Cover Art | Neal Asher's Polity Books

Neal Asher has been posting the new covers to his first four Polity books over at his blog recently - all I'll say is wow! Check them out:


I was loving The Skinner cover a lot, but then came along The Line of Polity. I'm so gobsmacked at its awesomeness that I'm going to go home and finish the book so I can get on to the others. These are seriously cool!

Interview | Tony Ballantyne

Twisted Metal, Tony Ballantyne's upcoming novel to be published on May 1st by Tor UK, is a book set in a world of robots. It's a great read and the potential it has for the rest of the series is great! After reading and enjoying it so much (see my review) I got in touch to see if he'd be available for a little interview - and he was!

Read on...

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Many thanks for taking the time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule to answer a few questions. First off, could you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to write - and why science fiction?

I’ve wanted to write since I started to read. When I was about twelve I read The Space Merchants, The Chrysalids and 1984 on the recommendation of a teacher and I knew then it had to be SF!

What books and authors have influenced you and your writing?

J.L. Carr, particularly A Month in the Country. I’m not saying that I emulate his style, quite the opposite in fact, but I am fascinated by his way of writing. I re-read some Alan Garner recently, and I realised his placing of the fantastic in ordinary situations has definitely influenced me.

Do you still find time to read, and if so anything in particular?

Oh yes, I love to read. I’m just finishing Villette by Charlotte Bronte. I rather like Victorian Fiction, I find it very familiar and different at the same time, it can give a sense of a changing world, rather like SF. Speaking of SF, I recently finished the Turing Test by Chris Beckett, one of the best collections of Short Stories I’ve read for some time.

How do you go about your writing – are you a meticulous planner, make it up as you go or somewhere in between?
I do both. I’m a meticulous planner, and I do a great deal of research, but I’ve said before that I think real writing takes place when the characters start to follow their own paths.

Do you have a specific routine when you’re writing?

I used to write between 8 and 9 every night, but this gets harder as the kids get older. Now I just do it when I can!

Without giving away too much can you briefly outline Twisted Metal?

It’s set on a world inhabited entirely by robots, where different states fight to show theirs is the dominant philosophy. But none of them can see the real truth upon which their world is founded…


The way that Twisted Metal was written, from the characters to the flow of the story, didn’t immediately feel like a typical science fiction novel with such hi-tech robots living in a low-tech environment. Was this a conscious effort to put a different spin on the story and setting?

Not really. The story and to a certain extent the setting came first. The feel of the book came from letting the idea develop logically… but I think I’m about to stray into the next question…

How difficult was it to build a society like this?

Not exactly difficult, but it was a lot of work. (Enjoyable work, though). The trick was to lay down the parameters of robot urges and drives and then follow them through logically. For example, I realised that robots wouldn’t build next to rivers as humans have done, as they didn’t have the same need for water. I spent a good deal of time finding out about geology, in order to make the robots’ world believable and many ideas came from that research. The big moment, though, was when I worked out robot reproduction. After that everything fell into place.

What can we expect from the next in the series?
A look at life on Yukawa, the other continent briefly mentioned in Twisted Metal, and some answers as to why the robots are as they are…

I know it’s a question that most authors hate, but where did you get the initial idea for Twisted Metal?

Two places. Firstly, from the Recursion trilogy, secondly, from all those films and stories about robots I read and saw when I was a child.

Will you be doing any signings or appearances for the Twisted Metal release? If so, where will these be held for any readers that want to go along?

I’m signing at Forbidden Planet in London on Saturday, May 2nd, from 2-3pm. I’ll then be taking part in a Robots and Reality event at Sci-Fi-London at 5.15pm. You can find out about other appearances on my blog: tonyballantyne.wordpress.com.


Your previously published novels, Recursion, Capacity and Divergence, have a focus on AI and now Twisted Metal has gone all the way by having a completely robot focused story. What draws you to this subject for your storytelling?

The concept of intelligence. The idea that we have it, yet we struggle to define it and to see how it works. I liked robots in fiction because they are clearly made objects, and yet they can be depicted with “souls”. I think this raises questions within us about our own sense of self.

What do you think your strengths are as a writer and storyteller?

Ideas, plotting and economy.

And any weaknesses or areas that you feel you need to work on or improve?

Every writer can always improve. I hope that I’m getting better with each book.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Yes, please leave a comment on my blog! I’ve only just started writing it (under pressure from various parties) and I love to get opinions/feedback/ideas…

Covert Art | Moxyland by Lauren Beukes (Angry Robot Books)

Moxyland is one of Angry Robot Books' launch titles this coming July, and with the cover above and the below blurb it'll make for very interesting reading!

You think you know what’s going on?
You think you know who’s really in power?
You have No. Fucking. Idea.

Moxyland is an ultra-smart thriller about technological progress, and the freedoms it removes. In the near future, four hip young things live in a world where your online identity is at least as important as your physical one. Getting disconnected is a punishment worse than imprisonment, but someone’s got to stand up to government inc., whatever the cost.
A stunning first novel from critically acclaimed South African author Lauren Beukes, Moxyland takes its cues from Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross… and kicks their ass.
Fight the power at www.moxyland.com.

This one is on the to be read list and I'll be getting around to it in time for release!

Review | Twisted Metal by Tony Ballantyne (Tor)

Title: Twisted Metal
Author: Tony Ballantyne
Publisher: Tor UK/Pan Macmillan
Format: Hardback
Pages: 384
Release Date: May 1st 2009


On a world of intelligent robots who seem to have forgotten their own distant past, it is a time of war as the soldiers of Artemis City set out to conquer everything within range on the continent of Shull, killing or converting every robot they capture to their philosophy, while viewing their own wire-based minds as nothing but metal to be used or recycled for the cause.

Elsewhere, the more individualistic robots of Turing City believe they are something more than metal, but when the Artemisian robot Kavan sets out on a determined crusade to prove himself, even Turing City can’t stand against him. Increasingly tied up with Kavan’s destiny is Karel, a Turing robot with elements of Artemis’s philosophy already woven into his mind … as well as Karel’s wife Susan, and their recently created child..
Following the inevitable violence and destruction, Artemisian ambition focuses elsewhere and a journey begins towards the frozen kingdoms of the north … and towards the truth about the legendary ‘Book of Robots’, a text which may finally explain the real history of this strange world …

In a completely alien but brilliantly realized landscape, here is a powerful story of superb action, barbaric cruelty and intense emotional impact.


I like robot stuff, from transformers to Terminator, it's all good. The only problem I have is that I never seem to read enough of it. In SF there are plenty of books that contain AI and the singularity, but I've not come across any that read like Twisted Metal - a book that focuses on robots as a culture, exploring their story. Tony Ballantyne has very successfully created a complete society of robot kind that can very easily be compared to a human society. It's a very effective take on the idea that works exceptionally well.

Looking at the world of Twisted Metal shows how much thought has gone into this. The story of Artemis and its nature is the main plot. The way their philosophy (Nyro's philosophy) is twisted into each new mind gives no room for compromise - either join Artemis or die. This is shown first by the invasion of Wien where we see first hand how the Artemisians deal with their enemy when the conversion process happens - very haunting in the way an individuals choices are used to weed out the unwanted minds. On the opposite end of the scale is Turing City, a place where any mind that can show it is free is welcome and standing as the last hurdle to Artemis' rule over Shull. The conflicting ideas and beliefs of its citizens show how a seemingly more advanced nation compares to the single mindedness of another.

Thrown into the mix we have some very interesting characters. Kavan, a robot fighting in the Artemisian army who takes control of it and successfully guides it in the image of Nyro's philosophy; Karel, a Turing City citizen with a mind twisted in an unknown way; Eleanor, Kavan's right hand robot and second in command of the army; Susan, Karel's wife; Spoole, the ruler of Artemis; Maoco O, a member of the Turing City Guard; Banjo Macrodocious, the enigmatic robot that seems to be at the center of all events.

The events that we got through with all these characters gives a very personal feeling to them. Many times during the novel I had to remind myself that I was reading a story about robots, not that it really matters as Tony Ballantyne has done a remarkable job of bringing these characters to life. The pain that the characters feel is conveyed in an emotional and relatable way, as is the unending belief that one philosophy is the correct one.

One of the most enjoyable things is the way that everything just makes sense. This is a very complex and involved story that flows along at quite a pace with very few elements needing further description. The ideas behind the robot civilisation gel nicely together and work on all the levels needed in this novel.

As I mentioned, the story of Artemis is the central one to this plot and as such we don't get to see the bigger picture on the planet of Penrose. The glimpses we do get show just how well planned the world behind Twisted Metal is and how much fun Tony Ballantyne could have exploring it further. Luckily Twisted Metal is the first part of a new series and as such it has set up the sequel with some very interesting and promising situations. I can't wait to see more from this setting and will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Twisted Metal is one of those novels that has many layers. It's not just the obvious robot/AI science fiction novel, it has the military aspect and also has a fantasy feel to it. Above all it's the characters that carry it to deliver an excellent story set against an exciting backdrop! This is highly recommended and well worth the time.

Cover Art | The Quiet War (Pyr Books)

Another great cover here from Pyr for the US release of Paul McAuley's The Quiet War.

Twenty-third century Earth, ravaged by climate change, looks backwards to the holy ideal of a pre-industrial Eden. Political power has been grabbed by a few powerful families and their green saints. Millions of people are imprisoned in teeming cities; millions more labour on Pharaonic projects to rebuild ruined ecosystems.
On the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, the Outers, descendants of refugees from Earth's repressive regimes, have constructed a wild variety of self-sufficient cities and settlements: scientific utopias crammed with exuberant creations of the genetic arts; the last outposts of every kind of democratic tradition. The fragile detente between the Outer cities and the dynasties of Earth is threatened by the ambitions of the rising generation of Outers, who want to break free of their cosy, inward-looking pocket paradises, colonise the rest of the Solar System, and drive human evolution in a hundred new directions. On Earth, many demand pre-emptive action against the Outers before it's too late; others want to exploit the talents of their scientists and gene wizards.Amid campaigns for peace and reconciliation, political machinations, crude displays of military might, and espionage by cunningly wrought agents, the two branches of humanity edge towards war.

Gollancz released the UK one last year (and it's currently up for the Arthur C Clarke Award) with a rather lacklustre cover (here). Pyr have done the business here and I'm hanging on for this release to splash my cash on - it will sure look shiny on the bookshelf!

Review | The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (Gollancz)

Title: The Forever War
Author: Joe Haldeman
Publisher: Gollancz

With the discovery of collapsars, wormhole-like objects that allow instantaneous travel between stars, humanity are spreading out from Earth. It is through this travel that we meet the Taurans and War ensues.

William Mandala is one of the new highly intelligent recruits and is among the first to be put through the paces on Charon, a freezing planet on the outer edges of the solar system. With his fellow recruits he is sent on the first mission to engage - and see - the Taurans.

Although the collapsars allow almost instant travel between systems, the effects of time dilation when travelling to and from these is severe. During his first mission that takes mere months for him, Mandala return to a changed Earth decades after he left. As the missions take longer and longer the time that passes back home becomes ever greater.

Mandala ends up fighting a seemingly endless war for a world that has moved on from his time. With missions with ever less survival chances he moves up the ranks until commanding his own final mission, one whose outcome will hold some surprising results.

The Forever War is one of the books I picked up to catch up on some classic science fiction. I've enjoyed some recent military stuff recently (John Scalzi's Old Man's War series, Robert Buettner's Orphanage) and I've been meaning to look up the better novels of the genre. I've not yet got around to Starship Troopers, but this one has much to admire, but it doesn't use the the premise as much as I was hoping.

Mandala is our main character and the person we follow throughout this war. From his beginnings as a rookie on his training to the mission he commands as a major, he is the focus and it's his views of the world around that shape the story. Mandala is a likable character and he and his squad mates feel good and as they're not veterans we follow their path in gaining the skills they need in an all new fighting environment of stone cold freezing planets.

The training they go through is a good way to introduce many of the technological aspects of the world of The Forever War, most of which is a nice natural progression from the technology at the time. The combat suits are also quite good and the progress that is made between returns to Earth show how the level of technology evolves throughout the story.

The only real issue that I found I had with The Forever War was the world building. Don't get me wrong, it's done well when it's done, but I just wish that the changes in society could have been explored a little further. While this is primarily a military novel - a job it does very well - it brings up too many interesting points that I felt weren't explored in the depth that they could have been.

Still, I enjoyed The Forever War despite the missed opportunity to explore a changed society further. I'm pleased I made the time to read it and it's also given me yet another author whose work I enjoy enough to track down some of his other works.

Review | The Warded Man by Peter V Brett (Del Rey)

Title: The Warded Man (The Painted Man in the UK)
Author: Peter V Brett
Publisher: Del Rey (Harper Voyager in the UK)
Release Date: March 10th 2009 (September 1st 2008 (HB), April 2nd 2009 (PB) UK)

The time has come to stand against the night.

As darkness falls each night, the corelings rise–demons who well up from the ground like hellish steam, taking on fearsome form and substance. Sand demons. Wood demons. Wind demons. Flame demons. And gigantic rock demons, the deadliest of all. They possess supernatural strength and powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards–symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and mystery, and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile.

It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms. Once, under the leadership of the legendary Deliverer, and armed with powerful wards that were not merely shields but weapons, they took the battle to the demons . . . and stopped their advance.

But those days are gone. The fighting wards are lost. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault.

Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past.

Arlen will pay any price, embrace any sacrifice, for freedom. His grim journey will take him beyond the bounds of human power.

Crippled by the demons that killed his parents, Rojer seeks solace in music–only to discover that music can be a weapon as well as a refuge.

Beautiful Leesha, who has suffered at the hands of men as well as demons, becomes an expert healer. But what cures can also harm. . . .

Together, they will stand against the night.

The Warded Man is one of those books that I heard good things about from its UK release last year but never got around to. Some of the reviews I had read at the time were great, yet as a fantasy book I tended not to pay it too much attention - what a mistake that was! Within the pages of this fantasy is a great story, excellent setting and wonderful characters.

The world that Peter V Brett has created here is wide in scope and full of character. From the vivid descriptions of the small towns on the outskirts of the cities, where night is always a dangerous time, to the cities themselves - huge and strongly warded against the corelings - there is much to admire. These places felt real, the rundown and ruined houses always a constant reminder of what can happen when wards fail. The cities have their big, luxurious houses while the images of despair that are brought to mind when the lowly shared shelters are mentioned add to the clear distinction of class. Despite all of this and how much I enjoyed the world every time I opened the book, the characters steal the show - and quite rightly too.

We follow our three main characters - Arlen, Leesha and Rojer - from a young age. This allows us to grow with them, feel their fear and desires and aspirations. What is good about these characters is their individuality, the way each one feels completely different from the others, yet there is a strong and wilful element that will not just lie down or continue on the road expected of them.

Arlen, our main character, is the most enjoyable to read. His story is simple and entertaining and his motives are clear. There is also a sadness to his character which drives him throughout the narrative and gives him determination to succeed. It's fairly obvious from both the title that Arlen is the Warded Man, but it is the journey to this point that is so enjoyable. Although staggered, the years that we share with him bring him much closer to the heart as a character that you want to succeed and to be the one that fulfills legend and brings hope to humanity.

The sadness that the characters live with is a theme in this novel with both Leesha and Rojer suffering at a young age which changes their lives and outlook forever. Although not at the forefront as much as Arlen, they both have purposeful roles in the story and are equally enjoyable to read. Leesha is the village healer that has the problem of being the focus of some unsavoury gossip that makes her life more difficult and awkward than needed. Meanwhile, Rojer loses both parents while still very young and is raised by a renowned Jongleur, a profession he himself ends up following, but the hard times he faces from day to day because of this mean that many things are stacked against him. As all three characters are introduced while they are still in their early teens or younger we get a look at the years that shape them and can look forward knowing how enjoyable the story will be with them in.

The only issue I have is slight and relates only to the US release: the title. While The Warded Man clearly tells you what is going to happen, The Painted Man is vaguer and more subtle. I personally prefer The Painted Man, but that's neither here nor there. What matters is the story contained within the pages, and regardless of the title it is a readable, page-turning and thoroughly engrossing novel.

The Warded Man is Peter V Brett's debut, a stunning character focused fantasy novel set in a vividly realised world. This is the first volume in The Demon Trilogy and has such great promise to deliver an excellent story arc over the three novels. I am seriously excited about The Desert Spear and can barely wait until it's August publication in the UK - I'm now officially a fan for life!