Alastair Reynolds to do a Doctor Who Novel

This is certainly interesting news to me, Alastair Reynolds, one of my favorite authors is writing about a character I grew up with, Doctor Who, in a novel called Harvest of Time, an original science fiction novel featuring the Third Doctor, his companion Jo Grant, and arch-enemy The Master.

The Fourth and Fifth Doctors were always my favorites, and it was the fourth Doctor that introduced me to the series, with "The Talons of Weng Chiang". My favorite epsiodes, digging through my childhood memories include "The Ark in Space", "The Android Invasion", "The Seeds of Doom", "The Planet of Evil", "City of Death", "Logopolis", "Castrovalva", "Earth Shock" and "The Caves of Androzani", and from the recent series "The Girl in the Fireplace".

I think Reynold's visitation to 'Whoverse' will be the first Doctor Who novel I'll have read since early highschool. Looking forward to it.

Back to Back Covers for Jupiter

Another of my illustrations will appeared on the cover of the next issue of Jupiter 33: Euanthe.

This illustration I did many years ago, early 2000s from memory. It is a scene from a space opera novel that I've tackled a few times, but never finished. I did that a lot back then, draw scenes from my fiction to get a visual scene of the worlds (or galaxy in this case) that I was creating. I'm excited that the image has made the cover of Jupiter magazine.

The issue features stories by Alexander Hawes, V. K. Valev, Jon Wallace, Shane Ward and Ian Sales, with poetry by Allen Ashley. Out this month I suspect, and probably also available from kindle. Check out Jupiter Magazine for more information.

"Winds of Nzambi" co-authored with David Kernot wins Australian Horror Award

I've just learnt that David Kernot and I have just won the Australian Horror Writers Association's 2011 Short Story Competition, with our tale "Winds of Nzambi", a supernatural horror tale about slave traders in 16th Century Africa. It was great to collaborate with David, and I learnt a lot from him through the process.

Thanks must go to the judges, Kaaron Warren, Stephen Dedman and Lee Battersby, who I know will have worked very hard on assessing all the stories, and Jason Crowe of the AHWA who worked hard in the background. Also congratulations to Nicholas Stella who won the Flash Fiction category, and to everyone who got an honourable mention.

"Winds of Nzambi" is now going to be published in a future issue of Midnight Echo, probably issue 7. It is going to be awkward if it appears in issue 6, as David and I (along with Jason Fischer) are editing that issue.

Anyway, here is the press release:

The AHWA is proud to announce the winners of the 2011 Flash and Short Story Competition.
 
Flash Fiction Category

Winner

• Duncan Checks Out by Nicholas Stella

Honourable Mentions

• "Homonculus", by David Rasborsek
• "Jaxon's Gift", by Natalie J E Potts

Short Fiction Category

Winner

• "Winds of Nzambi" by David Conyers and  David Kernot

Honourable Mentions

• Love Story, by Cassie Britland
• Slither and Squeeze, by Tracie McBride

An Angel of Frequency

I've just had my first short story published for 2011, "An Angel of Frequency", and this one is extremely short too, at approximately 200 words. I was approached my my friend and fellow speculative fiction writer, David Witteveen, to write a story for his Melbourne at Dusk site.
Melbourne by Dusk mixes photography and flash fiction to explore the strange things that flower in between our city and our imagination. He and his partner Angelica East set it up as part of the 2011 Emerging Writers Festival a couple of months ago.

Here is my story, with a photograph from David Witteveen, "An Angel of Frequency". It will take you less than a minute to read it.

I've also reproduced it here:

An Angel of Frequency

There is an angel in this park. Look hard enough, you’ll see her.

She’s bleeding, has been for years. She’s impaled, pinned to a bench by an iron sword. No one knows how this happened, and she refuses to tell anyone the story why. But she will smile at you, through gritted teeth. Her smile tells you she loves you, absolutely.

I’ve watched her for hours, and I’ve watched those who don’t see her.

Yesterday, two children were fighting over a single toy. When they got close to her, overwhelming peace consumed them both. They then sat down together and shared their toy.

Today, I overheard a businessman on his mobile phone, arguing with his wife. When he got close he broke down and cried. He told his wife he’d been having an affair. He promised to do anything to win her back. And she eventually believed him, judging by his later tears of joy.

I’ve come here every day this year. I’ve felt so much joy.

When I’m not around, I hurt, and remember why I return. You see, I sold my soul to the Devil. I want him to come to this place with me, so he will forgive me too.

Review of Interzone 233 at Albedo One Website

I've reviewed one of my favourite magazines, Interzone, at Albedo One online. This issue is edited by Andy Cox and features fiction from Nina Allan, Chris Butler, Ray Cluley and Tim Lees.

Science fiction and fantasy print magazine Interzone has been around for more than 25 years, and has launched the careers of many well-known authors of the genre writing today. Originally edited by David Pringle from 1982 to 2004, editorship then passed to Andy Cox (who is also editor of Black Static). Andy has produced approximately thirty issues of Interzone thus far and has kept the magazine going strong, achieving accolades from authors such as Greg Egan, Michael Moorcock, Arthur C. Clarke, Terry Pratchett and Christopher Fowler.

Read the full review here.