1) Award-winning SFF author Michael Swanwick has returned to the world of his bestselling fantasy novel, The Iron Dragon’s Daughter, in his new novel, The Dragons of Babel. In this latest work, young Will le Fey must deal with an injured mechanical war-dragon that crawls into his village and declares itself king, a situation that eventually leads Will to the heart of the Empire – the Tower of Babel. Swanwick is currently planning another project featuring the post-utopian con-men Darger and Surplus from his Hugo Award-winning story, “The Dog Said Bow-Wow.”

2) Broadway Books has acquired a first novel from newcommer Scott Browne, entitled Breathers. In the contemporary fantasy, a newly-minted zombie joins Undead Anonymous, finds a new community and girlfriend, and leads the fight for zombie rights.

3) SFF author Cory Doctorow has sold rights to his new novel, For the Win, to Tor U.S. It’s the story of teenage computer gamers who get caught up in a global war fought entirely online. The novel is planned for release in 2010.

4) Cult Pop is a local Michigan, U.S. show about pop culture that airs regionally on Comcast Cablevision and also on its web site, Cult-Pop.com. The show has interviewed a number of SFF authors, including John Scalzi, Tobias Bucknell, artist Carl Lundgren, Elizabeth Bear, Jeff VanderMeer, Justine Larbalestier & Scott Westerfield. Visit the site at http://www.cult-pop.com/

5) To celebrate the launch of his new SF novel, Marseguro, from DAW Books and Penguin Canada, Lost in Translation author Edward Willett is offering a free giveaway of a signed copy of the book for each week of Februrary. Details can be found at the author’s website: http://www.edwardwillett.com Marseguro tells the story of a water planet inhabited by human colonists and a gentically modified water-dwelling race. When news of the existence of this race is leaked to Earth, a fleet is sent to destroy them in the name of genetic purity. 

6) Tor Books US has set up a special promotional blog for George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards mosaic novels. Entitled American Heroes, it offers character profiles and features based on the books. The website address is: http://americanhero.wildcardsbooks.com/

7) World Fantasy Award winner SFF author Nalo Hopkinson has joined the editorial staff at Canadian publisher Red Deer Press, owned by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, with her own fantasy imprint, Nalo Hopkinson Books. Hopkinson will be acquiring and editing three books a year for the press. Fellow Canadian SF author Robert J. Sawyer also has an imprint, Robert J. Sawyer Books, with Red Deer. More information can be found at:  http://www.reddeerpress.com/