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Orbit UK Acquires New Jim Butcher Series!

We’re thrilled to announce the acquisition of Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera sequence in a major four book deal.

Jim Butcher is the bestselling and critically-acclaimed author of the Dresden Files series, featuring wizard-detective, Harry Dresden, which has sold over 150,000 copies for Orbit and was recently televised by the SciFi Channel.

The Codex Alera is a series of epic fantasy novels set in a world where courage and ingenuity may yet triumph over magic and power. For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies – elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious Lords manoeuvre to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon.

Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, young Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy – the Marat – return to the Valley, his world will change. Caught in a storm of deadly wind furies, Tavi saves the life of a runaway slave. But Amara is actually a spy, seeking intelligence on possible Marat traitors to the Crown. And when the Valley erupts into chaos – when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies – Amara will find Tavi invaluable. His talents will outweigh any fury-born power – and could even turn the tides of war.

Orbit commissioning editor Bella Pagan said, ‘We are really delighted to be publishing Jim Butcher’s fabulous Codex Alera sequence. After the huge popularity of Jim’s ongoing Dresden Files series, it is exciting to have a new direction to offer fans. With its fast pace, fine world-building and compulsive plot twists, this more traditional fantasy series will also attract an army of new enthusiasts.’

The Codex Alera series will start with Furies of Calderon, to be published by Orbit in summer 2009.

2008 Locus Poll open for voting

We’ve been checking out the 2008 Locus Poll & Survey in the office this week. This is the final voting poll, and you don’t actually have to be a Locus subscriber to register your vote.

In each of the categories there are a number of suggested titles, sourced from the 2007 Locus Recommended Reading List, or you can add your own titles via the write-in boxes on the form.

We’re particularly happy to see a number of Orbit’s lead publications for last year included in the recommendation shortlists, including:

Ken MacLeod and Charles Stross also have long-listed pieces in the Best Novella, Best Novelette and Best Short Story lists. And what’s that you say? Orbit are long-listed under Best Publisher? Well, yes, but we’re all far too polite to mention it…

Orbit Autumn Catalogue Online

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Twice a year, Little, Brown Book Group, Orbit UK’s parent company, produces a catalogue presenting our upcoming titles.

As you can imagine, we’ve always been limited by just how many physical copies there were. But not anymore! For the first time the catalogue is online. So if you’re interested in what Orbit UK will be publishing this autumn you can check it out here.

Dark Wraith of Shannara

Dark Wraith of Shannara, Terry Brooks’ brand new graphic novel and Orbit’s first foray into the genre, has been getting some great reviews:

‘Kept me entertained …This is one piece of fan service that Shannara fans won’t want to miss’ – A Dribble of Ink

‘A great way of attracting newcomers to Fantasy (and Terry’s work), of persuading some readers to look at a graphic novel for the first time and also keeping the Brooks’ faithful happy. Sounds difficult, but I think it manages it’ – Mark Yon, SFFWorld

‘A good read to get stuck into with a cast of characters that veterans of the series will instantly recognise but who also serve as a good introductory point for the casual reader. . .Fans of Terry Brooks will love this to pieces!’ – Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

Interested in picking up a copy for yourself? It’s available at all good booksellers now. And you can check out some of Edwin David’s fantastic art below (click on images to enlarge).

Shannara 3 Shannara 6 small Shannara 13 small

Karen Miller Interviewed

Karen Miller, the bestselling author of The Innocent Mage, talks about Empress, her writing and kitty litter over at The Book Swede:

Could you tell us a little about Empress? (I like to be original in my opening questions)…

Well, Empress is the first book in the Godspeaker trilogy (my first trilogy, yikes!). Actually, I tend to think of my stories in acts, like plays, so it’s Act 1 in a 3 act play.

It’s the story of a young girl from an exceedingly harsh background, who discovers the power that lies within her and rises to greatness against enormous odds. It’s the story of a young man, who’s also been touched by power and greatness. It’s about his relationship with her, and her relationship with the god they worship … which isn’t at all a kind or benevolent deity.

Read the rest of the interview here.