In a couple of days I’ll send an email from here letting everyone know about the new edition of He Died With A Felafel in His Hand. The 30th Anniversary edition.
I know, right?
Yikes!
I was hoping to have it out this week, but the gnarly old bots at Amazon got freaked out because, of course, it’s had a bunch of previous publishers. So, I had to prove I had the rights to publish my own book. I’m still a bit iffy on the UK, but I’ll try to figure out a workaround for them.
I’ll write more about the weird process of going back in time to edit this latest version but believe me, it was weird. I hadn’t read that book seriously in about 29 years, and large parts of it came as a… well, not a shock, but definitely an unsettling reminder of times past.
Also unsettling? The amount of faffing around needed to relaunch a book for which I didn’t control the original IP. I fear I’ll be disarming little time bombs for a while to come.
Mostly, I’m done, though, which gives me time to get into a project Jason and I worked on while he was over here. The Javan War. We’ve been playing around with this sucker for years. I’ve long wanted to write stand-alone origin stories for each of the main characters in The Cruel Stars, but again, it’s difficult when the main IP is controlled by a trad publisher. Two, in fact. Random House in the US and Head of Zeus everywhere else.
The final book in the trilogy was finished a while ago. I think I submitted it at the end of last year. But it hasn’t come back to me for edits, and I don’t expect to see it released until 2025. So, I reckon that’s a big enough gap into which to stuff The Javan War. It’s not a full-length novel, but it’s pretty long. More than a novella, for sure.
Because it’s not for trade publication, I feel as though I can experiment a bit with it. I’m going to try a non-linear narrative with a small twist, which will become obvious when you get the book in your hands.
I’m not sure whether we’ll go with the original cover art. But here ‘tis.
I am SO enthused for a Cruel Stars story. I am considerably less enthused about discovering that Felafel is 30 years old and the accompanying reminder of my decrepit age 😭
I wish I could follow the sage advice of "don't start reading unfinished trilogies". But I never can. So the "cruel" wait for book 3 goes on (and the sequel to Sleeper Agent!).
The Cruel Stars is currently my favourite science fiction universe. Neal Asher's Polity series comes close, but I like the Volume more. And I really want this fucking book.
I think the cover looks good, except for the woman who looks a little incongruous within the design.
Is that Lucinda? …“ as she inspected her reflection in the armor glass………Severely pretty, she had been told by men she did not entirely trust. A little off-putting and perhaps unnecessarily discouraging according to girlfriends she probably could believe.” The woman on the cover looks to me to be doe-eyed and carrying a rather sexy pout. I know very little about book cover design though.
I really should start paying more attention to the patreon side! I lapsed with heavy life getting in the way but kept the payments going. Cant wait to read the cruel stars one. Reading is another thing that has lapsed a bit. Actually re-reading my old physical copy of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. Been nice to have a physical book in my hands again.
i'm thinking about getting his other stories - the soldier ones in particular caught my eye. I really like the New Sun ones though - seems to capture that ageing earth feel.
I am SO enthused for a Cruel Stars story. I am considerably less enthused about discovering that Felafel is 30 years old and the accompanying reminder of my decrepit age 😭
For myself I felt personally attacked.
I did not need to know that Felafel is 30 years old -dammit.
I wish I could follow the sage advice of "don't start reading unfinished trilogies". But I never can. So the "cruel" wait for book 3 goes on (and the sequel to Sleeper Agent!).
Ha, Sleeper Agent 2 is also finished! Currently being recorded by Audible.
Another year is a bummer but it is what it is. I look forward to reading The Javan War in the meantime!
The Cruel Stars is currently my favourite science fiction universe. Neal Asher's Polity series comes close, but I like the Volume more. And I really want this fucking book.
I think the cover looks good, except for the woman who looks a little incongruous within the design.
Is that Lucinda? …“ as she inspected her reflection in the armor glass………Severely pretty, she had been told by men she did not entirely trust. A little off-putting and perhaps unnecessarily discouraging according to girlfriends she probably could believe.” The woman on the cover looks to me to be doe-eyed and carrying a rather sexy pout. I know very little about book cover design though.
This will be a highlight in a summer that started out really well. Well, winter for those of you stuck in the blustery and bitter cold antipodes.
I really should start paying more attention to the patreon side! I lapsed with heavy life getting in the way but kept the payments going. Cant wait to read the cruel stars one. Reading is another thing that has lapsed a bit. Actually re-reading my old physical copy of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. Been nice to have a physical book in my hands again.
That's an odd coincidence. I've never read GW but was thinking about starting just yesterday.
i'm thinking about getting his other stories - the soldier ones in particular caught my eye. I really like the New Sun ones though - seems to capture that ageing earth feel.
bring it on please