Following a successful Open Door period in 2011 (we signed 3 debut authors from it!), we’ve decided to do it again! This time around, we’re looking for classic fantasy (for Angry Robot) and all sf/fantasy flavours of YA (for Strange Chemistry).

If you have completed a novel, and are unagented, between April 16th and 30th this year, we’ll happily read it for possible publication. If you are agented, this isn’t for you – submit via the usual route.

If your title is a Young Adult title, go here.

Still here?  Good.

This page is full of things you Need To Know. You spent months – or possibly years – perfecting your novel, so make sure you take twenty minutes or so to read the guidelines on this page. And by guidelines, we of course mean: instructions carved in stone. Last year we rejected far too many submissions simply because the author did not follow the submission guidelines.

What we’re not looking for:

• • Anything other than classic fantasy – swords, magic, kingdoms, castles. You might describe it as high fantasy, epic, magical, low, classic, medieval, or whatever. If you’ve written an urban fantasy or supernatural modern day chiller, that’s great, but not what we’re wanting this time around.
• • Book 2 or later in an existing series.
• • Books that have already been published elsewhere (including podcast, self-published as eBooks or print-on-demand).
• • Books that have not yet been completed.
• • Children’s books.
• • Anything shorter than novel length (approx 95,000 to 140,000 words, but there is some flexibility in this).
• • Books submitted in last year’s Open Door Month (even those that have been redrafted).

So, you have until the end of April to polish your manuscript, and to get it in the right format for us.

You’ll need to send us a single file containing your submission. Do not send multiple files.

We prefer RTF files. Word files are OK, as are PDFs. If you don’t know what these terms mean, ask a tech-savvie friend.

Your file should contain the following:

• • Page 1: Your name, your contact details (email address is essential, snail mail address is handy, too), the name of the novel and its wordcount. Feel free to include a brief biography here, if you feel it is relevant.
• • Pages 2-3: A full synopsis of the novel, including brief descriptions of the major characters. You must include details of the novel’s ending – no keeping us in suspense until we buy the book off you! Feel free to include a paragraph or two of your intentions/inspiration if you wish (this last bit is not essential). We will also smile on you if you can include a one-sentence summary of your novel, here. Yep – you read that right. One sentence.
• • Pages 4 onwards: The first 5 chapters of your novel. If your chapters are very short, or very, very long, send us no less than 10,000 words, no more than 15,000.

Notes on formatting.

• • Single-spaced entries are preferred.
• • If your manuscript contains italics, use italics. Do not use underline instead.
• • Start a fresh page for new chapters.

If you have not followed the guidelines, above, your submission might be rejected without even being read, so give yourself the best chance of success.

The notes above will tell you everything you need to know about submitting your manuscript. IF IT’S NOT MENTIONED ON THIS PAGE, IT’S NOT WORTH WORRYING ABOUT, SO DON’T FEEL YOU NEED TO QUERY THE SMALLEST DETAIL. For instance, if you telephone us to ask what font to use (this has happened) we’re probably not going to want to take your manuscript further.

How to submit.

Come back to this page on April 16th – there will be a special upload thingie here (it’s all very technical, you know).

Do NOT submit anything before April 16th. Anything that comes in early, goes in the bin early…

What we will be looking for:

We’re publishing novels, either standalone or as part of greater series. We’re not looking to publish your novellas, short stories (individually or collected in book form) or non-fiction at this time. Our novels are for adult readers; we’re not currently looking for work aimed at children (although of course, you should submit via Strange Chemistry‘s Open Door page, if your work is intended for Young Adults).

All our books are “genre” fiction in one way or another — specifically fantasy, science fiction, horror, and that new catch-all urban or modern fantasy. For this Open Door period, however, we are looking for Classic Fantasy only. It should be easy to decide whether or not your book is classic fantasy. If in doubt, do the following:

Ask yourself “Is my book a classic fantasy?”

If you can truthfully say “yes” without thinking too much about it, we’ll be delighted to take a look. If it has castles, kingdoms, magic, swords, dragons, you’re on the right track. If your answer is “well, I’m not quite sure”, then our answer would probably be the same as yours, so save yourself (and us) the time, and find somewhere more appropriate for it.

If your answer is “no”, then it’s not for us, but here are some pretty unicorn pictures to make you feel less sad.

Our books will be published in all English-language territories — notably the UK, US and Australia — so we’ll be buying rights to cover all those. If you are only offering rights in one territory, we will not be able to deal with you.

We will be able to offer e-book and audio versions as standard too, plus limited edition and multiple physical formats where appropriate. We are not contracting any work-for-hire titles; we offer advances and royalties.

Beyond all of this, what we’re really looking for in your writing is this:

• • A “voice”, that comes from…
• . . . . ~ Confident writing
• . . . . ~ Pacy writing
• . . . . ~ Characters that live, have real relationships and emotions, even in extreme situations
• • A sense of vision, a rounded world that lives and breathes
• • Clever construction, good plotting, a couple of surprises even for us jaded old read-it-alls
• • Heightened experience – an intensity, extremity or just a way of treating plot or situation in a way we’ve not come across before. “Goes up to 11″, if you know what that means.

We require a brief (two pages) summary of characters, plot and your intentions/inspiration, in that order — plus the opening five chapters. No more, no less. DO NOT send us the opening chapters of an unfinished manuscript – we’re only interested in novels that have been completed.

Send us the right file, first time. Please, please, please do not send us a submission and then follow it up a few days later with an improved version that you have since edited. Improve it before sending, and send it once.

Your opening chapters will be read by one of our editors. If we like what we read, we’ll ask you for the rest of it.

It’ll be read by one of your editors? Not by an external reading team, like last year?
That’s right.

Woohoo!
Indeed.

You say you want the first 5 chapters. Does that include the prologue I’ve written?
If your prologue is very short, send it, along with the first 5 chapters. If it’s chapter length, send it along with the first 4 chapters.

What if my chapters are all very short?
Send us the first 10-15,000 words, or so.

What is your preferred overall length for finished novels?
For fantasy we’re looking for (approximately) 95-140,000, but there is some flexibility in this.

My book isn’t really fantasy in the classic sense, but…
Sorry – it’s not for us, then.

Hang on, I hadn’t finished yet. Even though it’s not classic fantasy, it’s got a really cool…
Nope – still not for us. We have a strong list, and have enough urban fantasy, science fiction, modern fantasy, steampunk, horror, supernatural, et al, to keep us going for the time being.

But if I send my SF novel anyway, you won’t know until you start reading it, and by then you’ll be hooked…
Nah. All that will happen is that we will stop reading the instant we realise you’ve tried to dupe us, and that won’t do anyone any favours. We keep a book, you know. A black one. And we write in it with a red pen…

Will I get a response?
Yes. You will definitely get a response, whether it’s “No, thank you – it’s not for us”, “No, thank you – but we’d like to read more of your work” or “Ooh, yes please – just what we’re looking for”.

Will I get feedback?
Possibly. Probably not much.

How long will it be before I hear from you?
You know – we don’t really know. Last year we received nearly 1,000 submissions, and it took us 9 months to get through them all. We’re not expecting anything like that volume this time around, though, as our requirements are much more specific. As a general rule of thumb, it generally takes us 3 months or more to respond to solicited manuscripts. Yours might take longer. On the other hand, it might be sooner. You will get a response, though. Feel free to drop us a query if you’ve not heard anything after 6 months.

Six months? Seriously?
We never joke about time. Well, not unless we have a really great time-travel comedy, and then we might. (No, we don’t want you to submit your time-travel comedies. Pay attention…)

What happens if the editor likes my work?
If they like your work, you’ll get a polite rejection. You might even get feedback (but that’s not guaranteed).

Ok, ok, Mr Nitpicky – I meant love my work. What happens if they love my work?
If we don’t have anything too similar in our list, and if it’s something we believe fits with the Angry Robot label, and if {insert another arbitrary condition} then we’ll take it to the rest of our acquisitions team, and recommend we make an offer. During this acquisitions meeting, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of the book, along with its chances of commercial and critical success, and if the consensus is that we should make an offer, that’s what we’ll probably do.

And then I can quit my day job?
Ummm… no. Well, only if you have an independent income stream. Most professional novelists hold down jobs in addition to their writing. At a later stage in your career you may decide to write full time, but we would not advise it at the outset, unless a life of poverty appeals (but hey – great research for your next novel!)

You guys are making it sound like the chances of my novel being accepted are really slim
We wouldn’t want you to submit under falsely high expectations. It’s amazing that you’ve managed to get all those words down in the first place, but the road to getting published is another longer haul, entirely. But if you’re brilliant, it will happen, either with us or another open-minded publisher.

___________________

Meanwhile, this article our Lee wrote for SFX magazine’s website may provide more food for thought…

Pitch Perfect

So you’ve just finished writing your novel. Before I go any further, let me stand and applaud you – I have the utmost respect for any writer, new or established, who goes the whole mile and finishes a manuscript of novel length. Even those books that are less than excellent deserve a hearty round of congratulatory cheers for their creators. Finishing a novel is not easy.

Unfortunately, the hard work doesn’t stop there. Once the novel is written, the next phase of hard work begins. The first of which is to find an agent to represent you and/or a publisher to get your magnum opus out into the wild (or at least the bookshops, which are often mistaken for the same thing).

Here, then, are a few tips to help you on your way. To those of you who read the following and think “Well, that’s obvious”, you’re right. Unfortunately, the obvious is all-too-often overlooked in favour of the optimistic, or the downright foolhardy.

Tip number 1 – Research
Before you submit your work to an agent or a publisher, do some homework, first. It’s absolutely no use submitting a far-future sci-fi story to an agent who only represents romantic fiction. It doesn’t matter how good your story is, it’ll be rejected, and you will have wasted months waiting for the reply to your submission. It happens more than you would think – we receive many titles that are obviously aimed at the younger end of the young adult market, despite us not being a YA imprint.

Tip 2 – Don’t be impatient
The agent’s first priority is to the clients already on his/her list – the publisher’s is to the authors and books he has already committed to publish. New stories coming in are important, of course, but in the majority of cases it’ll be months before you get a response. How many months? Read the submission guidelines on the agent’s or publisher’s website – they’ll probably mention it there. If not, it’s perfectly permissible to ask the question when submitting your manuscript for consideration.

Tip 3 – Read the submission guidelines
“Submission guidelines” is a bit of a misnomer, actually. Whenever you read “submission guidelines”, substitute those words with “Rules of Engagement, Never to be Broken” (unless you’re already a successful author selling in the hundreds of thousands, in which case, “guidelines” means what it says).

A little more detail on this tip is warranted, I think:

* If the guidelines state “send your manuscript as a Word or RTF document, single-spaced”, DO NOT send a physical copy to the office, double-spaced because that’s what you read in a “how to get published” book you bought in the ’70s. Many editors and slushpile readers like to read submissions on electronic readers, these days – sending a physical copy will not only get you to the bottom of the reading pile, it may well keep you there.

* If the guidelines state “Send the first five chapters, along with a 2-page plot and character summary”, do that. Don’t send a 15-page synopsis, along with the entire manuscript. If the publisher or agent is impressed enough by your sample chapters, you’ll be asked to send in the rest.

* If the guidelines state “send your manuscript to the office address listed below”, that’s what you should do. I’ve had authors hunt down my home address and send copies there, without asking. That’s not showing initiative – that’s just downright creepy!

Tip 4 – Write a professional query letter
Your book may be the best thing ever written, but that does not mean you should forget the rules of written English when composing your introductory letter. Be polite, be professional (“Dear Mr Treeblossom”, rather than “Hi Steve”, unless you already have an existing relationship). Check your spelling and grammar. It’s astounding how many submissions are received accompanied by query letters that appear to have been written by a hedgehog with learning difficulties – your introductory letter is a sample of your writing, and will be treated as such, so don’t allow yourself to fall at the first hurdle.

Tip 5 – Don’t trash your genre
Seems sensible enough, doesn’t it? Yet it is not uncommon to receive query letters that do not just hype the manuscript, but also trash the competition: “this novel is much better written than any of the rubbish currently being published” – that presumably includes the rubbish being marketed by the publisher you’re currently courting…?

Tip 6 – Use sensible filenames
If submitting electronically, use a filename that tells the reader what it is they have – eg.”Final Conflict by Jimmy Johnson – first 5 chapters.doc”, rather than “FCv1 17-04-2007.doc”. It helps the publisher or agent when they’re looking for your file, and anything that helps them, helps you.

Tip 7 – Use endorsements wisely
If Famous Writer X has read your work and liked it, by all means mention this – for instance, “Jim Jones read the final draft of Mystery Mansion XIV and told me it was ‘the best example of a haunted house story’ he has ever read.” Needless to say, don’t invent endorsements, and don’t mention that your friends and mother thought it was great – they don’t count, and it’ll make you come across as an idiot, or at least a tad naive.

Tip 8 – If you have previously published work, mention it
It adds to your credibility as a writer. Though not essential, it may help you stand out a little from the next submission in the pile. Also mention any awards, or other relevant information. “I trained as a particle physicist before writing my novel” is relevant for sci-fi imprints; “I was employee of the month three months running at Acme Widget Corporation” isn’t (though, you know, well done).

Tip 9 – If a publisher is inviting submissions “through an agent only”, don’t send your manuscript direct
This rule may be ignored if you have been invited to do submit directly by the publisher (when you met them at a convention, or other event, for instance). Don’t be tempted to invent a fake agency – it often happens and it’s not difficult to spot. A fake agency tells the publisher that you’re not necessarily the most honest of people, suggesting you may not be the easiest person to work with.

Tip 10 – Check your manuscript before you send it
Your novel should be in its finished state. Sending a follow-up email three days later asking for the original to be deleted as you’ve made some changes doesn’t make a great impression.

Tip 11 – Include your contact details
Sounds daft? An enormous percentage of manuscripts are sent without contact details. Your manuscript is almost certainly going to get separated from your initial email by the time it gets read, so include on the first page, your name, address, telephone number, email address, title of the story, genre and wordcount. If you’re submitting through an agent, include their name, agency and contact details as well.

Tip 12 – If your manuscript is rejected, but you’re asked to submit something else, be elated
Your book is being rejected, but you are not – it means that the agency or publisher sees something in you they can work with, even though that particular book is not right for them. If it takes you a year to write your next piece, when you submit it again, make sure you state “though NOVEL X was not right for your agency/imprint, you asked to see my next work, which I am enclosing/attaching”. Most writers are not asked to submit something else – if you are, it’s great news!

There are many other pitfalls to avoid, and many other ways to get your story noticed, but if you take note of the above, your submission will be in a better condition than a lot of submissions received. First impressions really do count.

This article first appeared on the SFX blog in May 2009.

“For anyone who is missing their David Gemmell fix.”
- io9.com

The land of Falanor is invaded by an albino army, the Army of Iron. A small group set off to warn the king: Kell, ancient hero; his granddaughter, Nienna and her friend, Katrina; and the ex-Sword Champion of King Leanoric, Saark, disgraced after his affair with the Queen.

Fighting their way south, betrayal follows battle follows deviation, and they are attacked from all quarters by deadly albino soldiers, monstrous harvesters who drain blood from their victims to feed their masters, and the twisted offspring of deviant vachine, the cankers.

As Falanor comes under heavy attack and crushing invasion, only then does Nienna learn the truth about grandfather Kell – that he is anything but a noble hero, anything but a Legend.

File Under: Epic Fantasy [ Blood Oil | Alchemy & Infamy | The Axeman Cometh | A Hero's Doom ]

An omnibus edition containing all three volumes of this blood-spattered epic:

1. Kell’s Legend
2. Soul Stealers
3. Vampire Warlords

More Praise…

“I dived straight in, emerging a couple of days later – with a grin on my face… an engaging, fast paced cocktail of violence and intrigue that grabs you right from the outset and doesn’t let go until you run out of pages.”
- My Favourite Books

“Add to the mix a good dollop of battlefield humour, a good handful of Howard’s style backed up with a stark descriptiveness and it’s a tale that gives Remic a firm footing within the genre.”
- Falcata Times

“Soul Stealers is fast, brutal and above all unmissable, there is quite simply nothing out there that can currently compare to Andy Remic’s unrelenting, unforgiving and unflinching style. The new King of Heroic Fantasy has arrived. 5 *****”
- SFBook.com

“Remic’s writing style hasn’t changed much since the first volume of the series. Often over the top, with occasional tough humour. This novel is a steampunk rollercoaster, with clockwork vampires and rococo trimmings… Remic’s book makes me think of BDs from the eighties. Maybe it’s time I re-read those French cartoons. It’s a good sign, isn’t it, when reading one book instantly leads to re-reading something you’ve enjoyed, something equally over-the top, colourful and large?”
- Gillian Polack

“Kell’s Legend is loosely based on the traditional fantasy story, brave but world weary warrior type who just wants to retire from any bloodshed and finds himself forced to use his talents of destruction. This tradition though is then bashed on the head and burried 6 feet deep with inclusion of the clockwork vampires creating a blend of fantasy horror and fantastic fight scenes. I mean really top quality fight scenes. One of Gemmell’s most redeeming qualities as an author was his ability to write about fighting and war to such a degree that you almost felt like rushing through his novels to get to those bits. Kell’s Legend fight scenes live up to this quality and elevate the novel way above the standard fare. Kell’s Legend is a novel of power and scope, able to stand as a worthy successor to the Gemmell crown. 5***** “
- Science Fiction & Fantasy Books

“Kell’s Legend’ is a roller coaster ride of a book that grabbed me right from the first page and tore off at a rate of knots like I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
- Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

“Violent is really not the right word for this spare-no-detail fantasy monstrosity. Insane? Maybe. Really, the only way to describe Remic’s Kell’s Legend is with a phrase: a bloody, violent, fantastic journey through carnage, terror, and a downright epic tale that makes Underworld and every zombie movie look bad… Remic is the Tarantino of fantasy, and if that isn’t a compliment, then I don’t know what is.”
- Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’

“Kell’s Legend is a blistering read; the pace is frenetic and the action scenes come thick and fast. He’s clearly honed his craft of creating pulsating action scenes during the writing of his military SF novels, for the fight sequences are often electrifying. The Vachine are a great creation, being a technologically advanced race whose members are half flesh, half clockwork, while the cankers – the result of failed clockwork experiments – are another excellent touch. The whole clockwork element is not just there for show – it provides the motivation for the Vachine’s invasion, and is also behind one the best (and most disturbing) scenes in the book.

“Andy Remic may have seemed like an unlikely writer to snatch up Gemmell’s battleaxe and continue to carve the fine tradition that the great man started, but he does a surprisingly good job of it. Kell’s Legend is a rip-roaring beast of a novel, a whirlwind of frantic battles and fraught relationships against a bleak background of invasion and enslavement. In other words, it takes all the vital ingredients for a good heroic fantasy novel and turns out something very pleasing indeed. If you can keep an open mind then you may get a real kick out of one of the most surprising novels of the year.”
– Speculative Horizons

“Kell’s Legend is an iconoclastic melange of themes that incorporates devices from various genres– Moorcook / Gemmell heroic fantasy, steampunk, and horror. It is an exciting, brutal novel, soaked in testosterone and paced like a roller coaster. The sex and violence is visceral and the action is non-stop.”
- Red Rook Review

“Andy Remic has to be given credit for his unflinching style which is certainly not for everyone. The action and gore levels are increased , while the characters are all tested and reveal more about themselves… The action and snappy dialogue are all here. This book delivers exactly what its predecessor promised: the ability to bewitch the reader and to turn your expectations upside down.”
- Fantasy Book Critic

THE CLOCKWORK VAMPIRE CHRONICLES (Omnibus)
Andy Remic
Fantasy
Cover: Kekai Kotaki

UK/RoW
1 March 2012
880pp B-format paperback
£12.99 UK
ISBN 9780857662040

US/CAN
28 February 2012
880pp trade paperback
$15.99 US / $16.99 CAN
ISBN 9780857662057

eBook
28 February 2012
£7.99
ePub ISBN 9780857662064

“Adam Christopher’s debut novel is a noir, Philip K Dick-ish science fiction superhero
story… a novel of surreal resonances, things that are like other things, plot turns
that hearken to other plot turns. It’s often fascinating, as captivating as a
kaleidoscope… just feel it in all its weird glory.”
- Cory Doctorow, author of Makers and Little Brother

“Christopher’s tightly plotted novel is a truly original debut that, while subtly referencing
Orwell, Kafka, Marvel comics and Philip K Dick, manages to maintain its own distinctive tone –
a genuine pathos and longing for something elusively other. Recommended.”
- Eric Brown, The Guardian

The stunning superhero-noir fantasy thriller set in the other New York.

It was the last great science hero fight, but the energy blast ripped a hole in reality, and birthed the Empire State – a young, twisted parallel prohibition-era New York.

When the rift starts to close, both worlds are threatened, and both must fight for the right to exist.

Adam Christopher’s stunning debut novel heralds the arrival of an amazing new talent.

File Under: Science Fiction [ Pocket Universe | Heroes or Villains | Speak Easy | Loyalties Divided ].

More praise:

“Adam Christopher maintains a punchy, bestseller prose style that keeps the action rocketing along, and protagonists that seem right both in their own setting, and appropriate to what we already recognise as super heroes. Empire State is an excellent, involving read, and it fully deserves to be the start of a new universe.”
Paul Cornell, Doctor Who scriptwriter, and author of Stormwatch and Demon Knights

“This is simply one of the greatest science fiction books I have ever read… So if you are looking for a super stylish, utterly engrossing, fast paced, smart and quirky read, I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. 9/10”
- Starburst Magazine

“Empire State is highly recommended to those who like their sci-fi dark, pacey and woven tight by multiple threads of intrigue.”
- SciFiNow

“A daring, dreamlike, almost hallucinatory thriller, one that plays with the conventions of pulp fiction and superheroes like a cat with a ball of yarn.”
- Kurt Busiek, Eisner Award-winning writer of Astro City and Marvels

“As it happens, I’m a sucker for hard-boiled retro sci-fi stories; rocket-powered superheroes, spunky dames, fedoras, Studebakers slewing round gritty Gotham street-corners on two wheels, and Adam Christopher sure knows his way around a tightly spun yarn – I was a pig in poop from page one! As they say: This story? She’s a real sweater-full, with a great pair’a getaway sticks… Watch out for this Adam kid, he’s nobody’s sap. He’s got a sharp nib and a sharper wit. He’d steal your last few hours before you could say ‘cat’s pajamas’, and you’d thank him for it.”
— Billy Campbell, star of The Rocketeer“The novel’s mounting chaos is effectively noir-ish and Christopher paints an effective protrait of a bleak, confused, subdued city.”
- Eddie Robson, SFX Magazine

“Down these steam driven streets a man must go… straight into a pocket universe of trouble. Brutal, knowing and deft, Adam Christopher delivers.”
- Jon Courtenay Grimwood, author of The Fallen Blade

“Stylish, sinister, and wickedly fun, Empire State is not your average sexy retro parallel universe superhero noir.”
- Lauren Beukes, Arthur C Clarke Award-winning author of Zoo City

“From the first explosive rat-a-tat-tat of bullets to the very last twist and turn, Empire State surely cannot be a début novel. Adam Christopher must be playing with us, as this bears all the skill and patience of an experienced master craftsman at work. The fantastical dreams of Verne and Wells mixed with the noir reality of Spillane or Chandler, this is a book that doesn’t play by the rules – and is all the better for it.”
- Tony Lee, New York Times bestselling author, and Doctor Who comic writer.

“From first to last page, Adam Christopher’s Empire State careens along at a furious pace. Along the way, he beautifully meshes the best noir tropes with science fiction and wraps it up in a world (or two) that rivals some of the classics of speculative fiction. Rad Bradley is an unforgettable character and you’ll breathlessly follow his journey, unraveling the mysteries and revelations contained in this brilliant debut. Empire State marks Adam Christopher as an author to watch! Would somebody give this guy a comic book to write, already?”
- John Hornor Jacobs, author of Southern Gods

“Empire State doesn’t screw around. Murders, mysteries and multiple realities are just the icing atop this pulp noir cake: the action starts on the opening page but it isn’t long before you fall in love with the characters and the unique world Adam Christopher has built for them. Trust me when I say: you want to visit Empire State.”
- Chuck Wendig, author of Double Dead

“Adam Christopher’s Empire State is a fascinating debut novel that meshes noir sensibilities and science fiction together and keeps the reader guessing throughout. Empire State challenges the nature of reality and what it means to be a human being. Adam Christopher handles in intricacies of parallel worlds, time travel and suspense with a skill lacking in many more-seasoned authors.”
- Michael Stackpole, New York Times bestselling author of I, Jedi

“Empire State is an exuberant homage to the superhero genre powered by a fabulous noir plot and wrapped up with a retro science fiction sensibility. It’s effortlessly inventive and thoroughly entertaining. I’m already looking forward to the next work from this assured new writer.”
- Critic and comic author, Maura McHugh

“Destined to be a science fiction classic, Empire State is a breathtakingly original noir tale of intrigue, mystery, and quantum physics, deftly played out in storytelling so brilliant I’m finding it hard not to hate the author.”
- Diana Rowland, author of My Life as a White Trash Zombie

“Complex and creative, Empire State introduces the reader to a world of noir superheroes and multi-dimensional conspiracies. An engaging, entertaining read.”
- Nicole Peeler, author of the Tempest series.

“A double shot of jet-noir steampunk nitroglycerine – a startling, throat-grabbing novel that echoes Chandler, Auster and Mieville while blazing its own mind-bending trail and searing itself onto your memory.”
- Will Hill, bestselling author of Department 19

“Fast-paced and intricately woven, Adam Christopher’s debut mixes Sam Spade noir with the comic book superheroes we all grew up loving. Packed with action and a secret that could unravel the world, Empire State will keep you turning the pages and cheering on the most unlikely of heroes. With a debut this exciting, I can’t wait to see what Adam comes up with next.”
- Joelle Charbonneau, author of Skating Over The Line

“With Empire State, Adam Christopher has crafted a story both old-fashioned and modern in its sensibilities, where hard-boiled detectives meet pulp superheroes in a science fiction mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Christopher has channelled Mickey Spillane, Jules Verne, and Gardner Fox to tell a story that would be perfect for Joe Johnston to direct on the big screen. All in all, a fantastic and thrilling read that takes off running and never stops – long live the Empire State!”
- Professor Mark D. White, co-editor, Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul

“With Empire State, Adam Christopher takes the noir genre and gives it a sexy gritty makeover that will make your head spin…”
- Philippa Ballantine, author of Geist and Spectyr

“With his debut novel, Adam Christopher creates a dark and gritty world, complete with with Prohibition-era gangsters, Tommy guns, and superheroes. Empire State is a story deeply rooted in noir tradition that hits you in the throat like a sucker punch.”
- Matthew McBride, author of Frank Sinatra in a Blender

“A heady mix of superheroes (who aren’t so unambiguous), noir detectives (who really aren’t cut out for metaphysics), and science fiction – which really works … Empire State is a fast, likeable novel which aims not only to surprise, but frequently to confound – with intrigue, superheroic subversion, and a few robots playing into the mix! There’s also an airship. I mean, who doesn’t love airships?”
- Drying Ink

“An almost Alice in Wonderland feel of enjoyable insanity … Beautifully, almost cinematically written”
- FantasyNibbles.com

“Fantastic prose. Christopher keeps the reader hooked from the beginning to end with his original storyline that will only leave you wanting more. Not to be missed.”
- The Founding Fields

“… [Empire State] gives the same sense as Jeter or Harland in their steampunk novels – the feel of a society that’s fundamentally strange and careening into disaster.”
- Gill Polack, Livejournal review

“Adam Christopher is another great new voice in the genre. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes next.”
- Justin Landon, Staffer’s Musings

“Of you like a good noir tale, Empire State is a book you won’t want to miss.”
- Mieneke van der Salm, A Fantastical Librarian

“[Empire State's] concept and setting are fascinating. The book’s atmosphere and premise occasionally reminded me of Philip K. Dick. That’s never a bad thing. There’s a grey emptiness to both the characters and the setting that’s somehow a bit Kafkaesque … If you’re looking for atmosphere and concept, Empire State is definitely worth a look.”
- Tor.com

“I thoroughly enjoyed the story as it unfolded. Many times as the story progressed I thought I could see the driving forces behind the plots within plots, only to discover things weren’t quite what I was thinking.”
- Laith Preston, DragonPage.com

“…a delight to the literary palate with a richly woven narrative, interesting ideas and above all a great story.
- SF Book Reviews

“…a fast paced revelation-fest that will continue to surprise even the most savvy readers.”
- Michelle at RantingDragon.com

“It’s a complex and intriguing novel: offering more puzzles every time the answers to each mystery are unlocked.”
- Ros Jackson, Warpcore SF

“Keep an eye out for Adam Christopher. He’s a talented one…”
- Wesley Chu, Famous Monsters of Filmland / Chu For Thought

“It is not very often I read a book which just keeps on surprising me, but this is the case with Empire State. It’s a really nice situation to be in for a reader, and an excellent reason to keep turning those pages.”
- Erik Lundqvist, I Will Read Books

“Pick this book up … I urge you to do so. If these wild ideas keep running through Christopher’s head and he gets them down on paper he’s going to be a superstar.”
- Dave White, Do Some Damage

“Within the structure of the noir, Christopher creates a comic-book sensibility with enough ideas in this book to fuel a long run of subsequent tales, after all there are a million stories in the Naked City or Empire State.”
- Red Rook Review

“Overall this is an excellent first novel for Angry Robot and Adam Christopher and shows that there are some publishers out there willing to take a chance on original concepts and ideas that expand and compliment the genre.”
- The Geek Syndicate

“It’s a very impressive debut. The sequel, Seven Wonders, is due out from Angry Robot Books in September 2012. Based on what I’ve read here, it’s going to be brilliant.”
- Mark Yon, SFFWorld.com

“Adam Christopher has created one noir, pulpy piece of epic science-fiction the likes of which I have not read before.”
- Traveler’s Steampunk Blog

“I highly recommend this novel to everyone, no matter what your taste or preference.”
- Shadowhawk, TheFoundingFields.com

“Christopher plays with the conventions of the noir genre, in particular its clever use of descriptive prose … Add in superheroic battles, quantum physics, cyborg soldiers, and a ticking clock counting down the characters’ very existence, and you’ve got yet another book from Angry Robot that will keep you enthralled.”
- Paul Simpson, Sci-Fi Bulletin

“Readers, I suggest you run out now, pick up a copy of Empire State, embrace the uniqueness of the novel, the initial confusion and trust Mr Christopher to take you on a thrilling journey that will have a more than satisfying ending.”
- Marc Alpin, Fantasy Faction

“I can tell that Adam Christopher had a great time while writing this novel. You can almost feel that in every part of the story and it is an infectious feeling.”
- Floyd Brigdon, She Never Slept

EMPIRE STATE
Adam Christopher
Science Fiction
Cover: Will Staehle

UK/RoW
5 Jan 2012
416pp B-format paperback
£7.99
ISBN 9780857661920

US/CAN
27 December 2011
416pp Trade Paperback
$12.99 US $14.99 CAN
ISBN 9780857661937

eBook
27 December 2011
£4.49
ePub ISBN 9780857661944

SAMPLE CHAPTERS
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