Archive for Events
Robot Round-Up 17.05.13
Posted by: | CommentsGather round drones, and check out what has been amazing couple of weeks for all things robotic and brilliant…actually makes us a little bit less angry, but don’t worry as it won’t last. Prepare yourselves…it’s a long ‘un.
I think it’s only right that we start off with the great news from the US, that Angry Robot has been shortlisted at the Locus Awards for Best Publisher. Not only that but Madeline Ashby‘s vN has been shortlisted in the Best First Fiction category, and fellow Angry Robot author Aliette de Bodard is up for Best Novella and Best Short Story! Couldn’t be better timing with Book Two in the Machine Dynasty, iD, coming very shortly! Check out Lee’s post on this good news.
Wesley Chu continues to take the world by storm with Tao & Roen in The Lives of Tao with reviews, interviews, and blog posts popping up left, right, and centre.
Reviews:
• Normal in London loved the book: “There are comic moments, there are tender moments and there are moments where I wondered what I would do if I had an alien inside me, and moments where I wished I did as it might push me into doing stuff! The climax was especially strong, and somewhat unexpected. And it has left me wanting more Roen & Tao.” There’s definitely a business opportunity for Wes if he can provide aliens for all the reviewers looking for their own Tao!
• Dangerous Dan awards Tao “four easy stars” believing the “ending[...]was perfect for the story and left it open-ended enough for future adventures of Roen and Tao.”
• Always Unmended don’t just focus on the fact that “Chu’s writing is strong, and his ability to write tragic, heart-rending scenes into such a fun, easy story is proof that he’s found his calling as a writer” but also believe we can all learn something from Roen: [the book] ”contains inspirational advice that is bound to make readers reflect on their own lives. There is much about being the person you want to be and not making excuses to let yourself fail. Much as the practice of Tao is The Way of life, the character of Tao shows Roen the way to live fully. And isn’t that something we could all use a little help with?” Now. Go out there and live your live…after the pizza dinner, it is Friday evening after all.
• For a review with a spin, check out Richard’s rhyming review; I can’t even pull a line from it, it needs to be read in whole…what are you waiting for? Shooo!
• Feathers & Tea get their review off to a great start, calling Chu’s debut “another triumph from the Angry Robot publishing stable”, why thank you! It continues thusly: “Chu’s writing is sparingly skillful [and the] key premise is novel and handled deftly, the transition of Roen from bumbler to Commander is a joy to read, and the book is as laced with humour and flashes of poignancy as it is with action scenes”
• The Lives of Tao has even managed to impress the self-proclaimed cross-genre wary 42 Webs! “The Lives of Tao is one of those good books that pulls off the mash-up perfectly. We get the full sci-fi feeling combined with the spy genre without either side getting diluted or ignored. We get the full effect and in turn get a character we care about. Roen becomes the mix between James Bond and Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin Creed 2, Brotherhood, Revelations).”
• “The most fun I’ve had all year” Staffer’s Book Review
• Mike over on Stuff and/or Junk calls Roen & Tao ”a sci-fi action Odd Couple” – I think the most apt description I’ve heard yet!
• Wes & the Prophus’ global domination continues with i109 proclaiming The Lives of Tao one of the Astounding Summer Reads!
• The Lives of Tao is ”top notch entertainment” and “the perfect summer read” The Eloquent Page
• The wonderful 52 Book Reviews allow no excuses for anyone not reading Chu’s amazing debut: “Chu’s cunning and hilarious mash-up of comedy, coming of age drama, espionage thriller, and science fiction has something for everyone.”
• Matthew Scott Baker is very excited about Tao! It’s “very clever with fun/deadly characters and a high-paced plot. Be ready to drop your social life for a few days, though…you will definitely want to use your free time finishing this one up!”
•Bandelier Girl Reads Everything is short and sweet with Tao: “A nice mash-up of genres that moves the reader thru the story with humor and interesting characters. Recommend.”
Blog Posts/Interviews:
• Wes has been interviewed on many a website, and get yourself over to Toonari Post, Sci-Fi Fan Letter, and Bastard Books…for a mammoth, brilliant, read which also includes a giveaway!
• Check out Stellar Four for Roen’s drink of choice, and Wes talks about Aliens on Dribble of Ink.
• Wes had a guest post with Mary Robinette Kowal which you can catch here
Events:
• Wes has also been busy with some fun & games and with the coolest cake ever, launched The Lives of Tao in Chicago. Take a look at the photos on Wes’ Facebook page
• If you’re in Chicago – or will be – on May 19, you can catch Wes on a panel at Open Books: 213 W. Institute Place Chicago, IL 60610 (1 block north of Chicago & Franklin el stop.) See the Open Books Website for further details.
• If you can’t make Chicago, Wes will be at WisCon May 24-27, on 4 panels no less, and for more info: check it out here
• And if Tao & Roen hadn’t provided Wes with enough to celebrate, didn’t he only go and win the April Debut Author Challenge Cover Wars over at The Qwillery! Thanks again to Argh! Oxford for the great cover! Here’s an interview The Qwillery also did with him.
• Adam Christopher‘s The Age Atomic has a very cool video review over on I’m Ellie Ann
• Paper Mages is putting future reading trust in the hands of Adam, a very wise move, whilst also praising Christopher’s dynamic characters!
• Listen in to Adam’s radio i/v on City FM 89 here
• And, it might be belated posting on my behalf, but check out the Bane of Kings review over on The Founding Fields: “A wonderful novel, The Age Atomic proves that Adam Christopher can write sequels just as well as anyone. The most fun read of 2013 so far, and one of the best.”
The wonderful Emma Newman has had the internet all a flutter between reviews for Between Two Thorns, advance talk on Any Other Name, the wonderful Three Wishes, and also her new podcast, Tea & Jeopardy!
Reviews for Between Two Thorns & Any Other Name:
• ”JK Rowling meets Georgette Heyer ” so say the Guardian along with praising how Emma “renders the Split Worlds with verve and an infectious sense of fun, and presents in Cathy a strong and personable heroine.” Get in, Between Two Thorns!
• “Between Two Thorns is in essence a mystery, with a dash of magic, suspense and intrigue combining with just a touch of romance, polictics and feminism to freshen it up a bit” Boy, do Vinx Books love Between Two Thorns! Vinx also highlights Em’s amazing short stories based in The Split Worlds, and the Three Wishes, thanks Vinx!
• Uncorked Thoughts give Between Two Thorns 4 out of 5 stars, and declare the ”story…an Austinesque fantasy, filling every chapter with action. I loved learning about this new world and am looking forward to sinking my teeth into the next book!” You don’t have long to wait, Leah!
• A Writer’s Sidequest is another eagerly anticipating the release of Any Other Name, having fallen in love with Between Two Thorns!
• 5 out of 5 stars. Why, thank you very much Geek Syndicate. “A word of warning, make sure it is somewhere comfortable though as once you start this magical book, you won’t be going anywhere until you finish it. Absolutely brilliant.” Just one of the many excellent proclamations from them, and rightly so!
• Here’s a review for the forthcoming Any Other Name from My Dear Bibliophage who call it “enchanting, shocking, and well-crafted”
Interviews:
• SQ Magazine have a great interview with our Em; find out what she thinks about the challenges facing female speculative fiction writers in today’s publishing world, amongst much more. Emma also has a short-story in SQ, here
• Keep an eye on Emma’s Split World interviews page for all her oot-and-abooot happenings!
Three Wishes:
• If you haven’t heard about Emma’s fantastic new project Three Wishes, you’re missing out on your chance to have some magical wishes come true! Get involved: make your wish but also try grant somebody else…it’s a magical Pay it Forward, and we like it! Read more here.
• Urban Fantasy Land have definitely got on board with Three Wishes and are urging everyone to be “part of something very exciting, wonderful, and of course, magical!”
Tea & Jeopardy:
• Geek Planet Online are very excited to have Emma onboard with her new podcast, and rightly so, it’s great! Check out the first podcast with our very own Chuck Wendig: Tea & Jeopardy
Chuck has kept the web busy with both Mookie Pearl and Miriam Black:
The Blue Blazes:
• For something “dark, gritty and fun” Three Crow Press recommend Chuck‘s first Mookie Pearl novel, The Blue Blazes. True that.
• “Wendig has taken the cast of Goodfellas and dragged them, kicking and screaming into a fantasy reality of New York, opened up the playground and let them run loose”, so says Wilder’s Book Review, who continues: “The dialogue is crisp and flows quickly, with a dark humour which Wendig relishes throughout…It’s a style which Wendig is well-known for and as my first Chuck Wendig novel, I found it to be a real breath of fresh air in a subgenre which sometimes feels a little stuffy and manufactured.”
• Odd Engine starts a glowing 4 star review with a shout-out to Joey Hi-Fi for the amazing cover, and continues by praising the “punchy dialog, snappy prose, and a gritty narrative voice”, calling The Blue Blazes “inventive, edgy, and a joy to read”
• Elf Machines from Hyperspace (what a cool name, and you’re welcome for the ARC!) after one book has declared Chuck’s writing “imaginative, funny, profound, tough, and poetic all at once” and they ain’t wrong!
Blackbirds:
• Blackbirds is “a bit fucking wrong” (a quote courtesy of Miss BookCunt) which for PublishThings sums up the second Miriam Black novel perfectly!
• The Cheape Book links Blackbirds with the perfect director: “This book begs to be done as a movie by Tarantino if he hasn’t already” Are ya listening, Quentin?
Finally, The 52 Review has a great interview with Mr Wendig, and if you’re an aspiring writer you definitely want to check out when he says about finding your own voice
With good timing as A Discourse in Steel‘s publication date (25 June / 4 July) is fast approaching, Geeks versus Nerds are talking all things Paul S. Kemp and The Hammer and the Blade: “This book is wonderful, funny and exciting with a pinch of spine shivering evil added in for flavor.”
The beautiful story that is Cassandra Rose Clarke‘s The Mad Scientist’s Daughter has certainly made an impression on ScienceFiction.com, who call it a “fantastically written science fiction novel about love and society”.
Meet the Authors – Adam Christopher and Joseph D’Lacey
Posted by: | CommentsAs previously announced, Adam Christopher will be launching The Age Atomic at Forbidden Planet in London, this coming Thursday (4th April) at 6pm. Pick up a copy of the paperback, or treat yourself to the highly-collectible limited edition hardback (100 copies, only) of Empire State or The Age Atomic!
We hope to see you there!
The following evening (Friday 5th April), from 6.30pm at the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green, London, Joseph D’Lacey will be signing copies of his first Angry Robot book, Black Feathers.
Joseph had his first signing at Blackwells, Edinburgh, this last weekend, and it was standing room only! Be sure, then, to get to Big Green in plenty of time (and sample their other wares – they’re a fabulous indie book shop).
SFX says of Black Feathers:
It’s an involving, well-told tale… at the heart is a black, thin-feathered phantom with a legitimately frightening name: the Crowman.
If you can’t make the signing (and you should – Joseph’s a great reader, and excellent with a pen!) you can pre-order signed copies here.
Signed copies of Adam’s books can also be pre-ordered.
This link for The Age Atomic paperback, this for the limited edition hardback, and this for the Empire State limited edition hardback (ignore the incorrect date on the Empire State page).
And some other fine folk have said some great things about Black Feathers, too:
“Sometimes… a book captures your imagination in a way that it takes residence in your brain, and the more you think about it, the more special it becomes. That’s Black Feathers.”
And Then I Read a Book
“A bold beginning to a new duology from the brilliant D’Lacey. Two children embark on a search for meaning that is riddled with ambiguity about the nature of the saviour they seek and which, ultimately, provides a siren call to live in harmony with the land.”
Alison Littlewood, author of A Cold Season
“Black Feathers is poetic and compelling. It’s a gripping story crafted around a deep core of eloquent anger. And it’s scary – it’s the scariest kind of fiction – the kind of fiction that rings true. D’Lacey has written a great book of and for our troubled times.”
- Tom Fletcher, author of The Leaping
“Dreadfully visionary. Appallingly inspired. One could wear out a thesaurus trying to articulate the singular fusion of qualities that has come to define Joseph D’Lacey’s work. Alternately (and sometimes simultaneously) horrifying, mesmerizing, shocking, unsettling, and beautiful, and always deeply intelligent, it’s utterly unlike anything else I’m aware of. It’s also utterly wonderful.”
- Matt Cardin, author of To Rouse Leviathan and Dark Awakenings
“Spectacular is the word I’d use to describe [Black Feathers]. Nothing else can capture the reading experience.”
- Shadowhawk at The Founding Fields
“I really did love this book, as it had everything I was looking for and more, and really redefined the genres of fantasy and dystopian fiction. I know the two genres have been merged before, but this book just had that special un-put-down-able spark I couldn’t resist.”
- Rebecca at Book Chick City
“Read it. If, like me, you feel like you’ve read every post-apocalyptic book out there, you haven’t. Black Feathers is something different, with a new take on the end of the world.”
- Leanna at Leeanna.me
EasterCon – Meet the authors
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This coming weekend is EasterCon weekend. It is also Easter weekend. A happy little coincidence, there.
You’ll find various Angry Robot folk at the convention, and when they’re not in the bar, they’ll be at the following panels/panel games (Angry Robot bods highlighted):
FRIDAY 29th March
4pm – 5pm – Superheroes on Film
Faster than a speeding bullet, superheroes have escaped from comics to films and found a whole new audience! How have they changed in moving to Hollywood – is there a formula, when is it worth breaking, and what should be done next? CE Murphy moderates a panel including Susan Booth and David Tallerman.
4pm – 5pm – Small Press Stories
What’s it like running a small SF/F Press? Editors from some of our local publishers share stories about their business. Colin Tate (Clarion Publishing) moderates Bob Neilson (Aeon Press), Peter Crowther (PS Publishing), Donna Scott (Immanion) and Ian Whates (Newcon Press).
5pm – 6pm – Games in Fiction
Whether it’s role-playing games, chess, or virtual realities, games are a popular element of SF and fantasy stories. Why are they so useful to authors? Or are they just fun? Lee Harris moderates Chris Hill, Adrian Faulkner, Sarah Newton and Walter Jon Williams.
5pm – 6pm – PS Publishing
Yorkshire’s very own specialist publisher gets Eastercon underway with an event to launch new books by five of the UK’s leading SF and Fantasy writers. “Universes” by Stephen Baxter. “Starship Seasons” by Eric Brown. A Very British History” by Paul McAuley. “Martian Sands” by Lavie Tidhar. “Growing Pains” by Ian Whates.
6pm – 7pm – The Magical British Countryside
How does the landscape of Britain affect stories set in it? Where does the magic lurk, and how does it inspire writers? Sue Mason moderates Tiffani Angus, Anne Sudworth, Mike Shevdon and Freda Warrington
7pm – 8pm – Genre Get-Together: Fantasy
Meet authors and get books signed! Anne Lyle, David Barnett, Francis Knight, John Lenahan, Anne Lyle, Juliet McKenna, Peadar O’Guilin, Liesel Schwartz, Gaie Sebold, Kari Sperring, David Tallerman will be signing.
9pm- 10pm – Underground London
Take one London. Add magical society hidden from most people. Mix in famous places from the city, and optionally garnish with police procedural. Why is this such a great recipe? With Paul Cornell, Roz Kaveney, Anne Lyle and Simon Morden.
9pm – 10pm – Graphic Novel Selections
It’s easy to miss good comics these days, with so much going past. Our panel recommend some personal favourites from all areas of the medium. With Stephen Aryan, CE Murphy, Alys Sterling and David Tallerman.
SATURDAY 30th March
11am – 12.00 noon- The Stories in Games
Narrative games require stories to work, whether they are tabletop RPGs, LARPs or computer game. How do these stories differ from those in books and films? And how do you fix them when the encounter the enemy (or “player”)? Mike Cule moderates Ian McKenna, Emma Newman, Marcus Rowland and Adrian Tchaikovsky.
12 noon – 1pm – Non-Western SF and Fantasy
Anglophone writers and books by westerners still dominate the bookshelves, but Japan, China and India (to take three examples) also have thriving sff traditions. The panel look at the trends outside the Anglophone and western worlds. Rochita Loenen-Ruiz moderates Aliette de Bodard, Stephane Marsan, Sarah Newton and Gillian Redfearn.
12 noon – 1pm – Genre Get-Together: Fantasy
Meet authors and get books signed! Sarah Ash, Janine Ashbless, Paul Cornell, Roz Kaveney, Rochita Loenen Ruiz, CE Murphy, Mike Shevdon, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Sara Jayne Townsend
1pm – 2pm – Reinventing Urban Fantasy
There’s a lot more to urban fantasy than tattooed women hunting supernatural beings in the USA. Our panel explore the boundaries of the genre, and its metaphors. With Terry Jackman, Adrian Faulkner, Dave Gullen and Emma Newman.
5pm – 6pm Motherhood in SF and Fantasy
Where are the mothers in our depictions of future societies and fantasy worlds? Very often absent or ignored. Our panel looks at the depictions of motherhood and asks what more we can do. Terry Jackman moderates Aliette de Bodard, Chris Beckett, Mike Cobley and Rochita Loenen-Ruiz.
7pm – 8pm – Genre Get-Together: Science Fiction
Meet authors and get books signed! Tony Ballantyne, Stephen Baxter, Chris Beckett, Aliette de Bodard, Mike Cobley, Cory Doctorow, Jaine Fenn, Gary Gibson, Simon Ings, Stephanie Saulter
SUNDAY 31st March
10am – 11am- Maiden, Mother, Who? Older women in genre fiction.
There are plenty of kick-ass young heroines these days, but their mentors are nearly always male. Where are the older women in genre fiction, and why aren’t they written about, or put on TV, more? Caroline Mullan moderates Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, Ian Sales, David Tallerman and Freda Warrington.
11am – 12 noon – Why is the Future Drawn so White?
When the protagonist of Justine Larbalastier’s Liar was whitewashed in the cover art, both the author and the internet were outraged and the cover was eventually changed. Yet characters of colour are still all too often absent or elided. How can we work to challenge this and why does it happen? Caroline Hooton moderates Dev Agarwal, Aliette de Bodard, CE Murphy, Tajinder Singh Hayer and Stephanie Saulter.
12 noon – 1pm – Ready, Steady, Flash!
Lee Harris challenges authors to produce short themed fiction live, within 5 minutes, and then read it out, with the audience deciding the winner! Paul Cornell, Cory Doctorow, Roz Kaveney and Emma Newman scribble, and Donna Scott entertains while they write.
1pm – 2pm – Cityscapes
The great cities of fiction: Trantor, Cities in Flight, Ankh-Morpork. Who lives in them, how do they work, how do you write them? With Jaine Fenn, CE Murphy, Ian Whates and Walter Jon Williams.
1pm – 2pm – Advice for Writers: Settting
Practical experience and observations on writing believable and detailed environments. Darren Nash moderates Chris Beckett, Aliette de Bodard, Simon Morden and Gaie Sebold.
6pm – 7pm – Author Readings
Mike Shevdon and Emma Newman read from their recent work.
Adam Christopher Launching The Age Atomic, Forbidden Planet London, April 4th
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April 4th is the publication date of Adam Christopher‘s brand new novel The Age Atomic; the power-packed sequel to Adam’s terrific 2012 debut Empire State.
Adam will be reading from and signing copies of The Age Atomic at the launch event hosted by Forbidden Planet Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue in London, from 6.00 – 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 4th April.
As well as the standard paperback, book launch attendees will also have the opportunity to buy a copy or two of the Forbidden Planet exclusive limited edition hardcover edition of The Age Atomic; a genuine collectors’ item, of which only a hundred copies are being printed.
But wait, there’s more! We’re also printing a Forbidden Planet Exclusive limited edition hardcover of Empire State as well. And there are rumours surfacing that this one might have a variant cover…
Both hardbacks are priced at £20.00 and Adam will be delighted to sign them for you on the night. See forbiddenplanet.com for all the pertinent details, and if you’re going to be attending you can tell the world about it via the Age Atomic Launch Facebook page.
Edinburgh and London Launches for Joseph D’Lacey’s Black Feathers
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April 4th is the official publication date of Joseph D’Lacey‘s brand new post-eco-apocalyptic dark fantasy Black Feathers and Joseph is marking the occasion with two launch events in the week leading up to publication.
The first of these is the Edinburgh Launch, in association with This is Horror and Blackwells Edinburgh South Bridge on Saturday 30th March. The event, which runs from 3.00 – 5.00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, is a triple horror author show with Joseph’s fellow Angry Roboteer Gary McMahon, plus zombie godfather David Moody, hosted by Jasper Bark.
We’re reliably informed that all seated tickets for the event have been sold already, but more have been made available if you don’t mind standing up for the duration. Please e-mail events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk with the subject line ‘This Is Horror Event’ or call 0131 622 8218 for your free ticket.
If you can’t make it up to Scotland, then perhaps the London Launch at the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green, London, on Friday 5th April would be the one to aim for.
The event will run from 6.30 to 9.00 p.m. on a feel-free-to-drop-in-and-say-hello basis (but make sure you drop in at 6.30 or you’ll miss Joseph’s reading from Black Feathers) with snacks and drinks provided. All very civilised, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Send an email to enquiries@biggreenbookshop.com or call them on 020 8881 6767 if you need more information about the London launch.
Lee Battersby Launching The Marching Dead at Stefen’s Books, Perth, Saturday 6th April
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Angry Robot’s very own Lee Battersby will be launching The Marching Dead – the second Marius don Hellespont novel, sequel to The Corpse-Rat King – at Stefen’s Books, 8 Shaftoe Lane, Perth, on Saturday 6th April at 2.00 p.m.
Here are the pertinent details from the man himself:
“I’ll be signing copies, inflicting a reading or two upon the gathered multitudes, and generally making with the fabulous author dahlink behaviour – kissing babies, shaking hands with dogs, molesting livestock… not to mention a cavalcade of entertainment like dancing girls, bear-baiting, midget death-trap wrestling and arbalest surfing, and then we’ll finish it all off by heading over the lane to local alehouse The Generous Squire, where Stefen has set aside an area especially for general mingling and the quaffing of hearty ales.
“Come on down, introduce yourself, grab a signed copy of The Marching Dead or The Corpse-Rat King if you’re the kind of lazy layabout who hasn’t read it yet, and generally hang out with us and have a good old nattery, beery, Saturday afternoon you know you’ve earned.
“What could be better?”
Honestly, we can’t think of many things that could. Alas, we Robots will be Angrily stuck back in the UK, but we’ll be raising a flagon or two of our own at a suitable juncture. If you’re a bit closer-to than we are, head on down to Stefen’s on the day and help make the afternoon one to remember.
Emma Newman’s “Between Two Thorns” – signing and competition details
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This year we’re publishing the first 3 books in Emma Newman’s Split Worlds series, beginning with Between Two Thorns (next week in the US and the following week in the UK). The author describes the book as “Downton Abbey, but with mad sorcerers and evil faeries”.
Anyone who pre-orders a copy of the paperback or eBook of Between Two Thorns will be entered into a draw, the winner of which will have a character named after them in Book 3 - All Is Fair – to be published in October.
If you’re outside the UK
You can pre-order the book online from your favourite bookstore before Tuesday 26th February. Forward a copy of your pre-order confirmation email to thorns@angryrobotbooks.com. If you pre-order from the Robot Trading Company you don’t need to forward your confirmation email, as we’ll already have your details.
If you’re in the UK
You can pre-order the book online from your favourite bookstore before Thursday 8th March. Forward a copy of your pre-order confirmation email to thorns@angryrobotbooks.com. If you pre-order from the Robot Trading Company you don’t need to forward your confirmation email, as we’ll already have your details. Kindle owners in the UK won’t be able to pre-order the ebook, so we’ll extend the deadline until midnight on Thursday 8th March (publication date) for you.
Current Angry Robot Ebook Subscribers
We will automatically place you in the draw. You’re the ultimate pre-orderers!
SciFi Weekender
Anyone buying a copy of the book at the SciFi Weekender in early March will also be entered into the draw.
Buying from Forbidden Planet
If you pre-order from Forbidden Planet you’ll be automatically entered, and won’t need to email confirmation of your order. Your book will also be signed by the author! Win!
Forbidden Planet Launch – Extra Gift
For those of you who are able to attend the launch of the book at Forbidden Planet Bristol, or Forbidden Planet London (see below for details), you’ll get a draw entry, and there also is an extra-special gift for you.
Everyone who attends the launch will be given an envelope containing a signed, numbered, limited edition short story card. This card contains a new short story by Emma - Debt - set in the Split Worlds. It’s a deliciously wicked little tale, and you won’t be able to read this story anywhere else in print, or online. That’s right – the only place to get this story is at one of the two launches. This is sure to become a collectors’ item!
Additionally, one lucky attendee at each launch will find a Golden Ticket* in their envelope, winning them a copy of Book 2 - Any Other Name – weeks before it is published in June.
Those Launch Dates
Forbidden Planet Bristol Thursday 7th March, 6.00pm – 7.00pm (and for drinks, later)
- Facebook page
Forbidden Planet London Friday 8th March, 6.00pm – 7.00pm (and for drinks, later)
- Facebook page
If you are intending to come to one of the launches, it would be very useful if you could indicate that on the relevant Facebook page, or in the comments, below.
_________
*Colour might vary from that described.
Wesley Chu will be Reading at Open Books, Chicago, on Thursday 28th February
Posted by: | CommentsAngry Robot Author Wesley Chu, author of the soon-to-be-published science fiction secret agent extravaganza The Lives of Tao, will be appearing alongside a few fellow Chicago-based science fiction writers at Open Books on Thursday February 28th.
The occasion is the launch of Chicago Writers Conference Events at Open Books. The series kicks off with this particular evening of Science Fiction readings hosted by Hugo and Nebula Award–nominated author William Shunn. Wesley will be reading from The Lives of Tao and will be happy to answer questions about the book, or being a writer, or his life as a kung-fu stuntman. (You think we’re kidding about that last part, don’t you? We’re really not…)
It’s a free event, open to all, and runs from 6.30 to 9.00 p.m. Open Books, “an award-winning nonprofit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond”, can be found at:
213 W. Institute Place
Chicago, IL 60610
(1 block north of Chicago & Franklin el stop.)
See the Open Books Website for further details.
No More Balloons
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So, here’s the thing.
We had planned to have a balloon race to celebrate the launch of Emma Newman’s Between Two Thorns next month, with the winner of the race getting a character named after them in the third book in the series – All Is Fair – later this year.
We were all set to go – the balloons were ordered, the helium was booked, the special website was created and ready to go – when we received a few tweets about how bad for the environment these things were.
We’d specifically opted for biodegradable balloons and recycled card, with no string or ribbon, and we were assured by the balloon company that the balloons degraded as quickly as an oak leaf. An oak leaf! That’s good, right?
Wrong. That’s still a good 6 months of latex hanging around, causing problems to wildlife.
And so we’ve decided to cancel the race, and both Emma and Forbidden Planet are in complete agreement about this. It would be the wrong thing to do to go ahead with it.
We’re still going to have a competition to celebrate the launch of Between Two Thorns, though, and the winner will still have a character named after them – watch this space for details of what that competition is going to be…
Some launch events for your diaries – Emma Newman, Adam Christopher and Joseph D’Lacey
Posted by: | CommentsSo many great books, so many great authors, so many great events!
Here are some launch highlights for the next three months:
Emma Newman’s Between Two Thorns
We have two launches planned for wonderful book -
Thursday 7th March at Forbidden Planet, Bristol 6.00pm – 7.00pm and
Friday 8th March at Forbidden Planet, London 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Emma will be reading from and signing her debut adult novel, BetweenTwo Thorns.
Oh, and we’re going to have a balloon race! Not a big hot air balloon thingie, no – party-size helium-filled balloons.
“Why?” I hear you ask?
“Well, why the hell not?” we reply.
Pre-order a copy of the book and get your very own balloon (only for the first 200 pre-orders). The balloon that travels furthest wins a very special prize for its owner and its finder.
More details on this, very soon…
Adam Christopher’s The Age Atomic
(plus special guest star, Empire State)
Thursday 4th April at Forbidden Planet, London 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Adam will be reading from and signing The Age Atomic – the sequel to his hugely-successful Empire State.
As well as hosting the signing for The Age Atomic, Forbidden Planet will have stock of limited edition hardbacks of both Empire State and The Age Atomic. Only 100 each of these will be offered for sale (at a very respectable £20 each), and you can pre-order now from FP’s webstore, or come along on the night and hope there are some left. Empire State will have a variant cover by the brilliant Will Staehle, who created the masterpieces that adorn all of Adam’s novels to date. This is the only edition planned to have this variant cover, and it’s bound to become a collector’s item. We’ll show you the new cover, soon…
Joseph D’Lacey’s Black Feathers
Two launches planned for this superior fantasy -
Scottish Launch – Saturday 30th March at Blackwell’s, Edinburgh (time tbc) and
Friday 5th April at the Big Green Bookshop, London 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Joseph will be reading from and signing Black Feathers at both events. The Blackwells event is being run by the fine folk at This Is Horror.
More details about each of these events, closer to the signing dates…
