David A. Riley's Blog, page 36
January 31, 2021
My first story published in 2021 - Boat Trip in Lovecraftiana magazine Candlemas 2021 issue
My first magazine appearance this year is in the Candlemas 2021 issue of Lovecraftiana magazine. Boat Trip was first published in paperback and hardcover in The Third Spectral Book of Horror edited by Joseph Rubas in 2016. It also appears in After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales, illustrated by Jim Pitts.
To order copies of this magazine click on this link.
January 8, 2021
My review of Bloody Britain by Anna Taborska
This is a copy of my review in the latest issue of Phantasmagoria magazine:
BLOODY BRITAIN by Anna Taborska
Shadow Publishing, UK, 2020
Despite its Grand Guignol title this is a beautiful book, with a magnificent cover by Paul Mudie, marvellously meticulous illustrations by Reggie Oliver for each of the stories, and of course the stories themselves, which are every bit as good as you would expect from film-maker and horror writer Anna Taborska, whose debut collection from Mortbury Press, For Those who Dream Monsters won the Dracula Society’s Children of the Night Award and was nominated for a British Fantasy Award.
In his introduction, Robert Shearman writes: “…God protect me from being a character in an Anna Taborska story: Anything but that. Please.”
Which is more than understandable! Anna takes no prisoners. Or, when she does, they are still made to suffer the tortures of Hell!
Most of the stories in this collection have been published before in a number of prestigious anthologies, from Paul Finch’s Terror Tales series (Terror Tales of the Lake District, Terror Tales of Northwest England, and Terror Tales of London) and the late Charles Black’s Black Book of Horror. Indeed, the book is dedicated to Charles Black, who died last year at far too young an age, and who published Anna’s first collection.
“Teatime”, despite its innocuous title is typical of what is in Bloody Britain. Our “hero” Victor enjoys watching people die and specialises in making sure that when they do they are suffering from their worst nightmares. He is the supreme sadist, who has developed the knack of finding out just what each of his target’s greatest, most terrifying phobia is. In its 38-pages Victor participates in a horrendous spree of blood-curdling cruelty to victims who deserve anything but what befalls them, right up until its savage climax. Sleepless nights are guaranteed after reading this!
I was going to say that the supernatural does not figure largely in these stories, but “Night of the Crone” from Terror Tales of the Lake District belies me. Here we have an ancient evil that a gang of young hooligans inadvertently unleash on themselves, the good, the bad and the downright nasty. And, of course, we have “Cyril’s Mission” with its giant worm: “Its skin was brownish-pink and membranous. Stretched out on the floor, the abomination extended from one end of the crypt to the other. As Cyril stared at it, the beast reared up, its front half towering above him. The priest watched as a gaping maw opened in its featureless snout, exposing a halo of slavering, flesh-coloured tentacles surrounding a set of sharp, lamprey-like teeth…” A more horrifying monster it would be difficult to imagine.
All in all, a satisfyingly varied collection of tales that fully live up to the book’s title!
Phantasmagoria - only £9.99 on amazon:
Amazon
January 7, 2021
Another 5-star review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1
I am really pleased to see that Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 which I edited and Jim Pitts provided illustrations has received yet another glowing 5-star review on amazon.
"What an enjoyable book. Quality sword and sorcery stories and amazing art by Jim Pitts. The general tone of the book was dark with a few lighter tales. A couple of my favorite stories were by Steve Dilks and Adrian Cole. I would recomend this series to anyone with a love of fantasy. I will be waiting for volume 2"
Parallel Universe Publications
January 6, 2021
My review of Eccentric, Impractical Devils: The Letters of August Derleth and Clark Ashton Smith
Below is my review published in the last issue of Phantasmagoria magazine.
ECCENTRIC, IMPRACTICAL DEVILS: THE LETTERS OF AUGUST DERLETH AND CLARK ASHTON SMITH
Edited by Dave E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi; Hippocampus Press, New York, 2020
Every struggling writer should read this book as many of the exchanges are about writing stories, revising them (including their endings) and selling them to the markets available at the time, including all the rejections. For those of us who look back on writers like Clark Ashton Smith with awe it's enlightening to see how he too struggled with the same problems that beset the rest of us today.
These letters cover the period from 1931, when Smith was at the height of his powers as a writer, turning out the vast bulk of his meticulously written tales, till his death in 1961. They are a wonderful insight into the friendship between Smith, Derleth, Lovecraft, Wandrei and others, all of whom regularly exchanged carbon copies of their finished stories or works in progress for frank and honest criticism. Smith comes over as someone who was fully aware of his weaknesses as a writer and more than prepared to take in and act upon any suggestions Derleth made to him. Both men spent a great deal of time reading and evaluating the pros and cons of what the other had written and were never afraid to detail these in the numerous letters they sent to each other.
The last section of letters are those exchanged between Smith’s wife, Carol and August Derleth, often discussing the publication of Smith’s poetry and collections of his short stories by Arkham House. Derleth’s letters are illuminating on the problems he had to face over printing costs and the slow sales of the books Arkham House published.
The sheer honesty of these letters, from all participants, on the problems they had to face, their health issues, and, importantly, their thoughts on the creative process make for fascinating reading. They are a window into a lost world and, for me at least, are thoroughly absorbing.
The book also has a detailed Appendix, a section of reviews, a Bibliography, and an Index. There is even a list of Smith’s royalty earnings from Arkham House with a detailed analysis.
At 600 pages this is a must for anyone with a serious interest in Clark Ashton Smith and a revealing insight into August Derleth as well. Hippocampus Press are to be congratulated on publishing yet another important, well-researched book.
Phantasmagoria - only £9.99 on amazon:
January 1, 2021
After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales published in paperback and kindle
I am really pleased to announce that the New Year is starting with the publication in paperback and kindle of After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales, lavishly illustrated by Jim Pitts. The paperback is £11.99, the kindle £2.99.
The paperback is available through most online retailers and direct from PUP.
Just like the hardcover version published recently, the book contains the following stories:
Three Eyed Jack
The Fragile Mask on his Face
Terror on the Moors
The Shade of Apollyon
Writer's Cramp
Fish Eye
Boat Trip
Prickly
After Nightfall
Here are just a few of the amazing illustrations, nineteen of which are full page.
December 31, 2020
"This is an entertaining anthology of new sword and sorcery with a diverse range of unique tales." The Spiral Tower reviews Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy
Thrilled to see yet another favourable review of Swords & Sorceries:"This is an entertaining anthology of new sword and sorcery with a diverse range of unique tales."
The Spiral Tower reviews Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy.
To read the full review click on this link.
Parallel Universe Publications
2020 - new stories published and old ones reprinted
Despite or, maybe, because of lockdown 2020 has been a productive year for me, with two anthologies (Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 and Kitchen Sink Gothic 2) published, along with two collections of short stories: Craig Herbertson's Christmas in the Workhouse & Other Gruesome Tales (illustrated by Chrissie Demant), in harcover, paperback and kindle, plus my own After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales, illustrated by Jim Pitts. The latter has so far only been published in hardcover, but paperback and kindle versions will be available in the first week of the New Year.
On the writing front, new stories have appeared in the following publications:
Hanuman in Phantasmagoria #16
Grudge End Cloggers in Scare Me published by Esskaye Books
Three Eyed Jack is due to appear in Gruesome Grotesques, which was originally to have been published in November but has been delayed till January 2021. It is also included in After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales.
Reprints:
Lurkers appeared in Phantasmagoria Special Edition #2 and Lovecraftiana Walpurgis Issue
Scrap appeared in Phantasmagoria #17
Old Grudge Ender appeared in The Vault of Evil Advent Calendar 2020
The Fragile Mask on His Face appeared in Phantasmagoria #15
The Shadow by the Altar appeared in Lovecraftiana Halloween Issue
Terror on the Moors appeared in Phantasmagoria #14
Help-Plants appeared in The Martian Wave March 2020 issue
Corpse-Maker appeared in Jester of Hearts, Terror Tracts Publishing
I also had a new poem, He Thought He Was Dying in Phantasmagoria #16 and a reprint, As Silver Dusk Suffuses Red, in Phantasmagoria #15.
I managed to write a number of brand new stories this year, some of which still need a bit of polishing, while others are out at various markets awaiting a decision. I also have another story due for publication any time now under a pseudonym. More about that when it is published.
Already for 2021 I have several stories due to be reprinted in magazines. And, going off sales so far, it is looking increasingly likely that a follow-up collection of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 2 will be published by Parallel Universe Publications in 2021, possibly as early as May or June.
December 27, 2020
After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales by David A. Riley, Illustrated by Jim Pitts to be published as paperback and ebook January 1st
My collection After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales, illustrated by Jim Pitts, will be published in paperback and as an ebook (kindle) on the 1st January next year. The paperback will cost £11.99, the kindle £2.99. The paperback will be available through most online retailers and direct from PUP.
Like the hardcover version published recently, the book contains the following stories:
Three Eyed Jack
The Fragile Mask on his Face
Terror on the Moors
The Shade of Apollyon
Writer's Cramp
Fish Eye
Boat Trip
Prickly
After Nightfall
Here are just a couple of the illustrations, many of which are full page.
I will announce immediately this book is available to order online.
December 21, 2020
Old Grudge Ender published in the Vault of Evil's Christmas Bedside Companion
Artwork by Chrissie DemantToday's story on the Vault of Evil's Christmas Bedside Companion is my tale Old Grudge Ender, illustrated by Chrissie Demant. This was previously published in the Screaming Book of Horror edited by Johnny Mains.
https://vaultofevil.proboards.com/.../vault-christmas...
Scrap reprinted in Phantasmagoria 17
My short story Scrap has been reprinted in the current issue of Phantasmagoria (No 17). Scrap was first published in Dark Visions 1 edited by Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson for Grey Matter Press in 2013.
