Angry Robot
Parent company | Watkins Media |
---|---|
Founded | 2008 |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Headquarters location | Nottingham |
Publication types | books |
Fiction genres | Science Fiction and Fantasy |
Official website |
www |
Angry Robot Books is a British-based publishing house dedicated to producing modern adult science fiction and fantasy, or as they call it “SF, F and WTF?!?”. The Nottingham-based company first released books in the UK in 2009, and since September 2010 has simultaneously been publishing its titles in the US as well, as a distributed client of Random House. All titles are released as paperbacks and eBooks.
History
Angry Robot Books was founded in August 2008, when Marc Gascoigne, previously publisher of Games Workshop’s Black Library and Solaris imprints, was hired by HarperCollins UK to create a new science fiction imprint. The intention was to create an experimental line that would complement the existing Voyager imprint, which focussed mainly on big-selling fantasy titles. Angry Robot would be able to trial some different business methods – buying world rights to allow co-publishing in the US and UK, issuing eBooks and potentially audiobooks as standard alongside print editions, and maximising online marketing through bloggers, Twitter and Facebook.[1]
Editor Lee Harris, previously best known for Hub,[2] an online short story magazine, was recruited at the start of 2009. The first titles published by the imprint, released in July of that year, were Slights by Kaaron Warren and Moxyland by Lauren Beukes. Both met with praise (Slights won the Australian Ditmar Award for best novel, and the Shadows Award for Best Fiction). The company continued to release two or three titles every month, but in April 2010, book production was temporarily halted when HarperCollins and the imprint parted.
Gascoigne purchased the imprint from HarperCollins for a nominal sum, in partnership with Oxford-based Osprey Publishing.[3] The imprint remained based in Nottingham. The monthly release of new titles resumed in September of that year, with titles publishing in the US as well as the UK for the first time.
Among the first titles in the new wave of release was Lauren Beukes’ Zoo City, which went on to win the Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction book of the year in April 2011. The novel was also nominated for a British Science Fiction Association Award (it came second, but its cover art – by Joey HiFi - won a separate BSFA Award) and a World Fantasy Award. Also notable was a reprint of K. W. Jeter’s pair of seminal steampunk novels, Morlock Night and Infernal Devices.
The imprint makes great capital out of its “Robot Army”, which is a street team of bloggers, reviewers and influential commentators from the science fiction world, who can access exclusive content and advance reading copies of Angry Robot’s novels. Angry Robot also uses its quirky branding to sell merchandise and eBooks (either singly or in multiples via ongoing subscriptions) direct to readers.
In October 2011, at the World Fantasy Convention, Marc Gascoigne won the World Fantasy Special Award (Professional) for Angry Robot.
Strange Chemistry and Exhibit A
In November 2011, Angry Robot announced that they were planning a sister imprint, Strange Chemistry,[4] that would be devoted to Young Adult (teen) science fiction, fantasy and supernatural novels. Headed by blogger-turned-editor Amanda Rutter,[5] it was launched in September 2012.
A crime fiction imprint, Exhibit A, was launched in 2014.[6]
In 2014, Strange Chemistry and Exhibit A were closed.[7]
Sale
In 2014 Angry Robot was sold by Osprey to Watkins Media, owned by Etan Ilfeld.[7]
Authors and books
- Dan Abnett
- Triumff (UK: Nov 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-022-0 | US: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-022-0)
- Embedded (UK: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-090-9 | US: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-091-6)
- Guy Adams
- The World House (UK: Feb 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-037-4 | US: Feb 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-037-4)
- The World House: Restoration (UK: Jul 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-117-3 | US: Aug 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-118-0)
- Jo Anderton
- Debris (UK: Oct 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-153-1 | US: Oct 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-154-8)
- Suited (UK: Jul 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-156-2 | US: Jun 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-157-9)
- Madeline Ashby
- vN (UK: Aug 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-261-3 | US: Jul 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-262-0)
- iD (UK: 2013 - | US: 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-311-5)
- Lauren Beukes
- Moxyland (UK: Jul 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-004-6 | US: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-004-6)
- Zoo City (UK: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-054-1 | US: Jan 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-055-8)
- Thomas Blackthorne
- Edge (UK: Feb 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-040-4 | US: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-040-4)
- Point (UK: Feb 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-078-7 | US: Mar 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-079-4)
- Maurice Broaddus
- King Maker (UK: Mar 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-052-7 | US: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-052-7)
- King's Justice (UK: Feb 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-081-7 | US: Mar 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-082-4)
- King's War (UK: Nov 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-129-6 | US: Nov 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-130-2)
- Adam Christopher
- Empire State (UK: Jan 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-192-0 | US: Dec 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-193-7)
- Seven Wonders (UK: Sep 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-195-1 | US: Aug 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-196-8)
- Wesley Chu
- The Lives of Tao (UK: May 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-328-3 | US: Apr 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-329-0)
- The Deaths of Tao (UK: Nov 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-331-3 | US: Oct 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-332-0)
- Peter Crowther
- Darkness Falling (UK: Oct 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-168-5 | US: Oct 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-169-2)
- The Death of Light (UK: Sep 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-173-9 | US: Aug 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-174-6)
- Aliette de Bodard
- Servant of the Underworld (UK: Jan 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-031-2 | US: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-031-2)
- Harbinger of the Storm (UK: Jan 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-075-6 | US: Feb 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-076-3)
- Master of the House of Darts (UK: Nov 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-159-3 | US: Nov 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-160-9)
- Obsidian and Blood (UK: Jul 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-235-4 | US: Jun 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-236-1)
- Matt Forbeck
- Amortals (UK: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-000-8 | US: Jan 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-002-2)
- Vegas Knights (UK: Mar 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-084-8 | US: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-085-5)
- Carpathia UK: Mar 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-201-9 | US: Feb 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-202-6)
- Justin Gustainis
- Hard Spell (UK: Jul 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-114-2 | US: Aug 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-115-9)
- Evil Dark (UK: May 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-135-7 | US: Apr 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-136-4)
- Guy Haley
- Reality 36 (UK: Aug 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-145-6 | US: Sep 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-146-3)
- Omega Point (UK: May 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-148-7 | US: Apr 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-149-4)
- Colin Harvey
- Winter Song (UK: Oct 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-025-1 | US: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-025-1)
- Damage Time (UK: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-063-3 | US: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-064-0)
- Chris F. Holm
- Dead Harvest (UK: Mar 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-217-0 | US: Feb 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-218-7)
- Matthew Hughes
- The Damned Busters (UK: May 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-102-9 | US: Jun 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-103-6)
- Costume Not Included (UK: Apr 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-138-8 | US: Mar 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-139-5)
- Trent Jamieson
- Roil (UK: Sep 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-183-8 | US: Sep 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-184-5)
- Night's Engines (UK: Jun 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-186-9 | US: May 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-187-6)
- K. W. Jeter
- Morlock Night (UK: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-099-2 | US: May 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-100-5)
- Infernal Devices (UK: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-096-1 | US: May 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-097-8)
- Paul S. Kemp
- The Hammer and the Blade (UK: Jul 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-244-6 | US: Jun 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-245-3)
- J. Robert King
- Angel of Death (UK: Sep 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-019-0 | US: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-019-0]
- Death's Disciples (UK: Jan 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-072-5 | US: Feb 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-073-2)
- Anne Lyle
- The Alchemist of Souls (UK: Apr 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-213-2 | US: ISBN 978-0-85766-214-9)
- Gary McMahon
- Pretty Little Dead Things (UK: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-069-5 | US: Jan 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-070-1)
- Dead Bad Things (UK: Sep 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-126-5 | US: Oct 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-127-2)
- Ramez Naam
- Nexus (UK: Jan 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-292-7 | US: Dec 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-293-4)
- Crux (UK: Sept 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-295-8 | US: Aug 2013 - ISBN 978-0-85766-296-5)
- Andy Remic
- Kell's Legend (UK: Sep 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-016-9 | US: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-016-9)
- Soul Stealers (UK: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-066-4 | US: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-067-1)
- Vampire Warlords (UK: May 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-105-0 | US: Jun 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-106-7)
- The Clockwork Vampire Chronicles (UK: Mar 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-204-0 | US: Feb 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-205-7)
- Chris Roberson
- Book of Secrets (UK: Aug 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-010-7 | US: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-010-7)
- Mike Shevdon
- Sixty-One Nails (UK: Nov 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-028-2 | US: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-028-2)
- The Road To Bedlam (UK: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-060-2 | US: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-061-9)
- Strangeness and Charm (UK: Jun 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-223-1 | US: May 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-224-8)
- David Tallerman
- Giant Thief (UK: Feb 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-210-1 | US: Jan 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-211-8)
- Gav Thorpe
- The Crown of the Blood (UK: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-057-2 | US: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-058-9)
- The Crown of the Conqueror (UK: Aug 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-120-3 | US: Sep 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-121-0)
- The Crown of the Usurper (UK: Aug 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-132-6 | US: Jul 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-133-3)
- Lavie Tidhar
- The Bookman (UK: Jan 2010 - ISBN 978-0-00-734658-5 | US: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-034-3)
- Camera Obscura (UK: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-093-0 | US: May 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-094-7)
- The Great Game (UK: Feb 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-198-2 | US: Jan 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-199-9)
- Tim Waggoner
- Nekropolis (UK: Aug 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-012-1 | US: Oct 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-013-8)
- Dead Streets (UK: Mar 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-045-9 | US: Mar 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-046-6)
- Dark War (UK: Jun 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-111-1 | US: Jul 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-112-8)
- The Nekropolis Archives (UK: May 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-207-1 | US: Apr 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-208-8)
- Kaaron Warren
- Slights (UK: Jul 2009 - ISBN 978-0-85766-007-7 | US: Sep 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-007-7)
- Walking the Tree (UK: Feb 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-043-5 | US: Jan 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-043-5)
- Mistification (UK: Jun 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-108-1 | US: Jul 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-109-8)
- Chuck Wendig
- Blackbirds (UK: May 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-229-3 | US: Feb 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-230-9)
- Mockingbird (UK: Sep 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-232-3 | US: Aug: 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-233-0)
- Ian Whates
- City of Dreams and Nightmare (UK: Mar 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-049-7 | US: Nov 2010 - ISBN 978-0-85766-049-7)
- City of Hope and Despair (UK: Mar 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-087-9 | US: Apr 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-088-6)
- City of Light and Shadow (UK: Jan 2012 - ISBN 978-0-85766-189-0 | US: Dec 2011 - ISBN 978-0-85766-190-6)
Strange Chemistry
- Rosie Best
- Rosie Best (October 2013). Skulk.
- Gwenda Bond
- Gwenda Bond (September 2012). Blackwood.
- Gwenda Bond (September 2013). The Woken Gods.
- M. G. Buehrlen
- M. G. Buehrlen (March 2014). The Fifty-Seven Lives of Alex Wayfare.
- Cassandra Rose Clarke
- Cassandra Rose Clarke (October 2012). The Assassin’s Curse.
- Cassandra Rose Clarke (June 2013). The Pirate’s Wish.
- Cassandra Rose Clarke (May 2014). The Wizard’s Promise.
- T. L. Costa
- T. L. Costa (July 2013). Playing Tyler.
- Eliza Crewe
- Eliza Crewe (November 2013). Cracked.
- Sean Cummings
- Sean Cummings (October 2012). Poltergeeks.
- Sean Cummings (September 2013). Student Bodies.
- Kim Curran
- Kim Curran (August 2013). Control.
- Kim Curran (September 2012). Shift.
- Amalie Howard
- Amalie Howard (January 2014). The Almost Girl.
- Jonathan L. Howard
- Jonathan L. Howard (November 2012). Katya’s World.
- Jonathan L. Howard (November 2013). Katya’s War.
- Danielle Jensen
- Danielle Jensen (April 2014). Stolen Songbird.
- Ingrid Jonach
- Ingrid Jonach (September 2013). When the World Was Flat (and we were in love).
- Laura Lam
- Laura Lam (February 2013). Pantomime.
- Laura Lam (January 2014). Shadowplay.
- Rachel Neumeier
- Rachel Neumeier (February 2014). Black Dog.
- Lisa Ann O’Kane
- Lisa Ann O’Kane (June 2014). Essence.
- Bryony Pearce
- Bryony Pearce (August 2013). The Weight of Souls.
- Sarah Raughley
- Sarah Raughley (May 2014). Feather Bound.
- A. E. Rought
- A. E. Rought (January 2013). Broken.
- A. E. Rought (October 2013). Tainted.
- Christian Schoon
- Christian Schoon (April 2014). Under Nameless Stars.
- Christian Schoon (May 2013). Zenn Scarlett.
- Julianna Scott
- Julianna Scott (March 2013). The Holders.
- Julianna Scott (February 2014). The Seers.
- Martha Wells
- Martha Wells (April 2013). Emilie and the Hollow World.
- Martha Wells (March 2014). Emilie and the Sky World.
References
- ↑ http://angryrobotbooks.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/press-release-sept-11-2008-it-lives/
- ↑ http://www.hubfiction.com/
- ↑ http://www.webcitation.org/5t3jr5aKS
- ↑ http://strangechemistrybooks.com/
- ↑ http://floor-to-ceiling-books.blogspot.com/
- ↑ "Announcing our new Crime fiction imprint, EXHIBIT A!". Angry Robot Books. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 >"Osprey sells off Watkins, Angry Robot and Nourish". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
External links
- Angry Robot Official Website
- Sister Imprint Strange Chemistry (YA Fiction) Official Website
- Sister Imprint Exhibit A (Crime Fiction) Official Website
- The Robot Army Bloggers & Reviewers Street Team
- The Robot Trading Company - Ebook Webstore
- The Robot Reader - The RTC Blog
- How I fell in love with Angry Robot Books and where that got me? - Online Essay at Upcoming4.me