VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT RETURNS TO THE WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION WITH ACCLAIMED JAPANESE AUTHOR TAIYO FUJII

Award Winning Sci-Fi Author Of ORBITAL CLOUD And

GENE MAPPER Returns For A Special Encore Appearance At WorldCon 2016

San Francisco, CA, August 16, 2016 – VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced participation in WorldCon 2016 during which it will welcome Taiyo Fujii for a special return appearance at the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS).

WorldCon 2016 (MidAmeriConⅡ) takes place August 17^th-21^st at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO. Full details are available at: https://midamericon2.org/. Haikasoru will be located on Island 1, Table 9 in the main Dealer’s Room.

Taiyo Fujii is the author of the sci-fi novel, ORBITAL CLOUD, which is set for release by Haikasoru in March 2017, and is also a contributor to the brand new anthology, SAIENSU FIKUSHON 2016, which debuts this month from Haikasoru. WorldCon Exclusive print editions of SAIENSU FIKUSHON 2016, as well as a wide variety of additional Haikasoru titles, will be available for purchase during WorldCon.

SAIENSU FIKUSHON 2016 · WorldCon Exclusive Print MSRP: $5.00

Available Digitally August 16^th   

Three new stories from a trio of the best science fiction writers in Japan. The mini-anthology features "A Fair War," by Taiyo Fujii, that depicts the future of war in an age of drones and what transpires as a result of technological innovation, as well as "Overdrive," by Toe EnJoe, which asks, “How fast is the speed of thought?” Also included is "Sea Fingers," by author TOBI Hirotaka, in which a small enclave survives after the Deep has consumed the world.

ORBITAL CLOUD · Available In Print & Digitally March 2017!  

A tense thriller from Japan’s master science fiction author depicts an unprecedented international battle against space-based terror that will soon involve the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NORAD, and the CIA. More details on this release will be announced soon!

Catch Taiyo Fujii in-person at the following WorldCon 2016 events:

Thursday, August 18^th

1pm – 1:50pm    Taiyo Fujii Autograph Session (SFWA Table)

Catch the author in a special autograph session where he will personally sign copies of his works.

3pm– 4pm          Seiun Award Ceremony & Discussion of Japanese Science Fiction (Room 2205)

Taiyo Fujii will join other prominent Japanese authors for a discussion of the famous annual literary award and the unique process by which science fiction literature is published in Japan.

Friday, August 19^th

2pm – 3pm         Taiyo Fujii Autograph Session (Haikasoru Table)

Catch the author in an encore autograph session at the Haikasoru station where he will personally sign copies of his works.

Saturday, August 20^th

2pm – 3pm         Taiyo Fujii Autograph Session (Haikasoru Table)

Catch the author in a final autograph session at the Haikasoru station where he will personally sign copies of his works.

Taiyo Fujii is the author of the mystery thriller, GENE MAPPER, and won a 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan. GENE MAPPER was Fujii’s first novel and became Amazon Japan’s Number One Kindle bestseller of for 2012 when it was originally published. The novel was later revised and republished in both print and digitally in Japan as Gene Mapper – full build – by Hayakawa Publishing in 2013 and also was nominated for the Nihon SF Taisho Award and the Seiun Award. Fujii’s second novel, ORBITAL CLOUD, won the 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award and also took first prize in the “Best SF of 2014” in SF Magazine. Fujii’s English-language short fiction debut, the novelette “Violation of the TrueNet Security Act” appeared in Lightspeed Magazine in July 2015.

For more information on the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

Additional information on anime and manga titles published and distributed by VIZ Media is available at www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.