Gollancz to explore The Empire of the Saviours in May 2012

Editor Marcus Gipps has bought world rights to a fantasy trilogy from an exciting new voice to the genre. The Chronicles of a Cosmic Warlord, by AJ Dalton, will begin with the publication of Empire of the Saviours in May 2012. Empire of the Saviours has already been pre-empted in Germany for a significant five-figure advance, and negotiations are under way for sales in other countries.

In the Empire of the Saviours, the People are forced to live in fortified towns. Their walls are guarded by an army of Heroes, whose task it is to keep marauding pagans out as much as it is to keep the People inside. Several times a year, living Saints visit the towns to exact the Saviours’ tithe from all those coming of age. When a young boy, Jillan, unleashes pagan magicks in an accident, his whole town turns against him. He goes on the run, but what hope can there be when the Saviours and the entire Empire decide he must be caught?

AJ Dalton has self-published three previous books, and found that their success was opening new doors for him. With over 6000 copies sold, and his books still selling well through Waterstone’s and as ebooks, AJ decided it was time to start work on a new trilogy, and to make the leap to a traditional publisher. As he says, “Gollancz is alive to newly emerging and evolving sub-genres of fantasy, while remaining keenly aware of the UK’s history, tradition and leading contribution to the genre around the world. They’re a great fit for my work”

Marcus Gipps said: “AJ’s proposal was one of the first submissions to cross my desk when I joined Gollancz, and I approached my slush pile with, of course, trepidation. I was hugely relieved to discover that I had found a book which stayed with me, and kept me wanting to read more. When I found out that Adam had successfully self-published a previous trilogy, and had a fanbase raring for his next book, I was very pleased to make him an offer, and am delighted that his work is already finding new markets in Europe and, soon, throughout the world. By turns scary, funny and touching, and with a plot that keeps on surprising the reader, this is traditional fantasy with a wicked edge.”

On signing the contract, AJ said: “I am hugely excited to be working with, in Gollancz, a publisher that is steeped in lore and hugely vibrant. The people at Gollancz clearly have good taste and discernment, and I look forward to working closely with them as we explore the world of the Saviours, and their mysterious plans for our hero.”

Empire of the Saviours will be published by Gollancz in May 2012 as hardback, Trade paperback and ebook.