I don't know how long this thread will last before it too is locked by Shocklines' owner, but it could be interesting while it's still there. What a farce!
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Lucilla - a work in progress
I have added the opening chapters to Lucilla on the pages above for Works in Progress.
I would be interested in any comments anyone who reads them have to make.
I would be interested in any comments anyone who reads them have to make.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Shocklines
More weasel words: shocklines
Ramsey Campbell asked a perfectly reasonable question as to why his message was deleted on another thread, and of course Matt comes back with a load of flannel.
Why, oh why does he persist in protecting the likes of Pacione and Dagstine, especially when anyone who isn't blind can see that Dagstine has been lying, as well as acting in an unprofessional, if not fraudulent manner over double, even treble selling stories as originals?
What credibility that site has is going to the dogs rapidly. It will take the nitwits not saying anything there for quite some time for things to settle again.
Ramsey Campbell asked a perfectly reasonable question as to why his message was deleted on another thread, and of course Matt comes back with a load of flannel.
Why, oh why does he persist in protecting the likes of Pacione and Dagstine, especially when anyone who isn't blind can see that Dagstine has been lying, as well as acting in an unprofessional, if not fraudulent manner over double, even treble selling stories as originals?
What credibility that site has is going to the dogs rapidly. It will take the nitwits not saying anything there for quite some time for things to settle again.
Penguin Books are 75 Today
It seems hard to believe but Penguin Books are 75 today. And they don't look a day over 50!
Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Has this writer faked his own death?
On at least two internet forums today Lawrence Dagstine's apparent death was reported, one claiming he was supposed to have committed suicide.
If true, this would be shocking enough. If faked by the victim, how shocking would that be, especially when he has been attacked recently for reselling stories more than once as originals.
Brian Keene has perhaps written best about this. Link
On Shocklines a number of posts from people like Ramsey Campbell, Brian Keene and me have been deleted by the site's owner, Matt, in some mistaken attempt to protect Dagstine. The thread has now been locked. Shocklines link
It's also appeared on the BFS Forum.
See also comments on The Rusty Nail.
I don't intend to continue debating the issue of this alleged suicide (which I don't believe), but it is interesting how some people, well-meaning maybe, are perhaps so shocked at the possibility this suicide/death is true, they are blinded to the man's record of lies and deceit.
LATEST:
He's alive - surprise, surprise!
Shocklines
(Again, the original thread has had deletions by Matt and been locked - another great surprise. Since Matt also protects evil-minded, talentless nut-jobs like Pacione, it really makes one wonder what the man is up to.)
If true, this would be shocking enough. If faked by the victim, how shocking would that be, especially when he has been attacked recently for reselling stories more than once as originals.
Brian Keene has perhaps written best about this. Link
On Shocklines a number of posts from people like Ramsey Campbell, Brian Keene and me have been deleted by the site's owner, Matt, in some mistaken attempt to protect Dagstine. The thread has now been locked. Shocklines link
It's also appeared on the BFS Forum.
See also comments on The Rusty Nail.
I don't intend to continue debating the issue of this alleged suicide (which I don't believe), but it is interesting how some people, well-meaning maybe, are perhaps so shocked at the possibility this suicide/death is true, they are blinded to the man's record of lies and deceit.
LATEST:
He's alive - surprise, surprise!
Shocklines
(Again, the original thread has had deletions by Matt and been locked - another great surprise. Since Matt also protects evil-minded, talentless nut-jobs like Pacione, it really makes one wonder what the man is up to.)
The Crazies
Watched this on DVD tonight and really enjoyed it. One of the best zombie films I've seen in ages (zombies in the sense of 28 Days Later, not Night of the Living Dead.) Some excellent performances and a well written script. The most scary thing, of course, was the US Government. That's far more frightening than any blood-crazy zombie/maniac. I'll say no more as I could easily include spoilers. The best thing I can say is: don't miss it.
5 Reasons Why Authors Need Blogs
This is an interesting item, which is well worth reading, especially if you are an author.
I originally decided to get a blog on the recommendation of an editor from HarperCollins I met at the HWA's Stoker Banquet in Brighton this year. Unfortunately I can't for the world remember her name, but thank you, anyway!
There are some good ideas in this brief article.
I originally decided to get a blog on the recommendation of an editor from HarperCollins I met at the HWA's Stoker Banquet in Brighton this year. Unfortunately I can't for the world remember her name, but thank you, anyway!
There are some good ideas in this brief article.
At the Mountains of Madness
It looks as if the long-awaited film of H. P. Lovecraft's classic At the Mountains of Madness may actually at last come into production with both Del Toro and James Cameron involved. See this link.
Love the image used in the article:
Love the image used in the article:
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
More E-Books News
There was an interesting article in The Independent newspaper today about further developments in e-books, this time involving the influential agent Andrew Wylie.
Times are certainly changing in publishing. Though one thing is certain: ebooks can no longer be ignored and are becoming an ever more important part of modern day publishing, much though I love a traditional book.
Times are certainly changing in publishing. Though one thing is certain: ebooks can no longer be ignored and are becoming an ever more important part of modern day publishing, much though I love a traditional book.
Monday, 26 July 2010
Bad News for the British Film Industry
Just when things were really getting better:
BBC News
This is a damn shame. There have been some brilliant British movies produced in recent years because of this.
BBC News
This is a damn shame. There have been some brilliant British movies produced in recent years because of this.
Dexter Series 5
One warning: if you haven't seen series 4 yet don't watch this video.
Can't wait for this to start. Brilliant TV show. One of the very best.
Can't wait for this to start. Brilliant TV show. One of the very best.
Solomon Kane
I finally got round to watching this on DVD this weekend. I must admit, having read the original Robert E. Howard stories years ago, I have been looking forward to this. I was disappointed to miss it when it first came out at the cinema.
Unfortunately, I must admit to feeling disappointed by it, more so as I had great hopes from James Purefoy as Kane. I was impressed by his earlier performance in the HBO series, Rome, where he played Mark Anthony.
What went wrong?
Was it the excessive use of CGI and over-egging of the supernatural menaces? That certainly was partially true. Film makers seem unable to make a judicious, moderate use of this and just have to go overboard with it. That definitely didn't help this film.
Was it the lack of humour? Again that didn't help. And I do wish today's film makers, when they're doing a horror film, would remember that sometimes a little use of humour in the right parts can add to a film. Hammer knew this at their peak.
Was it the fact, also, that the Kane of the original stories wasn't present as a fully fledged character until the end of the movie, the rest of it being an origin story, explaining how he became Kane? That could have had something to do with it too. How film makers do love their origins stories! Personally, I usually find them downright boring.
No, I wasn't all that impressed with this film. It was certainly better than the Conan movies, but that's not exactly saying a lot. And I don't wait with bated breath for the next Kane movie - if there ever is one.
Nor do a wait with bated breath for the next CGI fest - not because I don't like it as a special effects tool - it can be brilliant if used well - but because it so often isn't.
Anyway, at least there are still the original Robert E. Howard Kane stories.
Unfortunately, I must admit to feeling disappointed by it, more so as I had great hopes from James Purefoy as Kane. I was impressed by his earlier performance in the HBO series, Rome, where he played Mark Anthony.
What went wrong?
Was it the excessive use of CGI and over-egging of the supernatural menaces? That certainly was partially true. Film makers seem unable to make a judicious, moderate use of this and just have to go overboard with it. That definitely didn't help this film.
Was it the lack of humour? Again that didn't help. And I do wish today's film makers, when they're doing a horror film, would remember that sometimes a little use of humour in the right parts can add to a film. Hammer knew this at their peak.
Was it the fact, also, that the Kane of the original stories wasn't present as a fully fledged character until the end of the movie, the rest of it being an origin story, explaining how he became Kane? That could have had something to do with it too. How film makers do love their origins stories! Personally, I usually find them downright boring.
No, I wasn't all that impressed with this film. It was certainly better than the Conan movies, but that's not exactly saying a lot. And I don't wait with bated breath for the next Kane movie - if there ever is one.
Nor do a wait with bated breath for the next CGI fest - not because I don't like it as a special effects tool - it can be brilliant if used well - but because it so often isn't.
Anyway, at least there are still the original Robert E. Howard Kane stories.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
I write like all of these people...
Cory Doctorow, David Foster Wallace, William Gibson and Stephen King!
Well, that's according to this little online test.
It's good fun and could make an amusing party game (at a party for just writers of course since anyone else would be bored silly).
Anyway, I'm just relieved it didn't say I wrote like Nicholas Pacione (and if you've never seen his writing you've never lived!) Hmmm, I wonder what his answer would be. Possibly William Burroughs during his cut and paste period?
Well, that's according to this little online test.
It's good fun and could make an amusing party game (at a party for just writers of course since anyone else would be bored silly).
Anyway, I'm just relieved it didn't say I wrote like Nicholas Pacione (and if you've never seen his writing you've never lived!) Hmmm, I wonder what his answer would be. Possibly William Burroughs during his cut and paste period?
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