Orson Scott Card sells YA series to Simon & Schuster

Orson Scott Card sold a new steampunk series aimed directly at the YA market to Anica Rissi at Simon & Schuster's Pulse. Agent Barbara Bova of the Barbara Bova Literary Agency sold World English rights to the first three books in the as-yet-untitled series, which is scheduled to debut, in hardcover, in Spring 2011.

Simon Pulse Vice President and Publisher Bethany Buck said "We have always been fans of Orson Scott Card's fantasy work here at Simon & Schuster, and I hope this upcoming series will be a wonderful way to introduce long-time fans to compelling young adult literature, while inviting new readers to discover Card's legendary science fiction writing through an innovative, well-imagined new world." Tor Books is Card's long-time adult fiction publisher.

In the series—which combines elements of steampunk and fantasy—readers will meet teenaged Ligg and follow him on a quest to save his world from destruction and uncover the truth behind the Tender's prophecy. Card said "While young readers have responded very well to Ender's Game and the Shadow series, this will be my first work of fiction specifically aimed at that audience. Since they are the most demanding and least forgiving of readers, my burden is to tell an exciting story without any of the digressions that adult readers take in stride. At the same time, I must take the creation of the world and the characters every bit as seriously as in any of my adult fiction. If I do my job right, adults are as likely to enjoy the story of Ligg's discovery of his world and all the human races that inhabit it as kids are."