Novelist | Editor | Essayist | Short Fiction Author
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Farmerphile no. 15 now available
From publisher Mike Croteau:Three and a half years and fifteen issues in, we suffered our first major printing problem with the final issue of Farmerphile; the good news is, it's our second straight 60 page issue and it is full of material about Phil's most popular series...Riverworld!
We start the issue with an excerpt from the soon to be completed Western novel, Cougar by the Tail by Philip José Farmer and Tracy Knight. This is followed by an interview with Tracy about his process of working with the material Phil started. Next we have "The Time Distorter" by Paul Spiteri. A shorter version of this story appeared in the Farmercon 90 Convention Program but this expanded version goes beyond Phil gaining access to a time machine before he sets off on his first journey. This story features a full page illustration by Charles Berlin. Buddha Contemplates His Novel shows what a treat it is when we get to print one of Phil's speeches. Contrary to the humorous title Phil does tackle an interesting philosophical question about the omnipotence of God. Win Scott Eckert's Creative Mythography column is one of his most ambitious. He searches Phil's family tree for proof that Phil himself is in a fact a member of the Wold Newton Family! First time contributor David Lars Chamberlain takes on the Bibliophile duty this issue with a look at The Unreasoning Mask. Inspired to read this book by comments made by Gary K. Wolfe, David did a very thorough job of studying one of Phil's deeper novels.
In terms of Riverworld, we have yet another wonderful cover by Keith Howell; this is in fact our first wrap-around cover. We decided to mine the two shared-world anthologies, TALES OF RIVERWORLD and QUEST TO RIVERWORLD for writers to contribute to this issue and easily got three (our first three choices, in fact) to pen articles for us. On the River with Philip José Farmer by author and superfan Robert Weinberg tells, not just about his stories, but also the behind-the-scenes story of the genesis of these two anthologies. Ed Gorman's article, My Time on the River is also a history lesson, one that goes back way before any Riverworld stories saw print. Allen Steele gives us a detailed account of his contribution, from invitation to inspiration to the writing of his story in Writing "Graceland." Together, all three articles combine to shine more light on this topic than we dared hope for.
Also on the Riverworld theme we have The River not Taken by Dennis E. Power. This article clarifies and puts into context a long letter by Phil to Fred Pohl (included) outlining a Riverworld storyline that Phil abandoned. Next we have Tom Mix Resurected by Danny Adams. This article illustrates the lengths that Phil went to while researching a historical figure to include in one his stories. The article includes letters to Daryl Ponicsan (author of the novel, TOM MIX DIED FOR YOUR SINS) and to Phil's good friend Robert Bloch. The highlight of the Riverworld material however is the Unpolished Pearl, Riverworld Dawn by Philip José Farmer. This is an outline (and some notes) for a "sidestream" Riverworld novel Phil wanted to write. He did eventually use part of the idea, but not as originally planned.
The issue finishes up with two more Unpolished Pearls. The first, Myadzian Journal is the oldest material published in Farmerphile and will most likely be considered by many to be the most exciting. It is four handwritten pages of notes (along with a typed transcription) from the late 1930s where Phil first described Kickaha and the World of Tiers. However this Kickaha is very different from the human trickster character we all know and love. And last but not least is a page of typed notes titled Time has its Mirages. This is brainstorm of ideas, the last line of which is "Buddha writes his novel
Copies can be ordered direct from Philip José Farmer's website.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Pulp: Still Not Dead
A little over a half a year ago, some friends and I experimented with a group blog. While it didn't take off as we'd hoped, I did manage a few posts covering the current state of what's available pulp-wise and what was on my reading list:
- A pulp geek's reading list
- More of the pulp geek's reading list
- No one reads that old stuff anymore
- Quick hits
- Moonstone Books has acquired the rights to do a series of prose anthologies featuring The Green Hornet and Kato, with illustrations and art direction by Ruben Procopio. Heh. :-)
- The first in a series of Gabriel Hunt books comes out in May.
- The Casebook of Sexton Blake comes out in March, edited by David Stuart Davies with stories selected by and introduced by Blakiana's Mark Hodder. This new anthology contains seven stories, all republished for the first time:
- The Slave Market by Cecil Hayter
- A Football Mystery by W. J. Lomax
- The Man From Scotland Yard by Michael Storm
- The Law of the Sea by William Murray Graydon
- The Brotherhood of the Yellow Beetle by G. H. Teed
- A Case of Arson by Robert Murray Graydon
- The Black Eagle by G. H. Teed
- Anthony Tollin's Sanctum Books has parted ways with Nostalgia Ventures, but the Doc Savage and Shadow reprints will continue uninterrupted. In fact, Tollin is adding The Avenger and The Whisperer to the lineup of reprints. Full details at Bill Thom's Coming Attractions site.
- Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson: Their Strangest Cases (newspaper strips) is now available from Transfuzion and Amazon. Cafe Press merchandise.
Also from Transfuzion and writer Mark Ellis: The Miskatonic Project: H.P. Lovecraft's The Whisperer in the Darkness; Amazon. And coming soon, The Miskatonic Project: Bride of Dagon, along with Cafe Press merchandise.- Two of Earl Derr Biggers' Charlie Chan books are back in print, with more to come. Omnibus editions from Amazon.uk.
- Also at Amazon.uk, Bulldog Drummond and Dr. Nikola.
- Black Coat Press continues its generous pulp output with Sherlock Holmes vs. Fantomas, The Shadow of Frankenstein, Tales of the Shadowmen vol. 5: Vampires of Paris, and perhaps most exiting of all, the first new authorized Fu Manchu novel in 20 years, William Patrick Maynard's The Terror of Fu Manchu.
- Paizo Planet Stories continues to impress. Of note, Manly Wade Wellman's Who Fears the Devil--The Complete Silver John is due in July.
- Joe R. Lansdale and Keith Lansdale's Son of Retro Pulp Tales is coming from Subterranean Press.
- This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface... check Bill Thom's Coming Attractions site every week for the latest news!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Saturday, February 07, 2009
The Evil in Pemberley House - Now available for Pre-Order direct from Subterranean Press!
The Evil in Pemberley House now has its own page on the Subterranean Press website, with both the regular Trade and Limited Edition (with Chapbook) listed for Pre-Order.
The Chapbook includes Phil Farmer's original outline for the novel, the Wildman (Savage) Coat of Arms, an expanded Wold Newton Family tree chart, and other goodies.
The regular Trade also features a Wold Newton Family tree chart.
The regular Trade is listed for $40, while the Limited Edition with Chapbook is $60.
And... the cover is by the amazing Glen Orbik (who does Hard Case Crime covers as well as the covers to the forthcoming Gabriel Hunt pulp novels)! I can't wait to see what he comes up with.
The Chapbook includes Phil Farmer's original outline for the novel, the Wildman (Savage) Coat of Arms, an expanded Wold Newton Family tree chart, and other goodies.
The regular Trade also features a Wold Newton Family tree chart.
The regular Trade is listed for $40, while the Limited Edition with Chapbook is $60.
And... the cover is by the amazing Glen Orbik (who does Hard Case Crime covers as well as the covers to the forthcoming Gabriel Hunt pulp novels)! I can't wait to see what he comes up with.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Evil in Pemberley House - ARCs are in!
The Advance Reader Copies for The Evil in Pemberley House are in. According to Subterranean Press, if you run a high traffic blog, or review for a prominent website, please feel free to drop them an email requesting a copy.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Avenger Chronicles - limited hardcover
The Avenger Chronicles limited edition hardcover is now out (I do not have my copy in hand, yet). The nifty cover by Doug Klauba has been posted over at Moonstone Books. Although it is not a hi-rez cover scan, it looks great. Can't wait to get my hands on it!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Subterranean Press artwork updates, including The Evil in Pemberley House
Subterranean Press has posted a brief artwork update, here.
I am busily reviewing proofs for The Evil in Pemberley House this weekend. I've seen the design for the limited edition chapbook, and can also say that both the trade and limited edition chapbooks will have endsheets which should knock the socks off Wold Newton fans. :-)
I am busily reviewing proofs for The Evil in Pemberley House this weekend. I've seen the design for the limited edition chapbook, and can also say that both the trade and limited edition chapbooks will have endsheets which should knock the socks off Wold Newton fans. :-)
Friday, January 16, 2009
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