Whirling World: edited by Dean Drinkel

Delighted also announce the Industrial Horror anthology edited by Dean M Drinkel is ready to go. Contracts going out next week, cover done. Can’t wait for this.

This was what Dean asked for in the brief:

“We want stories that will push boundaries (not in terms of extreme gore and violence, necessarily), the entwining of flesh and stark machinery, techno-industrial dystopias, twisted conceptions of body and enhanced beauty, Cronenbergian nightmares, Kafkaesque metamorphoses, posthuman realities, the decay of body, mind, spirit and reason, innumerable sexualities.

We want illogical extrapolations of present social realities, re-envisioning of industrial pasts, where factory and humanity become indistinguishable, where both lines and flesh are blurred.

We certainly don’t just want the usual tired old tropes, if possible: what we want is the disturbing, the challenging, the absurdist, the blackly comedic, the infuriating, the horrific, the abnormal. Here, flesh is reshaped, both voluntarily and involuntarily, a world where gods and demons have assumed corporeality, where humans have either integrated fully into a seething mass of metal, electronics and skin, or have been rejected as the parasitic lifeform it is. In other words, just let your imagination run wild, be experimental with word and structure, and go into areas where the warning lights constantly flash an angry red and life is always a breath away from being extinguished…”

Links to buy coming soon…

We have returned!

After a couple of months’ convalescence and restructuring, Spectral Press is back. We are moving forward, and to that end we are letting you know about a couple of books which will be coming your way within the next two months.

First is Dan Weatherer’s third collection Neverlight: A Father Darkness Collection, available from March 31st. Featuring a varied selection of tales from this up and coming author of the darker side of life, ranging from the traditional ghost story, through to psychological studies and thence to exploring some of our darkest fears. Available in Hardback which comes with a bespoke leather bookmarker. 

Are we mere puppets, a slave to the will of others?

Influence, an inescapable and unseen force exerted upon all of us.  Whether coming by way of our parents or our peers, via the media or education, can we ever say that we are creatures of free will, acting according to our desires and not of those around us? Influence is the white noise that bombards our every waking moment, clouding our thought, hindering our judgement. From it, there can be no escape.

Looking beyond our world, there are those beings that dwell beneath the surface of our planet, ancient entities twisted in their resentment of our freedoms, that would mean us harm. Theirs is an influence ancient in its origin, born from evil and cruel intent.  Their will presses upon us, calling out to our most primal instincts.  We, oblivious, heed their call.

Containing thirty-one short stories that showcase the unmistakable voice of Dan Weatherer, here is an author fast becoming fluent in the art of dark fiction. Are you ready for Neverlight?

Pre-order your copy HERE

 

 

 

Mappalujo: the blurb

“Mappalujo” ©2015 Jeff Noon & Steve Beard/rEvolution SF. Artwork and design by John Oakey ©2015 .

Here’s the blurb for one of the most anticipated science fiction novels of next year, Mappalujo by Jeff Noon & Steve Beard. Jeff is, of course, well known for his groundbreaking novel Vurt published in 1993, (which was followed by a sequel, Pollen, in 1995 and a prequel, Nymphomation, in 1997) and this is surely going to be counted amongst his best works to date. Prepare to enter the world of Lujo, a city caught somewhere between reality and a dimension which may/may not be real…

“Mappalujo is a shared dream set in the twilight realm of Lujo, a city dominated by the surreal cartoons and artificially bred toy creatures of the Zeno Entertainment Company. Since the company’s founder died in mysterious circumstances, Zeno’s visions have become darker and even more sinister. An identity-altering drug is leaking onto the streets. For a few brilliant, flickering moments users are transformed into famous or infamous celebrities, only to find that the other side of fame lies in the gutter, or in death.

The novel follows a lowly salesman, an information gatherer, a private detective and a teenage psychic. Four stories, four people – each of them connected to the bizarre fate of Zeno, its bitter heir, and a hostile faery spirit named Mama Lujo.

Here is one city’s epic tale told in seventy-five chapters, each influenced by a different iconic figure. From Lewis Carroll to Patti Smith, from Sigmund Freud to Raymond Chandler and Sophie Calle – the ghosts haunting the streets of Lujo are all conjured from the collective unconscious of the modern media age.

Mappalujo is baroque science fiction, tumbling with ideas and images, exuberant to the extreme. It documents a world only a few metres and a few minutes away from our own – yet stranger by far.”

Preorder your copy today – copies are already being snapped up so get one while you still can!

ALL PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE AND PACKING

LIMITED SIGNED HARDBACK (75 only)

http://shop.ticketyboopress.co.uk/index.php?id_product=101&controller=product

PAPERBACK

http://shop.ticketyboopress.co.uk/index.php?id_product=102&controller=product

A little self-indulgence

“Bibila Longcrofta” ©2015 Simon Marshall-Jones/Tickety Boo Press. Artwork ©2015 Jim Burns.

Remember a while back we told you that Spectral Press owner/editor-in-chief Simon Marshall-Jones would be having his debut collection of short stories published soon? Well, we can tell you that Biblia Longcrofta will be released into the multiverses on June 30th 2015 and that you can order copies if you so desire from HERE. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the splendiferous Jim Burns cover shown above….

“Biblia Longcrofta by Simon Marshall-Jones, publisher and editor at award-nominated Spectral Press, is a series of connected short fiction stories, semi-autobiographical in nature, set in the imaginary town of Longcroft. Although it has no precise geographical location in the ‘real’ world, nevertheless it is located somewhere on the northern coastline of Britain. It exists contemporaneously and separately in a different time stream from the rest of the world, the reasons for the split lost in the mists of time.

It is no ordinary town, however – here miracles happen on an everyday basis, and the numinous and marvellous sit side-by-side with the banal and mundane. Into this wonderland comes a tattooed stranger called Simeon, a man bored of his old life, but still unsure of what his place in the world is, who he is, and what purpose he has. Through a series of connected incidents, he comes to understand the world around him, and the person he is. Along the way he meets wonders and living myths and, through interacting with them, he finds his true destiny – however, it’s not what he was expecting nor what he would have chosen for himself.”

Simon will also be happy to sign copies for anyone who asks – we will have copies for sale here as well. Contact Simon at spectralpress[AT]gmail[DOT]com for payment details.

Cover reveal: Spectral Book of Horror Stories 2

Spectral Book of Horror Stories 2, edited by Mark Morris – ©2015 respective individual authors/Spectral Press. Artwork ©2015 Vincent Chong

Vincent Chong has done it again – he’s provided the absolutely stunning artwork (see above) for the cover to the 2nd Spectral Book of Horror Stories, edited once again by Mark Morris. And in about three or four months we should be able to reveal who has made it into the second edition of this prestigious annual horror anthology. In the meantime, you can preorder your copy right now. Even better, if you’re going to FantasyCon 2015 in Nottingham in October then you get pay for your copy now (saving postage) and get it signed at the convention.

It’s going to be one hell of a tasty selection!

 

The inaugural Spectral Book of Horror Stories is still available to purchase.

Spectral Book of Horror Stories, edited by Mark Morris – ©2014 respective individual authors/Spectral Press. Artwork ©2014 Vincent Chong

 

SBoHS 1 – DLS Review

Spectral Book of Horror Stories, edited by Mark Morris – ©2014 respective individual authors/Spectral Press. Artwork ©2014 Vincent Chong

Reviews are still coming in of the debut volume of The Spectral Book of Horror Stories edited by Mark Morris – case in point is this latest one from DLS reviews, written by Chris Hall – hop over to the site by clicking HERE to read his verdict.

THE SPECTRAL BOOK OF HORROR STORIES – PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE!

£12.50 UK

£15 EU

$30 US & RoW

Don’t forget that the second volume, which Mark is working on at the moment, will be with us later this year – you can preorder that one below (and there’s also a special preorder option for those attending Fantasy Con 2015 in Nottingham – save on postage!).

THE SPECTRAL BOOK OF HORROR STORIES vol 2 PREORDER – PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE!

£12.50 UK

£15 EU

$30 US & RoW

FANTASYCON 2015 PREORDERS

If you’re going to be attending FantasyCon 2015 this year in Nottingham, UK, where this book will be launched, then why not take advantage of this offer of preordering your copy and then picking it up at the event? Overseas visitors can save postage and spend what they’ve saved on books and beer! 

£10UK & EU

$15US & RoW

Darker Terrors full contents list

‘Into the Fire’ by Les Edwards ©2014

‘Very creepy stuff!’

—John Landis, director of American Werewolf in London

and Michael Jackson’s Thriller

This is the moment you have been waiting for – the full contents list for the Darker Terrors: A Best of Dark Terrors volume coming this October from Spectral Press. Quiver in delicious anticipation at this TOC:

Foreword – Stephen Jones

More Tomorrow –Michael Marshall Smith
I’ve Come to Talk with You Again  – Karl Edward Wagner
A Really Game Boy – Brian Lumley
To This Water – Caitlin R Kiernan
The Museum on Cyclops Avenue – Harlan Ellison
Free Dirt – Ray Bradbury
Self Made Man – Poppy Z. Brite
The Wedding Present – Neil Gaiman
Family History – Stephen Baxter
Inside the Cackle Factory – Dennis Etchison
My Pathology – Lisa Tuttle
At Home in the Pubs of Old London – Christopher Fowler
Barking Sands – Richard Christian Matheson
Destroyer of Worlds – Gwyneth Jones
The Retrospective – Ramsey Campbell
The Two Sams – Glen Hirshberg
The Prospect Cards – Don Tumasonis

Afterword – David A. Sutton
Appendix: Index to Dark Terrors

 

 

Spectral Book of Horror Stories 2: pre-orders

Spectral Book of Horror Stories, edited by Mark Morris – ©2014 respective individual authors/Spectral Press. Artwork ©2014 Vincent Chong

Mark Morris, editor of this annual anthology, has received over 600 submissions for this already, and the deadline isn’t until June 30th. We have a feeling that this is going to be a good one, more than following the high standard set by the first volume. Even though it’s not available until October this year, given the popularity of the inaugural edition we are putting it on pre-order now for those who would like to secure a copy ahead of time. The prices will be exactly the same as last year. Also, like the first volume, the cover will be by the award-winning Vincent Chong, whose artistic kung-fu is legendary (see his cover for the the first one above).

THE SPECTRAL BOOK OF HORROR STORIES vol 2 – PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE!

£12.50 UK

£15 EU

$30 US & RoW

FANTASYCON 2015 PREORDERS

If you’re going to be attending FantasyCon 2015 this year in Nottingham, UK, where this book will be launched, then why not take advantage of this offer of preordering your copy and then picking it up at the event? Overseas visitors can save postage and spend what they’ve saved on books and beer! 

£10UK & EU

$15US & RoW

Coming up soon: two new books

News of some two new books due to arrive in mid-2015:

THE BUREAU OF THEM by Cate Gardner

First, we have Cate Gardner’s new novella The Bureau of Them, due to be published in June and launched at this year’s Edge-Lit event in Derby in July (alongside Mark Morris’ Albion Fay and Stephen Volk’s Leytonstone). Expect a story of Cate’s trademark dark surrealism and slightly-twisted realities, plus a cover from David Chatton-Barker which will be with us in a couple of weeks. In the meantime you can preorder the limited hardback and the unlimited paperback:

LIMITED HARDBACKS

£21UK

£24EU

$50US & RoW

PAPERBACKS

£12.50UK

£15EU

$40US & RoW

BACK FROM THE DEAD edited by Johnny Mains

Terror by Night – cover for Johnny Main’s “Back From the Dead”. Artwork © 1974/2013 Les Edwards.

Some years ago, Johnny Mains issued this eBook only volume of stories with the subtitle The Legacy of the Pan Book of Horror Stories. Spectral will be reissuing it with new material in paperback in May, with a cover by Les Edwards (see above). Preorder on the buttons below:

£12.50UK

£15EU

$40US & RoW

Look forward to hearing from you! 

News 25:03:2015

First let’s have some acquisition news:

We are immensely pleased to announce that Paul Meloy will be joining the roster of Theatrum Mundi with a novella, called Junction Creature, the first of a series set in the same universe. If any of you subscribe to Black Static then you will have read his Reclamation Yard contribution in #40 of that magazine. In fact, the story called Junction Creature is mentioned the Black Static story, in a neat twist of meta-fictionalising. Paul’s novella will be available towards the end of next year, but we’re already looking forward to it.

Now, in a slight departure from our regular schedule, here’s some news about Spectral Press boss Simon Marshall-Jones:

“The Black Ship” by Jim Burns ©2015

Not only does Simon edit fiction, but he also writes it.  His debut collection of short science-fiction/contemporary fantasy/magico-fantastic realist stories, Biblia Longcrofta. will be published by Tickety Boo Press on April 30th 2015, and features an introduction by Steven Savile and cover artwork by esteemed and very well-known artist Jim Burns (see image above). The huge vessel seen in the image is featured in one of the stories, and Simon avers that Jim has captured its bulk and immensity absolutely perfectly. Copies are available to preorder, available in limited hardback in handmade wooden box (£75), normal hardback (£25), and paperback (£9.99). You can order them HERE or by emailing gary.compton@ticketyboopress.co.uk.