Controversy at FantasyCon 2011

I wasn’t able to attend this year so I can’t really comment, but the points raised in Stephen Jones’ blog (read here) are interesting to say the least. As to the merits or otherwise of Sam Stone’s work  I can only give a personal opinion and say that I gave up reading her first novel after about three chapters – but it’s all subjective and I’m sure I haven’t agreed with some of the winners chosen in previous years either. I’m certain Ms Stone wouldn’t like my work if she was to read any of it, that’s just the way it goes – can’t please everyone.

(As a side point, none of this is in any way a comment on Sam Stone the person – I have met her a couple of times and she is very pleasant, friendly and good company. It is perfectly possible to separate the person from their work in my opinion.)

I think over the last few years the BFS Awards have gone increasingly to a very small club and I can’t believe that truly represents the breadth of talent in the genre. On the face of it this year simply continues that trend and, unfortunately, devalues the awards.

Next year? I think I’ll be saving my money to attend Guy N Smith’s get-together and not bother with FantasyCon – that seems a much more worthwhile investment.

The Sphinx – Graham Masterton

The Sphinx by Graham Masterton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Sphinx is an easy and enjoyable read and one that keeps you going back for more but it doesn’t quite reach the very high standards set by other Graham Masterton books. The tale of an ancient secretive race in modern Washington is well done but the main character, Gene Keiller, is not particularly sympathetic in his attitudes and actions – no doubt partly because of when the book was written (1978). It detracted slightly from my involvement in the book. However, Mr Masterton is one of my all-time favourite authors and just because this book falls a little short by his standards does not mean it doesn’t do well when compared with most others books in the genre, despite its age. Worth checking out for yourself.

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Irrational Dislikes – an occasional series – #1

People who jump into their cars and immediately drive off!

Guess I’m just slow, but I have to get in, settle, put my seatbelt on, turn on the engine, check everything’s clear, and then drive off. People who are down the road before I’ve even had time to get comfortable piss me off. I know they shouldn’t, but that’s why it’s irrational

A Stir Of Echoes by Richard Matheson

A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another excellent read from Matheson. I don’t think anyone does creepy ghost stories like he does. Right up there with I Am Legend and Hell House – what a pity the films never live up to the quality of the books. Very much a recommended read.

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Downtime by Cynthia Felice

Downtime by Cynthia Felice

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been a while since I read any Cynthia Felice and, while she doesn’t quite reach the heights of her sometime writing partner Connie Willis, she does manage a blend of Science Fiction and Romance that I always enjoy. Her Science Fiction (spaceships, other planets etc.) is the kind I tend to like anyway, and the romantic elements of her stories never descend into embarrasment – they are simply natural parts of her characters’ lives and often with a twist – in this case the couple having aged at different rates during their separation, he by 10 years, she by 30. Add into their lives the complications of impending interstellar war and betrayal in the ruling elite and you have a fast moving, intriguing and involving story. Well worth searching out.

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The Cadaver by Guy N Smith

The Cadaver by Guy N. Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure when I started to read this whether it would be up there with Mr Smith’s best. Not sure why, maybe a bit of a slow start, maybe my mood at the time, maybe because the small town/young people mix reminded me of my least favourite Stephen King books? Thankfully I was wrong to doubt it. Once the story had gripped me, as they always do with Guy N Smith books, I really enjoyed it and it is a book deserving of a sequel. I can’t help feeling there’s still more to tell of this character. If, like me, you struggle a little at the beginning, bear with it – you won’t be disappointed.

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Bats Out Of Hell by Guy N Smith

Bats Out of Hell by Guy N. Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Guy N Smith, like Dennis Wheatley before him, may not ever be classed as a writer of great literature, but what they both do very succesfully is crank up the excitement and tension and write bloody good stories. The art of great storytelling is sadly underrated by many (most of whom are critics or judges of literature competitions).

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My books and where to get them

	Raised In Evil (2011) Raymond Shaw has a past he has all but eradicated from his memory. A twisted past involving his parents, a defrocked priest, satanic rituals and murder. But now he dreams of dead girls and he knows the past has resurfaced and is calling to him, calling him back to the purpose he was raised for. Detective Inspector Frank Giles is investigating a series of ritualistic murders that bring terrifying memories of an earlier case back to him. There had been murders then, too, and the cult of Beliar led by the defrocked priest Father McHinery, and a small boy found hiding behind the sacrificial altar, a small boy named Raymond. McHinery is dead, Frank watched him gunned down, but as his investigations into the current murders continue, the evidence keeps pulling him towards one conclusion. The cult of Beliar has resurfaced and at its head, impossibly, is a resurrected McHinery. They are killing once again but, more than anything, they want Raymond back. Beliar must be made flesh and only one raised for that purpose can fulfil his need. ebook available from: Smashwords (kindle, epub, pdf, rtf, pdb, text) Amazon.com (kindle) Amazon.co.uk (kindle) Amazon.de (kindle) Barnes & Noble (Nook) Sony Reader Store iTunes (ibook)
	Welcome Home (2010) There is a serial killer on the loose, torturing and butchering his way across the North of England. In the quiet Cheshire village of Taupington, Victoria Wheatcroft has found the house of her dreams. But the house holds more than simply memories, and the serial killer, and her own past, are closing in… ebook available from: Smashwords (kindle, epub, pdf, rtf, pdb, text) Amazon.com (kindle) Amazon.co.uk (kindle) Amazon.de (kindle) Barnes & Noble (Nook) Sony Reader Store iTunes (ibook)
	Hard Winter (2009) The winter of twenty-one eighteen was a hard one. A new ice age approached and the movement of the glacier over Scotland, while slow, was constant and unstoppable. Norman and Chrissie Leonard believed they were safe for a while longer, in the almost deserted Liverpool town centre, but then Norman heard The Roar and discovered that man wasn’t the only creature forced from its home by the ice. Paperback available from: Eternal Press Amazon.com ebook available from: Eternal Press (PDF) Amazon.com (kindle) Amazon.co.uk (kindle) Amazon.de (kindle)
	The Midnight Hour (2007) 14 Tales Of Dark Imagination inc. the prize winning The Midnight Hour Paperback available from: Screaming Dreams

The Szuiltan Alliance (2011 rewrite)

I have uploaded part one of the new rewrite of The Szuiltan Alliance, book one in my space adventure trilogy, The Szuiltan Trilogy, to scribd.com. It’s free to read so drop by and take a look and let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy it.

View this document on Scribd

3rd Amazon 5-star review

My novel Welcome Home has received its 3rd in a row 5-star review on amazon.com (Click Here to take a look).

Interestingly (well, to me anyway) the reviews are I believe from female readers who love serial killer thrillers. I have always described the book as a thriller/horror and it looks like the thriller side is the one catching people’s interest. Raised In Evil, on the other hand, is more of a straight horror story and has not had the same response so far. Not sure what this says about the genre and readership, if anything, but I am interested in how it continues.

Meanwhile the simple fact that I have 3 5-star reviews for Welcome Home is more than enough to make my day a little brighter.