Trapped By Monsters

Ooh, me aching fingers

06 May 2011 By Barry Hutchison 0 In Brilliant Books!, General

It feels like forever since I’ve posted on here.

It’s not that I haven’t wanted to, mind, it’s just that I’ve been saddled with a bit of a hefty workload over the past couple of months. This has meant that I had to forget about everything that didn’t involve writing or promoting my books. I haven’t eaten or slept since late February and, frankly, I am bursting for the toilet.

Since the beginning of March, I have written 176,000 words on eight different books. Two of these were completely my own work for my publisher, HarperCollins. The other six were books I write for different publishers, none of which are published under my own name. I can’t tell you much about any of them at the moment, although it’s safe to say that at least a couple of them were Ben 10 books, which I’ve been writing for a couple of years now.

I can tell you a bit about my own books, though. The first one I had to write was the fifth book in my INVISIBLE FIENDS series. It’s called THE BEAST, and it comes out in March 2012, with the final book in the series being published in August of that year.

I’m always excited about the FIENDS books, but I’m even more excited about my new book, which comes out in February 2012. I just finished writing it last week, but it was mentioned in a HarperCollins promotional catalogue a month or so before that. The only problem was, that I hadn’t really told them much about the story at that point, so they had to piece the blurb below together based on little things I had mentioned in passing. As such, it’s not exactly an accurate reflection of the story, but it does at least give a nod in the plot’s direction.

“Brilliant new novel” eh? “From a major talent” you say? Oh, those guys…

You can read a very short extract from THE 13TH HORSEMAN on this page of my own website. It’s nothing like my INVISIBLE FIENDS series, so it’ll be interesting to hear what people think when it comes out.

So, that’s why I’ve been away, in a nutshell. It’s great to be so busy, but it’s also going to be nice to relax for a while before getting stuck into my next book – a follow-up to HORSEMAN – in a couple of weeks.

Oh, one thing I did manage to get done was to read PLAGUE, the latest book in Michael Grant’s GONE series. I’ll post a review of it here shortly.

Aaaah, it’s good to be back.

Blood of the Witch

05 May 2011 By Tommy Donbavand 0 In Audio!, Boredom Buster!, Brilliant Books!

The postman was very kind to me today – he delivered my copy of the US audiobook version of Scream Street 2: Blood of the Witch, created by Brilliance Audio for Candlewick Press and read by MacLeod Andrews.

Listen to an exclusive excerpt here:

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Fleet? SWEET

05 May 2011 By Sam Enthoven 0 In Brilliant Books!

“Set grapeshot to fire in sequence as we cross the cruiser’s estimated path,” Desjani ordered. “Charge null-field and stand-by…”

How does the line above make you feel? If you think it sounds gung-ho militaristic, clunky, humourless and a bit silly I’m sure you’re not alone. Hell, for the first pages of The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell those were the conclusions I was reaching about this whole book. But then, when I read those words above, something odd happened. An old thrill stirred in my heart, the back of my neck tingled, the corners of my mouth lifted in an enormous grin and I realised: this book is FUN.

The Lost Fleet is a series about SPACE BATTLES. If feasibility’s your thing it’s here if you want it: the author has military experience and takes pride in making sure the battles strictly obey the laws of physics. More importantly for me there’s stuff blowing up – and heroism too, as Captain “Black Jack” Geary struggles with the chain of command and the weight of his own reputation in his efforts to bring his fleet home through enemy space and overwhelming odds.

This is old-school thrilling sci-fi, the kind I didn’t think people allowed themselves to write or to publish any more – or not outside of established (and tired) continuities like Star Trek or Star Wars. I overcame my hesitations. I’m glad I did. And if I was ten I would be eating these books up with a spoon.

Here (above) is the cover of the second Lost Fleet book: Fearless. My copy’s already waiting at my local bookshop for me to come pick it up. Can’t wait.

…Desjani paused. “Fire null-field.”

Happy reading!

Sam

Should Libraries Be Sponsored?

03 May 2011 By Tommy Donbavand 1 In Libraries

Before you begin to read this post, please understand that what I’m suggesting is not how I would like things to be. A library should be a free, public resource that is open to all. However, with the current round of cuts threatening to close many branches, I’d like to propose a possible way forward…

Would you visit your local library if it was sponsored by Tesco? How about if the shelves of travel books were renamed the Thomas Cook Travel Section? Like many people, I’d feel uneasy about libraries adopting corporate sponsorship – although I can’t for the life of me explain why that is.

Libraries are under threat. The government is looking to make sweeping cuts to public services and, not considered to be essential by many local councils, libraries are taking a big hit. So, why shouldn’t the private sector get involved? If you had a choice of no library at all, or an Asda.com Library with green shelf fronts and the occasional logo or latest supermarket offer – which would you choose? Would it really make a difference if you borrowed a book for your child to read and it had an Early Learning Centre sticker on the cover? Surely the content would remain exactly the same.

Plus, as well as a much needed injection of cash, libraries sponsored by corporate giants could have coffee stands, give you money off your shopping for every 10 books you borrow, and even have a little shop in the corner so you could pick up a pint of milk along with your bodice-ripper. In a hurry? Drop your books off at the customer services desk next time you shop.

Would that really be so bad?

Of course, we’d also need to look at what’s in it for the private companies. There’s advertising, of course – plus a potential increase in sales and being seen to be giving something back to the local community. After all, which big business wouldn’t want to be known as the organisation that saved British libraries?

Among the pitfalls to watch out for would be the new library sponsors having a say in which books are stocked and what events are held – although keeping experienced librarians on in their posts would obviously help on that front. But, do you want your books checked in and out by someone wearing an orange, Sainsbury’s branded fleece?

I’m not saying the idea is perfect but, if it keeps your local library open, isn’t it worth considering? I look forward to reading your comments.

Tommy

Meeting one of my Heroes

30 April 2011 By Mark Robson 0 In General

I had the rare priviledge of meeting one of my all-time writing heroes last week. I have admired Philip Reeve’s work for a number of years now and have been itching for the chance to meet him. Anyone who has been present at one of my school visits where I’ve been asked what my favourite book is will know that I don’t hesitate to answer Mortal Engines. It’s hard to compare the book with anything else, as it seems unique in its field. The sheer scope of Philip’s imagination blew me away and I’ve been a big fan of his books ever since.

First impressions? Well, standing next to him made me feel short and fat, which as most who have met me will hopefully agree, would not be a description most would give. The man is so tall and slim… and easy to talk to, intelligent… talented, humble and… I could go on. Irritating, isn’t it? I’ve met a few people like this during my life and I can imagine it would be easy for some to allow jealousy to colour perception, but I find people like Philip incredibly inspirational. I came away feeling empowered and richer with the desire to be a better writer. I very much hope we get the chance to cross paths again many times in the future.

I love that fact that having a son called Sam, he then chose to call his dog Frodo! A great choice of name… he’s even got the hairy toes!

Oh, and here’s a little known fact about Philip: he also keeps two Alpacas. What’s an alpaca? Well they look a bit like a llama. I forgot to ask their names, but given his son and dog’s names, I’d lay odds on them being Gandalf and Strider!

If they were, then which one would you say this is?

I’m currently reading Philip’s new book, Scrivener’s Moon, which so far is as brilliant as his other books set in this world. I’ll be feeding back properly on it soon.

Peur de Moi

28 April 2011 By Sam Enthoven 2 In Video

Wary as I am about trailers’ ability to promise things their films don’t deliver, I do like the look of forthcoming French animated movie The Prodigies. Crank up your French listening skills and feast yer peepers on this (via Twitch) below:

(Im)Mature Content

28 April 2011 By Sam Enthoven 0 In Brilliant Books!

One of the biggest reasons adults hesitate about stocking manga in their bookshops or libraries is concern about content. Partly this is historical: the first manga (and anime) to be available in translation in the UK back in the 1980′s were often violent and exploitative, and though those kinds of stories make up only a small proportion of manga production in Japan (where romance manga, sports manga, even business manga are the norm) the perception that all manga are like that still continues among adults to this day.

It’s wrong. Manga is “only” a form: as I hope my previous posts on 20th Century Boys and Twin Spica may already have suggested, manga can be about anything. If, however, you’re determined to cling to the perception that all manga contain strong bloody violence, bad language, gratuitous titillation and no clear moral compass… well: Gantz by Hiroya Oku is going to confirm all your worst expectations. And you know what? I’m going to recommend it here anyway, because I think Gantz is a blast. ;p

When horny, jaded teenager Kei is reluctantly coerced by his moral and honourable friend Masaru into saving the life of a drunk who has fallen into the path of a subway train, two surprising things happen. The first is that Kei and Masaru are both killed for their trouble. The second is that the pair of them (plus various other misfits) then both wake up in a strange room containing a mysterious black sphere.

In letters appearing on its surface the sphere explains only the following: its name is Gantz, Kei‘s and Masaru‘s lives are no longer their own, and from now on they and their unlucky fellow victims will be forced to hunt down and kill (or be killed by) various bizarre aliens that seem to be roaming the city. Gantz equips Kei and the rest of the group with some spiffy-looking but dubiously functional sci-fi weaponry, plus some costumes that (the sphere neglects to explain) will give their wearers super strength and speed. Then, with no further instruction, Gantz zaps the characters off on their way to take their chances. Who will survive? Who will die? Will intolerably, desperately one-track-minded Kei ever persuade someone to have sex with him or will aliens rip his limbs off first? Read Gantz to find out.

Let’s face it: Gantz is unlikely to be stocked in libraries – or not without restricted access. Your parents will probably not buy it for you; your granny will (almost-!) definitely not give it to you for Christmas. Gantz is violent, sexy and probably “too old for you.” But it’s enormous fun – a gleeful, gory, guilty pleasure that I heartily recommend. And to any adults reading this post who are appalled by my recommending this series here I say only this: reading that you disapprove of is still infinitely better than no reading at all.

Between following the multiple volumes of Gantz, 20th Century Boys and Twin Spica you can see I’m developing quite the manga habit here. But I still have more manga recommendations to come, I’m thrilled to say.

Happy reading!

Sam

The Happy Couple!

28 April 2011 By David Melling 1 In General, Illustrations!

I dedicate this image to the happy couple on their Big Day, and our future King and Queen. May your lives together be full of joy, wisdom and strategically placed snails.

Dreadful Desktops!

27 April 2011 By Tommy Donbavand 0 In Boredom Buster!

What does your computer desktop wallpaper say about you?

Well, it could say: “I read the coolest, creepiest books out there!” Check out the brand new Scream Street 11: Hunger of the Yeti desktop wallpapers for your PC here: http://bit.ly/dWtxUJ

Simply choose the size that’s right for your screen, right click and save the file to your computer. Then, open the picture, right click again and set the image as your desktop wallpaper! It so simple, even Sir Otto Sneer’s nephew, Dixon, could do it!