The Dunwich Horror - Remake

I haven't watched this yet so I have no idea how good it is, but the fact it's based on H. P. Lovecraft's The Dunwich Horror should make it interesting. At least I hope so!

Shadow Publishing Blog

Dave Sutton has created a blog for Shadow Publishing, which looks pretty interesting and is well worth a visit.

Komodo vs Cobra

Watched this over the weekend on DVD. Not my usual fare, but it sounded interesting enough in a bizarre way to justify a viewing.

CGI does help low budget films like this. Years ago, what we had here would have even looked impressive. At least the monsters could be seen moving with a semblance of realism on the same screen as the human characters. By today's standards, though, it does fail woefully, especially when the creatures scoop up their victims. That did look hilariously unrealistic, especially as their victims simply disappeared in the blink of an eye.

What really made this film fail, though, was the terrible casting, the worse acting and the simplistic, cliched dialogue. Not to mention  pistols that could fire countless rounds without ever needing to be reloaded (and I'm talking of well over 50 shots at a time) - or to offer any sort of recoil in the hands of those firing them! Less realistic gunfire I have never seen in my life.

Was it bad enough to be good?

Well, apart from a few laughs at the ineptitude of some of the really awful acting, I would have to say no, most definitely no. It's not only bad but dumb.

Review Copies Available of The Return

Kindle review copies of my Lovecraftian horror novel, The Return, are still available. If you do reviews on your blog, on a website or a magazine please contact me on rileybooks@ntlworld.com and I'll email a copy to you to upload on your kindle, etc.

If you would prefer a hard copy that too can be arranged. Just let me know which would be preferable by you.

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com
 

Free Copies of The Return Won On Lovecraft eZine Last Night

Three free ebook copies of The Return were won last night during the Lovecraft eZine's online playing of The Call of Cthulhu. Congratulations to all those who won copies - and I hope you enjoy reading it!

If there are any reviewers who would like copies of the ebook version of this Lovecraftian horror novel, please contact me on rileybooks@ntlworld.com.

WFC Shadow Publishing Book Launch

World Fantasy Convention - Programming Grid

Details of the programming for the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton at the end of this month have been released. Just click on the image below for a pdf.

First Review of Dark Visions 1

The first Amazon review for Dark Visions 1 gives it 5 stars and a great, detailed write up.

I was particularly pleased to see the reviewer mention that my story, Scrap, "could easily have been a kitchen sink drama, depicting the lives of two brothers growing up in a poverty-stricken council estate in England", adding "Riley chooses to inject a healthy dose of horror, elevating his story to a different, altogether more gruesome level."

Kitchen sink was exactly what I was aiming for while writing this story, which I believe is one of the best I have ever done. 

Harrassment Policy at FantasyCon 2014

I noticed that the FantasyCon 2014 website has details of a Harrassment Policy. I can't recall ever seeing anything like this on the website (or anywhere else for that matter) for a British fantasy convention before. It's left me wondering whether this is merely a preemptive strike or whether there have been genuine concerns over this issue here in the UK in recent years, even though I can't recall hearing anything about it.

Don't get me wrong. I have no objections to such a policy. In fact anyone who hasn't already adhered to it in spirit, never mind the letter, has no place at a convention so far as I'm concerned. It just seems sad that something about this issue has to be posted on the site. It could raise concerns and maybe even fears about what sometimes happens at conventions to anyone who has never attended one before.

Is this a sign of just where things have been heading over recent years in the wake of so many horrendous disclosures and prosecutions after the Jimmy Saville scandal? Or am I, not for the first time I might add, missing the point?

All Change at the BFS

It looks like all change at the British Fantasy Society, with a new President in the wings (just awaiting confirmation at the AGM) in the form of James Barclay after Ramsey Campbell's decision to step down earlier this year following many years stalwart service in the role.

The other positions due for election at this year's AGM (which will be held at the WFC in Brighton) are:

Stock Holder

British Fantasy Awards Administrator

Publicity Officer / Events

Treasurer

Secretary

Chair

Of these the Events, Treasurer, Secretary and Chair have all said they will not be standing for re-election, though Lee Harris has indicated that if no one else stands for the position of Chair he will stay on for another year.

A Message from the BFS Chair

FantasyCon 2014 - York September 5, 2014

A dedicated website for next year's Fantasycon is now online with details of the hotel, MoC and Gohs.

The venue is the impressive Royal York Hotel.

Master of Ceremonies will be Graham Joyce and the Guests of Honour so far announced include Kate Elliott, Toby Whithouse, and Larry Rostant.

The new venue will come as a great relief to fans from the North of the country after repeated trips to Brighton and the surroundings of the hotel (and definitely the city of York itself) will make an even greater change to Nottingham!

Blood Bound Books on Amazon

Blood Bounds Books now have their own page on Amazon.

Weird Tales Interview

I have just had an interview posted on the Weird Tales website, in which I get the chance to discuss my short story collections and my novel, The Return.

Kindle versions of The Return now available

Kindle versions of my novel are available for £1.99 at Amazon.co.uk and for $3.19 at Amazon.com.