When we signed up two of Ben Jeapes’s most well-known and loved works, we wanted to do them justice at every stage of the publishing process. With that, here are the forthcoming covers for “Jeapes Japes”, and “His Majesty’s Starship”.

“Jeapes Japes” is a collection of enjoyable and thought-provoking short stories. Featuring stories previously published in Interzone, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Aboriginal SF, it is a collection of eighteen stories, ranging from fantasy to science fiction – with time travel and artificial intelligence featuring heavily.

“His Majesty’s Starship” is an optimistic novel of first contact, both gripping and original in execution. The HMSS Ark Royal is part of Earth’s first interstellar delegation, surrounded by a fleet of similar ships – all of which are vying to lay claim to a glorious prize. Inscrutable quadruped aliens, rogue A.I.’s, ill-tempered royalty, a mutinous crew and a genocidal maniac await!

Both books are to be published in early 2013. More details forthcoming.