Michael Cobley

SFX Weekender, Prestatyn – Gewgaws & Freebies?

rockitboy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:03:46 +0000

Just an addendum to the previous, tipping the wink to those who take notice of what I actually scribble on this here blog, that I shall have a handful or two of exclusive Humanity’s Fire-associated items to dispose of, limited edition trinkets to be presented to those who do bring me books to sign.

That is, copies of my own books to sign, sonny jim!

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So To Prestatyn – The SFX Weekender 2012

rockitboy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:30:39 +0000

Some of you reading this may well have been to one of the previous SFX Weekender jamborees, but this will be my first. Catching the train on the morning of Friday February 3rd down to Prestatyn on the north Wales coast (not so very far southwest of Liverpool), and to the Pontins holiday resort there which the mighty SFX organisation has taken over for several days of unbridled SF-flavoured knees-up. There will be panels, talks, exclusive previews, films, retro-TV screenings, and celebs, celebs, celebs out the yingyang.

Er, amongs whom will be my good self. And I have things to do, to whit an autograph session at 10am on the Saturday morning, in conjunction with the immensely agreeable Jaine Fenn, after which I`ll be on a panel about space opera at 12 noon. Much relaxation and chinwagging shall ensue, have no doubt about this!

For more info on the Weekender schedule, see the following link:

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2012/01/27/sfx-weekender-3-schedule-announced/

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Yes, There Will Be Another Humanity’s Fire Novel – Orbit & Zeno Announcements

rockitboy — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:46:30 +0000

True, all true – as hinted earlier, I am now engaged on the writing of a new Humanity’s Fire novel, a standalone volume, entitled WARCAGE which will be published both in the UK and the USA. A watershed first for myself, without a doubt. And here are the links to my publisher, Orbit, and my agents, Zeno;

http://www.orbitbooks.net/2012/01/06/a-fiery-new-deal-for-michael-cobley-with-orbit/

http://zenoagency.com/news/cobley-sells-new-novel-to-orbit/

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Ascendant Stars Cover Art Article in Scifi Now

rockitboy — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:17:21 +0000

Well, here we are at the uttermost final hours of 2011, in some ways a pretty awful year (taking a political perspective) yet for yr hmble scribe it has been a bit of a watershed year what with the publication of The Ascendant Stars, the final volume of the Humanity’s Fire trilogy, which rounds off five years or so of dedicated hard work. The trilogy has also been published in Germany and France, and next autumn will appear in the USofA, from Orbit US, which is of course beyond splendid.

Curiously, however, here in the UK one almost gets the feeling that the book has appeared (as Harry Harrison used to say) under conditions of extreme secrecy. Well, okay, I exaggerate, what with the excellent review by Eric Brown in the Guardian back at the start of November, coinciding with its publication on November 3rd. Yet thus far, from the two main pop-SF magazine outlets, SFX and Scifi Now, not so much as a sniff of a review. Odd that.

On the other hand, Scifi Now Online did highlight the cover art for Ascendant Stars (by the very talented Steve Stone), and here is the link for your delectation:

http://www.scifinow.co.uk/blog/michael-cobleys-the-ascendant-stars/

All that remains is to wish all my readers and all visitors to this here blog a very happy and survivable New Year. Have a good un, and see y`all on the other side!

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At Last The World Can Be Told – Humanity’s Fire US Edition

rockitboy — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:58:09 +0000

Yes, at last I shall be making my Stateside splash with the Humanity’s Fire books in the autumn of next year, with the books appearing in October, November and December. I believe this is whats known as the Zeno 1-2-3!

http://zenoagency.com/news/michael-cobley-enters-orbit-us/

Click the link to see the American versions of the book jacket illustrations.

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Reviews, Rebuttals and Other Interactions

rockitboy — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:56:59 +0000

Well, book 3, The Ascendant Stars, has been out for about 2 1/2 weeks now, during which its had a sparkling review in the Guardian, and….hmm, a few downgrading consumer review/comments on Amazon. Those of you who follow these things might have spotted my ripostes to a couple of these, specifically the 1 and 2 star reviews. Aye, well, perhaps its an ego thing (heh, perhaps…) but I`m pretty sure that there are in existence on this planet books which actually do thoroughly deserve 1 or 2 star reviews and, yep, I don’t think they include mine.

Which is why I took time out to defend my work, contrary to the received wisdom that writers should be aloof from the fray. Then just in the last couple of days a friend or two pointed out one basic flaw in this approach, namely that responding to criticism of a work of fiction can potentially open a can of worms of idiocy. Yes, the can of Idiot Worms! Or, in other words, getting dragged down into tit for tat exchanges that could all too easily degenerate into all-out flame wars. Such an undignified and public word-ruck could have negative consequences (in all kinds of ways) so after some reflection I’ve decided to hang up my Amazon comment pencil and let the readers, however they are motivated, have their say.

In the end I’m pretty sure that I did the best job I was capable of when the books appeared, and the broad spread of responses, including Amazons, seem to show that I am writing stuff that readers enjoy. Immortality exists for writers, on a shelf somewhere in the future, and I hope, aspire to create something that will find its place there.

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Ascendant Stars Review – The Guardian, Friday Nov 4th

rockitboy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:31:35 +0000

Most excellent review of The Ascendant Stars in the Guardian’s SF roundup column from Eric Brown, and a great review for Dave Wingrove’s 2nd volume of the new Chung Kuo sequence, Daylight on Iron Mountain. Yay, go team!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/04/eric-brown-science-fiction-reviews?newsfeed=true

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The Ascendant Stars, book 3 of the Humanity’s Fire trilogy, is out now! Says so on my publisher’s website…

rockitboy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:27:17 +0000

Humanity's Fire Book 3

http://www.orbitbooks.net/2011/11/04/the-ascendant-stars-out-now/

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Back from London, mask in hand

rockitboy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:20:37 +0000

Well, yes, a jollyl jaunt it was too. Friday morn, hied myself up to Glasgow to catch an intercity train to the Smoke, arrived Euston just after 3pm and was whisked, whisked I say!, by cab to the offices of my publisher and from there to a hostelry for a drink and a gab. Staying over at a friend’s gaff in the north of the city, I rose on Saturday and headed into town for a stock signing at Forbidden Planet, in which I signed a heap of The Ascendant Stars only slightly smaller than Ben Nevis. After that, it was along the road to Caffe Milan to meet up with Phil Palmer, fellow Orbit author – we nattered, signed bookplates, and just generally set the world to rights.

After that, I met up with Chung Kuo writer/man of letters, Dave Wingrove, and we went for a scout around Chinatown and that bit of the west end, before subwaying back to base.

I got back into Glasgow by 5pm on the Sunday, and was back in Irvine by about 6.45, feeling undeniably cream crackered. It was a good break, a neat trip, although it would be have been rather more pleasant if I had not still been in the grip of an irritating cough. C’est la vie.

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In The Offing

rockitboy — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:59:19 +0000

Just a little update on my summer and a gander at the weeks that lie ahead. Must admit that finishing The Ascendant Stars (and working on the outline for the next book, more on that anon) really sapped my gumption and other inner resources. Luckily, I did have to hand a couple of games by which I was able to relax those vital backbrain engines and build up the fuel that will be required. The games? – Deus Ex: Human Revolution (which was a wonderful reestablishment of the original game’s mechanics, narrative and pace, updated and augmented with excellent graphics – and a satisfyingly long play-time), and Dead Island (the zombie-apocalypse shooter to end em all! – great combat mechanics and a great melee weapon modification system, and another long game with plenty to interest and intrigue).

Of course, as you`d expect, there are other games on the horizon which will be mine (bwah hah hah), Bioshock Infinity and Skyrim spring to mind, but I may have to put them on hold for a year or so. Because, y`see, I am about dive brain-first into the first draft of a new book! – yes indeedy, another space opera set in the Humanity’s Fire universe and featuring a macro-engineered object that readers wont have seen before (unless I get scooped by some bright spark). Its a biggie, and should be an attention-grabber.

In the short-term, though, y`all can look forward to the publication of The Ascendant Stars in trade paperback edition on November 3rd, and it may well be that I shall be in London signing stock at a couple of book stores – this is not the same as a public signing, I should point out, rather I get to sign the bookstore’s stock of the new book (and possibly of the other ones as well), and a little sticker gets put on the cover of them.

But I suppose if anyone catches me on the way in or out and requests an autograph, how could I in all honesty refuse?

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