David Nickle's Blog, page 10
May 6, 2011
The Review, The Bookstore, and Machetes
This is a bit of a grab bag of a posting, yard apes, so bear with me wile I dig around in it...
First up, I should take a moment to thank Jessica Strider, whose review of Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism went live today at SF Signal. She likes it fine as a horror story, but not for the monsters. She writes:
The book itself, meanwhile, is a little slow making its way to bookstores in Toronto (although I have it on good authority that it's well-shelved in Barnes and Noble and Borders stores in the U.S.). Yesterday, however, Bakka-Phoenix Books in Toronto got 10 copies in, and I made it by to sign them all just before closing. I expect there will still be some left by the time you get there.
Also: it looks as though the ChiZine Publications blog has finally dared to post my favourite World Horror Convention memory -- the story of me, and Joe, and machetes. Not for the faint of heart.
First up, I should take a moment to thank Jessica Strider, whose review of Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism went live today at SF Signal. She likes it fine as a horror story, but not for the monsters. She writes:
The whole review is posted at SF Revue, right here.
"For a novel that has such a horrifying supernatural creature at the heart of it, the true terror of the book was contained in the historically accurate parts. It's hard to be afraid of made up monsters when the Klan and practicing eugenicists show up. Indeed, when you see the unrepentant Mrs Frost and delusional Dr. Bergstrom own up to their crimes, no fictional monster could possibly stand up to the horrors humans are willing to perpetrate on each other."
The book itself, meanwhile, is a little slow making its way to bookstores in Toronto (although I have it on good authority that it's well-shelved in Barnes and Noble and Borders stores in the U.S.). Yesterday, however, Bakka-Phoenix Books in Toronto got 10 copies in, and I made it by to sign them all just before closing. I expect there will still be some left by the time you get there.
Also: it looks as though the ChiZine Publications blog has finally dared to post my favourite World Horror Convention memory -- the story of me, and Joe, and machetes. Not for the faint of heart.
May 4, 2011
The Horror of the Lone Star
It wasn't much of a horror at all, actually, going down to Texas this past week for the World Horror Convention. Coming back on the day of the Federal election... well, that was another matter. But the WHC 2011 in Austin, Texas, was pretty much a joy - an exercise in southern comfort, taking place in a town who's motto is Keep Austin Weird.
It was a very good time indeed. The ChiZine Publications crowd were there in force, to launch the spring lineup (Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism included in that, along with Claude Lalumiere's Door To Lost Pages, Gemma Files' Rope of Thorns, and Brent Hayward's The Fecund's Melancholy Daughter). Also on hand was Michael Kelly, launching the anthology Chilling Tales (which includes my story Looker).
I could ramble on for thousands of words about the high quality of the convention and the coolness of Austin -- but I brought a camera, and took some pictures. So let's try a slide show instead.
On Thursday, day it started, Claude Lalumiere and author Matt Moore and I went walking in downtown Austin, where we discovered this place - the Lucky Lizard, which sells curios and has a genuine sideshow museum in back.
They let me take pictures inside, of such wonders as the fabled Fiji mermaid:
A Mexican mummy:
Me (with my two-headed sheep friend):
There were also readings. Here's me, reading from Looker (thanks to Sandra Wickham, for snapping the shot):
And at the Driscoll Hotel, said by some to be haunted...
Green eggs and ham.
It was a very good time indeed. The ChiZine Publications crowd were there in force, to launch the spring lineup (Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism included in that, along with Claude Lalumiere's Door To Lost Pages, Gemma Files' Rope of Thorns, and Brent Hayward's The Fecund's Melancholy Daughter). Also on hand was Michael Kelly, launching the anthology Chilling Tales (which includes my story Looker).
I could ramble on for thousands of words about the high quality of the convention and the coolness of Austin -- but I brought a camera, and took some pictures. So let's try a slide show instead.
On Thursday, day it started, Claude Lalumiere and author Matt Moore and I went walking in downtown Austin, where we discovered this place - the Lucky Lizard, which sells curios and has a genuine sideshow museum in back.
They let me take pictures inside, of such wonders as the fabled Fiji mermaid:
A Mexican mummy:
Me (with my two-headed sheep friend):
There were also readings. Here's me, reading from Looker (thanks to Sandra Wickham, for snapping the shot):
And at the Driscoll Hotel, said by some to be haunted...
Green eggs and ham.
April 25, 2011
Eutopia - The Trailer
With the official bookstore release of Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism just a week off, we figured it was high time to unleash this on the world. Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism, the Trailer. Karen Fernandez and I shot this past summer, and Karen put it all together, in hopes - optimistic hopes, if that's not redundant - that book trailers actually work at getting readers to buy books.
We'll see how it goes. There's some fine, terrifying music - by Jon and Al Kaplan, the composers of Silence - The Musical and other morsels - and a good dose of backwoods evil. Go have a look.
The trailer's also embedded in the brand new Eutopia section of The Devil's Exercise Yard, right here. Go there, and you can see all the reviews that have emerged so far, some Lawrence Nickle illustrations that are otherwise only in the limited edition hardcover, and a sample chapter.
And as long as you're clicking through, check out this review from Paul Goat Allen at Barnes and Noble's community blog. He writes, among other things in a very kind review:
"Nickle's debut novel Eutopia – an entrancing amalgam of historical thriller, dark fantasy and weird fiction – is an utterly creepy, bladder-loosening, storytelling tour de force."
April 22, 2011
Stephen and I...
You go along in a writing career, and you hope for certain milestones. Selling the first short story; selling the first novel; winning an award... and, if you write horror, getting a major newspaper review comparing your book to Stephen King's work, in the days when he was really on fire and putting out books like The Shining, Misery and Pet Sematary... the early Dark Tower volumes...Well, today I can scratch that one off the list. Alex Good of the National Post offered up a very kind review of Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism, that had, among other things, this to say:
Here's the review, posted at canada.com."Toronto author David Nickle's debut novel, the followup to his brilliantly wicked collection of horror stories Monstrous Affections, establishes him as a worthy heir to the mantle of Stephen King. And I don't mean the King of Under the Dome or other recent flops, but the master of psychological suspense who ruled the '80s with classics like Pet Sematary."
And happily, it comes as e-books and dead-tree versions of the novel are downloading/shipping from Amazon.com, right here.
Redrum.
April 19, 2011
The e-books are on the march....
It's a couple of weeks now before the official release date of Eutopia, but that date really only applies to the dead tree versions of the novel. E-books are out there, as of this week. E-junkie is selling MOBI, EPUB and PDF versions, right here. Amazon.com has also released the Kindle version, right here, and the Kobo store's selling the Kobo EPUB version over at Chapters-Indigo, right here.
Dead tree version should be hitting bookstores and Amazon May 3. And ChiZine Publications will be launching it in Austin, Texas, at the World Horror Convention, a few days before. That's where I'll be too. Right here.
Dead tree version should be hitting bookstores and Amazon May 3. And ChiZine Publications will be launching it in Austin, Texas, at the World Horror Convention, a few days before. That's where I'll be too. Right here.
April 6, 2011
I have an Ad Astra schedule - and another nice Eutopia review
The title line says it all, yard-apes. This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of Ad Astra - the local Toronto sf convention where we Torontonian sf people go each spring to see one another, talk about all things genre and hone our knife-throwing skills. I'll be there this weekend, on panels and doing a mini-launch for Eutopia.
Speaking of which - I'd be remiss if I didn't crow a bit, about a lovely review of my first solo novel by Chris Hallock over at ALL THINGS HORROR. It is a very lovely review indeed - I'm flattered to within an inch of my life - and in recognition of that, I'm going to quote a little more extensively than I do from these things:
And as for that Ad Astra Schedule? Here's how it's looking now.
Fri 8 p.m. Eugenics Erica Pai (m), Gord Skerratt, Herb Kauderer, Diane Lacey, David Clink, David Nickle
Sat 11 am Ballr. Centre Chilling Tales: A New Chapter in Canadian Horror and Dark Fantasy
Michael Kelly (m), Leah Bobet, Suzanne Church, Michael Colangelo, Claude Lalumiere, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Brent Hayward, Sandra Kasturi, David Nickle, Ian Rogers, Brett Alexander Savory, Simon Strantzas
Sat 1-3 pm Anton's Chilling Tales Launch
Michael Kelly (m), Leah Bobet, Suzanne Church, Michael Colangelo, Claude Lalumiere, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Brent Hayward, Sandra Kasturi, David Nickle, Ian Rogers, Brett Alexander Savory, Simon Strantzas
Saturday, 6 p.m. Reading
Sun 11 am Ballr. East Making Monsters
Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Michael Colangelo, Kate Daley, Kari Maaren, David Nickle, Rio Youers (m)
Sun 12 pm Ballr. Centre Working with Small Presses
Timothy Carter, Karen Dales, Don Hutchison, Laura Marshall, David Nickle, Douglas Smith
Sun 3 pm Salon 243 Face-to-Face Critique Groups
Aaron Allston, Robert Boyczuk, Matt Moore (m), David Nickle
Speaking of which - I'd be remiss if I didn't crow a bit, about a lovely review of my first solo novel by Chris Hallock over at ALL THINGS HORROR. It is a very lovely review indeed - I'm flattered to within an inch of my life - and in recognition of that, I'm going to quote a little more extensively than I do from these things:
Eutopia is the kind of book I'd recommend to literary snobs who badmouth the horror genre while completely ignoring the multitudes of splendid books on the shelves. Nickle comes from a different cut of cloth than a lot of current horror authors. He's created a unique world that's a far cry from any of the current trends in horror fiction. In fact, his style seems generations removed from all the apocalyptic zombie and vampire novels on the market. Thankfully, he understands that the most important ingredients are strong characters, originality, and a compelling story. That his novel is also dark, frightening, and beautifully written is just icing on the cake.The whole review's posted right here, for the perusal of curious yard-apes.
Eutopia crosses genres in a world where folks from a rustic Faulkner novel might clash with H.P. Lovecraft's monstrosities. Add a dash of Cronenbergian body horror to atmosphere worthy of Poe, and you get one of the most original horror stories in years.
And as for that Ad Astra Schedule? Here's how it's looking now.
Fri 8 p.m. Eugenics Erica Pai (m), Gord Skerratt, Herb Kauderer, Diane Lacey, David Clink, David Nickle
Sat 11 am Ballr. Centre Chilling Tales: A New Chapter in Canadian Horror and Dark Fantasy
Michael Kelly (m), Leah Bobet, Suzanne Church, Michael Colangelo, Claude Lalumiere, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Brent Hayward, Sandra Kasturi, David Nickle, Ian Rogers, Brett Alexander Savory, Simon Strantzas
Sat 1-3 pm Anton's Chilling Tales Launch
Michael Kelly (m), Leah Bobet, Suzanne Church, Michael Colangelo, Claude Lalumiere, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Brent Hayward, Sandra Kasturi, David Nickle, Ian Rogers, Brett Alexander Savory, Simon Strantzas
Saturday, 6 p.m. Reading
Sun 11 am Ballr. East Making Monsters
Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Michael Colangelo, Kate Daley, Kari Maaren, David Nickle, Rio Youers (m)
Sun 12 pm Ballr. Centre Working with Small Presses
Timothy Carter, Karen Dales, Don Hutchison, Laura Marshall, David Nickle, Douglas Smith
Sun 3 pm Salon 243 Face-to-Face Critique Groups
Aaron Allston, Robert Boyczuk, Matt Moore (m), David Nickle
March 21, 2011
The X-Files, Rosemary's Baby... and Little House on the Prairie?
Those are the things that Publisher's Weekly thinks my novel Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism is made of. There's a very nice review of my book posted at the magazine's website, right here.
The salient parts, pulled expertly by CZP honcho Brett Savory, read as follows:
Color me chuffed.
The salient parts, pulled expertly by CZP honcho Brett Savory, read as follows:
"Nickle (Monstrous Affections) blends Little House on the Prairie with distillates of Rosemary's Baby and The X-Files to create a chilling survival-of-the-fittest story. . . . [His] bleak debut novel mixes utopian vision, rustic Americana, and pure creepiness."
—Publishers Weekly
Color me chuffed.
March 19, 2011
Cory Doctorow came to town, I stayed put...
It was a good night, some weeks back, when Cory Doctorow and I read aloud from our new books at the Augusta House in Toronto. The evening was part of the ChiZine Reading Series - and this event celebrated the Cecil Street Irregulars, a writer's workshop from which Cory and I both learned everything we know. Karl Schroeder was to have joined us - but he was prevented, by a damn germ.
They made a video of the evening anyway. Here's the portion in which I read from Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism.
And here's the portion in which I take questions from the audience.
Eutopia's out in May. But pre-orders are always welcome. Check out CZP's Eutopia page, for all the places you can do that, right here. If you need convincing, horror author Nick Cato has posted a blisteringly generous review of Eutopia, at his blog Antibacterial Pope, right here.
For more CZP reading series goodness, and Cory's reading, have a look at their SF Colloquium page, right here.
They made a video of the evening anyway. Here's the portion in which I read from Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism.
And here's the portion in which I take questions from the audience.
Eutopia's out in May. But pre-orders are always welcome. Check out CZP's Eutopia page, for all the places you can do that, right here. If you need convincing, horror author Nick Cato has posted a blisteringly generous review of Eutopia, at his blog Antibacterial Pope, right here.
For more CZP reading series goodness, and Cory's reading, have a look at their SF Colloquium page, right here.
March 4, 2011
An Optimistic Reading this Sunday
This is a note to yard-apes spending the weekend in Toronto and wishing to say hello and listen to a cheerful bit of readings. This Sunday evening, I'll be joining actual optimists and good friends Cory Doctorow and Karl Schroeder at the Augusta House, to read from our novels. I will be reading from Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism. Cory and Karl will be reading from works of actual optimism, I hope.
This is part of the ChiZine reading series, and Sunday's theme is Cecil Street Irregulars reunion. Cory, Karl and I are alumni / current members of the Cecil Street Irregulars writers' group, you see - hence, um, the theme.
Here are the particulars:
Sunday March 6, 2011 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
152 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON (map)
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After her tenure in 1987 as writer-in-residence at the Merril Collection, Judith Merril founded the writing workshop that came to be known as the Cecil Street Irregulars. With Cory Doctorow in town, we're having something of a reunion...
, blogger, journalist, and world-renowned science fiction author, will be joining us on March 6th for a special reading. His latest book, For the Win, is centered around massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Other books include Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (Tor Books, 2003); Eastern Standard Tribe (Tor Books, 2004); Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town (Tor Books, 2005); Little Brother (Tor Books, 2008 ); Makers (Tor Books, 2009). All of his books are available under a Creative Commons Licence.
Karl Schroeder divides his time between writing fiction and consulting--chiefly in the area of Foresight Studies and technology. His novels present far-future speculations on topics such as nanotechnology, terraforming, augmented reality and interstellar travel, and have a deeply philosophical streak. One of his concepts, known as thalience, has gained some currency in the artificial intelligence and computer networking communities.
David Nickle lives and works in Toronto, where he covers municipal matters for the Toronto Community News group of newspapers. His fiction has been published in magazines, anthologies and online, and been adapted for television. In 1997, he and Edo Van Belkom won a Bram Stoker Award for their short story "Rat Food." Some of his stories are collected in Monstrous Affections , published in 2009 by ChiZine Publications. Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism will be released by ChiZine Publications in spring 2011.
This is part of the ChiZine reading series, and Sunday's theme is Cecil Street Irregulars reunion. Cory, Karl and I are alumni / current members of the Cecil Street Irregulars writers' group, you see - hence, um, the theme.
Here are the particulars:
Sunday March 6, 2011 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
152 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON (map)
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After her tenure in 1987 as writer-in-residence at the Merril Collection, Judith Merril founded the writing workshop that came to be known as the Cecil Street Irregulars. With Cory Doctorow in town, we're having something of a reunion...
, blogger, journalist, and world-renowned science fiction author, will be joining us on March 6th for a special reading. His latest book, For the Win, is centered around massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Other books include Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (Tor Books, 2003); Eastern Standard Tribe (Tor Books, 2004); Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town (Tor Books, 2005); Little Brother (Tor Books, 2008 ); Makers (Tor Books, 2009). All of his books are available under a Creative Commons Licence.
Karl Schroeder divides his time between writing fiction and consulting--chiefly in the area of Foresight Studies and technology. His novels present far-future speculations on topics such as nanotechnology, terraforming, augmented reality and interstellar travel, and have a deeply philosophical streak. One of his concepts, known as thalience, has gained some currency in the artificial intelligence and computer networking communities.
David Nickle lives and works in Toronto, where he covers municipal matters for the Toronto Community News group of newspapers. His fiction has been published in magazines, anthologies and online, and been adapted for television. In 1997, he and Edo Van Belkom won a Bram Stoker Award for their short story "Rat Food." Some of his stories are collected in Monstrous Affections , published in 2009 by ChiZine Publications. Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism will be released by ChiZine Publications in spring 2011.
February 11, 2011
Vault of Evil loves Eutopia
Well this was a lovely surprise: came home today to find a google alert showing what I believe is the second on-line review of Eutopia - this time from the reviewer known only as Dreadlocksmile, on the U.K. horror review site Vault of Evil.
It is a fine review, and I will link to it. But I believe the pull-quote would be:
It is a fine review, and I will link to it. But I believe the pull-quote would be:
"'Eutopia' is an elaborate novel, pulling together intricate interwoven subplots, with a dark and eerie mystery constantly behind it all. Mark Morris's forceful but swift visions of the grotesque, mixed with elements of early Clive Barker dark fiction, with the final all-encompassing visionary of Lovecraft knitted in for good measure."I will take that with blushing grace. Read the whole review here.
