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Date Archive: July 2007
Jul
31
Tom Lloyd signing, FP London, re-scheduled August 16th
Posted in: What's On on 31st July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
This event was originally scheduled for July 21st. August 16th is the confirmed, re-scheduled date.
From a Forbidden Planet press release: "Forbidden Planet is pleased to announce a signing by fantasy author Tom Lloyd to launch his novel, Twilight Herald. He will be at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London on Thursday August 16th, from 6.00 to 7.00 p.m."
Jul
31
£1,000 prize competition for aspiring comics artists
Posted in: Press Room on 31st July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Jonathan Cape, publishers of Graphic Novels with a literary bent - such as the Guardian First Novel Prize winning Jimmy Corrigan and the highly-regarded Persepolis duology and Joe Sacco's Palestine - are running a new competition, The Graphic Short Story Prize, in association with The Observer and Comica, the London International Film Festival.
Jul
30
Two new anthologies from Bloody Books due in September 2007
Posted in: Press Room on 30th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
A double-dose of new horror short fiction will be published by Beautiful Books' Bloody Books imprint on September 2007 4th, in the form of Read by Dawn II and Classic Tales of Horror 2.
Jul
27
Peter F. Hamilton signing, FP London, August 3rd *New Date*
Posted in: What's On on 27th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Update, 27.07.07: The signing has now been moved from Thursday August 2nd to Friday, August 3rd.
From a Forbidden Planet press release: "Forbidden Planet is delighted to announce a signing by Peter F. Hamilton to promote his new book The Dreaming Void [Amazon]. He will be at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2 H 8JR, on Thursday August 2nd Friday August 3rd from 6.00 to 7.00 p.m.
Jul
24
William Gibson signing, FP London, August 29th
Posted in: What's On on 24th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
We've just this minute received the following announcement from Forbidden Planet: "We are pleased to announce that William Gibson will be signing copies of his new novel Spook Country [Amazon] at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Wednesday 29th August from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m."
Jul
23
Robin Hobb on the conclusion of her Soldier Son Trilogy
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 23rd July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
The third volume of Robin Hobb's current fantasy series, The Soldier Son, was published earlier this month by Voyager Books in the UK.
Robin Hobb has been described by The Times as "a great modern fantasy writer" and The Guardian as "a remarkable storyteller" and has been on the receiving end of rave reviews for her entire career. With The Soldier Son, she took a new narrative direction, moving away from the her hugely popular World of the Elderlings setting, crafting a new milieu from a blend of sources and influences.
We got in touch with Robin to ask how her new fictional direction had gone down with her readership, and to find out which worlds she was planning to explore next.
Jul
23
Promotion at Gollancz Books: Gillian Redfearn takes editorial hot-seat
Posted in: Press Room on 23rd July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Following last week's news of a bit of a shake-up and re-organisation at the Orion Book Group, both Stephane Marsan of top-notch French genre publisher Bragelonne and fantasy author Joe Abercrombie have been in touch to let us know that a certain Ms Gillian Redfearn has been promoted to editor following the acquisition of sufficient power-up tokens and having defeated the boss on level 12 as a just reward for her incredibly hard work at Gollancz Books.
Jul
22
Debut author Karen Miller talks about The Innocent Mage
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 22nd July 2007 by Sandy Auden
Debut author Karen Miller has arrived on the heroic fantasy scene with The Innocent Mage, a story that had haunted her imagination for many years…
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe started the journey," said Miller. "It was the very first fantasy novel I ever read, back in fourth class primary school. My imagination was captured, not only by the heroism and emotion of that story, but by the boundless possibilities contained within the speculative fiction genre. There was no looking back after that. My love affair with all things fantasy and science fiction began the day I opened that book and continues to this day.
Jul
19
British Fantasy Society meet-up in York, October 13th
Posted in: What's On on 19th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Following numerous expressions of interest from British Fantasy Society members, a meet-up has been organised that will take place on Saturday October 13th at York Brewery; only a 5 minute walk from the central train station.
Jul
18
Robert Rankin signing, FP London, August 4th
Posted in: Press Room on 18th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a Forbidden Planet press release: "Forbidden Planet is pleased to announce a signing by Robert Rankin to launch his new book, The Da Da De Da Da Code [Amazon]. He will be at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 4th October, from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m.
Jul
15
Richard Morgan West Coast US Tour, July 23rd - 29th
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 15th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Richard Morgan's new novel, Black Man (UK) / Thirteen (US) has been out for just over a month in the US (two months in the UK) and it's certainly made the reviewers think; reactions have focused on the political, racial and social elements of the book's considerable layer of subtext, whilst acknowledging that this is still very much an action novel in the vein of Morgan's earlier Takeshi Kovacs novels and Market Forces, the deeply satirical bastard offspring of Mad Max and The Office.
Morgan will be jetting to the US next weekend for a mini-tour that takes in several major cities on the Pacific coast (or the 'Rim States', as they have become in Black Man / Thirteen). We dropped Richard a line to quickly ask him about the tour and his next book project; a (planned so far) three-volume fantasy saga entitled Land Fit For Heroes (tour dates follow at the end of the article).
Jul
13
New Penguin Science Fiction Omnibus - line-up confirmed
Posted in: Press Room on 13th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Following on from our recent story on Penguin's plans for a new edition of the classic Brian Aldiss anthology, A Science Fiction Omnibus, Colin Brush of the Penguin UK publicity department very kindly sent us through the list of contents:
Jul
12
Illmoor Chronicles author David Lee Stone’s new website launches
Posted in: Press Room on 12th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Jeremy Allen, of the Illmoor Chronicles web-ring, has been in touch to let us know about the launch of a brand new website for author David Lee Stone, at www.davidleestone.com.
Jeremy tells us: "The site already contains video blogs by David, readings from various Illmoor books and (forthcoming) more information and excerpts from the new DLS pirate-fantasy, Davey Swag (which will be published in March 2008).
Jul
11
Year of the Teledu, Leicester, July 20th - 22nd
Posted in: What's On on 11th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
If you've been to a convention in the UK this year then there's a good chance that you'll have run into a giant badger and friends; distributing leaflets on the subject of the Year of the Teledu. YotT is a Funcon and is taking place in the Stage Hotel, Leicester, over the weekend of July 20th - 22nd.
Funcon? The Year of the Teledu website explains the concept: "'Year of the Wombat' was a one-off science fiction convention held in Nottingham, UK in 1997. Nearly ten years later some of the main organisers decided that they wanted to do something new: an Open Source convention.
Jul
11
Tor UK announces new three-book space opera deal for Gary Gibson
Posted in: Press Room on 11th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a press release fresh in from Emma Giacon of UK publisher Pan Macmillan's genre imprint Tor UK, we have details of a new, three-book deal for Gary Gibson; Scottish author of Angel Stations and Against Gravity, and member of the Glasgow SF Writers group, along with the likes of Hal Duncan and Michael Cobley.
The three books form a connected series and will be entitled Stealing Light, Stealing Fire and Stealing Time. The publication details for the three volumes: "Stealing Light [Amazon] is the first in a new epic-scale space opera series and will be published on October 5th, 2007. The next two books in the series, Stealing Fire and Stealing Time, are due to be published in 2008 and 2009 respectively."
Jul
10
Steven Savile Torchwood audiobook, ‘Hidden’, due from BBC
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 10th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
The John Jarrold Literary Agency has concluded a contract for author Steven Savile to write an audiobook for the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. The title will be Hidden, and the story will be delivered in August, for an autumn recording date by BBC audiobooks.
John Jarrold said: "The storyline is under wraps, however, I've read the synopsis, and it's terrific! As one of those who remembers watching the first episode of Doctor Who in November 1963 and still watches both the original and Torchwood, I can't wait to hear it!"
Jul
10
Fiona McIntosh talks to Orbit about new novel ‘Odalisque’
Posted in: Press Room on 10th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Australian fantasy author Fiona McIntosh is one of a series of Antipodean imports that UK genre specialists Orbit Books have successfully introduced to the UK in the past few years.
This month, Orbit UK publishes Odalisque [Amazon], the first book in a brand new series by McIntosh set in the city of Percheron. It's described by Orbit as "a dark novel set in a world of Byzantine manoeuvres and courtly intrigue" and has already found favour in a review in UK genre fiction mag Interzone: "...a beautifully structured novel, full of cruelty, wonder, mystery and terror. It has a splendid momentum that holds its audience through thick and thin."
Jul
9
Penguin UK to mount William Gibson-themed Second Life expedition
Posted in: Press Room on 9th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Freshly posted over on the Penguin Books UK blog is news that the publisher is planning to host a series of activities within the virtual environs of Second Life to promote Spook Country [Amazon], the new novel by one of the founding fathers of Cyberpunk, William Gibson.
Spook Country is a modern-era thriller in which a freelance journalist is drawn (or is she actually being driven by her mysterious and possibly dangerous employers?) towards a mystery; a Cuban ex-pat is given orders that will change his life forever and a virtual-reality artist seems to be the eye of the growing storm.
Jul
9
Waterstone’s launches online petition to Save Harry Potter
Posted in: Press Room on 9th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
As reported on The Bookseller this morning, UK bookselling chain Waterstone's has launched a Save Harry campaign to try to persuade Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to write more books set in the H.P. universe.
The chain hopes that fans will be persuaded to sign their online petition at www.saveharrypotter.co.uk. The site proclaims: "There has never been a place like Hogwarts. There has never been a writer like JK Rowling. And there has never, ever been a character like Harry Potter. Millions, perhaps billions of us love reading his adventures, and we never want them to end."
Jul
9
Steve Aylett reading, Troy Club, London, July 22nd
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 9th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Steve Aylett, author of much surrealist fiction and non-fiction-esque general weirdness - including the likes of Lint, Slaughtermatic, Fain the Sorcerer and many more - has been in touch to tell us about a forthcoming public appearance.
Jul
8
Andy Lound visiting Birmingham SF Group, July 13th
Posted in: What's On on 8th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Andy Lound will be talking to the Birmingham Science Fiction Group on Friday July 13th, from 7.45pm, at the Britannia Hotel, New Street, Birmingham.
Jul
8
Emily Gee on UK debut fantasy novel ‘Thief With No Shadow’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 8th July 2007 by Sandy Auden
It's always nice to find a genre novel that combines multiple aspects of the fantastic with a fluid prose style and an excellent underlying structure. Emily Gee's Thief With No Shadow combines mythological monsters, a medieval setting and a large dose of romance to create the emotional tale of Melke, a wraith, who can make herself invisible at will, a useful trait if she is to save her brother, Hantje, from certain death.
Because Hantje has been captured by the fire-breathing Salamanders and the price for his freedom is a magical necklace, owned by a nearby family. Melke uses her skills to steal the jewelry but in doing so condemns the family to death instead, as an ancient curse descends with the loss of the necklace…
Jul
6
Paul Kane’s ‘The Lazarus Condition’ due from Tasmaniac
Posted in: Press Room on 6th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Australian independent press Tasmaniac Publications launches this month and their debut publication is horror novella The Lazarus Condition by British writer Paul Kane, author of Alone (In the Dark), Touching the Flame, FunnyBones, Signs of Life and The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy.
Featuring the novella The Lazarus Condition along with bonus short story 'Dead Time', plus an introduction by Mick Garris (creator of Masters of Horror, director of The Stand, Desperation and the forthcoming Bag of Bones, and author of Development Hell) with stunning cover and internal artwork from Australian artist Dion Hamill.
Jul
6
‘Falling From the Sky’: free pdf fiction anthology from Another Sky
Posted in: Press Room on 6th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Short fiction writer Stephen J. Anderson dropped us an email to let us know about a new anthology project that includes one of his pieces. Falling From the Sky features 37 writers from around the world, half a dozen of them (including Stephen) from the UK.
The anthology of "grit-lit, urban, surrealist, raw, outsider, bizarro, fringe, experimental" fiction is edited by Craig Quackenbush and published by US publishing house Another Sky Press. They've developed a business model that seeks to take advantage of online promotion and distribution in order to create additional audience for its titles. They describe the model as a "pro-artist, pro-audience system" that they call 'neo-patronage'.
Jul
5
New edition of classic Brian Aldiss SF Omnibus due November
Posted in: Press Room on 5th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
As reported by Joe Gordon over on the always-excellent Forbidden Planet Blog Log, Penguin UK are re-issuing an udated edition of the Brian Aldiss edited anthology A Science Fiction Omnibus, as part of their Modern Classics range.
Jul
5
Fantasy Feast on offer from Reader’s Paradise bookstore, Cape Town, SA
Posted in: Press Room on 5th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Thomas Bulpin of the Reader's Paradise bookstore (Kloof Street, Cape Town, South Africa) dropped us a line to let us know about a special promotion they're offering their customers through August and September.
Thomas tells us: "We are planning an event in August and September called the Fantasy Feast. If a customer buys any of the featured authors' books during the 2 month event will receive a signed bookplate to stick in the novel. We have over 40 authors in the promotion, including the likes of Terry Brooks, Trudi Canavan, David Brin, Neil Gaiman, Tad Williams, Elizabeth Moon and many more...
Jul
5
Online sci-fi community and writing project Galaxiki launches
Posted in: Press Room on 5th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Science fiction fan Jos Kirps has been in touch to tell us about the launch of the Galaxiki project: a writing-oriented community website "for all the sci-fi addicts out there."
Jos explains the concept: "Galaxiki (a portmanteau of the words 'galaxy' and 'wiki') is a web-based, free content virtual community project. It consists of a virtual galaxy with over a million stars and solar systems that can be explored using a 2-dimensional map.
"Each star, each planet and each moon represents one wiki page, the idea behind the project is that Galaxiki site members - called "Galaxicians" - can edit those pages and write fictional histories about them.
Jul
4
Ken Steacy signing, FP London, July 11th
Posted in: What's On on 4th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
From a Forbidden Planet press release: "Forbidden Planet is delighted to announce a special in store appearance by comics artist Ken Steacy, at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Wednesday July 11th from 5.00 to 6.00 pm.
Jul
4
John Jarrold seals two-book deal for debut author Jasper Kent
Posted in: Press Room on 4th July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
In a press release earlier this week, genre fiction agent extraordinaire John Jarrold has announced his sixth deal for a debut novelist with a major UK publisher in the last eighteen months.
World rights in Jasper Kent's Twelve – an epic novel set in the period of the battle of Borodino and its aftermath in 1812 and featuring strong supernatural elements – have been sold by Jarrold to Simon Taylor at Transworld UK (Bantam Corgi), together with an unwritten sequel, for a good five-figure sum.
Jul
3
Interzone #211 out in July from TTA Press
Posted in: Press Room on 3rd July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Issue #211 (July/Aug 2007) of Interzone, the UK's longest-running science fiction magazine, will be a Michael Moorcock special and goes on sale on July 12th.
TTA Press tells us: "Interzone #211's striking new cover design starts with Richard Marchand's 'Lunar Flare' and leads with a special feature on Michael Moorcock, the writer described by the late Angela Carter as 'a lord of misrule, whose work is the nearest thing we have in English to a never-ending carnival.'"
Jul
2
Les Edwards website update, plus summer sale: 20% off art prints
Posted in: Press Room on 2nd July 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Multiple British Fantasy Award-winning artist of the fantastic, Les Edwards - who also creates under the nom de brosse Edward Miller - has just posted a big update of over 50 new images to his gallery websites at www.LesEdwards.com and www.EdwardMiller.co.uk.
To mark the update - and as an offering to the gods of British Summer Time (wherever the heck they might be hiding at the moment) - he's also holding a Summer Sale, with 20% off all art prints bought via the site.