INTERVIEW: Shaun Hutson

If you ask readers to name British Horror Authors then one of the first names to pop up tends to be Shaun Hutson.  As such we've been lucky to grab a quick interview with the author of Slugs, Spawn and many others in time for the release of his latest project, X The Unknown, based on the classic Hammer Horror Film.  Here's what he had to say:

Falcata Times:  How would you say that your perspective has changed about selling your own work with multiple novels under your belt?

Shaun Hutson:  Selling novels these days is much harder than it used to be.  It seems that the number of books you have in print or have had published counts for nothing (or it doesn’t in my case, it’s probably different if you’re J.K. Rowling or Stephen King!).  During the last ten years publishing has undergone so many changes (most of them for the worst) and I find it almost unrecognisable from the business I entered almost thirty years ago.  It seemed that back then everyone had a chance of getting their work published and that once that work was in print there was a chance of getting it to the public but now it seems that a select band of authors are the only ones being published and supported by publishers and book sellers.  Bookshops couldn’t give a fuck about new writers unless they’ve got a huge publishers campaign behind them.  It’s a very depressing picture unless you’re a rich and well established writer.  Or a celebrity of course.  If you’re a so called celebrity then you can expect to be given shit loads of money for your ghost written drivel.  So, if anyone wants to become a writer then the best thing would probably be to go on Big Brother or have an affair with someone famous!  Talent counts for nothing and if you don’t believe me just look at the bookshelves these days.

FT:  How would you sell yourself as an author?

SH:  Nowadays it would be almost impossible because most of the editors are young and either haven’t heard of me or would instantly dismiss my stuff because it’s ‘Horror.’  A genre that the publishing business has done its best to destroy since the popularity of crime novels spiralled out of control.  It’s strange because usually a cinematic trend is reflected in publishing but the dominance of horror at the box office has been completely ignored by the book business.  No one wants to publish traditional horror anymore even though there are hundreds of thousands of people who want to read it.  Now editors think they’re being ‘edgy’ by publishing things like TWILIGHT which, in my humble opinion, is one of the worst things that ever happened to horror.  Someone told me that they actually saw a section in a bookshop that proclaimed ROMANTIC HORROR.  All the confrontational elements have been taken out, no one wants originality anymore they just want books that are TWILIGHT clones or that are about zombies but all with ‘edgy’ twists of course.  Traditional horror is dead and buried.  The death knell for the horror novel was sounded with the publication of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS back in the 90’s.  Horror has been on a downward spiral ever since.  It was always the ‘poor man’ of the business, looked down on by publishing in general but it made money.  Now it doesn’t even get the chance to make money because no one wants to publish it.  Or maybe that’s just me they don’t want to publish!

FT:  How would you say that your experience of writing and publishing has changed your method's of writing?

SH:  Now I write with far less freedom and am constantly aware of what publishers are looking for whereas in the beginning I used to write what I wanted to write and knew that the publishers would accept it anyway.  Now there are so many hoops to jump through it drives you mad.  If you don’t do what they want then you don’t get published it’s as simple as that.

FT:  With the experience that you've gained now, what do you wish you could have told yourself when you were starting out that you now know?

SH:  Nothing really.  I just wish I’d known that the genre I loved writing so much was going to disappear!

FT:  What characteristics of your protagonists do you wish that you had yourself and why?

SH:  Most of my protagonists are flawed in some way.  Most of them I don’t want any of their characteristics.  I used to write as a kind of purging process to rid myself of the darker feelings and thoughts I had so I certainly don’t want to be like the people I create.

FT:  Which of your characters are most like you and why?

SH:  My favourite character is Sean Doyle who appeared in RENEGADES, WHITE GHOST, KNIFE EDGE and HYBRID.  He doesn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything and if anyone pisses him off he shoots them!  Sounds good to me.  There are bits of me in every character I’ve ever created, no writer can help that.

FT:  What of lifes little addictions could you not live without and why?

SH:  Which of life’s addictions couldn’t I live without?  Well, I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs so that doesn’t leave much really does it?  Most days I wish I did all three…and to excess!  That probably accounts for why I’m such a boring bastard.

FT:  With regular trips for book tours around the country as well as to various Conventions, what is an absolute travel essential that you couldn't do without?

SH:  When I’m travelling I couldn’t go without music so an i-pod would be my essential travel accessory I suppose. 

FT:  How has multiple novels under your belt changed how you accept to critism?

SH:  I’ve never been bothered by criticism.  I wasn’t at the beginning and I’m certainly not now.  Most critics are frustrated writers and to be honest I don’t even read reviews.  There’s no point.  Most critics are seeking to draw attention to themselves not make a reasoned judgement on what they’ve read.  When I was younger I used to be more aggressive if I met people who’d criticised me but now I couldn’t give a fuck.  Any business where you put your own creation into the public domain means you’re going to get criticised by someone so the first thing you need is a thick skin.  If you don’t like being criticised then don’t produce work that’s going to be heard, read or seen by lots of people.  Just do what you want to do and forget about the critics.  They’re only jealous anyway.

FT:  On long journey's, reading is often the pleasure of choice, who's work will you grab at the airport to ensure a good journey?

SH:  I don’t read fiction and haven’t for years.  If I ever read it’ll be non-fiction.  Usually military history.  The only fiction I read is Thomas Harris or older literature like M.R James.  I used to read a lot before I became a writer but once I was doing it for a living I couldn’t be bothered to read what anyone else was doing.  As for buying a novel at the airport the choice of authors on view there is so limited thanks to the booksellers you’d only have about twenty to choose from anyway!

FT:  Out of all your novels, which is your favourite and why?

SH:  My favourite of my own novels is RENEGADES because it introduced Sean Doyle who I mentioned earlier.  Also along with DYING WORDS I think it is the most complete of the books I’ve written (if that doesn’t sound too pretentious…).  I like all of them for different reasons though.  I love the earlier books because they had so much energy (a bit like I used to have).  It was just me having a bloody good time.

FT:  With everyone having thier own personal view as to who should be cast in a film version of thier work, who do you think should play your principle protaganists and why?

SH:  None of my books will ever be filmed so it’s a bit of a redundant question I’m afraid.   If any were filmed I’d just hope that someone decent was cast but knowing my luck they’d cast Jason Statham as Sean Doyle.  However, as long as I was paid enough for the rights I wouldn’t really care.  All writers know that once you sell film rights what ends up on the screen will be nothing like the book but if they pay you enough who fucking cares?  The readers know that film companies fuck around with books so if it’s a flop you can blame it on the film company and if it’s great you can say it’s because it was based on your book! 

FT:  Authors are generally a superstitious lot and upon completion of novels follow a certain ritual, what is yours and how has it changed from the original?

SH:  I used to have superstitions but not anymore.  I used to deliver the manuscript in the same bag but that was about it.  Now it’s just a case of sending the manuscript by e-mail!  Not very exciting really.

FT:  What was your impression of an authors lifestyle and status and how has that interpretation changed since you've published a number of books?

SH:  I had no preconceived ideas and I still haven’t.  The lifestyle for a successful author is the most privileged there is that’s why no author should ever moan about being depressed or under pressure.  If you’re successful there is no pressure.  The money that you’re paid negates that.  Any successful writer who whines about their life should shut the fuck up and look at how normal people have to earn money.

FT:  What are the best words of wisdom or tip that you'd give to a new or soon to be published author?

SH:  My tips to a new or soon to be published author would be don’t expect much.  Don’t think it will last too long, make the most of it while it does, hope you’ve got a good agent but above all don’t take yourself too seriously.  To anyone thinking of trying to become a writer I’d offer just one word of advice.  Don’t.

UBRAN FANTASY HORROR REVIEW: X: The Unknown - Shaun Hutson and Hands of the Ripper - Guy Adams

Release Date: 05/07/12

SYNOPSIS:

In a quiet field in Buckinghamshire, a huge crack has appeared in the earth's surface. And people are dying. Incinerated beyond recognition. At the same time, hospitals have noticed an increase in catastrophic deformities in foetuses, and cancer levels soaring. Dr Adam Royston, a scientist working at the nearby military base, thinks he knows what it is; a creature as old as the earth that slumbers for centuries, then wakes to feed on the energy and radiation produced by humans. But if he's right, and they can't find a way to destroy the creature roaming the countryside, then it's not just Buckinghamshire that could be in danger, but the whole world.


REVIEW:

Part of the problem when you bring a book up to date from an earlier time is that the things that scared the viewer back then is something that can be quite tame by todays standard. Such is the case with this adaptation of the Hammer 1956 film X: The Unknown where radiation is the fear of the day.

Sadly by bringing it forward to today’s setting a lot of what was assumed back then has sadly bitten the dust in not only theory but has been blasted into oblivion by fact. That alone took the book well out of the realms of believability which whilst you can suspend whilst watching the film sadly just niggles the reader.

Whilst Shaun’s writing is a highlight for the publisher, as a reader I was sadly hoping for a lot more than was actually presented as this book felt flat not only in the subject matter but also with the characters within that weren’t fleshed out enough for me to care for them as a reader. All in a great shame.

Release Date: 05/07/12

SYNOPSIS:

He is raising the poker again and Anna bites her lower lip so hard she chokes a little in the blood that runs down her throat...On a cold, wet night recently widowed psychology lecturer John Pritchard visits spiritualist Aida Golding with his son. Although wary something has driven him here. And he is drawn to a troubled young woman who is trying to contact her child. Something about her intrigues him and despite his doubts he continues to attend meetings. One night at an intimate seance in Aida's house the lights go out and one of the group is brutally murdered. John has his suspicions but he can't prove anything. He senses that Aida has some hold over the girl and he offers her a place of refuge in his home. But the past haunts Anna in the most chilling of ways. And all too soon John realises he's made a terrible mistake...


REVIEW:

I’m always a little dubious when a film is novelised, especially when the film is something of a British Classic from the Hammer studio’s whilst the book has been brought up to date to appeal to a modern audience part of the problem for the reader is the loss of the Victorian courtesies that allowed the film to feel organic, with the roles being carefully fleshed out Eric Porter and Angharad Rees.

Sadly this book fell short of what I would have expected not only on a title based on the film but of the talent to which we know he has as we’ve read quite a bit of his material. The characters were sadly 2d, the pace sadly lacking and all in the book really felt that it should have been left where it was to allow the film to stand on its own merit. Hopefully other Hammer books will do a better job of adaptation than this but with a well-known author falling flat, that does leave me wondering if it’s really going to be worth my time.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Gaius Valerius Verrens 3: Avenger of Rome - Douglas Jackson

Release Date: 16/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

Emperor Nero's grip on power is weakening. In every shadow he sees an enemy and like a cornered animal he lashes out at every perceived threat. His paranoia settles on the figure of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, Rome's greatest General who leads the imperial legions in the East. So popular is Corbulo with his men that he effective presides over an Empire within an Empire. Is Corbulo preparing to march against Rome and take the purple? Gaius Valerius Verrens, Hero of Rome, is ordered to Antioch with the power of life and death over Corbulo, a soldier he worships. There he finds word of his mission has preceded him and every man's hand is turned against him. But Corbulo's eyes are not on Rome, but on a new threat to the Empire's border. The Parthian King of Kings, Vologases, is marching to war and with such an army that if not stopped he might overwhelm the entire Roman east. Valerius marches at Corbulo's side. Outnumbered they make a stand in the barren wastes beyond the Tigris to meet Vologases in an epic contest of military might and ingenuity that will decide the fate of the Empire. And while he fights for the Empire, and for his own survival on the battlefield, Valerius must decide whether to complete his mission, or risk incurring his Emperor's dangerous wrath.


REVIEW:

If you love hard combat with a lead character placed in between the hammer and the anvil not only politically but for their very life, then you really have to read Douglas Jackson’s Gaius Valerius Verrens series. Here in the third outing for the character he’s placed in perhaps the most perilous place possible as Nero’s madness takes its inevitable toll on those around him.

As with the other books, it has great characters, solid prose and of course pace that really keeps you going especially as the first part is more of a journey to allow the reader to get to know the characters involved more. Add to this the huge combat sequences that occur later and all in this book more than hit the spot for me as a reader. Great stuff.

NEWS: Colin Harvey: Help Support Above and Beyond with Angry Robot

A year after his passing, Colin Harvey's publishers, Angry Robot are offering his two books:
Winter Song
Damage Time
Alongside his Flash Fiction Mini Collection for a staggering price of £6 via the Robot Trading Company.

All proceeds will be donated to the authors favourite Charity, Above and Beyond by the publisher. 

For more on Colin and to help get the twitter feed trending alongside appearing on Facebook please link to Lee Harris' Angry Robot tribute on thier website.  

Together we can make a difference in the memory of a gracious author who always made time for people and managed to turn an awful day upside down. 

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Spartacus 2: Rebellion - Ben Kane

Release Date: 16/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

The mighty slave army, led by Spartacus, has carried all before it, scattering the legions of Rome. Three praetors, two consuls and one proconsul have been defeated. Spartacus seems invincible as he marches towards the Alps and freedom. But storm clouds are massing on the horizon. Crixus the Gaul defects, taking all his men with him. Crassus, the richest man in Rome, begins to raise a formidable army, tasked specifically with the defeat of Spartacus. And within the slave army itself, there are murmurings of dissent and rebellion. "Spartacus", on the brink of glory, must make a crucial decision - to go forward over the Alps to freedom, or back to face the might of Rome and try to break its stranglehold on power forever.


REVIEW:

Having read the first instalment of Ben’s Spartacus series, I was hoping that this book would carry on in the same vein with character growth, solid pace and of course cracking combat. What unfurled within was not only that but so much more as the slave rebellion continued after the fractions within as some of the previous occupants met their deaths at the hands of the Romans in the opening pages of this book.

As with Ben’s other writing, the characters not only stand out vividly but the reader develops sympathies that allows them to care more which aids them to devour the pages as the tale unwinds from the authors imagination. Back that up with a whole host of logistical problems alongside some cunning, double dealing and politics and this series really is Ben’s best to date in my opinion. Great stuff.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Lego Lord of the Rings - Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Warner Brother Interactive have unwittingly let Gollum smuggle us the Gamescon Trailer for the forthcoming Lego Lord of the Rings Game (how he got it out please don't ask.)   

As such we feel proud to bring you this wonderful offering to tempt you as much as Frodo for the epic Lego adventure ahead.  Hopefully you'll enjoy this as much as we have and look forward to playing the game in the Fall when its released on the following formats:
DS
3DS
PSV
PS3
Wii
PC
Xbox 360.

And now to the trailer (after a quick purging in the Fires of Mount Doom to clean it up a little)

All the best, Gareth and Lady Eleanor

GUEST BLOG: Richard the Lionheart – a 12th-century superhero? - Angus Donald

The Dark Knight Rises has been on my mind of late. Even before the horrific shootings of scores of people in that cinema in Colorado, the Hollywood hype-machine had made sure that I was very aware of the release of the new movie. Everywhere I looked I saw images of Bruce Wayne’s rubber-clad alter ego and it started me off on a chain of thought about superheroes, in general, and Batman, in particular.

The idea of the superhero is a very old one, stretching back to Ancient Greece – Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, etc – but it occurred to me that the genesis of Batman is more recent; indeed, the prototype of Batman is clearly the medieval knight.

It’s right there in the name of the movie, of course, and in his alliterative nickname, the Caped Crusader, but we also have other indications that Batman is actually a modern, idealised version of a 12th-century knight. He is a man of wealth and property, who wears state-of-the-art armour that makes him virtually invincible to his foes, and who’s “job” it is to go out and fight against the enemies of his society – just like a knight of old. Batman even has an expensive “war horse” in his Batmobile, and a loyal squire in the shape of Robin, the Boy Wonder. Furthermore, he lives in a great big castle – Wayne Manor.

The 12th century had its own heroes, of course, not just fighting knights, but super-knights, braver, stronger, more successful than all the others – and they were flesh-and-blood people, rather than characters from a comic book. One such was Richard the Lionheart – the superhero of his age, you might argue.

Even during his lifetime, Richard was accorded almost mythical status by his subjects, by his peers – and even by his enemies. Legends sprang up around him, as fantastical as any Batman storyline – for example, he was said to be descended from a demoness called Melusine; he was also said to have earned his bellicose nickname by fighting a lion with his bare hands and reaching down its throat and ripping out its beating heart.

And while many of the stories about him are clearly untrue, the truth itself is sometimes almost more dramatic than fiction. I discovered some of the tales about King Richard as a child, and I have been fascinated by him ever since – which is one of the reason why I have set my series of Robin Hood novels during his reign. I wanted to make the Lionheart one of the major characters in the Outlaw Chronicles – if not actually the hero, then perhaps, the superhero of my stories.

To give you a flavour of the kind of heroics Richard was capable of let’s go to Limassol, Cyprus in May 1191. The Emperor of Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus, has insulted Richard’s bride-to-be by refusing to give her water and food after she has been shipwrecked. The Lionheart is understandably miffed. Isaac has 2,000 men lined up behind a makeshift barricade on the beach in a very strongly held position. Richard embarks about three hundred men (including Welsh archers) into small boats from his fleet and charges ashore. After a fierce hand-to-hand fight on the sand they put the Emperor’s men to flight. Isaac Comnenus retreats ten miles, as night is falling, where he is reinforced with thousands more of his loyal troops. He goes to bed in his pavilion secure in the knowledge that Richard can do nothing – he has only landed a very few horses and can do no more until dawn. However the Lionheart has different ideas. He mounts fifty knights and leads a difficult night attack on Isaac’s encampment. He sows panic in an army of (perhaps) three thousand men, seizes Comnenus’s royal standard, and once more puts the Emperor to flight. A month later he has conquered the whole island of Cyprus and has the Emperor as his prisoner bound in silver chains. (This story is told in more detail in my second novel Holy Warrior.)

There are dozens of examples from the history books of Richard behaving in this apparently reckless, but decidedly heroic fashion. At Arsuf (September 1191), Richard at the head of his heavy Christian knights smashed the victorious Saracen army of the great Saladin in an afternoon. In Normandy, at the Battle of Gisors (September 1198), Richard and a scratch force of fifty knights took on a French army six or seven times their numbers and shattered them in a couple of devastating cavalry charges (as told in Warlord, my latest novel).

Yet King Richard has not always been seen as a superhero – in fact, for the past hundred years scholars have even questioned whether he was a good guy at all. The historian Michael Markowski writing in the Journal of Medieval History in 1997, said of the Lionheart: “He was no hero – but a man who merely wanted to fight hand-to-hand for ever.” Some distinguished scholars even claim he was a bad king because he spent very little time in England (six months) during his ten-year reign and, instead, went gallivanting off on the Third Crusade and other military adventures.

I don’t agree. And he certainly wasn’t considered a bad king by his subjects. It’s difficult for us to understand the mindset of the Middle Ages – the religious fervour, the apparent indifference to human suffering and death. But we can be reasonably sure that to the folk of the 12th century, the Third Crusade was the right thing to do. It was noble, it was honorable, it was what God wanted. Jerusalem, the holy city, had been captured by the Saracens. King Richard was doing good knightly work in trying to recover it; like Batman, he was fighting the good fight against society’s enemies.

However, I think the most telling testament to Richard comes not from his friends, or from sycophantic courtiers, but from one of his enemies. Ibn Al-Athir, one of the finest Islamic historians, made this judgement on Richard: “His cunning, courage, energy and patience made him the most remarkable man of his time.”

Was Richard the Lionheart perfect? Was he without flaws? No. But Batman, too, is flawed. Was Richard the Lionheart, in fact, not just a hero but a true superhero? To my mind, a resounding, yes!

Warlord, by Angus Donald, the fourth novel in the Outlaw Chronicles series is available from bookshops and online

For more about Angus Donald’s books go to www.angus-donald.com

HISTORICAL FICTION: Outlaw Chronicles 4: Warlord - Angus Donald

/Release Date: 19/07/12/

SYNOPSIS:

May 1194. Finally released from captivity, Richard the Lionheart is in Normandy engaged in a bloody war to drive the French out of his continental patrimony. Using the brutal tactics of medieval warfare - siege, savagery and scorched earth - the Lionheart is gradually pushing back the forces of King Philip of France. By his side in this epic struggle are Robert, Earl of Locksley, better known as the erstwhile outlaw Robin Hood, and Sir Alan Dale, his loyal friend, and a musician and warrior of great skill and renown. But while the battles rage and the bodies pile up, Robin seems only to be interested in making a profit from the devastation of war, while Alan is preoccupied with discovering the identity the man who ordered his father's death ten years earlier - and the mystery is leading him towards to Paris, deep in the heart of the enemy's territory ...


REVIEW:

I’ve been a fan of Angus’ work since he burst on the scene a few years ago with the first title in the series. Its refreshing, it brings Robin Hood to life for the reader and also provides the reader with a story that they can place historically as well as taking them on a no holds barred adventure.

Whilst this is a cracking thing in itself, when you add a lead character that is multifaceted that you want to spend time around alongside a solid supporting cast and all in you really can’t ask for more. Personally, this is a series that I’ve loved sharing with my Dad and when my nephews are a little older, they’ll be getting the full treatment as well. For me, this is a great series to introduce your young reader to help the cross over into adult Historical Fiction.

Finally back that up with solid prose, a great plot line as well as some wonderful twists and all in, I was in HF heaven for a good few hours. Angus really does get better with each title.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Injustice: Gods Among Us - Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

We've been hearing a bit about this game for a while and whilst it's been on our radar we were waiting to get a good bit of news before passing it onto you.

Here, is your chance to get your say on which Hero/Villain would win in a massive DC beatdown.  Theres huge choices to make, top notch combat moves that looks not only sweet but graphically is very smooth.  

But why take our word here's some trailers for you:

Announcement Trailer

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Catwoman

As you can see it's looking pretty good, so if there's a hero or villain you've always wanted to beat down, this'll be your chance in 2013 on the following formats:

Xbox 360

PS3

Nintendo Wii U

All the best and more on this as we get it,

Gareth and Lady Eleanor

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Strontiun Dog: The Life and Times of Johnny Alpha - John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra

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.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: New Borderland 2 Trailer - Take 2 Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Take 2 Interactive have let us know about the latest advert for the latest game in the Borderlands cult franchise.

Its Handsome Jack who's there to antagonise you, a guy who thinks he's bigger, cleverer and of course untouchable, but hey, you're used to tougher opponents.  You've slaughtered your way through hordes of screaming foes (both before and after you've blown thier legs off), you've locked and loaded with the best and of course with the choice of four extremely cool characters to play we know you just can't wait.  So wet your appetite with this little beauty.

See you on Pandora, Gareth and Lady Eleanor.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Empty Space - M John Harrison

Release Date: 19/07/12

SYNOPSIS:

EMPTY SPACE is a space adventure. We begin with the following dream: An alien research tool the size of a brown dwarf star hangs in the middle of nowhere, as a result of an attempt to place it equidistant from everything else in every possible universe. Somewhere in the fractal labyrinth beneath its surface, a woman lies on an allotropic carbon deck, a white paste of nanomachines oozing from the corner of her mouth. She is neither conscious nor unconscious, dead nor alive. There is something wrong with her cheekbones. At first you think she is changing from one thing into another -- perhaps it's a cat, perhaps it's something that only looks like one -- then you see that she is actually trying to be both things at once. She is waiting for you, she has been waiting for you for perhaps 10,000 years. She comes from the past, she comes from the future. She is about to speak-- EMPTY SPACE is a sequel to LIGHT and NOVA SWING, three strands presented in alternating chapters which will work their way separately back to this image of frozen transformation.


REVIEW:

As a huge reader of science Fiction, it feels at time that there seem to be so many space operas out there that most of the other options are lost for the reader. What unfurls with in this title by M John Harrison is a story that is something that feels fairly unique as it blends all sorts of elements together to create a futuristic third book in the series that also features Light and Nova Swing.

It’s quirky, the reader gets value for money and all in with the authors wonderful writing style that brings top notch prose alongside cracking storytelling, all in allows the reader to get a tale that will more than satisfy. Finally add to the mix an author that wants to entertain taking you through the full range of emotions alongside what the principle player undergoes and all in it’s a cracking book.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: A Subterrene War Novel 3: Chimera - TC McCarthy

Release Date: 02/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

Escaped Germline soldiers need to be cleaned up, and Stan Resnick is the best man for the job. A job that takes him to every dark spot and every rat hole he can find. Operatives from China and Unified Korea are gathering escaped or stolen Russian and American genetics, and there are reports of new biological nightmares: half-human things, bred to live their entire lives encased in powered armor suits. Stan fights to keep himself alive and out of prison while he attempts to capture a genetic, one who will be able to tell them everything they need to know about this new threat, the one called "Project Sunshine." Chimera is the third and final volume of The Subterrene War Trilogy which tells the story of a single war from the perspective of three different combatants. The first two volumes GERMLINE and EXOGENE are available now.


REVIEW:

Having loved the first book in the series, I eagerly awaited the second which, when that cemented my affection for the world that TC created. It’s dark, it has quite a few thought provoking concepts and when added to the whole idea of a genetically engineered model solider really made sure that I couldn’t get enough.

The writing is straight forward no nonsense with no expense spared on the action sequences with their hard combat and even bloodier consequences. Add to this solid prose and an almost cinematic way with words which when backed with a believable lead protagonist and all in, it’s a solid conclusion to this epic series. Great stuff.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The King's Spy - Andrew Swanston

Release Date: 02/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

Summer, 1643 England is at war with itself. King Charles I has fled London, his negotiations with Parliament in tatters. The country is consumed by bloodshed. For Thomas Hill, a man of letters quietly running a bookshop in the rural town of Romsey, knowledge of the war is limited to the rumours that reach the local inn. When a stranger knocks on his door one night and informs him that the king's cryptographer has died, everything changes. Aware of Thomas' background as a mathematician and his expertise in codes and ciphers, the king has summoned him to his court in Oxford. On arrival, Thomas soon discovers that nothing at court is straightforward. There is evidence of a traitor in their midst. Brutal murder follows brutal murder. And when a vital message encrypted with a notoriously unbreakable code is intercepted, he must decipher it to reveal the king's betrayer and prevent the violent death that failure will surely bring.


REVIEW:

The English Civil War seems to have an awful lot of fiction written around it at the moment, so it’s always hard to find something that isn’t repeated by any other author or smacks of something cobbled together poorly to make the most of the latest trend.

What Andrew produces within this title is a book that has a cracking lead protagonist who is fully rounded and grows within his own role as the civil situation changes around him. It’s hard hitting, and with the turmoil surrounding the time sets itself wonderfully for the mystery surrounding the character to unfurl. Add to this an author who has clearly done their research which when blended into the tale as a whole makes this a book that’s very hard to put down. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.

LADY ELEANOR HUMOUR REVIEW: Diary of a Creepy Ass Doll - Stacey Leigh Brooks

Release Date: 10/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

In this darkly humorous book, discover the inner musings of a deliciously demented doll, once loved and now abandoned.

Peek inside her secret diary of twisted thoughts and odd scribbles, hinting at her evil and madness. But beware.

She rules her attic kingdom with a porcelain fist and has minions who carry out fiendish plots against those who dare offend. So play nice. Or else.


REVIEW:

I’m always on the lookout for the quirky and when two of my interests, in this case, horror with a touch of humour collide, then I really can’t wait to get my hands on it.

What this pocket sized book brings to the table is a dark story of a doll who slowly descends into madness after being exiled to the attic. It has quirky humorous lines backed up with some wonderfully constructed photos and to be honest it’s a book that a lot of people will like even though it’s short. Add to this the fact that it’s a great talking point or as a coffee table book and you’ll find that it’s a title that you’ll love flicking through time and again or even just to give as a gift. Cracking stuff.

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Savage: The Guv'nor - Pat Mills, Patrick Goddard

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.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Women of the Otherworld: 13 - Kelley Armstrong

Release Date: 24/07/12

SYNOPSIS:

The breath-taking, explosive finale to the Women of the Otherworld series War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons. Savannah Levine - fiery and unpredictable - stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows. On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival - Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jaime; Hope, Eve and more...They are fighting for lives. They are fighting for their loved ones. They are fighting for the Otherworld.


REVIEW:

When you’ve followed a series for a while, its always worrying when you hear that the final book is coming out. It feels almost like a kick in the guts but its also a sign that all bets are off as to what happens with your favourite characters. Whilst this is a Savannah tale, it was a book that brought all the old favourites back to aid in the world’s greatest supernatural crisis.

Its addictive, it has great pace and when you add to the mix Kelley’s wonderful characters that you want to not only spend time with but have followed for years, you know it’s going to be a book that whilst sad in some ways, is something that you just can’t leave alone. Finally throw into the equation, a short story featuring Elena and the Pack and all in it’s a solid tale to finish with. That said, Kelley hasn’t closed the door on the world so in future, don’t be surprised if another outing appears.

FACTUAL REVIEW: The Writers and Artists Yearbook 2013

Release Date: 05/07/12

SYNOPSIS:

This bestselling guide to all areas of the media, now in its 106th edition, has been completely revised and updated. With 100 articles written by successful authors and publishing insiders, it advises, guides and inspires writers and artists on how to get published. The 2013 edition includes new articles on, amongst other topics, memoir writing, apps, libraries and contains a wealth of practical information on a huge range of topics including copyright, finance, submitting a manuscript and marketing yourself and your writing. With nearly 4,500 entries in its up-to-date directory of media contacts, the Yearbook is an in invaluable companion 'The one-and-only, indispensable guide to the world of writing' - William Boyd 'Even established writers can feel as though they're climbing a mountain. Think of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook as your sherpa' - Ian Rankin 'Full of useful stuff. It answered my every question' - JK Rowling


REVIEW:

Whilst many people tend to think of writing and art as something that’s just a nice past time, for those afflicted with the ability, its something that has to be done rather than something we choose, almost as if something within our inner selves demands that we spend time nurturing and growing that skill.

So whilst it may seem strange to some, many of us have finished scripts or pieces that we’ve poured ourselves into but not a clue what to do with them afterwards. That’s where this book comes in as its full of information to help you reach not only the right people but also lets you know others submission guides alongside the rates of pay.

Add to this advice from known authors who’ve already been there to help not only encourage you but to give you experience that they had to learn through hard graft and it’s a book that really is a holy grail within itself. Finally add to the equation a full list of Agents alongside Publishers and magazine contacts and this really is a book that you can’t ignore.

FANTASY REVIEW: The Kharkanas Trilogy 1: The Forge of Darkness - Steven Erikson

Release Date: 31/07/12

SYNOPSIS:

Now is the time to tell the story of an ancient realm, a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come and all those already told...It's a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power...and even death is not quite eternal. The commoners' great hero, Vatha Urusander, is being promoted by his followers to take Mother Dark's hand in marriage, but her Consort, Lord Draconus, stands in the way of such ambitions. The impending clash sends fissures throughout the realm, and as the rumors of civil war burn through the masses, an ancient power emerges from the long dead seas. Caught in the middle of it all are the First Sons of Darkness, Anomander, Andarist, and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold...Steven Erikson entered the pantheon of great fantasy writers with his debut "Gardens of the Moon". Now he returns with the first novel in a trilogy that takes place millennia before the events of the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" and introduces readers to Kurald Galain, the warren of Darkness. It is the epic story of a realm whose fate plays a crucial role in shaping the world of the Malazan Empire.


REVIEW:

As a huge fan of Steven I was wondering for a while what he’d hit back with after the completion of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. I shouldn’t have worried as in this, the Kharkanas series, he’s travelled to an earlier period to bring the tales of that to the reader. Whilst a few of the cast are known to readers of the Malazan series its refreshing as you get to see how their personalities have changed alongside finding out how the events played out that shaped them in the future.

As with Steven’s other work it’s an epic scale, it has more threads than a tapestry and when added to his solid prose and cracking world building skills, really makes him one of the modern names that will be remembered for a very long time. Finally throw into the mix, a huge cast list, political double-dealing and of course combat on a global scale and all round the readers in for another epic treat. Great stuff.

CRIME THRILLER REVIEW: Niceville - Carsten Stroud

Release Date: 02/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

When ten-year-old Rainey Teague disappears on his way home from school in idyllic Niceville, Detective Nick Kavanaugh traces the boy to his last sighting - staring into the window of old pawn shop in town. CCTV shows Rainey there one minute and then gone the next. In the days that follow, any hope Rainey's family has of finding him alive starts to fade but then Rainey is found - alive but in a coma, and there's no telling when, or if, he'll ever wake up...One year on, Kavanagh is still haunted by the case. And now another member of the town - this time an elderly woman - has been reported missing. It's as though she vanished into thin air. Once again, Kavanagh's on the case and, as he starts to dig back through the town's history, he can't help but notice that Niceville has a much higher than average number of stranger abductions...


REVIEW:

OK, I love something a little different and this book from Carsten definitely did that blending Urban Fantasy together with a fast paced crime thriller which has received acclaim from quite a few well known authors. Great I thought, a real treat and something I couldn’t wait to dive into yet when I did, I was a little disappointed as for me the principle character was one that I really couldn’t get a hook on, he felt flat, a little too unconnected to the world which for me is usually a deal breaker as it makes working your way through it more of a struggle.

Don’t get me wrong, I did like the underlying arc, the twists that left the reader wondering which way was up and of course the teasers that were bread crumbed along for the reader to follow, but when I can’t get on with a lead character it’s definitely difficult to keep going. All in for me, I was a little underwhelmed and disappointed but with the idea’s behind I will give Carsten another shot to keep me glued. Here’s hoping.

URBAN FANTASY STEAMPUNK: Bannon and Clare 1: The Iron Wyrm Affair - Lilith Saintcrow

Release Date: 02/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

The game is afoot! London's geniuses are being picked off by a vicious killer, and Emma Bannon, a sorceress in the service of the Empire, must protect the next target, Archibald Clare. Unfortunately he's more interested in solving the mystery of the murders than staying alive ...In a world where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare will face dark sorcery, cannon fire, high treason and the vexing problem of reliably finding hansom cabs in the city.


REVIEW:

Whenever a favourite author starts a new series, I’m always a little apprehensive. Not that I doubt, their skills, but it’s the feat that the characters that I loved from the previous series will leave a huge gap in my reading pleasure. In this new saga from author Lilith Saintcrow the reader gets a tale that brings the best of Steampunk Victoriana with a touch of magic. Whilst the lead in this title is a hard kickass lady, it’s clear from between the lines that our lead heroine started out a lot lower in social class than where she currently is, throw in a traumatic event (that happened previously to the title) alongside a tough case that forces her to face demons and her own nagging emotional conflict and all in it’s a satisfactory story.

Add to this a host of supporting cast members that not only help to flesh the world but add their own threads into the tapestry and all in it’s a satisfactory read. Finally whilst I did enjoy this book I was a little weary of just how powerful the principle player was, that is something that is going to have to be carefully managed in future instalments otherwise it will make the whole series a little one sided.

FANTASY REVIEW: Warhammer Fantasy: The Legend of Sigmar - Graham McNeill

Release Date: 02/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

Sigmar is the greatest leader of men the world has ever known. By saving the high king of the dwarfs, he earned the eternal friendship of the mountain folk. When a mighty horde of orcs threatened his lands, he united the tribes of men to stand against them at Black Fire Pass. He broke the siege of Middenheim and pushed back the forces of Chaos. In defeating the great necromancer Nagash, he saved mankind and secured the future of his empire. His deeds are legend. This is his story.


REVIEW:

I loved this series when it was released as individual titles but when it comes to the opportunity to purchase them as an all in one compendium you’re not only talking about value for money but also the fact that you don’t have to wait for the next part. This title is perhaps the ultimate Warhammer novel as it follows the start of mankind’s evolution into an Empire from the God King Sigmar.

As with Graham’s other writing the prose are sharp, its chock full of combat and as a reader you know that you’re going to get quality writing throughout. Add to this that the second book won him the David Gemmell Legend Award and all in you know that this is a must have all round. Great stuff.

VIDEO GAMES NEWS: Assassin's Creed III - Anvil Game Engine - Ubisoft

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Ubisoft have let us have know about the new Anvil engine powering the forthcoming Assassin's Creed III game.

It's pretty slick and will allow a lot more detail with smoother flowing graphics, but why listen to us, have a look at this trailer:

Assassin's Creed 3 will be available for the following consoles on the 31st October:

PC

Xbox 360

Playstation 3

Game Blurb:

The American Colonies, 1775. A brave young warrior fights to save his homeland. But what begins as a struggle over territory turns into an extraordinary journey that will transform him into a Master Assassin—and will forever change the destiny of a nation. 

You are Connor, warrior son of a Native American mother and British father. As the colonies draw closer to revolution, you will dedicate your life to the freedom of your clan –becoming the spark that ignites the revolution into full blaze. Your crusade will take you through blood-soaked battlefields to crowded city streets, to perilous wilderness and beyond. You will not only witness history - you will make it.

Set against the backdrop of one of the bloodiest Revolutions in world history, prepare to be drawn back into the centuries old battle between the Assassin’s Order and their sworn enemy, the Templars. Unleash lethal new skills and experience a stunningly realistic world created by Anvil Next, a new engine that redefines gaming.

Welcome to an entirely new chapter in the Assassin’s Creed saga.

Key Features

• A NEW MASTER ASSASSIN - As Connor, a Native American Assassin, use your predatory instincts to stalk your enemies and eviscerate them with a new arsenal of weapons including tomahawks, rope darts, firearms, and more.
• IGNITE THE FIRES OF REVOLUTION - From Lexington to Bunker Hill, become America’s first highly trained Master Assassin. Bear witness to the real conspiracy behind the American Revolution between the Assassin’s Order and the Templar menace alongside historical icons including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and many more.
• EXPLORE A BRAVE NEW WORLD - Pursue your enemies through massive environments – from bustling city streets to blood-soaked battlefields and into the far reaches of the American frontier.
• STUNNING NEW ENGINE - Introducing Anvil Next, our new engine designed for Assassin’s Creed III. Revolutionary physics, animations, and weather systems deliver unprecedented realism, while a new combat system delivers more intense, gut-wrenching battles than ever before.
• INTENSE MULTIPLAYER - The acclaimed multiplayer system returns with a host of refinements, including all-new characters, maps and modes designed to deliver the most compelling Assassins multiplayer experience yet.

INTERVIEW: Madeline Ashby

Here at Falcata Times we love to get in with new authors as you're never sure what to expect, here we had the pleasure of interviewing Madeline about her Machine Dynasty Series and some of the answers may surprise you...

Falcata Times: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why? 

Madeline Ashby: Well, vN is the story of Amy Peterson, a self-replicating humanoid robot who's been raised with a mixed synthetic/organic family for the past five years. At her kindergarten graduation, she watches her abusive robotic grandmother, Portia, attack her beloved robotic mother, and she springs into action. She runs up on stage and devours her grandmother. Thereafter, her grandmother's consciousness functions as a partition, and Amy has to deal with her constant presence. 

For me, Portia was the most fun to write. She's deliciously evil. She's also often factually right while being morally wrong. I love that contradiction. I just love her. I disagree with her philosophy, but I still love her. She's part GladOS, part Borg Queen, part Miss Dubose from To Kill A Mockingbird. She's a clever, hateful, violent old lady, and for me she's an approximation of the harmful mental programming we humans -- and women in particular -- have to deal with every day. She's the inner voice that says we can't, we shouldn't, we'll never, we suck. She's hatred embodied. And she's ever so much fun to write. 



FT: How similar to your principal protagonist are you? 

MA: Hmm. I think Amy and I both come from fairly privileged backgrounds, with all the innocence and naivete that comes with that. We experienced the loss of that innocence differently, but I think for both of us it's nothing to mourn. As human beings we pay for knowledge with innocence, and I think in most cases it's a good bargain. Amy and I also share the fact that at pivotal moments in our lives, we both understood how important our grandmothers had been to the way our mothers did things, and who we became as people as a result. There are a lot of things about my mother that I didn't understand until her mother had died. One of the most influential times in my life involved going through my grandmothers' (both maternal and paternal) things, post-mortem. It entirely re-framed my thinking of personal history, narrative, and material culture. It also made me see my parents as products of their own history, as people in development. Which is to say, real people, not just my parents. 


FT:  When you sit down and write do you know how the story will end or do you just let the pen take you? ie Do you develop character profiles and outlines for your novels before writing them or do you let your ideas develop as you write? 
 
MA:  I usually see the end, first. I know how it'll end, and I get a sense of the highlights that lead to that moment or that image. I have moments I want to bring my characters to, realizations they should have, or conversations they should engage in. I hear what they need to say, and those words and emotions stay pretty constant throughout the process. I don't really draw up character profiles and outlines, ordinarily. I'm doing it for the sequel to vN, but that's because in a series there's more information to keep track of, and I don't want to forget anything. Besides, Scrivener makes it really easy to hold onto all that stuff. 


FT: Sometimes pieces of music seem to influence certain scenes within novels, do you have a soundtrack for your tale or is it a case of writing in silence with perhaps the odd musical break in-between scenes? 

MA: Oh, I had a playlist for this book from the very beginning. I'm now using it, with some additions, for the sequel (ID). It includes a lot of Amanda Palmer, Nine Inch Nails, Fleet Foxes, Editors, Patrick Wolf, Elbow, stuff like that. If you want a theme song for vN, it's "Runs in the Family" by Amanda Palmer. 


FT: What can you tell us about the next novel? 

MA: Well, it takes place from the perspective of a supporting character in vN, Javier. He's another self-replicating robot, but a different model from Amy. He's a sexy, fast-talking drifter who puts some of his old skills to use while on a long quest for revenge, redemption, and self-discovery. Javier also appears in a story of mine called "The Education of Junior Number 12." You can find it here, if you're curious.


For more information and to keep up with the latest news from Madeline, visit her site here.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: The First Machine Dynasty 1: vN - Madeline Ashby

Release Date: 02/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

Amy Peterson is a self-replicating humanoid robot. For the past five years, she has been grown slowly as part of a mixed organic/synthetic family. She knows very little about her android mother's past, so when her grandmother arrives and attacks her mother, Amy wastes no time: she eats her alive. Now she carries her malfunctioning granny as a partition on her memory drive, and she's learning impossible things about her clade's history - like the fact that she alone can kill humans without failsafing -

REVIEW:

When you write a book with Robots as a central character you have to be very careful as they can come across as cold as well as impersonal which then makes them nigh impossible for the reader to associate with. What Madeline does with this book is bring out the human side as the principle character, Amy who is in Kindergarten when we meet her for the first time, brings this future world to the reader in not only an emotional way but on a journey of self-discovery that will have profound effects upon all involved.

Its wonderfully written, there’s just the right amount of action to increase pace but the real discovery within is the changes that she makes as she gains experience of life on the run. Add to this solid prose, a great concept within and an overall arc that allows the reader to see the world though her eyes and all in this is a great release for a first time author. I’ll definitely be reading more by Madeline in the future.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Skyscraper Throne 1: The City's Son - Tom Pollock

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

Hidden under the surface of everyday London is a city of monsters and miracles, where wild train spirits stampede over the tracks and glass-skinned dancers with glowing veins light the streets. When a devastating betrayal drives her from her home, graffiti artist Beth Bradley stumbles into the secret city, where she finds Filius Viae, London's ragged crown prince, just when he needs someone most. An ancient enemy has returned to the darkness under St Paul's Cathedral, bent on reigniting a centuries-old war, and Beth and Fil find themselves in a desperate race through a bizarre urban wonderland, searching for a way to save the city they both love. The City's Son is the first book of The Skyscraper Throne trilogy: a story about family, friends and monsters, and how you can't always tell which is which.


REVIEW:

To be honest if this hadn’t been part of the Jo Fletcher stable I might well have put off reading it for a little while and to be blunt that would have been a huge error on my part. It’s inventive, it brings together touches of Gaiman’s Neverwhere and of course takes the reader into a dystopian fantasy world that brims with death at every turn. It’s not light reading and whilst it is aimed at the Young Adult market its more a branch into the adult world which will appeal equally to that market as well.

Add to the darkness wonderful characters who come to life in the nigh impossible world and when backed with some solid prose, a good heaping of imagination and a no holds barred style of writing, will no doubt leave you demanding more. All in a solid read and one I really enjoyed, it’ll be interesting to see what happens next in Tom’s world.