When I saw the job listing for an Editor at Orbit I was worried that my old pal Devi Pillai had gotten the axe. Turns out that's not the case; Orbit is actually planning on doubling the size of its list in the US over the next 3 years taking its title output to 70-80 per year by 2011 (and 10% for the next 3 years in the UK). And, according to publisher Tim Holman, "Hachette Australia will start to publish SFF titles under the Orbit imprint later this year."

At a time when some houses are cutting back on staff (I'm looking at you Houghton and Doubleday), Orbit is currently hiring an additional editor in the US, and will be making further appointments in due course. In the UK, Bella Pagan has been promoted to Commissioning Editor, and Marketing Executive Samantha Smith has taken on a number of editorial responsibilities. Darren Turpin has also joined the imprint as an additional Marketing Executive, focusing on online marketing campaigns. Orbit's latest national bestseller is Matter by Iain M. Banks which is number one on the Locus hardcover list this month