Why Don’t Authors Switch Genre?

Cinema and literature. Movies and books. It frustrates me how people take for granted certain things in one, but not the other. Take genre. Movie directors – if they so desire – are allowed to tackle a range of genres. In the course of his career, Steven Spielberg has bounced from The Sugarland Express to … Continue reading Why Don’t Authors Switch Genre?

Disaster Attraction — The Eternal Appeal of the Apocalypse

Why crave the apocalypse? Why watch Charlton and Mel grapple doom-spawned vampires and leather-clad crazies? Why pursue the ash-strewn trails of Viggo and Don (Tiger too), only to end up hunkered down in a craterish bed sitting room waiting to thumb a lift from Ralph in his horse-drawn Rolls? If all is truly lost, why … Continue reading Disaster Attraction — The Eternal Appeal of the Apocalypse

“The Walking Dead” and the Episodic Revolution

I blame Frank Darabont. It’s like this: I’ve become resistant to new TV shows. I think it’s partly because of the arc. Not Noah’s, nor that of the Covenant, but the one that means there’s no such thing as a series any more – everything’s a serial. I’m old enough to get nostalgic about all … Continue reading “The Walking Dead” and the Episodic Revolution

Clockwork of the Lost Ark

I was watching Raiders of the Lost Ark for the umpteenth time at the weekend, when my wife interrupted to ask me why I enjoyed watching certain films over and over again. Or reading certain books, for that matter. The natural response to such a question is of course, "Hush, dear, I'm watching Raiders of … Continue reading Clockwork of the Lost Ark

From Manuscript to Print

I occasionally visit local primary schools to talk about creative writing and my experiences in the publishing industry. Halfway through telling the children about my first novel Dragoncharm, I bring out the original typescript and drop it on the table. At 798 pages it makes quite a bang (and raises plenty of surprised giggles). It's … Continue reading From Manuscript to Print

The Science Fiction of Bob Shaw

Just discovered a heap of Bob Shaw books buried in a forgotten corner. Ah, the joyful anticipation of rereading some old favourites! Bob's concept of slow glass is one of those science fiction ideas from heaven. It's a dream of a concept that gets right under your skin and just wriggles there. In case you … Continue reading The Science Fiction of Bob Shaw

From the Page to the Screen

On my bookshelf as a young kid, I had a book called Bambi by Felix Salten, another called The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith and The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. I suspect my parents bought them for me when the Disney movies came out. However, these were 'real' paperback editions, not … Continue reading From the Page to the Screen

Big Dumb Objects in Science Fiction

I recently re-read Arthur C Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, having not picked it up since I was a teenager. What struck me – apart from the remarkable clarity of the prose and the clean straight lines of the narrative – was the geometry. Rama, the alien spacecraft featured in the novel, is an enormous cylinder. … Continue reading Big Dumb Objects in Science Fiction

Werewolves Rule

I once wrote a story called Dead Wolf in a Hat in which I fooled around with some of the standard werewolf conventions. In researching the story, I stumbled on a Bavarian variety called a Boxenwolf, whose ability to shapeshift was controlled by a special belt, and I got to wondering what other accessories or articles … Continue reading Werewolves Rule

The Seductive Allure of Speculative Fiction

Why do I like speculative fiction? Am I hard-wired that way? Is there a gene? Was I abducted by aliens as a small child and infused with an urge to read about strangers in strange lands? In short, was it nature or nurture? I don't recall any incidents with aliens (although if they used mind-altering … Continue reading The Seductive Allure of Speculative Fiction