Tor UK acquires TikTok fantasy phenomenon
Tor, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, is delighted to announce the acquisition of ‘The Atlas Six’ trilogy by Olivie Blake. Publishing Director Bella Pagan acquired UK and Commonwealth rights with Audio from Tor US in a hotly-contested seven-way auction.
The Atlas Six (book one of the series) has been likened to Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, but with magic. The story opens when six of the world's best young magicians are offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Each could join the secretive Alexandrian Society, headquartered in London. Its magicians are caretakers of lost knowledge from antiquity's greatest civilizations. And those who earn a place will secure a lifetime of wealth, power and prestige. We meet six incredibly different and uniquely talented individuals who have a year to fight to earn their place. If they really are the best of the best, they will make it. All except one. Only five will walk away.
The Atlas Six (book one of the series) has been likened to Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, but with magic. The story opens when six of the world's best young magicians are offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Each could join the secretive Alexandrian Society, headquartered in London. Its magicians are caretakers of lost knowledge from antiquity's greatest civilizations. And those who earn a place will secure a lifetime of wealth, power and prestige. We meet six incredibly different and uniquely talented individuals who have a year to fight to earn their place. If they really are the best of the best, they will make it. All except one. Only five will walk away.
Blake self-published this thrilling tale of magicians vying to join a secret society in early 2020. It went on to receive an explosive reception online. The Atlas Six is now a TikTok sensation – with over 11 million mentions of the hashtag #TheAtlasSix and its variations.
This first book in the ‘Atlas Six’ trilogy plays with popular themes such as ‘dark academia’ and includes powerful female magicians and queer-friendly relationships. The author is now looking forward to bringing out the full trilogy via the traditional publishing route.
The Atlas Six is now available for purchase in ebook from all major retailers, via Tor Books, using the author’s original text. A newly revised and edited version with new illustrations will be available in eBook, Hardback and Audio in March 2022. This is now available for pre-order. The next book will follow in Autumn 2022, with the final thrilling instalment due in Spring 2023.
Olivie Blake says: “The Atlas Six is a book about knowledge, power, and the lengths people will go to have both. I am beyond excited to be working with Bella in the UK and Tor internationally to bring this trilogy to new and existing readers.”
Bella Pagan comments: “A book this brilliant doesn’t come along every day, every year, every decade . . . . Olivie has stolen my bookish heart with The Atlas Six. I can’t wait for its amazing protagonists, compelling plot twists and compulsive prose to steal yours too.”
For more information, please contact Hannah Davies or Holly Hooley at Four Culture:
Hannah.Davies@fourcommunications.com / Tel. 07891 423 421
Holly.Hooley@fourcommunications.com / Tel. 07881 510 181
Notes for Editors
About the author
Olivie Blake is the pseudonym of Alexene Farol Follmuth – a lover and writer of stories. As Olivie, she has penned several independent and self-published speculative fiction projects. These include the webtoon Clara and the Devil, with illustrator Little Chmura, and the BookTok-viral The Atlas Six.
Writing as Alexene, My Mechanical Romance (her debut YA novel) is due for release in May 2022 via US independent Holiday House. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, new baby, and rescue pit bull. You can find out more at olivieblake.com
About Tor UK
Pan Macmillan’s Tor imprint has a reputation for out-of-this-world fiction in the UK and beyond. Pan Macmillan publishes speculative fiction authors including Douglas Adams, Zen Cho, Genevieve Cogman, John Gwynne, Peter F. Hamilton, Lucy Holland, TJ Klune, Arkady Martine, Naomi Novik, Shelley Parker-Chan, Christopher Paolini, John Scalzi and Adrian Tchaikovsky.
About Pan Macmillan
Pan Macmillan is the UK general book publishing arm of the Macmillan Group, which operates in over 70 countries. Its imprints include Macmillan, Mantle, Pan, Picador, Bluebird, Tor, Macmillan Children's Books, Macmillan Collectors Library, Kingfisher, Campbell Books, Two Hoots and Macmillan Digital Audio. Pan Macmillan was named Publisher of the Year at The British Book Awards in 2015, 2017 and 2020.