-
Monthly Archive
-
Departments
-
Site Admin
Site Search
Top 50 Tags
Networks
View UKSFBN's Authority
UKSFBN Talks To
Interviews with authors, publishers and creators, sourced and conducted by the UKSFBN crew.Apr
28
M.M. Smith on the UK edition of his short novel, ‘The Servants’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 28th April 2008 by Sandy Auden
The UK edition of M.M. (that's Mike Marshall to you and me) Smith's short and rather personal novel, The Servants - originally published as a limited edition novella by Earthling Publications in the US - has now been published by HarperCollins.
The Servants introduces us to eleven-year-old Mark, who is trying to come to terms with the break up of his parents, dealing with his new step-dad and having to move from London to Brighton away from his friends and familiar life. His mother's strange behaviour and an argument with his step-dad sends him fleeing the house and he finds himself having tea with the old lady in the basement flat – the flat she shares with the ghosts of the servants that ran the whole house a long time ago…
Apr
28
Nicholas Knight on the Official Companions to ‘Supernatural’ series one and two
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 28th April 2008 by Sandy Auden
Continuing its spooky roadtrip across the dark heart of America, the Supernatural TV series has just been renewed for a fourth season of adventure-packed demon hunting. The merchandising departments are now catching up (with what most of us have known since season one, about how good this show is) and we can finally get our sticky mitts on Companion books to the first two seasons of the show.
The Season Two Companion was released last week and joins the Season One Companion, released last October. Both volumes were written by Nicholas Knight and give an excellent insight into the inner workings of the show with episodes summaries; interviews with the cast and crew about the overall show and individual episodes; and snippets of trivia about dialogue, place names and music. Plus a sixteen page full colour glossy picture gallery featuring behind the scenes photos and those all important publicity shots of the Winchester boys, Sam and Dean.
Apr
14
John Meaney on his new Donal Riordan novel ‘Dark Blood’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 14th April 2008 by Sandy Auden
Our introduction to Police Officer Donal Riordan, in last year's Bone Song, was imaginative, dark and brooding. Taking a side-step across genres, from SF to Dark Fantasy, writer John Meaney created a strange world of purple skies and gargoyle-haunted streets, populated by even stranger denizens, then he set them on the trail of a murder mystery that spanned planets.
Now Riordan is back for more adventures in Tristopolis, a city fuelled by the bones of the dead that are burned in huge reactors beneath the city's surface. Riordan is adjusting slowly to being dead. He can sense the presence and the thoughts of his fellow zombies. He can see better, hear more accurately and he's tireless. But none of this will necessarily save him as he begins to investigate who is behind a plot to ensorcel the entire population of Tristopolis.
We tracked Meaney down and quizzed him about his extraordinary new series…
Mar
31
Raymond E Feist on ‘Wrath Of A Mad God’, ‘Darkwar’ Book Three
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 31st March 2008 by Sandy Auden
Raymond E Feist's Darkwar trilogy has now concluded with the release of Wrath Of A Mad God.
Magician Pug has travelled with his son Magnus, the mysterious Nakor and a god-touched soldier called Bek to the world of the militaristic Dasati. The Dasati, misled by an insane God and driven by the evil magician Leso Varen, are preparing to invade the Tsurani planet.
Meanwhile, Pug's wife, Miranda, desperately tries to muster the troops on the home worlds but a clever and bloody first strike by the Dasati might have already tipped the invasion's outcome too far in the wrong direction...
Mar
17
Mark Chadbourn on ‘Kingdom of the Serpent’ part two: ‘The Burning Man’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 17th March 2008 by UKSFBN admin
Mark Chadbourn's new novel, The Burning Man, will be published by Gollancz Books in mid-April. Long-time Chadbourn-fan Lizzy Hill dropped Mark a line on our behalf to ask him a few pertinent questions about the new novel, it's place in his canon of work, and some of the background to his ongoing series.
Lizzy Hill: Jack of Ravens - part one of The Kingdom of the Serpent - followed first Brother of Dragons Jack Churchill's epic journey through time from the Ancient Britons, via the Romans, Elizabethans, Vietnam and Woodstock, finally ending up in the modern day. Where will The Burning Man take us?
Mark Chadbourn: "Where Jack of Ravens was a quest through time, this one is a quest around the world. I won't mention the locations, of which there are several, because I don't want to spoil any surprises, but the starting point is the UK, and from there the group head east.
Mar
16
Fiona McIntosh on her Percheron series: ‘Odalisque’, ‘Emissary’ and ‘Goddess’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 16th March 2008 by Sandy Auden
Fiona McIntosh's Percheron series is an exotic mix of desert politics, Arabian culture and mythological subtext. Setting up the story in volume one, Odalisque, she introduces Anna – a beautiful country girl chosen by Lazar, the Zar's head of security, to be part of the new king's harem.
Unfortunately for Lazar, Anna captures his heart but he stands by his duty and hands her over to the palace eunuchs, condemning her to a life imprisoned at the palace. But Anna, abused by the vile Grand Master Eunuch and despised by the Zar's mother, has her own head-strong plans…
Mar
14
Joe Abercrombie on the conclusion of his debut series ‘The First Law’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 14th March 2008 by UKSFBN admin
The end of next week brings the official publication date of the final instalment in fantasy author Joe Abercrombie's debut trilogy, The First Law.
Part three, Last Argument of Kings is the culmination of a series that has - for the most part - been extremely well-received amongst fans and critics alike and has turned a legion of fantasy readers into fans of the exploits of Logen Ninefingers, Sand dan Glokta, Jezal dan Luther and the fantastic cast of supporting characters that populates Abercrombie's rich and vivid milieu.
We thought this might be an appropriate time to drop Mr Abercrombie a line and find out a bit more about how he's enjoyed the readers' reaction to the series so far, his distinct writing style, his focus on great dialogue, and what his plans for the future might be.
Feb
13
Guy Adams on ‘Deadbeat: Makes You Stronger’ and ‘Deadbeat: Dogs of Waugh’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 13th February 2008 by Sandy Auden
As we mentioned yesterday, UK independent publisher Humdrumming are currently in the last couple of days of their website-relaunch sale. Two of the titles on offer are Guy Adams' zombie series Deadbeat, books one (Makes You Stronger) and two (The Dogs of Waugh).
Deadbeat: Makes You Stronger introduces freshly dead (and re-animated) zombie Max, a regular in the Deadbeat nightclub and a man with a sense of curiosity that can get him killed (again). Enlisting the help of his dead nightclub friends he sets off to discover why you would be taking a full coffin away from a graveyard and, more importantly, why is the occupant still breathing?
Feb
10
Strong UK contributor line-up for Ash Tree’s ‘Exotic Gothic II’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 10th February 2008 by UKSFBN admin
Editor Danel Olson is currently working on Exotic Gothic II: New Tales of Taboo, the sequel to the anthology Exotic Gothic, which was published by Canadian independent Ash Tree Press in October 2007. The contributors list is still in the process of being finalised, but we understand there's likely to be a strong UK contingent in the final assortment.
Feb
7
James Lovegrove on his forthcoming Solaris novel, ‘The Age of Ra’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 7th February 2008 by UKSFBN admin
A couple of weeks ago, we reported on a new deal for UK author James Lovegrove for a novel called The Age of Ra, to be published by Solaris Books.
Intrigued by the concept, we dropped James a line with a few questions to see if he'd be prepared to shed a little more light on the background to the new novel.
Jan
31
Sarah Ash on her brand new fantasy novel, ‘Tracing the Shadow’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 31st January 2008 by UKSFBN admin
British fantasy author Sarah Ash's new novel Tracing the Shadow has just been published in the US by Bantam Spectra.
It's a prequel to her series, The Tears of Artamon, and tells "a tale of a siege between kingdoms, and a battle between heretics and believers, each with their own truths, their own lies, and their own soul-shattering discoveries waiting to be made."
We dropped Sarah a line to ask her a few questions about the new novel and how it relates to her previous series.
Dec
17
Paul McAuley on dimension-hopping alt-history SF-thriller: ‘Cowboy Angels’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 17th December 2007 by Sandy Auden
The idea for Paul McAuley's latest thriller, Cowboy Angels [Amazon], came from an unlikely source: "The key to the novel," McAuley explained, "was a vision of a huge railroad yard with trains rushing out of tunnels far too short to contain them, like so many scarves from a magician's sleeve. When I had that, I had the book."
This vision lead to the creation of Cowboy Angels, a fascinating alternate history novel set in America, 1984. Not our version of America, though, but an America that calls itself The Real, an America in which the invention of Turing Gates has allowed it access to sheaves of alternate histories.
Dec
17
Chris Wooding on his latest adult SF novel ‘The Fade’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 17th December 2007 by Sandy Auden
Chris Wooding's latest novel, The Fade [Amazon], was published earlier this year by Gollancz in the UK.
"The book is about two warring civilisations that have developed entirely underground, away from the lethal light of the suns," said Wooding. "Our heroine is a brutal and ruthless enforcer for her merchant master, but also a devoted wife and mother.
"When a military assault that she is involved in goes badly wrong, she finds herself thrown into a prison that no-one has ever escaped from. But when she learns of how her son, fighting on the front line, is walking into a trap, she realises she has to get out and warn him, before it's too late..."
Dec
5
Andy Remic on his latest novel, ‘War Machine’ (and Elvis…)
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 5th December 2007 by Sandy Auden
Set in the far future, in deep, dark space, Andy Remic's War Machine [Amazon] is a novel that examines themes of betrayal, loss and retribution, as well as the concept of whether a lifetime of evil and can be overcome by one good deed.
The blurb tells us that ex-soldier Keenan is now working as a private investigator on a planet at the peaceful fringes of the Tri-Gal. Since his family has died he's run up debts and is a heavy drinker, but he cannot refuse business. When a prince from the Jervai Province offers him a case onto a dangerous colony world, but the royal also offers clues as to the murderers of Keenan's family. It is a mission he cannot refuse...
"The writing of War Machine over the past eighteen months was, truly, an arduous experience," Remic assured us. "No, really it was. I know all writers say that sort of thing, but for me this whole creative enterprise was a unique and mind-blowing experience. I will share it with you. But be warned, dear reader, this tale is not for the faint-hearted..!
Oct
27
Zoran Živković on PS Publishing title ‘Twelve Collections and The Teashop’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 27th October 2007 by Sandy Auden
Surreal fantasist Zoran Živković has been having quite a year. In August he was presented with the Stefan Mitrov Ljubisa award for services to literature in his native Serbia. Shortly afterwards he was made professor of Philology at Belgrade University and in-between he managed to squeeze in a Guest of Honour appearance at the 2007 Eurocon in Copenhagen.
The majority of his works have been published in Serbia and also translated into English; many of them have been published in the UK by award-winning independent press PS Publishing, including an anthology of his earlier works entitled Impossible Stories (available at a 50% discount until the end of November as part of the PS Autumn Sale!) and three more titles - a novel and two novellas are in the PS pipeline.
His current title from PS Publishing is Twelve Collections and the Teashop. The very human desire to collect objects is something we have all experienced at some time in our lives, and Zoran Živković unmasks this obsession by introducing us to a dozen of the strangest collectors you've ever met.
Oct
14
Tim Lebbon on his BFS Award-winning dark fantasy novel ‘Dusk’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 14th October 2007 by Sandy Auden
Author Tim Lebbon was almost speechless last month, when he beat an incredibly strong line up of nominated authors to take the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel, for his dark fantasy Dusk, at an awards ceremony that brought the 2007 British Fantasy Convention to a close.
Dusk and it's sequel, Dawn, are set on the world of Noreela, where magic is slowly returning to the land but is opposed by some vicious factions of the populace. One boy, Rafe Baburn, carries the precious seed of magic needed to bring Noreela out of the savage culture it has regressed into, and the Red Monks will stop at nothing to see him dead as a result…
We caught up with Lebbon - now thankfully recovered from his speechlessness - to quiz him about his adventures on Noreela…
Sep
30
Paul Magrs on comedy horrors ‘Never The Bride’ and ‘Something Borrowed’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 30th September 2007 by Sandy Auden
Author Paul Magrs - who also writes Doctor Who tie-in novels - has created an entertaining new comedy-horror series in Never The Bride [Amazon] and its sequel Something Borrowed [Amazon].
Bed and Breakfast lady Brenda and her best friend Effie dodder around Whitby like blue-rinse Buffies, investigating unusual happenings and being irreverent to the occasional horror icon. But neither Brenda or Effie are quite what they seem; which is fine, because no one else in Whitby is quite what they seem either.
Sep
30
Lori Handeland on her supernatural erotica ‘Nightcrawler’ books
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 30th September 2007 by Sandy Auden
The Supernatural erotica cross-over sub-genre seems to be growing exponentially in popularity at the moment and Lori Handeland's new novel, Blue Moon, is just one of the latest titles to join the fray.
Mixing mystery with steamy sex and werewolf mythology, Blue Moon follows the adventures of policewoman Jessie as she investigates a seemingly simple case of a wolf being hit by a car. Before long, previously normal people are ripping out throats and Jessie is desperately trying to work with the local folklore expert, Will, without ripping his clothes off in a frenzy of lust…
Sep
18
Steve Aylett stand-up, London, September 30th
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 18th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Steve says: "Simon Munnery (League Against Tedium) headlines, plus Terry Saunders and tbc. From around 7.30pm. Featuring the hellish Lord Pin."
More info: www.steveaylett.com
Source: Steve Aylett
Sep
16
John Higgins on ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ graphic novel adaptation
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 16th September 2007 by Sandy Auden
It's worryingly easy to think that the premise of The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning [Amazon] could actually have some sort of basis in fact: that a small town in the US desert could be horrifically poisoned by above-ground nuclear testing. The story's subsequent events - as the nice townsfolk devolve into horrific mutants over a number of generations also - maintain that edginess of possibility.
Inspired by Wes Craven's film The Hills Have Eyes and this year's movie, The Hills Have Eyes 2, publishers Harper Paperbacks have decided to take you back to where it all began with this graphic novel adaptation of the series' origin story.
Sep
14
Sarah Pinborough on horror fiction, screenwriting, TAPS and more
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 14th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Sarah Pinborough is a British writer with four novels to her name to-date, all published by Leisure Books in the US and a fifth is scheduled for summer 2008. So far, Sarah has specialised in old-school, traditional horror fiction, but she's looking to broaden her creative horizons all the time.
Sarah has sold a new novella to UK independent PS Publishing which she describes as "unlike anything I've written before" (see below for more details) and she has also been accepted onto a TAPS course for budding screenwriters.
We dropped her a line to ask her about the course, and her ongoing plans for her prose-writing career.
Sep
12
The Write Fantastic author events in September / October
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 12th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
A few dates for fantasy fans' diaries coming up; Juliet E. McKenna of fantasy writers' collective The Write Fantastic (along with Sarah Ash, Chaz Brenchley, Mark Chadbourn, Deborah J. Miller, Stan Nicholls and Jessica Rydill) has been in touch to let us know about a series of events that various members of the group will be attending in the next couple of months.
Sep
12
Simon Morden offers free ‘The Lost Art’ signed bookplates, on request
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 12th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
"I have therefore decided that I will post a signed, personalised, numbered bookplate to the first ninety-nine people who want one to put in their copy of The Lost Art. I will do this entirely free of charge, to anywhere in the world. The bookplate measures 10cm x 7cm and is printed on photo quality paper at 600dpi. It features entirely original (but hopefully quite decent) artwork by me. Terms and conditions (of which there are very few, not even proof you've bought a copy) apply..."
More Info: www.bookofmorden.co.uk
Source: Simon Morden
Sep
11
James Cooper collection to launch at Fantasycon
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 11th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
British author James Cooper has been in touch to let us know that his debut short fiction collection, You Are The Fly: Tales of Redemption & Distress [Amazon], will be published by Humdrumming Books on Friday September 21st and will be launched at Fantasycon in Nottingham during the weekend of September 21st - 23rd, where James will be available to sign copies on the Saturday.
Sep
6
Free Tim Lebbon short story available from Horror Literature Quarterly
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 6th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
In the blog post announcing the news, Tim says of the story: "It's one I'm very proud of indeed ... one of the best I've written for a while."
More Info: www.timlebbon.net / Horror Fiction Quarterly
Source: Tim Lebbon
Sep
5
Steve Wescott signs two-book deal with Frontlist Books
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 5th September 2007 by UKSFBN admin
"A re-published edition of Reluctant Heroes, suitably re-edited and with a new cover, comes out 1st October this year, with the second in the Black Dragon Trilogy, Cronan the Librarian, due out in March of next year. I am in the process of writing the third and final installment which should be due out March '09, as John has taken the option on publication."
More info: www.softeditions.co.uk / www.stevewestcott.com
Source: Steve Westcott
Sep
2
Sergei Lukyanenko and Andrew Bromfield on the ‘Watch’ urban fantasies
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 2nd September 2007 by Sandy Auden
Featuring a rich mixture of werewolves, vampires and Light Magicians battling it out on the streets of Moscow, Sergei Lukyanenko's Watch series is a prime example of why urban fantasy is one of the fastest growing book markets in the UK.
Its intelligent storylines, haunting cultural resonances and vivid imagery are captivating throughout the three volumes in the series so far: The Night Watch [Amazon], The Day Watch [Amazon] and The Twilight Watch [Amazon] (#1 is out now in mass-market paperback, #2 will follow in January, and #3 has just been published in large-format paperback in the UK).
A leading light in Russia's fan-scene, Lukyanenko explains how the series came to be written: "Normally, when I start writing a book I do not plan in advance that it will be a part of a series. I have books without sequels, have two-book series, trilogies and one quadrology – The Watch series.
Aug
24
Graham Masterton auctions new novel ‘The Painted Man’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 24th August 2007 by Sandy Auden
Detail: News in from horror writer Graham Masterton. He says: "Charity blind auction time... I have the first printout of The Painted Man, which is not likely to be published at the very earliest until November this year and will not be paperbacked in the USA until 2009. Personally signed and authenticated. Proceeds will go to the Children's Trust in Tadworth, Surrey, for children with severe disabilities. The highest bid that I receive by midnight August 31 gets it."
More info: Contact the webmaster at Graham Masterton's website for bidding details
Source: Matt Williams, GM Site Webmaster
Aug
23
Paul Kearney on his deal with Solaris for new novel ‘The Ten Thousand’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 23rd August 2007 by UKSFBN admin
BL Publishing's Solaris Books imprint has announced a new deal for a brand new novel by Northern Ireland based fantasy writer Paul Kearney, author of the acclaimed Monarchies of God and Sea Beggars books.
Kearney's new novel will not be a continuation of the Sea Beggars series, publication of which has stalled ever since both the UK and US publisher failed to agree a contract for a new volume with Kearney; despite strong enthusiasm for the series from both his UK and US editors. Instead his new Solaris title, The Ten Thousand, will be set in a new milieu and is planned - at present - as a stand-alone volume.
Aug
23
Adam Roberts on new novel ‘Splinter’ and re-translating Jules Verne
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 23rd August 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Science Fiction author, critic and academic Adam Roberts' new novel, Splinter, will be published next month by UK genre imprint Solaris Books. In a freely acknowledged nod to one of the past-masters of the genre, Splinter has inspired by a classic Jules Verne novel, one which hasn't seen a fresh translation into English in over 130 years, until now: Solaris are also publishing a two-volume slipcased edition that includes Roberts' re-translation of the Verne in question, which will be exclusivley available from Waterstone's in the UK.
We dropped Adam a line to ask him a few questions about Splinter and about the inspirational monsieur Verne.
Aug
20
Steve Aylett-inspired animation online at PlaystationSeason.com
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 20th August 2007 by UKSFBN admin
The notes on the website explain: "'The Man whose Head Expanded' by Steve Aylett was reinterpreted by Yuko Kondo in collaboration with Studioplum. Applying Yuko's bold illustrative style and wacky characters worked perfectly with Studioplum's offbeat animation style, blending hand drawn and 3D elements into an exciting visual feast."
More Info: www.playstationseason.com / www.steveaylett.com
Source: Steve Aylett
Aug
11
Chris Roberson talks about new novel, Set The Seas on Fire
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 11th August 2007 by Sandy Auden
Chris Roberson's name is already on the grapevine as a rising genre star and his career certainly seems to be gathering momentum. The last twelve months has seen the release of The Voyage Of Night Shining White from PS Publishing and Paragaea: A Planetary Romance from Prometheus Books; with The Dragon's Nine Sons coming out from Solaris in 2008.
But that's not all. His current novel was released this month and is called Set The Seas on Fire. It's a historical fantasy, a nautical adventure set during the Napoleonic wars, full of all manner of ship-to-ship combat, muskets and sabers. But at its heart it's really a love story. With zombies.
UKSFBN tracked Mr Roberson down to pop him a few pertinent questions...
Aug
8
Philip Palmer’s radio drama ‘Breaking Point’, BBC Radio 4, August 10th
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 8th August 2007 by UKSFBN admin
'Breaking Point' will be broadcast on Friday, August 10th on Radio 4, at 9 p.m. and will be available for a week afterwards via the BBC website's 'Listen Again' facility.
More Info: www.philippalmer.net
Source: Philip Palmer
Aug
1
James Barclay on his forthcoming new Raven novel, ‘Ravensoul’
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 1st August 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Fantasy author James Barclay is rapidly becoming a firm favourite with UK heroic fantasy fans and has a total of eight novels and one novella on his list of published titles to-date. His latest book was Shout For the Dead [Amazon], the second part of his Ascendents of Estorea duology, and following that he recently announced that for his next book he would be making a return to his previous and best-known world: Balaia, home of the motley band of mercenary warriors and mages known as The Raven.
The new novel will be called Ravensoul and is scheduled for publication in June 2008 by Gollancz Books in the UK. We asked intrepid reporter - and chief moderator of the James Barclay Forum - Lizzy Hill to put on her best fan-knowledge head, drop James a line, and see what she could find out for us.
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
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
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
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
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
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…
Jun
26
Simon Morden book launch, Newcastle, July 11th
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To, What's On on 26th June 2007 by UKSFBN admin
N.B. Correction, 28.06.07: Simon has been in touch to say that the launch has been rescheduled from July 10th at 7.00 p.m. to July 11th at 6.30 p.m.. Please update your diaries...
Dark fictioneer Simon Morden writes to tell us about the launch event for his far-futuristic and darkly dystopian new novel, The Lost Art [Amazon], that he's pretty sure he tells us is definitely taking place on July 11th in Newcastle.
"In the absence of a confirmation from the bookstore, but a relatively certain date from Random House... The bookstore have now confirmed a new date and time, so you are cordially invited to a book launch!
Jun
24
Saga comp winner David Thorpe’s YA SF novel Hybrids published
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 24th June 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Debut author (as well as established cartoonist, editor, scriptwriter, designer and environmental journalist) David Thorpe has been in touch to let us know about the recent publication of his YA novel Hybrids, which posits the chillingly plausible concept that humans and their favourite gadgets could become fused, merged and generally melded as a result of over-use of the latter by the former.
What's more, Hybrids [Amazon] is already a prize-winner, having been chosen as the outstanding winner of the 2006 Children's Book Writing Competition, run in conjunction with Saga Magazine.
Jun
16
Mike Ashley on Gateways To Forever, SF magazines of the ’70s
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 16th June 2007 by Sandy Auden
Author Mike Ashley hit a problem when he was researching Gateways To Forever, the 'final' title in his book series about the history of SF magazines - the 1970's were just too complicated to squeeze into one volume…
"The seventies were a time that had to cope with considerable change," said Ashley. "The sf field itself was starting to feel the full effects of the New Wave revolution and though critics today believe that it had dissipated itself by the early seventies that is far from true. The longer term effects continued to develop through the seventies and would eventually feed into the cyberpunk movement of the eighties.
Jun
9
Kim Stanley Robinson on his next novel, The Galileans
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 9th June 2007 by Sandy Auden
Kim Stanley Robinson's next sf novel will be The Galileans, set in Renaissance Italy and centering on the life and theories of Galileo.
"My research for The Years of Rice and Salt included lots of reading about the birth of science," said Robinson. "I learned more than I could use in that book, so I thought it would be good to return to the matter, as being crucial to society today and, if I wrote about it, a particular kind of science fiction. Galileo is central to the scientific revolution, and also he gave me a number of science-fictional angles from which to approach the topic. He's a great character."
Jun
3
Martin Millar on his new novel, Lonely Werewolf Girl
Posted in: UKSFBN Talks To on 3rd June 2007 by UKSFBN admin
Martin Millar, author of a number of novels, including Suzy, Led Zeppelin and Me, The Good Fairies of New York and Dreams of Sex and Stage Diving - as well as the Thraxas novels (under the name Martin Scott), the first of which won him the World Fantasy Award - has just released his new novel, Lonely Werewolf Girl, under the self-managed publishing imprint Meadow and Black.
The novel's cover has been drawn by 2000AD artist Simon Fraser, and the book is available from all the usual outlets, including Amazon.co.uk, as well as from the author's website, www.martinmillar.com.
We got in touch with Martin to ask him a few questions about the new book and to quiz him on his decision to handle the publishing side of things himself.
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
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
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…