David A. Riley's Blog, page 107
July 2, 2013
Dark Visions edited by Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson
Grey Matter Press have announced details of their anthology Dark Visions volumes 1 and 2.
This includes my story Scrap, set in Edgebottom, concerning the activities of two brothers who set out to make some money for themselves by scrounging scrap metal and make the mistake of breaking into derelict houses in the notorious slums of Grudge End.
This is a short extract from it:
"Which was when he caught sight over Eddie’s shoulder of the body curled beneath the kitchen sink. It looked bloated, its utilitarian feminine clothes straining against swollen, elephantine limbs; something wet had spread across the linoleum from under the body like rancid syrup that had dried into dark brown, yellowish crusts at the edges.
Gary turned away from it, felt his stomach begin to cramp, before he threw up against the wall. Whatever he had eaten all day was heaved onto it, splashing his jeans. Abandoning the pram, Eddie blundered into him. His face looked bleached and scared. He could barely speak, gesturing at Gary to get out of the house while making inarticulate sounds at the back of his throat like a strangled hen. At any other time Gary would have laughed at him, but now he turned and scrambled onto the street. Rain showered his face as he stared up at it, gasping for breath. Drops of it washed away some of the vomit from his lips, but not enough. He could still taste its acidic bite. He saw Eddie staring at him, his eyes grown huge and frightened. “It had no head.” His brother’s voice barely more than a whisper..."
This includes my story Scrap, set in Edgebottom, concerning the activities of two brothers who set out to make some money for themselves by scrounging scrap metal and make the mistake of breaking into derelict houses in the notorious slums of Grudge End.
This is a short extract from it:
"Which was when he caught sight over Eddie’s shoulder of the body curled beneath the kitchen sink. It looked bloated, its utilitarian feminine clothes straining against swollen, elephantine limbs; something wet had spread across the linoleum from under the body like rancid syrup that had dried into dark brown, yellowish crusts at the edges.
Gary turned away from it, felt his stomach begin to cramp, before he threw up against the wall. Whatever he had eaten all day was heaved onto it, splashing his jeans. Abandoning the pram, Eddie blundered into him. His face looked bleached and scared. He could barely speak, gesturing at Gary to get out of the house while making inarticulate sounds at the back of his throat like a strangled hen. At any other time Gary would have laughed at him, but now he turned and scrambled onto the street. Rain showered his face as he stared up at it, gasping for breath. Drops of it washed away some of the vomit from his lips, but not enough. He could still taste its acidic bite. He saw Eddie staring at him, his eyes grown huge and frightened. “It had no head.” His brother’s voice barely more than a whisper..."
June 28, 2013
Filthy Creations No 7
The latest issue is out now, with stories by Franklin Marsh (The Wicket Man), Penni McLaren Walker (The Architect's Table), D. F. Lewis (The Only Climax and All Endings Are Happy), Charles H. Galloway (Shapeshifter), Robert Mammone (Mycelium), plus the second part of two serials: The Death Tableaux by Craig Herbertson and Sendings by David A. Riley.92 pages including the covers.
Editor is Rog Pile. Consultative editor is Craig Herbertson.
For copies, contact Rog Pile on rogpile@hotmail.co.uk
The Workshop of Filthy Creation.
June 27, 2013
Parallel Universe Publications
A few projects are in hand for Parallel Universe Publications next year, including single author collections and a novel. The last publication was Craig Herbertson's short story collection The Heaven Maker & Other Gruesome Tales in October 2012. There's been a bit of a gap because I have had a few projects of my own due from other publishers, plus I needed to acquire some better software for preparing the books' covers for the printer.
There'll be more information later.
There'll be more information later.
June 25, 2013
The Return
Latest news on my Lovecraftian horror novel, The Return, is that it is scheduled for publication in August by Blood Bound Books.
I have been told that I'll shortly be getting the galley proofs and that the cover artwork will be ready within the next week or so.
The Return is set in Edgebottom, which contains the district of Grudge End, both of which have featured in a number of my stories over the past few years, including Lock-In, The Fragile Mask on His Face, The Worst of all Possible Places, The True Spirit, Old Grudge Ender, and Scrap (out soon in Dark Visions 1 from Grey Matter Press). In his review of my collection, His Own Mad Demons, Jim Mcleod (Gingernuts of Horror) wrote: "Robert Rankin has his Brighton, Terry Pratchett has his Discworld, and so David A. Riley has his Edgebottom, and I for one know which of these worlds I would like to take a return trip to."
I have been told that I'll shortly be getting the galley proofs and that the cover artwork will be ready within the next week or so.
The Return is set in Edgebottom, which contains the district of Grudge End, both of which have featured in a number of my stories over the past few years, including Lock-In, The Fragile Mask on His Face, The Worst of all Possible Places, The True Spirit, Old Grudge Ender, and Scrap (out soon in Dark Visions 1 from Grey Matter Press). In his review of my collection, His Own Mad Demons, Jim Mcleod (Gingernuts of Horror) wrote: "Robert Rankin has his Brighton, Terry Pratchett has his Discworld, and so David A. Riley has his Edgebottom, and I for one know which of these worlds I would like to take a return trip to."
June 24, 2013
Richard Matheson RIP
Saddened to hear tonight that Richard Matheson has died.
He was one of the greats of science fiction and horror, with such memorable books as I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, A Stir of Echoes and Hell House amongst others. He was a memorable screenwriter, responsible for one of Hammer's greatest productions, The Devil Rides Out.
He was one of the greats of science fiction and horror, with such memorable books as I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, A Stir of Echoes and Hell House amongst others. He was a memorable screenwriter, responsible for one of Hammer's greatest productions, The Devil Rides Out.
June 21, 2013
Hellnotes review for His Own Mad Demons
A brilliant review on Hellnotes for His Own Mad Demons:
"For many, His Own Mad Demons, may be a bit different than the horror you are used to reading. David A. Riley has a writing style very similar to early Peter Straub and very British to boot. That said, the five novelettes in this collection are wonderfully eerie, spooky and unsettling. Which to me, makes for a great read.
That’s not to say there isn’t quite a bit of extreme guts and gore in these stories – there is – more than enough to make my nose crinkle up and my stomach turn more than once. It’s all just well balanced, and that is hard to find in shorter works like these novelettes." More
June 19, 2013
Goblin Mire - a quote
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This is a section from near the beginning of my novel where we are first introduced to its unlikely hero, Mickle Gorsestab:
Muddy brown eyes watched the Elves as they rode into the mire, muddy brown eyes that blinked with an unnatural slowness as the old but cunning brain behind them took in what they saw. Elves meant danger. And Mickle Gorsestab, ancient even for a Goblin, had not survived for as long as he had in this cold, hard world without learning this. His maternal grandfather, Ogbad Scarbladder, a shield-bearer for the Goblin-king, Ludblat the Second, was killed by Elves; his head hacked off and rammed on the end of a pole as a trophy of war, to be carried in triumph to their capital, Cyramon. Mickle lowered his head amongst the reeds, his warty skin so dark he had no fear of being seen by the distant Elves, though the sunlight flashing from their silvered armour hurt his eyes. For a moment more the old Hobgoblin watched the Elves as their horses splashed through the reeds, then turned his head away from them. Elves could be crossing the mire for many reasons. They could be heading for the Jagged Mountains to the north. Or west towards the Misty Sea. Or east to the Grasslands. Or, Mickle thought, his thick lips drooped in a ferocious scowl, they could be hunting Goblins. His snag teeth ground like old millstones as he thought of this; without hesitation he reached for the snakeskin hilt of his sword. If Elves were here to kill his kin they would find their sport more dangerous than they expected. Many years had passed since they defeated his race at the Battle of Sundered Hill, when the last Goblin king was killed. Since those dark days the Goblin folk had grown numerous again - and all but lost their fear for the proud, all-conquering Elves. One thing they had never lost - nor ever would, he knew - was their hatred. Oh, no! Mickle ground his teeth harder till they threatened to break. They had never lost their hatred. Lurching, with an oath growling like a threat between his lips, the Goblin forced his way through the reeds as fast as his bowlegged gait would allow.
This is a section from near the beginning of my novel where we are first introduced to its unlikely hero, Mickle Gorsestab:
Muddy brown eyes watched the Elves as they rode into the mire, muddy brown eyes that blinked with an unnatural slowness as the old but cunning brain behind them took in what they saw. Elves meant danger. And Mickle Gorsestab, ancient even for a Goblin, had not survived for as long as he had in this cold, hard world without learning this. His maternal grandfather, Ogbad Scarbladder, a shield-bearer for the Goblin-king, Ludblat the Second, was killed by Elves; his head hacked off and rammed on the end of a pole as a trophy of war, to be carried in triumph to their capital, Cyramon. Mickle lowered his head amongst the reeds, his warty skin so dark he had no fear of being seen by the distant Elves, though the sunlight flashing from their silvered armour hurt his eyes. For a moment more the old Hobgoblin watched the Elves as their horses splashed through the reeds, then turned his head away from them. Elves could be crossing the mire for many reasons. They could be heading for the Jagged Mountains to the north. Or west towards the Misty Sea. Or east to the Grasslands. Or, Mickle thought, his thick lips drooped in a ferocious scowl, they could be hunting Goblins. His snag teeth ground like old millstones as he thought of this; without hesitation he reached for the snakeskin hilt of his sword. If Elves were here to kill his kin they would find their sport more dangerous than they expected. Many years had passed since they defeated his race at the Battle of Sundered Hill, when the last Goblin king was killed. Since those dark days the Goblin folk had grown numerous again - and all but lost their fear for the proud, all-conquering Elves. One thing they had never lost - nor ever would, he knew - was their hatred. Oh, no! Mickle ground his teeth harder till they threatened to break. They had never lost their hatred. Lurching, with an oath growling like a threat between his lips, the Goblin forced his way through the reeds as fast as his bowlegged gait would allow.
June 18, 2013
Goblin Mire - cover update
Artist Joe Young sent me an update on the artwork he's done for the cover of this fantasy novel:
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This was the original:
[image error]
This was the original:
June 17, 2013
New review of His Own Mad Demons
Brilliant new review of my collection, His Own Mad Demons, by Ginger Nuts of Horror
My favourite bit of the review is: "In an era where so many authors are trying to find a unique twist on the horror the story, at the expense of a well written story, it is a refreshing to come across an author who understands how to write a scary, gripping and down right entertaining story. His Own Mad Demons is what I like to call good old fashioned horror, and this is a shining example of that."
June 14, 2013
Change of stories in Lurkers in the Abyss & Other Tales of Terror
I have made an alteration to the stories included in my collection from Shadow Publishing. I have removed two of the shorter (and in my view) weaker stories and replaced them with a longer one that is previously unpublished. It's a story I wrote a short while ago on the urging of Johnny Mains who wanted me to do a sequel to The Lurkers in the Abyss. Called Lurkers, it concerns the activities of an on the run bank robber who chances across the same creatures that figure in the original story - and faces a horrifyingly Lovecraftian future when "the stars are right".
Paul Mudie, who is doing the cover for this collection, recently emailed a rough copy to Dave Sutton and myself for our approval. Based on my story Fish-Eye, it exceeds what I hoped for from him and I can't wait now to see his final version!
The new line up of stories is:
Introduction by David A. Sutton
The Lurkers in the Abyss
After Nightfall
Terror on the Moors
The Shade of Apollyon
Prickly
Writer's Cramp
Winter on Aubarch 6
The Shadow by the Altar
Out of Corruption
A New Lease
Help-Plants
Inside the Labyrinth
A Sense of Movement
Soft Little Fingers
His Pale Blue Eyes
Fish-Eye
Lurkers
Paul Mudie, who is doing the cover for this collection, recently emailed a rough copy to Dave Sutton and myself for our approval. Based on my story Fish-Eye, it exceeds what I hoped for from him and I can't wait now to see his final version!
The new line up of stories is:
Introduction by David A. Sutton
The Lurkers in the Abyss
After Nightfall
Terror on the Moors
The Shade of Apollyon
Prickly
Writer's Cramp
Winter on Aubarch 6
The Shadow by the Altar
Out of Corruption
A New Lease
Help-Plants
Inside the Labyrinth
A Sense of Movement
Soft Little Fingers
His Pale Blue Eyes
Fish-Eye
Lurkers
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