Jennifer Jackson – Literary Agent

For Hands of Flame (The Negotiator, Book 3)

Lawyer Margrit Knight is one of the few humans aware of New York City’s otherworldy denizens; known as the Negotiator among the Old Races who dwell behind the scenes, she calls upon her allies, a fallen dragon and her vampire employer, when her gargoyle lover is kidnapped and placed on trial by his “peers.” While wrapping up many loose ends, the concluding volume of Murphy’s Negotiator trilogy (Heart of Stone; House of Cards) leaves open the possibility of future explorations into an urban fantasy that brings some unusual creatures, such as gargoyles, djinn, and selkies, into the modern world. Margrit is a gutsy, resourceful heroine who can walk a fine line between the paranormal and the real world. A good choice for most libraries, with particular appeal to fans of Charles de Lint and Jim Butcher.

***

Heart of Stone (The Negotiator, Book 1)
House of Cards (The Negotiator, Book 2)

For All the Windwracked Stars (Tor, November)

“Hugo winner Bear (Undertow) perfectly captures the essence of faded hopes and exhausted melancholy in this postapocalyptic melodrama based loosely upon Norse mythology. On the Last Day, the historian Muire fled the battle, leaving her sibling Valkyries to die. More than 2,300 years later, only a single city, Eiledon, has survived as the dying world slowly turns into ice. Ashamed of her cowardice, Muire now vows to keep the last humans safe, but as she slowly pieces together the horrific truth behind the magic that has kept Eiledon standing, she must decide whether it’s worth the price. Readers will be captivated by Bear’s incredibly complex, broken characters; multilayered themes of redemption; and haunting, world-breaking decisions. While stilted prose slows the beginning of the tale, its finale is both rewarding and compelling.” – Publishers Weekly

Congratulations to Ken Scholes for his story “Summer in Paris, Light from the Sky” making the preliminary ballot for this year’s Nebula Award!

“The many fans of Butcher’s Chicago-based Dresden Files series (most recently Small Favor) will enjoy this spin-off novella featuring Thomas Raith, Harry Dresden’s incubus half-brother. After reluctantly attending a rendezvous arranged by his untrustworthy older sister, Lara, Raith learns that Dresden is being set up by the evil Stygian Sisterhood, but he can’t go directly to Dresden’s aid without revealing his part in the secret Oblivion War. Raith’s resulting plan has something of a slapstick air, and the high cosmic stakes are generally played for laughs. Given Dresden’s limited appearance and the significant backstory underlying the series, this is an unlikely entry point for newcomers, but Butcher clearly demonstrates that Raith, usually seen more as Dresden’s sidekick, is more than capable of sustaining a story on his own.” – Publishers Weekly

The lettered and limited editions are sold out. Buy the trade edition of Backup (forthcoming October 31st, 2008).

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bear for winning the Hugo in the short story category for Tideline (Asimov’s, June 2007), and to Mary Robinette Kowal for being awarded the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer!

And here’s to the winners in other categories and all the fine and talented finalists too!