John Berlyne

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Zeno Agency Ltd.·UK

Represents

fantasy, sf, horror, crime, thriller, historical fiction, urban fantasy, space opera

Wants to See

Plot-driven fantasy and SF (not Tolkien-derivative); monsters/magic; also hybrids incl horror/thriller/crime/historical

Age Categories

Adult, YA

Looking For

Plot-driven narratives where a character faces a problem and the story is driven by forward momentum. Considers all kinds of fantasy and SF but not Tolkien derivatives; likes cool monsters, heavy magic, and magic seeping into contemporary life. Will read urban fantasy but only at the highest quality. Open to space opera, horror, thrillers, crime, historical fiction, and combinations thereof. Not interested in political treatise disguised as fiction, overly whimsical writing, or failed comedy.

Submission Details

Submit via: Email
Response time: Up to 12 weeks
Last verified: 14 Apr 2026Recently verified

Notes

John Berlyne represents an exceptionally high-profile client list including Brandon Sanderson, William Gibson, Charlaine Harris, Ben Aaronovitch, Peter V. Brett, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Tim Powers, and the estates of Roger Zelazny and Algis Budrys. He is also Company Director of Zeno Agency. While he will consider YA, he rarely represents it and warns the bar is extremely high.

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