Posts
How Stuff is Going
It struck me the other day that I haven't blogged personally in a long time, mainly because I've been so busy, so if you'll forgive me I thought I'd just chunter away for a while. So let's get the links out of the way first. The BBC were kind enough to chat to me, Iain Banks, Ken MacLeod, Ian Watson and myself about current issues in SF, the results of which can be found here:
And here's me at Marvel, talking about vampires with reference to Captain Britain and MI-13:
We just found out we've gained an extra two thousand readers with the start of 'Vampire State' in issue ten, arresting our downward trajectory, so thanks very much if you are one of those. There seems to be a good buzz about the book at the moment. I've finished both scripts for an upcoming Annual, which'll be largely about Meggan.
It was heartening to see two Doctor Who episodes on the Hugo ballot this morning (you don't need a link for that, right?) amongst what generally seems to be being welcomed as a straightforward field of the right nominees. I'd like the new Comics category (well, it should be called the Comics category) to slightly more reflect either SF and fantasy or what's going on in comics right now (okay, that is to say I want to see Fables win). It reads right now like it's mostly a list of the one comic that people who just read one comic read. (Checks that sentence again, phew, passes muster.) Better Days isn't even the best Joss Whedon comic. Anyhow, I hope 'Silence in the Library' gets the Short Form Drama, and I'm pleased to see that Lost (which is now this terrific New Wave SF show that I hope J.G.Ballard is watching) is getting nominations again. But I'd have liked to have seen some Sarah Connor in there.
I'm going back to the novel whenever I can. Indeed, I kind of panic when I can't, like I might never finish, and I really need to. It's going to be large, mind. Currently 75,000 words in, and we've only just finished the first section. It is mostly the story of four Met coppers (two black, two gay, one white, one straight, one sleeping with the other's missus) who find themselves with The Sight and apply police methods to the supernatural horrors of London. Regular readers will have seen the prologue at Christmas.
Getting up really early in the morning, with birdsong from the graveyard outside and the quality of light with this great weather, has got me to points of real joy in the last few days. And my script work, television and comics, is reflecting that, some of my best, I think. I quite fancied blogging midweek, just saying 'hey, I'm really happy', but that'd be weird.
At the moment I'm reading the collection of Stan Lee's Soapbox columns from Marvel comics of the 1970s, produced by the Hero Initiative, who take care of comic creators who need financial and other help. It's a thing of beauty, Stan as a socially aware Willy Wonka. I'm also in the middle of (for my marathon of all his titles) Christopher Priest's The Space Machine (excellent work in the style of that tries hard not to be a pastiche), and Roy Strong's A Little History of the English Country Church. I whizzed through Northworld and Whiteout from Oni Press, both very cool, though the former ends suddenly. I've recently had it pointed out to me that this is because it's the first of a two book series. And the anime show Genshiken is my new passion. It's about a university anime/manga society, but is really about geek types and politics, and is very wise on that subject. I know these characters from my fan life. It's also very mature about sexual relationships, a meaningful romcom, with a maturity that still surprises when one comes across it in anime. Basically, it's the story of a young woman who's fallen in love with a handsome, charming, if rather empty-headed, fanboy, but finds that she can barely stand his fan friends. It's laugh out loud funny in places, usually because it tells the truth.
I can also feel the impending arrival of the English cricket season, which on its own is enough to make me happy. The summer season wallchart issue of Wisden's marks a special time of the year for me.
Oh, I should say, thanks very much if you've sent me a reply on Twitter. I do like reading them, but I reply to only maybe one in ten, for two reasons: firstly, I need to do so by private message, because otherwise my 'ha ha, yes, that's really funny' shows up as a headline on the Blogger version of this blog, with no context. And because I get so many that if I replied to them all, that would be my job. I do hope you understand, but please don't stop saying hello.
And I'm going to Eastercon, and have ended up on some panels, thank goodness, at short notice, but am wheedling for more. I think I may see if I can get a few other writers together and have a go at the Rock Band contest.
See? Told you it'd be rambling. Until next time, Cheerio.
Labels:
Captain Britain,
Doctor Who,
Genshiken,
Hugos,
SF
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Can you see here that you've started out with the intent of blogging about something other than work, and inadvertently, blogged about work. It's the lack of alcohol I say.
When you say that the comic has picked up another 2000 readers, does that include readers outside of North America?
(I'm still trying to work out if "Captain Britain and MI:13's" popularity in the UK- seriously, it always seems to be sold out wherever I go- has any bearing on what Marvel's powers-that-be decide to do with the book. I'm curious at to what their game plan was for this book (assuming that they had a game plan other than "throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks"). If they wanted a book that would sell lots of copies in the USA, then 'Captain Britain and MI:13' was never going to achieve that, no matter how well written; because Americans just aren't that interested in the UK, which is fair enough, I guess. But if Marvel plan for this book was to capture the hearts and minds of comic book readers in the UK then I'd say they've succeeded- the book seems to be a major hit over here.)
In other words... I'm still desperately hoping they're not going to cancel this wonderful, wonderful book. *Sob*
Uh... sorry about that. I guess you're sick of hearing rumours about how Cap and MI:13 have been cancelled, by now.
Well, and other things, Simon. Diamond don't count sales outside North America, Anon. But Marvel do know how many copies ship in total. Back in the day, Excalibur sold a lot of books, so the British setting isn't necessarily a problem. And yes, I am rather!
Dammit, that psychic copper novel sounds good.
Marvel clearly know they're on to something with Cap & MI13, and are showing the same kind of enthusiasm they had when growing properties like Runaways and the Dan Slott She Hulk, which is nice to see.
Dear Paul;
CB & MI:13 #12 is epic. Faiza was amazing and so was Pete, especially. He has gone a long way as a character in Marvel. Why did Blade seem so detached upon learning of Spitfire's capture and Dracula's message towards him?
This is such a wonderful series. When will the story mentioned in Captain Britain's Twitter posts get mentioned in the actual series? It seems like quite a major event and I feel sort of deprived at not being able to see it drawn by Leonard Kirk. :D
Take care.
Thanks, Mark. Yes, they've always given us loads of support. Dr: well, because he's stoic. I wasn't planning on mentioning the Twitter story, because it'd be very hard to do. How do you reference something like that? And more importantly, why?
Have you thought of taking your very large novel and breaking it up into a trilogy? Or does the book warrant that? I'd happily buy three books of yours.
Good to see you briefly at Gally! Take care.
-Erik
Thanks, but no, this has to be one lump!
Blimey, you're busy at the mo, do remember to relax. Any news on Mrs C's applications?
That's great news about the new 2,000, and a Meggan focus! Will you reveal that her original surname is 'Chips'? If Marvel have a few spare pages at the back of the Annual, how about The Candlelight Dialogues? I've an idea it was coloured for X-Men Archives or something.
Mrs. C's got a date assigned for her 'so you want to be a vicar' meeting in July, thanks for asking. I've written both bits of the annual, and I'd always prefer new material, really, though I would like to see that.
Just tracked this - you know you need to come and Rock! Show the rest of us how it's done :)
It is my plan to rock out.