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October publication of one of Britain’s bestselling Science Fiction writers, Peter F Hamilton’s first short story collection in thirteen years, Manhattan In Reverse, I wanted to flag up the Peter F Hamilton artwork competition we are running in conjunction with SFX magazine. Two lucky winners will see their jacket designs adorn special eBook editions of two stories from the collection.

Manhattan in Reverse takes us on a journey from a murder mystery in an alternative Oxford in the 1800s to a brand new story featuring Paula Mayo, Deputy Director of the Intersolar Commonwealth’s Serious Crimes Directorate. Dealing with intricate themes and topical subject this top ten bestselling author is at the top of his game.
 
 Pan Macmillan will be releasing two short stories from the collection in eBook format a month early. These will be available to buy through Apple’s iBookstore, Amazon and via Waterstone’s and WHSmith online. SFX online and Pan Macmillan are looking for jacket designs for both stories. Pan Macmillan have provided cover briefs, with contributions from their senior designer, from Peter’s editor Julie Crisp and from Peter himself, together with a design template and submission guidelines. The two winning designs will be selected by a judging panel that includes Peter, his publishing team at Pan Macmillan and SFX staff.
 
 Peter said ‘There’s so much promising design talent out there and I’m excited to see how my stories are interpreted.’

HOW TO ENTER

• Pan Macmillan has provided cover briefs for the short stories The Demon Trap and Footvote – clink on the links to view the briefs. These are exactly the type of briefs that professional artists will receive when they are commissioned to create cover artwork. Read them carefully because they are essential in helping you make your creative choices.

• You can provide entries for either or both stories

• Your entry must be supplied in its complete form as a 300 dpi high resolution Jpeg or PDF under 2MB

• Your entry must be 240mmx156mm

• Your entry should be submitted to artwork@macmillan.co.uk

• Only original artwork or digital artwork will be considered and all artwork must be sent with your name, contact telephone number and email address in the body of the email and clearly marked in the subject header ‘Short story artwork competition’. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

• Entries must be received by Pan Macmillan on or before the closing date of 1 August 2011 before 5.30pm GMT. Pan Macmillan may require a higher res version of the file at a later date

• Please read the Terms and Conditions attached for more details

You can find existing artwork for Peter’s books on the Pan Macmillan website here and the jacket for Manhattan in Reverse attached. It would be wonderful if you could alert your readers to this competition to find the best new talent in cover design. Do let me know if you would like any further details.

ORBIT BOOKS SUMMER SIGNING at FORBIDDEN PLANET


Diary Date: Saturday 30th July 3 – 4pm.


FORBIDDEN PLANET is delighted to be hosting one of our trademark multi-author signings. At 3:00pm on Saturday 30th July, Forbidden Planet 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London will be playing host to: -
Tim Lebbon has won the Bram Stoker Award for his short fiction, and the British Fantasy Society Award four times. His novelisation of the movie 30 DAYS OF NIGHT also won him a Scribe Award in 2008. Surrounded by a vast, toxic desert, the inhabitants of labyrinthine Echo City believe there is no other life in their world. Some like it that way, so when a stranger arrives he is anathema to powerful interest groups.
 
Dr Simon Morden is a bona fide rocket scientist, having degrees in geology and planetary geophysics, and is one of the few people who can truthfully claim to have held a chunk of Mars in his hands. Degrees Of Freedom is the third in the Metrozone series of books, set in the decaying urban jungle of a future London.
 
Philip Palmer writes intelligent, darkly humorous SF fizzing with energy, explosions and originality – as shown in the incredible acclaim for his previous novels Debateable Space and Red Claw. Philip is also a film and television writer and producer and writes for radio and theatre. The Hell Ship hurtles through space. Inside the ship are thousands of slaves, each the last of their race. The Hell Ship and its infernal crew destroyed their homes, slaughtered their families and imprisoned them forever.
 
Nicole Peeler vexes literature in her role as an assistant professor of English Literature at Louisiana State University. The heroine of Tempest Rising, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.
 
 Forbidden Planet, London is the largest store of its kind in the world. The biggest names in Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Comics have visited us for signing events, including: Guillermo del Toro, Sam Raimi, Terry Gilliam, Simon Pegg, Christopher Lee, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett and Stephen King.
 
 For more news about our signings go to: http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/
 

NBM Publishing Announces San Diego Comic-Con Debuts and Exclusives

In anticipation of Comic-Con International: San Diego 2011, NBM Publishing today announced the company’s Comic-Con exclusives, including an exclusive preview of INNER SANCTUM as well as several upcoming books making their debut at the show.

A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Lives of Sacco & Vanzetti

Rick Geary tackles the most controversial case of the 20th century. Anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti were accused of robbery and murder but so many supposedly damning pieces of evidence were questionable their guilty verdict elicited massive protests around the world. Geary presents us with all the twists and turns, appeals and dubious evidence after presenting us the human face of the two men, demonized by many, turned to martyrs by many others in his usual unflappable way.

Besides Geary signing the regular clothbound edition, there will also be an edition limited to only 25 copies and available only directly from NBM of which some copies will be available at this show. Geary is a nominee for an Eisner this year for his last Treasury tome: The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans.

Kinky & Cosy

Shocking! Disgusting! Meet the most dangerous twin girls in the universe! Their record of wrong doings, on purpose or not, will raise your hair on end. A darkly subversive collection of cynical comics gags that is sweeping Europe. Nothing is sacred for these two lil’ monsters! South Park meets Monty Python.

An outrageous collection of gags in a very striking hardcover with google eyes will be unveiled for the very first time, flown in from the printer! NBM's site and blog has been featuring many strips of this highly subversive duo of 8 year old twins.

Inner Sanctum Mysteries

A revered veteran of comics brings to comics life one of the most fondly remembered mystery and horror radio shows in history.

A little paperback preview of Ernie Colon's next exciting project, The Inner Sanctum, will be made available for a mere $1 as well as a show exclusive -identified as such- 25 copies signed and numbered by him for $5.

The graphic novel will be out by December in striking black & white as only Colon is well known for, features adaptations of the old famous horror and mystery NBC radio show.

Little Nothings: My Shadow In The Distance

The very first few copies of the all-new 4th volume of Lewis Trondheim's highly acclaimed Little Nothings will be available for sale. We've only a few copies to bring, sure to go fast!

Appearing at the booth besides Geary will be Sean Michael Wilson signing The Story of Lee, which quickly went back to press, up-and-coming star Brooke Allen signing A Home for Mr. Easter, and controversial cartoonist Ted Rall.

Tell them you saw the post at SFC

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-139

COMPOSER DEBUTS FANFARE HONORING FINAL SHUTTLE MISSION

WASHINGTON (July 7, 2011) -- Emmy-nominated composer Bear McCreary, known for his television scores, has composed a fanfare specifically to commemorate the final space shuttle flight. After composing four seasons of music for a television show set in space, creating music inspired by a historic NASA mission was a natural fit. The composition will be played first on Friday morning at the NASA launch TweetUp. People viewing the launch from some of the other locations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will also be able to hear the composition.

McCreary composed the music for the television series Battlestar Galactica; The Walking Dead; Eureka; Human Target; and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He also worked with film music legend Elmer Bernstein, who composed the music for The Magnificent Seven and The Ten Commandments.


NASA has worked with artists since 1962, when Administrator James E. Webb invited a group of artists to illustrate and interpret agency missions and projects. Artists, songwriters, musicians and playwrights have offered their unique perspectives on spaceflight ever since. NASA also has a long and storied connection with pop culture, frequently working with creators of science fiction films and television programs to discuss science fact.

For more information about Bear McCreary, visit:

http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/

For more information about space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

New fantasy trilogy launches with free eBook

Free Hadrumal Crisis eBook available in ePUB, Amazon Kindle and PDF formats

 

Confirming its commitment to new digital formats, Solaris announces that it is to release a free eBook ahead of its newest fantasy series, The Hadrumal Crisis, by Juliet E. McKenna.


The Wizard’s Coming serves as a prequel for The Hadrumal Crisis – McKenna’s upcoming trilogy from Solaris, hitting bookshops in August.

 

Originally published in Solaris’ anthology The Solaris Book of New Fantasy in 2007, the book introduces some of the characters and events leading up to this stunning new fantasy series from a major voice in fantasy writing.

Underground horror anthology in line for award

“...an excellent sampling of the best writers in this field...”

The Times                                           

 

Solaris’s unique anthology of horror stories set in and around the underground has been nominated for a British Fantasy Society Award.

 

It has been announced that The End of the Line, released in October last year, has been nominated in the Best Anthology category for the 2011 awards. Nicholas Royle’s short story from the anthology 'The Lure', has also been nominated for an award.

 

The End of The Line collects some of the very best in new horror writing in a themed anthology of stories set on, and around, the Underground, the Metro and other places deep below.

 

This collection of 19 new stories includes thoughtful, disturbing and terrifying subterranean tales by Ramsey Campbell, Christopher Fowler, Mark Morris, Pat Cadigan, Adam Nevill and Michael Marshall Smith, amongst many others.

 

The title has received widespread critical acclaim: 'Fallen Boys' by Mark Morris was chosen by Ellen Datlow for Best Horror of the Year Volume 3 and by Stephen Jones for Best New Horror 22. Datlow said of the anthology: 'The variety and quality is admirable... One of the best of the year.'

SHORT-LISTS FOR TENTH ANNUAL SUNBURST AWARD ANNOUNCED

 

TORONTO, ONTARIO (June 28, 2011)

 

The jury for the tenth annual Sunburst Awards has announced the short-lists for 2011.

 

The short-listed works in the adult category:

 

Guy Gavriel Kay, Under Heaven: (Penguin Group Canada, ISBN - 0670068098)

Robert J. Sawyer, Watch: (Penguin Group Canada, ISBN - 0670067423)

Douglas Smith, Chimerascope: (ChiZine Publications, ISBN - 0981297854)

S.M. Stirling, A Taint in the Blood: (New American Library, ISBN - 0451463412)

Hayden Trenholm, Stealing Home: (Bundoran Press, ISBN - 0978205251)

 

The short-listed works in the young adult category:

 

Holly Bennett, Shapeshifter: (Orca Book Publishers, ISBN - 1554691583)

Erin Bow, Plain Kate: (Scholastic, ISBN - 0545166640)

Charles De Lint, The Painted Boy: (Penguin Young Reader Group, ISBN - 0670011916)

Paul Glennon, Bookweirder: (Doubleday Canada, ISBN - 0385665482)

Robert Paul Weston, Dust City: (Penguin Group Canada, ISBN - 0670063967)

 

The awards will be presented on September 14, 2011 as part of Authors at Harbourfront Centre's weekly reading series following brief readings from each of the short-listed works.

 

The jurors for the 2011 award are: Kate Freiman, Mark Leslie, Christopher Roden, and Alison Sinclair

 

The Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic is an annual award celebrating the excellence of writing in Canadian fantastic literature published during the previous calendar year.

 

A jury first selects a short list of five works in two categories: Adult and Young Adult. A winner is then chosen from each category. Winners receive a cash prize of $1,000 and a hand-crafted medallion which incorporates the "Sunburst" logo, designed by Marcel Gagné.

 

The Sunburst Award takes its name from the debut novel of the late Phyllis Gotlieb, one of the first published authors of contemporary Canadian speculative fiction.

 

 

For more information on the Sunburst Awards, please visit the website at www.sunburstaward.org

 

 

 

 
 

If you’re going to be in the San Diego area in July, most likely you’re there for San Diego Comic Con 2011. While you’re there, be sure to stop by booth 2415 to see what all of the excitement is about at Arcana Comics. We have some spectacular signings planned, SDCC Exclusives (a Kade Art Book and the SDCC Launch Edition of SideShows), and even an Arcana Comics Panel! Below is a run-down of what we’re up to.
 
EXCLUSIVES:
 
KADE ART BOOK: Kade, Arcana’s enigmatic warrior makes a special appearance this SDCC with an exclusive art book, featuring original work from some of the most talented artists in the industry! Tim Bradstreet’s unique style sets the tone with an original cover, while Tim Seeley, Brent Schoonover, Greg Horn, Kevin Mellon, Ashley Wood, Liam Sharp, Ben Templesmith, Greg Titus, and Whilce Portacio provide contributions to this amazing art book. It’s limited to 250 copies, so grab one while you can!
 
SIDESHOWS SDCC LAUNCH EDITION: SideShows, the next Arcana hit by Erik Hendrix & Michael Nelsen is still months away from official release, but you can see it here first! It’s 1950’s Las Vegas & the mob enlisted former circus attractions as their aces in the hole. These SideShows had a little secret — they really did have the abilities they pretended to. High rollers, lounge singers, cigarettes, alcohol, and superpowers. Welcome to Las Vegas. Packed with extras not available in the retail version and limited to 100 copies!
 
PANEL:
 
On Thursday July 21st from 6:00 – 7:00 PM in in Room 23ABC, be sure to head to our panel! Below is the full description that will appear in the convention guide.
 
6:00 – 7:00 Arcana Comics – A Look at One of the World’s Largest Graphic Novel Publishers – Sean Patrick O’Reilly (Clockwork Girl), Josh Blaylock (Devil’s Due), Erik Hendrix (SideShows), Mike Kalvoda (Banshee), Brooke Burgess (Becoming), Matt Wilson (Scrooge & Santa), and Ryan Colucci (Harbor Moon) take us through some of the amazing talent coming out of one of the world’s largest graphic novel producers. Passing 150 graphic novels released, find out what the publisher currently has in the works, what’s coming in the near future, a sneak peak at the 3D animated feature film, Clockwork Girl, Arcana’s slate of interactive apps, and more. See how independent publishers make their mark in the comic book industry and blur the lines between mediums, Arcana style. Attendees will get free comics and also for free is the first in a series of “Arcana Universe” posters!
 
SIGNINGS:
 
This year, we have signings scheduled back to back throughout the convention, so if you miss your favorite creator, worry not, they’re likely appearing again later that day or the next. Below is the schedule for your viewing enjoyment.
 
Wednesday – PREVIEW NIGHT – July 20th
 
· 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
· 7:30 PM – 8:15 PM
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
Thursday – July 21st
 
· 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
· 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
· 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge and Santa
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o John Barker – Dead Cell
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
· 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
 
o Rachel Taylor – Velvet Rope
 
o Siike Donnelly – Heaven’s Echo
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra: Egyptian Exchange (plus some of our promo art this year)
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
· 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge and Santa
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o John Barker – Dead Cell
 
Friday – July 22nd
 
· 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge and Santa
 
o John Barker – Dead Cell
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
 
o Siike Donnelly – Heaven’s Echo
 
o Aaron Nelson – Marlow
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra: Egyptian Exchange (plus some of our promo art this year)
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
· 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
· 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
· 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge & Santa
 
o John Barker – Dead Cell
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
 
o Aaron Nelson – Marlow
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra: Egyptian Exchange
 
· 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Rachel Taylor – Velvet Rope
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
· 4:00 – 5:45 PM
 
o Nikola Jajic – Loosely Based & Devil’s Island
 
· 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
· 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge and Santa
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
Saturday – July 23rd
 
· 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Bart Thompson – Blood, Shells, & Roses
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
o Nikola Jajic – Loosely Based & Devil’s Island
 
· 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge and Santa
 
o Matt Jacobs & Shannon Eric Denton – Grunts & Grunts: War Stories
 
o John Barker – Dead Cell
 
· 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Aaron Nelson – Marlow
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra : Egyptian Exchange (plus some of our promo art this year)
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
· 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
 
o Rachel Taylor – Velvet Rope
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Bart Thompson – Blood, Shells, & Roses
 
o Matt Jacobs & Shannon Eric Denton – Grunts & Grunts: War Stories
 
o Nikola Jajic – Loosely Based & Devil’s Island
 
· 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Aaron Nelson – Marlow
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
o Ryan Colucci – Harbor Moon
 
· 5:00 PM – 5:45 pm
 
o Matt Wilson & Josh Kenfield – Scrooge & Santa
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o John Barker – Dead Cell
 
· 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
 
o Bart Thompson – Blood, Shells, & Roses
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra : Egyptian Exchange (plus some of our promo art this year)
 
Sunday – July 24th
 
· 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
 
o Matt Jacobs & Shannon Eric Denton – Grunts & Grunts: War Stories
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
· 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
 
o Aaron Nelson – Marlow
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
· 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Bart Thompson – Blood, Shells, & Roses
 
o Mike Kalvoda – Banshee & Straw
 
o Matt Jacobs & Shannon Eric Denton – Grunts & Grunts: War Stories
 
· 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
 
o Rachel Taylor – Velvet Rope
 
o Ben Fisher & Mike Henderson – Hexen Hammers
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra: Egyptian Exchange (plus some of our promo art this year)
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
· 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
 
o Erik Hendrix – SideShows
 
o Brooke Burgess & Dane Cypel – Becoming
 
o Aaron Nelson – Marlow
 
· 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
 
o Bart Thompson – Blood, Shells, & Roses
 
o Frank Barbiere – Divine Intervention & Endless West
 
o Alfonso Ruiz – Ezra: Egyptian Exchange (plus some of our promo art this year)
 
o Sean Dulaney – 51 Delta
 
View this message with images at http://arcana.com/newsletter/