We covered the news about Wole Talabi’s Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon US publication earlier this year and now the book has a UK edition on the way! Featuring Yoruba gods liberating a powerful artifact from London’s British Museum, this is a heist novel filled to the brim with magic.

The first edition of the cover has been released by DAW Books, a science fiction and fantasy publishing house based in New York. The UK edition will be published by Gollancz and is scheduled to come out on the same day as the US release, August 8, 2023. While the US edition of Shigidi features a bronze head sculpture (imagine the Bronze Head from Ife,) the UK edition has a museum at the center of the cover. There are two figures infront of the museum with shadows that reflect their status as being gods, and the border of the cover is made up of a variety of symbols possibly connected to the story.

Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon follows the story of Shigidi, “a disgruntled nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company,” who aims to break away from the company and live a free life. The book description is filled with mystery and is sure to intrigue readers. Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls and Broken Monsters, wrote that the book’s story is “fast and sharp as talons… If you thought Killmonger was right or loved American Gods and Akata Witch, this one is very much for you.” We are so excited to dig deeper into the book and see how both covers come into play throughout the plot.

Read the publisher’s description below.

Shigidi is a disgruntled nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering the prayers of his few remaining believers to satisfy the demands of the company board. When he meets Nneoma, a succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes.

Together, they attempt to break free of their constraints and live on their owns terms. But the elder gods have other plans for Shigidi, and the Orisha spirit company is not so easy to leave. The chairman has a final job for Shigidi and Nneoma, one that will take them to the very heart of the British Museum.

From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter strange creatures, rival gods and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a spectacular heist that spans two realms . . . and which could turn their own worlds upside down . . .

A magical heist novel that will take you deep into the heart of the British Museum. This is a contemporary fantasy that spans the secret spaces of London to the boisterous streets of Lagos. Perfect for fans of Marlon James, P. Djeli Clark, Nnedi Okorafor and N.K. Jemisin.

Wole Talabi is an engineer, writer, and editor from Nigeria. He is the author of SHIGIDI AND THE BRASS HEAD OF OBALUFON (DAW/Gollancz, August 2023) and INCOMPLETE SOLUTIONS (Luna Press, 2019). His short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, F&SF, Lightspeed, Clarkesworld and several other places. His work has been a finalist for the Caine Prize, the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Nommo Award. His stories have been translated into seven languages and he has edited four anthologies of African fiction. He likes scuba diving, elegant equations, and oddly shaped things. He currently lives and works in Malaysia.

Pre-order SHIGIDI AND THE BRASS HEAD OF OBALUFON here: Gollancz (UK)