Welsh Sci-Fi Author’s Unprecedented Deal
Alastair Reynolds made a deal that’s out-of-this world. The science fiction author whose latest novel House of Suns was shortlisted for this year’s Arthur C. Clarke prize, has signed a 10-year, 10-book deal with Gollancz. For Reynolds, it’s a £1 million paycheque.
Born in south Wales, Reynolds spent 16 years as an astronomer with the European Space Agency in the Netherlands, also wrote short stories. In 2000, while working as an astrophysicist, he gained literary success with his debut novel, Revelation Space. In 2004, Reynolds switched career paths and took up writing full time.
According to Maxim Jakubowski, a science fiction expert, editor and writer, over the past decade there hasn’t been a deal with a science fiction writer of such sizable proportions. “A ten-book deal is almost unheard of, and is a real expression of faith,” he said. “He’s certainly in the top 10 of UK science fiction writers, if not the top five, and those I’ve read [of his] are absolutely wonderful.”
Well the author should be able to afford some new clothes now – and why is he standing in a bakery?
The caption with the image (which comes from his official website) is:
“The author outside one of his favorite places – a French cake shop. Nantes, 2008″
Maybe cakes inspire him to write?? Perhaps he goes to bakeries to buy MOONCAKES!!!
How does his royalties workout with that deal?
1 million UK for 10 books is really a good deal even if his books are all best sellers?
This doesn’t sound like alot of money to me.
Usually, with royalties, the E1,000,000 would be subtracted from future royalties earnings, after tax. So if it takes him 1 year to write a book, it’ll be 1 year after the book is written before he sees royalties from it. Overall, a good way to do it, as long as the divide the advance evenly.
I wish I could even get an advance of $30,000 for something I’d write. LOL
Thanks for the tip Emperor.
Writing a GOOD book is alot of work these days. I wrote the first book of a Sci-fi trilogy and it was 4 years of research, analyzing and using my imagination.
Making a name for myself is more important than the money (especially now).
I feel like George Lucus in the early 70′s.
I hope Reynolds keeps the quality of his 10 books very high. Congratulations to him.