Locus 2022 Recommended Reading List

Feb 132023
 

Congratulations to all our authors included in the Locus 2022 Recommended Reading List!

NOVELS – SCIENCE FICTION

  • A Half-Built Garden, Ruthanna Emrys (Tordotcom)

NOVELS – FANTASY

  • The Grief of Stones, Katherine Addison (Tor; Solaris UK)
  • The Origin of Storms, Elizabeth Bear (Tor)
  • The Embroidered Book, Kate Heartfield (Harper Voyager UK)
  • Nona the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir (Tordotcom)

COLLECTIONS

  • Breakable Things, Cassandra Khaw (Undertow)

ILLUSTRATED AND ART BOOKS

  • The Keeper, Tananarive Due & Steven Barnes, art by Marco Finnegan (Megascope)

NOVELLAS

  • “Bishop’s Opening“, R.S.A Garcia (Clarkesworld 1/22)
  • Even Though I Knew the End, C.L. Polk (Tordotcom)

NOVELETTES

  • “Two Hands, Wrapped in Gold“, S.B. Divya (Uncanny 5-6/22)
  • “Incident at Bear Creek Lodge”, Tananarive Due (Other Terrors)

SHORT STORIES

  • “12 Things a Trini Should Know Before Travelling to a Back in Times FeteTM”, R.S.A. Garcia (Strange Horizons 10/10/22)
  • “Have Mercy, My Love While We Wait for the Thaw”, Iori Kusano (Apex 7/22)
  • “Apolépisi: A De-Scaling”, Suzan Palumbo (Lightspeed 10/22)
  • “Douen”, Suzan Palumbo (The Dark 3/22)

Review: The Origin of Storms by Elizabeth Bear

Feb 092023
 

Locus: If I were a TV producer who wanted to take on an epic fantasy story à la Game of Thrones or Wheel of Time, I would look no further than Elizabeth Bear’s Lotus Kingdom books. To be honest, I’d much rather see an interpretation of Bear’s work over yet another Euro-based, medieval-esque retread of dudes fighting over who will be king.

The Origin of Storms is a rich and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, which began with The Stone in the Skull and The Red-Stained Wings. This trilogy is linked to and set in the same universe as Bear’s earlier Eternal Sky books – but these three titles make for a satisfying arc all on their own. If you want more in this world, however, there are three more books worth of epic goodness to pick from.

In the Lotus Kingdom arc, the driving question is about who will rule this loosely stitched-together amalgam of worlds that inhabit one planet, which makes more sense in context. The worldbuilding is Persian-influenced and deep. This is a place that feels lived in and that has texture.

The same is true for Bear’s characters. Despite this epic including a cast of dozens, each is three-dimensional and stands on his, her, or their own. Himadra could not be confused with his cousin and rival Mrithuri. Sayeh (perhaps my favorite) is an enduring source of wit and calculation. And then there’s the dragon, who is impossible to confuse with the mere mortals and who is also full of bleak wisdom. ‘‘’Life is pain,’ said the dragon. ‘Fortunately, it’s also very interesting.’’’

With The Origin of Storms, Bear lands this particular plane – and does it in such a way that questions our genre’s love of empire in fantasy epics while also tangibly demonstrating why readers still respond to them. Now it’s time for the same questions about empires and their rulers to bleed into other forms of pop culture.

January Translation Rights Deals

Jan 312023
 

Brazilian rights to Shaun David Hutchinson’s WE ARE THE ANTS, to Record, by Flavia Sala at International Editors’, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Czech rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s NONA THE NINTH, the third book in The Locked Tomb series, to Host, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Danish rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s SUMMER KNIGHT, DEATH MASKS, and BLOOD RITES, books 4-6 in the Dresden Files series, to Superlux, by Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Dutch rights to Ruby Barrett’s THE ROMANCE RECIPE, to Anne Everard at Heartbeat by Katie Shea Boutillier for Kiana Nguyen.

French rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s NONA THE NINTH, the third book in The Locked Tomb series, to Actes Sud, by Sarah Dray at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

French audio rights to Nnedi Okorafor’s BINTI TRILOGY, WHO FEARS DEATH and THE BOOK OF PHOENIX, to Noa Rosen at Éditions Thélème by Marie-France Heinic at Anna Jarota Agency on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

German rights to Mia Tsai’s BITTER MEDICINE, to Blanvalet, in a preempt, by Sarah Knofius at Thomas Schlueck Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier at for Anne Tibbets.

German rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ FUGITIVE TELEMETRY, the sixth installment in the Murderbot Diaries series, to Heyne, by Sarah Knofius at the Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Israeli rights to Annika Martin’s MOST ELIGIBLE BILLIONAIRE, to Sifrut Shenogaat, by Beverley Levit at The Israeli Association of Book Publishers, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Italian rights to LJ Andrew’s CURSE OF SHADOWS AND THORNS, COURT OF ICE AND ASH, and CROWN OF BLOOD AND RUIN, to Triskell, in a three-book deal, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Polish audio rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s THE AERONAUT’S WINDLASS, the first book in the Cinder Spires series, to F.H.U. Strix, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Spanish rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ WITCH KING plus an untitled fantasy novel, to Hidra, by Amaiur Fernández at International Editors’ Co. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Deal: Martha Wells

Jan 182023
 
photo of Martha Wells

Photo By Lisa Blaschke

Last year Martha Wells, author of the bestselling and beloved Murderbot Diaries, which has won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards, announced her return to fantasy with WITCH KING, forthcoming in May of this year. Now, she invites readers to rediscover her classic works with the sale of world English rights for six of her backlist fantasy novels to Tordotcom. Each of the six books will be revised and updated by the author and these Tordotcom reissues will be the author’s preferred edition. The first of these is CITY OF BONES, which will be published in trade paperback and ebook in early Fall 2023. Executive editor Lee Harris acquired the rights in a deal negotiated with Jennifer Jackson.

Review: The Queen’s Price by Anne Bishop

Jan 122023
 

Library Journal: In the aftermath of the troubles from the previous book, The Queen’s Weapons, three young women must make decisions which will affect not only themselves, but those around them, as Witch provides them with guidance. Queen-in-training Zoey may now be safe within the walls of SaDiablo Hall, but she is still vulnerable to those with sharp tongues and dark thoughts. When a stranger arrives at the hall looking for sanctuary, Zoey’s attempts at friendship could put everyone around her in danger. Meanwhile, Jillian is preparing for her rite of passage that ensures she’ll keep her witch power and the jewels she wears, but a heart secret means facing her powerful family members and their lethally protective natures. Then there’s Saetien, who travels away to discover information, which may finally let her face her own truths as daughter of the High Lord of Hell.

VERDICT A fine continuation of the “Black Jewels” series, keeping the legacy alive with its tangled web of family and power. Bishop’s devoted fans will devour this, while readers of Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews who enjoy high fantasy may want to start this series from the beginning.

December Translation Rights Deals

Dec 302022
 

Arabic rights to Nnedi Okorafor’s BINTI TRILOGY, to YATKHYLON  by Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

Czech rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ FUGITIVE TELEMETRY, the sixth installment in the Murderbot Diaries series, to Dobrovský, by Nada Popovic at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Dutch rights to Annika Martin and Skye Warren’s PRISONER and HOSTAGE, to Petra Kruijt at April, in a two-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier.

Hungarian rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ WITCH KING, to Fumax, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Israeli rights to Pam Godwin’s LESSONS IN SIN, to U Sifrut Shenogaat, by Beverley Levit at The Israeli Association of Book Publishers Ltd., on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Portuguese renewal rights to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s WRITTEN IN RED and MURDER OF CROWS, the first two books in the Others series, to Saída de Emergência, by Inés López at International Editors’ Co. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Deal: Kim Harrison

Dec 092022
 

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison sold a new Hollows novel, DEMONS BLUFF, to follow Summer 2023’s DEMONS OF GOOD AND EVIL, featuring witch-born demon Rachel Morgan in an alternate United States where humans and supernatural beings exist side-by-side. Anne Sowards at Ace Books acquired world rights in a six-figure deal for two books negotiated with Jennifer Jackson.

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