Paperback Fanatic # 6 (Feb. 2008)

Justin Marriott (ed.) – Paperback Fanatic # 6 (Feb. 2008)

Peter Haining interview – long chat with the late Peter Haining about his trail-blazing days at the New English Library fiction factory. Discusses authors such as Jim Moffatt, Terry Harknett and Chris Priest, and books such as Skinhead, Chopper and Edge.

Haining’s Web of Terror- noted genre expert Mike Ashley’s dissection of Peter’s classic horror anthologies

Sexton Blake and The Guardians- Andy Boot’s investigation into the murky world of Bill Baker’s Press Editorial. Great stuff for any fan of 1960s pulp!

Philip Harbottle’s Vision of Tomorrow- how did the excellent SF mag Vision fail? Editor Phil reveals the inside story on the rise and fall of the UK’s only SF mag of the early 1970s.

Plus- Robert E Howard in UK paperback, NEL and the Mafia, letters, updates and reviews. 44 A4 pages.

Cover price £3.95, post-free to members of this site. Payment by paypal – details at Paperback Fanatic

This has just this minute arrived but see the Vault thread for comment on the mighty Paperback Fanatic # 6

Charles Black – The 2nd Black Book Of Horror

more good news!

Charles Black (ed.) – The 2nd Black Book Of Horror (Mortbury Press, Feb. 2008)

Cover: Paul Mudie

Gary McMahon – Black Glass
David A. Sutton – Amygdala
David A. Riley – Now and Forever More
Steve Goodwin – The Cold Harvest
Craig Herbertson – On the Couch
Mike Chinn – All Under Hatches Stow’d
Daniel McGachey – The Crimson Picture
D. F. Lewis – Squabble
Eddy C. Bertin – The Eye in the Mirror
Julia Lufford – The Meal
John L. Probert – In Sickness And …
L. H. Maynard & M. P. N. Sims – Onion
Rog Pile – The Pit

ISBN 978-0955606113

200 Pages

£7 + £1-50 P&P in the UK

order from Mortbury Press

AVAILABLE NOW!

Several Vault readers nominated Charles’ debut anthology as their most treasured book of 2007 and here’s a second volume. I don’t have a copy yet, but just look at that wonderful line-up! It is to be hoped that a third Book Of Horror will be published toward the end of this year.

It is to be hoped that a review will appear here soon, but don’t let that put you off your enjoyment. For now, I know how much work Mr. Black and his contributors have put into this, and my sincere respect and congratulations to them all.

Basil Copper ‘A Life in books’ launch this saturday

sorry it’s such short notice. it’s looking like there will be a decent vault presence at this. i’m the guy rat-tail hair, wild staring eyes and broken arm and you are very welcome to say hi and get me incredibly drunk! see olde cock tavern thread on vault site for latest news/ arrangements for night so you’ll know how best to avoid us.

and thanks to Mark Samuels for tipping us off and typing this out!

BASIL COPPER BOOK LAUNCH

Hosted by the British Fantasy Society and PS Publishing, the bio/bibliography BASIL COPPER: A LIFE IN BOOKS Compiled and Edited by Stephen Jones will be launched on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd at THE UPSTAIRS BAR, YE OLDE COCK TAVERN, 22 FLEET STREET, LONDON EC4Y 1AA from 6:00pm onwards.

Among those signing copies will be BASIL COPPER, editor/co-designer STEPHEN JONES, artists RANDY BROECKER and LES EDWARDS, co-designer MICHAEL MARSHALL SMITH and publisher PETER CROWTHER. Special Guests (subject to commitment) include legendary anthology editors HUGH LAMB, MICHEL PARRY and DAVID A. SUTTON.

Basil Copper became a full-time writer in 1970. His first story in the horror field, ‘The Spider’, was published in 1964 in THE FIFTH PAN BOOK OF HORROR STORIES, since when his short fiction has appeared in numerous collections and anthologies, and been extensively adapted for radio and television. Along with two non-fiction studies of the vampire and werewolf legends, his other books include the novels THE GREAT WHITE SPACE, THE CURSE OF THE FLEERS, NECROPOLIS, THE BLACK DEATH and THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF. Copper has also written more than fifty hardboiled thrillers about Los Angeles private detective Mike Faraday, and has continued the adventures of August Derleth’s Sherlock Holmes-like consulting detective Solar Pons in several volumes of short stories and the novel SOLAR PONS VERSUS THE DEVIL’S CLAW.

Concluding three years’ extensive research, multiple award-winning editor and writer Stephen Jones was given unprecedented and unrestricted access to the books and papers of renowned British macabre and crime writer Basil Copper.

The result is BASIL COPPER: A LIFE IN BOOKS, a unique and in-depth study of the author and his works. Not only does this volume contain the most comprehensive Working Bibliography ever compiled of Basil Copper’s productive output – including Macabre and Supernatural Novels and Collections, the “Solar Pons” series, the “Mike Faraday” series, Short Fiction and Novellas, Media Adaptations, Unpublished Works and much more, enhanced with commentary by the author himself – but it also features several rare and obscure articles covering everything from Arkham House creator August Derleth to a brief history of Count Dracula.

There are also a number of short stories, most of them original to this volume, ranging from his very first published work back in 1938 to a brand-new “Mike Faraday” detective adventure, along with a complete television script based on M.R. James’ classic horror story ‘Count Magnus’.

With an in-depth look at the author’s life and career by acclaimed ghost story editor Richard Dalby, and Basil Copper’s inspirational Guest of Honour speech from the 1977 British Fantasy Convention, BASIL COPPER: A LIFE IN BOOKS is illustrated with numerous cover reproductions, artwork and unique personal photographs.

If you cannot make it to the signing, but still want to PRE-PURCHASE a personally-signed copy (or copies) please contact PS Publishing for details of how to place your order. Dealer’s enquiries welcome – trade discounts available.

ISBN 978-1-905834-98-3 (Jacketed hardcover) £25.00 / $50.00 (approx.) ISBN 978-1-905834-97-6 (Hardcover) £15.00 / $30.00 (approx.) 280pp

BFS BONUS!!! On the night, a number of specially-priced copies of the PS hardcover anthology DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHT will be available on a first-come basis. Edited by STEPHEN JONES, this third volume in the acclaimed new “Not at Night” series features work by BASIL COPPER, PAUL McAULEY, MARK SAMUELS, JAY RUSSELL, RANDY BROECKER, LES EDWARDS and many others (including Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Charles L. Grant and Hugh B. Cave).

Thinking Man’s Crumpet: submissions wanted

“THE THINKING MAN’S CRUMPET”

Cross genre fiction written by women.

We are currently looking for talented female contibutors, aged 16 and over, to showcase in the first issue of our brand new creation. This half-yearly magazine will feature a variety of writings from females around the globe; fiction in all forms and genres. Also non fiction by way of short articles, reviews and essays.

We do prefer Science Fiction, Horror and Erotica, but will consider other, or mixed, genre work.

So ladies, be it story, poem or play, paste it into a message, no formatting necessary, and don’t forget to include a couple of sentences as your bio. If you prefer, e-mail your submission to: coralkingATlive.co.uk (replace the ‘AT’ with @ )

All contributors will receive their copy gratis, and further copies will be available at a competitive price, details of which will be available nearer the publish date. Final date for submissions for the June issue is 31st March 2008 and all entrants will by notified within one month of this date.