Eric J. Guignard's Blog, page 19
January 15, 2021
Book Review: THE BONE CLOCKS by DAVID MITCHELL
REVIEWED: The Bone Clocks
WRITTEN BY: David Mitchell
PUBLISHED: September, 2015 by Sceptre (Hachette)
Book Review: Caveat* “listened to” on audiobook.
I prefer reading books in print, but I also listen to audiobooks as a way of coping sitting in traffic during commuting hours for work. So I had this book slated for audio, and then quarantine hit, so I didn’t have to commute, but still listened in the car when I drove “errands,” which means it took over five months to listen to this immense (658-page, or, 22-disk) tome!
First and foremost, this is an amazing book. The complexity and depth of the story is astounding. The literary prowess of David Mitchell is remarkable. It’s a rich, satisfying venture of the imagination. At the same time, there are sections which are mind-numbingly dull, tedious, and often filled with the question of “where is this going?” Those questions were always, ultimately, answered however, so the patient reader is rewarded.
THE BONE CLOCKS is constructed as six related stories (from five different points of view), revolving around the central protagonist, Irish-born Holly Sykes. The book spans her life, beginning during her early teenage years in 1984 and ending in the future of 2043, when she is an elderly woman, during an apocalyptic collapse of Earth’s resources.
Over the course of the book it is slowly revealed that Holly has unwittingly, and inadvertently, become involved in a battle between two warring factions of immortals: one group who reincarnate “naturally” and try to protect humans, and the other faction, which must murder gifted youths and “drink their souls” as a vampiric way to maintain immortality. As horrific and substantial as this central idea may be, it plays very little part for most of the book, appearing only in offsetting “glances” during the course of individuals’ otherwise normal lives. Whenever a human has interaction with one of the immortals, their mind is wiped clean of the event, and they carry on afterward.
This book is certainly a treasure to the right kind of reader, although it may not appeal to everyone. It belongs on the shelves of literary classics that explore the meaning, diversity, and philosophy of life, yet it also contains the supernatural and horror elements that are often so at-odds with literature classics. Author David Mitchell himself includes a humorous anecdote in the book, in which downward-spiraling literary author Crispin Hershey desperately pitches a new book idea to his publicist and talks about adding some mythology to it, and the agent is absolutely horrified that his author may be dipping into the realm of “fantasy,” surely the last vestige of the failed writer.
It’s a somewhat-tragic, somewhat heart-warming ending (without giving anything away), which is more in line with the acceptance of mortality and our own impending doom, when time runs out of our lives on our “Bone Clocks”.
As an aside, there is a spin-off book, written after this, called SLADE HOUSE, which I read first. Having no idea that SLADE HOUSE was a tie-in to THE BONE CLOCKS, I liked SLADE HOUSE slightly better, mostly as it was a quicker read, about 1/3 the size of BONE CLOCKS, so included faster pacing, while still exploring the complexity and interrelation of various lives, although—in comparison—SLADE HOUSE certainly lacked the complexity and richness of THE BONE CLOCKS.
Four-and-three-quarter out of Five stars (4.75 out of 5)
Full review on Goodreads, here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3773583016?
December 21, 2020
December, 2020 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets
HWA L.A.: December, 2020
New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes
At Minimum Pro-Paying Rates (5 cents+ per word)
Departure Mirror Quarterly
http://departuremirror.com/guidelines/
Payment: 10 cents a word (payment capped at 3,000 words)
Story Length: up to 20,000 words (preferred less than 12,000)
Deadline: Open between January 2–January 31, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: 3 months
Description: Original fiction and poetry, all of which must be broadly “speculative fiction” (science fiction, fantasy, alt-history, magical realism, slipstream, or in some other way altered reality).
https://www.silvershamrockpublishing.com/midnight-from-beyond-the-stars-anthology
Payment: 6 cents a word
Story Length: 2,500–6,000 words
Deadline: April 30, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: unknown
Description: Space Monster horror! original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe.
Diabolical Plots ezine
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/guidelines
Payment: 10 cents a word
Story Length: 3,500 or less
Deadline: Open between January 1–January 31, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: One month
Description: Science fiction, fantasy, and horror (everything must have speculative element, even horror), including mixed-genres. (This is the same founders of the market submission tracker, ‘The Grinder’.)
Daily Science Fiction
http://dailysciencefiction.com/submit
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: to 1,500 words (prefer less than 1,000)
Deadline: Continually open (EXCEPT during December 24, 2020–January 2, 2021)
Reprints?: No
Response Time: 1 month
Description: Speculative fiction, such as science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, etc. Daily publications.
Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness (Neon Hemlock Press)
https://www.neonhemlock.com/submissions
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: 1,000–6,000 words (less than 4,000 words preferred)
Deadline: January 15, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response Time: unknown
Description: Speculative stories of witchery with queer narratives; Tales that explores the boundaries between queer witches, the profane, and infinite darkness.
https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines
Payment: 8–10 cents a word (9 cents a word for non-fiction)
Story Length: up to 20,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: No
Response: 2–3 months
Description: Science fiction stories in which some aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse.
***Non-PRO-Paying Market, but Eric J. Guignard’s “Pick of the Month”
https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html
Payment: $100 flat
Story Length: 1,000–7,500 words
Deadline: Continually open
Reprints?: No
Response Time: within 3 months
Description: Non-themed, original speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, and science fiction.
http://najvs.org/anthology.shtml
Payment: 2 cents a word ($30 for reprints)
Story Length: 3,000–5,000 words
Deadline: Open between January 1–April 30, 2021 (or until filled)
Reprints?: Yes
Response Time: unknown
Description: Short stories inspired by the writings of Jules Verne. Your story may be set in any time or place. You may use characters from Verne’s novels (they’re all in the public domain) or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The connection between your story and at least one of Verne’s works must be obvious and significant.
December 17, 2020
Submissions Review for Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World
Just got off a Zoom meeting with co-editor CharlatanBardot, beginning the laborious process of reviewing and responding to 350+ open call submissions. What an honor to work with Professor Bardot! Good insights, he knows his paranormal. And the submissions are stellar… heartbreaking to have to send rejection letters for great stories, but there’s only room for a small percentage that align with the flow of the book. This anthology will be THE GREATEST EVER (from me), coming from Dark Moon Books late 2021 or early 2022!
The world carries on!
November 30, 2020
New podcast episode released, discussing EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION primer series!
Honored and pleased to have been a guest along with Michael Arnzen, PhD, on the latest episode of David Agranoff’s podcast, POSTCARDS FROM A DYING WORLD, where we discuss my PRIMER series, EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION (published through Dark Moon Books)! Check it out, 1-1/2 hours of dark fiction genius content, with mention of volumes and work by Steve Rasnic Tem, Kaaron Warren, Nisi Shawl, Jeffrey Ford, Han Song, and Ramsey Campbell.
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EpxralopZM
Audio only podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pfdw-25-exploring-dark-short-fiction-series-eric-guignard/id1524359471?i=1000500355234
November 13, 2020
Happy birthday to my younger brother, Jeff G.
Happy birthday to my younger brother, Jeff G. He should have turned 42 today. He is still missed immensely, more than anything.
For memories:
A link to his tribute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PudBALCZY70
A link to his eulogy: https://www.facebook.com/ericjguignard/posts/10207142974280087?notif_t=comment_mention
A link to his legacy.com page:
https://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/sgvtribune/jeffrey-b-guignard-condolences/176078204?cid=full
A link to a Facebook photo album devoted to him:
https://www.facebook.com/ericjguignard/media_set?set=a.10207146463767322.1454056786&type=3
October 2, 2020
Cover Reveal for: Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World (2021 edition)
Presenting cover reveal for: PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT’S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD (2021 EDITION) !!!!
Submissions Accepted: November 15–December 15, 2020
http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/Submissions.html
September 30, 2020
Release Day for: EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #5: A PRIMER TO HAN SONG
At long last, release day for the latest primer is here!! I’ve been waiting so long to showcase this magnificent work!!
EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #5: A PRIMER TO HAN SONG
Considered one of the three most important voices in contemporary Chinese science fiction (along with Liu Cixin and Wang Jinkang), Han Song is a multiple recipient of the Chinese Galaxy Award (China's highest profile sci-fi prize), as well as the Chinese Nebula Award and Asian-Pacific Sci-fi Gravity Award. Song bridges new developments in science and subjects of cultural and social dynamics with stories of dystopia, governmental conspiracy, and subversive horror, earning praise for his work as “absurdly dark,” while also reigniting a science fiction renaissance.
Including original English translations by Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD, Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to Han Song’s work, the fifth in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover—or learn more of—the enigmatic voice of Han Song, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.
Included within these pages are:
• Six short stories, three translated exclusively for this book
• Author interview
• Complete bibliography
• Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)
• … and more!
Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Han Song.
###
Title: Exploring Dark Short Fiction #5: A Primer to Han Song
By: Edited by Eric J. Guignard (including Short Fiction authored by Han Song), with original English translations by Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD, academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD, and illustrations by Michelle Prebich
Price: $24.95 for hardback; $14.95 for print and $4.99 for electronic
Publisher: Dark Moon Books (Los Angeles, CA)
Format: Available in HARDBACK, TRADE PAPERBACK and ELECTRONIC media
13-digit ISBN: 978-1-949491-37-1 (hardback); 978-1-949491-12-8 (trade paperback) 978-1-949491-17-3 (e-book)
Number of pages: 218
Date of publication: September, 2020
Praise for the Exploring Dark Short Books series:
“A fascinating study for fans seeking new reads and for librarians developing wide-ranging collections.” —Library Journal
“Refreshing and much-needed... Addresses significant themes and figures within the horror field.” —Locus Magazine
"An insightful look at the working methods and underlying concerns of some of the foremost exponents of the short story form, appealing to both intellect and the emotions.” —Black Static Magazine
###
Immense thanks and gratitude (as always) to Michael Arnzen for his insightful commentary throughout the book; and Michelle Prebichfor her gorgeous interior artwork; and Nathaniel Isaacson, PhD for his mammoth effort in beautifully translating the stories for this volume; and, naturally, thanks especially to Han Song for inspiring and consenting to this project!
Publisher’s Page: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/Primer_5.html
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949491374/
Also available on all other online distribution sites, including B&N , IndieBound (and bookshop.org) , Kobo , etc.
September 12, 2020
Accolades and updates for LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION
I’m gonna humble brag a little, this novella has been gaining traction in sales and reviews over the past week! It makes me so happy to know that I’m not just throwing work into the void, as it feels most days.
LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION is available on my website or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Case-at-Baggage-Auction/dp/1949491250
###
Here are some of the latest write-ups by book review sites!
“…The author has a knack for combining real historical events with his own imagination.”
https://www.curiosityboughtthebook.com/2020/09/05/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-review/
“…an outstanding sense of time and place, very engaging narration, and a supernatural hook to savour (also striking illustrations from Steve Lines!)”
https://www.horrordna.com/books/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-eric-j-guignard-book-review
“…definitely recommended reading for lovers of the eerie and those that like a little suspense in their reads. I am struggling to liken this book to any other, as the voice and telling are so original.”
https://bookvagabond.com/2020/09/04/review-last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-by-eric-j-guignard/
“…is a killer novella of quiet horror and it's a blast!”
http://charlene.booklikes.com/post/3097186/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction-by-eric-j-guignard
“…prose is smooth and uncluttered, in service of a fully rounded, intelligent and consistently surprising narrative that’s packed with the type of thrills you’d expect from a scary book, along with a great deal of sumptuously researched historical detail”
https://thebedlamfiles.com/fiction/last-case-at-a-baggage-auction/
Anyway, THANK YOU to book reviewers everywhere! #reviewers #books #gratitude
September 5, 2020
August 12, 2020
Another amazing illustration by Steve Lines for my novella, LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION
Another amazing illustration by artist extraordinaire Steve Lines for my novella, LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION. Collect them all!!
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Case-at-Baggage-Auction/dp/1949491250
