Powell’s new ‘alternative history, gonzo cyberpunk’ novel picked up by Solaris
Solaris is proud to announce it has commissioned the next book from one of the most exciting new voices in science fiction, Gareth L. Powell.
Ack-Ack Macaque will be published in January 2013. Based on a short story published in 2007, the author describes the story as ‘a fusion of alternate history and gonzo cyberpunk’.
In a world where France and Great Britain merged in the late 1950s, Powell has crafted an environment where nuclear-powered Zeppelins encircle the globe, electronic ghosts stalk the living, and a king lies dying; a world in which a half-brained woman struggles to solve a deadly riddle in order to regain her stolen soul, and a monkey sets about killing as many online gamers as possible, in order to avert Armageddon.
With the scale of Iain M. Banks and the intrigue of Alastair Reynolds, Powell’s The Recollection was published by Solaris earlier this year and brought a stunning breath of fresh air into epic science-fiction – an astounding novel about both personal human relationships and their place in the vastness of time and space.
“It’s a real thrill to discover a great new voice in SF,” said Jonathan Oliver, editor-in-chief of Solaris. “I was utterly blown away by Gareth’s The Recollection and Ack-Ack-Macaque will show again how diverse and incisive a writer Powell is.”
I am delighted to have signed contracts with Anarchy Books for the publication of my first two books in electronic formats.
Anarchy Books Press Release >..
It is with great pleasure Anarchy Books would like to announce the acquisition of digital rights to not one, but TWO works of SF by the wonderfully talented Gareth L. Powell, author of fabulous SF novel THE RECOLLECTION (published by Solaris Books), Guest of Honour at 2012’s BristolCon and regular contributor to a host of anthologies including Shine, Conflicts, Further Conflicts, 2020 Visions, Future Bristol, Dark Spires, Illuminations and The Sixty.
First we have an incredible collection of SF short stories entitled The
Last Reef containing everything from alien insect invasions to high-octane roller-coaster rides packing enough concepts and inventions to make any lesser SF author weep!
Second, we have Silversands, set in an age when interstellar travel is dangerous and unpredictable, and communications officer Avril Bradley is sent to re-contact lost souls… After an explosion, she is left stranded in a world of retired cops, political intrigue, digital ghosts and corporate assassins, fighting for possession of computer data that will allow them to reach out towards the stars…
Both novels will be available to download from Anarchy Books in PDF, MOBI and EPUB formats during Q1 of 2012 for just £2.49.
You are most welcome to save a copy of this story for your own enjoyment, to share it with with your friends, and to link to it from Facebook or wherever — just as long as you don’t alter the text, don’t take my name off it, and don’t use it for commercial purposes.
Ten freshly printed paperback copies of my novel The Recollection have just been delivered by courier. They have that new book smell. The covers and interior look great, and just the way I’d hoped they would. The designers and editors at Solaris Books have done a cracking job.
I will be signing copies of the book at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in Bristol on 25th August, from 6pm.
My short story Sunsets and Hamburgers will be reprinted in StarShipSofa Stories Volume 3, a new print anthology from the people responsible for the StarShipSofa podcast. The book is due to be published in September. I haven’t yet seen a full list of its contents, but previous volumes have included contributions from Michael Moorcock, Cory Doctorow and Neil Gaiman.
The final, typeset proofs of The Recollection have now been approved and sent back to Solaris Books. All necessary corrections have been made, and the book will go to print next week.
