The British Fantasy Society

Iain Banks and Kim Stanley Robinson in conversation

When: June 9, 2012 @ 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Where: Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Ave, London,Greater London WC2H 8JR, UK

IAIN BANKS AND KIM STANLEY ROBINSON IN CONVERSATION Saturday 09 June 2012 15:30 - 18:00 London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR Forbidden Planet and Orbit Books, in association with the British Library, are delighted to present a unique opportunity to hear two giants of the genre in conversation about 2012, the end of [...]

3rd Twin Peaks UK Festival, Hammersmith

When: October 20, 2012 (all-day)

Where: Riverside Studios, White City Estate, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham,London W6 9RL, UK

The 3rd Twin Peaks UK Festival will tak place on 20 October 2012 at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London. Phoebe Augustine has already confirmed her attendance at the fest with more guests to be announced soon! Phoebe of course played Ronette Pulaski in the show and was a vital part in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With [...]

Chomu Press publishing schedule for 2012

Dadaoism, the first anthology from Chomu Press, is now available. From the website: “Editors Justin Isis and Quentin S. Crisp have selected twenty-six novellas, short stories and poems setting out an aesthetic manifesto of rich and stimulating prose style, explosively unhindered imagination and anarchic experimentation.” As we have come to expect from Chomu, this is [...]

Lovecraft Ezine #14 – special women’s issue – out now

Issue 14 of the Lovecraft Ezine is now online. This is a special issue with the emphasis on women’s Lovecraftian fiction and artwork, and female characters in Lovecraft-inspired tales. Contents are: A Beer and Tentacles by Holliann Kim Now She Preys Through Endless Days by Jenna M. Pitman Fiesta of Our Lady by Ann K. [...]

Paul Cornell signing at Forbidden Planet

When: June 6, 2012 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Where: Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Ave, London,Greater London WC2H 8JR, UK

Wednesday 06 June 2012 18:00 - 19:00 London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR PAUL CORNELL will be signing STORMWATCH: THE DARK SIDE at the Forbidden Planet Megastore on Wednesday 6th June from 6:00 to 7:00pm. As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, Stormwatch returns, but [...]

BFS Committee announcement

The BFS committee is pleased to announce that Neil Ford has joined as Webmaster for the society. Neil has over 25 years experience in IT covering a wide range of disciplines and technologies, including all aspects of web hosting and administration. Neil takes over from the equally-capable Derek Lakin-Smith, who leaves the society having improved [...]

Lists of members’ recommendations for British Fantasy Awards

Following announcement of the shortlist for the 2012 British Fantasy Awards, the long lists from which the shortlisted works/candidates were chosen can now be revealed. The ‘long lists’ are the list of members’ recommendations in each category, including jurors’ recommendations as applicable. The lists have been copied from the voting data. Titles appear in no [...]

New Terry Grimwood novel available now from Blood Moon Press

A new novel by Terry Grimwood, Axe, is now available from Blood Moon Press in paperback and ebook formats. About the book: “Middle-aged teenager and rough diamond, Steve Turner, plays part-time rock and roll and dreams of the success that he knows has passed him by. Until a scrap of yellowing paper covered in handwritten [...]

Dark Hollow picked for Fantasia Film Festival’s International Co-production Market

The film adaptation of US horror author Brian Keene‘s novel Dark Hollow took another step towards the big screen by being picked as one of only 14 film projects selected for Frontières: The 2012 Fantasia Film Festival Co-production Market. Part of Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, Frontières will be held from 26 to 29 July [...]

Ramsey Campbell first confirmed GoH at the Stoker Awards 2013

The Horror Writers Association has announced BFS President Ramsey Campbell as their first Guest of Honour for the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend 2013. The event will be held in New Orleans from 13 – 16 June 2013. Ramsey – who is a HWA Lifetime Achievement Award winner - will be participating in all aspects of [...]

Bloomsbury to publish urban fantasy series by Oxford undergraduate, Samantha Shannon

Bloomsbury has pre-empted world English rights in The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon in a major three book deal and will publish the first of the seven book series in print and ebook globally on 12 September 2013, after the author graduates from Oxford University. Bloomsbury Editor-in-chief Alexandra Pringle moved to acquire the series from [...]

2012 John W. Campbell Memorial Award finalists announced

The finalists have been announced for the 2012 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best SF novel. They are: Ready Player One, Ernest Cline (Crown) This Shared Dream, Kathleen Ann Goonan (Tor) Soft Apocalypse, Will McIntosh (Night Shade Books) Embassytown, China Miéville (Del Rey) The Islanders, Christopher Priest (Gollancz) The Highest Frontier, Joan Slonczewski (Tor) [...]

Solaris acquires mass market rights to Lavie Tidhar’s Osama

Solaris has acquired world English mass market rights to Lavie Tidhar’s highly-praised and BSFA Award-nominated novel Osama. Lauded as one of the most significant genre books of the year, the mass market version of Osama will be released in October 2012. The most exciting, daring and sensitive fictional engagement with the post-9/11 era, Osama is [...]

Adam Nevill signing at Forbidden Planet, Birmingham

When: May 26, 2012 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Where: Forbidden Planet, 38 The Priory Queensway, Birmingham,West Midlands B4 7LA, UK

Saturday 26 May 2012 13:00 - 14:00 Birmingham Store, 38 Priory Queensway, Birmingham, B4 7LA ADAM NEVILL signs his newest, more terrifying novel yet, LAST DAYS (Tor) at Forbidden Planet Birmingham on Saturday 26th May from 1 – 2pm. The Temple of the Last Days was a notorious cult, which reached its bloody endgame [...]

Dead World By Shaun Jeffrey. ebook review

DEAD WORLD By Shaun Jeffrey, Published by Deshca Press 2012, £0.97 Kindle edition Reviewed by David A. Riley Shaun Jeffrey has written an enjoyable romp through a post Apocalyptic world years after a zombie holocaust has devastated civilisation. Anna and her husband Isaiah live with their children in a tightly controlled community inside a former [...]

The Spook And The Spirit In The Stone by Jilly Paddock. Ebook review

THE SPOOK AND THE SPIRIT IN THE STONE by Jilly Paddock, Cathaven Press, Ebook, £0.77, http://tabbycat.wordpress.com/about/the-spook-and-the-spirit-in-the-stone/ Reviewed by Stewart Horn It’s usually a positive thing if a story is difficult to categorise. This one is set in the future on another planet; only some of the characters are human; and there’s a scary supernatural beastie. [...]

Symposium: Narrative Voice in Historical and Fantasy Fiction

When: June 29, 2012 (all-day)

Where: Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0BZ, UK

Other Voices Other Times Narrative Voice in Historical and Fantasy Fiction The Centre for Contemporary Writing at Bath Spa University is holding a one-day interdisciplinary Symposium on Friday 29th June 2012 to explore the challenges of representing other worlds. Confirmed speakers include: Marie-Louise Jensen Ian Mortimer Ashley Pharoah Fay Weldon CBE [...]

Tickets now on sale for 11th Fantastic Films Weekend

The full line-up has now been announced and tickets are on sale for the 11th Fantastic Films Weekend from 15 – 17 June 2012 at the National Media Museum, Bradford. Here, from the website, is just a taste of what’s in store: “We will be schlocking and rolling you with some of the most outrageous [...]

New SF apocalyptic series forthcoming from Geoff Nelder

The first in a science fiction apocalyptic novel series, ARIA: Left Luggage by BFS member Geoff Nelder, will be released by LL-Publications on 1 August 2012. The cover is by award-winning artist Andy Bigwood. The book will be published in paperback and electronic formats. “Today, Jack caught a bug at work. He catches a bus [...]

Comics mega-signing at Forbidden Planet

When: May 18, 2012 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Where: Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Ave, London,Greater London WC2H 8JR, UK

Friday 18 May 2012 18:00 - 19:00 London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR FORBIDDEN PLANET is delighted to announce a fantastic line-up of artists and writers for a fabulous Friday Night Mega-Signing at Forbidden Planet London! Don’t miss this one - on Friday 18th May, from 6 – 7pm, at the London [...]

The Songs Of Phera Main by Simon Yates. Book review

THE SONGS OF PHERA MAIN by Simon Yates, Matador (self-published), 232pp p/back, £6.99 Reviewed by R A Bardy (@mangozoid) Set in a far distant future, ‘The Songs of Phera Main’ serves as a subtle allegory about mankind’s past and future environment, told through the eyes of two remarkably dissimilar inhabitants. The Songs of the title [...]

New horror magazine seeks Kickstarter funding

John Joseph Adams is seeking Kickstarter funding for the proposed Nightmare Magazine - “a monthly magazine of horror and dark fantasy short fiction which will be published both online and in ebook format. This Kickstarter is intended to help fund the first issue and to get the magazine off the ground. In Nightmare‘s pages, you [...]

2D: Northern Ireland Comics Festival, Derry

When: May 31, 2012 – June 2, 2012 (all-day)

Where: See website

2D, the Northern Ireland Comics Festival, is an annual event that celebrates comic book culture and works to promote and support sequential art and storytelling. 2D is organised and supported by the Verbal Arts Centre, a unique and celebrated educational charity founded to promote the spoken and written word in Ireland. The majority of the [...]

London Anime Con

When: June 30, 2012 – July 1, 2012 (all-day)

Where: Rocket Complex, 166 Holloway Rd, London Borough of Islington,N7, UK

Welcome to London Anime Con, the home for anime and gaming fans in London, taking place on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July 2012! It's just £10 per day from midday to midnight. Register Online now and you will get both days for just £15 and Saturday/Sunday for £8 per day! Venue: Rocket Complex, [...]

Insurgence – The Vampire Diaries convention (Birmingham)

When: June 22, 2012 – June 24, 2012 (all-day)

Where: Birmingham Metropole Hotel

INSURGENCE: THE RECKONING Introducing our 4th Insurgence Convention dedicated to the successful US TV show “The Vampire Diaries”. We are pleased to announce that we are holding our 4th Convention under the name INSURGENCE: THE RECKONING. Insurgence 4 is a 3-day convention for The Vampire Diaries fans with Guest Talks, Photo and Autograph sessions, Evening [...]

The 11th Hour (Doctor Who), Birmingham

When: June 15, 2012 – June 17, 2012 (all-day)

Where: Birmingham Metropole Hotel

THE 11th HOUR is a 3-day celebration of Matt Smith's tenure as the 11th Doctor The event will feature: guest talks photo and autograph sessions competitions parties and much more 15 -17 June 2012 at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel. Matt Smith and Alex Kingston will be guests at the event. Website: http://www.starfury.co.uk/

Film, TV and Toy Collection Extravaganza – Winchester, Hants.

When: June 9, 2012 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: River Park Leisure Centre, 13 Gordon Rd, Winchester,Hampshire SO23, UK

The South's most anticipated event brings you closer to the stars in another exciting Film, TV and Toy Collection Extravaganza!! We are proud to present our next event! When? Saturday 9 June 2012 Where? River Park Leisure Centre, 13 Gordon Rd, Winchester, Hampshire. SO23 7DD Time? 10 am to 5 pm Entry adult £5.00, OAP [...]

Collectormania, Milton Keynes

When: June 1, 2012 – June 3, 2012 (all-day)

Where: MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes, UK

Collectormania Friday 1 June 2012 to Sunday 3 June 2012 @ MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes Guests include Karen Gillan and Tom Baker (Doctor Who), among many others. Full details at the website: http://www.collectormania.com/miltonkeynes/

Download your digital copy of the BFS Journal and Shelflings

BFS members should have received their email detailing how to download their digital copy of the Spring BFS Journal. From this edition, the Journal is available as a PDF, epub and mobi for all your ereader needs. The email also includes details of how to download issue one of Shelflings. Shelflings, compiled and typeset by [...]

Fantasy Short Stories – new Heroic, Epic and High Fantasy ‘zine

Fantasy Short Stories is a new publication established with the aim of publishing the best short stories in Heroic, Epic, and High Fantasy, and with plenty of Swords and Sorcery thrown in. The publisher states: “Although many of our authors may be unknown to you, we aim to set high standards for publication, and to [...]

BFS Welsh Open Night

When: May 19, 2012 @ 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Where: Owain Glyndwr, St John Street, Cardiff,CF10 1GJ, UK

British Fantasy Society Welsh Open Night Christopher Teague of Pendragon Press has arranged a Welsh BFS Open Night, confirmed for Saturday 19 May 2012 starting at 7pm. The venue, Owain Glyndwr, in Chris's words "is right slap bang in the centre of town (Cardiff), opposite Waterstones". Chris will be launching Gary McMahon's Visions Fading Fast [...]

Second Eric Brown Weird Space novel to Abaddon

Jonathan Oliver, commissioning editor of Abaddon Books, has acquired Satan’s Reach, a second Weird Space SF novel by Eric Brown. This follows on from Eric’s soon-to-be-published The Devil’s Nebula. The novel will be delivered in 2013. The agent was John Jarrold and the deal is for UK/US rights. Eric Brown said: “I’m excited about doing [...]

British Fantasy Awards shortlist announced

The British Fantasy Society is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2012 British Fantasy Awards. Determined by the 952 recommendations from BFS members and FantasyCon attendees and overseen by the British Fantasy Awards Jury, the shortlist is: Novel: The Heroes; Joe Abercrombie (Gollancz) 11.22.63; Stephen King (Hodder & Stoughton) Cyber Circus; Kim Lakin-Smith (NewCon [...]

The Scarifyers: First audio now in comic book format

Part one of the brand new Scarifyers comic book is available to pre-order now exclusively from the Cosmic Hobo shop. Written by Simon Barnard, illustrated by 2000AD artist Simon Gurr, and wrapped in a handsome cover from Garen Ewing, the first issue is released on 21 May 2012, priced at just £2.99. Issue 1 of [...]

Try Black Static free!

You can now try an issue of Black Static free, or you can pay for it – you decide. TTA Press have reset the price for Black Static Issue 19 (October 2010) on Smashwords so that you can get it for free or select a price you consider worthwhile. Try it, and if you feel [...]

Round-up of recent Awards news

Here is a round-up of recent awards news: First, The David Gemmell Legend Award 2012 shortlist has been announced. See the full list HERE The Testament of Jessie Lamb (Sandstone Press) by Jane Rogers – her first venture into science fiction – has won the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award. Full details HERE Meanwhile, SFScope [...]

Sci-Fi, Comic & Fantasy Art Extravaganza in Bath

When: May 19, 2012 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: Masonic Hall, 12 Old Orchard St, Bath,Bath and North East Somerset BA1 1JU, UK

The Sci-Fi, Comic & Fantasy Art Extravaganza – Sat 19th & Sun 20th May 2012 (10.00am – 5.00pm) is being held at the Masonic Hall, 12 Orchard St, Bath BA1 1JU and is an absolute must to visit for all fans of Science Fiction, Comic or Fantasy. JIM BURNS the internationally known Sci-Fi artist and [...]

Pat Mills / Simon Bisley signing at Forbidden Planet

When: June 23, 2012 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Where: Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Ave, London,Greater London WC2H 8JR, UK

Saturday 23 June 2012 13:00 - 14:00 London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR PAT MILLS & SIMON BISLEY will be signing the new hardcover of the classic SLAINE THE HORNED GOD (2000AD) at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 23rd June 1 – 2pm. The warrior barbarian Slaine, master of the [...]

Ben Aaronovitch reading and signing at Forbidden Planet

When: June 23, 2012 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Where: Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Ave, London,Greater London WC2H 8JR, UK

Saturday 23 June 2012 16:00 - 17:00 London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR BEN AARONOVITCH will be signing the third novel in his superbly entertaining supernatural crime series WHISPERS UNDER GROUND at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 23rd June from 4 – 5pm. He will also be giving an exclusive [...]

Screaming Dreams starts to release Kindle editions of its back catalogue

Screaming Dreams has started to release Kindle editions of some of its books. Not all of the existing print titles will be released for Kindle through Screaming Dreams because of contracts some authors have signed with other publishers. But, whenever possible, Screaming Dreams will now release both print and Kindle versions of past and future [...]

Why do you write? Tell us on the BFS forum

In his Mark of Fear column in the latest issue of the BFS Journal, Mark Morris writes: “Why do writers write? What compels them to commit their thoughts and ideas to paper, and then to present them for the scrutiny, criticism and approbation of others? A recent Facebook update from Gary McMahon gave me pause [...]

Renegade Writers’ Group has a new venue

Renegade Writers is a writers’ group that meets every Wednesday (7.00pm-9.30pm), now in a private room in the Red Lion, 18 Stoke Old Road, Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 6ES. All genres are covered (no poetry). The group is open to all writers, aspiring and published, who wish to meet like-minded folk, discuss their work, [...]

Film / TV score composer Joel Goldsmith dies

According to SFScope, composer Joel Goldsmith, son of prolific film and TV composer Jerry Goldsmith, died of cancer on 29 April 2012 at the age of 54. During his career he was nominated for three Emmys, for his work on Stargate SG-1 (1998) and Stargate: Atlantis (2005 and 2006). He composed the music for more [...]

New British fantasy film, Raven Waiting

Raven Waiting is a new British fantasy adventure film being made in the North West by fantasy film fans. Dan Rowbottom is the director and brains behind the film which he hopes will entertain people as well as provide opportunities for UK talent. Dan is a comics book illustrator and filmmaker whose inspiration for Raven [...]

HWA to host joint World Horror Convention / Stoker Awards Weekend

The World Horror Convention 2013 will be hosted by the Horror Writers Association, and will incorporate the Bram Stoker Awards. The event will be held in New Orleans from 13 – 16 June 2013. The event is billed as the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend incorporating World Horror Convention 2013, and it has its website HERE. [...]

Horror author Michael Louis Calvillo dies aged 37

SFScope announces the death of horror author Michael Louis Calvillo on 30 April 2012 following his battle with cancer. He was 37. A Bram Stoker finalist twice, with his 2007 novel I Will Rise and this year with his novella 7 Brains, his other books include Death & Desires in the Age of Women, Blood [...]

2012 Locus Award finalists announced

The Locus Science Fiction Foundation has announced the top five finalists in each category of the 2012 Locus Awards. The winners will be announced during the Science Fiction Awards Weekend to be held in Seattle, USA in June 2012. View the full list of finalists HERE

This Is Horror Premium Chapbook Series coming soon

This Is Horror has announced a new venture – the This Is Horror Premium Chapbook Series. These chapbooks will showcase stories from some of the very best names in genre today and will be released every quarter. The line-up for the first year is as follows: David Moody, author of the best-selling Autumn and Hater [...]

BFS Journal Spring 2012 edition out now!

BFS Members should now be receiving their copy of the Spring BFS Journal. Edited by Lou Morgan, Guy Adams and Ian Hunter, the latest edition features a brand new look. The contents include: FICTION: Don’t You Like The Bird Man? – Jonathan Oliver The Call of Chavthulu – Neil Fulwood Jenny Khan – Rhys Hughes [...]

Photos of hotel frontage sought for internet resource – can you help?

Rob Hansen is compiling an internet resource – THEN: The Archive – which is a repository for some of the material referenced when researching and writing THEN, his history-in-progress of British science fiction fandom from the 1930s to the 1980s. He is seeking a photograph of the frontage of the Imperial Hotel in Birmingham. The [...]