Monthly Archives: October 2008

Happy Halloween

October 31, 2008

Whatever your persuasion, Happy Halloween everyone. (from here).
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Following a couple of emails asking questions after yesterday’s post I realised that information about Blade Red Press would be helpful. In the world of music there are hundreds of quality bands that have trouble getting noticed or signed by the major labels. It became quite common for bands to produce and market their...
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Quick update on the novels

By alan

October 27, 2008

I have a hard copy of the new edition of RealmShift in my grubby paw and it looks great. I know that I would say that, seeing as I wrote and designed it, but it does look awesome with Donn Salt’s artwork on the cover. So this book is very close to being available...
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Two of my favourite things combined

By alan

October 26, 2008

Motorcycles and a funny sign. Well, it’s funny now anyway. .
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Watchmen teaser poster

By alan

October 23, 2008

I’ve made mention here a few times of the forthcoming movie of The Watchmen, based on one of the greatest novels of all time (graphic or otherwise). The official site has just released this teaser poster. My interest is piqued, but my scepticism remains intact. .
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RealmShift and MageSign update

By alan

October 22, 2008

A week or so ago I posted that MageSign, the sequel to RealmShift, was on the way. I wasn’t lying. I also promised a sneak peek at the cover of MageSign and the re-issue of RealmShift. True to my word, here they are: The artwork on the covers is pretty special. The crystal skull...
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Endangered words – the full list

By alan

October 22, 2008

With reference to my prvious post, I’m pleased to say that our friend Michael has pointed me in the direction of the full list of words on the chopping block. From The Times Online via Editorial Ass, here’s the list of 24 words in trouble: Abstergent – Cleansing or scouring Agrestic – Rural; rustic;...
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The Last Word Project

By alan

October 20, 2008

A recent article by Ruth Wajnryb in the Spectrum section of the Sydney Morning Herald gave me pause for thought. Ruth was talking about how the powers that be (in this case the Collins Dictionary people) decide when a word is dead. A word can live on in a dictionary for some time, firstly...
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100 Greatest books of all time

By alan

October 15, 2008

According to an Angus & Robertson poll of 26,000 people, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald. As with all these things, this poll is tempered by the times. Recent works ride higher on the list as they’re fresh in people’s minds, while certain classics persist regardless of time. For example, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight...
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News on the sequel to RealmShift

By alan

October 15, 2008

I know I’ve been talking a lot about my next novel and nothing has materialised yet. However, it is written, it is in production and it should be available soon. I was hoping it would be available at the end of October, but certain production issues are delaying things slightly. However, rest assured that...
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There are idiots…

By alan

October 14, 2008

…and then there’s this guy. Seriously, that’s a special kind of ignorant. And now he’s world famous. Is there a better ad for Obama than the fact that people like this are McCain supporters? Thanks to David B Coe’s blog for the heads up, BrettMarty.com for the picture, etc.
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Sydney Futurians – Freecon 2008

By alan

October 13, 2008

Details are still to be confirmed but I’ll be attending the Sydney Futurians Freecon 2008 on November 8th and 9th at The Norman Selfe Room of the Sydney Mechanics School of the Arts (SMSA) building at 280 Pitt Street, Sydney. I’ll be taking part in some writer discussion panels and the like. If you’re...
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30 Days of Night – quality horror

By alan

October 12, 2008

Let me start by saying that I’ve never read the comic book that this movie was based on. Almost always the books or comics are better than the movie versions (unless there is enough difference like the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep/Blade Runner situation.) So, I’m talking about the movie 30 Days of...
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Is there a Dark Knight curse?

By alan

October 9, 2008

A recent comment by Leticia prompted me to investigate this rapidly expanding urban legend. According to many websites and news wires, there is talk that the brilliant Batman movie The Dark Knight is one of those cursed flicks that crop up every once in a while. Remember Poltergeist? What about the Superman curse? Well,...
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Black – Australian Dark Culture, Issue 2

By alan

October 9, 2008

Regular readers will remember that I was talking about a new Australian magazine back in mid-September – Black – Australian Dark Culture. I’m still a bit behind the times on this, but I’ve just read Issue 2. I’m pleased to say that a lot of the problems I had with Issue 1 have been...
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