A Literary "Mind Meld" of Universal Proportions

Publishers Brian Hades and Gwen Gades announced today that three publishing imprints, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, Tesseract Books and Dragon Moon Press, have merged to form Canada's largest genre publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

In a recent presentation at Calgary's annual convention of Science Fiction and Fantasy fans, Brian Hades, publisher of EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, and Gwen Gades, publisher of Dragon Moon Press expressed their delight with the merger:

"We are both committed to producing quality books which feature today's best Science Fiction and Fantasy authors. We know readers will find a wonderful variety of both short fiction and novel length books to choose from ... including works by some of the world's finest writers."

About Dragon Moon Press

Since the first printing of "Daughter of Dragons" in 1997, Dragon Moon Press has established itself as a leading Canadian publishing house whose dedication to first time authors and writers of literary excellence earned the company a place in the hearts of readers around the globe. The company has produced a number of books over the years, including the very popular "Complete Guide" series, which includes three guide books on writing Fantasy and a soon-to-be-released guide book about writing Science Fiction.

About EDGE Science Fiction Publishing and Tesseracts Books

Since its award winning publication of Marie Jakober's "The Black Chalice" in 2002, life has been on high speed for this Calgary publishing company. It quickly gained recognition from readers and writers alike for its critical selection of engaging speculative fiction. EDGE's authors come from Canada, the USA, New Zealand and Australia. EDGE authors have garnered world wide recognition by winning a number of awards - including the Canadian Aurora Award, the Australian Aurealis Award and the ForeWord Magazine Award (USA).

About Tesseract Books

In 2003, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy acquired Tesseract Books - the publisher of the highly respected and extremely popular "Tesseracts" anthology of Canadian short speculative fiction.

About the Tesseract Anthology Series

Since its inception 22 years ago, the Tesseracts anthology has featured 344 short works and more than 200 Canadian authors, editors and translators -- including such well known writers as Margaret Atwood, Robert J. Sawyer, Spider Robinson, and William Gibson, to name a few.

New Merger Creates Canada's Largest Genre Specific Publishing Company

With the merger of EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publications, Tesseract Books and Dragon Moon Press, this triumvirate publishing house now has more than 90 titles in print, making it Canada's largest genre specific publisher. A new book catalog will be available in September.

Cheers

Janice Shoults, Marketing Director
(www.edgewebsite.com)
Box 1714, Calgary, AB, T2P 2L7, Canada
403-254-0160 (voice) / 403-254-0456 (fax)
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Imprints:
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
www.edgewebsite.com
Tesseract Books
www.edgewebsite.com
Dragon Moon Press
www.dragonmoonpress.com

Stealing Magic Now Available at Borders

Copies of the newly expanded version of Tanya Huff's "Stealing Magic" have just become available through the US Barnes and Noble system.


About "Stealing Magic"
Between the covers of this “double-faced flipover” book, you’ll find the first-ever complete collection of Tanya Huff’s comical short stories featuring Magdelene (the world's most powerful and laziest wizard) and Terazin (a top-notch thief).

This newly expanded version of the Tesseract classic (originally published in 1999) not only includes the original stories found in Stealing Magic, but also contains a new short story about Magdalene, and an additional short story about Terazin.

This makes the new Stealing Magic the only complete collection of Magdalene and Terazin short stories available - perfect for those who love Huff's twist of tale and quick wit.

Here's what Challenging Destiny had to say about 'Stealing Magic'... “Stealing Magic is charming, funny, and once again proves that Huff has no regard for the conventions and boundaries of genre…. -- the genre is turned on its head, and to hilarious effect. The Magdelene stories in Stealing Magic are certainly some of the few ‘high fantasy’ short works that I have enjoyed recently.”
- Challenging Destiny

About Tanya Huff
Tanya Huff is one of Canada’s best selling and most beloved speculative fiction authors. She is best known for her Blood novels, about a modern vampire’s crime-fighting alliance with a Toronto ex-cop: Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact and Blood Debt. She has also written more than fourteen other novels, and her short stories have appeared in numerous fantasy magazines. She currently lives and writes in rural Ontario.

Stealing Magic
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-894063-34-0
5.50" X 8.50" $13.95 US
For more information visit the website link for Stealing Magic

http://www.edgewebsite.com/books/stealingmagic/sm-catalog.html

Tesseracts Nine Wins Aurora- Canada's Top SF Award

For Immediate Release

Contact: Janice Shoults -- 780-460-1756
janice@hadespublications.com

(Calgary, AB) -- Canada's largest genre publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy is proud to announce that 'Tesseracts Nine: New Canadian Speculative Fiction', co edited by award winning authors Nalo Hopkinson and Geoff Ryman - won the 2006 Aurora Award for Best Work (Other).

'Tesseracts Nine', which is a collection of the very best of new Canadian short stories, essays and poems from Canada's top Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction and Fantasy) authors, was awarded the honor by the Canadian SF and Fantasy Association this weekend at an awards ceremony that was organized by Canvention, in Toronto.

The Aurora Awards (Prix Aurora) are given out annually for the best Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy literary works from that year, and are awarded in both English and French. The awards have been presented annually since 1980.

Competing finalists for the Aurora Award for Best Work (other) included:

'Birth', Michael Lennick and Robert J. Sawyer (writers);
Joe Mahoney(producer) (CBC Radio One, July 8, 2005) [radio drama]

'Fantastic Companions', Julie E. Czerneda, editor (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)[anthology]

'Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine', Karl Johanson, editor
(www.neo-opsis.ca) [sf magazine]

'On Spec', Diane Walton, managing editor
(The Copper Pig Writers Society)(www.onspec.ca) [sf magazine]

'Six Impossible Things, Nalo Hopkinson (host & curator);
Joe Mahoney (series coordinating producer)
(CBC Radio One, May 16-27, 2005) [radio anthology]

"EDGE would like to congratulate all of the Aurora Award finalists. It is very exciting to see Canadian SF & F authors being recognized both nationally and internationally for their hard work, creativity and innovation," says EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy publisher, Brian Hades.

Featured in the award winning 'Tesseracts Nine' collection are works by:

Anthony MacDonald and Jason Mehmel, Jerome Stueart, Yves Meynard, Candas Jane Dorsey, E. L. Chen, Sandra Kasturi, Steve Stanton, Élisabeth Vonarburg, Timothy J. Anderson, Daniel Sernine, Dan Rubin, Nancy Kilpatrick, Alette J. Willis, Rhea Rose, Casey June Wolf, Sarah Totton, Marg Gilks, Claude Lalumière, Peter Watts and Derryl Murphy, Sylvie Bérard, René Beaulieu, Pat Forde, Allan Weiss, Sheryl Curtis, Howard Scott, Nalo Hopkinson and Geoff Ryman.

Many contributors to 'Tesseracts Nine' have been previous Aurora Award winners for their own individual works.

About the Tesseracts Series

Since the publication of 'Tesseracts One', edited by the late Judith Merrill, the entire Tesseracts series has presented works from over 150 Canadian speculative fiction writers, many of whom have built brilliant careers, including Margaret Atwood, William Gibson, Robert Sawyer, Claude Lalumière, and Élisabeth Vonarburg.

Every volume in the Tesseracts series has been edited by different Canadian writers, publishers and critics. 'Tesseracts Nine' editors, Nalo Hopkinson and Geoff Ryman, were themselves selected as representatives of modern Canadian innovative and futuristic fiction and poetry. They, together with the 'Tesseracts Nine' authors, have been recognized by the Aurora Awards committee as the new leaders and emerging voices of Canadian Speculative Fiction.

'Tesseracts Nine', edited by Nalo Hopkinson and Geoff Ryman, is currently available throughout North America, and through the publisher's website:

www.edgewebsite.com

The 'Tesseracts Nine' collection will be featured at the 64th World Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles in August, 2006 - along with EDGE's other current releases and classic titles.

This is EDGE's second international award this year. The first was an Aurealis - Australia's top Science Fiction award for the Best SF Novel of the Year. This honor was bestowed upon EDGE's author K. A. Bedford for his novel "ECLIPSE".

To book an interview with any of the 'Tesseracts Nine' authors, or editors,please contact:

Janice Shoults, Marketing Director,
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing,
janice at hadespublications.com

Publisher's web site:
http://www.edgewebsite.com

Books from EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
and Tesseract Books are now distributed by:
Fitzhenry and Whiteside (Toll Free 1-800-387-9776, Fax: 1-800-260-9777,
SAN#S1151444) and can be found at Baker and Taylor and Ingram wholesalers.
-------------------------------------------------------
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing

2006 Releases (Canada):
Forbidden Cargo by Rebecca K. Rowe (APRIL)
The Alphanauts by J. Brian Clarke (MAY)
Hydrogen Steel by K. A. Bedford (AUGUST)
i-Robot Poetry by Jason Christie (SEPTEMBER)
Tesseracts Ten edited by Edo van Belkom and
Robert Charles Wilson (OCTOBER)
Righteous Anger by Lynda Williams (NOVEMBER)

2006 Releases (USA):
Eclipse by K. A. Bedford - (MARCH)
A Game of Perfection by Élisabeth Vonarburg - (APRIL)
Stealing Magic by Tanya Huff - (MAY)
Forbidden Cargo by Rebecca K. Rowe (August)
The Alphanauts by J. Brian Clarke (September)


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Top 10 News Snippets from EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing

TOP TEN - Hot News

1) Podcast:


This week Dragon Page Podcasting talks to a roundtable of Edge Publishing authors, K.A. Bedford and his Hydrogen Steel and Eclipse, Rebecca Rowe with Forbidden Cargo, and Lynda Williams with Righteous Anger and Courtesan Prince. Give Cover to Cover show #222 a listen.

2) Inducted:

Rebecca K. Rowe was formally inducted into the Denver Woman's Press Club. Congratulations Rebecca!

3) Successful Launch:

The Canadian launch of Alphanauts by J. Brian Clarke was a great success (May 24, 2006). The next reading will be at The Sentry Box, in Calgary. Wednesday, June 14th, 7pm.

4) Vote!

TESSERACTS NINE: Nominated for an Aurora Award - Best Work in English (Other). Thankyou to everyone who is voting to help support this nomination.

5) Mayfly by Peter Watts and Derryl Murphy (Tesseracts Nine): Nominated for an Aurora Award - Best Short-Form Work in English.

6) Lemmings in the Third Year by by Jerome Stueart (Tesseracts Nine) won "honorable mention" for the 2006 SLF Fountain Award.

7) Before the Altar on The Feast of All Souls by Marg Gilks (Tesseracts Nine) was shortlisted for the Carl Brandon Society Kindred Award.

8) TESSERACTS NINE: Is a finalist for the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award.

9) A Game of Perfection: Reviewed in Science Fiction Weekly by Paul Di Filippo.

10) The Courtesan Prince by Lynda Williams: Recommended for consideration by this year's James Tiptree Jr. Literary Award jury.

Rebecca Rowe's 'FORBIDDEN CARGO' - Secret Illegal Nano-DNA Modification - the Next Step in Evolution, or a Crime against Humanity? You Decide.

Secret Nano-DNA Modification - the next step in evolution, or a crime against humanity? Rebecca Rowe's 'FORBIDDEN CARGO' raises powerful personal questions.

Rebecca Rowe's 'FORBIDDEN CARGO' will be released in the US at World Con in Los Angeles in August. Rebecca told us a bit about the book from her home outside of Denver,Colorado.

EDGEnet: Could you please tell us about the book 'FORBIDDEN CARGO', and why you believe this is an important book.

Rebecca: Well, it's a high adrenaline, fast-paced story—Tokyo-on-overdrive with a new wild west. It's about future ronin-styled cowboys, especially Sashimu and Thesni, who don't fit easily into societal confines, if at all. This gets them in a lot of trouble first on Mars and then the Denver of 2110 and in Novus Orbis, the new frontier of our minds.

I didn't set out to write an "important" book, although I appreciate you asking, but a hyper-real novel that reflects the complexities we're dealing with today. Okay, so Sashimu and Thesni are fugitives with forbidden nano-DNA on the run from government agents; they get help from the Cadet, who's an underground gamer and Ochbo who defines his own unorthodox brand of activism. Also, they receive help from the least likely of sources, the famous father of Novus Orbis, Creid Xerkler. There's a government cover-up, black market profiteers selling nano-band caught up in a political coup, two girls coming of age, and even a moment for romance. I've nothing against a fast read and unadulterated fun, but it might be a mistake to take Forbidden Cargo as a joy ride with cotton candy.

EDGEnet: So, what's the relevance of 'FORBIDDEN CARGO' to us and our society?

Rebecca: Right here and now, we're standing on the threshold of several key technologies that are set to change our world and us in potentially very good ways, but with risks we've only begun to explore. For the first time in human history, we are approaching control over our genetic code and altering our DNA. This may mean that our children's children won't inherit many debilitating genetic diseases that plague our generation. It also has other darker implications. As we grow in our knowledge, there are many difficult issues in potentially designing our own children. In a few short generations, we could forever change the face of humanity and to what? And even more importantly, who will control these changes? With all our amazing potential, our future could still turn grim.

Mass production, quantum computing may only be decades away. Nanotechnology may offer our salvation in climate control, environmental cleanup and medical applications. And yet, with genetic modification, quantum computing and nanotechnology, there will inevitably be unintended consequences. We know from experience that new technologies simultaneously bring great change and tragic loss. Forbidden Cargo avoids a black & white, good vs. evil, pro/anti-tech take on tomorrow, but presents the many shades of grays in our future where we are neither consumed by gray-goo-nanotechnology-gone-bad nor basking in a dreamy utopia, but grappling with our self-made demons both personal and societal in 2110, as we do today.

EDGEnet: Will you be available to discuss your book at WorldCon?

Rebecca: Yes, I will be available at the EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing booth at scheduled times throughout the World Con event for signings, plus we will be celebrating the launch of Forbidden Cargo. Schedule details are posted daily at the booth, plus you have an opportunity to enter to win an i-POD NANO. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone there.

Rebecca K. Rowe

Rebecca K. Rowe is a freelance writer, published author and member of the National Space Society and The Mars Society. She has M.A.'s in Journalism and International Relations. Her short work / poetry has been published in Polyphony, Ascent Magazine, and Sol Magazine. Rebecca is a graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers' Workshop, and has been recently formally inducted into the Denver "Women's Press Club"

FORBIDDEN CARGO by Rebecca Rowe
ISBN-10: 1-894063-16-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-894063-16-6
Trade Paperback
5.50" X 8.50"
$14.95 US
$16.95 CN
352 pages


Forbidden Cargo is Rebecca Rowe's first novel.

J. Brian Clarke to Read From New Release 'ALPHANAUTS', Wednesday, June 14 at The Sentry Box, in Calgary, Alberta.

"SF could ask for no better ambassador. So, sit back, relax and enjoy." - Robert J. Sawyer
J. Brian Clarke
'Alphanauts'
Book Reading and Signing
Wednesday June 14th
The Sentry Box
1835 - 10th Ave SW, Calgary
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Join us for a special opportunity to hear J. Brian Clarke read from his novel "Alphanauts", newly published by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing.

About 'Alphanauts'

After nearly fifty years in suspended animation a crew of human space explorers, known as the "Alphanauts", return to Earth; only to discover that a medical side effect of their faster than light travel prevents them from remaining on their home planet. Now, in a desperate bid for survival, they must return to space and attempt to colonize an alien world under an alien sun.

Along the way, they encounter the descendants of another space traveling species, symbiotic cat birds, and an evolving malevolent computer intelligence that threatens to destroy everything the Alphanauts work so hard to build.

Their greatest challenge, though, is still to be faced as a hoard of refugees from a ruined Earth are fast approaching, determined to set up a Fascist utopia on this new world.

Can they survive? Can they find the "right stuff" to fend off the control of their Earthly invaders?

Discover the answer in J. Brian Clarke's stellar new space adventure - 'Alphanauts', now available at The Sentry Box in Calgary.

About J. Brian Clarke

J. Brian Clarke is best known for sixteen stories published by ANALOG magazine ... five were 'cover' stories ... one of which, 'Dinoshift', was nominated for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Nebula award.

Clarke's stories have also appeared in GALAXY, EXPANSE and ON-SPEC. 'Earthgate' was the lead in Donald A. Wollheim's 1986 annual WORLD'S BEST SF. 'Testament of Geoffrey' appeared in the Russian publication INVENTOR AND INNOVATOR. Another story has been translated into Spanish for 'Editorial Serio' in Spain.

About Clarke's Writing
Clarke writes about scientists and engineers, about people who think and do, about problems that have to be solved and the men and women who roll up their sleeved and get the work done.

His characters are the "scientists-as-heroes" that were the mainstay of the Golden Age of science fiction, and are brought to life again through Clarke's powerful abilities as a story teller.

J. Brian Clarke is a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society - as well as past president of the Calgary chapter of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
He lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Book Details:
Alphanauts by J. Brian Clarke
ISBN10: 1-894063-14-7
ISBN13: 978-1-894063-14-2
5.5" x 8.5" - Trade Paperback
$14.95 US - 18.95 CD - 325 Pages
Read Chapter One:
http://www.edgewebsite.com/books/alphanauts/an-sample.html

===================================
For further information please contact:
Janice Shoults, Marketing Director
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
P.O. Box 1714,
Calgary, AB, T2P 2L7, Canada
780-460-1756 (marketing office)
403-254-0160 (EDGE office voice)
403-254-0456 (fax)
http://www.edgewebsite.com

J. Brian Clarke Releases 'Alphanauts' at the Telus World of Science in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Hot News

1) Book Launch: The book launch of 'Alphanauts' by J. Brian Clarke was a great success (May 24, 2006). According to Mr.Clarke, "The launch of my novel 'Alphanauts' went surprisingly well yesterday. Dunno how many dozen copies I signed, but by the end of the evening my scrawl had evolved from legible to incomprehensible. I might even read the book myself!"

Working in conjunction with the Telus World of Science,EDGE proudly released 'Alphanauts' by J.Brian Clarke, at the same time as the IMAX presentation of "Is Anybody Out There".

J. Brian Clarke is best known for fourteen stories published by ANALOG magazine ... five were ‘cover’ stories ... and ‘Dinoshift’ was nominated for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Ameriica (SFWA) Nebula award.

Clarke’s stories have also appeared in GALAXY, EXPANSE and ON-SPEC. ‘Earthgate’ was the lead in Donald A. Wollheim’s 1986 ANNUAL WORLD’S BEST SF. ‘Testament of Geoffrey’ appeared in the Russian publication INVENTOR AND INOVATOR.

He has had works translated into Russian and Spanish.

Further information about 'Alphanauts' can be found on the website.

If you missed the launch and would like to hear Brian read from his new novel, your next opportunity will be at "The Sentry Box" in Calgary, on June 14th at 7 pm. For further information or to get details please call the EDGE office at 403-254-0160

Please note: The US Launch event of 'Alphanauts' will be held during World Con in Los Angeles - watch the blog for release details.