a World Book Night giver for THE PLAYER OF GAMES

At Orbit we’re big fans of World Book Night, so are delighted to see so many SFF titles appear in the final UK shortlist for this year’s event on 23 April 2012 – especially since one of the selected titles is THE PLAYER OF GAMES, by our very own Iain M. Banks. The final US shortlist is here.

THE PLAYER OF GAMES is a standalone title in Iain’s hugely successful Culture series of novels, and follows the adventures of Jernau Morat Gurgeh – the Player of Games, master of every board, computer and strategy.

Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the Empire of Azad to take part in the ultimate game with the ultimate prize: the throne of Azad itself. But it’s a game in which blackmail and murder are part of the rules, and very soon Gurgeh finds himself in the most dangerous game of his life.

The inclusion of THE PLAYER OF GAMES on the World Book Night UK shortlist represents a unique opportunity to introduce thousands of new readers to the wonders of science fiction – and what better way to do it than by giving away copies of one of the finest works by a true master of the genre.

If you’re based in the UK, you can sign up to be a ‘giver’ for THE PLAYER OF GAMES on World Book Night UK by visiting the official website. You’ll be given 24 free copies of the book to distribute throughout your community as you choose, spreading the love of reading and of incredible books. If you’d like to be a part of this amazing event, be sure to sign up by the deadline of 1 February 2012!

Join us in showing the world the wonders of Iain M. Banks and science fiction!

UNCLEAN SPIRITS unleashed!

UNCLEAN SPIRITS (UK | ANZ) is out (at last!) in the UK and our international markets this month. It’s the first novel in the Black Sun’s Daughter series by M. L. N. Hanover and we think you’re going to love it: a pacy, action-packed urban fantasy featuring Jayné Heller, a heroine who is strong and sassy, yet who often doubts her ability to tackle the burden that life has given her. As Kelley Armstrong so rightly says, she’s great!

Jayné Heller has always lacked a clear direction in life. She’s just dropped out of college and she really doesn’t get on with her family. So when her uncle Eric dies and leaves all his worldly possessions to her (which just so happens to include properties all over the globe, along with a considerable amount of cash) it seems that she has the chance to start her life afresh.

Except that this new-found wealth comes with a sinister price. It turns out that her uncle spent most of his life fighting a secret battle against ‘riders’ – evil spirits that take over human bodies and then control them. And it seems to be Jayné’s responsiblity to carry on this war from where her uncle left off . . .

UNCLEAN SPIRITS is available now and we’ll be continuing the series over the next few months: DARKER ANGELS comes out in February, VICIOUS GRACE in March and KILLING RITES in April.

Read a sample of UNCLEAN SPIRITS here!

Praise for UNCLEAN SPIRITS:

‘A strong beginning to an intriguing Urban Fantasy series, Unclean Spirits introduces readers to a fascinating new supernatural world. M. L. N. Hanover’s debut novel in the genre teems with promise, and I am excited to see where the next book leads’ – Book Smugglers

Between the novel’s energetic pacing, Jayné’s undeniable charm, and the intriguing concept behind the riders, Unclean Spirits is a solid entry in the urban fantasy genre’ – Fantasy Book Critic

‘Hanover’s treatment of the subject matter makes it a very entertaining book where the pages turn all too easily. I’ll be back for more and I reckon I’ll see you there with me’ – Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

Cover Launch: THE FALLEN BLADE by Jon Courtenay Grimwood

‘Gritty, grimy, decadent and compelling’ the Sunday Times said of Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s fantasy novel THE FALLEN BLADE. The same can be said for the fabulous new cover art for the UK mass market paperback edition, created by our wonderfully talented in-house designer Emma Graves.

Emma kindly agreed to speak about her creation:

“To redesign the Grimwood series was an exciting and interesting project. We wanted a cover which gave the reader a taste of the gripping setting of this series as well as reflecting the dark and dangerous surroundings and characters. Having visited Venice myself, I knew the challenge was to find images and textures to project this captivating city with its narrow streets and alleys to the reader.

Before deciding what each cover in the series would feature, I set up mood boards of visual ideas, photographs, colours and typefaces inspired by the storylines and the atmosphere of the books.

We wanted the new style to be appealing to both existing Grimwood fans as well as new readers. By choosing sophisticated images and colours, and mixing this with typefaces with a historical feel, the design sits well both within its genre and the larger historical fiction market. The textured frames tie the books together as a series and I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the third book in the set and creating another cover to match the first two.”

Many thanks to Emma, whose cover we feel perfectly encapsulates the brooding atmosphere of Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s alternative Venice!

THE FALLEN BLADE (UK | US | ANZ) will be released in mass market paperback in the UK on 5 April 2012. The second novel in the trilogy, THE OUTCAST BLADE – with a similarly fantastic cover! – will follow in trade format everywhere in May 2012.

LEGACY OF KINGS now available!

After winning much critical acclaim for her Coldfire trilogy, Celia Friedman embarked on a new, epic tale of a dangerous world where to use magic is to sacrifice your own vitality . . . or that of an unwitting victim. The first novel in the Magister trilogy, FEAST OF SOULS [UK | ANZ], introduced us to Andovan, a prince suffering from a terrible disease, and Kamala, a young woman whose magical powers threaten centuries of tradition. Their fates – and those of many others – become entwined as a ancient force awakens to threaten their world. WINGS OF WRATH [UK | ANZ] continued the story, raising the stakes as the horrifying might of the Souleaters is gradually revealed.

Now, in LEGACY OF KINGS [UK | ANZ], the final confrontation is at hand. Secrets will be spilled,  blood will run and magic will be unleashed. The fate of the world lies in the hands of a select few . . . but will their powers be enough to hold back the darkness?

Praise for Celia Friedman’s Magister trilogy:

Perhaps the most staggering achievement of FEAST OF SOULS is how purposeful every scene feels. There is no filler in this book — Ms. Friedman’s prose is crisp and to the point, just as every scene in this book serves as an integral part to the novel as a whole . . . FEAST OF SOULS is a fantastic, superior work of speculative fiction’ – THE BOOK SMUGGLERS

‘Friedman has her hands firmly on the reins and delivers scenes that are tightly controlled while sparkling with vitality’ – GRAEME’S FANTASY BOOK REVIEW

‘Friedman truly knows what she is doing as a storyteller, since she is following one of the great axioms: “Always leaving them wanting more.”  I, for one, want more; especially after reading the last couple of exhilarating chapters’ – SFF WORLD (more…)

THE ASCENDANT STARS – out now!

Iain M. Banks is someone who knows a thing or two about science fiction, so when he labelled Michael Cobley’s SEEDS OF EARTH (UK | ANZ) as ‘Proper galaxy-spanning space opera’, you just knew something special had begun. Two years on, tens of thousands of fans have been enthralled by Cobley’s war-torn universe where the human race battles ancient alien civilisations just for the right to survive, an epic tale continued in THE ORPHANED WORLDS (UK | ANZ).

Now, in THE ASCENDANT STARS (UK | ANZ) – the explosive final book in the Humanity’s Fire trilogy – the fate of the human race will be decided. Ancient forces are awakening. Battle fleets are converging. Sentients and machines will lock horns in a devastating battle where there are only two outcomes: survival or the sterile dusts of space.

Praise for the Humanity’s Fire trilogy:

A convincing portrayal of political machinations and the plight of individuals caught up in events beyond their comprehension’ – GUARDIAN

‘A great hunky juggernaut of a Space Opera novel . . . that should be greeted with enthusiasm by fans of Peter F. Hamilton and Iain M. Banks’ – SFFWORLD

‘A really good, enjoyable and compelling book, written with verve and more than a little humour’ – BOOKGEEKS

‘There is a lot of depth to be found in Michael Cobley’s richly imagined universe, the characters beg deeper exploration, and the series as a whole possesses tremendous potential . . . Highly recommended’ – FANTASY BOOK CRITIC

‘This is really a fine piece of work and could, when it’s all finished, be up there with the aforementioned Tolkien or Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ series as one of the all-time greats’ – SF CROWSNEST

‘Another author that is being added to my buy-on-release list and one that is a breath of fresh air into the genre with an intriguing, complicated and a well executed story. Highly recommended’ – WALKER OF WORLDS

Michael Cobley can be found online at www.michaelcobley.com. A video Q&A with Michael about the Humanity’s Fire series can be found here.

Andy Remic unleashed in ebook!

Ever feel like you need more adrenaline-fuelled adventure in your life, where technological gadgetry and big explosions come as standard? If so, then you’re in luck: today sees the ebook releases of Andy Remic’s turbo-charged techo-thrillers, SPIRAL, QUAKE and WARHEAD.

In Remic’s future vision of Earth, nuclear warheads can be hidden in a suitcase, bio-plagues can be held in a teardrop . . . and the elite organisation known as Spiral is humanity’s last line of defence against global armageddon. Operating in secret, Spiral fights a constant war against rogue states, deadly assassins and ruthless dictators that will not stop at anything to get what they want – even if it means the Earth’s destruction.

Praise for Andy Remic’s Spiral trilogy:

Hugely entertaining and packed with more explosive action scenes than is probably decent, SPIRAL starts off loud and ends in a bang” WATERSTONE’S BOOKS QUARTERLY

“Spiral is certainly chock full of action … ideal summer reading if you’re looking for something filmic” SFRevu

“A new writer who knows what a regular reader sitting on the bus wants – action . . . Pure Die Hard, pure Rambo. This has got to be a film, surely!” LADSMAG 

“Fans of the action adventure genre will not be disappointed by SPIRAL . . .  A light, fast read with quick action” THE REVIEWS PAGE

About the author:

ANDY REMIC is a larger-than-life action man, chainsaw warrior and chef. He has written a variety of thriller, SF and fantasy novels, and sometimes delves into the murky underworld of teaching. If pushed to describe himself, Remic claims to have a love of extreme sports, violent computer games and kickass bikes. Andy is also married and has sired two strapping young boy cubs. Remic is now working on various new SF and fantasy projects, and threatens he will never stop writing.

Andy can be found on the web at his personal website.

Keep your eyes peeled for a couple of articles from Andy in the near future!