Author photo by Le Image Inc., Brooklyn, NY
Orbit UK editor Emily Byron has acquired award-winning author P. Djèlí Clark’s debut novel, A Master of Djinn, in a two-book deal from Anna Carmichael at Abner Stein on behalf of Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company.
Described by the publisher as Rivers of London meets The City of Brass, A Master of Djinn is a fantasy adventure set in an alternate Cairo where djinn live and work alongside people. It follows special investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi, as she tries to get to the bottom of a mysterious case involving magic and murder. It is set to publish in the UK in August.
P. Djèlí Clark has won the Nebula and Locus awards and been nominated for the Hugo award for his short fiction. His recent novella, Ring Shout, is being adapted by Skydance Television. When not writing speculative fiction, P. Djèlí Clark works as an academic historian whose research spans comparative slavery and emancipation in the Atlantic World.
Acquiring editor Emily Byron said ‘A Master of Djinn is a phenomenal debut that combines intrigue, action and magic to deliver a truly memorable reading experience. The narrative voice drew me in immediately and I was blown away by the vibrancy of Clark’s worldbuilding. Fatma is a captivating and unconventional fantasy hero. It’s wonderful to see an intelligent, tough, sharply dressed, gay Muslim woman saving the world! Clark is an immensely talented writer and we are thrilled to welcome him to Orbit.’
Clark said: ‘I’m excited to have this novel at Orbit UK, who I think will do a fantastic job in bringing it to new audiences!’
‘Clever, wickedly fun . . . with an excellent balance of humour and heart. I loved it’ S. A. Chakraborty, bestselling author of The City of Brass
‘An epic tale of magic and mystery, this is sure to wow’ Publishers Weekly
‘A Master of Djinn is everything you might expect from Clark: cinematic action, a radical reimagining of real history, and magic on every page. I loved it’ Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January
P. Djèlí Clark: Website | Twitter
We’re absolutely thrilled at the Inn to relay this acquisition announcement. Everything about A
Master of Djinn sounds delightful (hello, alternate Egypt? Mystery-solving gay Muslim badass woman? Djinn and magic and murder? We’re here for it. We have been clamouring for a novel from P. Djèlí Clark for a while now and we’re very, very excited about it.
The ebook will be available in May, and the paperback in August.
You can listen to Travis’ interview with P. Djèlí Clark here.
