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Date Archive: May 2007
May
31
FP London to host Star Wars 30th Anniversary Celebration, July 12th
Posted in: What's On on 31st May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a press release from FP, news of an event that toy and action-figure collectors will be particualrly interested in, which is taking place on July 12th: "Forbidden Planet are pleased to announce that we are the exclusive European location for the upcoming Gentle Giant World Tour celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars.
May
31
Wizards of the Coast launching new ‘adult fantasy’ imprint
Posted in: Press Room on 31st May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Chaz Brenchley dropped us a line a couple of weeks back to let us know about a new market for original fantasy fiction that's being launched next year by Wizards of the Coast, the US-based publisher of game systems including Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
We tracked down a press release with all the relevant info: "Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a premier publisher of fantasy fiction and a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., announced today that beginning in 2008 the company will bring its legendary ability to discover new talent to bear on a line of novels independent of any of its established shared-world lines.
May
30
Anne Sudworth on her new Gothic Fantasies art collection
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 30th May 2007 by Sandy Auden
Anne Sudworth's second collection of mesmerising paintings is available now from the Artists' and Photographers' Press.
Gothic Fantasies brings together over 80 of her pastel paintings of magic, ancient beliefs and, of course, nature and trees. The pictures are grouped together into haunting chapters like 'Darkness', 'Ruins', and 'Spirits' and each picture is accompanied by a short piece of poetry or prose.
"I wanted the book to be quite simple and uncluttered with a very minimal amount of text," said Sudworth. "I decided I only wanted one painting on each page with either a few lines by myself or a poem to go with a certain number of the paintings.
May
28
Mark Millar signing, FP London, June 9th
Posted in: What's On on 28th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a recent Forbidden Planet press release: "Forbidden Planet is delighted to announce a signing by Mark Millar to promote his graphic novel Civil War [Amazon]. He will be at the new Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Saturday, June 9th from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m.
May
27
FP Neil Gaiman Stardust preview comp. May 31st Deadline
Posted in: What's On on 27th May 2007 by Sandy Auden
News has arrived from Matt Watson at Forbidden Planet in London…
"We've just sorted out a great competition where we will be having a screening of the Stardust movie (based on Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name) followed by a thirty minute Q&A with Gaiman himself."
May
25
Dark fantasist Kim Lakin-Smith on debut novel, ‘Tourniquet’
Posted in: Press Room on 25th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Tourniquet: Tales from the Renegade City is the the debut novel from dark fantasy author Kim Lakin-Smith and is published by UK independent publisher Immanion Press.
Immannion sent us a press release worth of information about the book: "Future Nottingham has earned its tag as the UK's gun capital. Origin, the greatest rock band of the century, buy off local government and revamp and re-market their home town of Nottingham as a goth-noir paradise called Renegade City. The freaks, geeks and greebos of the world move in, find a new religion called Belief and, with it, the freedom to live as fantastically as they choose.
May
24
Jasper Fforde signing, Foyles, London, July 9th
Posted in: What's On on 24th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
An early alert for a July event, but one that's bound to be popular and will probably book up sharpish: Foyles bookstore in London is hosting an Exclusive London reading and signing event with British humourist Jasper Fforde, on Monday 9th July at 6.30 p.m. to promote the author's new novel, First Among Sequels [Amazon].
May
23
Kelley Armstrong competition: win a year’s worth of Orbit books
Posted in: Press Room on 23rd May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a recent press release from the UK's Orbit Books: "This month, Kelley Armstrong returns with No Humans Involved, the new volume in her acclaimed, and bestselling, series of supernatural thrillers set in the Otherworld, a dark vision of our own world where humans unwittingly co-exist with werewolves, witches and other supernatural beings.
May
22
Chris Dolley on his debut sf novel, ‘Resonance’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 22nd May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
A few weeks ago we reported on an eco-friendly Online Book Tour and Virtual Signing experiment by Brit author Chris Dolley, which kicks off today. We thought we'd enter into the spirit of things with a few questions of our own:
May
22
Brit author’s debut novel launched at Derby Alt.Fiction event
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 22nd May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Debut author James Cooper dropped us a line recently with the details of a Crowswing Books press release: "James Cooper is proud to announce the publication of his debut novel, The Midway, published by Crowswing. It was launched at this year's Alt-Fiction event in Derby on April 28th.
May
21
Simon Spurrier on his genre-bending new novel, ‘Contract’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 21st May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
British writer Simon Spurrier is probably best known as a regular in the pages of UK weekly science fiction comic 2000AD (Lobster Random, Bec and Kawl, Harry Kipling (Deceased), London Falling, Chiaroscuro among others) and for a string of shared-world novels for the likes of Black Flame, The Black Library and Abaddon Books.
From May 24th, Headline Books are publishing Contract, Spurrier's first novel set in a milieu entirely of his own creation. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the release of the book will be backed by an online campaign that will see the novel released in via the website www.itsallaboutthemoney.co.uk.
We thought this would be an ideal opportunity to drop Simon Spurrier a line and ask him if he could tell us a bit more about the novel, and Headline's promotional campaign.
May
21
Michael Chabon signing, Foyles, London, June 7th
Posted in: What's On on 21st May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Foyles bookstore in London will be hosting an event with Pulizter-prize winning author Michael Chabon on Thursday June 7th at 6.30 p.m. to promote his new novel The Yiddish Policemen's Union [Amazon], an alternate history / crime novel which John Clute described as "a lacrimae rerum paean to a world locked into false sacralizing while we continue to die" in a recent SciFi.com column.
May
20
David Mitchell signing, Rutherford Theatre, London, May 30th
Posted in: What's On on 20th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
The Charing Cross Road branch of Blackwell's booksellers have announced an exclusive London event with the highly acclaimed, award-winning, cross-genre novelist David Mitchell on Wednesday May 30th at 7.00 p.m. at the Rutherford Theatre, 76 Portland Place, London.
May
20
David Gunn talks about war, sex and alcohol in ‘Death’s Head’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 20th May 2007 by Sandy Auden
With the Summer holidays approaching fast, it's time to have a gander at the book shelves for a good book (or two) to accompany the lazy days. David Gunn's debut novel, Death's Head, might not strike you as a fun read from the title alone, but hidden between its pages is a scurrilous tale of one man's journey to self enlightenment via war, blood, sex and sarcasm.
The star of Death's Head is Sven. For a soldier, he's dangerously irreverent to his superiors but his ability to heal quickly keeps him fighting despite the beatings. Currently deployed on a desert planet fighting the ferocious ferox, Sven is the first person to discover how to communicate with the beasts when his fort is wiped out by a ferox attack and Sven is held prisoner in their lair. After he's rescued, his information about the ferox culture catapults him into a job with the elite Death's Head corps – and some missions with a very short life expectancy…
May
17
Steph Swainston on new novel ‘The Modern World’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 17th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Steph Swainston dropped us a line the other day to let us know about a signing session she'll be involved in a couple of weeks from now:
- Thursday June 7th, from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m. - 'SF in the City' at Waterstones Piccadilly, London. Confirmed author attendees are: Steph Swainston, Eric Brown, John Lambshead, Chris Dolley, Andrew Dennis, Steven Savile.
We also took this opportunity to drop Steph Swainston a few questions about her new novel, The Modern World, the latest in her ongoing Castle series:
May
15
New Transformers novels due from Titan
Posted in: Press Room on 15th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a recently-received Titan Books press release, we have news of two brand new tie-in novels that Transformers will be pleased to hear about.
"In the run-up to what promises to be one of the top blockbusters of 2007, Titan is giving you the ultimate way to prepare for the Summer's sci-fi blockbuster movie - Transformers - with the official movie novelisations.
"Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday [Amazon], published on May 25th, is the official prequel novel, telling of the events prior to the movie to give fans the full story that leads to the action on screen.
May
15
Will the real Paul Kane please stand up?
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 15th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
We've had an email from British fantasy Society stalwart Marie O'Regan asking us to help try to make folks aware of a spot of confusion that's arisen recently: "I've been asked by my husband, Paul Kane, to contact anyone we work with in terms of reviews / articles / interviews etc. because it's come to our attention that there is another Paul Kane writing genre material who is based in Manchester, UK.
May
14
Chaz Brenchley and Christine Poulson, Manchester Museum, May 19th
Posted in: What's On on 14th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
We've just found out about a horror fiction reading taking place in Manchester this weekend - on Saturday May 19th from 6.30 p.m. to be precise - in the Mummy Room of the Manchester Museum.
The occasion is 'Fright Night', which is taking place as part of La Nuit des Musées, "the night, every year, when museums across Europe open their doors late into the evening", and will be taking the form of a reception and reading, hosted by Manchester's own Comma Press, to mark the recent publication of their anthology of modern horror fiction, Phobic.
May
14
Stephen J Walker on Torchwood Companion Inside The Hub
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 14th May 2007 by Sandy Auden
Want to know more about the first Torchwood series? Then look no further than Stephen James Walker's Unofficial and Unauthorized Guide to Torchwood: Inside The Hub.
Its six sections cover every single episode in series one, plus in-depth details about how the show was incepted, went into production and progressed, what the Torchwood format is, and includes profiles of each character.
May
13
Birmingham Tolkien Festival 19 to 20 May 2007
Posted in: What's On on 13th May 2007 by Sandy Auden
The Tolkien Society and Birmingham City Council will be holding their annual Tolkien Festival at The Shire Country Park, Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Road, Birmingham on the weekend of May 19 to 20 2007.
May
11
Write Fantastic events in May: Swindon, Brentford, Lambeth, Hillingdon
Posted in: What's On on 11th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Fantasy author Juliet E McKenna, one of the members of the UK Fantasy Writers' collective The Write Fantastic, has been in tocuh to tell us about a series of events that various TWF members will be taking part in between now and the end of May.
May
11
Hammer Horror Films set for big-screen comeback?
Posted in: Press Room on 11th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
According to a report on the BBC website yesterday evening, Hammer Horror films - an integral part of the British genre scene from the late '50s throughout the '60s - could be set for a big-screen comeback after the company was sold to Dutch investors headed by John de Mol.
The BBC is reporting that: "At least $50m (£25m) will be spent on new horror films after British company Hammer Film Productions was sold to Dutch consortium Cyrte Investments." A press release on the Hammer Films website confirms the sale, adding that "Spitfire Pictures founders Guy East and Nigel Sinclair will join the board as non-executive directors."
May
9
Chris Dolley launches Virtual Book Tour to support ‘Resonance’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 9th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
The US paperback edition of British author Chris Dolley's debut novel, Resonance [Amazon] will be published by Baen Books on May 22nd.
Chris has been in touch to let us know about an eco-friendly promotional push for the book that he's organising:
"It's a virtual book tour with a difference." he tells us. And has helpfully provided a handy FAQ to explain the concept:
May
9
J. Michael Straczynski signing, FP London, May 12th
Posted in: What's On on 9th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
News of another top-notch signing taking place at Forbidden Planet in London: "Forbidden Planet is pleased to announce a signing by J Michael Straczynski to promote Civil War, Amazing Spider-Man and Fantastic Four.
"He will be at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Saturday May 12th from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m."
May
8
Richard Morgan signing, FP London, May 17th
Posted in: What's On on 8th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
This just in from London's premiere specialist SF retailer, Forbidden Planet: "Forbidden Planet is pleased to announce a signing by Richard K Morgan to promote his new novel Black Man [Amazon]. He will be at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Thursday 17th May from 6.00 to 7.00 p.m.
May
7
Books Received Mar 30th - May 7th 2007
Posted in: Books Received on 7th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
A long overdue round-up of books received over the past six weeks or so. New titles from the likes of Steven Erikson, Ed Gorman, Conrad Williams, Simon Spurrier, Garry Kilworth, Sara Douglass, Robert Edric, Brian Lumley, Tony Ballantyne, Derek M. Fox, Stephenie Meyer, Cameron Rogers, David Gunn, David Devereux, Ramsey Campbell, Kai Meyer, Richard Parks, Emily Gee and more, as well as mass-market paperback aeditions of titles by, among others, Alan Campbell, David & Leigh Eddings, James Clemens and R. Scott Bakker,
As always, many thanks to the publishers concerned for bringing these titles to our attention.
May
6
Ian Watson visiting Birmingham SF Group, May 11th
Posted in: What's On on 6th May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
This just in from the Birmingham SF Group: "Apologies for late notice - new event just announced! Ian Watson will be talking to the Birmingham SF Group about 'Artificial Intelligence and Storytelling' on Friday 11th May at 7.45 to 8.00 p.m."
The talk will take place at the usual venue: the Britannia Hotel (2nd floor), New Street, Birmingham. Tickets are £3 to BSFG members, £4 to non-members. Please address email queries to the BSFG secretary at bhamsfgroup@yahoo.co.uk.
May
3
Arthur Machen Celebration: evening event, Caerleon, July 5th
Posted in: What's On on 3rd May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Via the latest British Fantasy Society newsfeed e-bulletin, we learn that the Institute of Welsh Affairs Gwent branch and Academi (the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Authors) is hosting an evening in celebration of "Arthur Machen: Master of Holy Terrors" at University of Wales Caerleon, Newport, on July 5th, 2007 as part of the Caerleon Arts Festival.
May
3
Arthur C. Clarke Award 2007: Winner Announced
Posted in: Press Room on 3rd May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Hot off the Clarke Award presses: "Nova Swing by M. John Harrison, published by Gollancz in the UK, is the winner of this year's Arthur C. Clarke Award, the UK’s premier prize for science fiction literature.
The announcement was made at the award’s official ceremony held in London, Piccadilly on the evening of Wednesday 2nd May as part of an exclusive event in partnership with the opening of this year's Sci-Fi-London Film Festival.
May
2
Headline launches online campaign for Simon Spurrier’s ‘Contract’
Posted in: Press Room on 2nd May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Becky Fincham, publicist with Headline Books has been in touch with some information about a new marketing campaign they've launched to support the new novel by regular 2000AD writer Simon Spurrier, Contract.
Becky tells us: "Headline Publishing Group is proud to announce a bold move into online publishing. From 24th May, in six weekly instalments, Headline will publish Contract, by Simon Spurrier, online, to download for free from dedicated website www.itsallaboutthemoney.co.uk. Whilst Science Fiction imprints such as Orbit have published novels online in the past few years, Headline is the first mainstream commercial UK publisher to enter this field.
May
1
PS Publishing unveils 2007 Postscripts line-ups
Posted in: Press Room on 1st May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Peter Crowther of PS Publishing has unveiled the line-ups for three more issues of PS's IGH Award-winning Postscripts magazine - edited by Peter Crowther and Nick Gevers - which are scheduled to be published over the course of 2007 and into early 2008.
May
1
Dr Who authors signing FP London, May 5th
Posted in: What's On on 1st May 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a recent Forbidden Planet press release: "Forbidden Planet is delighted to announce a signing by Justin Richards and Stephen Cole. They will be signing their new Doctor Who books at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m. on Saturday May 5th 2007.