When PW asked nine key publishers to pick their strongest book coming out this year, we wondered if there would there be similarities or connections among them, or would each be sui generis. The answer is yes to both. Not surprisingly, fantasy outweighs science fiction by a hefty margin-as it has for quite some time. (See "A Hobbit Takeover?"). "It's some of the most interesting fiction out there," says Bantam Spectra senior editor Anne Groell, who notes "a trickle-over of chick lit" in the form of empowered women, vampires and the supernatural." (For examples, check out the Warner and Ace titles.) Two publishers are banking on tried-and-true brands: Del Rey continues its Star Wars affiliation with LucasBooks, and Pocket embarks on a 19-book deal with Marvel comics. As Pocket associate publisher Scott Sannon explains, "We've always been a media-based group." A related trend in the fantasy field is observed by Del Rey editor-in-chief Betsy Mitchell: "Children's publishers are roaring back into fantasy in a big way." (See "New Children's Series")


ACE

Title/Author:Dead As a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (May)
Format/Price: hardcover, $22.95
Subcategory: fantasy/mystery
First Printing: "Nearly triple the first printing for her debut hardcover, Dead to the World," reports senior executive editor Ginjer Buchanan.
Marketing Plans: The author's first-ever tour (to 14 cities) will be augmented with print advertising in SF/fantasy magazines and in USA Today.
Sales Hook: "It's got a really distinctive cover treatment," says Buchanan, "and Charlaine's voice is totally unique. A lot of vampires are exotic creatures descended from French or Romanian nobility. Charlaine's vampire is from small-town America; his name is Bill. And the heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, is basically Reba-she's definitely country." Buchanan explains that Harris's core mystery audience "followed her in droves to these books, so she had a little more to platform from."
BANTAM SPECTRA

Title/Author:A Feast for Crows:A Song of Ice and Fire, Book Four by George R.R. Martin (Aug.)
Format/Price: hardcover, $28
Subcategory: epic fantasy
First Printing: Not set yet, but Martin's previous hardcover,
A Storm of Swords (2000), had a 110,000-copy first printing; this one, says Groell, will be much higher.
Marketing Plans: Bantam Spectra is repackaging the first three books in the series and publishing a special $3.99 paperback edition of the first book, A Game of Thrones,to attract new readers.
Sales Hook: "Sometimes," says Groell, "fantasy is way too safe.
Nobody is safe here; George kills main characters." She adds that Martin has "a rabid fan base-everybody's been asking when this one's coming out." His books also appeal to non-SF readers, Groell notes-she likens his work to "fiction that just happens to have dragons in it."
POCKET

Title/Author:Fantastic Four: War Zone by Greg Cox, based on the Marvel comic book (Aug.)
Format/Price: mass market original, $7.99
Subcategory: media tie-in
First Printing: about 100,000, reports Shannon. "That may not seem like a lot, but this is the first book in an ambitious program with Marvel. When you look at the combined printings, it's a huge number."
Marketing Plans: Pocket deliberately delayed this book until one month after the release of the 20th Century Fox Fantastic Four movie, directed by Tim Story. "We're working very closely with Marvel Comics to promote this book through their channels," says Shannon. "We're attending Comic-Con for the first time with a booth, and we'll be promoting the book heavily online through a wide variety of comic and genre fan sites."
Sales Hook: Shannon explains: "We're going to have a book every other month, featuring Marvel's biggest characters with the greatest mass appeal. We're really looking to reach that mass market, the same people who made Spider-Man and other Marvel films such a huge success."
DAW BOOKS

Title/Author:Shadowmarch, Volume 1, by Tad Williams (Nov.)
Format/Price: trade paper, $TBA
Subcategory: epic fantasy
First Printing: "Even though the number isn't set, it's going to be sizable," says copublisher Sheila Gilbert.
Marketing Plans: national advertising
Sales Hook: The fact that DAW singled out a paperback reprint as its top book speaks volumes about Williams's mastery of the genre. "Tad is our number-one author," says copublisher Betsy Wollheim, "and this series is his return to the subgenre that established his reputation."
WARNER ASPECT

Title/Author:Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (Oct.)
Format/Price: mass market original, $6.99
Subcategory: fantasy
First Printing: 100,000
Marketing Plans: ARCs, national print publicity and advertising
Sales Hook: "The heroine," says editorial director Jaime Levine, "is smart, resilient, strong and funny-Buffy the Vampire Slayer blended with Lara Croft then crossed with Bridget Jones. The book kicks off our Girls Kick Ass! program of fantasy books that focus on sassy female characters."
EOS

Title/Author:Shaman's Crossing: Book One of the Soldier Son Trilogy by Robin Hobb (Sept.)
Format/Price: hardcover, $25.95
Subcategory: epic fantasy
First Printing: 75,000
Marketing Plans: Reader's edition, a multipart teaser campaign and on-line promotion prior to publication; national print advertising, front-of-store promotion, POS material
Sales Hook: This is Eos's first book by Hobb, says senior editor Diana Gill: "We've been huge fans of Robin's work for many years. This riveting new series is about a noble's son, who seems destined for a brilliant military career until he's claimed by magic."
DEL REY

Title/Author:Star Wars Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover (Apr.)
Format/Price: hardcover, $25.95
Subcategory: science fiction
First Printing: 500,000+
Marketing Plans: 14-city tour featuring appearances by the 501st Legion, a Star Wars costuming club, in selected cities.
Sales Hook: Says editor-in-chief Betsy Mitchell, "It's the prequel to the most successful science fiction movie franchise of all time."
ROC

Title/Author:The Protector's War, by S.M. Stirling (Sept.)
Format/Price: hardcover, $24.95
Subcategory: science fiction
First Printing: "Too early to say," says Ginjer Buchanan "but this is a sequel to Dies the Fire, which went back to press three times."
Marketing Plans: Galley mailings, genre advertising and local signings.
Sales Hook: Per Buchanan: "A great cover and the author's reputation and track record. Stirling writes a form of alternate history, which is a very solid and popular subgenre."
TOR

Title/Author:Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan (Oct.)
Format/Price: hardcover, $29.95
Subcategory: epic fantasy
First Printing: 1,000,000
Marketing Plans: An Internet scavenger hunt-"Participants will navigate through 15 to 20 Web sites by solving a series of riddles," explains publicity director Elena Stokes. "The solution to each riddle will lead to the URL of the next site. Multiple prizes are planned for winning participants."
Sales Hook: Stokes notes, "Jordan is a mainstay on numerous bestseller lists-PW, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and more."