The Fourth Black Book of Horror

Just heard from Charles Black, UK editor of the well received Black Book of Horror series from Mortbury Press, that my story "The Lord of the Law" will be appearing in The Fourth Black Book of Horror. This tale received an honourable mention in this year's Australian Horror Writers Associations Short Story Competition, so I'm excited that it has found a home. I won't say much about the story, except that it involves the dark side of gravity.

I was previously published in Charle's first Black Book of Horror with my tale "Subtle Invasion". It went on to be nominated for the Australian Shadows Award, was read on the Writing Show in California, and will be reprinted in Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror Volume 3 from Brimstone Press and Best New Tales of the Apocalypse from Permuted Press. Probably my most successful story to date.

Charles' anthologies have featured many notable horror authors such as Paul Finch and Gary McMahon, so I'm honoured to be back in the series again.

Quantum of Solace

Being a big James Bond fan I raced to the cinema to see Quantum of Solace, but ended up getting there a week after it was released, because well let's face it, I'm a dad now and arranging my time can be a challenge.

Regardless, this was an excellent film, certainly Daniel Craig's contribution to the series has to be the best the Bond franchise has ever seen. I was moved by the depth the writers, actors, director and producers have given to the characters, and how Bond grew through this film and Casino Royale before it. Nothing is over the top (for an action film I mean), no end of the world, no silly gadgets, not bland throw-away lines.

Watching Quantum of Solace was reminded of the Jason Bourne films, which I also thought to be excellent, and how both series are now continuations of their previous films, exploring the impacts Bond and Bourne have on their own lives as assassins, and the people it has made them become.

Certainly looking forward to the next Bond film, scheduled for 2010.