Posts Tagged ‘science fiction’

Orbit UK is hiring!

ORBIT LOGOOrbit UK is looking for an assistant editor to join its London office. This broad position offers a great opportunity to work with some of the genre’s most exceptional writing talent and to be part of a friendly, ambitious and creative editorial team.

The assistant editor’s duties will be divided between commissioning new titles for Orbit’s list and providing editorial and administrative support for the imprint. On the commissioning side, the role will involve overseeing a list of both established and debut authors through the editorial process, liaising with authors and agents, reading submissions, acquiring new titles, editing manuscripts, briefing covers, writing copy and representing authors in-house with enthusiasm and energy. On the administrative side, duties will include managing and updating publishing systems, the distribution and circulation of materials and information, and general support for the editorial department. The assistant editor will also be involved in devising creative content for Orbit’s online direct consumer marketing channels.

The ideal candidate should have at least one year’s experience in a commercial fiction publishing role, with a solid understanding of the science fiction and fantasy market. An excellent eye for detail, the ability to handle a busy and varied workload and a passion for reading SFF are essential.

For details of how to apply, please visit the Hachette UK website here.

Cover launch: THE LAZARUS WAR: ORIGINS

The Lazarus War Origins by Jamie Sawyer - a science fiction space opera adventureToday we can reveal the cover for THE LAZARUS WAR: ORIGINS (UK|US|ANZ), the third and final book in the Lazarus War Trilogy by British author Jamie Sawyer, coming this August.

Jamie is one of the hottest new talents in science fiction, and readers are digging this series so much that he’s already had a fan club set up in his honour. His series follows the hero known as “Lazarus”, who runs suicide missions in the depths of space using simulant bodies. He’s died hundreds of times, but he always comes back . . .

If you want a piece of this explosive space opera action, the first book in this series, THE LAZARUS WAR: ARTEFACT (UK | US | ANZ) is available in print and ebook now. The second novel THE LAZARUS WAR: LEGION (UK | US | ANZ) is available in ebook now and releases in print at the end of May. And here’s what you can expect from the third novel ORIGINS in August:

For someone who has died and come back as many times as Conrad Harris, the nickname Lazarus is well-deserved. His elite military team are specialists in death – running suicide missions in simulant bodies to combat the alien race known as the Krell.

But now the Krell Empire has wreaked such devastation that military command is desperate for a new strategy against the alien foe.

Harris and his team are being sent on a mission that could finally turn the tide of the war. Intelligence has been uncovered that indicates the location of the UAS Endeavour, a ship that went missing years ago deep in Krell territory. The ship could hold secrets to harnessing an ancient alien technology – possibly the most powerful weapon in the known universe. But if this power falls into the wrong hands, the consequences for humanity are unimaginable . . .

Covers

 

Cover Reveal: THE CHAOS OF LUCK

Below is the out-of-this-world cover for THE CHAOS OF LUCK by Catherine Cerveny. The Chaos of Luck is the sequel to The Rule of Luck, an exhilarating science fiction romance from our sister imprint Redhook. Cover design by Wendy Chan. Cerveny_ChaosOfLuck_EB.jpg

Felicia Sevigny makes her own luck. So it’s no surprise that her new life on the Red Planet is off to a good start. She’s making a living reading the fortunes of the fabulously wealthy, and making a home with Alexei, the dangerous, handsome love of her life. 

Then Alexei is called off planet expectedly, mines in the astroid belt start collapsing, and an ex-lover walks back into Felicia’s life. Felicia’s readings predict that there is something bigger going on. Something darker and far more insidious that threatens everything she has come to love. 

And as luck would have it, the cards are right for things to go horribly wrong.

The Chaos of Luck will be publishing this fall in ebook ($2.99). And if you haven’t already met Felicia and Alexei, pick up The Rule of Luck and fall in love with this series today.

“A fascinating premise. Cerveny’s future world is richly drawn, and Felicia’s and Alexei’s adventure is definitely an edge-of-your-seat ride.” — Linnea Sinclair, award-winning author of the Dock Five Universe series

Cover launch: IMPACT by Rob Boffard

IMPACT by Rob Boffard, the third Outer earth novel in the science fiction thriller series that started with TRACER and ZERO-G

You might be aware that we recently carried out one of the craziest feats ever attempted in publishing history. We sent a book into the outer limits of the Earth’s atmosphere and performed the first ever author reading in space. How did we do it? You can read the story behind the space launch right here.

The book in question was ZERO-G (UK | US | ANZ) by Rob Boffard – a novel so exhilarating that it inspired us to carry out this world-first. It’s part of the Outer Earth series which started with TRACER (UK |US | ANZ) – a heart-pounding set of science fiction thrillers set on a space station containing the last living members of the human race.

And now we’re proud to officially present the cover for IMPACT (UK |US | ANZ), the explosive final novel set in the world of Outer Earth.

If you think that the stakes couldn’t be raised any higher in this series, guess again. Because a signal has been picked up from Earth. The planet was supposed to be uninhabitable – but it seems there are survivors down there. Perhaps there could be a future for humanity on Earth after all. And Riley Hale will find out soon enough, because she’s stuck on a spaceship with a group of terrorists who are planning to crash-land on the surface . . .

Think the Bourne Identity meets Gravity and you’ll be staring to come close to just how exciting this series is. See a few more reasons below to check it out!

TRACER, ZERO-G and IMPACT, three science fiction thrillers in the Outer Earth series by Rob Boffard

‘TRACER is the literary equivalent of a base jump: fast, exhilarating and unforgettable, and once you start it you can’t stop. I loved it’ Sarah Lotz, author of THE THREE

‘TRACER sets a new standard for all-action SF’ Ken MacLeod

‘Relentlessly fast pace…Vivid action scenes’ SFX

‘Compelling, compulsive…Thoroughly entertaining – this one’s worth picking up if you’re in the mood for some sci-fi action’ SCIFI AND FANTASY REVIEWS

‘If you’re after a fast-paced, action-packed, cinematic space adventure, then Tracer is absolutely for you . . .  Rob Boffard is an author to watch’ CIVILIAN READER

Cover Launch for THE CORPORATION WARS: DISSIDENCE

The first instalment in the Corporation Wars trilogy, DISSIDENCE is a space opera giving a robot’s eye view of a robot revolt, from Arthur C. Clarke Award-nominated science fiction author Ken MacLeod.

Today we’re delighted to launch the cover, by the very talented Bekki Guyatt at Little, Brown Book Group UK.

The Corporation Wars: Dissidence

One of SFX magazine’s Top Ten Most Anticipated Books for 2016, DISSIDENCE will be released in May this year (UK|ANZ|US). INSURGENCE will follow at the end of 2016, with the final instalment in the trilogy, EMERGENCE, released Spring 2017.

They’ve died for the companies more times than they can remember. Now they must fight to live for themselves.

Sentient machines work, fight and die in interstellar exploration and conflict for the benefit of their owners – the competing mining corporations of Earth. But sent over hundreds of light-years, commands are late to arrive and often hard to enforce. The machines must make their own decisions, and make them stick.

With this newfound autonomy come new questions about their masters. The robots want answers. The companies would rather see them dead.

New Acquisition: Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clarke

Forsaken Skies, the first book in a space opera trilogy by D. Nolan Clarke, brilliantly brings the premise of Seven Samurai to a war-torn galaxy of factional disputes, unpredictable characters, and battles against the odds.

This is the unmissable start to a new epic space adventure that will thrill fans of John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War and James S. A. Corey’s Expanse.

A silent, shadowy armada has emerged from the depths of space.

Its target is a backwater planet, where a religious sect lives in peaceful exile far from the politics of mankind. Faced with imminent destruction, these acolytes must now seek help from the very civilization they left behind.

When their pleas for assistance are ignored, they have little choice but to put their faith in a ragtag group of pilots – each of whom is already battling their own demons. These pilots are among the very best the universe has to offer, but even they cannot hope to defeat an entire armada. 

Yet sometimes the few must stand against the many.

Acquired by Orbit in a three-book deal for World English language rights from Russell Galen of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, book one, Forsaken Skies, will hit shelves in Fall 2016.

THE RISING by Ian Tregillis – the follow-up to the acclaimed THE MECHANICAL

THE RISING by Ian Tregillis, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed THE MECHANICAL
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THE RISING (UK | US |ANZ) by Ian Tregillis has just been released worldwide. It’s the new book in the Alchemy War series, which tells the gripping tale of a mechanical man who was created to serve human kind but has thrown off the bonds of slavery.

It’s the follow-up to THE MECHANICAL (UK | US | ANZ), which was released early in 2015 to superb critical acclaim:

‘The first thing readers will say after finishing this splendid book is: “Wow.” The second thing will probably be: “When can I read the next one?’ Booklist

‘One of the sharpest, most intelligent, hugely compelling works I’ve read this year’ The Mechanical, Alchemy Wars 1 by Ian TregillisForbidden Planet International

‘As intricate and exquisite as the clockwork wonders it brings to life’ NPR

‘His characters are as convincing as ever, the plotting is beautifully articulated . . . readers with an interest in dark, intelligent fantasy will find much to admire here’ Kirkus

‘A hugely entertaining novel’ SFX

‘Absolutely fascinating, and unapologetically clever’ Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews

‘So absorbing that readers will be dying for the next entry in this new series’Library Journal

‘This book is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before . . . I can’t wait to see what the next installment in The Alchemy Wars will bring’ Bibliosanctum

As well as getting this critical praise from reviewers, THE MECHANICAL has also been featured in:

Waterstones Best Fantasy Books of 2015,

Barnes and Noble’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy on 2015,

Amazon’s UK’s Best Books of 2015: Science Fiction and Fantasy,

and Amazon’s US’s Best Books of 2015: Science Fiction and Fantasy.

So on the release date of THE RISING (UK | US |ANZ), we just wanted to say hurrah for booksellers! Thanks so much for supporting this fantastic series, and we’re glad you agree that Ian Tregillis is one of the most original and important new voices in speculative fiction.

Cover Launch: THE RULE OF LUCK by Catherine Cerveny

Take a peek at THE RULE OF LUCK and fall in love with Felicia and Alexei, in this exhilarating science fiction romance from our sister imprint Redhook. It’s out in January, and you can pre-order your copy now. To tempt you, we’re proud to reveal Wendy Chan’s sexy cover design right here.

TheRuleOfLuck_Quote_B[5].jpg

“A fascinating premise. Cerveny’s future world is richly drawn, and Felicia’s and Alexei’s adventure is definitely an edge-of-your-seat ride.” — Linnea Sinclair, award-winning author of the Dock Five Universe series

As a famed tarot card reader, all is well in luck and love for Felicia Sevigny, until Russian crime leader Alexei Petriv walks into her shop and demands a reading.

Petriv’s future looks dark and full of danger, which wouldn’t be Felicia’s problem, except that it’s also aligned with hers. Felicia discovers she is the key pawn in Petriv’s plot to overthrow the all-knowing government, and she must decide if she will trust with him with her heart, body and soul, before the future of the entire human race collapses around her.

Cover launch: ZERO-G by Rob Boffard

We’re very proud to present the cover for ZERO-G (UK | US | ANZ) by Rob Boffard. It’s a totally edge-of-your-seat thriller set in space, and it really shows that Rob is a force to be reckoned with in the world of science fiction.

This is the second book in the Outer Earth series, which started with TRACER (UK | US | ANZ). To say that this series is addictive and explosive is an understatement.

The action takes place on a giant space station orbiting Earth, which contains the last surviving members of humanity. Meanwhile, 300 miles below, our planet lies in ruins.

Our main character is Riley Hale – a tracer, or courier. If you need something taken from one part of Outer Earth to another, she’ll get it there – and fast.

In book one, Riley gets caught in a conspiracy which threatens the future of the space station and humanity itself. And now in ZERO-G, she really has nowhere left to run. Not only is she being blackmailed and being forced to break just about every law that exists on Outer Earth, but a lethal virus has also broken out, and is tearing its way through the station. It really seems like this could be the end for human kind – unless Riley can move fast enough.

We’re going to have a rather out-of-this-world campaign happening for ZERO-G nearer to January 2016, when the book releases.

In the meantime, you can catch up on all the action with the first book TRACER. Check out the impressive list of reviews below!

Tracer by Rob Boffard‘TRACER sets a new standard for all-action SF’ – Ken MacLeod

‘TRACER is the literary equivalent of a base jump: fast, exhilarating and unforgettable, and once you start it you can’t stop. I loved it’ Sarah Lotz, author of THE THREE

‘A stunning debut by Rob Boffard that never lets up, from the nerve-jangling beginning to the explosive end‘ – James Douglas, author of THE DOOMSDAY TESTAMENT

‘Relentlessly fast pace…Vivid action scenes’ – SFX;

‘Compelling, compulsive…Thoroughly entertaining – this one’s worth picking up if you’re in the mood for some sci-fi action’ – SCIFI AND FANTASY REVIEWS

‘If you’re after a fast-paced, action-packed, cinematic space adventure, then Tracer is absolutely for you . . . A promising debut, I think Rob Boffard is an author to watch’ – CIVILIAN READER

‘A hugely enjoyable and exciting space dystopia . . . I loved this. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series’ – NUDGE BOOK

(See below for the ZERO-G cover in its full glory…) (more…)

Cover Launch – THE LAZARUS WAR: REDEMPTION

Cover for the Lazarus War- Redemption, a novella by Jamie Sawyer
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Earlier this year we digitally released the first two novels in The Lazarus War series by Jamie Sawyer: ARTEFACT (UK | US | ANZ) and LEGION (UK | US | ANZ). And now we’re excited to show you the cover for a novella set in the same world: REDEMPTION (UK | US | ANZ), coming at the start of November.

This series is just so gripping and addictive (and geniunely makes me want to do fist pumps in the air at points…) It’s all about a soldier called Conrad Harris and his Simulant Operation team. They’re an elite military force who fight battles in space using avatars that they operate remotely – and they’re all that stands between humanity and a hostile alien race.

This series is just perfect if you’re a fan of films like Alien and The Edge of Tomorrow and books like James S. A. Corey’s Expanse series. It’s had high praise indeed from some big names in science fiction:

‘Gripping, gritty and unsentimental – Sawyer shows us how perilous future war can be’ – Michael Cobley, author of the Humanity’s Fire series

‘Artefact is a gripping read that moves at warp speed’  – Jack Campbell, author of THE LOST FLEET novels

‘A hostile race of alien biomechs somewhat in the mould of H R Giger aliens . . . terrorism, subterfuge and traitors . . . starships sporting particle beam weapons, railguns the size of skyscrapers … Is that enough for you? . . . This, dear readers, is the good stuff. Recommended’ – Neal Asher, author of the Agent Cormac novels

‘Hyper-speed entertainment from a new master of science fiction’ – William C. Dietz, author of the Legion novels and HALO tie-in novels

‘A highly promising science fiction debut – a fun, gripping adventure story, with a mystery at its core that kept me turning the pages’ Gary Gibson, author of STEALING LIGHT

The new novella REDEMPTION can be read as a stand-alone story, but it’s also perfect to read after you’ve finished ARTEFACT and LEGION and are waiting for book three, which we release next year.

It’s about Taniya Coetzer – chief engineer of the transport ship Edison, which is on a cargo run to the military outpost Liberty Point. Taniya is also an ex-convict with a secret, and she’s hoping to make peace with her estranged mother when they reach the Point. But this meeting will be disrupted when a disaster strikes the space station, and the crew of the Edison suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives . . . It’s a gripping story, brilliantly written, and will make you see the world of the Lazarus War in a whole new light.

Also, if you’re not a fan of reading digitally but want to find out what the Lazarus War is all about, you might be interested to hear we’re releasing the whole series in print next year, starting from February 2016.

Lazarus War Artefact by Jamie Sawyer

Book cover for The Lazarus War Legion by Jamie Sawyer - a science fiction adventure