Blackwell’s is delighted to welcome Ben Aaronovitch to celebrate the release of his brand new Rivers of London novel, False Value. Ben will appear in conversation with R.F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic, to talk fantastical worlds and magical mysteries. This will be followed by questions from the audience and both authors signing copies of their books.

False Value

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with émigré Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner's brand new London start up - the Serious Cybernetics Company.

Drawn into the orbit of Old Street's famous 'silicon roundabout', Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant's favourite son.

Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological - and just as dangerous.

Ben Aaronovitch was a screenwriter for Doctor Who and a bookseller before becoming a best-selling author. Every book in his Rivers of London series has been a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller. He is published in 14 languages and has sold more than 2 million copies around the world. Aaronovitch is also a trustee on the board of Cityread London and is a long-time supporter of Nigeria’s premiere arts and cultural festival, The Aké Festival. He still lives in London, the city he likes to refer to as ‘the capital of the world’.

The Dragon Republic

The searing follow-up to 2018's most celebrated fantasy debut - The Poppy War.

Rin is on the run.

Haunted by the atrocity she committed to save her people, addicted to opium, and driven by the murderous commands of Phoenix, the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power.

Rin's only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold her homeland, Nikan, to her enemies.

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. She throws herself into his war.

After all, making war is all she knows how to do.

R. F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, translator, and the Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominated author of The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from the University of Cambridge and is currently pursuing an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies at Oxford University, where her research examines nationalism and ideology in modern Chinese fiction.

Tickets for this event are £5. For more information, please contact Blackwell's Westgate on 01856 980 380 or email events.oxford@blackwell.co.uk.