A place to find out author interviews along with book reviews of thier works in the following genres:
science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, crime, horror, history, arts and crafts, hobby, true life, real life, autobiography, zombie, paranormal, demons, vampires, religion and spirituality, thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, spy tory, techno thriller, humour.
Release Date: 02/11/17 Publisher: Solaris Books/Rebellion Publishing SYNOPSIS:
Special limited edition science fiction hardcover novella by the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author. Only 1000 copies. Scions have no limits. Scions do not die. And Scions do not disappear. Sergeant Ted Regan has a problem. A son of one of the great corporate families, a Scion, has gone missing at the front. He should have been protected by his Ironclad - the lethal battle suits that make the Scions masters of war - but something has gone catastrophically wrong. Now Regan and his men, ill equipped and demoralised, must go behind enemy lines, find the missing Scion, and uncover how his suit failed. Is there a new Ironclad-killer out there? And how are common soldiers lacking the protection afforded the rich supposed to survive the battlefield of tomorrow?
REVIEW:
I've loved spending time with Adrian since he burst onto the scene with Empire in Black and Gold (Book One of "Shadows of the Apt" series.) Since then I've loved each adventure that he's brought to my imagination, allowing me a whole range of creative literal films that are not only wonderfully unique but diverse into the bargain.
Here in this outing, Adrian treats the reader to a modern war where raising oceans have devastated the world and corporate companies profit from warfare where flesh and blood is cheap as well as plentiful, unless of course its one of their sons, in which case, like the knights of old, they're encased in the best robotic armour alongside ordinance that money can buy.
Here, a grunt unit is sent into the warzone to retrieve a lost son of the magnates only to have the situation go not only to hell but become way more complex as matters unfurl. It's addictive writing, the characters within were fun to be around and for me I just loved spending time in this new world.
I hope that more books will follow and as a reader I'd love to see a book with the "pack" as the key characters. Magic.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Here at Falcata Times we love to find the weird and wonderful and Rebellion seem to have brought all that to the fore with this announcement trailer for The Strange Brigade. We love the fact that it has a feel of all the old B-Movie Creature Features and can't wait to get our hands on it but here, check out this awesome trailer:
Release Date: 14/08/14 Publisher: Rebellion SYNOPSIS:
New York Times best selling author Dan Abnett is to write an original novel set in the world of his hit 2000 AD comics series Kingdom. Co-written with Nik Vincent, Fiefdom is set one hundred years after the events of Kingdom, in which a genetically-engineered dog-soldiers fought giant marauding insects in a post-apocalyptic future. Kingdom took us to the isolated wastelands of the southern hemisphere, where Gene the Hackman and his fellow Aux listen to the voices of The Masters as humanity hibernates, awaiting the destruction of the alien Them. In Fiefdom the action moves into the northern hemisphere, where Them are now a folk memory and the Aux war with one another in the ruins of what was once Berlin. Inspired by the legends of Gene, young Evelyn War begins to question the Aux's situation as she hears the first rumours about the return of Them...
REVIEW:
If you want a dark futuristic novel that brings war, a bleak outlook and of course kickass characters to the fore, then the odds are you’ve read Dan Abnett’s work before. Here within this title it brings all that and of course an arc that brings fantastical elements to the fore as a world struggles to find itself after shattering events.
Its definitely a title that gives you food for thought, it’s one that keeps you guessing and when added to an overall arc that has plenty more to keep you fuelled all round gives you a series to become glued for.
Release Date: 04/12/14 Publisher: Rebellion SYNOPSIS:
In a world of chances, one decision can bring down the house, one roll of the dice could bring untold wealth, or the end of everything. Here the players gather, their stories often dark, and always compelling. The players and the played, this new anthology from Jonathan Oliver (Magic, End of The Road, House of Fear, The End of The Line, World War Cthulhu) brings together brand new stories from an international team of talented authors, each with their own deadly game. This collection is set to include a full house of top authors including Hugo award-winning American writer Pat Cadigan, Brit Gary McMahon, Mexican Silvia Moreno Garcia, plus Tade Thompson, Rebecca Levene and more!
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of anthologies as readers get the chance to try authors that they may not yet have had finances or the time for prior to purchasing the book. Its an easy way to dip into various writing styles and finding what suits in much the same way as finding old friends to spend time with as well as new and exciting possibilities.
Hidden within this title are quite a few gems and with cracking prose and top notch editing when backed with solid editorship alongside cracking talent, presents a book that is a pure joy to read. All round a cracking title for short journeys or for just a tale or two to take up that lunch break or to escape the real world. Magic.
Release Date: 18/07/13 Publisher: 2000AD/Rebellion SYNOPSIS:
With the Chaos virus released, Mega-City One totters on the brink of extinction. Judge Dredd and a weakened Justice department are desperately trying to stay in control. But the citywide infection has taken its toll and the chances of anyone coming away unscathed is looking less and less likely as each new day goes by. Features the much welcomed return of some of Dredd's greatest enemies the Dark Judges!
REVIEW:
This is a graphic novel series that you just can’t ignore, after all, the Day of Chaos is one of such scope that its been a key favourite for quite some time. It has great graphics, wonderful storytelling and when backed with breath-taking artwork all round makes this one that just can’t be ignored. Throw into the mix a whole set of twists that will keep you glued, great colouring and of course Dredd at his best all round makes this one that will please graphic novel fans the world over.
Release Date: 02/02/12 SYNOPSIS:
A ROAD TRIP THROUGH HELL! Mega-City One, 2100. A deadly plague developed during the brutal 'Great Germ War' has reached the futuristic metropolis of Mega-City Two, located on the West Coast of the USA. Charged with delivering a life-saving vaccine to the citizens of the disease-ridden city, Judge Dredd and a small crew of Judges, war droids and the lawbreaking biker, Spikes Harvey Rotten, must travel a thousand miles across the radioactive wasteland known as 'the Cursed Earth.' It is a near-impossible journey hate-filled mutants, rampaging monsters and crazed war robots populate the hellish stretch of terrain. Many men have attempted to cross it and most have failed. But Judge Dredd is the best there is!
REVIEW:
I love spending the time with my head wrapped up in a graphic novel and when I have time to return to the cursed earth travelling the road with MegaCity One’s hardest judge then you know its something that I’m going to do.
What occurs within this title is the full Cursed Earth Saga that really brings all of the flavour of this epic tale to the reader, with artwork that brings the heavy action to the fore as Dredd sets out to save Mega City 2. Whilst I have loved spending my time with this book, one criticism that I do have is that for me the writing is too small to keep reading for any length of time, so when you do make sure you have a bright light and a set of glasses to help you out.
Release Date: 11/06/12 SYNOPSIS:
It is a dark time in the history of Mega-City One. Having employed blackmail and coercion in order to topple the balance of power within the Justice Department, the tyrannical head of the Special Judicial Squad Judge Cal has managed to secure the position of Chief Judge. The crazed Cal has enlisted the help of an army of reptilian alien mercenaries known as the Kleggs, appointed his pet goldfish as deputy Chief Judge and framed Judge Dredd for murder in order to maintain power. But Dredd is the kind of Judge who doesn't go down too easily and together with a rebel army made up of other Judges and citizens, prepares to fight back. Can Judge Dredd succeed against all odds and defeat Judge Cal before he destroys the entire population of Mega-City One?
REVIEW:
Within this title Dredd sets out to free Mega City One from the tyrannical rule of the Chief Judge and all that really needs to be said is that this book really stands out on its own for readers. It has a great storyline, some wonderful tiwsts which when blended with cracking artwork really grabs the reader and holds on.
As with the others my only criticism is that for me, the writing is too small to make it easy reading, but other than that its still a wonderful addition to any 2000AD fans collection.
Release Date: 13/09/12 SYNOPSIS:
An all-time-classic in a small paperback format. Judge Dredd's ultimate nemesis has arrived. His name is Judge Death, and in his eyes, all life is a crime! the super-fiend from Deadworld proves to be an implacable enemy, and Judge Dredd must work with Psi Judge anderson to save Mega-City one from a city-wide death penalty. Fearsome characters that have mainatained their popularity throughout the years thanks to the fantastic designs of Brian Bolland, the Dark Judges are determined to end all life in Mega-City one once and for all!
REVIEW:
Dredd’s toughest opponents return in this cracking compendium that brings Anderson from Psi Division into her own as she battles the minions of justice from a long dead society. Its definitely a tale that really will grab you and keep you glued as the wonderful artwork blended with high action gives you what you crave. Add to the mix some solid storytelling and all round it’s a real gem, however as with the others the text is too small and you’ll need a bright light to make it easier to read.
Hail Mighty Readers, Well, whilst its still a while to World Book Night (April 2013) we thought that we'd bring the news that may help be the salvation to not only Mega City One but to homes where reluctant readers live. Our friends at Rebellion have heard that The Dark Judges is to be the first Graphic novel for World Book Night. “As one of the most iconic British brands in publishing we are absolutely delighted to be a part of World Book Night ,” said 2000 AD and Rebellion Publishing manager Ben Smith. “Not only is The Dark Judges a classic Judge Dredd story, but the role that comics can play in encouraging reading and boosting literacy is well known. I have no doubt that people who receive one of the free copies will discover a new world of amazing stories, and hopefully will develop an appetite for great British comics.” So remember, its not so much a choice as "The Law."
Release Date: 19/07/12 SYNOPSIS:
Earth, the late 22nd century. Many survivors of the devastating Atomic Wars were mutated by Strontium 90 fallout. These mutants became an underclass - hated by the ruling 'norms', the only job left for them was bounty-hunting. The best of the Search/Destroy agents (also known as Strontium Dogs) was a man called Johnny Alpha. He became famous for fighting for mutant rights and died defending his kind from ultimate destruction. But it seems that even death can't keep a good dog down and rumours are circulating about Alpha's return...
REVIEW:
A trip back to my youth and one that allowed me to sit back and enjoy the life and times of Johnny Alpha. Its beautifully drawn, the storyline addictive and to be honest when you get such a team of John Wagner alongside Alan Grant, its one that’s going to be hard to beat.
Add to this some great twists, solid dialogue and a tale that’s brought across in such a manner that’s its almost cinematic and I suspect it’s only going to be a matter of time before Johnny makes it to film. Great stuff.
Release Date: 19/07/12 SYNOPSIS:
In 1999, Britain was successfully invaded by the Volgs. When London lorry driver Bill Savage learnt that his family had been killed by the Volgs, he became a one-man war machine - a persistant thorn in the side of the occupying army. Having adopted the identity of his dead brother, Savage operates out of a bombed-out london, leading the resistance against his hated enemy. Now, business brain Howard Quartz - the CEO of Ro-Busters - has launched an attack on the Volgan forces with his Mark-One War Droids, but the Volgs have some technological tricks of their own, including a functional teleportation device....
REVIEW:
This is a title I wasn’t familiar with but it was a story of urban warfare that I could get behind, especially being a huge fan of Ennis’ The Boys. What this title gives the reader is a dark and gritty tale of an invaded Britain with a freedom fighter movement seeking to claim back our land from the invader. It’s a tale that has been done before usually with a historical setting (such as Hereward) but is something that really works well for the black and white visual style of Patrick Goddard.
Add to this solid storytelling, a lead character that the reader can get behind alongside a supporting cast to help make the tale more believable and all in it’s a cracking read that will keep the reader occupied for a good few hours. Finally throw into the mix a compendium that contains two tales that make this value for money and all in, it’s a book that I’ll be enjoying a few more times, especially when more Savage tales land. Magic.
Release Date: 12/04/12 SYNOPSIS:
Twenty years ago three young boys staggered out of an old building, tired and dirty yet otherwise unharmed. Missing for a weekend, the boys had no idea of where they'd been. But they all shared the same vague memory of a shadowed woodland grove…and they swore they'd been gone for only an hour. When Simon returns to the Concrete Grove to see his old friends and unearth painful memories from his childhood, things once buried begin to claw their way back to the surface. The hummingbirds are flying again, bringing a warning of something terrible. Bad dreams take on physical form and walk the streets of the estate. A dark, hideously patient entity is calling once again from the shadows, reaching out towards three terrified boys who have now grown into emotionally damaged men. And the past is about to catch up with them all, staining their lives with a darkness they could never truly escape. Welcome back to the Concrete Grove. The place you can never really leave...
REVIEW:
Following on from Gary’s previous title Concrete Grove, this tale brings together three characters that readers will love as this horror story wends its way into the darkest recesses of your mind. Its quirky, it brings together a bleakness that few have explored and really sets itself up well as a second book in a trilogy.
Add to this Gary’s unnerving ability to work on the readers own fears as well as giving them an adrenaline packed adventure and all in this is a book that really should be read in sunlit hours rather than in the depth of the night. Cracking fun and with Gary’s usual ability to add a spartanesque descriptive prose that speak volumes alongside a tightly woven story leave the reader in no doubt that this could be a new British Classic horror series that is just demanding either a TV series or film.
Release Date: 04/05/12 SYNOPSIS: The sequel to Rebellion’s highly-acclaimed 2005 game Sniper Elite, Sniper Elite V2 continues to offer gamers the most authentic World War II sniping experience by putting them in the middle of war-torn Berlin amidst the frenzied final battle between German and Russian forces.
Berlin 1945. V2 Rockets with deadly nerve gas are primed to launch. An army of German and Russian soldiers stand in your way. Make every single bullet count or the world dies with you.
It’s a heart-stopping race against time to save millions of people…
Game Features:
* X-Ray Kill Cam
Amazing “kill cam” technology showcases what really happens when a bullet enters an enemy’s body, allowing players to see hearts and lungs tear, livers burst, bones and teeth shatter, and entrails fall out.
* Sniping Simulation
Sniper Elite V2 features detailed sniping simulation with advanced ballistics, taking into account gravity, wind, velocity, bullet penetration, aim stability and more. Guaranteed to provide players with the most realistic simulation of military sharpshooting yet available.
* Sniper's Choice
Players will often find themselves facing a choice of the perfect shot that leaves them catastrophically exposed or a more difficult route that means they can continue their mission.
* Authenticity
The game features authentic World War II Berlin locations as well as vehicles, weapons such as the Springfield M1903, the Gewehr 43 and the Mosin-Nagant 1891/30, and uniforms modeled after the original versions.
* Use The Environment
The slightest changes in the environment need to be taken into account to move into the perfect position, observe the quarry, take the shot and slip away unnoticed.
REVIEW:
OK, I do play the odd shooting game however I’m not one that likes to have to charge hell for leather blasting randomly hoping that you take out the enemy. Whats my style? To be honest I love sniping, that getting into the right position to deliver the assassination blade or bolt or to take that longshot to take out the enemy quite a distance away that feels rewarding when you hit the mark,
What Sniper Elite does for me as a player is bring all the elements I love together, gives me chance to take out difficult targets but also allows me to lay traps for my own protection when facing overwhelming numbers. The graphics are solid, the sound effects decent but my favourite element is seeing the damage done to the body with carefully placed shots. Add to this having to keep picking up ammunition, target raids as well as enemies that adjust to your playing style and for me this is a game I’ll have fun playing through quite a few times. Great stuff.
Encounter a P.I. like no another in this bumper collection of Robo- Hunter stories, collecting this classic strip together from the very beginning. Sam Slade is the man with a plan when it comes to robo-crime and together with his robo-pals, Stogie and Hoagie, he will bring all metal perps to justice!
Written by John Wagner (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence) and Alan Grant (Lobo, Batman) and featuring artwork by Ian Gibson (The Ballad of Halo Jones), this collection is packed full of the very best of Sam Slade.
REVIEW: Robo Hunter is a character that I really don’t recall to be honest. Not that he wasn’t about but he wasn’t a character that originally stood out to me. Its perhaps on the lighter side of 2000AD and whilst there will be a number of people with fond memories left me feeling a little flat.
It is well written, the characters different to what’s out there and with a touch of humour that many will just love but for me it really didn’t hit the spot or give me those Goosebumps that I’ve been longing for. A real shame but one that will appeal to a number of readers of a certain age.
BOOK BLURB: 2000 AD Graphic Novels presents you with the very best in thrill-power. From all-time classics such as Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog , to cutting edge modern masterworks such as Leviathan , Rebellion are bringing you some of the finest works in British comics!Mega-City One: the future metropolis bustling with life and every crime imaginable. Keeping order are the Judges, a stern police force acting as judge, jury and executioner. Toughest of all is Judge Dredd. He is the law and these are his stories. Volume 12 in this exciting, best-selling series collects together more classic Dredd from the pages of 2000 AD.
REVIEW: As a huge fan of Dredd its always magical when a title lands and it aids me to remember big chunks of my youth from behind the pages. Within this offering are tales that give the reader exactly what they want, the dark humour of an apocalyptic world where too many are forced to live in a world where Judge, Jury and Executioner walk the mean streets in one uniform. Its well written, the artwork beautiful and has definitely helped me to see some of the changes from the time to which it was written to now.
A great offering for the reader and something that fans the world over are just going to love as they escape our world to that of Dredd’s for a few hours.
BOOK BLURB: Harry Exton was a Button Man, a player in the lethal Killing Game, where modern-day gladiators fought for the pleasure of the mysterious Voices, the rich backers who set up the contests. But Harry quit, leaving the country and the slaughter behind him - only to find out that no one walks away from the Game and lives.
REVIEW: Button Man is a character that I don’t recall very well from my youth so it’s always going to be fun to try something a little different alongside new from someone that you trust implicitly due to the fact that they always hit the spot before.
Button Man is a series of tales based around a hitman who entertains the rich by assassinating their own “Button Men” in different locations in what is technically a duel to the death where no rule but your own survival counts. This offering follows the tale of a former button mans daughter who witnessed her fathers murder and has been seeking revenge against those who perpetrated the deed. Well written, strong dialogue, this offering of death and destruction will give the reader goose-bumps as they weave their way through this tale of murder and mayhem. A great offering and one that will definitely appeal to many of 2000AD’s fans.
BOOK BLURB: Nu-Earth, a planet ravaged by war, its atmosphere poisoned by chemical weapons. In this battle ground between the Norts and The Southers only the Genetic Infantrymen can survive. Rogue is one such soldier, and these are his tales...
Published in the same format as the best-selling Judge Dredd Case Files series.
REVIEW: Whilst Rogue Trooper is a well known UK phenom thanks to 2000AD, to many people outside it may be a tad confusing. In short Rogue Trooper is the only surviving genetically engineered soldier who fight’s on Mankind’s side whilst trying to solve the mystery of who betrayed his fellow soldiers in an enemy massacre. It’s a great look at the struggles of wartime and when you add into it a rich underlying theme to each battle its going to grab many readers by the cahones and keep them glued. Definitely a graphic novel that I’m recommending to all fans of authors like John Scalzi, Robert Heinlen and Joe Halderman.
Hail Mighty Readers, Our Spies have been hard at work in the publishing industry and let us know about a new aquisition by Rebellion, that of Solaris. Full press announcement follows:
This week, Rebellion, Europe’s leading independent games developer and owner of the iconic comic 2000 AD and sci-fi and fantasy imprint Abaddon Books, completed the acquisition of the Solaris book publishing imprint from Games Workshop for an undisclosed sum.
This well-known and highly successful brand offers a mixture of bestselling titles from both upcoming and established names such as Brian Lumley, Gail Z. Martin, Eric Brown and Simon R. Green, amongst others.
Solaris will sit alongside, and be run in parallel with, Rebellion’s own Abaddon Books.
Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion said, “We’ve been aware of the Solaris imprint for some years now and have admired its success with fantastic stories and great writers. Acquiring Solaris will allow us to continue to push our publishing trajectory upwards and expand the quantity, whilst maintaining the quality, of all our titles.”
George Mann, Games Workshop’s Head of Publishing said, “We’re delighted that Solaris has found a new home with Rebellion. After a period of fantastic growth with our Games Workshop related titles, we decided the time was right for us to focus all of our attention on our Black Library imprint. We’re sure Rebellion will now take Solaris forward to even greater heights.”
Rebellion has also entered into a sales and distribution agreement with Simon and Schuster. Under the agreement, Simon & Schuster will continue to handle sales, distribution and fulfilment of all Solaris titles for all new and backlist titles to trade and specialty accounts. The agreement is effective August 31st, 2009.
