GALLERY BOOKS TO PUBLISH OFFICIAL LICENSED TIE-INS TO

New York, NY (April 13, 2010) -- Gallery Books Executive Vice President and Publisher Louise Burke has announced that Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, has entered into a two-book deal with and #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss for original novels based on the groundbreaking and award-winning military sci-fi action series Gears of War.

The fourth and fifth books in the New York Times bestselling series were acquired by Gallery Books Vice President and Deputy Publisher Anthony Ziccardi in a major deal with Creative Artists Agency, and will be edited by Editor Ed Schlesinger. Author Karen Traviss is also writing the third Gears of War game, due for release in April 2011, and her fourth book will set the scene for the final game in the blockbuster trilogy.

“Gears of War is an action-packed video game with boundless storytelling potential,” said Louise Burke. “We’re thrilled to have acquired this major license—the talents of Karen Traviss and the creativity of the Epic Games team will deliver riveting novels and many sleepless nights to millions of dedicated fans around the world.”

“We’ve always carefully integrated the books and the games, but now that Karen’s writing the game as well, the storyline is even more tightly woven,” said , Executive Producer, Epic Games. “All the characters have a rich and troubled history, and the events between the second and third games plunge them into an even more desperate struggle to survive. The fourth book is essential reading for all Gearheads before they dive into the final game of the trilogy.”

Gears of War is a blockbuster entertainment franchise that has inspired a full line of toys and collectibles, apparel, an upcoming film, graphic novels and a New York Times bestselling book series. The Gears of War games have won over 30 ”Game of the Year” awards, sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, and redefined the third-person shooter genre. Gears of War is the harrowing story of Delta Squad and their struggle to save the remnants of humanity in a world overrun by a brutal enemy, the Locust Horde.

Gears of War 3 and all of the Gears of War novels are written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss, widely noted for her groundbreaking Star Wars novels and award-nominated original military science fiction. “Gears is a great game, with characters you can believe in and real human drama,” she said. “It’s a defining experience to work on it, and I’m delighted to be working with Gallery Books to bring more of the saga to readers.”

For information, please contact: Sarah Reidy Associate Director of Publicity GALLERY BOOKS 212-698-4792 [email protected]

Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and game engine technology, including the multiple million-selling, award-winning Unreal and Gears of War series, and the industry leading 3 game engine, a four-time winner of Game Developer magazine’s Best Engine Front Line Award and Hall of Fame inductee. More information about Epic Games can be found at www.epicgames.com.

Gallery Books is an imprint dedicated to publishing a wide variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics. Launching in February 2010, Gallery Books is designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction, and across a variety of genres. Some of Gallery Books’ upcoming titles include My Footprint by Jeff Garlin, In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck, I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee, and unchartered terriTORI by Tori Spelling.

Epic, Epic Games, Gears of War, , , Unreal, and Unreal Engine are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere.