William Heinemann are publishing two terrific new science fiction books by UK-based authors at the beginning of July and we have 2 copies of each to giveaway.
The first is The Broken World
Writing an on-line ‘walk-through’ to a complex computer game can take up a lot of time. So much so, it can be difficult to remain connected to the real world where the live-in girlfriend (the one who pays the rent) is starting to feel neglected and the job preparing ‘cooked circular food’ is getting increasingly hard to stomach.
Despite all this, our narrator’s attention is focussed on The Broken World – an engrossing, addictive, adventure that takes him from town to town in a struggle with zombies, agents, puzzle and mysteries. It’s not clear which of these worlds – the real or the on-line – is the more challenging, or where survival tips and peer-support are more urgently needed. What is clear is that he must work out solutions to problems involving life and love and happiness, not just in The Broken World, but in the real one too.
‘The Broken World is, in short, a page-turner, combining originality and readability…One of our most stimulating writers.’ Michael Moorcock
Tim Etchells has previously published a collection of short stories, Endland Stories, and The Dream Dictionary (for the Modern Dreamer) but is best known as the writer and artistic director behind Sheffield’s internationally renowned theatre ensemble Forced Entertainment.
The Broken World
Next up we have The Gone Away World
It’s the world. But not as you know it…
The Jorgmund Pipe is the backbone of the world, and it’s on fire. Gonzo Lubitsch, professional hero and troubleshooter, is hired to put it out – but there’s more to the fire, and the Pipe itself, than meets the eye. The job will take Gonzo and his best friend, our narrator, back to their own beginnings and into the dark heart of the Jorgmund Company itself.
From rural childhood in Cricklewood Cove to military service in a bewildering foreign war; from Jarndice University to the sawdust of the Nameless Bar; their story is the story of the Gone-Away World. It is the history of a friendship stretched beyond its limits; a tale of love and loss; of ninjas, pirates, politics; of curious heroism in strange and dangerous places.
Equal parts raucous adventure, comic odyssey, geek nirvana, and cool epic, this is The Gone-Away World.
Nick tells us “More than anything, I wanted this book to be fun. I wanted it to be more fun than the other things you could usefully be doing with your time. I wanted it to be a book which would keep you up late and make you call in sick because you wanted to finish it. I wanted this book to steal your day.”
Russell Hoban, author of Riddley Walker describes it as ‘A big new book by a big new writer. Harkaway describes the Gone-Away World in words that whiz and ping. He’s the real thing.’
Nick was one of five novelists to be selected by the Observer for their ‘Faces of 2008’ feature and he was also named in the Evening Standard’s ‘Influentials 2008’ feature. This is his first novel.
The Gone Away World
We have two pairs of these great books to win. Click the link below to enter the competition. Entries close July 29 2008.