Genre: Urban Fantasy / Weird Fantasy Publisher: Pan Books (2010) A giant squid disappears from the Natural History Museum and curator Billy Harrow’s life spirals into madness. This heady ride into London’s underbelly is rife with warring cults, nefarious magic-wielding killers and the down-right strange. Weird fantasy it is, with cast and plot so darkly,... Continue Reading →
Genre: Dystopian / Sci-Fi-Adventure Publisher: Kyanite Publishing (2019) In a post-nuclear apocalypse, Alex wakes from his Cryo-Pod and embarks on a dangerous journey, determined to find out what became of his parents. Prescott weaves an entertaining and easy-read narrative with super-beasts and nifty gadgets galore, offering up a coming-of-age tale that combines adventure, humour, heart-break,... Continue Reading →
Publisher: Angry Robot, October 2017 Genre: Gothic When Catherine Helstone’s missionary brother, Laon, fails to send word from Arcadia, the land of the Fae, she sets out to find him, disembarking into a sinister world beyond her imagination. This is a slow burn that conjures a fully realised world and literary history, parallel to that... Continue Reading →
‘Fairy Tales and Opera: The Perfect Match?’ OR ‘Dispelling the Myths that Fantasy Fiction is Lowbrow; that Opera is Elitist’
Norse mythology came to the fore in a big way a couple of years ago when Neil Gaiman released his celebrated book of the same name, but as of yesterday, Francesca Simon’s book, The Monstrous Child, has it rearing it’s deliciously vile and decidedly grotesque head once again. When the YA novel came out in... Continue Reading →
Speculative Fiction Recommendations in 60 Words: What’s on the TBR Pile Now?
After thoroughly enjoying Melmoth by Sarah Perry, I've got more great reading in store, including a couple of ARCs sent my way from Kyanite Publishing. Here's what's next, and what I'm sure will make for some more 60 Word Recommendations: Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng Genre/s: Dark Fantasy / Gothic Fantasy / Fairy... Continue Reading →
Kyanite Press Inaugural Edition: A Speculative Fiction Journal
Thrilled to have my cautionary fairy-tale, The Rookery at Smeaton Abbey, included in Kyanite Press' Inaugural Publication. I had the privilege of receiving an advance digital copy and not only is the authorship fantastic across the work selected but the diversity on offer is captivating: from cosmic horror to post-apocalyptic sci-fi; from deconstructed flash-fiction to... Continue Reading →
From the World of The Procurement of Souls: VIROSCOPE
Exploring the world of Victorian inventions for #inventorsmonth got me reflecting on all my own devices and creations within the world of The Procurement of Souls. So, I thought I'd do a series of vignettes showcasing a few. I start tonight with the viroscope, used in the story by Clementine in an attempt to track... Continue Reading →
In Conversation with Claire Buss
http://www.cbvisions.weebly.com http://www.benjamin-hope.com ____________________________________________________________________________ On Creating a Believable World: BH: I wrote a blog a few months back about researching for alternate history novels where I discussed the need for the fictionalised world or premise to be rooted in truth so that the reader has something to... Continue Reading →
On Publishing a Debut
Well it’s taken about 8 years and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but my debut, The Procurement of Souls, finally went on pre-release this week in anticipation of my official launch on 1st July. It’s a funny mix of excitement and trepidation as one enters into this next phase of the journey but... Continue Reading →
The Shadow of the Wind
Genre: (Gothic) Mystery Publisher: Phoenix (Trade Edition 2004) Barcelona. 1945. Upon taking The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, Daniel is drawn down a dangerous path of discovery to find the truth behind the author’s life. The shadowy backstreets and crumbling mansion settings ooze gothic atmosphere and Zafón’s... Continue Reading →