Planetfall is coming!
Someone, somewhere has evidently been eating time because weeks just keep disappearing! Before I know it, it’s going to be November 3rd – otherwise known as <kermit flail> Planetfall release day </kermit flail> – so I am writing this now. Otherwise I’ll turn around and it will be August 2016 or something.
So… Planetfall. My fifth novel (to be published, that is!) and my first foray into science fiction. Quite a lot of people have been surprised by this, seeing as they discovered me through my urban fantasy series. For me, it was always surprising I was published in urban fantasy first! Science fiction was always my first love and writing a novel in the genre was like coming home for me.
And here I am, on the brink of another book release and it’s just as wonderful and terrifying as the first! This post is all about pre-ordering – namely me asking you very nicely to do so if you are planning to buy the book. Why? Because those first weeks of sales are critical and if there is a nice boost right off the bat from pre-orders, that is fantastic. It tells my publisher (Roc) that there is interest in the book and that they were right to sign me (and hopefully makes them feel good about looking at future novels). It tells bookshops that there is demand for the book, so they are more likely to stock it and that makes it more likely other people will stumble across it. It also has the advantage of demonstrating demand for science fiction which happens to have been written by a woman, which is nice.
In short: you will really be helping me and Planetfall out by doing this. But that shouldn’t be the main reason! Let me tell you a bit about it and what some fine people have said about it, so you can see if it tickles your fancy.
About Planetfall
From Emma Newman, the award-nominated author of Between Two Thorns, comes a novel of how one secret withheld to protect humanity’s future might be its undoing…
Renata Ghali believed in Lee Suh-Mi’s vision of a world far beyond Earth, calling to humanity. A planet promising to reveal the truth about our place in the cosmos, untainted by overpopulation, pollution, and war. Ren believed in that vision enough to give up everything to follow Suh-Mi into the unknown.
More than twenty-two years have passed since Ren and the rest of the faithful braved the starry abyss and established a colony at the base of an enigmatic alien structure where Suh-Mi has since resided, alone. All that time, Ren has worked hard as the colony’s 3-D printer engineer, creating the tools necessary for human survival in an alien environment, and harboring a devastating secret.
Ren continues to perpetuate the lie forming the foundation of the colony for the good of her fellow colonists, despite the personal cost. Then a stranger appears, far too young to have been part of the first planetfall, a man who bears a remarkable resemblance to Suh-Mi.
The truth Ren has concealed since planetfall can no longer be hidden. And its revelation might tear the colony apart…
What other people have said about Planetfall
“Planetfall is gripping, thoughtful science fiction in the vein of Tiptree or Crispin. Emma Newman has crafted a story that turns inward on itself in a beautiful spiral; the written equivalent of the golden mean. I have been waiting for this book for a very long time.”
—Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of A Red-Rose Chain
“You’ve never read a science fiction book like this. A masterful study of mental illness, with the ruins of an enigmatic alien race serving as therapist for one of the most unsparingly drawn fictional characters you’ll ever read.”
—Melinda M. Snodgrass, screenwriter, author of the Edge series
“Newman has crafted a thrilling tale of murder, mystery and madness on a world where humanity is still its own worst enemy. Horrifying and heartbreaking in equal measure, the catastrophe driving this narrative will keep you riveted until the very last page. Don’t miss this one.”
—Kameron Hurley, author of the The Mirror Empire
“We have a destiny waiting for us among the stars, and now it’s calling to us. A great genre debut, and beautifully written: an unfolding alien mystery, and complex, utterly believable characters. You will want to believe.”
—Stephen Baxter, National Bestselling Author of Ultima
“Filled with wonders, revelations, and edge-of-the-seat suspense, Planetfall is a fascinating, heartbreaking exploration of love and loneliness set against an awe-inspiring backdrop. An instant classic of the genre.”
—Gareth L. Powell, BSFA Award-winning author of Ack-Ack Macaque
Early reviews
It’s early days so there are only 3 reviews (that I know of anyway!).
That one on the left is from RT magazine – yay!
Michaela Gray reviewed Planetfall for Geek Syndicate – Read the full review
Planetfall is a brilliantly gripping psychological study of the ties that bind a diverse community together, of spirituality and science, love, loss, and the price of keeping up a pretence over a long period of time. Slowly unfurling its layers of lies until the worm in the bud is revealed, Planetfall is a story to be slowly savoured, a sublime mix of science fiction and faith. This is what Prometheus wishes it was.
Planetfall confirms Newman as one of the most versatile, talented and thoughtful voices currently in science fiction and fantasy. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
And Jane Hanmer reviewed it on her blog too. Read the full review here.
This novel left me bruised and heartsore. It is about love and grief as well as power and lies. I loved it, you need to put this on your to read list now.
Where you can pre-order
So, if this sounds like your kind of book, here are the places where you can pre-order it. I’m dividing into US and UK readers for the sake of ease, if you live outside of the US and UK I’m guessing that Amazon and The Book Depository would be your first ports of call.
There will also be an audio book version, narrated by yours truly. That’s available for pre-order in the States at Audible.
In the US
In the UK
(Forbidden Planet may well have signed books you can pre-order – will tell you more when it has been confirmed!)
Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights
So there you go! Go forth and be gloriously pre-ordery! And if you could help me spread the word, I would be very grateful and you would most definitely be a bless poppet!
It’s about time things started going right for you, Emma, and it certainly appears that the release of this book is going to be seen not only by you but by the world at large as a Good Thing!
Besides, no one watching the Muppets ever thought a bit of kermit-flail was a bad thing 🙂
I’m guessing that, in an ideal world, you’d like pre-orders from real, bricks-n-mortar retailers so there’s more chance of getting the book on shelves, in front of punters?
I have it pre-ordered on my kindle and I know that the main (only) SFF bookstore in Sweden (Science Fiction-bokhandeln, sfbok.se) will have it in November so I will be buying it in physical form there to support them as well. Really looking forward to this book!
Ordered from Forbidden Planet. I also spotted there was no review there so I’ve left one…
I hope this will hit Audible UK soon, I am desperate to read this, been waiting for months. I’ve pestered Audible UK and I sit in apprehension. Still, started listening to Pavane by Keith Roberts while I was waiting which I’ve meant to do for ages and ages. Totally worth the wait, heart-wrenching and brilliant and I can gather from the reviews I’ve seen so far of Planetfall that I need to be ready for genius when this finally is made available to those of us with less than reliable eyesight.