Back in October I mentioned acclaimed SF writer Richard Morgan dipping his word processor into the fantasy genre, along with a link to a taster of what to expect. Updated information is lacking from both his publisher Gollancz and his website, but Amazon have a suitably atmospheric cover and a plot synopsis, presumably obtained from a legitimate source.
“When a man you know to be of sound mind tells you his recently deceased mother has just tried to climb in his bedroom window and eat him, you have two options. You can smell his breath, take his pulse and check his pupils to see if he’s ingested anything nasty, or you can believe him. Ringil Angeleyes had already tried the first course of action with Bashka the Schoolmaster to no avail, so he put down his pint with an elaborate sigh and went to get his broadsword. And he’s not the only one to be dragged from the serious business of drinking for something as mundane as the walking dead. Archeth - pragmatist, cynic and engineer - is called from her work at the whim of the most powerful man in the Empire. Ekar Dragonbane finds himself entangled in a small-town battle between common sense and religious fervour. And after a personal encounter with the vengeful gods Poltar the Shaman is about to be an awful lot more careful who he prays to. Anti-social, anti-heroic, and decidedly irritated, all four of them are about to be sent unwillingly forth into a vicious, vigorous and thoroughly unsuspecting fantasy world.”
Edit 9th March: Darren has just posted a spoiler/plot free advance review over on The Genre Files
Yay, latest stats show viewings have topped the 2000 mark. Have you lot really got nothing better to do? Banks’ Matter related stuff is still getting the most attention but that will no doubt start to fall away now the book is actually out. Damn, now I have to find something else to attract the same level of attention.
Interestingly, to me anyway, is where people are coming from (WordPress stats shows the sites viewers are linking from) and in the case of Mr Banks there’s some attention coming my way from a French SF forum called CafardCosmique.com. No idea what they discuss there, SF presumably, primarily because when I click on the link it takes me to a log in screen and my knowledge of French is sadly so lacking I can’t even begin to go searching for the relevant thread. But I appreciate the interest they’ve shown and if anybody from that forum wants to leave a comment, including French red wine recommendations (which I’ve become more appreciative of in the last year or so - me, crawling, never), please go ahead.
I previously mentioned attending this event in Derby last year and having had a look at the confirmed guests for this year, as listed on Derby Council’s website, I certainly hope to be going this year too. Michael Marshall Smith alone is worth the entry fee, and the travelling.
For hopefully regular updates check event organiser Alex Davis new blog.
It’s been a long time coming but The Culture is back. Sort of. Matter is much more than a new Culture book, it’s beyond The Culture. Much of the plot takes place outside Culture space, within the domain of another massive alien alliance and focusing more on its inhabitants. But of course, The Culture is never far away.
Readers of Banks’ SF novels and the Culture in particular will know what to expect. Huge artificial constructs, interweaving plots and shifting narrative viewpoints, bizarre alien races, blood soaked battlefields, smart-ass drones and ships with funny names, all pulled off with the intelligence, skill and fun that we have come to expect from an author of Banks’ calibre. This may be the longest Culture novel yet but it’s a straightforward, and very entertaining, read.
Those kind folks over at Orbit have posted the prologue to the new Iain M Banks Culture novel, Matter. Just, you know, to make your 3 week wait until it’s official UK release on 7th February that little bit harder.
Helix is at heart an old-school SF adventure yarn. Parallel plotlines and engaging characters, both human and alien, add depth to a smooth flowing story. The main alien society is well developed, the science pitched just right, the direct writing style making the book a quick paced read. It may not be particularly original but it’s enjoyable.
An informative interview with Jet, conducted by Anjali Rao of CNN for Talk Asia. It’s divided into three parts, the first part is here and the others start automatically after a short ad break. A transcript of the interview is also available.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has announced plans to fly commercial passengers through the Aurora Borealis. Departing from Kiruna in northern Sweden the proposed 2 hour flight will cost a mere £100,000. Full story here.
“When a man you know to be of sound mind tells you his recently deceased mother has just tried to climb in his bedroom window and eat him, you have two options. You can smell his breath, take his pulse and check his pupils to see if he’s ingested anything nasty, or you can believe him. Ringil Angeleyes had already tried the first course of action with Bashka the Schoolmaster to no avail, so he put down his pint with an elaborate sigh and went to get his broadsword. And he’s not the only one to be dragged from the serious business of drinking for something as mundane as the walking dead. Archeth - pragmatist, cynic and engineer - is called from her work at the whim of the most powerful man in the Empire. Ekar Dragonbane finds himself entangled in a small-town battle between common sense and religious fervour. And after a personal encounter with the vengeful gods Poltar the Shaman is about to be an awful lot more careful who he prays to. Anti-social, anti-heroic, and decidedly irritated, all four of them are about to be sent unwillingly forth into a vicious, vigorous and thoroughly unsuspecting fantasy world.” 
