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Gollancz to publish Richard Swan's 'epic and hard-hitting' space opera
Gollancz will publish Richard Swan’s first science fiction book about a fascist dystopian regime.
After an exclusive submission, the Little, Brown imprint’s editorial director Brendan Durkin has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in a two-book deal for The Infinite State from Harry Illingworth at the DHH Literary Agency, with North American rights having been sold to Robert Davis at Tor, and German rights to Fischer Tor.
Described by Gollancz as a “epic and hard-hitting space opera” in which “Swan expertly weaves the lives of a widowed party member, a disgraced investigator and a hypersled pilot as they plot to break free of the Galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire”.
Gollancz added: “What begins as personal acts of rebellion quickly evolve into something more, a beacon of hope to the oppressed people of the empire and beyond.”
Swan, who is based in Winchester, said: “This book has been a splinter in my mind for a long time now, and brings together many of my favourite genre themes – political resistance, detective noir, highly kinetic intergalactic sports and frontier nation-building.”
Durkin said: “Richard has written so convincingly of life under a fascist dystopian regime that I’d been glued to The Infinite State’s pages for quite some time before I realised how tightly I’d been clenching my jaw. The danger feels very real, and the plot is incredibly tense. Fans of 1984, Blade Runner and A Memory Called Empire will adore this.”
Illingworth said: “When he pitched this book to me, I was immediately excited. As suspected, the book blew me away with its nail-biting tension and jaw-dropping set pieces and I couldn’t think of a better fit than Brendan and Gollancz. I’m sure he’ll welcome plenty of new readers with this series, while certainly more than satisfying his current fans.”
Swan’s first fantasy novel, The Justice of Kings (Gollancz), was an instant Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into eight languages. His other work includes the Art of War and Great Silence trilogies, as well as fiction for Black Library and Grimdark Magazine.
A qualified lawyer, Swan spent 10 years litigating commercial disputes in London.
The Infinite State will be launched globally in hardcover in summer 2026.
