peter s. beagle

March 8, 2023

Tachyon tidbits featuring Peter S. Beagle, Samantha Mills, Ellen Datlow, David Liss, and Joe R. Lansdale

Rick Klaw blog Attack of the Six-Foot Tranny, body shocks, deadline, denise petski, doris v sutherland, Ellen Datlow, Joe R. Lansdale, peter s. beagle, samantha mills, splatterpunk award, suroor alikhan, talking about books, the essential peter s. beagle volume ii: oaklans dragon blues and other stories, the new voices of science fiction, the peculiarities, the rise and fall of winged zemolai, the thicket, tubi

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web

The Book Lover’s Boudoir enjoys THE ESSENTIAL PETER S. BEAGLE VOLUME II: OAKLAND DRAGON BLUES AND OTHER STORIES even more than the impressive first volume.

I enjoyed THE ESSENTIAL PETER S. BEAGLE VOLUME II a bit more than VOLUME I. Many of the stories are grounded more in the real world with a touch of fantasy which appealed to more. Some the stories in VOLUME I were familiar to be but I hadn’t read anything in VOLUME II. I enjoyed the anticipation of wondering what I would find when I finished a story and turned the page. I loved all of the stories.

cover of The Essential Peter S. Beagle Volume 2; art by Stephanie Law, design by Elizabeth Story — Cover art by Stephanie Law
Design by Elizabeth Story

On her blog, freshly-minted Nebula Award-nominee (for the short story “Rabbit Test”) Samantha Mills announces her novel debut, THE RISE AND FALL OF WINGED ZEMOLAI. coming in 2024 from Tachyon Publications.

I’m thrilled to be working on this book with Jaymee Goh and Jacob Weisman at Tachyon Publications. We’ve worked together once before (when my short story “Strange Waters” was collected into THE NEW VOICES OF SCIENCE FICTION) and it was a great experience, so I really feel that the book is in good hands.

It is slated for release in early 2024. We’ll get a firmer date dialed in once I’ve gotten through initial edits — at which point I will of course be shouting it from the rooftops. ;D

Cover art by Matt Dixon
Design by Elizabeth Story

**As part of their survey of the 2022 Splatterpunk Award nominees, Doris V. Sutherland at Attack of the Six-Foot Tranny, praises 2022 Splatterpunk Award winner BODY SHOCKS, edited by Ellen Datlow.**

Reading BODY SHOCKS feels like experiencing the Splatterpunk Awards by way of the Hugo Awards. Compared to most of the books on the ballot, the writing is polished with more care, the narrative styling more pronounced, and the satirical elements given a stronger feminist slant. Yet the macabre weirdness that we have come to expect from the Splatterpunk Awards is present and correct.

Over on Talking About Books, Suroor Alikhan likes THE PECULIARITIES by David Liss.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy. David Liss has a way of creating atmosphere and a sense of menace.

**In an exclusive, Denise Petski of Deadline reports that Tubi has started principle photography on The Thicket, based on Joe R. Lansdale’s novel of the same name.**

EXCLUSIVE: Tubi has begun principal photography on dark western thriller The Thicket, based on Joe R. Lansdale’s novel of the same name, starring and produced by Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage. Production is underway in Calgary, Canada.

A longtime passion project for Dinklage, The Thicket also stars Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets), Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna), Levon Hawke (The Crowded Room), Leslie Grace (In The Heights), Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Old Man), Macon Blair (I Care A Lot), James Hetfield (Metallica), Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders), Andrew Schulz (Infamous), and Arliss Howard (Mank).

Set at the turn-of-the-century, The Thicket follows an innocent young man, Jack (Hawke), who goes on an epic quest to rescue his sister Lula (Creed-Miles) after she has been kidnapped by the violent killer Cut Throat Bill (Lewis) and her gang. To save her, Jack enlists the help of a crafty bounty hunter named Reginald Jones (Dinklage), a grave-digging alcoholic son of an ex-slave (Akinnagbe), and a street-smart prostitute (Grace). The gang tracks Cut Throat Bill into the deadly no-man’s land known as The Big Thicket — a place where blood and chaos reign.

September 1, 2022

Tachyon tidbits featuring Peter S. Beagle, David Liss, David Ebenbach, Lavie Tidhar, and Joe R. Lansdale & Kasey Lansdale

Rick Klaw blog booksie's blog, central station, david ebenbach, david liss, dead sky publishing, eating the fantastic, how to mars, in calabria, Joe R. Lansdale, kasey lansdale, lavie tidhar, Les Chroniques du Chroniqueur, matt ligeti, mucho mojo, peter s. beagle, professor mondo, review, scott edelman, the comic book yeti, the peculiarities

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

Professor Mondo enjoys Peter S. Beagle’s IN CALABRIA.

Honestly, things happen about the way I would expect them to happen, but as ever, there is so much charm and grace in PSB’s writing that it would be churlish to complain.

I’ve said before that Beagle is a writer for whom I can’t even feel envy. There are very fine writers out there, and while I try not to compare myself to anyone else, I sometimes find myself thinking “That’s like something I could have done, had I thought of it,” or “That’s something I could have done, but s/he did it better than I would have.” But I never feel that when I read Peter Beagle. Complaining about not writing like that is like complaining that you don’t fly as naturally and beautifully as a falcon, or that you have to use technology to do what a spider does naturally. It’s not a difference in degree — it’s a difference in kind.

After listening to the audio book, Booksie’s Blog praises THE PECULIARITIES by David Liss.

David Liss is a well-known historical fiction author. His trademark is meticulous research. In this new genre for him, the story is still accurate historically while adding the fantastic elements that make the story fall more in the fantasy genre. Readers will cheer for Thomas as he grows from a feckless young man to someone ready to take on horrendous events. I listened to this novel and found the narrator to be a good match. The only quibble I had was that I found Thomas’ voice too nasal to enjoy listening to. This book is recommended for fantasy readers.

**David Ebenbach, author of HOW TO MARS, sat down with Scott Edelman for cheesecake and conversation on Eating the Fantastic.**

We discussed the way he started writing science fiction without realizing he was writing science fiction, the final line of the worst thing he’s ever written, how his first scribbling as a kid was a violent spy novel about The Smurfs, why it’s important to root for an author and not merely our own reading experience, the cliches some in the literary and science fiction worlds believe about each other, the newspaper article which sparked his novel HOW TO MARS, the way he’s managed to carve himself out a bifurcated writing life, the philosophical differences between those writing novels and short stories, and much more.

How to Mars cover — Cover by Elizabeth Story

**The French site Les Chroniques du Chroniqueur in a lengthy review recommends Lavie Tidhar’s CENTRAL STATION.**

Through different slices of life of the characters point of view of his stories, the author shows in my opinion how Weird Fiction and Cyberpunk can intersect, through the encounters and relationships that can unite a cyborg soldier to a civilian, or even a cybernetic vampire to a man whose data she cannot steal.

I highly recommend reading this collection!
Translation from French courtesy of Google

In an exclusive, Matt Ligeti for The Comic Book Yeti shares a profile on indie comic publisher Dead Sky Publishing. Among the many goodies are a 5-page preview adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard novel Mucho Mojo and news about a new Joe and Kasey Lansdale creative endeavor.

Additionally, we’re developing another comic with Joe R. Lansdale (Moon Lake), and his daughter Kasey Lansdale (Terror Is Our Business), with artist Daniele Serra (Hellraiser (BOOM!)), but we’re keeping that title to ourselves for now.

August 26, 2022

Tachyon well represented at Chicon 8, the 80th World Science Fiction Convention

Rick Klaw blog, Events adam stemple, ane Anders, chicon 8, daryl gregory, eileen gunn, Ellen Datlow, jacob weisman, jo walton, Marie Brennan (virtual only), michael swanwick, Naseem Jamnia, Patrick O’Leary, peter s. beagle, Rick Wilber, ruth sanderson, the bruising of qilwa, World Science Fiction Convention, worldcon 80

Many Tachyon authors and editors will join Tachyon head honcho Jacob Weisman in Chicago, IL for Chicon 8, the 80th World Science Fiction Convention (September 1-5). This years attendees include Charlie Jane Anders, Peter S. Beagle, Marie Brennan (virtual only), Ellen Datlow, Daryl Gregory, Eileen Gunn, Naseem Jamnia, Patrick O’Leary, Ruth Sanderson, Adam Stemple, Michael Swanwick, Jo Walton, and Rick Wilber.

The legendary event, held annually since since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, during World War II), celebrates science fiction. This years convention features Guests of Honor Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, Edie Stern and Joe Siclari, Erle Korshak, special guests Dr. Eve L. Ewing, Gene Ha, Eric Wilkerson, and toastmasters Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders.

Be sure to visit the Tachyon tables in the dealer’s room, where we’ll be hosting several signings.

Saturday

10AM

Ellen Datlow
Eileen Gunn

1PM

Naseem Jamnia debut novella THE BRUISING OF QILWA premiere

2PM

Jo Walton

Cover for THE BRUISING OF QILWA by Naseem Jamnia — Cover by Elizabeth Story

Sunday

10AM

Peter S. Beagle

1PM

Patrick O’Leary
Rick Wilber

2PM

Daryl Gregory

3PM

Ruth Sanderson
Adam Stemple

Stop by the table for an updated scheduled as things may change.

March 17, 2021

Tachyon tidbits featuring Carrie Vaughn, Lisa Goldstein, Peter S. Beagle, Patricia A. McKillip, and Lauren Beukes

Rick Klaw blog Carrie Vaughn, instagram, ivory apples, kitty norville, kitty's mix-tape, larry clark, lauren beukes, lisa goldstein, patricia a mckillip, peter s. beagle, r/horror, reddit, review, sebastian keller, slipping: stories essays & other writing, sybrina's book blog, the furious gazelle, the karkadann triangle, washington state magazine

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

On INSTAGRAM, Sebastian Keller (@nuewemaeren) shared their 3-d version of the iconic Tachyon logo.

THE FURIOUS GAZELLE enjoys Carrie Vaughn’s KITTY’S MIX-TAPE.

Fans of the Kitty Norville series will find a comforting haven in Carrie Vaughn’s latest short story collection, KITTY’S MIX-TAPE. Vaughn is a master at making the monstrous familiar, and even wryly funny.

WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE staff reveal what they’ve been reading, watching, and listening to since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Editor Larry Clark’s selections include Lisa Goldstein’s IVORY APPLES.

I enjoy a good novel about fiction becoming reality, and obsession. Goldstein’s words are gripping and, at times, terrifying.

As part of their regular Unicorn Book Feature, SYBRINA’S BOOK BLOG spotlights, without comment, Peter S. Beagle and Patricia A. McKillip’s THE KARKADANN TRIANGLE.

Cover by Tomas Canty
Design by Elizabeth Story

In the REDDIT r/Horror thread What Horror novels and short stories do you consider truly terrifying, The-BoneRanger mentions Lauren Beukes’ SLIPPING: STORIES, ESSAYS, & OTHER WRITING.

If you’re looking for any techno-horror you should check out SLIPPING by Lauren Beukes. Not all of the stories are sci-fi based, but a good number are. I was particularly unsettled by the story of futuristic patchwork athletes who are engineered beyond the peak of human performance.

Cover art by Clara Bacou
Design by Elizabeth Story

November 18, 2020

Tachyon tidbits featuring Elly Bangs, David Ebenbach, Jane Yolen, Peter S. Beagle, Richard Lupoff, and Brian Aldiss

Rick Klaw blog books bones & buffy, brian aldiss, david ebenbach, elly bangs, hidden in pages, how to mars, in calabria, interview, Jane Yolen, kickstarter, peter s. beagle, Richard Lupoff, tara campbell, the best of xero, the midnight circus, unity, washington independent review of books, wendy aldiss, zines to the future 0

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

BOOKS. BONES, & BUFFY reveal of four exciting upcoming 2021 sf books has both Elly Bangs’ UNITY and David Ebenbach’s HOW TO MARS.

This sounds crazy! I love the Mad Max comparison, and it’s got a road trip kind of vibe to it. Can’t wait!

This sounds like it has a bunch of elements I love in my fiction, and the quirky cover and title definitely get me excited to check this out!

WASHINGTON INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BOOKS 7 Most-Favorable Reviews in October 2020 includes Tara Campbell’s review of THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS by Jane Yolen.

Yolen is often dubbed “the Hans Christian Andersen of America,” but that should not be misunderstood. Her work is not Andersen Americanized: sanitized, watered-down, Disney-fied. It is true to the real tradition of Andersen: mesmerizing, haunting, and often not for the faint of heart. This collection teems with Yolen’s weird, folkloric verve. Her menagerie of stories is distilled from a cauldron of fairytales, legends, and history, featuring everything from selkies to shapeshifters; witches, weavers, and warriors; and angels murderous to ravenous. Her foreword and endnotes offer additional context for the work, creating a satisfying — if often unsettling — reading experience.

HIDDEN IN PAGES praises the audiobook of Peter S. Beagle’s IN CALABRIA.

Overall this made me want to go and read Beagle’s other books. It is beautifully written and magical in a gentle way. Beagle does an amazing job with description and with creating very human characters that are easy to care about.

ZINES TO THE FUTURE shared the groundbreaking zine creator Richard Lupoff’s last interview. Richard passed away just a few days before the ZINES TO THE FUTURE Exhibit opened.

As for the comics-oriented material in Xero, that was the product more of impulse than planning. I’d been out of the army for a while, and Pat had just got her college degree. We were starting to move through the science fiction world in New York, and a number of our friends were publishing fanzines. This looked like fun, and we decided to create one of our own. We didn’t have many connections to call upon for material, so we wound up creating most of the first issue ourselves.

I remember Pat writing two fine pieces. One was a book review of Brood of the Witch Queen, a fantasy novel by Sax Rohmer. The other was a survey of the career and works of Mervyn Peake, author of the Gormenghast novels. Our only outside contribution was a review of the film of Psycho, based on the novel by Robert Bloch. The reviewer was Harlan Ellison.

At which point I felt that I needed to write something, too. I had a certain nostalgic feeling about the comic books I’d enjoyed so much in my childhood — especially the adventures of Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. So I wrote a memoir of my days as a fan of Captain Marvel. Called the essay “The Big Red Cheese” after a term applied to Captain Marvel by his arch-foe, Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana.

Xero 1 had a circulation of less than one hundred copies, but we received enthusiastic letters of comment, and many readers offered to write memoirs of their own, about their favorite comics. Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Captain America, Bulletman, Spy Smasher, Tarzan, the inhabitants of The Lost World . . . Eventually this series grew into two volumes, All in Color for a Dime and The Comic-Book Book. My friend Don Thomson co-edited these books with me, and we had planned on a third volume, to be called The Best Comics Ever, but Don’s untimely death prevented our completing the project.

Documentary photographer Wendy Aldiss is running a KICKSTARTER campaign for My Father’s Things, the photo essay that began the day after the influential Brian Aldiss died.

The pictures create a portrait of the person and prompts thoughts of our own possessions, what we keep and what we dispose of.

Possessions are a universal theme. Separated from their surroundings these objects lead us to contemplate the intrinsic value of design and the singular virtues of everyday things, and to consider the importance that we attach to our own material possessions, and what will become of them after our passing. For those who have already had to deal with the disposal of a relative’s things it will resonate with their own experience.

My Dad (he was my Dad as well as my father) was Brian Aldiss, one of the most important voices in science fiction, writer, poet and artist, and so some of the photos in the book reflect this; not least his awards, early science fiction magazines and many, many books. Plenty there for Science Fiction fans to enjoy. There is also all the everyday stuff of life; playing cards, soap, family snaps and tea bags.