Gollancz acquires Buehlman's fantasy debut

Gollancz, the SFF imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, will publish a "thrilling" fantasy debut by horror writer and scriptwriter Christopher Buehlman, The Blacktongue Thief.

Gillian Redfearn, deputy publisher of Gollancz, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Chris Scheina at Tor US, who will publish alongside Gollancz in May 2021. 

The Blacktongue Thief is described as a "smart, sharp fantasy novel, balancing the grit of fantasy adventure with vibrant and beautiful moments". The story will follow an an indebted thief, a witch-in-training, and a knight who are forced to journey together through a world scarred by a brutal, decades-long war with goblins. 

Redfearn said: "This smart take on fantasy had my attention from the beginning. Christopher Buehlman is a seasoned writer whose deft blend of favourite fantasy elements – adventurers, quests, goblins and queens – has created something fresh and fun. You won’t regret picking up this engaging fantasy romp, and embarking on an adventure."

Buehlman is the author of horror novels such as Between Two Fires (Ace Books, 2012) and The Lesser Dead (Berkley, 2015)