David A. Riley's Blog, page 141
September 30, 2010
Prism's Days Look Numbered
Ever since the BFS AGM there has been discussion about the future for the society's regular publications, Dark Horizons, New Horizons and Prism.
Under the society's new chairman, David Howe, it looks as if it's certain now that Prism, the BFS Newsletter will be merged into the other publications. The likely result will be, I think, that the reviews will go, for the most part, online on the BFS website, and the articles will end up inside DH and NH.
Although it is suggested that these will go in as a supplement, since both publications already do articles and interviews, I can't see why there is any need for these to appear as a "supplement" at all, rather than just merged in as part and parcel of the publication. In which case, really, Prism as such will disappear.
I can't say I'm not disappointed at this as I have enjoyed my brief time as Prism's editor and did hope to make it a periodical members would look forward to getting through the post. But financial considerations do seem to make this the only alternative - and reviews online will appear much quicker than they could in a quarterly publication.
Oddly enough, I was there at the very beginning in the early seventies when the bulletin went from being a mimeographed sheet into a proper, substantial litho-printed publication for the first time, and it seems as if I'll now see out its demise.
Whether there will be a December issue of Prism I am not sure. If it is, that will probably be the final one.
After that, I suppose, I'll be back to being an ordinary member of the BFS again.
Under the society's new chairman, David Howe, it looks as if it's certain now that Prism, the BFS Newsletter will be merged into the other publications. The likely result will be, I think, that the reviews will go, for the most part, online on the BFS website, and the articles will end up inside DH and NH.
Although it is suggested that these will go in as a supplement, since both publications already do articles and interviews, I can't see why there is any need for these to appear as a "supplement" at all, rather than just merged in as part and parcel of the publication. In which case, really, Prism as such will disappear.
I can't say I'm not disappointed at this as I have enjoyed my brief time as Prism's editor and did hope to make it a periodical members would look forward to getting through the post. But financial considerations do seem to make this the only alternative - and reviews online will appear much quicker than they could in a quarterly publication.
Oddly enough, I was there at the very beginning in the early seventies when the bulletin went from being a mimeographed sheet into a proper, substantial litho-printed publication for the first time, and it seems as if I'll now see out its demise.
Whether there will be a December issue of Prism I am not sure. If it is, that will probably be the final one.
After that, I suppose, I'll be back to being an ordinary member of the BFS again.
Prism's Day's Look Numbered
Ever since the BFS AGM there has been discussion about the future for the society's regular publications, Dark Horizons, New Horizons and Prism.
Under the society's new chairman, David Howe, it looks as if it's certain now that Prism, the BFS Newsletter will be merged into the other publications. The likely result will be, I think, that the reviews will go, for the most part, online on the BFS website, and the articles will end up inside DH and NH.
Although it is suggested that these will go in as a supplement, since both publications already do articles and interviews, I can't see why there is any need for these to appear as a "supplement" at all, rather than just merged in as part and parcel of the publication. In which case, really, Prism as such will disappear.
I can't say I'm not disappointed at this as I have enjoyed my brief time as Prism's editor and did hope to make it a periodical members would look forward to getting through the post. But financial considerations do seem to make this the only alternative - and reviews online will appear much quicker than they could in a quarterly publication.
Oddly enough, I was there at the very beginning in the early seventies when the bulletin went from being a mimeographed sheet into a proper, substantial litho-printed publication for the first time, and it seems as if I'll now see out its demise.
Whether there will be a December issue of Prism I am not sure. If it is, that will probably be the final one.
After that, I suppose, I'll be back to being an ordinary member of the BFS again.
Under the society's new chairman, David Howe, it looks as if it's certain now that Prism, the BFS Newsletter will be merged into the other publications. The likely result will be, I think, that the reviews will go, for the most part, online on the BFS website, and the articles will end up inside DH and NH.
Although it is suggested that these will go in as a supplement, since both publications already do articles and interviews, I can't see why there is any need for these to appear as a "supplement" at all, rather than just merged in as part and parcel of the publication. In which case, really, Prism as such will disappear.
I can't say I'm not disappointed at this as I have enjoyed my brief time as Prism's editor and did hope to make it a periodical members would look forward to getting through the post. But financial considerations do seem to make this the only alternative - and reviews online will appear much quicker than they could in a quarterly publication.
Oddly enough, I was there at the very beginning in the early seventies when the bulletin went from being a mimeographed sheet into a proper, substantial litho-printed publication for the first time, and it seems as if I'll now see out its demise.
Whether there will be a December issue of Prism I am not sure. If it is, that will probably be the final one.
After that, I suppose, I'll be back to being an ordinary member of the BFS again.
Susan Hill Says No One Writes Ghost Stories Set In Modern Times???
Saw this on the Ramsey Campbell Message Board about Susan Hill talking about her latest ghost story novel on Radio 4. I really, really wonder about the vanity of some people. For someone who sets great store on her ghost story novels, you would think she would at least do a little research, or does she really believe she is unique?
Even if she doesn't have much of an opinion for some God damned reason for writers like Ramsey Campbell, to take just one example (though she should have!), what about Kingsley Amis's The Green Man?
Vanity, vanity, vanity.
Or just a load of old pretentious bollocks.
Even if she doesn't have much of an opinion for some God damned reason for writers like Ramsey Campbell, to take just one example (though she should have!), what about Kingsley Amis's The Green Man?
Vanity, vanity, vanity.
Or just a load of old pretentious bollocks.
September 28, 2010
BFS Open Night - Manchester - Sunday 5th December
I have just learned that BFS chairman, David Gowe, has managed to book a venue for a BFS Open Night in Manchester on Sunday the 5th December at The Lass O'Gowrie Pub.
It's address is 36 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB.
It starts at 6.00 p.m. onwards.
Although Sunday night is not ideal, it's better than nothing. I'll be driving there, so it's an alcohol free night for me.
For ongoing information about this event check out this link to the BFS site.
It's address is 36 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB.
It starts at 6.00 p.m. onwards.
Although Sunday night is not ideal, it's better than nothing. I'll be driving there, so it's an alcohol free night for me.
For ongoing information about this event check out this link to the BFS site.
The Seventh Black Book of Horror
There's an interesting discussion of the Seventh volume here on the Vault of Evil, including some reviews of the stories inside it.
September 23, 2010
Lucilla
You know some stories end so easily. It's there. It's finished. And not a word needs altering.
Others...
I'm afraid Lucilla is one of those. Spent a lot of today working and reworking the final pages.
I think I need to put it to one side for a while. Look at it in a few months time, refreshed.
Others...
I'm afraid Lucilla is one of those. Spent a lot of today working and reworking the final pages.
I think I need to put it to one side for a while. Look at it in a few months time, refreshed.
September 22, 2010
Lucilla
Having decided that this story wasn't right to be much longer than a novella, I finally finished the first draft tonight, drawing it to a conclusion at 25,700 words.
The final part will need some revision before it will be finally finished, and perhaps putting to one side for several months. Other than that, I am happy with it.
The final part will need some revision before it will be finally finished, and perhaps putting to one side for several months. Other than that, I am happy with it.
September 20, 2010
Russian Website: Лаборатория Фантастики
It looks as if my piece about The Mammoth Book of Zombies being published in Russia has been picked up on a Russian website, Лаборатория Фантастики (Laboratory of the Fantastic is my best translation), which is fantastic in itself.
The Mammoth Books of Zombies/The Monster Book of Zombies
Further to my comments about the Russian version of this anthology yesterday, which has been republished in various places under different titles, I have been informed by Stefan Dziemianowicz on the All Hallows message board that The Monster Book of Zombies, published last year in the States by Metro Books, is to be republished there again next summer.
This anthology just seems to go on and on. Amazing.
This anthology just seems to go on and on. Amazing.
September 19, 2010
Chris Barker
In earlier threads I have written about Chris Barker's failings on the internet, with references to internet rage.
FantasyCon 2010, though, was the first time I actually had the opportunity to meet him, when I spotted him, stood at one end of the hotel bar, chatting with Reggie Oliver. Not to my surprise at all, when I went up to him and introduced myself, I found him a really nice bloke. I had already noticed his blogsite, horrorwatch, had closed down. I am glad it has. He does not handle int...
FantasyCon 2010, though, was the first time I actually had the opportunity to meet him, when I spotted him, stood at one end of the hotel bar, chatting with Reggie Oliver. Not to my surprise at all, when I went up to him and introduced myself, I found him a really nice bloke. I had already noticed his blogsite, horrorwatch, had closed down. I am glad it has. He does not handle int...
