Author Interview - Karen Miller

Hi Karen, thanks for agreeing to take part in this interview

1) These days, a typical fantasy series will either be a trilogy or a
multi-volume epic. What made you decide on a duology?
Long story. When I started the ‘Kingmaker, Kingbreaker’ story (way back when)
it was a single volume and that was its title. But for various reasons I
couldn't get it done. I had crises of confidence, real life got in the
way of writing. I started and stopped and rewrote the beginning instead
of getting to the end, a bunch of times. Eventually, just to make
myself finish the damned thing, I wrote it as a film script -- and
entered it in a script competition. Needless to say I didn't win, but I
got some good feedback on the characters and the dialogue. So then I
went back and novelised the film script and that got me to a finished
first draft of a real life novel. If memory serves, it came in around
120,000 words. The whole thing. I polished that and submitted it to
Voyager Australia. It was knocked back with an invite to resubmit after
a rewrite and a fantastic list of suggestions on how it might be
improved. So I had another look and promptly passed out from
embarrassment, since it was now abundantly clear to me how wrong I'd
been to submit it like that. Mostly I saw how much I'd short-changed the
story, and glossed over a whole heap of events. So I sat down, found
what I felt was the best 'break point' in the story, reworked the first
part into the first novel The Innocent Mage, worked up the outline for
book 2, known in Australia as Innocence Lost, resubmitted, and made the
sale. At the heart of all this palaver was my profound self-doubt. I just
couldn't believe I had that much story in me. I've subsequently
discovered that I do, that my natural story length is pretty long. But
that was something I had to discover by doing. I was also influenced by
my theatre background. I tend to think in either a 2-act or a 3-act structure, like a play.
At this point I don't have any really long connected series in mind, a
Jordan or Martin or Elliot 7+ act stories. The standalone series novel
or the two or three act structure seems to be my default construct.

2) In your introduction to 'Innocent Mage', you say that you "fervently
hope" this won't be your last fantasy series. Do you have others
planned? Are they also set in the land of Lur?
I do indeed have others planned. In fact I've been amazingly lucky.
Currently I'm working on a trilogy, Godspeaker. Brand new world, brand
new characters. Book 1, Empress of Mijak, released in Australia in June
and will start releasing in the UK and US next year with Orbit. Book 2
comes out here in December, and book 3 next June. Releasing in Australia
next April, under a pen name, is a standalone series -- The Rogue Agent
series, with book 1 The Accidental Sorcerer. No word yet on a US/UK
release there. I have another 3-book deal in negotiation at the moment,
for release in Australia, the US and the UK, but I can't announce the
particulars yet. I'm really looking forward to writing those stories,
though. I'm currently working on another Stargate novel, and will do
another one next year as well as the other mainstream stuff. Basically
I'm booked solid until 2010, writing-wise. I have other ideas simmering
on the backburner, but I'm not letting myself get ahead on those.
There's no point! My brain is already on the point of melting and
dribbling out of my ears.

3) Some authors have shied away from using maps in their books, saying
it distracts the reader from the story itself, but 'The Innocent Mage'
has one at the beginning. Was this a conscious decision on your part or
a decision made by the publisher?
Oh lord. Trust me when I say the maps aren't my idea!!! Voyager, my
Australian publisher, really likes to use maps. I hate them. I never
look at them in other books, I'm not geographically minded, I'm afraid.
I do bad maps. I draw them and someone else does their best to tidy
them but if I didn't have to have them I wouldn't. I could get someone
else to draw them from scratch but there's no point because I just
don't think that way. I appreciate enough to understand causal links
between geography and human civilisations but beyond that?
Aaarrgghhhh!!!!! I am held in deep disdain by other more mappish
authors, trust me. I do appreciate many fantasy fans love the whole map thing
and I wish for their sakes it was something I liked and could do halfway decently.
But there you have it. I'm crap with the maps.

4) Asher's 'rural' accent stands out right from the start and
illustrates clearly the divide between the Olken and Doranen people.
Where did the inspiration for this come from and ...
Probably from the time I spent living and working in the UK. I'm
fascinated by regional differences in accents. I think it's amazing
that even though the language is basically the same the musicality of
it is so incredibly varied in the same country. In any country -- look
at the US, for example. And here in Australia, there are regional
differences. Accents really do define communities and clans. And
especially for Asher, with his strong sense of identity and his
prejudice against the Doranen, holding onto his accent, playing it up
even, is his way of maintaining his identity and past, even as he tries
to forge a different future for himself. He's a bolshy character, quite
bloody-minded. It's his way of rebelling, of drawing a line in the
sand. I really enjoyed playing with that.

5) As a female author, do you find it difficult writing male characters?
Well, I don't think I do, insofar as I find it quite easy to relate to
the male psyche. In fact in many ways I find it easier to relate to the
male psyche than to the female, really. I've never been a particularly
'feminine' female. Never played with dolls, never been into fashion and
makeup and frills and so forth. With me it was always dogs and horses.
I mean, if I'm going out I scrub up okay, but I've never been the
maternal, nurturing type. And I tend to have a very pragmatic, logical,
intellectual approach to life and the world in general which --
although I might get shot for gender stereotyping here -- I feel is
more male than female. But I am female, not male, so I do worry that
I might be feminising my male characters. A good friend's husband,
one of my beta readers, always looks for that when he reads my works
in progress. So far he hasn't thought I've fallen into that trap. And quite
a lot of letters from readers have been from men, which is really gratifying.
Because often when I'm reading fiction written by women, using male characters,
I feel the men have been emotionally feminised. So I do try hard to
avoid that.

6) What made you decide to write fantasy as oppose to, say… political
thrillers? Were you a fantasy fan first (who decided to write a book)
or were you a writer who decided to write fantasy?
I was definitely a fantasy/SF reader who grew up wanting to write
stories, and so naturally gravitated towards spec fiction. Fantasy in
particular, because I'm also a huge history buff and I think history
and fantasy fiction have a natural affinity. Sadly, I've always been
pretty crap at science, which isn't so good if you're wanting to write
science fiction. I think, writing fantasy, you get the best of all
worlds. You can incorporate a lot of things when you're writing fantasy
-- it truly is the Big Tent of genre fiction. Mystery, romance,
thriller stuff, political intrigues -- it can all be used in the
fantasy genre.

7) How do you feel about the reaction, so far, to 'The Innocent Mage'?
Enormously gratified. Enormously grateful. See, I knew this book wasn't
startlingly original. I knew I was playing around with some pretty
standard fantasy tropes. But for me it's always been about character.
Being startlingly original is fantastic, but if I learned one thing as
a spec fiction bookseller it was this: your mainstream readership wants to
fall in love with the characters. They'll accept you haven't done
anything gobsmackingly new if you give them characters they can love
and hate and cheer for. I love to fall in love with characters, in all the books
and TV dramas I adore, at the end of the day it's all about character. How many cop
shows are there? How many medical shows? Lots and lots. What keeps people
watching them are the characters and their relationships, and that's what I try
to do in my work. I am madly in love with my characters, even the bad guys,
and I just hope like hell that love translates into the work and readers fall in love
with them too. So far, that seems to be the case -- and I am so relieved, and so
happy about that. Which isn't to say I'm not looking at ways to grow as a writer.
I think it's safe to say that the Godspeaker trilogy is a lot less safe, a lot
more startling but I started out with baby steps. I wanted to walk
before I tried running. And regardless of what else I do, I'll always
try to keep the focus on character.
So yes. The Innocent Mage has done well in Australia and the UK, and I
am beyond thrilled. Both Voyager and Orbit have taken such a chance on
me, an unknown author. It's so wonderful that I haven't let them down
so far! The Innocent Mage releases into the US in September. So my
fingers are crossed American readers like it too.

8) Can you give us any hints as to what we might expect to see in 'The
Awakened Mage'?
Well, without getting spoilery, readers are in for a bit of a roller
coaster ride. There's less humour and more angst, given the events at
the end of Innocent Mage. You know the saying: things are always
darkest before the dawn! And it's safe to say that life gets pretty
dark for our heroes as they fight to save Lur from the ravages of evil.
One of the themes of the story is sacrifice, after all ...

9) It's the night before 'The Awakened Mage' is released. Will you
still feel nervous about how it's received or has that feeling gone now
you're a published author?
Absolutely. Being published doesn't change a thing, I'm afraid! Not for
me, anyway. Every story is a new adventure, every new audience is a
new chance to fall on my face. Even though these books have done
well in Australia, I was terrified before the release of the new
series, with Empress. I was terrified when Innocent Mage launched in
the UK, and the nerves are starting up again knowing that in two weeks
it'll hit bookshelves in the US. Waiting for the UK reaction to The
Awakened Mage is nerve-wracking. Every time, I feel nervous. Every time,
I'm worried I'm going to disappoint people and that they're going to feel
let down.
For me, I think it's part of the process. I'll just have to get used to
it. And maybe if I stop feeling nervous it'll mean I've become
complacent -- and that would be awful. I don't ever want to take
readers for granted. If that looks like happening I want people to hit
me with a lump of 2 by 4!

10) How does it feel being a part of this surge of Australian authors
suddenly gaining recognition in the genre? Do you have a favourite? Do
you guys all hang out together?
It feels fantastic. I am so incredibly proud of what Australian spec
fiction authors have achieved. We're such a small population, and yet we
keep on producing great sports teams and individuals and great genre
writers! I also consider myself incredibly lucky, since I've come into
the game after other writers like Sara Douglass and Trudi Canavan and
Margo Lanagan have really paved the way internationally for Australian
spec fiction writers to be noticed and taken seriously. I think we're also
hugely indebted to publishers like Orbit, who've so strongly championed
new Australian writers.
We're pretty geographically scattered, so mostly we meet up at
conventions a couple of times a year. And of course there's the
Internet! We're only ever an email away.
As for favourites, well, I never answer that question. Sorry. Hand
on my heart, I'm in awe of every Australian writer on the scene. They
all contribute something amazing and uniquely Australian to the
international spec fiction literary community, and I consider myself
privileged to be counted among them.

Thanks for answering my questions, hope you have a great day!
You're welcome. If you need any clarification of answers, just let me
know! And thanks again for this wonderful opportunity.

A couple of things coming up this week...

Orbit Book's big fantasy debut, for this year, has been Karen Miller's 'The Innocent Mage'. I reviewed it and although it wasn't greatly original the depth of characterisation made this a novel that I really enjoyed. I was very suprised to get an email from Karen, thanking me for the review I gave her book, and I thought I'd chance it and see if she was willing to do an interview. Not only was Karen willing but I had the answers back a matter of mere hours after they had been sent! Karen says some really interesting things about the process behind her writing and why her debut series is only two books long (unlike others I could mention). I'll be posting the interview tomorrow so be sure to stop by and see what Karen has to say.

I'm also deep into David Anthony Durham's debut fantasy novel 'Acacia'. I've heard a lot of good things about this book and wanted to check it out myself. After a couple of hundred pages I'm in awe of how good this guy is (so much in fact that I'm wondering if this really is his debut novel and he hasn't got a couple more hidden away). I'll be posting a review sometime this week.

As well as these two bits, expect to see more book reviews and a tantalising glimpse into my state of mind as I crumble under the relentless pressure of the daily commute...

‘Stealing Life’ – Antony Johnston (Abaddon Books)

After reading ‘A Kind of Peace’ I was a little dubious about picking up the next in the ‘Dreams of Inan’ series. Like I’ve said before though, I’m made of sterner stuff than to let a mere book beat me (although I’ve still to pick up anything by Terry Goodkind…)! In the end, I read ‘Stealing Life’ over a couple of days spent wrestling with fellow commuters on the London Underground. Like it’s predecessor it has it’s flaws but makes for a more entertaining read.
Nicco Salarum is a thief who is about to bite off more than he can chew on his latest job. How can one act of theft start a holy war? You are about to find out and Nicco has his hands full trying to stop what he has unwittingly started.
While there are still large chunks of text dealing with background history (and economic climates off all things, not something that interests me…) more attention is paid to the story this time. ‘Stealing Life’ is modelled on the classic ‘crime caper gone wrong’ scenario and is full of beautiful women, crime bosses, and double crossing people who aren’t what they seem. It’s a cracking read for the morning commute and had me thinking, about what was going to happen next, while I was meant to be doing ‘work stuff’. I also liked the ‘flashback’ sequences that gave us an insight into Nicco’s motives.
The only problem though is that any sci-fi/fantasy ‘crime’ novel written these days is immediately going to be compared to a certain other fantasy ‘crime caper’ sequence that has laid down the marker for other books to aspire to. You know the one I mean! When faced with such illustrious competition, the flaw’s in ‘Stealing Life’ become apparent. I’ve said already that there is a lot of padding that (although it’s crucial for setting up a series) can be cumbersome for someone who’s just after a quick read. I also found it slightly irritating that a lot of what Nicco did was based on inspiration to start off with but, a couple of pages later, the author would give a detailed explanation of Nicco’s thinking. I can understand why Johnston did this but, to me, it seemed that he couldn’t make up his mind whether Nicco functioned in instinct or rational thought. This confused me and meant I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I could.
‘Stealing Life’ is a definite improvement on ‘A Kind of Peace’ and hints that maybe the series will pick up in the future. It’s another good read for the train but there are better books out there that do exactly the same thing.

Six and a half out of Ten

'El Sombra' - Competition Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Unfortunately there could be only one winner and that lucky fellow is Gordy McClean (Pope Gordy on the SFX Forum) from Greenock, Scotland. The book is on it's way Gordy!
There will be more competitions in the future (can't say when for the future is a funny thing…) so stick around if you fancy your chances at winning quality Sci-Fi and Fantasy books!

Have a great weekend everyone!

‘The Changing of the Guard’ – Another Perspective?

One of Aidan’s first posts on ‘A Dribble of Ink’ was a very interesting article called ‘The Changing of the Guard’, a piece about the rising stars of the fantasy firmament. There were a few names that we would expect to see on any such list but also a few names that were so fresh as to be almost unheard of. Looking at Aidan’s list, everyone can agree that the future of fantasy literature is in safe hands.
Pat has questioned Aidan’s article in a post that draws heavily on his knowledge and experience of the fantasy genre, publishing in particular. Pat quite rightly questions whether a ‘Changing of the Guard’ can happen in an environment where the ‘Old Guard’ are well entrenched and shifting a healthy number of units with each new release. Love or hate Goodkind and Jordan, Pat points out that they will always be the number one draw (as well as others) and that the ‘Old Guard’ aren’t ready to go just yet.
While Pat is absolutely right, I wonder if a slightly different ‘changing of the guard’ is taking place anyway. It may not be happening in the bookstores (in terms of units sold) and we may not see any real change for a long while but I would argue that a ‘changing of the fantasy guard’ is taking place in both readers and writers at this very moment. There are a number of new talents coming up with original ideas, they were readers (once upon a time) who thought, “I want to see more of [insert whatever] in fantasy, I’m going to write it!” This in turn strikes a spark with the reader who thinks, “I like this, where can I get more?” While there is still a great deal of mileage left in more established authors, change is happening slowly and the evidence can be seen everywhere. People using on-line forums slate a particular member of the old guard and some may then go on to writing workshops where fresh ideas are discussed and tested. A lucky few may then have their work published and could end up inspiring more readers to have a go themselves (and so the cycle continues). The guard is changing but it is happening so slowly you don’t even realise it. I’m looking forward to seeing what the ‘fantasy landscape’ looks like in ten years time. While some areas will have been fully explored, there will be mountain ranges on the horizon that are awaiting exploration. I for one cannot wait.

‘Command & Conquer – Tiberium Wars’ – Keith R.A.Decandido (Orbit Books)

Hands up if you’ve never played ‘Command & Conquer’? Oh, looks like it’s just me. Apparently it’s a really great strategy game where futuristic soldiers blast the hell out of each and try to take over the world (but you knew that already). This week I’ve been choosing books that are quite short (as they don’t take up too much room on a packed commuter train), ‘Tiberium Wars’ fitted the bill so ended up making the arduous trek across London with me…
The story of ‘Tiberium Wars’ can be summed up in two words, both of which are found in the title. Tiberium is an alien substance that’s slowly taking over the Earth. Some want to get rid of it while others want to embrace it’s radical potential. Cue loads of gun battles as the heroic 22nd Infantry Division take on the evil Brotherhood of Nod (perhaps the least terrifying name for a terrorist group, ever).
This is a tie-in for the computer game and unfortunately it shows. There is a lot of background information that is clearly intended to fill in the gaps in the game and give the reader/gamer a better picture of the world that these events take place in. While this is great news for a ‘C&C’ fan it’s not so great for the casual reader. There’s a lot of stuff that will only really make sense if you’ve played the game (for example all of the military terminology and ‘name dropping’) and the rest of it gets in the way of what is actually a fast paced and exciting tale of futuristic warfare. The characters are entertaining in a ‘Starship Troopers’ kind of way, loads of bluff camaraderie and ‘gung-ho’ troop movements. For a book that is relatively short (289 pages) you end up getting quite attached to some of the soldiers and feel all the appropriate feelings when they ‘buy the farm’. The journalism ‘sub-plot’ is interesting but fizzles out with no real sense of closure, maybe this will be revived in later books.
‘Tiberium Wars’ is a good quick read for the journey into (and out of) work but, unfortunately, I reckon this is one solely for fans of the game as it seems this is what the book is aimed at. Go play the game first, see if you like it and then (maybe) pick this book up.

Five and a Half out of Ten

Here’s a question for you…

I’ve done it and I’ll bet you’ve done it too. You start off reading a series of books and you think they’re great. A few books in and things aren’t looking so good but you think, “I’ll keep going, things are bound to pick up in the next book.” At least, that’s what you think; little do you know it but you’re just about to enter the ‘twilight zone’ in every series, that one book that perhaps represents the lowest point of the author’s career. You hate it and cannot believe that you shelled out money, that you worked for, in order to buy it. You go on as many on-line forums as you can and go on at length about how rubbish you think it is. But when you think no-one is looking, you gather together your hard earned cash, sneak off to the bookstore and buy the next book. This one may be just as bad (or even worse) than the last but you will still go to the bookstore, when the next one comes out, and keep buying.
Why do we do this? Is it force of habit? Is it a need to see the completed series on the bookshelf? Are we trying to make some kind of ironic point? Why do we keep buying books, in a series, when the last one was so bad it makes us want to cry?
I’m just as guilty of this weird behaviour; I’m collecting the ‘Wheel of Time’ series. For me, the series started off looking very good indeed. And it kept getting better; peaking at book four, slumping a little on book five and then perking up again for book six. Then things started to get ropey. Far too many characters and sub-plots, and Jordan seemed to feel compelled to follow each one through to the bitter end. It also got to a point where I felt like breaking something if one more female character folded her arms, pulled her braid or said something bad about ‘the menfolk’. And then ‘Crossroads of Twilight’ was published… It had everything I hated about the last few books only it was all described in far greater detail this time. Fifty pages on what an Aes Sedai campsite looked like. Whole chapters where all a travelling circus did was travel a few yards up the road. It’s safe to say that there are only a few books that I have enjoyed less than ‘Crossroads of Twlight’. But you know what? As soon as ‘Knife of Dreams’ came out in mass-market paperback I made sure I had a copy. Why did I do this? For me, I think it was a case of sheer bloody-mindedness. I looked at the reams of paper that I had trawled to (to get to this point) and thought, “I can’t stop now, especially as there’s only supposed to be one book left after this!” The other thing was that, despite my confusion at some of their actions, I had invested a lot of time in watching certain characters grow and wanted to see how things ended up for them. Oh yes, and the bookshelf wouldn’t look right without the whole series sitting on it…
That’s my confession, what about yours? Why do you continue to put money in the wallet of an author that you really don’t think deserves it anymore? You don’t have to name any names if you don’t want to!

Joe Abercrombie to write more books!

Joe Abercrombie has announced, over on his Website that he has just signed a deal with Gollancz to write two more books set in the same world as 'The Blade Itself' and 'Before They are Hanged'.
In the man's own words,

The first is going to be called Best Served Cold, is set in the warring city-states of Styria, and, in case you hadn't guessed, is about revenge. It's largely planned out and the first couple of chapters drafted. If forced to sum it up I'd probably call it a fantasy thriller, light on the magic and heavy on the blood, treachery and poison, with the usual hefty portions of dark grey characters and black humour. And there'll be elves. An awful lot of elves.

Only kidding.

This is the kind of news that brightens up a particularly grim day in the office! It's a shame about the elves though... ;o)

‘A Kind of Peace’ – Andy Boot (Abaddon Books)

I’ve read a few books from Abaddon and have enjoyed all of them so far. They’re short, sharp slices of gutsy pulp fiction that are good for an hour or two’s read in the garden with a cold beer and can also make a sticky Tube journey a lot more bearable. It was with this in mind that I took Andy Boot’s ‘A Kind of Peace’ to work with me this morning, a nice quick read that I could have finished by the time I got back. While it was a quick read, unfortunately it wasn’t actually that good…
The planet of Inan has only just found peace after five hundred years of war. A world where magic and technology co-exist has realised that Mages aren’t just very old wizards, they’re the ultimate weapons and their use can only result in mutually assured destruction. If this were the case, why would anyone risk an already fragile peace by kidnapping the Mage of Bethel? Simeon 7, the bodyguard, must find out and clear his own name at the same time.
As I’ve said, Abaddon books are known for being fast paced, over the top affairs where the main focus is on action and huge explosions. ‘A Kind of Peace’ takes all these elements and decides that it can do perfectly well without them. What we’re left with is a decent story that pretty much collapses under the interminable slowness of it’s own pace. If a book is going to be under 300 pages long then it needs to know what it’s about and get on with the job in hand. Boot concentrates on giving the reader loads of background history and when I looked at what was supposed to be happening in the story my first thought was, ‘there isn’t enough time for this, things are meant to be happening right now!’ The uneven bias towards exposition leaves us with little room to get to know any of the characters and we’re left with a bunch of people who look like they’ve been given one distinctive characteristic each and left to get on with it. While the mixture of technology and magic is always an interesting concept, it sometimes looks as if not enough attention has been paid to what this actually means for the inhabitants of Inan. If you were looking for an escaped convict in an academy of magic but couldn’t find him, you’d probably assume that magic was being used to hide him wouldn’t you? Well, you might but it certainly doesn’t occur to the Inan security forces that are carrying out the search…
For me, this was a story with potential that could have been so much more. Give this one a miss and pick up one of the ‘Tomes of the Dead’ or ‘Afterblight Chronicles’ books instead.

Three out of Ten

‘The Innocent Mage’ – Karen Miller (Orbit Books)

It seems that everywhere you look these days there is an Australian sci-fi/fantasy author with a book for you to read. Let me say right now that this is not a bad thing! Glenda Larke’s ‘Heart of the Mirage’ was pretty good and I really enjoyed Fiona McIntosh’s ‘Odalisque’. Right now, the jury is still out on Trudi Canavan (although I’ve still to read her ‘Age of the Five’ books). I just finished reading Karen Miller’s ‘The Innocent Mage’ and I think she could be the best of the bunch.
Asher is a fisherman with dreams of finding his fortune in the magical city of Dorana. However, it isn’t so much fortune but destiny that awaits him…
Stop! Don’t go! This may sound like your regular run-of-the-mill fantasy novel (and it is to an extent) but stick around for a little longer and you may be pleasantly surprised.
What Miller’s tale perhaps lacks in originality is more than made up for by the freshness of it’s characters and the attention paid to the world building. By the time you have finished reading you will feel like you have known Asher, Gar and the rest of the characters all your life. Asher’s character, in particular, is difficult to get to grips with (at first) as he speaks and thinks in a thick ‘countrified’ accent that will have you re-reading certain passages in order to get their meaning. Once you get used to this though, you will enjoy being privy to the thoughts of a fisherman who is more intelligent than the nobility he works for. The issue of prophecy, in fantasy novels, can be a tiresome cliché but Miller appears to successfully side-step this by concentrating on the effects the prophecy has on those who must make sure that it comes to pass. Dathne’s character initially comes across as a shrewish woman but once you understand what she has to deal with then you will feel for her.
I did feel that the magic system wasn’t really explained fully and I’m hoping this will be resolved in the next book. How does the use of weather magic help to maintain the wall and why aren’t the Olken folk allowed to practice their own magic?
The story itself is told in a deceptively simple style that makes it easy for you to get into the book and then to just keep reading until you’re done. I polished this one off in a weekend and I’m keen to see what happens next.
Like I said, ‘The Innocent Mage’ isn’t the most original work of fantasy that you’ll ever read but after you’re done you will have enjoyed it too much to care. An assured debut which promises good things to come.

Eight out of Ten

'El Sombra' - Who wants it?

I've read Al Ewing's 'El Sombra' (review a little way further down the page) and I thought it was great. It's not a demanding read and it's certainly not the beginning of one of those really long series where you have to wait years for the next installment (you know the ones I mean... ) It's 300 pages of 'in your face' pulp entertainment, ideal for a quick read by the pool while you're on holiday.
What's that? You're going on holiday and you fancy something new to read by the pool or at the airport? Well, I think you may have come to my blog at just the right time...
I've got one copy of 'El Sombra' to give away to one lucky chap or lady, do you want it?
It couldn't be easier to give yourself a chance of winning, simply email me (address at the right hand side of the screen) and let me know your mailing address and if you frequent any particular forums. I'll announce the winner on Friday...
Good luck!

Shaun Hutson Omnibus Part Two - 'Nemesis' (Orbit Books)

The journey into work was a nightmare today so I ended up finishing this one quicker than I thought. It was a quick read for other reasons as well but more on that later...
What could possibly be worse than your four year old daughter being murdered? The knowledge that you were having an affair the night she was killed... That one night left Sue and David Hackett's marriage in ruins. They move to the small town of Hinkston in an attempt to salvage their relationship but their past will catch up with them and the town holds a dark secret of it's own...
Hutson injects this 'Midwich Cuckoos'/'The Omen' style tale with a creeping sense of fear and dread that will make you tense up and half close your eyes every time you turn the page. David's quest for redemption will initially make you feel disgust but I challenge you not to feel a little sorry for him by the end. The ending is a shocker in more ways than one. Again, you will be left gasping as this book is not for the even faintly sqeamish...
Hutson's penchant for 'full on, in your face detail' ultimately hobbles a story with potential. I've got a pretty strong stomach but to my mind there was no need for such a graphic explanation of how David's daughter died and what was done to her. We know she died and certain inferences were made at the time. Returning to it just smacked of cheap sensationalism.
A good book that was undone by something that was needless.

Three out of Ten

‘Shaun Hutson Omnibus’ Part One – ‘Shadows’ (Orbit Books)

I’ve never reviewed an omnibus before so wasn’t quite sure how to approach this one. In the end I figured I’d review one of the books today and the other one tomorrow. So without further ado, come with me gentle reader and dip into the nightmarish world of ‘Shadows’…
The human mind is a wonderful thing but there is so much that we don’t know about it. While Jonathan Mathias uses the power of his mind to heal the sick, psychic investigators are probing areas of the human that are best left well alone. What they discover will bring death and misery to thousands…
Shaun Hutson’s cautionary tale of astral projection shows the reader that, as in all the best horror, true evil lies within the hearts of men. It’s a shame then that he chooses to smother some genuinely tense moments (and a superb twist in the tale) with bucket loads of visceral gore. If you’re at all squeamish then there are several points where you may want to skip a few pages, that’s all I’m saying… Like I said though, Hutson provides several particularly tense moments where you can almost feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up and you end up shouting at the characters to… (sorry, don’t want to spoil it) You will not see the twist in the tale until it hits you between the eyes, I guarantee you’ll be left gasping in astonishment and thinking “what the…”
‘Shadows’ grabs you by the throat and drags you to a shattering climax. You may stop and think, “hang on, how did that work?” My advice here is not to think about it too hard; this book isn’t meant to be a deep read, just enjoy the ride.
‘Shadows’ is a great opening book to this omnibus. If anything, it’s a slight shame that Hutson felt the need to overdo it with the gore (I never thought I’d hear myself say that, must be getting old…)

Seven and a Half out of Ten

‘Shadowbred’ – Paul S. Kemp (Wizard’s of the Coast)

I’ve only ever read one ‘Forgotten Realms’ book. Correction, I’ve only ever read the first few pages of one ‘Forgotten Realms’ book. Apart from one character with a particularly unfortunate name, I felt swamped by the level of background knowledge required and (as a result) stopped reading. It was with this in mind that I approached Paul Kemp’s ‘Shadowbred’, wondering what to expect and wishing I had the ‘Big Book of Forgotten Realms History’ with me… It turns out I needn’t have worried, although a level of background knowledge is required, Kemp is far more interested in delivering a quality tale than showing off what he knows.
All is definitely not good in Sembia, the Overmaster lies dead and his murderers use this to spread discord for their Goddess. Civil war is only days away and world shattering apocalypse not long after that. Erevis Cale is trying to honour his dead friend by being a hero but he is about to find that being a hero will lead him to places he had hoped never to return to…
I’ve never really been into D&D and mistakenly assumed that the tie-in books were just retellings of people’s old games. Maybe that’s the case with other novels but certainly not the case here. What you get here is a tight well-crafted tale of Machiavellian intrigue, high adventure and human drama. All the D&D staples are out in force but they’re doing stuff that you would normally expect from more (so-called) ‘high brow’ fantasy. Erevis Cale will soon assume iconic status (if he hasn’t already), he arrives in a scene that could have come straight from a Clint Eastwood film and proceeds to act in a similar manner throughout the rest of the book. He has a dark and tortured past but, in the way of all good heroes, strives to do what is right whatever the cost. I want to read more about him and his friends. The supporting cast all behave in a manner that is entirely plausible, no ‘get out of jail free’ cards are used to deal with tricky situations here…
The book isn’t without some minor flaws however. The sudden switch from third to first person perspectives proves detrimental to the flow of the story and had me skipping back to see if a page had gone missing. Although Kemp generally handles the background history quite deftly, large chunks of it can sometimes prove a little overpowering to the first time reader. To be fair, this is a rare occurrence.
‘Shadowbred’ is evidence of an author writing at (or very near) the top of his game in a world that he feels comfortable in (which I’m guessing could prove awkward for writers who write in a ‘shared world’). If Paul Kemp isn’t one of WoTC’s top drawer writers then I’d be very surprised…

Nine out of Ten

I was thinking…

We all read sci-fi/fantasy primarily for entertainment but also because it’s an escape from all the rubbish we have to deal with on a daily basis. I’ve just had a pretty awful day at work and the first thing I did when I left was to dive straight into ‘Shadowbred’ (by Paul S. Kemp, I’ll be reviewing it tomorrow) where I exchanged a world of office drudgery for a world of swords, sorcery and high adventure. By the time I got home things were already much better.
The thing that struck me though is that while we all want to escape into these fantastical worlds, we all moan if these worlds are lacking in realism in any way. My pet hate is names that blatantly look as if they have thrown together using the left over pieces from a game of scrabble. For example, “Qualhurg sank a pint of werghiz, stroking his battleaxe ‘Unfelliaz’ whilst watching the Trilladan in the corner”, a line like that is pretty much guaranteed to have me crumpling an otherwise decent book into a ball and throwing it out of the window. I’ll bet you’re the same, it may not be names but I’ll bet there’s something that makes you think, “that’s just not realistic”. My point though is how much realism is it appropriate to expect from something that (at best) may only have a very tenuous link to reality? Should the reader expect something that they can identify with on some level, something that grounds them and prepares them for more fantastical elements. Or should the reader be expected to just completely suspend their disbelief and take whatever comes?
What do you guys think? What do you hate seeing in genre fiction? Should a writer write with the reader in mind or should they stay true to the vision in their head and to hell with the consequences…?

Graeme’s Retro Classics! ‘Tron’ (1982)

Welcome to an occasional feature where I realise that I’m not reading quickly enough and try to fill in the gaps by waxing lyrical about the stuff I was into as a kid…
What’s the best ‘virtual reality’ film that you can think of? ‘The Matrix’? Don’t make me laugh… ‘The Lawnmower Man’? Oh please… Any other takers? Well, whatever you think the best film is, prepare to be trumped by a film that was ahead of it’s time and (according to the fanboy in me) will never be bettered. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you… ‘Tron’.
One of the best things about playing computer games, as a kid, was to pretend that you really were flying the spaceship that was shooting down hordes of alien scum. ‘Tron’ gave a generation of children a chance to experience at first hand what really goes on behind the computer monitor… It’s a world where every program ever written takes on the human characteristics of its ‘user’and happily exists to serve. It’s also a world where a power hungry AI can easily spiral out of control and threaten the safety of both the real and virtual worlds. A lowly security program and a disgruntled human are now everyone’s last hope. Matters will be settled by gladiatorial combat on the ‘Game Grid’…
What is there not to love about this film? Computer generated scenery that was years ahead of it’s time but still clunky enough that people could really believe it was the same as the graphics on their game consoles. A pseudo-religious philosophy that was original but close enough to ‘The Force’ so that people would ‘get it’. A soundtrack that was alien and haunting in it’s electronic simplicity. If that lot wasn’t enough then you also got a large slice of action packed computer games wish fulfilment for your money. The ‘light cycle’ races were tense adrenaline fuelled affairs while it was a real testament to the skills of the film makers that a fight between two guys with Frisbees could have you sitting on the edge of your seat. My favourite character was the ‘Bit’, an electronic version of a puppy that could only say ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The ‘Bit’ made me laugh then and still does now.
While ‘Star Wars’ will always be the film that had the most influence on my childhood ‘Tron’ definitely ranks up there in the top five at least. Any film that could inspire a seven year old me to pretend to be a ‘light cycle’ deserves no less.

‘The Heart of the Mirage’ – Glenda Larke (Orbit Books)

You’ve known me for a while now and you know that there are things that I really do not like to find in fantasy literature. If I’m going to read a book with made up ‘fantasy style names’ then they had better be damn good. When the heroine goes on a journey riding her Gorclak (or Shleth if there isn’t a handy Gorclak) then my hackles start to rise and the book is at an immediate disadvantage. If this wasn’t bad enough, one of the supporting characters does an impromptu impersonation of Robin when Batman is in peril. There has been a move in fantasy literature, recently, to make dialogue a little more gritty and edgy and this is not a bad thing at all (Cook and Erikson can take a bow for starters). However, when a character says, “Holy shit!” in the middle of a book that has based all its other dialogue on that of Ancient Rome then the effect is somewhat spoilt. Which is all a shame really because apart from these flaws the book itself isn’t that bad.
Ligea Gayed was stolen from her homeland as a child and raised as a citizen of the Tyranian Empire. Twenty years on, she is sent back to the rebellious province of Kardiastan with orders to deal with a rebel conspiracy. Glenda Larke then proceeds to take Ligea on a voyage of self-discovery as she is forced to confront the truths behind Tyranian rule and question her own position in society. As is often the case, there is more going on than is at first apparent and Ligea will soon be faced with decisions that are more far reaching…
It is nice sometimes to break out of the typical medieval Fantasy City and go somewhere different. Larke accomplishes this by setting her tale in the equivalent of Ancient Rome and the deserts of Africa and decorates the proceedings with some stunning imagery in the process. It’s hard to achieve any kind of rapport with Ligea as she is a pretty vile character to start off with. The downside of this is that any redemption can come across as forced and the end left me feeling pretty ambivalent towards her. Luckily the supporting characters are worth sticking with including the loyal Brand, enigmatic Mirager Temellin and the tragic Pinar. They provide some moments where Larke displays her main talent of being able to get inside her character’s heads and providing some quite intense emotional dialogue. Larke also has a talent for the whimsical as well, which can be seen in her depictions of the Mirage.
‘Heart of the Mirage’ proved slow to get going but (apart from the flaws already mentioned) does show signs of promise. Hopefully the next book won’t have any Gorclacks or Shleths…

Six and a Half out of Ten

‘The Simpson’s Movie’ (2007)

Is this movie science fiction? Not at all. Is it fantasy? Only in the same way that any fictional work ultimately is. Is it horror? Errr… still no. What’s it doing here then? Two reasons; any cartoon show that borrows so heavily from popular culture will somehow find a little niche here and I thought it was really funny…
I’d be surprised if you didn’t know the story by now but here goes. Springfield faces ultimate disaster and the only person who can save them is the man who got the whole town trapped behind an indestructible transparent dome in the first place. Who is this man? I’ll give you a clue, his catchphrase is “d’oh!” You guessed it.
Take a regular episode of the Simpsons; multiply it’s length by three and the number of jokes (visual and otherwise) by the largest number you can think of. You now have the Simpson’s Movie; an hour and a half’s worth of prophecies of doom, Bart skateboarding naked, the death of Green Day, spider pig (great song by the way) and Maggie Simpson’s first word…
I’d actually gone off the Simpson’s recently (especially when Channel 4 keep repeating the same damn episodes!) so wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m glad I went though, as I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard and for so long. At it’s best the Simpson’s has always been irreverent and takes no prisoners, while the movie may not match some of the classic episodes it is still definitely the Simpson’s at its best. I could tell you all the bits that made me laugh the most but to be honest it would actually be quicker to go and see the movie for yourself, I’ll guarantee that you will enjoy it.
The story is a bit disjointed to start off with, as various plot strands converge, but soon hits top gear. There is so much happening on the screen that you will need to find a way to keep your eyelids propped open so you don’t miss anything. While this may prove uncomfortable it’s well worth it. The animation is no different from that used on the TV shows (how else could they do it?) but it’s still good and it makes a change to see an animated film where the story isn’t swamped by the animators trying to prove how ‘cutting edge’ they are.
In short, go and see the Simpson’s Movie (whatever it takes) for that warm feeling inside that you get when you’ve laughed so hard that you’ve almost ruptured something…

Nine and a Half out of Ten

News from Pan MacMillan Books

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Thanks to Steven North (Pan MacMillan) for the heads up!

Have a great weekend guys!

‘The Walking Dead’ (Robert Kirkman) – Volumes 2-4

'Miles Behind Us' (Volume 2)
What’s the first thing you do after escaping a city filled with zombies and watching your little boy gun down the man who was sleeping with your wife? You pack everyone in your group into a camper van and set about trying to find somewhere (zombie free!) where you can settle down and wait things out. You pick up more travellers on the way and the unwritten laws of the horror genre start to come into play; the woman with the largest mouth will always be one of the first to die and teenagers will always be having sex when zombies attack!
Kirkman moves the action out into the countryside, builds up our hopes (for our band of travellers) and then takes them all away again. In this frightening new world a walled housing estate isn’t as safe as it seems and there is more to an isolated farm than at first meets the eye. Kirkman shows the reader, in no uncertain terms, that the problem is now widespread and will not be going away. Human reactions ranging from numb denial to grudging acceptance are shown along with their consequences. Can our survivors find safety anywhere? The answer may be just over the next hilltop… (Eight out of Ten)

'Safety Behind Bars' (Volume 3)
Prisons used to keep the dangerous people locked up but now the chain link fences of a prison may be the group’s only chance at living in safety. Or are they? Kirkman stays true to one of the zombie genre’s oldest tenets, ‘a zombie is only a mindless hungry corpse, it is humans that have the true capacity for evil’. Once the zombies have been cleared out of the jail, Kirkman finally has time to show us more of the motivations of each character. There is poignancy, frustration and rage. There are also misunderstandings that will have ramifications far into future episodes. We also learn that you don’t have to be bitten to become a zombie…
This is perhaps my favourite volume so far. The counterpoint of human drama, within the prison, and the ever increasing number of zombies outside makes for some tense moments which make you wonder if there is ultimately any point to what they are doing. Only time will tell… (Ten out of Ten)

'The Heart's Desire' (Volume 4)
The cliff-hanger from Volume 3 comes to a bloody conclusion that leaves the reader in no doubt as to what you must do to survive in this post apocalyptic world. Unfortunately, others are not so quick to catch on and this results in a falling out between friends that is almost apocalyptic in itself. Kirkman shakes things up by introducing an enigmatic new character who almost immediately sends established characters spiralling off in new directions. A radical approach to saving someone from zombie infection is hard hitting, graphic and will leave the reader gasping. Kirkman also has the knack of not letting things stagnate and always seems to be able to throw in a tricky situation to keep the impetus fresh. Rick’s speech, right at the end, is a real classic moment in the series and I’m looking forward to catching up and seeing what this means for everyone else… (Nine out of Ten)

In a genre that, at first sight, seems to overcrowded with superheroes (and moneymaking exercises… sorry, I meant superhero crossovers), the ‘Walking Dead’ is a little treasure chest hidden amongst the morass. A sometimes harrowing read that is ultimately rewarding.