Solaris snaps up two novels and four backlist titles from 'ferocious talent' Whiteley

Solaris has snapped up two new novels and four backlist titles from "ferocious talent" Aliya Whiteley. 

Editor David Moore acquired world all-language rights from Max Edwards at Aevitas Creative Management for Three Eight One and another untitled novel. Moore also acquired exclusive rights in all languages and territories from Edwards to The Beauty, The Loosening Skin, The Arrival of Missives and Greensmith which will continue to be sub-licensed by Titan for North American English language rights. 

The novellas—The Beauty, The Loosening Skin, The Arrival of Missives and Greensmith—were previously published by Unsung Stories. Solaris will reissue the novellas with a 10th anniversary edition of The Beauty to be published in summer 2024. 

Whiteley’s new novel, Three Eight One, follows Rowena Savalas, a curator of the 21st-century’s internet in the year 2314. It is a "meta coming of age tale of stories within stories" when Rowena discovers a story posted online in summer 2024 that leads her to question her life choices. 

Moore commented: "Aliya is a ferocious talent, creating some of the smartest, weirdest, most hauntingly beautiful stuff in genre at the moment, and it’s an honour to be a part of that. Three Eight One is a gorgeous book, a coming-of-age story that’s also a road trip that’s also an exploration of generational tension that’s also a meandering commentary on authorship and authenticity that’s also one of the coolest bits of metafiction you’ll read this year." 

Whiteley added: "It’s a delight and a reassurance to know that Solaris will be publishing my novels and novellas, starting with my latest novel of adventure and discovery, Three Eight One, from 2024. Many thanks to David Moore and all at Solaris for deciding to champion my stories into the future."