Broken Frontier

Archaia Studios Press (ASP) is thrilled to announce ROBOTIKA has been nominated for ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Awards. The graphic novel, called “Thrilling. Stylish. Bold.” by Variety.com, is among five finalists for ForeWord’s Award in the Graphic Novel category. The Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced at BookExpo America in New York’s Javits Center on June 1, 2007.

This is the 4th straight year ASP has had one of its books nominated for the awards “established to bring increased attention to the literary achievements of independent presses and their authors.” Previously, Artesia and Artesia Afire won Gold and Silver Awards, respectively, and The Lone and Level Sands captured an Honorable Mention.

“To follow the crazy amount of positive reviews I’ve received,” said ROBOTIKA creator Alex Sheikman, “with an honor like a nomination for ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards is flattering and extremely rewarding. I’m proud of ROBOTIKA and what Joel [colorist] Chua and I were able to accomplish. And fans take note: ROBOTIKA: FOR A FEW RUBLES MORE is on track for December 2007. I’m hopeful everyone will come along for the ride.”

This year marks the 9th annual ForeWord BOTYA contest. Winners will be determined by the magazine’s readership of booksellers and librarians. The BOTYA program was designed specifically for them to share in the process of discovering distinctive books across a number of genres with judgments based on their own authority in each category and on their patron/customer interests. For a complete list go to: http://www.forewordmagazine.com/botya/

ROBOTIKA (ISBN: 1-932386-21-1, $19.95, 128-page full color graphic novel, hardcover) is the world’s first science-fiction-steampunk-sushi-samurai western. a world controlled by corrupt corporations and populated by silent samurai, fast-talking geisha, deadly mecha-betsushikime, digital djihits, and morphing butterflies. Niko, a member of the elite bodyguard corps dedicated to protecting the Queen, is sent on a mission to recover a stolen invention that in the wrong hands could trigger a bloody civil war. Niko’s quest is complicated by the ever-present violence and chaos that exists on the fringes of this “civilized” society…a society, that couldn’t care less about his mission. Niko is not alone; Cherokee Geisha and Bronski join him on his quest. Together with Niko they form “The Three Yojimbos” and are the only people who stand in the way of a cataclysmic civil war. 

ROBOTIKA is recommended for Young Adults and up.