You Tell Me | To Infinity... and Beyond!

So hey.

Today's the day! The day we hear what the next Xbox will be all about — or at least what it'll be called. I'm excited. How about you?

In case you weren't aware, in a few short hours — only four more from the time of this post — Microsoft are going to hold a press event where "A New Generation Will Be Revealed," or so the email I got this morning insists.

We already know about the PS4, and though I could honestly care less until there's a new Zelda to worry my bank balance further, I'll admit the Wii U exists, thus this is the last of the last crop of consoles in line for a generational refresh.

I have very high hopes for the Xbox Next, or the Xbox 365, or the Xbox Infinity, or whatever they end up calling the thing, because this generation, I played most of my go-to video games on the 360. I've enjoyed achievements a great deal in recent years, and the seamlessness of the online experience is still second to none. A steady stream of Halos haven't hurt the Xbox's cause either.

But there's still so much to play for. Sony look to have ratcheted back their arrogance, leaving Microsoft to inherit their hubris. If they get too big for their boots — and we'll get an indication of whether or not that's actually the case later today — I'll be buying a PS4 before the next Xbox.

Fingers firmly crossed Microsoft have taken to heart some of the criticism that's come their way since we heard tell of all this online only nonsense. And as a renter rather than a buyer, if I'm unable to play used games on the next-gen Xbox without paying for an additional user license or some such rubbish, I'm done.

For the moment, though, we just don't know.

That said, we will in a bit... so now's the time to speculate. :)

What do you want from the next Xbox? Please do tell.

For my part, this Illumiroom technology really appeals to me:

Make that a pack-in and I'll be happy.

But I Digress | Super Kindle 64

So the PlayStation 4 exists.

Who would have thunk it?

Well, everyone, obviously. Its existence was the worst kept secret in the gaming industry since... actually, I'm struggling to come up with an apposite example. This isn't an industry known for its grace or patience, after all; like a squabble in the schoolyard, if there's something going on, potential spectators are alerted as if by osmosis, or some telepathic process. Hence all the NDAs. And the elaborately coordinated PR campaigns.

But that's not what I want to talk about today. Rather than the announcement of the PS4 itself—which, for what it's worth, I'll buy if or else when the price is right—I want to use the immediate reaction to the would-be huge news as a jumping off point for discussion. Because the sentiment I heard, overwhelmingly, before, during and after Sony's shindig, was... so what?

Let me be clear: I disagree. I believe there's a real need for updated hardware. Try playing Far Cry 3 on a modern PC and you'll see what I mean. It's hard to go back, so I'm all for forward. But let's not kid around: there has never been a less significant jump between one generation and the next, nor a longer period between revisions than this one. What are we to understand from that if not the fact that the console cycle, as we know it, is coming to a close?

If you're wondering what all this could have to do with the publishing industry, simply consider the e-book reader, or the tablet that serves as such. Kindles and iPads are platforms built on technology too. And each time their hardware is revised, these devices grow ever closer to the endpoint the PS4 arguably represents. 

To make matters worse, there are new e-book readers every year—at least—so we're approaching the zenith of technology far quicker than the gaming industry did.

There will come a time, I put to you, when there will be no point in upgrading your Kindle or iPad. When our e-book readers will do everything we want them to do, and more, as well as we might like, and better. Beyond that, the only improvements will be superficial.

And I want to know what that device looks like. What's the ultimate feature set for e-book readers? And how very different could reading e-books possibly be from the experience we can have today?

Even then, what could possibly be better than the tactile pleasure of a physical edition, or the satisfaction of filing it away in your library?

Give me a foldable, flexible OLED screen that can read books to me out loud, with some sort of dynamic Last Time On the thing I've been reading functionality—for when I forget what's going on—and subscription-based access to a collaborative library of literature that isn't fragmented or just fucked in the way certain services are today. Maybe then I'll be moved to buy your device.

I don't ask for a lot, do I? :)

The Best of #EdBookFest | Part III

Last Thursday, the programme for this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival was made available. From the 11th of August - that's a Saturday - through Monday the 27th, almost a million authors are set to appear at various venues around Scotland's prettiest city... or at least, so it seems.

As a matter of fact a million might be overstating the case somewhat, but there are so many events on the slate that a comprehensive read of the catalogue could take as long as the festival itself, and by then, everything of interest is sure to be fully booked. If you're planning to attend, specifically to see a certain someone speak, then in my experience you've got to be on the ball when it comes to ordering.

So how about some help figuring out your potential schedule before tickets go on sale at 8:30AM this Friday? Really, it's the least I can do. :)

To save you some time and effort, then, I've taken a good, long look through the 2012 programme for writers and artists that the likes of us - which is to say fans of speculative fiction - are apt to find fascinating. Even then there's such a surplus of good stuff that this it's going to take us a couple of days to get through just the genre-related authors, and considering that I've taken pains to arrange everything in chronological order, please: start with Part I, then read through Part II, and last but not least... behold the third installment of three!

*** 

Who: Iain Banks

When: Wednesday 22 August, 8:00PM - 9:00PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

Iain Banks is back on non sci-fi territory. And with Stonemouth, he is firmly on his finest and funniest comedy-drama behaviour as he explores one Stewart Gilmour’s return to his north-east home town to attend a funeral after 5 years in exile. Not everyone is happy he’s back though and he spends a long weekend trying to keep one step ahead of local gangsters.

Who: Ian McEwan

When: Thursday 23 August, 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

The most gifted British novelist of his generation unveils his new book at the Book Festival. Sweet Tooth tells the story of a woman drawn into intelligence activities, who then falls in love and faces a challenge to maintain the fiction of her undercover life. Ian McEwan’s previous bestselling novels include Saturday, On Chesil Beach and the Man Booker Prize-winning Amsterdam.

Who: Mark Haddon

 

When: Thursday 23 August, 4:30PM - 5:30PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

The Red House was one of the most anticipated novels of 2012, and it has certainly lived up to that billing. Mark Haddon’s latest revolves around a newly remarried hospital consultant, who attempts to build bridges with his estranged sister. The author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time talks to the Guardian’s Literary Editor, Claire Armitstead about how he constructed his new novel using 8 distinct voices. 

Who: John Connolly and Stuart Neville

 

When: Thursday 23 August, 6:45PM - 7:45PM

Where: Peppers Theatre

What: While Stephen King has imprinted Maine on the literary landscape, a new kid on the block has been threatening to slap away King’s crown. Irishman John Connolly’s latest Charlie Parker mystery is The Burning Soul, in which a man is haunted by his past. Stuart Neville’s Stolen Souls features a woman who travels from Russia to Ireland only to be coaxed into a horrific world of modern slavery. 

Who: Michelle Paver

When: Saturday 25 August, 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Where: RBS Corner Theatre

Following the conclusion of her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, Michelle Paver is here to introduce you to her thrilling new series Gods and Warriors. Set during the Bronze Age in the Mediterranean it promises exciting adventures against the backdrop of a vividly-imagined prehistoric setting. Come and hear all about Michelle’s inspiration for the books and her extensive research, including dolphin watching.

Who: Jasper Fforde

When: Saturday 25 August, 8:30PM - 9:30PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

The irrepressible Jasper Fforde joins us again to unveil his seventh novel featuring the much-loved Thursday Next. In Fforde's comic parallel universe, England is a republic whose first president was George Formby, and Thursday's genius 15 year old daughter, Tuesday, is working on a shield to protect their home town from the wrath of an angry Deity. Join Fforde to enter a hilariously unpredictable world. 

Who: Eoin Colfer

When: Sunday 26 August, 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

A new Artemis Fowl is a much-anticipated event but when it’s the last ever... Eoin Colfer introduces his final thrilling instalment, Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian, featuring a magical portal, fairies and rampaging dead soldiers. Thankfully, Eoin has stated that he will keep writing until people stop reading or he runs out of ideas. As neither is likely, the final Artemis adventure doesn’t spell the end for his fans, there will be plenty more from Eoin Colfer to look forward to in the future! 

Who: Ken McLeod and G. Willow Wilson

 

When: Monday 27 August, 8:30PM - 9:30PM

Where: Peppers Theatre

In G Willow Wilson’s Alif The Unseen, we journey to an unnamed Middle Eastern security state where a young hacker has just discovered an ancient book which may unleash a new level of information technology, and he’s extremely keen to get hold of it. Ken MacLeod’s Intrusion is another of his disturbing dystopia novels in which a future state commits atrocities with the best of intentions.

***

And that, as they say, is that!

So how are your schedules coming along? Any last minute additions?

Now as much as I'd love to see every one of the thirty-odd authors we've covered over the last couple of days, if I'm honest, I'll be lucky to find the time for half of the events aforementioned. Edinburgh isn't exactly nearby, even for me. Would that it were...

But enough moping! This year's festival sounds fantastic. As ever, there's something for everyone, but this year seems particularly geared towards speculative fiction fans like me. :)

One last thing before we say good day: if you end up in Edinburgh at some point during the fortnight of the book festival, there's a decent chance I'll be out and about, so feel free to give me a shout. It might be nice to finally arrange some names next to a few of those famous internet faces.

The Best of #EdBookFest | Part II

Last Thursday, the programme for this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival was made available. From the 11th of August - that's a Saturday - through Monday the 27th, almost a million authors are set to appear at various venues around Scotland's prettiest city... or at least, so it seems.

As a matter of fact a million might be overstating the case somewhat, but there are so many events on the slate that a comprehensive read of the catalogue could take as long as the festival itself, and by then, everything of interest is sure to be fully booked. If you're planning to attend, specifically to see a certain someone speak, then in my experience you've got to be on the ball when it comes to ordering.

So how about some help figuring out your potential schedule before tickets go on sale at 8:30AM this Friday? Really, it's the least I can do. :)

To save you some time and effort, then, I've taken a good, long look through the 2012 programme for writers and artists that the likes of us - which is to say fans of speculative fiction - are apt to find fascinating. Even then there's such a surplus of good stuff that this it's going to take us a couple of days to get through just the genre-related authors, so here's a link to yesterday's inaugural installment  of The Best of #EdBookFest. And remember to tune in again tomorrow for the catastrophic conclusion!

***

Who: Grant Morrison

When: Friday 17 August, 9:30PM - 10:30PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

Leading Scottish comic book writer Grant Morrison divides his time between Scotland and Hollywood, and he joins us this evening to talk about the comics industry as it squares up to the game-changing developments of the 21st century. Following up the arguments in his brilliant book Supergods, Morrison contends that superheroes are powerful icons for a multimedia age. 

Who: Garth Nix

When: Saturday 18 August, 10:30AM - 11:30AM 

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

The hugely successful, award-winning writer Garth Nix travels to Edinburgh from Australia to draw you into his world of fantasy and science fiction. His many books are popular worldwide and include the Sabriel trilogy, The Keys to the Kingdom series and his latest novel, A Confusion of Princes. Find out what it takes to make a fantasy novel really work - or not! - and pick up some expert tips on how to write a compelling book of your own.

Who: Hari Kunzru and Yiyun Li

When: Saturday 18 August, 12:30PM - 1:30PM

Where: Peppers Theatre

Douglas Coupland’s recent review of Hari Kunzru’s novel Gods Without Men suggests Kunzru has spawned a new literary genre: Translit. It’s certainly a sparkling, multi-layered gem that confidently slides across boundaries. But then so too does US-based Yiyun Li’s superb book of short stories Gold Boy, Emerald Girl which is predominantly set in modern China. Whether or not they’re creating a new genre, here are two writers whose writing is a joy to behold. 

Who: Jennifer Rohn and Neal Stephenson

When: Saturday 18 August, 5:00PM - 6:00PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

Science fiction writing is readily dismissed as mindless escapism but in fact it is a hugely influential and creative genre, able to critique our society and inspire our scientists. New York Times bestseller, Neal Stephenson, discusses the importance of science fiction on science fact with Jennifer Rohn of University College London and author of lablit.com.

Who: Helen Dunmore

When: Monday 20 August, 5:00PM - 6:00PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

She won the Orange Prize for her novel A Spell of Winter, and was Man Booker longlisted for The Betrayal. Now, this most versatile of writers has produced a deliciously chilling novella set in East Yorkshire. The Greatcoat tells the story of a woman who discovers an RAF officer's coat in her new flat. Later, in her dreams, she hears a knocking on the window...

Who: Margo Lanagan and Melvin Burgess

When: Monday 20 August, 6:30PM - 7:30PM

Where: RBS Imagination Lab

What: Meet two of the most controversial authors writing for young adults today. Melvin Burgess and Margo Lanagan have both been criticised for the explicit nature of some of their work, in particular Doing It by Melvin and Tender Morsels by Margo, novels that reflect elements of life all too familiar to today’s teenagers. Come and hear them talk about everything from sex to drugs, mythology to fairy tales and let them demonstrate how a skilful writer can sensitively lead their reader down any path to explore difficult subjects.

Who: China Mieville and Patrick Ness

When: Monday 20 August, 8:30PM - 9:30PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

China Miéville is often billed as a genre-busting science fiction writer but in truth he’s impossible to categorise. With Railsea, Miéville has imagined a post-industrial landscape of small islands, where the sea is not water but a mass of criss-crossing rails. The story takes a young islander across the railsea, and Miéville has created his most enticing and compelling novel to date. Chaired by Patrick Ness.

Who: Shaun Tan

When: Wednesday 22 August, 5:00PM - 6:00PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

Shaun Tan offers a fascinating journey through his work as author, artist and film-maker, explaining how his early career developed. In 2011 Shaun received the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in Sweden for his body of work and won an Oscar for his short film The Lost Thing. This is a rare opportunity to hear from an inspiring and uniquely talented master in his field.

***

With which, the second part of The Best of #EdBookFest comes to a close.

I'll have one last round of must-see authors and artists for you all tomorrow, but in the interim, any ideas yet which events you'll be attending? China Mieville's 'Going Off The Rails' is a gimme for me...

The Best of #EdBookFest | Part I

Last Thursday, the programme for this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival was made available. From the 11th of August - that's a Saturday - through Monday the 27th, almost a million authors are set to appear at various venues around Scotland's prettiest city... or at least, so it seems.

As a matter of fact a million might be overstating the case somewhat, but there are so many events on the slate that a comprehensive read of the catalogue could take as long as the festival itself, and by then, everything of interest is sure to be fully booked. If you're planning to attend, specifically to see a certain someone speak, then in my experience you've got to be on the ball when it comes to ordering.

So how about some help figuring out your potential schedule before tickets go on sale at 8:30AM this Friday? Really, it's the least I can do. :)

To save you some time and effort, then, I've taken a good, long look through the 2012 programme for writers and artists that the likes of us - which is to say fans of speculative fiction - are apt to find fascinating. Even then there's such a surplus of good stuff that this it's going to take us a couple of days to get through just the genre-related authors, so when you're done with today's post, be sure to pop along again tomorrow for Part II.

For the very moment, let's get this show on the road!

***

Who: Colson Whitehead and Ben Marcus

 

When: Sunday 12 August, 6:45PM - 7:45PM

Where: Peppers Theatre

Humans are fighting back against a zombie outbreak in Colson Whitehead’s Zone One with ordinary guy Mark Spitz part of an armed unit patrolling the New York streets. As we dip into Spitz’s past life, he wonders whether a doomsday scenario is about to unfold. Ben Marcus’ innovative The Flame Alphabet zooms in on a virus which originates in the speech of children and kills their parents.

Who: Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell

When: Monday 13 August, 8:00PM - 9:00PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

To mark the 10th anniversary of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, Chris Riddell has created beautiful, atmospheric and unsettling illustrations for a new edition. The tale of the lonely girl who discovers an alternate world where her ‘other mother and father’ live has been turned into a graphic novel and a film. Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell discuss their inspiration for the words and the pictures and, of course, those button eyes

Who: Ned Beauman and Nick Harkaway

 

When: Tuesday 14 August, 10:15AM - 11:15AM

Where: The Guardian Spiegeltent

After his heavily acclaimed debut Boxer, Beetle, Ned Beauman recounts The Teleportation Accident. In this 1930s tale Egon Loeser seeks pleasure in Berlin’s experimental theatres, the absinthe bars of Paris and physics labs of LA. Nick Harkaway’s Angelmaker features Joe Spork who sidestepped his criminal ancestry to enjoy a quiet life repairing clockwork. But why is he receiving visits from sinister cultists and dastardly lawyers?

Who: Hilary Mantel

When: Tuesday 14 August, 6:30PM - 7:30PM

Where: RBS Main Theatre

Wolf Hall was one of the most remarkable novels of recent years and it became the bestselling Man Booker Prize winner to date. Now Hilary Mantel joins us to discuss its much anticipated sequel, Bring up the Bodies, which imagines Anne Boleyn's downfall at the hands of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. She discusses her work with James Runcie, director of a stunning BBC2 documentary about the author.

Who: Patrick Ness

When: Thursday 16 August, 5:00PM - 6:00PM

Where: RBS Corner Theatre

The multi-award-winning author Patrick Ness is one of our leading writers for young adults. His Chaos Walking trilogy is en route to the silver screen and his latest novel, A Monster Calls, has been shortlisted for both the Carnegie and the Kate Greenaway Medals. An incredibly versatile writer, moving with ease from fantasy to family drama, Patrick has a lightness of touch that goes deep – his novels are not easily forgotten. Chaired by Keith Gray.

 

Who: S. J. Watson

When: Thursday 16 August, 8:30PM - 9:30PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

NHS audiologist S. J. Watson took time out from his day job to pen his debut novel Before I Go to Sleep, which has already become a worldwide bestseller, won several awards and been made into a film. It tells the story of Chrissie, who can store memories for only 24 hours. As she continues to re-learn everything, how can she tell if anything is quite what it seems? 

Who: Michael Morpurgo

When: Friday 17 August, 5:00PM - 6:00PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

It’s been a crazy couple of years for Michael Morpurgo, following the success on stage and screen of his acclaimed novel War Horse. Come and hear Michael talk about his life, his work, Oscars and Spielberg. He also discusses Private Peaceful, the latest of his novels to be adapted and the process involved. Afterwards, you have the chance to receive a specially designed bookplate as Michael will not be available to sign individual books.

Who: Neal Stephenson

When: Friday 17 August, 8:30PM - 9:30PM

Where: ScottishPower Studio Theatre

In Neal Stephenson’s book of essays, Some Remarks, he blends such diverse topics as technology, economics, history, science, pop culture and philosophy, pondering a wealth of subjects, from movies and politics to video games and geekdom. In his latest novel, Reamde, he delivers a high-intensity, action-packed adventure thriller in which an entrepreneur gets caught in the crossfire of his own online war game.

***

And that's that for the first part of Best of the #EdBookFest. Lots more tomorrow, I promise!

In the meantime, you tell me: which of the the authors discussed above would you most like to see?

I'd say Neil Gaiman - a favourite author and a terrific speaker to boot - except that I've been to three of his events already, over the years, and perhaps I should take this chance to do something a little different...

E3 2012 | Who Wins When Everyone Loses?

At this very second, at the LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, America, E3 is occurring.

Or is it?

Well, yes. Yes it is. But I think it's safe to say the best bits are behind us. There are sure to be a couple of other announcements in the days to come, but - these days, at least - the Electronic Entertainment Expo is all about the press conferences, so for me and the myriad millions whose only involvement in this annual extravaganza is which site we stream 'em from, the show's as good as over.

And what a show it was! :)

Actually, no. I'm pulling your leg again. It was rubbish. Last night I stayed up till an ungodly hour to polish off the press conferences I'd missed live, but if I'd known then what I know now... let's just say I kinda wish I'd went to bed instead.

But the show must go on! Indeed, it even had highlights.

I suppose I should know better by now, after decades of disappointment, but I had high hopes for Nintendo's presser this year. I mean, they were - and they are - the only one of the three hardware manufactures with a forthcoming console to show.

But the Wii U didn't demo very well, and the 3DS was hardly involved in Nintendo's conference at all. Speaking of: I still don't own one, but before E3 I was on the brink of buying in. Not so much now, unless they're saving a secret Legend of Zelda for some later date.

Moving onwards, if not necessarily upwards: Microsoft.

First, an admission of guilt. Most of the video games I play, I play on the Xbox 360. What can I say? I'm a sucker for achievements; Xbox Live is my go-to for online gaming; and occasionally, Xbox Live Arcade spits out something simply magnificent. If I could own only one console, it'd be my 360.

So when I sat down to watch Microsoft's conference, I was primed for awesomesauce. I got... well, a bunch of games that I'll certainly play, come the day. But that was never a question. What I wanted was a surprise, and there wasn't one.

That said, Halo 4 looks pretty impressive. I hadn't imagined that 343 Studios could possibly trump Bungie, but the Forerunner weapons alone got me all kinds of excited - more than I have been for a Halo game since I supposedly finished the fight - and I can't wait to try my hands at the neat new combat scenarios the demo delivered.

So there was that.

But if anyone won E3 this year, it was Sony, surely. I don't remember much about what happened between their first and final demo, but those two showcases alone absolutely blew me away. Further to the words we had about Kara not a week or so ago, Beyond is Quantic Dream's new project, and it looks awesome, as expected. Furthermore, it looks like it might just be more of a game than Heavy Rain, and that's got to be good.

Plus, they shaved Ellen Page.

But it was the last game Sony showed that made the ordeal of E3 this year worthwhile for me. We'd seen a little of The Last of Us in advance, but the gameplay demo was absolutely amazing.

The Last of Us is the next game to come from Naughty Dog, developers of the Uncharted series, and it shows. The encounter mechanics appear to be heavily scripted, but the sheer desperation of the scuffle between our main man - and the little lady that's tagging along with him - and a floor-full of guys with guns left me breathless. The climactic brutality, too. Sure, we only saw an isolated vertical slice of the experience entire, but if The Last of Us has a few more of those in store, it could out-innovate even Bioshock: Infinite.

Which didn't feature in any of the pressers at all, alas.

Nor did Grand Theft Auto V.

And of course nobody said anything about Half-Life 3, or Half-Life 2 Episode 3, or whatever that game is called in its current incarnation.

So never mind.

That is, unless I'm missing something major. Any suggestions?

News Flashing | A Return to Ambergris

You all have Ecstatic Days bookmarked, right?

Trip into this, pot-heads.

Thoughtful and provocative, Jeff Vandermeer's blog has been a bastion of fascination for me for as long as I've followed the speculative scene - such as it is. And from time to time, the gentleman even clues us in on what we've got to look forward to in the months and years to come.

Because he writes the books too, you know. Finch, anyone? Stunning stuff. Worthy of all the superlatives I - amongst many others - bestowed upon it what feels to me uncountable aeons ago.

Anyway.

Finch was the third novel in the Ambergris cycle - after City of Saints and Madmen and Shriek: An Afterword - and it also purported to be the last feature-length narrative set in Vandermeer's singular, spore-ridden setting. Much to my upturned bottom lip, I might add.

Well, it gives me great pleasure to inform you lovely lot - should you have missed the announcement on Ecstatic Days a few days ago - that my lower lip trembles no more: there's to be another Ambergris novel, after all. Untitled, as far as we mere mortals know, and a long ways off as yet - Jeff says in the comments that he's "got two or three [other] novels to write first" - still, it was enough to make me a moderately happy chappy this New Year. A turn-up for the books, I'm telling you!

Be warned, going forward: spoilers regarding the events of Finch abound. But to whet your appetites alongside mine, here's the pitch, in full:

Five years after Finch...

Stark lives on... inside his brother Bosun’s head. In the wake of the chaos of the Lady in Blue’s attack, Bosun’s thugs have annexed the Spit and a large section of territory near it, bolstered by captured gray cap weapons.

The gray caps have retreated to the HFZ, launching periodic attacks. Their main enemies internally are Partials immune to their spores—driven out by the rebels and rejected by the gray caps. Their only chance is to reclaim the HFZ, or part of it.

Sintra has risen through the ranks and has a hand in the decision-making of the native tribes enclave in the religious quarter, which has spread beyond, to the edge of Bosun’s territory.

The rest of the city is controlled by the Lady in Blue, whose transformed rebels exist in uneasy alliance with "pures" – those who did not come through the gate. Both factions are riven through with the ghost of Hoegbotton-Frankwrithe rivalries. The remnants of the Nimblytod and Dogghe tribes that control the religious quarter have been told to assimilate with the rebel forces for the common good. They’re having none of it, but have held back waiting for the Lady in Blue to die and the rebels to implode.

Rumor has it that John Finch is blind now, victim of a wasting disease that has him confined to a wheelchair in a room somewhere in Rathven’s ever-growing underground tunnels. And Rathven? Who knows. There are more rumors about her now than there once were about the Lady in Blue. But the Photographer has been sighted recently, back in town.

Out in the bay: the ruins of the two towers, reduced by fire following the rebel attack. And something still hidden there.

Out in the bay: a single boat, late at night. A man, Bliss, who is not a man. More doors opening. All over the city.

What is coming out of them?

Bliss: "It’s a very long game, Sintra. Longer than you or anyone could possibly imagine…so why don’t you put the gun down, hmm?"

Whatever this is, it's due sometime in 2013 or 2014. The far-flung future, right?

Well. It can't come soon enough.

Trick or Treat

So October's eighteen days old - it's all legal now, you hear? - with only two weeks to go before it falls out of fashion entirely. And not one to miss out on a fine excuse to read some spooky books, I'm thinking... what better time to get our Trick or Treat on? Am I right?

Honestly, I'd hoped to tweak the blog template a bit in honour of all the Halloween fun, but after a few experiments behind the scenes, that notion's proven rather more problematic than I'd hoped. So what I want you all to do is imagine bats with bloody fangs and a pumpkin or two on the borders of TSS. Can you picture them? Good.

Timely design considerations aside, I keep hearing "content is king" anyway, and let's hope there's a touch more truth in that statement than the enduring success of the likes of the dreaded Hotlist suggests. Because content? That, I've got covered.

For the next fortnight, everything here on The Speculative Scotsman is going to have an edge of the horrific, a sliver of the spooky about it. Every bit of news I ramble on about, every book I read and review I write is going to be about something you could feasibly dress up as come All Hallows... so ghosts, vampires, maybe a zombie here or there - you name it. The BoSS - as well as any other semi-regular features which don't immediately pertain to the creeping creeps - is on hereby on hiatus, to return just as soon as November's upon us.

Take this a warning, all ye who hate fun. We're going to have some; you might want to duck out.

With that, then, let the good times roll!

Scrying the Fantastic

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2010. Wear... sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. If I could offer you two, they would be to wear sunscreen, as I've expressed - after all, the long term benefits of wearing sunscreen have been proven by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience - and to add Scrying the Fantastic to your bookmarks right this second.

Wait, what was that? You're wondering what this Scrying the Fantastic might be?

Well, do I have a treat in store for you today, readers - in fact, for all you UK fans of speculative fiction. Whether sci-fi's your bag or it's fantasy that you love... whether you like to dig into a literary morsel of paranormal romance before you head for bed or scare yourself silly with a little horror... whatever species of speculative fiction it is that floats your boat, going forward, I don't doubt that you'll find Scrying the Fantastic to be an invaluable resource to help keep track of what's coming out from all the British publishers and imprints who have a hand in the world of books we love.

Thanks to the kind cooperation of a who's-who of those very publishers - including, among many others, the likes of Orion, Orbit, Macmillan, Headline, Voyager, Penguin, TOR, Random House and Simon & Schuster - each month, Scrying the Fantastic will be proud to present a list of forthcoming fantastic fiction alongside synopses, release details, cover art and much, much more. If you've struggled in the past to get to grips with all the books that come out each week, Scrying the Fantastic is here to lend a helping hand. And in the months to come, it's only going to get better.

Scrying the Fantastic is a hugely ambitious project, of course, and I've a blog to attend to myself, so it's with tremendous pleasure that I say The Speculative Scotsman won't be undertaking this endeavour alone. Joining me, in fact, is a veritable Justice League of Bloggers - I call Batman! - a supergroup, you might say, of speculative fictions fans whom I'm sure many of you will already be familiar with, including, in no particular order: 

Magemanda of Floor to Ceiling Books

Hagelrat of Un:Bound

Harry Markov of Temple Library Reviews

Jason Baki of Kamvision

Mark Chitty of Walker of Worlds

Bryce Lee of Seak's Stamp of Approval

And me. Unofficially, Scrying the Fantastic launched yesterday, with an introductory post explaining what the new blog's all about. Today, we're all kinds of a go.

Now get on over there, quick-smart like, and start planning your reading for the coming months.

We will begin Scrying the Fantastic... now.