SFX Weekender, Prestatyn – Gewgaws & Freebies?
Posted on February 1st 2012 | Leave a commentJust an addendum to the previous, tipping the wink to those who take notice of what I actually scribble on this here blog, that I shall have a handful or two of exclusive Humanity’s Fire-associated items to dispose of, limited edition trinkets to be presented to those who do bring me books to sign.
That is, copies of my own books to sign, sonny jim!
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Yes, There Will Be Another Humanity’s Fire Novel – Orbit & Zeno Announcements
Posted on January 7th 2012 | Leave a commentTrue, all true – as hinted earlier, I am now engaged on the writing of a new Humanity’s Fire novel, a standalone volume, entitled WARCAGE which will be published both in the UK and the USA. A watershed first for myself, without a doubt. And here are the links to my publisher, Orbit, and my agents, Zeno;
http://www.orbitbooks.net/2012/01/06/a-fiery-new-deal-for-michael-cobley-with-orbit/
http://zenoagency.com/news/cobley-sells-new-novel-to-orbit/
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Ascendant Stars Cover Art Article in Scifi Now
Posted on December 31st 2011 | Leave a commentWell, here we are at the uttermost final hours of 2011, in some ways a pretty awful year (taking a political perspective) yet for yr hmble scribe it has been a bit of a watershed year what with the publication of The Ascendant Stars, the final volume of the Humanity’s Fire trilogy, which rounds off five years or so of dedicated hard work. The trilogy has also been published in Germany and France, and next autumn will appear in the USofA, from Orbit US, which is of course beyond splendid.
Curiously, however, here in the UK one almost gets the feeling that the book has appeared (as Harry Harrison used to say) under conditions of extreme secrecy. Well, okay, I exaggerate, what with the excellent review by Eric Brown in the Guardian back at the start of November, coinciding with its publication on November 3rd. Yet thus far, from the two main pop-SF magazine outlets, SFX and Scifi Now, not so much as a sniff of a review. Odd that.
On the other hand, Scifi Now Online did highlight the cover art for Ascendant Stars (by the very talented Steve Stone), and here is the link for your delectation:
http://www.scifinow.co.uk/blog/michael-cobleys-the-ascendant-stars/
All that remains is to wish all my readers and all visitors to this here blog a very happy and survivable New Year. Have a good un, and see y`all on the other side!
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At Last The World Can Be Told – Humanity’s Fire US Edition
Posted on December 12th 2011 | Leave a commentYes, at last I shall be making my Stateside splash with the Humanity’s Fire books in the autumn of next year, with the books appearing in October, November and December. I believe this is whats known as the Zeno 1-2-3!
http://zenoagency.com/news/michael-cobley-enters-orbit-us/
Click the link to see the American versions of the book jacket illustrations.
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In The Offing
Posted on October 17th 2011 | 9 Comments so farJust a little update on my summer and a gander at the weeks that lie ahead. Must admit that finishing The Ascendant Stars (and working on the outline for the next book, more on that anon) really sapped my gumption and other inner resources. Luckily, I did have to hand a couple of games by which I was able to relax those vital backbrain engines and build up the fuel that will be required. The games? – Deus Ex: Human Revolution (which was a wonderful reestablishment of the original game’s mechanics, narrative and pace, updated and augmented with excellent graphics – and a satisfyingly long play-time), and Dead Island (the zombie-apocalypse shooter to end em all! – great combat mechanics and a great melee weapon modification system, and another long game with plenty to interest and intrigue).
Of course, as you`d expect, there are other games on the horizon which will be mine (bwah hah hah), Bioshock Infinity and Skyrim spring to mind, but I may have to put them on hold for a year or so. Because, y`see, I am about dive brain-first into the first draft of a new book! – yes indeedy, another space opera set in the Humanity’s Fire universe and featuring a macro-engineered object that readers wont have seen before (unless I get scooped by some bright spark). Its a biggie, and should be an attention-grabber.
In the short-term, though, y`all can look forward to the publication of The Ascendant Stars in trade paperback edition on November 3rd, and it may well be that I shall be in London signing stock at a couple of book stores – this is not the same as a public signing, I should point out, rather I get to sign the bookstore’s stock of the new book (and possibly of the other ones as well), and a little sticker gets put on the cover of them.
But I suppose if anyone catches me on the way in or out and requests an autograph, how could I in all honesty refuse?
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Ascendant Stars: Stage Penultimate!
Posted on July 11th 2011 | 2 Comments so far…which is another way of saying that the proofread is nearly done, mi amigos! Yes, the 5th (or maybe 6th) round of revising is almost over – I went through the full page stack of the galley proofs with eagle eyes, picking up minor glitches and typos and curious dropouts and strange letter rearrangements (as well as catching the occasional duff sentence construction which I really should have nailed earlier…). And once Orbit’s own proofreader reports back, the last batch of corrections will be applied to create – tadaa! – the final, glittering version of the story which will be pinging off your eyeballs from November 3rd onwards (and with any luck the audiobook version will be available from around then as well).
Next on the drawing board is the growing assemblage of story ideas for the next big project, which will hopefully be another novel, standalone this time, set in the Humanity’s Fire universe. Can’t reveal any details at this stage, save to say that it will knock yer socks off!
Also, I’ll be preparing some unique and tasty giveaways for a wee competition in advance of TAS’ publication date, which will come to the fore round about early October.
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Humanity's Fire Vol 3: The Ascendant Stars – Interim Report
Posted on July 22nd 2010 | 14 Comments so farBlog posts, you may find, are becoming scarcer of late. Simple reason being that I am engaged in the furious ongoing writing of The Ascendant Stars, 3rd part of the Humanitys Fire trilogy. Plenty happening, of course, now that the story threads are drawer closer together and the dramatic clashes grow more frequent and more intense. I’m enjoying the hell out of it, and I aint even reached the first really big battle yet!
Patience, my people, patience and all will be revealed. In time, of course.
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Activity Roundup At The Start Of The Year 2010
Posted on January 19th 2010 | Leave a commentAs previously mentioned, the A-format mass-market edition of Seeds Of Earth is about to spring, fully-formed and nattily-garbed onto the shelves of the nation. Yes, Virginia, you can win a copy of this papery, spacy wonderfulness – simply scroll down to the competition posting, complete with question (and gratuitous HINT!). Think, then answer, and mebbe even win!
I have a short story, Black Fragmentaria, in the bumper edition of Postscripts #20/21, subtitled Edison’s Frankenstein, now available from PS Publishing whose link you`ll see in the links sidebar.
Another short story, The Maker’s Mark, shall shortly be appearing in Conflicts, the SF anthology edited by Ian Whates and Ian Watson, published by Newcon Press (likewise linkified in the sidebar). Fans of Seeds Of Earth may be interested to know that this story is set in the Humanitys Fire universe, actually in one of the strange levels of hyperspace.
The 2nd HFire book, The Orphaned Worlds, has finally made it past the final, final, FINAL fence on its epic journey towards real, actual bookification sometime in April.
Glasgow will be hosting the Aye Write books and writers festival from March 5-13th, during which there will a signally important SF event, a panel entitled ‘The Early Days Of A Better Future’, starring such luminaries as Richard Morgan, Ken Macleod, Debbie Miller, Hal Duncan, and – cough – yr hmble scribe. Chaired by writer and critic Andrew J Wilson, we hope to dazzle and pique audience curiosity and maybe even figure out how to save the world.
Eastercon this year will be held at the Radisson Edwardian hotel at Heathrow, and yes, I will be attending. I shall also be chairing a couple of panels, one on board games, and another on rejuvenation and other paths to immortality.
And, of course, I shall be slaving away at the final volume of the Humanitys Fire trilogy, The Ascendant Stars. And don’t forget that here in Britain we’ll have this thing, you know, comes round every few years, big media circus, lotsa huckstering, river of promises….known as a General Election. Oh yes – that. Could be a busy time, donchaknow.
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Humanity's Fire Book 2: The Orphaned Worlds – update
Posted on May 19th 2009 | 18 Comments so farWell, its like this – here I am, three and a bit chapters from yer actual, genuine end when once more I am forced to play the unwelcome host to another batch of bugs. Yup, I has caught another dose of cold or flu or writers shacklemonia or some loathsome batch of viral invaders. My head feels fuzzy as if some eager hobgoblin spent all night stuffing cotton wool behind my eyes, an unpleasant image, I know, but close to the ghastly truth. Meanwhile the throat has gone back to the wonderful, subsinus pain that was visited upon me last time.
Yeah, yeah, I know, its only a freaking cold, and as me old buddy Stew would say – it must be stress of some kind, y’know. So I’m sucking down hot tea and vile blackcurrant throat drink and halls lozenges and enough vitamin C to bring Bill Hicks back to life…so, we’ll see.
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Seeds Of Earth review: SciFi Now mag
Posted on February 20th 2009 | Leave a commentNew issue of Sci Fi Now magazine (#25) is out on the shelves right this very instant, and their reviewer has given Seeds Of Earth it a spiffing 4 out of 5 star, thumbs up review. Splendid!
There’s no online version of the mag, so I’ll hand-craft a small quote for you:
“In this first installment of the Humanity’s Fire saga, Michael Cobley has really nailed his colours to the mast. The story is huge, complex and moves between its varied cast with assured purpose…a tightly plotted, action packed epic that leaves you wanting more.”
Aye, I know this is shameless trumpet autotootling, but moments like these don’t come round the pike every day, ye ken!
http://www.scifinow.co.uk/latest_back_issues.html
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