Gollancz nets ‘epic’ new Abercrombie fantasy trilogy

Gollancz has acquired Joe Abercrombie’s “epic” new trilogy, which begins with The Devils.

Deputy publisher Gillian Redfern acquired world English language rights, excluding the US, from Robert Kirby of United Agents LLP. A deal with Tor US was negotiated by Ginger Clark of Ginger Clark Literary, on behalf of Kirby. Publication dates are yet to be announced.

The Devils begins a series which the publisher says fuses the best of fantasy with the most gripping elements of heist, spy and thriller fiction. 

Its synopsis reads: “In a magic-riddled Europe under constant threat of elf invasion, the 10-year-old Pope occasionally needs services that cannot be performed by the righteous. And so, sealed deep beneath the catacombs, cathedrals and relic stalls of the Sacred City lies the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its highly disposable congregation – including a self-serving magician, a self-satisfied vampire, an oversexed werewolf, and a knight cursed with immortality – there is no mission that cannot be turned into a calamitous bloodbath.”

Abercrombie is the author of the First Law Trilogy while his standalone novels Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country are also set in the First Law world and published by Gollancz. His novels have been shortlisted for the World Fantasy Awards, British Fantasy Awards, John W Campbell Award and the David Gemmell Legend Awards.

Redfern said: “Joe Abercrombie is one of a kind: a brilliant, sharp and cinematic writer whose ideas have become bigger and bolder with every new novel. Working with him again on The Devils is an absolute treat, and the whole team is excited to have a brand new series to introduce readers to – especially one as bold and original as this.” 

Abercrombie added: “I’ve been working hand in glove with Gillian Redfearn at Gollancz since I was first published 16 years ago - it’s the kind of creative and commercial partnership an author dreams of having with an editor - and in recent years Orion as a whole have been going from strength to strength. I’m delighted to be continuing our righteous battle for domination of the British fantasy genre…"