(Ninth post right here on the Abaddon Blog).

So here's Jon in the bar this morning giving a reading and presentation on his new book, Twilight of Kerberos: The Call of Kerberos. Yep. I just included the words "morning," "bar," and "presentation" in the same sentence. I really can't reconcile any two of those in my mind, much less all three.

I guess that's just how we roll, here at the SFX Weekender. Represent.

Actually, not sure if he's presenting on his book or giving cooking instructions. Or very subtly trying to signal someone across the room without the audience seeing.

And here again.

Now I'm getting a kind of "What the Hell am I doing here?" vibe.

Karaoke and dancin' next.

Awww yeah.

Part seven is here.

Well, I joined some kind of gang. They seem like pretty tight guys; didn't like stairs for some reason. But I'm part of the outfit, now. Sounds like we hang out, get drunk, and then kill doctors.

For some reason.

Part Nine here.

Fifth post is here.

So check this out. One of the organisers is talking to a Jedi Knight. There's Lord Vader in the background; there's the stormtroopers. Everyone's acting cool, keeping it natural, but the tension's clear.

Someone's gonna start some shit, yo.

(Saturday morning starts with the seventh post, here.)

Third post is here.

So, yeah, I'm wandering the halls looking for interesting people to photograph, and I run into our gametesters (QA guys).

Classy mofos, aren't they?

What's that, you say? Surely this can't be the second post? We haven't had the first post yet!

There you'd be wrong, gentle reader. As I'm here for both Abaddon and Solaris, I'm posting to both blogs. Go here to read the first post, over on the Abaddon Blog.

So we've been here for a few hours, watching the geeks sail blissfully by, looking at the crazy and inspired costumes, generally getting our voyeur on.

Over at the 2000AD stall, they're obviously organised and efficient, and very much on top of things.

We're all over that shit like Mussolini on the train networks. I'm telling you.

Head here for the Third Post.

Critical Mass have reviewed Tim Akers' brilliant Heart of Veridon here.

Is it too early to get excited about the sequel, The Dead of Veridon: book two of The Burn Cycle? I don't think it's too early, especially as we just had Greg Staples' gorgeous cover art for the book delivered into the office.

As soon as we get the huge acrylic painting (can I take it home, can I, can I guys, huh?) scanned, I'll put it up here on the blog for you to admire. But for now, here's Tim's blurb for the new book:-

When an army of corpses animated by cogwork rises from the dark waters of the rive Reine and threatens to upset the balance of power in Veridon, Jacob Burn must discover who is behind this undead atrocity before the city comes crashing down around him. But will he succeed when he finds out that the very Council who has hired him to solve this mystery is working against him behind the scenes, and the only ally he can count on is his bitterest rival?

-

We're heading off to SFXWeekender tomorrow!

This time tomorrow I'll be driving a huge rental van somewhere along the M25, shouting at other drivers, The Bloodhound Gang blaring out of the stereo.

Then this time Friday I'll be nobbing with the stars of science-fiction and fantasy, getting on down and generally having a good time.

If you're coming, make sure and drop by the 2000AD/Abaddon/Solaris stand and say "hi." We'll be chuffed to chat.

I'll try and sling Twitter (@SolarisBooks) and blog posts up periodically over the weekend.

Cheers,

David

And now, a message from Andy Remic, our resident 'certifiable film-making nurse idiot' and author of the hard-drinking, hard-fighting Combat-K series of military SF:-


So, I’ve just finished principal photography for the short promo film HARDCORE, in support of my new Combat K book which came out last month. Previously, my film for KELL’S LEGEND was a low budget affair, me and a cam and a couple of friends messing about in various Scottish forests. This time, we pushed the budget a little further and I wrote a script, we coerced a director (Colin Howarth) into filming, we had a proper cast and gun props, and the main location was a steelworks in Bury, the perfect spot for some bloody nurse zombie mayhem!

Whilst writing the short script, it seemed incredibly humorous to take a scene from the book where Franco Haggis “disguises” himself unconvincingly as a nurse in order to blend with all manner of medical deviants. If I’d followed this through mentally, I would have realised the reality of such a writing outcome!! Who gets to play Franco? Me. Who gets to wear rubber underwear? Me. Ha!

Still, much credit must go to Phil, boss-man at Bradshaw Profiles Ltd, the steelworks in Bury where we filmed on location – because, as I stepped from the toilets, a big fat man dressed as a nurse, wearing a sexy lace garter and carrying a real Remington pump-action shotgun, Phil didn’t so much as bat an eyelid – you know, as if gun-toting nurse transvestites stepped from that toilet cubicle ten times a day. However, he did comment that my nail varnish was particularly fetching.

The actual filming was an insanity of, er, insanity. Great fun, running around with guns shooting advancing dribbling zombie nurses. I was completely absorbed by the role, and entered a kind of Zen-like trance whereby for a while, I really believed I was there, and the zombies were freaking me out, and I was in Shaun of the Dead – or something. I also felt, at times, like I was in a computer game (such as Left 4 Dead) pumping round after round into sickly undead flesh. It was a bit of a surreal and confused experience, if the truth be told; but all the actors (the “talent”, to those in the know) had a great time despite -2⁰ conditions and copious amounts of syrupy blood and pus.

The guns (a Remington shotgun, 9mm Uzi and 9mm Luger machine-pistol) were very kindly supplied by The Fusilier Museum in Bury, and added a real air of authenticity (and yeah, I know, I know, more anachronisms—but then, did you realise Han Solo’s gun in Star Wars was actually a German “broom-handle” Mauser pistol from the early 1900s?). I digress. The staff at The Fusilier Museum were extremely helpful, and thanks must go to Colonel Glover for sanctioning gun release to a certifiable film-making nurse idiot.

As I went to bed that night, it was one of those strange situations – a strange day, in fact – where SO MUCH had happened during the day, your brain is fighting itself trying to decode and file a million strands of information… you know, where the things that happened in the morning (in this case, filming in Ramsbottom park) seemed like they happened a month previous! Madness.

Anyway, the HARDCORE film short is currently in post-production, and will go “live” in a couple of weeks at www.andyremic.com and www.solarisbooks.com.

You can also see some production stills at www.grungefilms.com.

And yes, I was wearing a bra and padded boobs.

And yes, rubber panties are damn uncomfortable! Hoho.

-Andy Remic. February 2010.

Hi all,

Slightly delayed, but The Abaddon & Solaris Books Pocast is here! Point your iTunes to this link, or search "Abaddon" (or "Solaris") in the "Search Store" box at the top-right corner of iTunes, to download what is already being called* the most influential podcast of 2010.

Thrill as the editors and staff at Abaddon Books and Solaris Books - two of the fastest-rising stars of Fantasy, SF and Horror publishing - have a lovely cup of tea. Wonder as we chat about our books, other people's books, the state of the industry, and whatever random crap pops into our heads. Er... Glow as we ruthlessly grill special guest authors, listen to readings, and hear convention reports and special announcements.

The first podcast, The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #1: Evil Fish Demons!, featuring the roguishly-charming, ruggedly handsome and debonair David Moore and Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Oliver - author of Abaddon's current release Twilight of Kerberos: The Call of Kerberos - is available now. This is literally the most important thing that has ever happened; missing it will make the rest of your piteously wasted life a hollow, wretched sham.


Did I go over the top just now? I'm never sure where to pitch these things. Never mind.

Download it. Listen to it. Let us know what you think.

Awesome.

Cheers,

David


*by my mum.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Not on iTunes, and have sworn to end your life rather than download a single Apple application? Here to help! Just point your RSS client here to download the feed without putting a penny in Steve Jobs' pocket. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, in case we change the host or something crazy like that.
  
• Bewildered by the term "RSS" and unsure what all this means? No problem, ignorant Luddite! Just follow the exact same link, click on the link to the mp3 of the episode you wish to hear, and you can listen right on your browser! Everyone's a winner!