Archive for Contents

CHIMERA: the final installment of The Subterrene War

CHIMERA (US | UK | AUS), the concluding volume of the Subterrene War series is available now!

As with GERMLINE (US | UK | AUS) and EXOGENE (US |UK | AUS), CHIMERA follows a different combatant into the dark underbelly of the warfront. Escaped Germline soldiers need to be disposed of quickly, and Stan Resnick is just the man for that job.

Back in June, T.C. McCarthy first introduced us to Stan Resnick saying,

“If Germline and Exogene are character studies about a man who can’t handle war and a girl who rejects it, respectively, then Chimera is a study of someone for whom war is a natural habitat: Stan Resnick. I’ve seen this. These types of soldiers exist — ones who genuinely thrive in settings that would make most of us want to huddle under a rock and stay there until everything dies down.”

You can read the entire article here and find out how his short story, SUNSHINE, connects to the secrets that are revealed in CHIMERA.

Pick up CHIMERA today or start elsewhere in this rich and complex setting featuring a futuristic world at war.  There are many ways to immerse yourself in The Subterrene War series, including short fiction and video.

 “The highly detailed, brutal depiction of futuristic warfare brilliantly complements the intimate narrative, which examines the insanity of war and those personally affected by it. Breathtaking and heartrending, this is the future of military science fiction.”  – Publishers Weekly, starred review

Hugo Awards voting reminder!

Voting  for the Hugo Awards closes tomorrow, July 31st! You can see the full list of nominees on the Chicon 7 website.

When you’re voting, don’t forget to consider works by some of our fabulous Orbit authors. Mira Grant’s DEADLINE (US | UK | ANZ) and James S.A. Corey’s LEVIATHAN WAKES (US | UK | ANZ) are both up for the Hugo Award for Best Novel, while Mira Grant’s COUNTDOWN, published as part of the Orbit Short Fiction program, is up for Best Novella.

Mira Grant, as Seanan McGuire, is up for another two Hugos: for Best Related Work for her album Wicked Girls and for Best Fancast as part of SF Squeecast. This ties the record for nominations on a single Hugo slate, and marks the first time a woman has been nominated for four Hugo Awards in the same year.

Mur Lafferty, author of the upcoming THE SHAMBLING GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY, is also a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

The game is afoot! Read an excerpt from THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR.

Deduction and magic combine in a new Steampunk series by Lilith Saintcrow that debuts next month. It’s the first book that features detective duo Emma Bannon and Archibald Clare.

Whether you are a current fan of Lilith’s novels or someone who loves a good mystery with a Steampunk twist– THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR (US | UK | AUS) is a book you’ll want to investigate further. Publishers Weekly gave this book a starred review saying, “sensual writing, intricate plotting, and sympathetically quirky, satisfyingly competent characters make this series one to watch.”

Here is the first chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter One: A Pleasant Evening Ride

Emma Bannon, Sorceress Prime and servant to Britannia’s current incarnation, mentally ran through every foul word that would never cross the lips of a lady. She timed them to the clockhorse’s steady jogtrot, and her awareness dilated. The simmering cauldron of the streets was just as it always was; there was no breath of ill intent.

Of course, there had not been earlier, either, when she had been a quarter-hour too late to save the other unregistered mentath. It was only one of the many things about this situation seemingly designed to try her often considerable patience.

Mikal would be taking the rooftop road, running while she sat at ease in a hired carriage. It was the knowledge that while he did  so he could forget some things that eased her conscience, though not completely.

Click to read more.

Wallpapers for GOD SAVE THE QUEEN by Kate Locke

Hey Ladies and Gentlemen, fans of all things Steampunk and Vampiric and Victoriana: for your device’s pleasure we have made you some fantastic God Save The Queen wallpapers! Please plaster across all your screens and enjoy at your leisure. We have also started making facebook timeline headers for your social media adornment!

For more info on the making of the cover, please stay tuned for a behind the scenes video of the photoshoot coming soon!

1024 x 768 | 1280 x 800 | 1440 x 900 | 1680 x 1050 |1920 x 1200 | iPhone | iPad | Facebook

Cover release: STRAY SOULS by Kate Griffin

As SFX Magazine said this month, Kate Griffin’s acclaimed Matthew Swift novels ‘tell of a parallel and eldritch capital’. In her new book STRAY SOULS [UK | US | ANZ] coming out this October, we find ourselves in the same fantastical London as the Matthew Swift novels, but with a new twist – meet Sharon Li: barista and shaman, on whose shoulders rest the fate of the city. Matthew Swift makes an appearance too, but it’s Sharon and her friends at Magicals Anonymous (a self-help group for people with magical issues) who must step up to save the day.

Here, just for you, we can now exclusively reveal the jacket, put together by our very own UK creative director Duncan Spilling:

First in the Magicals Anonymous series 

STRAY SOULS will be out worldwide from Orbit in simultaneous paperback and ebook this October.

Kim Stanley Robinson reads from 2312

“One stands on a pebble next to a star…”

In his stunning novel, 2312 [UK | US | ANZ], Kim Stanley Robinson combines detailed research with a vivid imagination to create the most incredible descriptions of our galaxy 300 years in the future.  While he was in the UK, we filmed him reading from the book at Toppings in Bath (big thank you to Jeanette Weston at Magus Studios).

Here he reads a passage depicting dawn on the planet Mercury… prepare to be entranced.

And for a chance to win a SIGNED hardback of 2312, comment below with your favourite quote from the reading!  (Terms and Conditions apply)

http://youtu.be/kRHOX8mRALE

BITTER SEEDS – a classified report

C L A S S I F I E DThe briliant debut novel BITTER SEEDS from Ian Tregillis - a supernatural alternate history of World War II where British Warlocks combat Nazi superhumans   I N F O R M A T I O N

YEAR: 1939.                 PROJECT: Milkweed

Raybould Marsh and other members of British Intelligence recently seized a damaged reel of film from enemy territory.

It appears to show German troops walking through walls, bursting into flames and hurling tanks into the air from afar.

This film, along with other classified reports, confirms our worst fears: that a Nazi scientist has been endowing German troops with unnatural, unstoppable powers.

British Intelligence may be forced to resort to our own dark methods to hold the impending invasion at bay.

– – – End of report – – –

Bitter Seeds (UK | ANZ), the phenomenal debut novel from Ian Tregillis, is released today. Read an extract here.

‘A major talent . . . I can’t wait to see more’ George R. R. Martin 

‘Mad English warlocks battling twisted Nazi psychics? Yes please, thank  you . . . A white-knuckle plot, beautiful  descriptions, and complex  characters’ Cory Doctorow

‘Remarkable . . . A confident and thrilling debut’ SFX Magazine

‘ Just superb’ Fantasy Book Critic

‘Tregillis delivers a dynamite first novel in Bitter Seeds’ SFRevu

‘Nothing short of an awesome read as far as I’m concerned’ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

‘Easily one of the most impressive debut works I’ve read’ Bookworm Blues

PSA: Zombie Outbreak Ravages San Diego

It’s that time of year again. Time for a horde of readers, superheroes, and Jedi to descend on the city of San Diego for Comic Con!

To kickoff the festivities, a new piece of Newsflesh short fiction is available now and set during San Diego Comic-Con…the very last San Diego Comic-Con.

It was the first days of the Rising and no one realized that most of the people who picked up their badges that fateful weekend would never make it out alive. This was the last stand of the California Browncoats.

SAN DIEGO 2014 a really fun story whether you are a regular at the convention or not. If you couldn’t make it out to California,  you can still get a taste for the experience by picking up SAN DIEGO: 2014.  For those of you who are going to Comic Con,  then definitely stop by our booth:  #1118. We will be giving away the yellow button that you see on the cover at various times throughout the weekend. Mira will also be at the show this year so check out her panels and signings.

The only thing we ask is that you leave the zombie plague at home. Remember the Rising doesn’t happen until for another two years, but if you must shamble on over to San Diego, please snack responsibly and try not eat the cast of Firefly.

Details on all our Comic-Con events are  here.

Event Schedule for San Diego Comic-Con 2012

It’s time for the 2012 Comic-Con International convention in San Diego!

You’ll find Orbit Books at booth #1118.   Mira Grant, Gail Carriger and N.K. Jemisin will also be in attendance this year.  See below for a full list of their panels and signings.

In addition to these events, there will be giveaways at the booth throughout the weekend. So stop on by  to say hello and pick up some awesome buttons, posters, and books while supplies last.

THURSDAY

Panel: Witty Women of Steampunk with Gail Carriger
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM in Room 5AB

Panel: creating Spaces for Diverse Characters and Representations with N.K Jemisin
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM in Room 23ABC

Spotlight Panel: N.K. Jemisin
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM in Room 7AB

Panel: Not With A Bang, With A Bite with Mira Grant
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM in Room 6A

Signing: Mira Grant
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM in Autograph Area (AA09)

FRIDAY

Panel: Epic Fantasy War with N.K. Jemisin
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM in Room 6A

Signing:  Mira Grant
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Orbit Booth, #1118
Complimentary Books While Supplies Last

SATURDAY

Panel: Urban Fantasy w/ Mira Grant (As Seanan McGuire)
10:30 AM – 11:30 in Room 5AB

Signing: N.K. Jemisin
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Orbit Booth, #1118
Complimentary Books While Supplies Last

Spotlight Panel: Gail Carriger
1:30 – 2:30 pm in Room 5AB

Signing: Gail Carriger
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in the Autograph Area

SUNDAY

Panel: Foes with Fur and Fangs with Gail Carriger
1:45 PM – 2:45 in Room 5AB

Signing: Gail Carriger
3:00 PM – 4:oo PM in Autograph Area AA19

 

 

New details emerge about Red Country

We’re super excited to publish RED COUNTRY  this fall. Our new on sale date is October 23, 2012 and we hope you love a sneak peak at this awesome description newly minted by Joe!

They burned her home.

They stole her brother and sister.

But vengeance is following.

Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she’ll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she’s not a woman to flinch from what needs doing.  She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company.  But it turns out Lamb’s buried a bloody past of his own.  And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried.

Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts.  Even worse, it will force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust . . .