Archive for March, 2010
Beukes Art
Posted by: | CommentsHello, it’s been ages! How have you been? Oh good/Oh dear [delete as applicable] I’m glad/sorry [ditto] to hear that.
Its’ a Lauren Beukes post today – first up, a review of Moxyland – posted at A Novel Year (200 books in 365 days):
What I loved the most was the subtle humour and satirical look at society. It really is a spectacular read and surprising in parts. Parts of the novel push at boundaries that really should be nudged more often… Love it. Love it. Love it. It deserves a reread!
Rating: 9/10
We love Lauren’s books (of course) and we love her covers. She’s currently the only author on our list with multiple covers, as Moxyland and her forthcoming Zoo City are published by a Jacana in her native South Africa, not Angry Robot. Jacana have taken very different approaches with their artwork, and it’s fascinating to see the different interpretations.
Here’s the original cover to Moxyland, with our version on the right.
We recently got to see the Jacana cover for Zoo City, too. It’s very, very different to our own, and very, very striking. Ours is the colour cover, Jacana’s is to the right.
Click on the images to see bigger versions. I love both Zoo City covers – they’re both completely representative of the content of the book, and both beautiful and unique.
Like Moxyland, Zoo City will also have an original soundtrack. Details here, soon.
World Horror Con and EasterCon 2010
Posted by: | CommentsThis past weekend Marco and I attended the World Horror Convention. It was held in Brighton, and it’s the first time that a World Horror Con has been held outside North America.
With around 600 members there for the weekend, it was significantly better-attended than World Horror Con 2009, which had fewer than 50 (some reports suggest around half that number). We chatted to a lot of agents, authors and publishers, and hooked up with Angry Robot’s Andy Remic, Ian Whates and Gary McMahon, and found that – despite us not having yet launched in the US, Angry Robot seems to be quite well known there, already.
I’ll have a fuller account of the event over at sfx.co.uk - hopefully sometime in the next few days.
Next weekend I’ll be at EasterCon with a few more Angry Robot authors, and will be involved in a few panels – please come and support them so I’m not speaking to an empty room.
If you can’t make it, you can follow the “Bridging the Gap” panel on Twitter by following the #LiveCon tag, and even ask questions of the panelists (see below).
I’ll be doing the following:
Friday at 3pm – “Alien Archeology” with Deirdre Counihan, Pepper (mod), Sharon Reamer, Lee Harris and Rob Rowntree.
What will our panel of ‘experts’ make of the various items they are presented with? Is it a Denebian ritual object, or simply a salt shaker?
Saturday at 3pm – “Bridging the Gap – SF/F and Social Media” with Paul Cornell, Lee Harris, LOUDMOUTHMAN, Del Lakin-Smith and Danie Ware (mod).
Can SF and Social Media really help each other? What use are sites like Twitter to the community? How can writers and fans make these sites work for them? Join our panel as they discuss – and demonstrate – the answer. This event will be broadcast live in real time and will be accepting questions from virtual attendees. As far as we know, this is an industry first. This is #LiveCon.
Saturday at 4pm – “E-Books – Reading and Publishing” with David Damerell (mod), Jo Fletcher, Gary Gibson, Lee Harris and Tommy Wareing.
This panel will look at the experience of reading E-books: DRM, portability, availability, etc. It will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of publishing in E-book formats. NB. This is NOT a panel on the rights or wrongs of DRM.
Back in 5 days…
Posted by: | Comments
We’ve cancelled the milk and told the postman there’s no-one home, because we’re away from the office until next week, sunning ourselves in tropical Brighton, home of the first ever World Horror Convention outside North America. Next weekend we’ll be at EasterCon.
If you see us there, be sure to say “Hi”.
Now, did I turn the gas off…?
What do you write?
Posted by: | Comments
Angry Robot author John Meaney (known as Thomas Blackthorne around these parts) is one of a number of authors interviewed by the British Science Fiction Association for their book Twenty Years, Two Surveys. Also present in the book, representing the Angry Robot Massive are Colin Harvey and Ian Whates.
John’s interview has been published online at Torque Control and you can read the full interview there. Here’s a taster:
BSFA: Do you consider yourself a writer of science fiction and/or fantasy?
JM: In the world of martial arts – bear with me: you talk to a writer, you get a fistful of metaphors – the ultimate fighting test is MMA, sometimes called cage fighting. The fighters are all-rounders operating in simultaneous modalities – jiu-jitsu, wrestling, kickboxing. Under those conditions, most martial artists fall to pieces.
In the ’90s, the field was dominated by one Brazilian family, working from their core art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Nowadays, the light-heavyweight champion of the major worldwide circuit (the UFC) works from my own core system of shotokan karate, taking it into other modalities at world-class level.
Some of my work spans multiple genres – two of my novels are published as fantasy in the US but science fiction in the UK (and a different publisher offered to market them as police procedurals); while my novelette “Whisper of Disks” is almost pure literary fiction.
As a writer, my core discipline is science fiction; I take it with me wherever I go.
You can also read a great review of his latest book – Edge – over at ScienceFictionandFantasy.co.uk:
The characters themselves are wonderfully fleshed out and their interaction is quite mesmerising.
John (or should I saw Thomas Blackthorne) has created a dark, believable vision of a (near) future Britain, but more importantly an intelligent, slick and brilliantly executed novel with a quite unexpected but superbly scripted ending.
4.8/5
At the same site you can read a 5***** review of Ian Whates’ wonderful City of Dreams and Nightmare:
There is such a great deal to recommend about this book from the imaginative elements like the cyborg type creatures and common use of magic and the incidental touches that Ian describes, to the strange city with it’s myriad levels and unusual inhabitants. There is also a real sense of a living, breathing city with insights into the various ways [the city of] Thaiburley works…
City of Dreams & Nightmare is a brilliantly executed novel, perfectly paced, beautifully described and a true joy to read.
Some random links of interest
Posted by: | CommentsA few interesting snippets from the web over the weekend:
The BBC reports on how hundreds of children in Glasgow embarked on a series of vampires hunts in the 1950s, in order to kill the vampire responsible for the deaths of two local children, and how the authorities used this case to strengthen UK censorship laws.
Fear of the so-called Gorbals Vampire had spread to many of their parents, who begged Pc Deeprose for assurances there was no truth to the rumours.
Newspapers at the time reported that the headmaster of a nearby primary school told everyone present that the tale was ridiculous, and police were finally able to disperse the crowd.
But the armed mob of child vampire hunters was to return immediately after sunset the following night, and the night after that.
Buffy would be proud.
Meanwhile, the British Fantasy Society has published its long list of recommendations for the British Fantasy Awards 2010. Included in the list are Kaaron Warren’s Slights, Mike Shevdon’s Sixty-One Nails and Dan Abnett’s Triumff: Her Majesty’s Hero as well as Hub Magazine, published by yours truly, and edited by Alasdair Stuart.
Over at Temple Library Reviews, for some inexplicable reason they decided to interview me:
TLR: What is the SFF award you most desire for a book from your imprint?
LEE: The best award is sales figures. A Hugo would be nice, or a Nebula, or a Stoker, or an Arthur C Clarke, or a Gemmell, but the most rewarding is to have the books read by huge numbers of people, so our authors can continue to write more novels.
Please excuse the hair.
Temple Library Reviews are also hosting an Angry Robot giveaway, so head on over to try your luck (please note: this particular giveaway is open to UK residents, only).
If you’re a Twitter afficionado and are looking for other people to follow, you could do worse than consult the 100 Fun Twitter Feeds for Serious SciFi Geeks.
And if you’re at this year’s World Horror Convention in Brighton this weekend, or EasterCon the following weekend, there’ll be a bunch of Angry Robot peeps around. Be sure to stop us and say “Hi”. We’ll be in the bar.
Put on some Barry White – it’s time for some Angry Robot luuurve
Posted by: | Comments
It’s always nice to be appreciated, and since our launch last July, we’ve had a lot of nice things written about us as an imprint. As there have been no further reviews since my last post, I thought I’d share just a few of them with you.
Time to pour some wine, dim the lights, and relax on the sheepskin rug in front of the log fire. Don’t forget the music – turned down low, but forming the soundtrack of the night. It’s time for some luuurve, Angry Robot style…
“Angry Robot is rapidly becoming that rare (and almost old-fashioned) kind of imprint where you can look for the logo and trust their taste to guarantee a good reading experience.”
- Gillian Polack
“Angry Robot Books are certainly topping my list of a publishing force in the speculative fiction department.”
- Temple Library Reviews
“I like Angry Robot. I like the idea behind this rather cheeky imprint from the UK division of HarperCollins. Its fun, its coolly geeky (if such a thing is possible) and its doing GOOD THINGS in genre publishing. Its also only interested in adult fare, which is a refreshing buck against the trend thats seen the genre slide towards the YA/ crossover end of the spectrum. I also like Angry Robot because they obviously have faith in their authors and genuinely want to give them the best chance possible to make it. And theyre putting their clout behind Australian talent too.”
– Australis
“Best Publisher of 2009 — Angry Robot Books
One of the most unique publishing ventures to come into existence in the last decade, Angry Robot Books not only publishes some fantastic, edgy novels (all science fiction or fantasy), but it also has a unique approach to working with reviewers like myself and writers. I think some of the big boys could learn a few things from this brilliant startup.”
- World in a Satin Bag
“Angry Robot cannot become any cooler than this. I seriously doubt that a publisher can outmanoeuvre this succulent super combo, both publisher and author deliver. Simply K.O. I am thrilled”
- Temple Library Reviews
“There’s not a single title from Angry Robot that hasnt been an excellent read, and I’ll happily take the rest of their output on spec.”
“Angry Robot Books have quickly established themselves as purveyors of fine speculative fiction, disregarding most genre definitions and restrictions in their quest to just publish some damn good stories.”
- Adam Christopher
“HarperCollins’ new science-fiction imprint, Angry Robot, is invading the United States at last, starting in May and instead of ramping up slowly, it’s hitting us with six titles per month. Horrific afterlife experiences, dark magic, and more… We’re pretty excited for the Angry Robot release schedule, not least because it’s bringing some authors to our shores who deserve more love.”
- io9.com
“Startlingly energetic”
- Jeff Vandermeer
*sniff* It’s so nice to be loved. Hey! Wait! What are you doing with that hand? No, put it away, we’re not that sort of imprint! Certainly not just after the first review!
Interviews, News, Reviews and Pews
Posted by: | CommentsOk, I lied about the pews.
In this month’s SciFi Now magazine, there are features on and by three different Angry Robot authors – Guy Adams talks about how he writes, Maurice Broaddus explains his particular methods of research, and Dan Abnett is quizzed about his forthcoming book, Embedded. Well worth picking up, and in UK newsagents now.
Over at Temple Library Reviews Lauren Beukes is interviewed and Moxyland gets the review treatment:
I have to say that the future Lauren Beukes envisions excited me, the world bedazzled me and the cyberpunk vibes buzzed my brain like a sour cherry. Beukes’ style is electric and evocative, which instantly puts her on my watch list of authors.
Servant of the Underworld appears to be a hit over at Examiner.com:
The book starts out a slow, steady pace and builds momentum from there. It’s not some huge action scene that hooks you. It’s the atmosphere. The blood spilled to gain favor from the gods. The cultural details Bodard infuses in each moment.
Guy Adams’ insane romp, The World House is covered at Luke Reviews:
the exploration of the house by the characters is the highlight of the book, with each group finding more bizarre rooms, each with an imaginative set-up
And Loudmouthman has this to say about Tim Waggoner’s Dead Streets (his follow-up to the brilliant Nekropolis):
Like all good pulp fiction your not in this to be invested in the characters your in it because the whole world feels, bloody gritty.
And to avoid disappointment, here’s a picture of a pew:
Some Monday morning robot luuurve
Posted by: | CommentsA few more fabulous reviews for your delectation:
The Guardian has this to say about Ian Whates’ debut novel, City of Dreams and Nightmare:
Whates’s assured prose, slick pacing and inventive imagination make for a gripping read. His first novel is the work of a born storyteller.
The fantastically-named Captain Mission turns his attention to Guy Adams’ The World House:
a brilliant twisted fantasy that’s dark and bewildering and somewhat funny as well… it’s like alice in wonderland meets steven king on mescaline
Next, Kaaron Warren’s wonderful fantasy, Walking the Tree from Total SciFi Online.
It is the setting that really makes the story and keeps the reader interested. The various communities of Botanica are well thought out and intriguing, and their differing attitudes towards disease, sex and the Tree constantly challenge Lillah’s thoughts and beliefs. It also draws on our own awareness of humanity’s evolution, and adds a sense of reality to the already convincing setting.
Moxyland is reviewed, as part of a history of Cyberpunk over at The Zone:
one of the more interesting aspects of Moxyland is the way that it refuses to follow the recent trend of exoticising cyberpunk…
Moxyland is a wake-up call to a generation of science fiction writers that have been slumbering for far too long: if you want to write about the future then you cannot do so on terms that were set nearly 30 years ago: just as the mainstream of culture has evolved, so too must the ways in which thinkers formulate their opposition to that mainstream.
Kell’s Legend gets a couple more reviews, too. First up, SciFi-Fantasy Bookshelf:
The Kell storyline is very high fantasy, it is the larger picture of the world that is important here. The idea of the vachine are a brilliant reimagining of both steampunk ideas and vampires. With these creatures set in a world that Remic obviously has so much as yet unrevealed history for there is nowhere to go but up.
And over at Un:Bound:
Kell himself is an absolute bastard in many ways, his humanity largely tied to his grandaughter but he is trying to do the right thing and be a decent man… It’s a fast brutal fantasy adventure with some fun characters and some fantastic ideas. I am really excited to see the series develop.
SFX reviews Angry Robot books
Posted by: | Comments
Two great reviews of Angry Robot titles in the current issue (out today). You’ll not be able to miss this month’s SFX magazine, with its frankly astonishing 3D Doctor Who cover!
First review is of Aliette de Bodard’s magical Aztec murder mystery Servant of the Underworld:
Part murder mystery, part well-researched historical novel and part fantasy… The fantasy element blends neatly with the other parts.
4****
Next up is Lavie Tidhar’s steampunk romp, The Bookman:
The juicy backstory is unfolded by Tidhar, making it a key part of what makes the narrative so compelling… skilful, clever and highly enjoyable.
4****
Woody’s Roundup
Posted by: | Comments
Temple Library Reviews are running an Angry Robot marathon – interviews, features and reviews of our books. They kicked off yesterday with a great interview with Walking the Tree author Kaaron Warren.
When Marc Gascoigne was asked to set up a new imprint of Harper Collins, he knew he wanted to seek far and wide for authors. He wanted an international cast of characters. So he asked writers he’d worked with when he was with The Black Library to give him the names of writers they respected in their own countries.
Matthew Farrer, a Warhammer 40,000 novelist, included me on his list.
From there, I nervously emailed Marc to tell him I had three novels and he asked me to send him proposals for all three. His response to the proposals was to ask for sample chapters and his response to the sample chapters was to ask for full manuscripts.
That was a nervous time, waiting for his final response.
Then I got an email, telling me that Angry Robot would buy all three novels. I had to get my husband to read the email for me, to check I wasn’t dreaming!
Today they followed up with a review of Kaaron’s first book, Slights:
Perhaps one of the most disturbing psychological horror stories imbued with withering decadence and written as a memoir. This story haunted me and froze my blood in a manner I have yet to encounter.
Talking of Slights, Bookish Ardour tells us:
Sometimes I finish reading a book and I swear it’s like I’m shell shocked. I’m dazed, I don’t want to talk to anyone, I don’t really want to listen to anyone. I feel like I’m stuck in some sort of limbo that only happens after certain stories. The thing is, it’s not always the story that leaves me shell shocked, but that the story is over…
The story actually deals with a lot of death, and hints at some pretty obscene and horrific acts, and yet in all that darkness I found quite a sense of humour. I don’t usually laugh when I’m reading. I’ll smile, maybe, but not laugh and I did with this one. I think the character Stevie is great and hilarious even though she is so crude. I even had to write down some of the lines because they entertained me so much.
Over at Fantasy Book Critic Ian Whates’ fabulous fantastical adventure (and brilliant debut) City of Dreams and Nightmare is reviewed:
“City of Dreams & Nightmare” grabs you pretty much from the first page and then you really do not want to put it down since it just twists and turns and the threads following the main characters above are all deftly handled with very smooth jumps and several crucial interludes following the “true movers and shakers” of the novel…
Highly recommended as a strong A and a fun, page turning sff adventure that will enchant all fans of such.
Falcata Times has just reviewed Lavie Tidhar’s The Bookman:
Angry Robot is fast building a reputation for bringing new talent alongside the less explored area’s of fiction to the fore. With this offering, they not only give the reader a new area to explore but a unique and novel storyteller to the masses…
Not only an interesting read but also one that leads the reader to ask more questions than is answered within the text supplied… A promising start and I hope that the follow-ups are just as interesting.
