Award-winning science fiction author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time) is teaming up with fellow novelist Sophia McDougall (Romanitas) on Court of Lore, a new graphic novel original from British publisher Cosmic Lighthouse, who have just revealed the project’s cover by Vincent Chong.
Due for release in 2028, the artist on the project, designed by Emma Price, has yet to be revealed, but Pippa Bowland has signed on as colourist, with Simon Bowland on lettering.
In modern day London, Naomi, the Princess of Wales, discovers that there’s an ancient contract between the royal courts of Great Britain and Fairyland, and the consequences are landing on her newborn baby.
Two lawyers, one from London, one from Fairyland, battle over the fate of the changeling heir to the Crown, in a story that is being described as It’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream meets Suits, by way of The Crown.
“I think lovers of fairytale and folklore will definitely find the characters’ predicaments and their potential solutions recognisable,” says Sophia McDougall of the project. “But Adrian’s background in real law was invaluable!”.
“Court of Lore is one of those stories that has a light tone right up until it doesn’t,” Adrian Tchaikovsky teases. “A lot of the characters have a hapless, comic side but it exists right alongside their strong conviction to do the right thing, and there’s a child at stake and a real adversary to be combatted.”
Sophia McDougall is a British author and critic, born in London, best known for the alternate history trilogy Romanitas, in which a modern Roman Empire still dominates the world. She is also the author of Mars Evacuees and Space Hostages, sci-fi adventures for children (and everyone else who likes spaceships.)
Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son.
Cosmic Lighthouse is a new graphic novel company devoted to publishing original works by the greatest modern genre writers, paired with the world’s best artists, introducing a number of creators new to the medium along the way.
Cosmic Lighthouse’s first title, Salvation’s Child, by debut comic writer Adrian Tchaikovsky and artist Mike Collins, was published to great acclaim in spring 2026 and their second, Murderbot: All Systems Red by Erica Schultz and Gary Erskine, from the novella by Martha Wells, will also be out in 2028.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
Coming Soon: The Final Odyssey, from PSYComics 
77 Publishing continues Ian Gibson’s Lifeboat with 2000AD artist Anna Morosova 
Time Bomb Comics celebrates 20th anniversary with new titles 
Crowdfunding Spotlight: Forensic Psychology Meets Folk Horror in Heartwood #1, “The Less Dead”
Leave a Reply