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)

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PAPERBACK

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Spectral Book of Horror Stories back cover blurb

THE SPECTRAL BOOK OF HORROR STORIES

 

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

19 BRAND NEW TALES TO CHILL YOUR BLOOD AND HAUNT YOUR DREAMS!

 

“The figure crouched over his mother was… taking something from her, sliding some spidery thing that struggled and screamed soundlessly out of her side and into his leathery dark bag…”
– THE NIGHT DOCTOR by Steve Rasnic Tem

“I saw her skin turn black and erupt in blisters and pustules as in one last mute appeal she stretched her hand towards me over the flames…”
– THE BOOK AND THE RING by Reggie Oliver

“There wasn’t much of a struggle even when Tomas lashed him, limb by limb, to the stakes, although he had plenty to say to Tomas’s back as he walked away.
It was when Tomas reappeared, leading the shaggy, horned thing from the barn, that Mr Sunshine really started to squeal…”
– CURES FOR A SICKENED WORLD by Brian Hodge

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY!

£12.50 UK

FOR THOSE ATTENDING FANTASYCON 2014 YOU CAN ORDER AT THE SPECIAL PRICE BELOW AND PICK IT UP AT THE CONVENTION VENUE.

FCon 2014 Special £10

£15 EU

$30 US & RoW

It’s Hammer time!*

*Apologies, but we just couldn’t resist….

Remember yesterday we mentioned that there was a sequel to the award-winning novella The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine in the works? Well, John Llewellyn Probert, the mastermind behind the deadly and dastardly doctor, has been writing furiously for the last few months (in between cackling maniacally and laughing heartily), as well as subjecting his beautiful wife to a complete visual enactment of the entire manuscript, and the result is The Hammer of Dr. Valentine, a brilliant follow-up to the critically-acclaimed first installment of the trilogy (yes, I DID say trilogy). Once again, the limited hardback will not only contain the story but also the films referenced within it in a separate appendix, as per The Nine Deaths. In addition, J D Busch will be gracing it with a wraparound cover, which he is working on at this very moment – expected a glimpse of it as soon as it’s ready!

Although not officially on preorder, nevertheless you can order your copy of the limited hardback ahead of time at a very special price. inclusive of postage and packing (see below). The price will be reverting to normal in mid-March.

But you don’t want to hear me waffling, you want to know what it’s about, don’t you? Well, to whet your appetite, here’s the blurb for it….

Two years ago, a series of horrific murders shocked the city of Bristol. These were killings so elaborate in their planning, and so outrageous in their execution, that they made national headlines for weeks. 

 

Now the journalists who wrote the stories behind those headlines are beginning to die, in ways even more gruesome, even more flamboyant, and even more unbelievable than the murders they themselves wrote about at such length in the national dailies all those months ago.

 

Dr Edward Valentine, brilliant surgeon and the maniac responsible for the Nine Deaths, has not been seen since he escaped the police following a final confrontation.

 

Has he returned? 

 

Is he now intent on punishing the British tabloid press that he feels has misrepresented him?

 

Has he chosen as the most appropriate method of punishment that most British of institutions, the Hammer Horror film?

 

And how many times will the Hammer of Dr Valentine strike before he can be stopped?

 

Of course, there’s only one way to find out…

 

The Hammer of Dr Valentine

 

A new novella by John Llewellyn Probert

 

Currently in pre-production from Spectral Press

THE HAMMER OF DR. VALENTINE (April/May 2014)

£18 UK

£21 EU

$38 US & RoW

More news soon!

Simon Bestwick’s The Judgement Call: a preview

The next issue in the Spectral series of chapbooks. Volume XI, will be Simon Bestwick’s The Judgement Call, which will now be available to subscribers and purchasers in OCTOBER. To whet your appetite, however, we give you the back-cover blurb, which goes thusly:

A rainy Christmas Eve, and Miles is driving home. A loving husband and father, he has no dark secrets, no buried guilt. Or so he thinks.

On a deserted, unlit lane, his car goes off the road. In a cottage nearby, he finds three strangers, all brought there seemingly by chance or accident.

But then, outside, a horn begins to sound.

And all who hear the judgement call must answer for their sins.

The cover design is being created at this moment by the excellent Neil Williams as always, and will be revealed in due course. This really is a brilliant tale, and will act as a nice lead-in to the annual Christmas ghost story volume, The 2013 Ghosts of Christmas, coming out in December, Work will be staring on that one shortly, just as soon as everything is finished with the two books being launched at this year’s World Fantasy Convention in Brighton at the end of October/beginning of November.

In the meantime, don’t forget that you can subscribe to the chapbook series (Paypal buttons down the side of this blog) – you will receive four issues a year directly to your door. There are also 3- and 5-year subscription options available as well. Future chapbooks will be coming from the likes of Angela Slatter, Robert Shearman, Lisa Hannett, and Peter Atkins, In order to ensure of getting your copy of these chapbooks, then please do consider subscribing!

More soon!

Ghosts and Still Life: the back cover blurbs

This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for – below are the respective blurbs for Paul Kane’s Ghosts collection of supernatural short stories and Tim Lebbon’s novella Still Life, both of which are due to be launched at this year’s World Fantasy Convention (31st October – November 3rd 2013, Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton, UK). Pre-order buttons are also appended for your convenience (should you wish to pay by other means please email us at spectralpress[AT]gmail[DOT]com).

GHOSTS by Paul Kane

Safe Harbour by Edward Miller ©2007 – 2013. All rights reserved

They are all around us all the time. But only a few make contact, and only certain people are destined to see the Ghosts. Here, you’ll read a lonely shade’s tale… a deceased old man’s house being invaded… how one person discovers the true meaning of the Christmas spirit, while a parent struggles to come to terms with the sad loss of a child… and what happens when the ghosts of war go on the rampage, or when a monstrous wraith stalks the streets looking for revenge. Gathering together all of award-winning and bestselling author Paul Kane’s supernatural fiction, including three brand new stories–one a sequel to Charles Dickens’ ‘The Signal-Man’–and featuring an introduction from bestselling horror author Nancy Kilpatrick (Power of the Blood World series), the script of Wind Chimes introduced by its director Brad Watson (7th Dimension), plus suitably atmospheric cover art from Edward Miller, this is one collection that will haunt you forever.

Available in a limited signed hardback edition of 125 only.

Ghosts by Paul Kane (Spectral Collection I)

UK £21

EU £23.50

US & RoW $42

STILL LIFE by Tim Lebbon

Jenni’s husband was part of the Road of Souls––his flesh swarmed by ants and pecked by rooks, bones crushed to powder by wheels of dread––and yet she still saw him in the pool.

            The incursion has been and gone, the war is over, and the enemy is in the land, remote and ambiguous.  The village outskirts are guarded by vicious beasts, making escape impossible.  The village itself is controlled by the Finks, human servants to the enemy––brutal, callous, almost untouchable. 

            Everything is less than it was before… time seems to move slower, the population is much denuded, and life itself seems to hold little purpose.  This is not living, it’s existing.

            But in a subjugated population, there is always resistance. 

            For Jenni, the happiest part of this new life is visiting the pool in the woods, seeing her dead husband within, and sharing memories of happier times.  It calms her and makes her feel alive.

            But the resistance comes to her for help. 

            And when her dead husband tells her it is time to fight, Jenni’s life is destined for a shattering change.  

“Tim Lebbon conjures up the horror of a world distorted by fear, distrust, and something unspeakable. With respectful nods to H.P Lovecraft Still Life rubs reality up against nightmares in this compact, engrossing treat.” Muriel Gray

Available in a limited signed hardback edition of 125 only.

PLEASE NOTE: The actual cover artwork, to be created by famed artist Jim Burns, will be unveiled within the next three weeks or so – please be patient!

Still Life by Tim Lebbon (Spectral Visions IV)

UK £21

EU £23.50

US & RoW $42

COMBINED OFFER – order both books and save money!

Why not save yourself a little money by purchasing both books in hardback at the same time – just order via the Paypal buttons below and the books will be sent to you as soon as they’re ready.

SPECIAL COMBINED OFFER (Still Life by Tim Lebbon [Spectral Visions IV] + Ghosts by Paul Kane [Spectral Collection I])

UK £35

EU £42

US & RoW $90

PLEASE NOTE:  we apologise for the high postage rates abroad, but it’s out of our control – sorry!!

Soul Masque: the blurb…

Soul Masque by Terry Grimwood. © 2013 Terry Grimwood. Cover concept © 2013 Neil Williams/Spectral Press. All rights reserved.

“Soul Masque…
A high class dominatrix who counts an Angel among her clientele
A preacher who has swapped prayer for a needle and a spoon
A woman whose terminal illness is held in stasis by allegiance to a holy cause
A loser with a price on his head whose only hope of survival lies in the shedding of blood, but who cannot abandon mercy.

Soul Masque…
Four disparate, desperate souls, thrown together in a lethal waltz 
Their dance master terrible in his purity
Their music the eternal war between Heaven and Hell
Their stage, the darkest corners of our world where the unthinkable hides”

Just to entice you in anticipation of the new chapbook release later this month, what’s written above is the back cover blurb of Terry Grimwood’s Soul Masque, number ten in the acclaimed series. As a further enticement, we’ve provided a link to purchasing individual copies of the book – hurry though, there aren’t that many left and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Alternatively, you can purchase a yearly subscription (4 quarterly issues), which will absolutely guarantee that you will receive every issue right to your door – the Paypal buttons are on the right on this blog. If you wish to pay by cheque, email us on spectralpress[AT]gmail[DOT]com and we will send you the relevant details.

Individual chapbooks (all prices include p+p)

£4 United Kingdom

£7 EU

$16 US & RoW

Look forward to hearing from you!

The Eyes of Water by Alison Littlewood: cover concept

"The Eyes of Water" ©2012 Alison Littlewood/Spectral Press. Cover artwork ©2012 Neil Williams.

Once more it’s time to reveal the cover concept artwork for a forthcoming publication, namely Volume VI in the ever-popular chapbook series of short stories from some of the finest contemporary genre authors. This time it’s the turn of Alison Littlewood, author of A Cold Season, her debut novel, which topped several bestseller lists and was the Pick of the Month for March in Richard & Judy’s Book Club. The beautifully eerie artwork is by the very talented Neil Williams once again, and it absolutely nails the tone and atmosphere of the story to perfection – as you will see when you read the blurb:

“Beneath the world . . .

The Mexican cenotés. Flooded caves that fracture the Yucatan Peninsula – places of mystery, the unexplored, and of ancient sacrifice.

When Alex meets an old friend while travelling, he doesn’t realise how far the encounter will take him. For Rick is exploring deep beneath the surface of the world, discovering new cave systems, one leading to the next. And when Alex is compelled to follow he has no way of knowing just how deep he will be expected to go, or how dark are the places he will find there . . .”

“Littlewood is the real deal, a writer with a unique vision and the talent to make us see the world anew through her eyes.” Peter Tennant, Black Static

Sadly,  the chapbook is already sold out – this is why it is important, if you’re keen on getting hold of any of these highly popular little chapbooks, to take out a subscription. Currently, there are two place left before Volume VII (What Gets Left Behind by Mark West) is also sold out and, once those have gone, subscriptions will start with Volume VIII (The Way of the Leaves by David Tallerman – recent winner of the Spectral Press/This Is Horror short story contest). Paypal buttons can be found down the right-hand side of this blog.

More soon!

SPECTRAL I: What They Hear in the Dark by Gary McMahon

“An absence is more terrifying than a presence…

Rob and Becky bought the old place after the death of their son, to repair and renovate – to patch things up and make the building habitable.

They both knew that they were trying to fix more than the house, but the cracks in their marriage could not be papered over.

Then they found the Quiet Room.”

—()—

This is the final cover artwork for the first Spectral Press chapbook, which goes to press next week and will be available in January. It’s an absolutely cracking story – a great opener for the brand new library of quality chapbooks.

SPECTRAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AND INDIVIDUAL COPIES PREORDERS AVAILABLE NOW!

Do you want your name listed as a founder subscriber in the first Spectral chapbook? If so, then act fast, before Monday 6th December 2010! A yearly subscription will cost £10UK/£12EU /$20US/ $25US RoW (all prices inclusive of postage and packing). Individual chapbooks will be available for £3.50UK/£4EU/$6.50US/$10RoW (again all prices inclusive of p+p). You can either pay via Paypal or cheque: Paypal is spectralpress[at]gmail[dot]com and for details of how to pay by cheque, please send an email to the same address and I’ll get back to you forthwith.

SPECTRAL PRIZE-DRAW

As an added incentive, if you do choose to subscribe before the end of this year (31st December 2010 closing date), your name will be entered into the prize-draw, where you’ll stand the chance of winning a specially signed and framed edition of  Gary McMahon’s chapbook. Alongside it will be a copy of the annotated manuscript, ie  Gary has scrawled all over it in his best red biro – he’s even signed it and ‘illuminated’ it with a little doodle of a smiley horned devil on it as well. The winner will even get a free subscription extension for another year on top of that… now that’s what I call a bargain! (Winner will be notified by mid-January)

Would love to hear from you!!