News

First Look: “Shopocalypse” cover artwork and title reveal

19 Apr 2013 / 0 Comments / in Announcement, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

We are very happy to (officially) announce the title of David Gullen’s forthcoming first novel, as well as reveal the cover.

‘Shopocalypse’, by David Gullen, is a near-future story of fast cars, consumerism and nuclear war – with a cover by the amazingly talented Ben Baldwin.

shopocalypse cover First Look: “Shopocalypse” cover artwork and title reveal

About Shopocalypse

Novik and Josie have a lot of catching up to do. After two years in jail she has waited for his release and never ever wants him to go back in again. In the America of the near-future, being a decent person can cost you dearly.

A stress-filled encounter with some “Old-fashioned Boys” at a chain eatery turns their best of intentions upside-down: they’re now on the run and in possession of a super-hot sentient muscle car and 190 million dollars, covered with a potent psychoactive powder.

Shopocalyptic road trip, anyone?

David Gullen has written a witty and observant novel that effortlessly waves a tale of geo-political destabilisation, shopping, performance art police, well-meaning automobiles, cool killer robots, eco-terrorists, and the importance of storage-space.

‘Shopocalypse’ is published under our Monico imprint, and will appear as both a paperback and an ebook from all good retailers later this year.

Behind the Scenes – His Majesty’s Starship

18 Apr 2013 / 0 Comments / in General News, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

The very good, kind and lovely people over at Upcoming4.me are doing a “Behind the Scenes” series, where they look at well-known authors and their works, and invite them to write a little bit about what was going on behind the novel.

We are very happy to announce that Ben Jeapes has contributed, and his behind the scenes on “His Majesty’s Starship” can be found here.

Book Behind the Scenes His Majestys Starship

Extract

In 1982, aged 17, I read Robert Heinlein’s The Number of the Beast. This proved to be a very bad idea as it is terrible. However, there is a very brief mention in it of a Royal Space Force. That was an image that hung around in my mind for a long time after, and it carried over to the time of my life when I started writing stories…

His Majesty’s Starship and Jeapes Japes Released!

02 Apr 2013 / 0 Comments / in General News, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

At EightSquared Eastercon we held the book launch of Ben Jeapes’ most excellent “His Majesty’s Starship” and “Jeapes Japes”.

As Ben couldn’t make it due to personal commitments within his community we were very fortunate to have none other than Simon Morden, he of the Metrozone series, who happily took up the mantel of a truly excellent ‘Fake Ben Jeapes’.

During the launch Simon entertained us with a fantastic reading of “The Data Class”, from “Jeapes Japes” (where an AI accidentally merges its identity with the works of Karl Marx), and all who bought a book on the night got the chance to have it signed by ‘whoever you wanted him to be’. This led to a confused but happy gaggle of people walking away with copies of both books signed by the most unlikeliest of people. (I made absolutely certain that Jerry Cornelius gave me his love with my signed copy of HMSS).

It all made for a rather lovely launch event – and over the rest of the con we all but sold out of every copy we brought with us!

Thank you to the lovely EightSquared organisers and to the committee for letting us launch these two books at Eastercon, and thanks to them as well for inviting us to moderate a panel on Small Press Publishing earlier in the day.

HMSSCoverBenJeapes 250x400 His Majestys Starship and Jeapes Japes Released!

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The enigmatic First Breed have issued an invitation

to every nation of Earth, to share their planet and their technology. Michael Gilmore is appointed Captain of HMSS Ark Royal, the UK’s contribution to the delegation fleet on this historic interstellar voyage. It should be an honour …

His passengers include an ill-tempered prince and an alien of unknown loyalties. The first officer is close to mutiny. The ship’s A.I. has turned renegade and a neighbouring vessel harbours a genocidal maniac who seems to know much more than everyone else. And it’s just possible they’re all heading into a trap.

“One of the best first contact books in a long while – a gripping, logical, original and fundamentally optimistic retake on one of SF’s richest themes.” – Alastair Reynolds

“Bursting with fun and energy.” – Interzone.

“A veritable fount of plot, characterisation and intrigue, with some astoundingly original ideas.” – SFX

“A refreshingly different approach to humanity’s reaction to first contact.” – Vector

“The most glorious conceit is the space station UK-1, last bolt-hole of the exiled House of Windsor, ruled by the entrepreneurial King Richard and his unlovely son, Prince James.” – Times Educational Supplement

A bullied schoolboy escapes into his own future – the spirit of Karl Marx lives on in a bolshie artificial intelligence – digital cats prowl a computer network to keep it safe from intruders – a network of grandmothers patrol our streets very, very slowly – and a man is put on trial for his life by aliens who barely understand human nature, let alone human law. Plus twelve more stories, including one never before seen in print. The majority of the stories featured in Interzone, while some appeared in other venues including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Full of ideas that linger long with the reader, this is a collection of intelligent, original observations – and sharp humour.

JeapesJapesCoverBenJeapes 250x400 His Majestys Starship and Jeapes Japes Released!

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You can get them directly from us, via the two bluest of blue buttons above, or if you are Amazon inclined (other websites are available, and yes, they should have them as well), here are a few links for you:

Amazon UK: His Majesty’s Starship

Amazon UK: Jeapes Japes

Amazon US: His Majesty’s Starship

Amazon US: Jeapes Japes

If you would like to purchase the ebook of either work, please feel free to pop over to wonderful Wizard’s Tower Press, who look after the digital editions.

His Majesty’s Starship

Jeapes Japes

Book Launch at Eastercon, panels and more

27 Mar 2013 / 0 Comments / in Announcement, General News, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

The Eight Squared Eastercon is right around the corner, and we are very happy to announce that we will not only be attending, but will be launching two books by Ben Jeapes and moderating a panel.

Here’s where we’ll be:

Friday, March 29th (4pm Boardroom – Cedar Court)

Small Press Stories

What’s it like running a small SF/F Press? Editors from some of our local publishers share stories about their business. Colin Tate (Clarion Publishing) moderates Bob Neilson (Aeon Press), Pete Crowther (PS Publishing), Donna Scott (Immanion) and Ian Whates (Newcon Press)

(I’ll be moderating. Currently unsure if Pete will be able to attend due to his pretty full-on schedule. If he can that would be nothing short of lovely).

Additional Details

Friday March 29th (8pm Conservatory Bar – Cedar Court)

Ben Jeapes Book Launch

Clarion Publishing offer both new works and fiction that has gone out of print. This Eastercon sees them offer something of both by popular SF author Ben Jeapes. “Jeapes Japes” is a collection of rich and exciting stories that will delight the reader. “His Majesty’s Starship” is a re-issue of Ben’s much-admired early novel. “One of the best first contact books in a long while,” according to Alastair Reynolds.

Additional Details.

Ben will unfortunately be unable to attend Eastercon this year due to personal commitments. However, we are happy to announce that Simon Morden (Philip K Dick Award-winning author of the Samuil Petrovitch series from Orbit), will be on hand to read excerpts and generally be awesome.

Because he’s awesome.

In addition, EightSquared have graciously provided space for small press publishers to showcase our various odds and sods. This will be in the Conservatory Bar, 10am-11am Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. In attendence will be Aeon Press, Aethernet Magazine, Clarion Publishing, Kzine, Mindjammer Press, Sharon Reamer, and David Wake.

We look forward to seeing you there! If you want to come up and say hi, please do so!

His Majesty’s Starship and Jeapes Japes release date announced – available for preorder

18 Mar 2013 / 0 Comments / in Announcement, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

We are very happy to announce that “His Majesty’s Starship” and “Jeapes Japes”, two fantastic works by Ben Jeapes, are now available for preorder. Release date is the 29th March 2013.

HMSSCoverBenJeapes 250x400 His Majestys Starship and Jeapes Japes release date announced available for preorder

£9.99

Add to cart

The enigmatic First Breed have issued an invitation

“One of the best first contact books in a long while – a gripping, logical, original and fundamentally optimistic retake on one of SF’s richest themes.” – Alastair Reynolds

“Bursting with fun and energy.” – Interzone.

“A veritable fount of plot, characterisation and intrigue, with some astoundingly original ideas.” – SFX

“A refreshingly different approach to humanity’s reaction to first contact.” – Vector

”The most glorious conceit is the space station UK-1, last bolt-hole of the exiled House of Windsor, ruled by the entrepreneurial King Richard and his unlovely son, Prince James.” – Times Educational Supplement

JeapesJapesCoverBenJeapes 250x400 His Majestys Starship and Jeapes Japes release date announced available for preorder

£10.99

Add to cart

You can get them directly from us, via the two bluest of blue buttons above, rt if you are Amazon inclined (other websites are available, and yes, they should have them as well), here are a few links for you:

Amazon UK: His Majesty’s Starship

Amazon UK: Jeapes Japes

Amazon US: His Majesty’s Starship

Amazon US: Jeapes Japes

If you would like to purchase the ebook of either work, please feel free to pop over to wonderful Wizard’s Tower Press, who look after the digital editions.

His Majesty’s Starship

Jeapes Japes

First Look: “Feather and Bone” cover artwork

15 Mar 2013 / 0 Comments / in Announcement, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

Gus Smith is a fantastic author of modern, dark fantasy – and for “Feather and Bone”, we wanted to create a knock-out cover to match. For this, we turned to Ben Baldwin, who has ably delivered.

Here is the first look at the cover for “Feather and Bone”.

About Feather and Bone

Alison Rigg, rising star of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and part-time witch, is in Northumberland to investigate reports of BSE where no BSE should be. Now her body has been found lying by a stream: she is still alive but her soul has fled, no one knows where. The only one to come close is Isabel, an electively mute seven-year-old who doesn’t speak to people but who speaks to animals all the time. She senses what forces are at work on the moors, but she doesn’t understand them and she certainly can’t tell anyone about them.

Smith tells his story with the rhythm and plausibility of a folk tale and mixes the look and feel, the light and air of the Northumberland moors with a force of evil that hits the reader like a slap in the face.

“Feather and Bone” will be available both as ebook and as paperback, under our Monico imprint.

Downside Girls Released!

10 Nov 2012 / 0 Comments / in Clarion Publishing, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

photo 2 600x450 Downside Girls Released! Last night we held the book launch of ‘Downside Girls’, our collection of short stories by Jaine Fenn. The event was in the main programme room of Novacon – and the room was packed! A fantastic turnout which meant that the queue for Jaine’s signing of the book was so long it even blocked our sales desk!

photo 3 300x225 Downside Girls Released!

Novacon is one of the most well-respected and fantasy science-fiction conventions in the UK, and it now in its forty-second year – which truly makes it the answer to life, the universe and everything. Our thanks to them for their assistance on the night.

‘Downside Girls’ is a standalone collection of interlinked short stories about the Angels, the state-sponsored killers of Khesh City – a floating wonder above an uninhabitable planet, where the topsiders have everything they want and the downsiders survive with what they can.

When Vanna Agriet accidentally spills her drink over an Angel it could spell death, but instead it leads to a rather peculiar friendship. The downsider Geal hopes for a better life topside, only to find herself embroiled in a ‘removal’ by the Angel Thiera. Downside, Isha’s brother Rakul brings a little black box home with him, and sets Isha on a journey that takes her to a meeting with the most powerful man in Kesh City. Larnia Mier, a talented topside musician and instructor, is injured after witnessing a removal first-hand. As her abilities diminish, new possibilities open up.

With a foreword by Alastair Reynolds (author of ‘Revelation Space’ and the recent ‘Blue Remembered Earth’, as well as ‘On the Steel Breeze’), ‘Downside Girls’ is a standalone collection of interlinked stories by Jaine Fenn, that also shines new light on characters from ‘Principles of Angels’, Jaine’s first novel in the ‘Hidden Empire’ series. (‘Principles of Angels’, ‘Consorts of Heaven’, Guardians of Paradise’, ‘Bringer of Light’, and ‘Queen of Nowhere’).

‘Downside Girls’ is available to buy through all regular channels – both as paperback and ebook.

From: £2.99 Select options

Novacon 42 – book launch of Jaine Fenn’s Downside Girls

08 Nov 2012 / 0 Comments / in Monico/by Clarion Publishing

November the 9th is the start of Novacon 42 – a three day SF convention where the great and the good shall gather. Jaine Fenn will be guest of honour, and to celebrate this we are happy to announce that as part of the convention we will be having a launch party for the paperback release of Downside Girls. The event kicks off at 9pm this Friday, and there will be plenty of drink and nibbles, as well as words and good conversation.

Downside Girls AR Cover 264x400 Novacon 42 book launch of Jaine Fenns Downside Girls

There will be copies of the work available for purchase – but if you’d rather buy online, it is available through all regular channels – both as paperback and ebook. A few locations are below.

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Apple iBooks US / UK

Barnes & Noble

WH Smith

Kobo Books

Google Play

First Look: “His Majesty’s Starship”, and “Jeapes Japes” cover artwork

26 Oct 2012 / 0 Comments / in General News, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

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”.

JeapesJapesCoverBenJeapes 250x400 First Look: His Majestys Starship, and Jeapes Japes cover artwork

“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.

HMSSCoverBenJeapes 250x400 First Look: His Majestys Starship, and Jeapes Japes cover artwork

“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.

Gus Smith’s Feather and Bone to be published by Monico

26 Oct 2012 / 0 Comments / in Announcement, Clarion Publishing, Monico/by Clarion Publishing

GusSmith Gus Smiths Feather and Bone to be published by Monico

We are very happy to announce that ‘Feather and Bone’, a dark fantasy by Gus Smith, is to be published by Monico, in early 2013.

Gus is an accomplished writer, and we are delighted to have him aboard.

About Feather and Bone:

Isabel doesn’t speak to people, but she speaks to animals all the time. She knows what forces are at work on the Northumberland moors but she doesn’t understand them. And what can she do? She’s only seven.

Alison Rigg, rising star of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is in Northumberland to investigate reports of BSE where no BSE should be. Now her body has been found lying by a stream. She is still alive but her soul has fled, no one knows where.

And a dark force that no one dares name is on the move, reaching into the lives of this small community and tearing it apart.

Gus Smith’s dark fantasy mixes the look and feel, the light and air of the Northumberland moors with a force of evil that hits you like a slap in the face. He tells his story with the rhythm and plausibility of a folk tale.

Full release dates to be announced.

Monico is the Speculative Fiction imprint of Clarion Publishing.