Alastair Reynolds's Blog, page 43

The trailer, redux

I've heard from James Roberts, of thewholebuffalo.com, who was the writer, director and editor on the excellent Blue Remembered Earth trailer (well over 5000 hits, by the way, and climbing). James points out that there's a nice VFX/making-of montage to be seen here, after the main trailer:

http://vimeo.com/33059028

Go on. Watch it again. You know you want to...

A bit more

Some more of the book up on the Gollancz blog, for your enjoyment (or otherwise).

http://www.gollancz.co.uk/2012/01/blue-remembered-earth-prologue/

Glad to hear that copies of the book are reaching people, and indeed some are already well into the book.

Read an excerpt from Blue Remembered Earth

Over at the Gollancz blog, they'll be posting some chapters from the new book over the next few days. To kick off, my editor Simon Spanton has written a very kind piece about the author, and you can already read the start of the novel (kind of a pro-prologue, I think).

http://www.gollancz.co.uk/

Blue Remembered Earth reviews

Some reviews of the new book have begun to appear. In one of his essays Gene Wolfe said something to the effect that, no matter the subsequent reactions, provided the first review is positive, you can always take consolation from that. Fortunately for me, I've never had a very bad first review, although doubtless it will happen one of these days. SFX, who have generally been kind to me, disliked Revelation Space rather intensely - but by the point I read that review, there had already been a ...

Guardian podcast

Many of you may have already been aware of this, but I did a Guardian podcast last week (along with Sarah Crown, Damien G Sullivan and Jeff Noon, and with contributions from Lauren Beukes and Michael Moorcock). Have a listen:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2012/jan/06/books-podcast-science-fiction-now-tomorrow

Thank you to Simon and Sarah for hosting such an enjoyable event. It was nice to meet Jeff Noon for the first time, too.

Festive wishes

It's that time of year when I wish my readers the best of the festive season, and a happy 2012. Thanks for following the blog through 2011. Here's a seasonal watercolour by my wife.

Read it in books

Yesterday I recieved a big brown box containing the first copies of BLUE REMEMBERED EARTH. It's always a bit of a kick to get the finished product. It's not why I write (and I definitely don't do it to see my name on bookshelves - that particular thrill lasts about five minutes, in my experience) but it's one of the high points, and it would be churlish not to enjoy it. Especially, in this case, when the book itself is so lovely to behold. I've had some gorgeous covers in the past, and it's b...

Blue Remembered Earth trailer

This is officially very cool. I was thrilled when I learned that Gollancz intended to commission a promotional trailer for Blue Remembered Earth; even more so when I saw the treatment. Two days ago I saw the final product and I'm stunned; it's a lovely piece of work, and very true to my mental image of the characters and their world. Magnificent!

You can watch the trailer by going to:

http://www.gollancz.co.uk/2011/12/blue-remembered-earth-trailer-launch/

or at http...

The Belgian Incident - a true story.

"...but though even words like jujuflop, swut and turlingdrome are now
perfectly acceptable in common usage, there is one word that is still
beyond the pale. The concept it embodies is so revolting that the
publication or broadcast of the word is utterly forbidden in all parts
of the galaxy except one, where they don't know what it means.
That word is... BELGIUM."
(Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Fit the Tenth)

What was it about Belgium that had such an effect on Douglas Adams? I've often wonder...

New Art Riot - Strange Horizons

The last for a while, this, but here's a brand new one, and for once I will be giving it away. This picture was done for Justin, one of the winners of the Strange Horizons prize draw. I'd offered to illustrate a scene from one of my books but Justin was good enough to let me do whatever I liked - although doubtless you could find a scene somewhere that more or less matches this picture, if you looked long enough (I mean, spaceship, gloomy planet - how hard can it be?)

Acrylic and airbrush, A3...