Exclusive Cover Reveal: The Incorruptibles

Today Gollancz is delighted to exclusively reveal the cover to one of our most exciting acquisitions for next year – THE INCORRUPTIBLES, by John Hornor Jacobs. The art is by Edward Bettison, and we think it’s amazing (gold foil not included on computer screen, but it will be on the book!)

This is John’s first adult fantasy novel, but he’s already received praise for his YA work from such esteemed figures as Cory Doctorow (“The Twelve-Fingered Boy is John Hornor Jacobs’s debut young adult novel and it’s amazing.”) and Jonathan Maberry (“A powerful new voice whispering out of the dark. A brilliant first YA novel!”). He has also been shortlisted for the Bram Stoker Award.

Myke Cole, bestselling author of the SHADOW OPS series, described THE INCORRUPTIBLES thus: “THE INCORRUPTIBLES gives us the very thing we read fantasy for: something new. THE INCORRUPTIBLES shakes like a rattlesnake, sings like a bullet, whispers like a tumbleweed dancing over hardscrabble. Fantasy needs writers who push the envelope, and Jacobs finds the edge and tears right through it. If you want original, you’ve picked up the right book.”

Here’s the details of the book, from the original acquisition announcement.

In the contested and unexplored territories at the edge of the Empire, a boat is making its laborious way upstream. Riding along the banks are the mercenaries hired to protect it – from raiders, bandits and, most of all, the stretchers, elf-like natives who kill any intruders into their territory. The mercenaries know this is dangerous, deadly work.  But it is what they do.

In the boat the drunk governor of the territories and his sons and daughters make merry. They believe that their status makes them untouchable. They are wrong. And with them is a mysterious, beautiful young woman, who is the key to peace between warring nations and survival for the Empire. When a callow mercenary saves the life of the Governor on an ill-fated hunting party, the two groups are thrown together.

For Fisk and Shoe – two tough, honourable mercenaries surrounded by corruption, who know they can always and only rely on each other – their young companion appears to be playing with fire. The nobles have the power, and crossing them is always risky. And although love is a wonderful thing, sometimes the best decision is to walk away. Because no matter how untouchable or deadly you may be, the stretchers have other plans.

You can visit John at his website here or follow him on twitter at @johnhornor. You can find the artist’s website here. If you’re a Gollancz Geek, the book will be one of our chosen titles for next year – if you’re not a Geek, sign up now! 

THE INCORRUPTIBLES will be published in June 2014.