Later that morning..............

That last post was pretty dark and gloomy, but last year did have a few bright points within the lesser scheme of things: seeing `The Two Towers` and then `The Return of the King` at the cinema was an astonishing experience, showing that epic fantasy can be a meaningful and moving experience. On a personal note, I was pleased by the cover and publication of Shadowgod (and was mightily chuffed by the great Guardian review), although the closing of Earthlight earlier in the year was a deep disappointment. I must here and now confess that I have had numerous problems with the plotting and structure of the 3rd book, Shadowmasque (which all really derive from the task I set myself of setting it 300 years after bk2, a decision which led to unsuspected difficulties); however, these have been resolved and Shadowmasque will be have a damn good story that will explain the uncertainties of bk2`s ending, and round the entire epic off quite handsomely.

Also, I place my short story collection, Iron Mosaic, with small press publisher Immanion Press (www.immanionpress.wox.org), with a projected publication date of June - I`ve just seen the cover and it is rather splendid.

I had a few very special musical encounters in 2003 - saw Budgie (Welsh heavy blues rockers) and then Iron Maiden (yeah, I`m a bit of a metal head), which were fabulous nights. And I just got in the post a CD by a Swedish band called Carptree, called `Superhero`, and it is just so utterly wonderful, melodic progressive, like all the best bits of Marillion and IQ and Peter Gabriel. Also got hold of `Ad Astra` by the Spiritual Beggars, who are like Jack Daniels when compared to the shandy of The Darkness...

And I am even now looking forward to some more musical adventures in the new year - Monster Magnet will be playing the Glasgow Garage in February, Metallica are due in June....and the master comedian Bill Bailey will be at the Pavilion in July.

Uh huh - s`gonna be good.

Take care, y`all.

Been a while since I made an entry in the journal of shadows, but it has been a strange month or two, somewhat grim on the international stage in a way that has seemed to cast a pall over everything. I think that it`s no secret that I was appalled by the invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent and ongoing debacle there is a cause, I believe, for shame in Britain and the USA. Saddam was a brutal thug, no question, but we had no right to invade Iraq and kill so many thousands of its citizens: Iraq was and is one of the weakest and most impoverished countries on the face of the planet, and was never a threat to anyone, least of all the USA.

And in a cruel twist of fate, the terrible earthquake in Iran has thrown Iraq`s suffering into a strange contrast. That region of our world is suffering such pain and torment, including the ongoing blind and deadly clash of Israel and Palestine - it appalls and angers me that my own country has actually contributed, increased the measure of human suffering this past year, rather than decreasing it. Yes, I`m sure that there are many Iraqis who are glad that Saddam is under lock and key, but what of those who lost husbands, wives, children and parents in the US/UK invasion? - I doubt that there`s much gladness in their hearts.

So farewell, then, 2003 - I know that there are many all across the West, and especially in Britain and America, who are full of a grim determination that our despicable leaders shall be brought down and booted out of office. To them I wish an eventful 2004, and to you all a far better one than last year.