We Resume Normal Programming
I've been absent from this blog for a while, which is usually a sign that I'm too busy with writing reviews and other stuff to give it the attention it needs, and that's the case on this occasion.
The Case Notes section for Black Static #15 has been sent to Andy, somewhat later than usual, and the magazine is now at the printers, with an ETA at TTA Towers of the 12th of February, so that for a lucky few it may even hit the doormats in time for St. Valentine's Day. (And we totally recommend getting your loved one a subscription to Black Static for Valentine's Day. What better way can you think of to show the horror lover in your life that you care? For obvious reasons, this is a rhetorical question.)
Anyhow, and any which way but loose, here is what we have lined up for you in the Case Notes section of Black Static #15:-
That Old Black Magic: Alexandra Sokoloff
A feature on this Stoker nominated author of supernatural thrillers from the good old US of A, whose work is now being published on this side of the Atlantic by Piatkus. There'll be in-depth reviews of The Harrowing and The Price, plus a competition in which you can win copies of the books. In addition, we have a fascinating Q&A session with Alexandra, plus sidebar factoids and a bibliography.
Dead Life: Graphic Zombies
Our favourite shuffling, brain munching monstrosity is now making inroads into the graphic format, and we have reviews of two recent releases - The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks, with illustrations by Ibraim Roberson, and Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection with words by Don Roff and art by Chris Lane.
PS Publishing Novellas
Reviews of two new novellas by our good friends over at PS Publishing - Reunion by Rick Hautala and Cast a Cold Eye by Derryl Murphy and William Shunn.
The Fear Down Under: Australian Horror
In which we cast a discerning eye over the horror output from Australia, with reviews of three short story collections and three novels, but no mention at all of either Neighbours or Home and Away. The names in the frames are Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror: The Year's Best Short Stories Volume 3 edited by Angela Challis, Shards by Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Slice of Life by Paul Haines, Uttuku by Robert N. Stephenson, Slights by Kaaron Warren and The Darkening by Stephen M. Irwin.
Several books that I read didn't get reviewed as we ran out of road, but they'll be first in next issue, and in a way it's convenient for me, as I have a bit of breathing space in which I can maybe catch up on some books I really want to read but don't have time at the moment as they're not up for review.
For next issue (#16, out in April, all being well), I'm thinking of something themed along the lines of 'the animals went in two by two', as I seem to have a lot of 'doubles' in the TBR pile - two books by Sarah Pinborough, two by Rhys Hughes, two by Dan Rhodes, two by Cody Goodfellow, two by Mike Shea, two from Eibonvale, two from Tartarus, and so on. I'm quite looking forward to the challenge of providing tenuous pairings for any books that don't have obvious partners (e.g. second short story collections by male writers with the first name Simon). But it's early days as yet, with nothing set in stone, and we could all be turned into shuffling, brain munching monstrosities tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow.
Until then, keep watching the cemeteries and reading this blog.
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