Abaddon Books
Encyclopedia
Abaddon Books is a British publishing
imprint, founded in 2006. It is part of the Rebellion
group of companies, along with publishing companies Solaris Books
, 2000 AD, 2000 AD Graphic Novels, and Cubicle 7
.
Abaddon publishes "shared world
" novels in the horror
, science fiction and fantasy
genres. Describing itself as a return to "the good old days of pulp fiction," the imprint focuses on shorter, action-driven novels with dark or horrific themes.
The line was founded by Jonathan Oliver
, who has been Editor-in-Chief of Abaddon and Solaris Books since Rebellion bought the latter from BL Publishing
in 2009.
" novels set in a number of narrative settings
, with two or more authors writing in each series. Abaddon's editorial team creates the worlds in collaboration with the authors, placing an emphasis on original and engaging ideas:
The imprint is currently publishing books in six series:
A seventh series was announced in 2010, with the first title expected to reach the shelves in early 2011:
A further two series were launched in the imprint's first year, but have seen no new titles in at least three years:
All releases prior to 2009, and most releases since, have featured cover art by Greg Staples
or Mark Harrison; covers for the new The Infernal Game and No Man's World titles, and for the upcoming omnibus editions, have been created by 2000 AD staff designers Simon Parr and Luke Preece.
' Sniper Elite
video game.
In October 2010, Amber Entertainment announced that it had optioned the movie rights for Tomes of the Dead: Stronghold, to be produced by Amber's Ileen Maisel
and directed by Rebellion's Jason Kingsley.
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
imprint, founded in 2006. It is part of the Rebellion
Rebellion Developments
Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
group of companies, along with publishing companies Solaris Books
Solaris Books
Solaris Books is an imprint which focuses on publishing science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy novels and anthologies. The range includes titles by both established and new authors...
, 2000 AD, 2000 AD Graphic Novels, and Cubicle 7
Cubicle 7
Cubicle 7 Entertainment is a UK based company primarily concerned with the gaming and media markets.They publish a variety of games based on both original and licensed backgrounds...
.
Abaddon publishes "shared world
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
" novels in the horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, science fiction and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
genres. Describing itself as a return to "the good old days of pulp fiction," the imprint focuses on shorter, action-driven novels with dark or horrific themes.
The line was founded by Jonathan Oliver
Jonathan Oliver (Publishing)
Jonathan Oliver is a British science fiction, fantasy and horror author and editor.-Biography:After five years working for Taylor & Francis academic publishers, Oliver started working for Rebellion as Graphic Novels Editor on the 2000 AD line in 2006, and launched the Abaddon Books genre fiction...
, who has been Editor-in-Chief of Abaddon and Solaris Books since Rebellion bought the latter from BL Publishing
BL Publishing
BL Publishing is a division of Games Workshop, and is split into three sections:* The Black Library publishes novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warhammer 40,000 universe....
in 2009.
Shared-World Series
Abaddon publishes "shared-worldShared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
" novels set in a number of narrative settings
Setting (fiction)
In fiction, setting includes the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world or milieu to include a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may...
, with two or more authors writing in each series. Abaddon's editorial team creates the worlds in collaboration with the authors, placing an emphasis on original and engaging ideas:
The imprint is currently publishing books in six series:
- The Afterblight Chronicles, a post-apocalyptic setting in which cults and warlords run rampant over the survivors of a global plague.
- The Infernal Game, an espionage series incorporating elements of urban fantasy and gothic horror.
- No Man's World, an exploration story about a company of World War I soldiers inexplicably transported to an alien world.
- Pax Britannia, a steampunkSteampunkSteampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
alternate history in which a 160-year old Queen Victoria still governs the British Empire towards the end of the twentieth century. - Tomes of the Dead, not a single shared world, but a series of stand-alone zombie storiesZombies in popular cultureZombies are fictional undead creatures regularly encountered in horror and fantasy themed works. They are typically depicted as mindless, reanimated corpses with a hunger for human flesh, and in some cases, human brains in particular...
marked by subversion or reinterpretation of the genre. - Twilight of Kerberos, a "sword and sorcerySword and sorcerySword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
" setting on a small world orbiting the gas giantGas giantA gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
Kerberos, inhabited by the remnants of lost civilisations.
A seventh series was announced in 2010, with the first title expected to reach the shelves in early 2011:
- Malory's Knights of Albion, a series of Arthurian stories supposedly drawn from Thomas MaloryThomas MalorySir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. The antiquary John Leland as well as John Bale believed him to be Welsh, but most modern scholars, beginning with G. L...
's unpublished sequel to Le Morte D'ArthurLe Morte d'ArthurLe Morte d'Arthur is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of Romance tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table...
.
A further two series were launched in the imprint's first year, but have seen no new titles in at least three years:
- Dreams of Inan, a science fantasyScience fantasyScience fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
series set on a futuristic world in which magic acts as a nuclear-style deterrent. The series concluded with The Worm That Wasn't in 2007. - Sniper Elite, an alternate history based in the world of the Sniper EliteSniper EliteSniper Elite, also known as Sniper Elite: Berlin 1945, is a 2005 tactical shooter developed by UK-based video game developer Rebellion Developments.The main character is Karl Fairburne, an American OSS secret agent disguised as a German sniper...
game. The series included only a single book, The Spear of Destiny, in 2006.
Publications
The following titles have been previously published or are announced as upcoming.All releases prior to 2009, and most releases since, have featured cover art by Greg Staples
Greg Staples
-Biography:Greg Staples' first job on leaving school was as a trainee draftsman in an architects office in Sheffield.He also spent time working in a comic and film memorabilia shop and also a computer game store, both also in Sheffield, South Yorkshire....
or Mark Harrison; covers for the new The Infernal Game and No Man's World titles, and for the upcoming omnibus editions, have been created by 2000 AD staff designers Simon Parr and Luke Preece.
The Afterblight Chronicles
- The Culled (Simon SpurrierSimon SpurrierSimon Spurrier is a British comics writer, who has previously worked as a cook, a bookseller and an art director for the BBC.Getting his start in comics with the British small press, he went on to write his own series for 2000 AD, like Lobster Random, Bec & Kawl, The Simping Detective and Harry...
, August 2006, ISBN 978-1-905437-01-3) - Kill or Cure (Rebecca LeveneRebecca LeveneRebecca Levene is a British author and editor, best known for editing Virgin's New Adventures series of original fiction Doctor Who novels.-Biography:...
, April 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-32-3) - School's Out (Scott Andrews, September 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-40-4)
- Dawn Over Doomsday (Jasper Bark, April 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-62-5)
- Arrowhead (Paul KanePaul Kane (writer)Paul Kane began his professional writing career in 1996, providing articles and reviews for news-stand publications, and started producing dark fantasy and science fiction stories in 1998.-Life:...
, September 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-76-5) - Operation Motherland (Scott Andrews, May 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-04-2)
- Death Got No Mercy (Al EwingAl EwingAl Ewing is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for 2000 AD.-Biography:Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the five-page Future Shocks format for 2000AD...
, October 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-15-9) - Broken Arrow (Paul KanePaul Kane (writer)Paul Kane began his professional writing career in 1996, providing articles and reviews for news-stand publications, and started producing dark fantasy and science fiction stories in 1998.-Life:...
, November 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-27-2) - Children's Crusade (Scott Andrews, August 2010, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-53-1, US-ISBN 978-1-906735-81-4)
- Arrowland (Paul KanePaul Kane (writer)Paul Kane began his professional writing career in 1996, providing articles and reviews for news-stand publications, and started producing dark fantasy and science fiction stories in 1998.-Life:...
, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907519-13-0, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-12-3)
The Infernal Game
- Cold Warriors (Rebecca LeveneRebecca LeveneRebecca Levene is a British author and editor, best known for editing Virgin's New Adventures series of original fiction Doctor Who novels.-Biography:...
, February 2010, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-36-4, US-ISBN 978-1-906735-83-8) - Ghost Dance (Rebecca LeveneRebecca LeveneRebecca Levene is a British author and editor, best known for editing Virgin's New Adventures series of original fiction Doctor Who novels.-Biography:...
, August 2010, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-38-8, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-03-1)
No Man's World
- Black Hand Gang (Pat Kelleher, February 2010, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-35-7, US-ISBN 978-1-906735-84-5)
Pax Britannia
- Unnatural History (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, February 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-11-0) - El Sombra (Al EwingAl EwingAl Ewing is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for 2000 AD.-Biography:Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the five-page Future Shocks format for 2000AD...
, June 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-34-4) - Leviathan Rising (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, March 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-60-9) - Human Nature (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, December 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-86-2) - Evolution Expects (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, May 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-05-0) - Blood Royal (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, August 2010 UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-30-2, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-37-6) - Gods of Manhattan (Al EwingAl EwingAl Ewing is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for 2000 AD.-Biography:Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the five-page Future Shocks format for 2000AD...
, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-39-5, US-ISBN 978-1-906735-86-9) - Dark Side (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-40-1, US-ISBN 978-1-906735-85-2) - The Quicksilver Omnibus, Volume 1 (Jonathan GreenJonathan GreenJonathan Green can refer to:*Jonathan Green , freelance writer of fantasy and science fiction*Jonathan Green , journalist and author*Jonathan Green , , naval surgeon, dermatologist...
, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907519-36-9, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-56-7)
Tomes of the Dead
- Death Hulk (Matthew Sprange, August 2006, ISBN 978-1-905437-03-0)
- The Words of Their Roaring (Matthew SmithMatt Smith (comics)Matt Smith is the editor of long-running British science fiction weekly anthology comic 2000 AD, and the sister title Judge Dredd Megazine. He has also written two novels.-Biography:...
, May 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-13-9) - The Devil's Plague (Mark Beynon, October 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-41-2)
- I, Zombie (Al EwingAl EwingAl Ewing is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for 2000 AD.-Biography:Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the five-page Future Shocks format for 2000AD...
, June 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-72-2) - Anno Mortis (Rebecca LeveneRebecca LeveneRebecca Levene is a British author and editor, best known for editing Virgin's New Adventures series of original fiction Doctor Who novels.-Biography:...
, November 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-85-4) - Way of the Barefoot Zombie (Jasper Bark, June 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-06-7)
- Tide of Souls (Simon Bestwick, July 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-14-2)
- Hungry Hearts (Gary McMahon, November 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-26-5)
- Empire of Salt (Weston OchseWeston OchseWeston Ochse is an American author and educator. He has won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for his short fiction.- Biography :Weston Ochse was born in Gillette, Wyoming...
, April 2010, ISBN 978-1-906735-32-6) - Stronghold (Paul Finch, Date TBC, ISBN 978-1-907519-10-9)
- The Best of Tomes of the Dead, Volume 1 (Matthew SmithMatt Smith (comics)Matt Smith is the editor of long-running British science fiction weekly anthology comic 2000 AD, and the sister title Judge Dredd Megazine. He has also written two novels.-Biography:...
, Al EwingAl EwingAl Ewing is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for 2000 AD.-Biography:Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the five-page Future Shocks format for 2000AD...
and Rebecca LeveneRebecca LeveneRebecca Levene is a British author and editor, best known for editing Virgin's New Adventures series of original fiction Doctor Who novels.-Biography:...
, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907519-34-5, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-35-2) - The Viking Dead (Toby Venables, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907519-68-0, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-69-7)
Twilight of Kerberos
- Shadowmage (Matthew Sprange, February 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-54-4)
- The Clockwork King of Orl (Mike Wild, August 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-75-7)
- The Light of Heaven (David A. McInteeDavid A. McIntee-Biography:McIntee has written many spin-off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, as well as one each based on Final Destination and Space: 1999. He has also written a non-fiction book on Star Trek: Voyager and one jointly on the Alien and Predator movie franchises...
, February 2009, ISBN 978-1-905437-87-0) - The Crucible of the Dragon God (Mike Wild, June 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-13-5)
- The Call of Kerberos (Jonathan OliverJonathan Oliver (Publishing)Jonathan Oliver is a British science fiction, fantasy and horror author and editor.-Biography:After five years working for Taylor & Francis academic publishers, Oliver started working for Rebellion as Graphic Novels Editor on the 2000 AD line in 2006, and launched the Abaddon Books genre fiction...
, October 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-16-6) - Night's Haunting (Matthew Sprange, October 2009, ISBN 978-1-906735-25-8)
- Engines of the Apocalypse (Mike Wild, August 2010, UK-ISBN 978-1-906735-37-1, US-ISBN 978-1-906735-79-1)
- The Trials of Trass Kathra (Mike Wild, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907519-64-2, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-65-9)
- The Wrath of Kerberos (Jonathan OliverJonathan Oliver (Publishing)Jonathan Oliver is a British science fiction, fantasy and horror author and editor.-Biography:After five years working for Taylor & Francis academic publishers, Oliver started working for Rebellion as Graphic Novels Editor on the 2000 AD line in 2006, and launched the Abaddon Books genre fiction...
, Date TBC, ISBN TBC)
Malory's Knights of Albion
- The Black Chalice (Steven SavileSteven SavileSteven Savile is a British fantasy, horror and thriller writer, and editor living in Stockholm, Sweden...
, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907519-66-6, US-ISBN 978-1-907519-67-3) - The Savage Knight (Paul Lewis, Date TBC, UK-ISBN 978-1-907992-33-9, US-ISBN 978-1-907992-34-6)
Dreams of Inan
- A Kind of Peace (Andy Boot, August 2006, ISBN 978-1-905437-02-1)
- Stealing Life (Antony JohnstonAntony JohnstonAntony Johnston is an award-winning British writer. He is known for the post apocalyptic comic series Wasteland, his graphic novel adaptations of Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider novels, and his work with Alan Moore.-Career:...
, January 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-12-9) - The Worm That Wasn't (Mike Maddox, December 2007, ISBN 978-1-905437-53-6)
Sniper Elite
- Sniper Elite: The Spear of Destiny (Jasper Bark, August 2006, ISBN 978-1-905437-04-8)
Other media
Sniper Elite: The Spear of Destiny was inspired by Rebellion DevelopmentsRebellion Developments
Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
' Sniper Elite
Sniper Elite
Sniper Elite, also known as Sniper Elite: Berlin 1945, is a 2005 tactical shooter developed by UK-based video game developer Rebellion Developments.The main character is Karl Fairburne, an American OSS secret agent disguised as a German sniper...
video game.
In October 2010, Amber Entertainment announced that it had optioned the movie rights for Tomes of the Dead: Stronghold, to be produced by Amber's Ileen Maisel
Ileen Maisel
Ileen Maisel is an American-born film producer, living in the United Kingdom. In 2009, she was one of the founders of Amber Entertainment. Previously she was Senior Vice President of European Production for New Line Cinema...
and directed by Rebellion's Jason Kingsley.