Hachette Launches Orbit in the U.S. and Australia

An extension of Hachette's U.K. science fiction and fantasy imprint Orbit will make its way to the United States, as part of Little, Brown, and to Australia, as a part of Hachette Livre Australia, by 2007.

This launch gives Little, Brown a chance to build on the success of science fiction and fantasy that the company experience in the U.K. in other markets. The goal for Orbit U.S. includes a list of 40 titles within three years.

Tim Holman, currently the publishing director of Orbit U.K., will relocate to New York to head the project, but will continue as publishing director of Orbit U.K. while expanding to the U.S. and Australia.

"The success of Orbit in the U.K. over recent years would not have been possible if we had not published so many great writers from around the world, so the launch of Orbit USA and Orbit Australia is particularly exciting," Holman said. Some authors published by Orbit in the U.K. include Terry Brooks, Tom Holt, Laurell K. Hamilton and Robert Jordan.

"This move will, of course, put us in an extremely strong position to offer global English-language publishing opportunities," Holman continued, "while aspiring to publishing excellence in each market."