SFX's Summer of SF Reading

SFX's Summer of SF Reading kicked off last night with an event at Waterstone's in Piccadilly and I went along to rub shoulders with the likes of China Mieville, Dan Abnett and Sir Terry Pratchett himself (although I didn't get to speak to him as he was off for some supper by the time I got over to his side of the room).

It was a great evening, the focus of which was a panel of authors, chaired by SFX editor Dave Bradley, discussing the question "Millions of people watch SF on TV and at the cinema - why don’t more people read SF books too?”


After all that was said and done it seemed to me that millions of people don't watch SF on TV and at the cinema. Most of the time what they're watching is in fact fantasy, or other genres dressed up in a SF costume. Doctor Who is not science fiction - it's fantasy. Likewise Star Trek, Iron Man (and all his ilk), Avatar and Star Wars. They're all fantasy franchises really. Same is true of my own Pax Britannia books.

Anyway, I had a great time catching up with mighty Dan Abnett, Nik Vincent-Abnett and Graham McNeill, Dave Bradley and I discovered we have a mutual love of the humour (and fanboy references) in Iron Man 2, and I also caught up with the inestimable Jenni Hill from Abaddon Books (and her very tall fella Mike).

I also had the pleasure of meeting a genuine fan, one Joe Kelly, who remembers Spellbreaker from the first time round and loves my first novel The Dead and the Damned. (Made me quite nostalgic for Badenov's Band, as it happened.) He, Graham and I also spent some time discussing the ready made critical audience there is for Warhammer and 40K books.

When all's said and done, it was a great evening with much SF-related banter and a fair few gags too (and I loved China Mieville's description of what a science fiction movie is), so thanks SFX and thanks Waterstone's - perhaps we can do it again some time.

Writing's easy...

All you have to do is stare at a blank piece of paper until your forehead bleeds. Or so says Tony Jordan, screenwriter.

I don't know what it is about the last couple of months, but a fair few authors have been struggling to produce the goods of late.

David Bishop has this to say on the subject. Nick Kyme's struggles are catalogued here. Chris Wraight's been feeling the pressure too, as has Si Spurrier. Even the mighty Dan Abnett has had his own creative demons to battle of late.

And I'll add my own name to that list. I thought my tenth novel was hard going but as it turns out, that one was a walk in the park compared to number eleven. Soul-destroying is how I'd describe the situation right now.

Writing's hard! :-(

An infinite number of typewriters and some damn fine monkeys can get you a long way, apparently

If, like me, you're a fan of Dan Abnett's books (and if not, why not?) then you may be interested to here that he's given his blog an overhaul and has posted a number of updates (no doubt having got the blogging bug from his stint over at Babel Clash recently).

You can enjoy the fruits of his blogging labours here, and just to wet your appetite, here's the artwork for the cover of Dan's next original novel for Angry Robot Books, entitled Embedded and due for release this September.


He wanted to see for himself what the war on the desert planet was like close-up. So he got himself to the frontline, reporting back live to Earth from inside the head of a G.I. super-soldier. Now the soldier's dead, and he will have to take over the dead man's body and fight his way home. And now he will see for himself what war on this desolate desert planet is really like.

Currently reading...

It has not escaped my notice that other authors frequently post an update as to whatever it is that's currently distracting them from the job in hand, in terms of reading material, music and gaming.

Well, currently I am reading Blood Pact* by Dan Abnett. It's the twelfth book in the astonishing successful - and damn fine! - Gaunt's Ghost series and, let me tell you, it doesn't disappoint. About a third of the way through but progress has been slow today due to me writing my own stuff - namely White Rabbit. (But more on that another time.)

You can find out more about Gaunt's Ghosts and Blood Pact here, and listen to Dan himself talking about the experience of writing the book here...



* I had a tot up the other day and I think that Blood Pact is the 61st Black Library novel I've read - out of the hundreds they've published...

A Thousand Sons & Prospero Burns

If you're a fan of the Black Library, watch this and consider your breath well and truly bated...

Dan Abnett talking Blood Pact and the Horus Heresy

Dan Abnett speaks - again!

Links to two Dan Abnett interviews today. First off there's this one at the Literary Project, where he talks about writing in general, and then there's this one at 2000AD Review, where he specifically talks about the comic strip Kingdom that he created with Richard Elson. Both are worth a read.

Ultramarines - the movie!

In case you hadn't heard, there's going to be a Warhammer 40K movie... and Dan Abnett's written the screenplay!

Events occuring this weekend

Not events that I'll be attending, but ones featuring writing friends of mine.

First up there's Dan Abnett's tour of the Chaos Wastes (also known as Scotland). Click on the poster below to check details.


And then on Sunday 18 October 2009 at 5.30pm, Steve Jackson will be attending the Cheltenham Literature Festival and offering those Fighting Fantasy fans in attendance a unique opportunity to participate in an exciting audio Fighting Fantasy adventure. To find out more, click here.

Angry Robot Books UK Launch

Yesterday I spent a very pleasant hour or so at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London at the official UK launch of Angry Robot Books. Head honcho (and my old partner-in-crime) Marc Gascoigne was there, as was Triumff author (and me old Black Library mucker) Dan Abnett and his wife, ace editor, Nik Vincent. Had a great time catching up, briefly saw James Swallow and said 'Hi!' to Steven Savile.

It all seemed to go very well and I even bagged myself a Triumff poster.

Evidence that Dan Abnett really is a writer, with pen in hand...

Angry Robot launch

They've been around for a while now, but tomorrow those Angry Robots will officially stake their claim as the new masters of the world... Well, they'll be enjoying their official launch at Forbidden Planet in London at least.

So, if you're in the Big Smoke this weekend, why not pop along to the FP Megastore between 12.30pm and 2.00pm get your own copies of Triumff, signed by Dan 'The Man' Abnett himself, along with Winter Song by Colin Harvey and Kell's Legend by Andy Remic?

And I'll be there, lurking in the background, trying to nab my own free poster. ;-)

October 1st - Triumff Day!

Dan Abnett's storming Elizabethan-inspired clockpunk adventure Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero is officially released today, and you can read my review of it over on Dan's blog right now!

Triumffant

Tomorrow (October 1), Dan Abnett's original fiction debut hits the shelves of bookshops across the country. I have been among the privileged few who have already got to read it and you can read my review below...

Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero is Dan Abnett’s long-awaited and much-anticipated original fiction debut. He’s been writing for years, of course (which is patently apparent in Triumff), and is already a multi-million-selling author, but outside of 2000AD, Games Workshop and various other comic-writing and tie-in novelisation gigs, he is still, unbelievably a relative unknown. But all that is about to change with the publication of this truly original work of fiction.

The setting is the present day, only it’s a world very different to our own, the sun never having set on the glories of the first Elizabethan Age. In this alternate reality the Renaissance saw a re-emergence of the Magick Arts and hence the arresting of significant technological development. Against this backdrop of Shakespearean thesps, wily cardinals and duelling noblemen, Sir Rupert Triumff – dandy, drinker and dueller – is catapulted into a revenger’s tragedy’s worth of intrigue as he tries to uncover and put paid to a nefarious and damnably traitorous scheme.

Abnett’s world-building is assured and satisfyingly detailed, although none of this detail ever swamps the plot which moves at a rollicking rate. In fact, it reads like a Blackadder-inspired cinematic blockbuster. As a result, the alternate Elizabethan setting is instantly recognisable, populated with pastiches of historical figures as well as characters that have walked right out of your television set. There’s even a nod to hardcore Warhammer fans. Humour, action and intrigue abound in equal measure, and combine with Abnett’s idiosyncratic clockpunk stylings to create a wholly satisfying read.

To dismiss Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero as a Pratchett clone is to do it a disservice; this is classic Abnett. From the economy of description – which nonetheless conjures a vivid and fascinating backdrop – to the grand set-piece action scenes and frequent, pun-tastic humour – that extends to a scene right out of Bond – it could hardly be anything else.

If you want your buckles well and truly swashed and derring done, you know where to come. Triumff is, in a word, a triumph.

You can pick up a copy of Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero here! (You really should, you know.)

Games Day 2009 - The Aftermath

For those of you who didn't know, yesterday was Games Day, and a very fine Games Day it was too. It started for me pulling up in the car park next to Rick and Lindsey Priestley, to find ace author James Swallow unfolding himself from their Mini. On the way into the NEC hall I happened to then meet up with Graham McNeill and got all the latest on his five week-old Mini-Me.

Next to join the ever-growing band was the very dapper Mathieu Saintout, French publisher of the Black Library books, and his aide Julien. I then bumped into Dan and Nik Abnett and managed to say 'Hi!' which was (unfortunately) all I managed all day.

The Black Library stand - busy as ever

So, then it was into the hall. I felt very privileged to meet the fan every author wants to meet, Lady Inquisitor Xhalax, although I'm told she was in fact dressed as a very specific character from the forthcoming Blood Pact by Dan Abnett.

Everyone's a critic...

I also caught up with my erstwhile editor Christian Dunn and had a very exciting chat with him, and editor-turned-author Nick Kyme, who was savouring a biscuit at the end of a long day when I caught up with him. I also got to admire Richard Williams' banner and book-stamp, admire Neil Roberts' cover artwork up close (big shout goes out to the Zoat!), said 'Hello!' to new(ish) editor Alex Davis and even caught Ben Counter entering the create a Chaos Champion competition.

'Just hang on a minute while I put my eyes in.'

I also got to meet the new enfant terrible of the Black Library, the very cool and double-barrelled Aaron Dembski-Bowden - who said some very kind things about my Black Templar Armageddon books - and his delightful girlfriend Katie. I'm only sorry I couldn't go back to Bugman's with them to share a pint only dad-duty called.

The astonishingly well-off author Aaron Dembski-Bowden and his gorgeous girlfriend Katie.

(Only one of these statements is true.)

Outside of the Black Library I got to catch up with ace artist Adrian Smith (whose painting of Gerhard Brennend adores my office wall) and salivate over his brilliant new Space Wolves artwork, and finally got to meet the legendary John Blanche, who reminisced with me about Fighting Fantasy and Sorcery! in particular.

Ace artist Adrian Smith

I think that's probably enough names dropped for now. The only thing I'll add is that I also had an amazing Friday and was somewhere where many FF fans would kill to be. Suffice to say I got to see an original copy of the very first White Dwarf magazine and the original flowchart for Deathtrap Dungeon. I'm not boasting or gloating, I'm just rather excited, that's all. ;-)

2000AD - it's back!

I know, I know, it hasn't really been away, but the website that us fans used to know and love has. But now it's back, with creator and strip databases intact and it's like an old friend has returned to hearth and home after months travelling the globe.

And to top it all, prog 1650 (this summer's jumping on issue) is stunning. When Shakara first came out I thought it was a one-trick pony, but how wrong I was. I love Henry Flint's alien designs on this strip and Robbie Morrison manages to surprise us once again.

Then there's Kingdom, by Dan Abnett and Richard Elson. What not to love there, from Them, to Gene the Hackman getting whet, to the ruins of Sydney? And of course Judge Dredd by John Wagner - the master wordsmith - illustrated by Colin MacNeil - the master pensmith.

So, what are you waiting for? Check it out now!

Dan Abnett speaks!

More videos of Dan Abnett talking about writing and his many, many works, as shot and edited by Adelie High...









BTW - Is now a good time to mention that I'm currently reading Triumff by Dan Abnett, which is not due out until October? I now await your disdainful replies...

Solaris For Sale

I seem to be a little slow in catching up on this piece of news, but in case you haven't heard yourself, Games Workshop's BL Publishing division has put their Solaris Books imprint up for sale.

In a statement George Mann, head of publishing at BL Publishing, said: "In recent years our Black Library imprint has more than doubled in size and scope and we have decided that we should focus all our attention in growing this core part of our business. While we see plenty of growth potential with Solaris, we are looking for a buyer who is interested in developing this global brand."

Apparently all books commissioned up to 2010 will still go ahead, but don't quote me on that! I wonder how Marc Gascoigne - formerly head of of BL Publishing and Solaris but now of Angry Robot Books - took the news.

I don't expect it helped Solaris' situation any that Angry Robot snapped Dan Abnett up for a three book deal, when there's been talk for some years now that he was going to write original fiction for Solaris. Apparently the BL editors kept pushing for him to do more stuff for them first. Oops.

Dan Abnett on writing

I came upon this series of videos of Dan Abnett talking about his craft at the Black Library website via Angry Robot books (bizarrely). If you're interested in Warhammer, 40K, writing in general or even Ghostbusters, sit back and have a listen.

A story in six words? Really?

I spotted this on the Angry Robot blog* the other day:

The concept of Six Word Stories apparently started, or at least gathered a great apocryphal origin, when someone bet Ernest Hemingway he couldn’t tell a story in such a short space. The response of the great man - “For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.” - still carries a real punch today, where in these times of Twittering and Flash fiction the six worders have made a real comeback.

You can find the best recent Science Fiction entries here. My personal favourite has to be this one by Watchmen scribe Alan Moore:

Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time

* BTW - on the same blog was this exciting news!

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Yesterday I received my subscriber's copy of Judge Dredd Megazine #282 and was just blown away by the cover.

I am a huge fan of Colin MacNeil's art and actually own a few pages of his (some painted 2000AD strip and a few black and white ink washes from the sadly missed Warhammer Monthly). I've also met the guy and he's a top bloke. If I ever get into writing comics again, I would feel honoured to work on a story with him.

Anyway, the cover promotes the Dan Abnett-scripted Insurrection, which is now the first thing I read on opening the mag. It's basically Dan does Space Marines, only in Dredd's universe, and Colin's style is identical to that he finished up with on the Warhammer Comic. But that's probably, in part, why I love it so.

And general consensus of opinion appears to be that this is a classic in the making. Another reason would have to be the CATT* units that appeared this week - a wonderful piece of inspired design by Colin.

So for the time being I'm getting a regular fix of Battlefleet Gothic-inspired war-fleets, Mega-City Judges in power armour and a good old-fashioned Warhammer 40K future war story, beautifully rendered by one of my favourite artists in my monthly dose of Megazine-styled Thrill-power.

If you've not seen it for yourself, check it out here, or alternatively wait for the bound-to-be trade paperback, to be published in a year or so.

*Combat All-Terrain Transport.