I was really sad and shocked today when I was scrolling through twitter and saw this sudden announcement from Angry Robot:
As you will be aware, Angry Robot Books has a history of innovation and weĀ continue to go from strength to strength. Weāre constantly trying out new concepts and new ideas, and we continue to publish popular and award-winning books. Our YA imprintĀ Strange ChemistryĀ and our crime/mystery imprintĀ Exhibit AĀ have āĀ due mainly to market saturation āĀ unfortunately been unable to carve out their own niches with as much success.
WeĀ have therefore made the difficult decision to discontinue Strange Chemistry and Exhibit A, effective immediately, and no further titles will be published from these two imprints.
A few links:
–The announcement
–A former intern’s farewell
–Gwenda Bond’s reaction post
–Kim Curran’s post
–The Bookseller’s article
–The Bookseller reports on potential sales from Osprey
–Commentary from Fantasy Faction
–Kameron Hurley’s post
–Sean Cummings’ post
–Laura Lam’s post
–Laura Lam giveaway (INT)
–Rachel Neumeier’s post
–Strange Chemistry book giveaway (INT)
–Blog hop
That’s not all that’s out there by a long shot, but that should give everyone an idea of the fanbase those imprints had out there, and how shocking the news was for everyone. I’ve been a fan of Angry Robot and everything they do for a while, especially since I won the Robot for a Day competition (where I met the staff and the blogger who was at that point their intern, Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts). I have a huge backlog of their stuff to read, from all three imprints, but I think I might spend this weekend finally getting round to books by Kim Curran, Laura Lam, Gwenda Bond, etc.
The good news is, the books already published will still be supported by Angry Robot, and rights for future books are reverting to the authors. The bad news is that various books that were slated to come out in the next few months won’t be, some series aren’t going to be finished (at least not with Strange Chemistry), and some authors don’t know where they can go next.
I’m going to follow the example of one of the posts linked above and do a giveaway of some of my favourite Strange Chemistry books. Comment with which you want to be entered for, and I’ll pick at random on the 1st July. You can enter for multiple books, but you will only win one. If you would prefer ebooks, we can probably arrange something, but the idea is that I will buy copies via The Book Depository and send them straight to you. I want to encourage new readers to get their mitts on these books and generate some buzz that might help the authors place future books with publishers! And yes, this is international.
So, without further ado, the giveaways:
- Martha Wells, Emilie & The Hollow World.
- Sean Cummings, Poltergeeks.
- Rachel Neumeier, Black Dog.
- Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassin’s Curse.
- Winner’s choice of any book from Strange Chemistry or Exhibit A.
And honestly? I wish it could be more. I have so much sympathy with all the authors and staff affected. Let’s give them a good send off!
ETA: So, the winners! Grace won Emilie & the Hollow World; majoline won Poltergeeks; Erin won Black Dog; ameliazane won The Assassinās Curse; Jessica won the winnerās choice (and chose Gwenda Bondās Blackwood). All of them have been emailed and all of them responded already, so the books have been ordered and are en route.
Martha Wells, Emilie & The Hollow World
Excellent choice! Got you down.
Sean Cummings, Poltergeeks
Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassinās Curse
Got it!
š I really liked Strange Chemistry’s books; especially Cracked and Stolen Songbird. If I won, I’d want a choice of a book from Strange Chemistry. Thank you for the giveaway!
Those are both ones I still need to get round to! Maybe this weekend…
I need to get around to “Stolen Songbird” soon too…
Sean Cummings, Poltergeeks.
Rachel Neumeier, Black Dog.
Noted!
Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassinās Curse
It’s sad to hear that Strange Chemistry is going to be discontinued. :/
It really is, they’ve been publishing such awesome things.
Martha Wells, Emilie & The Hollow World.
Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassinās Curse.
Got you down for those!
This is so sad, my heart goes out to all the authors. Strange Chemistry books were awesome. There are at least five that I really want, but since this comp is to win one copy I’m going to say I would like Skulk by Rosie Best. Thanks for the chance š
I may actually have a spare copy of Skulk which I already own — I’ll let you know if I find it!
That’s so nice of you, except I live in Australia so the shipping would probably be way too high. I mean, I would pay for the shipping myself because I wouldn’t expect you too, but it might be more to ship it than to get it from the BD.
Ahh, that could be a problem, yeah. Boo!
Thanks anyway š
I’m dying to read The Assassin’s Curse! I’ve heard so much about it!
I found it a lot of fun!
The Assassin’s Curse has been on my to-buy list for a month now, so that would be my pick.
Noted!
Martha Wells. Thanks for doing this, Nikki.
Martha Wells’ books are lots of fun, good choice!
I’d like to win The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke! Thanks so much for this giveaway. I am so sad about this too. (I really love Laura Lam’s books! I really hope you enjoy them when you get round to reading them.)
It’s really awful news, isn’t it? They were putting out great books.
ā¾Rachel Neumeier, Black Dog.
ā¾Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassinās Curse.
I’ve been meaning to read these. I guess I have to hop to it.
Well, luckily Angry Robot will still be supporting the books that’re already out!
Martha Wells, Emilie & The Hollow World.
Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassinās Curse.
Or Winner’s Choice because there are a few others I’ve been hoping to get to as well.
Thanks very much! Such sad news. They were publishing some very unique books and I was really looking forward to some of their upcoming titles.
It really is, they were doing great work. The whole company do.
Under Nameless Stars (Zenn Scarlett #2)
by Christian Schoon
If you win you’ll have to pick one of those two, since they’re both in the wildcard slot, and each person can only win one anyway. Sorry if that wasn’t clear!
Almost Girls by Amalie Howard
I would love the Assassin’s Curse. Fingers crossed!
Noted!
Still saddened by this news as I really enjoyed every Strange Chemistry book that I’ve read. I would love to win The Assassin’s Curse, Shadowplay, or Stolen Songbird <3 Thank you for this giveaway! š
Noted!
Sean Cummings, Poltergeeks.
Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassinās Curse.
Winnerās choice of any book from Strange Chemistry or Exhibit A.: Feather Bound or Stolen Songbird
Noted.
This is so disappointing. š I’ve read a few Strange Chemistry books and loved it.
I’d like The Assassinās Curse or
Winnerās choice of any book from Strange Chemistry.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Yeah, it’s really sad. Got your name down!
I was also sad to here this. While I personally have not read any of these titles yet, I was certainly looking forward to the unique stories they had brought to publication.
If by some chance I win this, I would like the winner’s choice or The Assassin’s Curse.
Got your name down. And yeah, it really is a shame, they did some great things.
I loved Strange Chemistry. So sad to hear they closed!
Rachel Neumeier, Black Dog
Skulk by Rosie Best (winner’s choice)
It’s awful, really. Got your name down!
I never really got the chance to check out Strange Chemistry’s books, the news is so sad.
Cassandra Rose Clarke The Assassin’s Curse
It really is, they were awesome.
Noted!
I’d love to enter for Emilie & The Hollow World. Strange Chemistry was one of the few YA imprints that I always knew was good, and I’m sad to see it go. š
I love that one. And yeah, it’s really sad that SC is gone. Hard to believe, really, when it was so awesome and exciting.
I’m so sad Strange Chemistry is closing!
Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon has been on my to-read list for a while now. I’d love to read it.
Me too! And I want to get round to that one soon too. Maybe during Strange Chemistry Reading Month.
…..the sad fact that ‘Strange Chemistry’ and ‘Exhibit A’ has closed is something that is so unfair, yet…..life goes on…..
…..my choice would be – Cassandra Rose Clarke, ‘The Assassinās Curse’ if I do win…..
It really is.
Noted!
Would The Wizard’s Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke be in the list? I really loved her Assassin’s Curse duology so I’d love to try her new book!! Thanks for the giveaway! Such sad news ><
It’s a Strange Chemistry book, so yeah, it comes under the wildcard option. I liked that one.
Who won this?
From my notes: Grace won Emilie & the Hollow World; majoline won Poltergeeks; ameliazane won The Assassin’s Curse; Erin won Black Dog and Jessica won the winner’s choice (and chose Gwenda Bond’s Blackwood). All of them have been emailed and all of them responded already, so the books have been ordered and are on their way!