Luckily for me some things never go completely out of style. For example, Tarzan comes and goes. And for that reason, I’ll be discussing the legendary ape man from 7-8pm on Thursday, July 28 at Austin’s Malvern Books as part of their bi-monthly Fantastical Fiction series.
Cover by Alex Solis. design by Elizabeth Story
I’m guessing some other ape goodness will abound as I’ll be signing my anthology The Apes of Wrath (and pretty much anything else you put in front of me).
Hope to see you there.
First edition cover by N. C, Wyeth with Martin Thomas
In the 90s, I co-founded MOJO Press, first as a way to publish Weird Business (which I recounted in “The Secret History of Weird Business”) and ultimately as way to introduce the burgeoning graphic novel industry into mainstream bookstores.
Of MOJO’s 18 titles, I edited 15 of them including Joe R. Lansdale’s and Sam Glanzman’s Red Range. Shortly before the graphic novel’s publication, I left my post as managing editor with the press itself going away soon after.
Though the book received largely positive reviews, due largely to the press’s demise, Red Range became one of Lansdale’s rarer books.
Joe R. Lansdale’s certainly a modern legend himself, having been around for some time now. But comics artist Sam Glanzman’s got an even more legendary historical grounding, having been professionally drawing for six decades or so. These two worthies have collaborated on Lansdale’s graphic novel, RED RANGE. The first page of RED RANGE itself begins full tilt with graphic ultraviolence as Lansdale and Glanzman plunge us into a 19th century Klan lynching of a black Texas family. Abruptly in the midst of the atrocity, the Kluxers are interrupted by a mysterious rider who’s a deadly shot with both his pistols and long-range Sharps buffalo rifle. It’s the feared and hated (by the KKK, at least) Red Mask, a tough, lethal, black man who wisely keeps his identity concealed. Writer Lansdale’s unerring ear for exotic period and regional dialog remains constant. His penchant for grim humor appears throughout. His hardcore, hard-nosed sense of social conscience remains intact.
–Edward Bryant, Locus (1999)
Sam Glanzman cover to the new edition
Thankfully, Drew Ford’s It’s Alive is attempting to bring Red Range back into print through the auspices of Kickstarter. This new edition will be in full color (previous was in b&w), have an afterword by the legendary Stephen R. Bissette, and introduction by me. Yes, some 15 years after I finished working and promoting the book, I’m revisiting the striking work.
If you’d like to see Red Range back in print, and really what Lansdale fan wouldn’t, go support the Kickstarter. For a few shekles, you can score a beautiful, new edition of this “lost” Lansdale.
While doing my weekly search for online mentions of Tachyon books, I ran across a review of the Polish edition of Ann & Jeff VanderMeer’s Steampunk. While reviewer Anna Siemomysła at Ziarno Myśli, czyli wynurzenia Siemomysły didn’t care much for the book (“an anthology of ‘Steampunk’ is a good compendium of the mainstream, but in my opinion, unfortunately this is not a collection of good literature”), she made special mention of my contribution.
After twelve texts we receive are two articles (by Rick Klaw and Bill Baker), from which we can learn about the fact that steampunk is not just literature. Such pop compendium of knowledge about what and how and where to look. Rick Klaw recalls, for example, about our native Retrostacji what I personally introduced a state of national pride;)
(All translations courtesy of Google.)
For those that don’t have their copy of Steampunk handy (or *gasp* don’t own a copy), here’s the mention that got Siemomysła excited.
The English language version of the Polish site Retrostacji, Steampunkopedia (steampunk.republika.pl) offers the most comprehensive steampunk works chronological bibliography available on the web along with numerous links to steampunk-inspired videos. Sadly, the site stopped updating in February, 2007.
While the Polish edition sports a great cover, obviously inspired by Joe R. Lansdale’s contribution “The Steam Man of the Prairie and the Dark Rider Get Down,” Joe is not mentioned on the cover. Weird.
Cover by Rocky Kelley
It hasn’t rained in forever, the mercury is hitting triple digits, and we’re just passed the halfway point of the baseball season. It must be time for ArmadilloCon once again!
This year’s con, the 37th such affair, takes place this coming weekend (July 24-26).
Guest of Honor – Ken Liu
Special Guest – James Morrow
Editor Guest – L. Timmel Duchamp
Fan Guest – John DeNardo
Toastmaster – Stina Leicht
Artist Guest – Rocky Kelley
As I have for roughly the past 25 years, I’ll be in attendance and because apparently the con organizers have learned nothing, I’ll be sitting in on several panels.
SF TV Shows We’re Anticipating
Fri 9:00 PM-10:00 PM Ballroom F
Allen*, Frank, Klaw, Oliver, Rountree
The Expanse, Man in the High Castle, Minority Report, etc.: Which looks the most interesting and exciting? How faithful can the ones with literary origins be to their source material?
Reading
Sat 10:00 AM-10:30 AM Southpark B
Rick Klaw
(Not sure entirely what I’ll be reading but most likely from The Steampunk Bible,Geek Confidential, and/or The Apes of Wrath.
Cover by Alex Solis
SF Movies from Last Year
Sat 9:00 PM-10:00 PM Southpark A
Cargill, Clarke, DeNardo*, Johnson, Klaw, Wright
The good, the bad, and a few movies more.
(Should be interesting since I haven’t seen that many SF movies this year)
Comic Books on TV
Sat 10:00 PM-11:00 PM Ballroom F
Bey, Eudaly, Klaw, Lalumiere, Porter*, Rogers
From “Look, up in the air!” to “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” to “I’m the fastest man alive!”.
Autographing
Sun 1:00 PM-2:00 PM Dealers’ Room
Klaw, Lalumiere, Ledbetter, Leicht, Maresca, Prevost
Book Covers: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Sun 2:00 PM-3:00 PM Ballroom F
P. J. Hoover, Kelley*, Klaw, Moyer, W. Siros, Weisman
How does a cover artist balance creative impulses with the imperative to create a cover that sells books? What are the notable successes and failures?
Mark Finn, Rick Klaw, and Doug Potter at Armadillocon 26
I hope to see everyone there.
This coming Memorial Day Weekend, I am guest at Houston’s Comicpalooza. The traditionally comic and media heavy convention as decided to venture into literary programming. Hence, my invite and appearance on several panels.
4PM Essential Horror: The Books You Should Be Reading
From Frankenstein and Carrie to the Wayward Pines trilogy; what are the best stories a true horror fan should read? Our panelists share which books and authors are on their list and why. Danel Olson, Rick Klaw, Jacqueline Patricks, Chun Lee, Gabrielle Faust
11:30AM Essential SF: The Sci-Fi You Must Read
What are the books you should read to have a well-rounded knowledge of science fiction? Come learn which works and authors our panel of experts thinks you should know and maybe you can give them a few suggestions as well! Raymond E. Feist, D.L. Young, Rick Klaw, K. S. O’Neill, H. C. H. Ritz, C. D. Lewis
4PM Cyberpunk in Books and Movies
From Neuromancer to Blade Runner and Elysium; cyberpunk fiction has influenced countless novels and films with its high-tech; low-culture worldview. Join the discussion on the roots of cyberpunk and its influence on sci-fi over the last 30 years. D.L. Young, K. S. O’Neill, Rachael Acks, Rick Klaw, Gabrielle Faust
4PM Sci-Fi Writing on TV: The Best (and Worst)
The Twilight Zone; Orphan Black; Star Trek; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Doctor Who” what are the all-time best (and worst) of television’s science fiction shows; and what makes them so great (or not so great)? Come and participate in the discussion! C. D. Lewis, Rick Klaw, Wayne Basta, C. Stuart Hardwick, Diana Dru Botsford
Hope to see everyone one there.
Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.
The Michael Moorcock Library Vol.1: Elric of Melnibone
Script & adaptation by Roy Thomas
Art by Michael T. Gilbert & P. Craig Russell
Promo copy:
Collecting the first volume of the classic adaptation of Michael Moorcock’s bestselling fantasy saga, Elric of Melniboné marks the perfect introduction to the series’ iconic antihero, his fabled blade, Stormbringer, and his harrowing adventures across the Dragon Isle. Adapted by former Marvel Comics editor, Roy Thomas, and beautifully rendered by longtime comics illustrator, Michael T. Gilbert, and the multiple Harvey and Eisner award-winning P. Craig Russell, this definitive collection marks an essential read for all fans of sword and sorcery and brings the Moorcock’s epic tales to life with luxuriant imagination.
On the book’s title page they get the artist credits wrong. It’s attributed to Michael T. DAVIS rather than GILBERT.
Cover by Rocky Kelley
At long last, Rayguns Over Texas comes out in an ebook format.
“In spite of the title, which implies freewheeling space opera, there’s only one raygun to be found in Rayguns Over Texas, an original anthology edited by Richard Klaw; most stories here don’t take us off Earth, and most don’t have anything to do with aliens (attacking or otherwise) or armadas of battling spaceships. That doesn’t mean that the anthology isn’t fun, though.” – Gardner Dozois, Locus Mag
“I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did.” – Bruce Sterling, from his introduction
“I love the cover by Rocky Kelley (no relation)! Bruce Sterling provides a wonderful Introduction. Scott Cupp’s essay on his SF reading is masterful. Neal Barrett, Jr., Joe R. Lansdale, and Michael Moorcock wrote my favorite stories in this collection, but there are plenty of other enjoyable stories here. Pick up a copy soon before they’re all gone!” – George Kelly,GeorgeKelly.org
Since the end of the Civil War, Texans have played an essential role in the history of science fiction. Acclaimed and influential writers such as Bruce Sterling, Michael Moorcock, Howard Waldrop, Walter M. Miller, Jr., Marion Zimmer Bradley, Gene Wolfe, Neal Barrett, Jr., L. Sprague DeCamp, Chad Oliver, John Steakley, and Elizabeth Moon all called The Lone Star State home.
Continuing this proud tradition, Rayguns Over Texas features 17 original and two classic tales that reflect the current creative state of Texas sci-fi, alongside historical essays and an introduction by Hugo award-winning, Texas ex-pat Bruce Sterling.
Whatcha waiting for? Hustle you way over and pick up your copy today at Amazon.
By popular demand, I’m resurrecting my books received feature. I don’t get as many physical books as before, but there is still plenty for me to post about.
Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.
The Vorrh
by B. Catling
Book design by Jaclyn Whalen
Promo copy:
Prepare to lose yourself in the heady, mythical expanse of The Vorrh, a daring debut that Alan Moore has called “a phosphorescent masterpiece” and “the current century’s first landmark work of fantasy.”
Next to the colonial town of Essenwald sits the Vorrh, a vast—perhaps endless—forest. It is a place of demons and angels, of warriors and priests. Sentient and magical, the Vorrh bends time and wipes memory. Legend has it that the Garden of Eden still exists at its heart. Now, a renegade English soldier aims to be the first human to traverse its expanse. Armed with only a strange bow, he begins his journey, but some fear the consequences of his mission, and a native marksman has been chosen to stop him. Around them swirl a remarkable cast of characters, including a Cyclops raised by robots and a young girl with tragic curiosity, as well as historical figures, such as writer Raymond Roussel and photographer and Edward Muybridge. While fact and fictional blend, and the hunter will become the hunted, and everyone’s fate hangs in the balance, under the will of the Vorrh.
This sound fascinating. Complete with blurbs from Alan Moore, Terry Gilliam, Tom Waits, and Jeff VanderMeer!
On Twitter, Kim Newman has reported that anthologist Michel Parry has died. Throughout the 1970s, Parry edited numerous collections including Archives of Evil (two volumes), The Mayflower Black Magic Stories (six volumes), Reign of Terror (four volumes), The Rivals of Dracula, The Rivals of Frankenstein, and most importantly from my perspective The Rivals of King Kong. As the first anthology devoted to ape fiction, Parry’s book at least partially influenced my own book The Apes of Wrath. Five of the nineteen stories in Apes also appeared in Parry’s. This is what I wrote about Rivals in Apes:
Surprisingly, given the simian’s influential role in popular culture, only one previous anthology of ape fiction exists. Published in 1978 by Corgi, The Rivals of King Kong collected eight reprinted stories, two originals, and an excerpt from one of H. Rider Haggard’s Allan Quatermain books. Editor Michel Parry contributed the introduction and checklist of simian cinema. The difficult-to-locate collectible paperback original commands a ridiculous price ranging from $30-$200.
I didn’t know Parry personally, so I never got the chance to discuss apes with him or to learn what, if anything, he thought of my volume. Or if he even knew it existed or what he spawned.
So Michel, wherever you are, thanks for those early jungle trails.
Cover by Alex Solis
Since my most recent Nexus Graphica is about my adventures at the Austin Comic Con (aka Wizard World Texas), I figured it’d be a good time to catch up with what I picked up at the con.
Signed 11″ x 14″ print from an illustration by Chet Phillips.
Promo copy:
This tribute showcases famous quotes and icons from the Rob Reiner film “Princess Bride” based on the book by William Goldman. Signed on bright white archival 60 lb. paper.
