The Queen’s Weapons by Anne Bishop

Mar 092021
 

Enter the dark and sensual realms of the Black Jewels, a world where power always has a price, in this sweeping story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga.

They are Warlord Princes, men born to serve and protect. They are the Queen’s Weapons, men born to destroy the Queen’s enemies–no matter what face that enemy wears.

Daemonar Yaslana knows how to be bossy yet supportive–traits he shares with his father, the Demon Prince, and his uncle, the High Lord of Hell. Within his generation of the family, he assumes the role of protector, supporting his sister Titian’s artistic efforts and curbing his cousin Jaenelle Saetien’s more adventurous ideas. But when a young Eyrien Queen, someone Titian thought was a friend, inflicts an emotional wound, Daemonar’s counterattack brings him under the tutelage of Witch, the Queen whose continued existence is known only to a select few.

As Daemonar is confronted by troubling changes within and around the family, he sees warnings that a taint in the Blood might be reappearing.  Daemonar, along with his father and uncle, must uncover the source of a familiar evil–and Daemon Sadi, the High Lord of Hell, may be forced into making a terrible choice.

February Translation Rights Deals

Feb 282021
 

Chinese rights to Robert Sheckley’s DIMENSIONS OF SHECKLEY, to Eight Light Minutes (China), by Gray Tan at The Grayhawk Agency on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier, for Cameron McClure.

Estonian rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s DEATH MASKS and BLOOD RITES, books 5 and 6 in the Dresden Files series, to Kirjastus Fantaasia, by Maša Ivanović at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Farsi rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ THE CLOUD ROADS, the first novel in her Books of the Raksura series, to Porteghaal Publishing House, by Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

French rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb trilogy (GIDEON THE NINTH, HARROW THE NINTH, ALECTO THE NINTH), to Actes Sud, in a pre-empt, by Megan Husain at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

French rights to Nnedi Okorafor’s REMOTE CONTROL, to L’ecole des Loisirs, by Megan Husain at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

French rights to Robert Sheckley’s a collection of short stories, to Editions Argyll, by Megan Husain at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier, for Cameron McClure.

French rights to Robert Sheckley’s THE JOURNEY BEYOND TOMORROW and THE STATUS CIVILIZATION to Editions Goater, by Megan Husain at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier, for Cameron McClure.

French rights to Martha Wells’ FUGITIVE TELEMETRY, the newest installment in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to L’Atlante, by Megan Husain at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hebrew 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 Alma Books, by Beverley Levit at The Israeli Association Of Book Publishers Ltd. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to Nnedi Okorafor’s AKATA WITCH, to PALLAS ATHÉNÉ KÖNYVKIADO, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

Escaping Exodus: Symbosis by Nicky Drayden

Feb 232021
 

The Compton Crook Award-winning author weaves her trademark blend of science fiction and dark humor in this dazzling story that continues the imaginative saga begun in Escaping Exodus, in which a society lives in the belly of a beast—and an entire civilization’s survival depends on a pair of uneasy allies who must come together for one epic battle.

Nearly a thousand years removed from Earth, the remnants of humanity cling to existence inside giant, space faring creatures known as the Zenzee. Abused and exploited by humans for generations, these majestic animals nearly went extinct, but under the command of its newly minted ruler, Doka Kaleigh, life in the Parados I has flourished. Thanks to careful oversight and sacrifice by all of its crew, they are now on the brink of utopia, and yet Doka’s rivals feel threatened by that success.

The Senate allowed Doka to lead their people believing he’d fail spectacularly—a disaster that would cement the legitimacy of their long-standing matriarchy. Despite vocal opposition and blatant attacks on his authority, Doka has continued to handle his position with grace and intelligence; he knows a single misstep means disaster. When a cataclysmic event on another Zenzee world forces Doka and his people to accept thousands of refugees, a culture clash erupts, revealing secrets from the past that could endanger their future. For Doka, the stakes are bigger and more personal than ever before—and could cost him his reign and his heart.

He has fallen for the one woman he is forbidden to love: his wife, Seske.

Doka and Seske must work closely together to sway the other Zenzee worlds to stop their cycles of destruction. But when they stumble upon a discovery that can transform their world, they know they must prepare to fight a battle where there can be no winners, only survivors.

Film Deal: Elizabeth Bear

Feb 172021
 

Photo of Elizabeth BearVanessa Taylor and Drew Pearce will adapt Elizabeth Bear’s short story “Dolly” (Asimov’s). Following a competitive bidding war, the project has landed at Apple Studios. Academy Award-nominee Florence Pugh is attached to star. Pugh is repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Curtis Brown and Associates and attorney Ziffren Brittenham. Taylor is repped by ICM Partners, Robert Offer at Sloane Offer Weber Dern. Pearce and his Point of No Return Films is repped by WME and Jim Gilio and Warren Dern at Sloane Offer Weber Dern. Bear is represented by Jennifer Jackson at the Donald Maass Literary Agency and WME.

Starred Review: The Queen’s Weapons by Anne Bishop

Feb 122021
 

Library Journal: Born to serve and protect, Warlord Princes are sworn to their Queen. Daemonar Yaslana has always been bossy and protective, but he has reached an age where his behavior walks a fine line, and an emotional attack on his sister by a young Queen results in Daemonar beginning a new set of lessons under Witch, the Queen that many think of as old myth. When a curse is revealed to be rising in Kaleer, Daemonar along with his uncle and father, the High Lord and Demon Prince, respectively, must use his skills to uproot the stain before it sets too far. For Warlord Princes are their Queen’s weapons, and they will destroy any enemy—even if it wears a beloved face. Bishop (Wild Country) leans into references and characters from past books to build a century-spanning saga, tying together pieces of plot and creating new stakes that could break hearts and power. VERDICT The latest “Black Jewels” novel (after The Queen’s Bargain) continues to deliver dark fantasy with lush worldbuilding, strong characters, and high-stakes action.

2020 Locus Recommended Reading List

Feb 102021
 

Congratulations to all our DMLA authors who were chosen for the 2020 Locus Recommended Reading List!

NOVELS – SCIENCE FICTION
Machine, Elizabeth Bear (Saga; Gollancz)
Network Effect, Martha Wells (Tordotcom)

NOVELS – FANTASY
Harrow the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir (Tordotcom)
Stormsong, C.L. Polk (Tordotcom)
The Midnight Bargain, C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
Creatures of Charm and Hunger, Molly Tanzer (John Joseph Adams)

FIRST NOVELS
Elatsoe, Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
Beneath the Rising, Premee Mohamed (Solaris)
The Space Between Worlds, Micaiah Johnson (Del Rey; Hodder & Stoughton)

COLLECTIONS
The Best of Elizabeth Bear, Elizabeth Bear (Subterranean)

NOVELLAS
Yellow Jessamine, Caitlin Starling (Neon Hemlock)

SHORT STORIES
“The Translator, at Low Tide“, Vajra Chandrasekera (Clarkesworld 5/20)
“Unlike Most Tides“, Darcie Little Badger (Drabblecast 5/3/20)

Review: Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

Feb 052021
 

Publishers Weekly: Hugo and Nebula Award–winner Wells brings her solitude-craving, media-loving killer robot protagonist another step closer to independence in the entertaining sixth entry in the Murderbot Diaries series (after Network Effect). A dead body found in Preservation Station mall propels Murderbot, a SecUnit, into a new contract as a consultant in the murder investigation. Murderbot hopes to gain the refugee status that would enable it to stay in the Preservation Alliance, but it’s an uphill battle as rogue SecUnits are feared as unhinged killers—an unfounded fear in this case, as Murderbot wants nothing more than to catch up on its favorite soap opera in peace. Vexed by the illogical humans it’s forced to work with, Murderbot patiently explains its way through the clues it uncovers, and Senior Officer Indah can’t help being impressed with Murderbot’s investigative skills and surprisingly compassionate regard for life. Murderbot’s wry observations of human behavior are as humorous as ever and the mystery is thoroughly satisfying. This is another winning series installment.

Publishers Weekly Staff Picks Best Books of 2020

Jan 272021
 

Congratulations to Martha Wells for having NETWORK EFFECT chosen as Publishers Weekly Staff Picks Best Books of 2020! They write:

Martha Wells’ cranky, TV-binging Murderbot, the star and narrator of four superb novellas before this novel, made for a perfect quarantine companion. Her SecUnit killing machine has favored a solitary existence ever since it hacked its way to sentience. It feels safest hunkered down in a storage bay, mainlining its favorite shows, far removed from the messy emotions and motives of people – a preference that only became more relatable as 2020 stretched on. Vividly imagined and often wryly hilarious, Network Effect stands as the strongest, richest book in the series, as the SecUnit once more must embroiled itself in human affairs, this time with a team and even a friend. Wells’ accomplished storytelling makes this a perfect entry point, but odds are once you’ve become acquainted with Murderbot you’ll want to do what it would: find a quiet spot and rush through the full series.

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