Solaris Rising Signing - and Ebooks on Special!

Wotcher all,

So a couple of bits of news for you today. The first,

Solaris Rising Signing at Forbidden Planet!

So this is pretty cool. Ian Whates's powerhouse anthology, Solaris Rising: The New Solaris Book of Science Fiction (spacerrific cover to the right, courtesy of our own Pye Parr), came out a couple of weeks ago, and is already causing a stir:

"After Solaris Books published ‘Engineering Infinity’ earlier this year, I pondered ‘I’d be surprised if there’s a stronger anthology in 2011′. Well, the same publisher has produced another anthology that is up there with it."
- BestSF

"The literary equivalent of a well-presented buffet of tasty snacks... the overall standard is impressive."
- SFX Magazine

"This anthology of new short stories is essential reading."
- BBC Focus Magazine

So if you haven't bought it yet - and I'll naturally be disappointed and confused if you haven't - you can roll down to London's Forbidden Planet on Saturday 26th November at 1pm, and meet some of these highly acclaimed authors! Hell, even if you've read it! I basically promise that you won't be pinned down and forced to buy another copy. Basically. Eric Brown, Pat Cadigan, Alastair Reynolds, Lavie Tidhar, Dave Hutchinson and Ian Whates will all be there, jumping to sign your books and have a chinwag. It should be a laugh.


...and the second piece of news is,

Pantheon Trilogy Ebooks Now On Sale!

Yep, you heard it. They've consistently been among our best-selling books for the whole time they've been in print, and frankly, with good reason. James Lovegrove's New York Times Bestselling Pantheon series - The Age of Ra, The Age of Zeus and The Age of Odin - are imaginative, complex, action-packed tours de force. Each stand-alone book tackles the theme of "men versus the gods" with a different pantheon and from a different perspective. And there's more coming: The Age of Aztec is due out next April (just in time for the End of the Fifth Age of the World, as predicted and dreaded by the Aztecs, natch), with two more full-length novels under way, and an extra-special, super-sekrit, cross-your-hearts-and-hope-to-die, yet-to-be-announced, hanging-on-the-edge-of-your-seats, I'm-dying-to-tell-you-but-I'd-get-into-trouble bonus novella, out next spring (I'm allowed to say this much: I hope you like spiders).

The Guardian called them "the kind of complex, action-oriented SF Dan Brown would write if Dan Brown could write"; SFX called them "yet more proof that Lovegrove is one of the UK SF scene's most interesting, challenging and adventurous authors." And they can be yours, O gentle ebook buyer, for the low, low price of £3 per book; that's half the listed price.

Jump on Rebellionstore.com right now to pick up any of these three ebooks - in .mobi or .epub edition - for three quid, right now. Hell, get all three and you've still got enough change of a tenner to buy a scatch card. That's not bad at all.

Recollecting the launch of The Recollection...

Bristol on a late summer’s night. Steam drifted from the doorways of the busy bars and the Wills Tower soared high above the Triangle in Clifton. A place known for its nightlife, a place known for its past: the place to launch The Recollection.

Gareth Powell’s time-travelling space opera was always bound to cause a stir amongst the high-life and literary crowd in the city that launched the ship that discovered North America (ref. John Cabot) and gave the world Trip Hop.

At 6pm the crowds were gathering among the bookstacks at Forbidden Planet. Then Powell, a very approachable man with a far-seeing look in his eye, took to the floor and conversation stopped as he read the opening passages of his novel. Despite this being his debut novel from a mainstream publisher Gareth sold only a whisker’s fewer books than Iain Banks in the same venue.

Supported by the active Bristol SF community and new readers Gareth signed for queue of fans before celebrating the launch at the bar conveniently found next door. Already booked for the Bristol SF convention Bristol-con Gareth is sure to be in demand on the convention scene as one of the most talented up and coming authors on the British SF scene.

That night’s lucky readers with their signed first editions should make sure they keep tight hold of those for the future.

Oxford signing this Thursday: Waterstones

Come along on Thursday to meet Juliet E. McKenna, Ian Whates and Ben Macallan (a.k.a. Chaz Brenchley), as well as our editor-in-chief, Jonathan Oliver!

Waterstones, Oxford is located at William Baker House, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AF.

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Flight Z - Now Boarding at Waterstones, Altrincham

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. Flight Z will be ready for boarding at Waterstones, Altrincham, this Saturday from 11am. Full details of your departure itinerary can be found at this website.

Passengers, are advised to buckle-up as the ride could well get bumpy.

Conrad Williams will be signing copies of his brilliant horror novel, Loss of Separation, at Waterstones, Altrincham, this Saturday at 11am.

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Flight Z - Now Boarding at Waterstones, Wigan

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. Flight Z will be ready for boarding at Waterstones, Wigan, this Saturday from 11am. Full details of your departure itinerary can be found at the website.

Passengers, are advised to buckle-up as the ride could well get bumpy.

Which is a very roundabout way of saying that Conrad Williams will be signing copies of his brilliant horror novel, Loss of Separation, at Waterstones, Wigan, this Saturday at 11am.

-

That Eric Brown Signing...

Wotcher all,

As you may remember, Eric Brown was due to head out to Forbidden Planet last night to sign copies of his magnificent octopus, The Kings of Eternity (cover by Dominic Harman, right).

Well, come he did, and sign he did, and a splendid time was had by all.

I wasn't there, but our diligent account manager Ben Smith was, and was kind enough to take a couple of photos and put together a few of those "word" things you've heard so much about, about his experiences of the evening.

He is, however, terrified of the blog, and so has asked me to post his "words" up for him.

Take it away, Ben!

__________________________________________

Last night’s pre-release signing of Kings of Eternity by Eric Brown at London’s Forbidden Planet flagship store was a big success. The surprise of the night came when celebrity fan and American SF luminary, Gregory Benford, turned up to meet Eric Brown. Now, coming in from East Finchley is one thing, but coming all the way from California shows real dedication.

Greg and Eric talked about Sci-Fi; whether it’s better to live in the city versus the country; questioned why are there so few SF writers in the Big Smoke these days; and most controversially got onto to fathoming why Doctor Who is so popular. Eric explained it’s wired into the DNA over here, Benford, from behind his very stylish eye-glasses looked unconvinced. When informed that Michael Moorcock had written the most recent Who novel he had to visibly take a moment to absorb the information.

Before the crowds had arrived Forbidden Planet had asked Brown to sign some extra 1st editions of Kings so those who did not make it down on the night can order one off the website or pick them up in-store – while stocks last!

- Ben Smith

__________________________________________

Awesome. Many thanks, Ben.

David

Don't Forget: Eric Brown at FP!

Hey all,

Just in case you've totally forgotten, the enormously talented and prolific Eric Brown is signing at Forbidden Planet's London Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue on:

Thursday 31st March
18.00 - 19.00

WHICH IS TOMORROW!

He'll be promoting his latest book, The Kings of Eternity, which he has spent much of the past ten years writing. Very much his Magnum Opus, Kings has been receiving glowing reviews, and justly so:

"I didn't want it to end, and even though I was desperate to read more and more in each sitting I rationed myself to the novel, not wanting to come to the final page."

- Mark Chitty, Walker of Worlds

"Kings of Eternity is a thoroughly entertaining tale that’s by turns humorous and serious, but always thought-provoking."

- Brian J. Robb, Total Sci-Fi Online

"Brown's latest has been on the drawing board for a decade, and it shows; in its imagery, its precision, its pace and its ultimate profundity, this narrative shines brightly because of the delicate care and attention Brown has lavished upon it."

- Niall Alexander, The Speculative Scotsman

Kings won't even be on the shelves for another two weeks, so this is a great opportunity to pick up an early copy, get it signed, and have a chat with Eric while you're there.

Be there.

________________________________

While you're at it, check out some of the reviews of Brown's previous release, the grim, post-apocalyptic Guardians of the Phoenix:

"Brown is artful in his exploration of his characters’ moral dilemmas and contrasts beautifully the attitudes of the generation that can recall a time of plenty, before catastrophe came, with those of the younger generation who have grown up knowing nothing but exigency and privation."

- James Lovegrove, The Financial Times

"Guardians Of The Phoenix portrays a truly bleak future for humanity. Eric Brown doesn’t pull his punches... This is a real departure from Brown’s more usual subject matter but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It also made me think. Which is, perhaps, an even better testimony."

- Patrick Mahon, SF Crow's Nest

________________________________

Finally, don't forget to bid on Eric's lot over at the Genre for Japan charity auction: signed, UK editions of Eric's three latest books, including Kings, Guardians and the new edition of his classic Engineman.

________________________________

Peace out.

David

Eric Brown signing at Forbidden Planet!

Do you want to get your hands on a copy of The Kings of Eternity, not only signed by the author but a whole two weeks before the release date?

Then head down to the Forbidden Planet London Megastore next week, from 6-7pm on Thursday 31st, where Eric will be signing his newest novel, a science fiction story ten years in the making, filled with the spirit of fin de siècle scientific romances such as those by H. G. Wells and Jules Verne.

Andy Remic Signing Dates!

Wotcher all,

Andy Remic, author of the Combat K novels (including the upcoming Cloneworld), has drawn our attention to this post on his blog, where he lets us know about his upcoming schedule.

In short:

On Saturday 20th November, Andy will be signing books at the independent bookstore Bookmark in Spalding, along with horror novelist Sam Stone and actor Frazer Hines.

He's got upcoming signings at Boston, Manchester, Nottingham and London and will be letting us know when he's confirmed dates.

On February 4th & 5th he's coming to the SFX Weekender with us!

We'll keep you posted.

Cheers,

David

And now, a message from Andy Remic...

HARDCORE, the new Combat K novel, is officially out 4th January 2010. However, those nice folks at Solaris Books and Forbidden Planet have teamed up to let me do a “pre-publication” signing event at Forbidden Planet in Liverpool. Why Liverpool you ask? Well, my mother’s side of the family originate from Liverpool, so I have blood there, and family there—– should be fun!!

So, if you want your hands on a copy of HARDCORE nearly a month earlier than official publication, or just fancy a coffee and a chat, please drop in!

- Andy Remic


Solaris Books is pleased to announce a signing by our best-selling, hard-hitting military SF author, Andy Remic.

He will be signing Hardcore at Forbidden Planet, 92 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HY, on Saturday 12th December from 1 – 2pm

In a far future where a Junk alien scourge multiplies across Quad-Gal, Combat K are charged with finding the Junk’s homeland and annihilating the enemy. Mission: a quick SLAM drop to Sick World, a long-abandoned hospital planet once dedicated to curing the deformed, the insane, the dying and the dead. As daylight fades, so hibernation ends. The Medical Staff of Sick World, the doctors, nurses, patients and deviants, abandoned with extreme prejudice, a thousand-year gestation of hardcore medical mutation and accelerated healthcare technology; they can smell fresh meat. And Keenan, Pippa and Franco face their toughest battle yet.

You’ll never look at a nurse the same way again.


Andy Remic is a British writer and teacher with an unhealthy love of martial arts, kick-arse bikes, mountain climbing and computer hacking. The new master of violent, high-octane science fiction, Hardcore is his seventh novel and follows the characters from the massively successful Combat-K series. he has been hailed as ‘the new David Gemmell’, and was recently nominated for the David Gemmell award.

Signing in Bristol

Juliet E. McKenna informs me that she will be in Forbidden Planet, Bristol, on Saturday 24th October from 1 pm, along with Stan Nicholls, Chaz Brenchley and Kari Sperring. They'll be happy to sign books and to talk about reading and writing SF&F.

She says she's looking forward to meeting 'the fine readers of Solaris Books' so be on your best behaviour, ya hear? Wouldn't want to disappoint the lady.

It's an event organised by The Write Fantastic; a group of fantasy authors who work together to promote the genre - more info here - and more on Juliet here.