A press release from Michael Molcher of Solaris Books:

Solaris is pleased to announce that it has commissioned Gareth L. Powell to write the sequel to his well-received science-fiction Steampunk novel, Ack-Ack Macaque.

HIVE MONKEY will be delivered in summer 2013 for an early 2014 publication.

Powell, author of critically-acclaimed The Recollection, was commissioned by Jonathan Oliver, editor-in-chief of Solaris Books, which published Ack-Ack Macaque earlier this month.

The novel about a sentient cigar-chomping, gun-wielding, Spitfire-flying monkey who once battled German ninjas in the skies over Britain in 1944 made a huge splash when it was published earlier this month.

Supported by a strong social media campaign by Powell, and with a well-received comic strip prequel published in legendary British SF comic book 2000 AD, Ack-Ack Macaque was an inventive science-fiction novel with a fun Steampunk sheen and a primate twist.

The agent was John Jarrold, and the deal was for UK/US rights.