Gollancz acquires space opera Seven Devils by Elizabeth May and Laura Lam

Elizabeth MayRachel Winterbottom, Commissioning Editor at Gollancz, bought UK and Commonwealth (ex. Canada) rights for Seven Devils, plus one sequel, by Elizabeth May and Laura Lam from Juliet Mushens at Caskie Mushens in association with Russell Galen at SGG. Book one of the duology, Seven Devils, will be published in summer 2019. North American rights were sold to Betsy Wollheim at DAW Books. Seven Devils is a fast-paced space opera set in a universe where every person is born with loyalty to the Empire coded into their DNA – so it takes a special kind of individual to break their programming . . .

Rachel Winterbottom said: ‘I had been longing for a richly diverse sci-fi that features a kick-ass group of unlikely heroes worthy of Rogue One. This couldn’t be more like what I had in mind. Laura and Elizabeth’s duology is brilliantly epic and so completely what sci-fi readers are ready for.’

Laura Lam and Elizabeth May said: ‘We are both so excited to be working with Gollancz on Seven Devils. Elizabeth is ecstatic to stay part of the Gollancz community after her Falconer trilogy, and Laura has long admired many authors on their list. This is the perfect home for these characters and we can’t wait for readers to meet these swearing, space Nazi-punching devils.’

Juliet Mushens said: ‘Seven Devils is a brilliantly gripping space opera – rebels, an evil empire, and more snappy dialogue than Firefly, what more could you want?’

Eris and Clo are two resistance fighters for a rebel group, caught up in a battle to put a stop to the pitiless Tholosian Empire conquering planet after planet, ruling people via a mind-control programme called the Oracle. The rebels don’t have the same resources as the Empire, but what they do have is Eris – or, Princess Discordia as she was once known, heir to the Empire, until she faked her own death and decided to dedicate her life to destroying her family. Clo despises Eris for who she was, but they are forced to team up when they find a ship containing three women – each of whom claims to have escaped from the Empire, with secret knowledge of how to bring it down. But can they trust them? 

Seven Devils will appeal to those who love Rogue One, Ann Leckie, and Becky Chambers. It’s fast-paced and furious, with a strong cast of women, and a gripping world.

Elizabeth May is the author of the YA fantasy trilogy The Falconer (The Falconer, The Vanishing Throne, The Fallen Kingdom), and short fiction published in the anthology Toil & Trouble. She was born and raised in California before moving to Scotland, where she earned her PhD at the University of St Andrews. She currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, with her husband and two cats.

Laura LamOriginally from sunny California, Laura Lam now lives in cloudy Scotland. Laura’s previous books include the BBC Radio 2 Book Club section False Hearts, the companion novel Shattered Minds, as well as the award-winning Micah Grey series: PantomimeShadowplay and Masquerade. Her short fiction and essays have also appeared in anthologies such as Nasty WomenSolaris Rising 3, Cranky Ladies of History, and more. She lectures part-time at Napier University in Edinburgh on the Creative Writing MA and at times misses the sunshine.

Seven Devils will be published in summer 2019