Tor scoops Cho's 'haunting' short story collection

Tor UK has scooped Spirits Abroad, a "haunting" collection of short stories inspired by Malaysian and east Asian myth and folklore, from Zen Cho.

Publisher Bella Pagan acquired UK and British Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Gavin Grant at Small Beer Press. The collection will be published on 17th August 2023.

From tales of dragons, vampires and "incorrigible" grandmothers, the 19 "sparkling" stories are "full of joy, humour and tenderness". Spirits Abroad will also include Cho’s Hugo Award-winning short story "If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again".

Cho’s debut novel Sorcerer to the Crown (Pan Macmillan) won the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best Newcomer and her novel Black Water Sister (Pan Macmillan) was also shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award and the Diverse Book Awards.

She commented: "Spirits Abroad draws on the folklore of my childhood: in the book, Malaysian demons and lovestruck dragons mingle with university students and vampiric aunties. I hope readers enjoy these tales of first love and family drama, given a magical twist."

Pagan added: "These haunting, vividly imagined tales weave between the lands of the living and the dead – and the reader will delight in Zen’s lively wit and incredible characters."