Gollancz to publish Saladin Ahmed's THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON

Gollancz, the Science-Fiction and Fantasy imprint of Orion, announce the acquisition of THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, the debut novel by acclaimed writer Saladin Ahmed. Marcus Gipps, Editor at Gollancz, bought UK & Commonwealth rights from DAW via David Grossman of the David Grossman Literary Agency.

THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, recently published in America, is a traditional swords and sorcery fantasy set in a very untraditional world. It has been described as a fantasy adventure with all the magic of The Arabian Nights, and is the first in THE CRESCENT MOON KINGDOMS series. Saladin Ahmed has taken his background in role-playing and fantasy reading, his experience of academia and teaching creative writing, and his Arab-American heritage, and merged them all together into a book that is unlike any other fantasy you will read next year.

The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, land of djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, Khalifs and killers, is at the boiling point of a power struggle between the iron-fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince. In the midst of this brewing rebellion a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. It is up to a handful of heroes to learn the truth behind these killings.

The book has received fantastic reviews, including glowing recommendations from fantasy authors Scott Lynch and Patrick Rothfuss. Gollancz will publish book one of THE CRESCENT MOON KINGDOM series in January 2013, while book two and book three will follow a simultaneous publication schedule with America.

Saladin Ahmed commented: ‘I couldn’t be more thrilled that THRONE has found a home in the UK – and with ‘dream publisher’ Gollancz, no less! Gollancz has published so many of my favorite fantasy authors that it’s truly an honor to be joining their family.’

‘Saladin’s debut novel is a wonderful piece of fantasy, with a fascinating (and under-represented) backdrop and a cast of characters who stay in the memory long after the book has ended. I’ve seen his plans for books 2 and 3 of the trilogy, and I know that his readers are in for a treat,’ said Marcus Gipps.

You can follow @Saladinahmed on twitter, so go and say hi!