Nocturnal by Scott Sigler

I think that Hodder missed a trick (or treat). Scott Sigler’s Nocturnal is published on 22nd November (£7.99) and not in time for Hallowe’en.

“For centuries, their race has lived beneath the earth, emerging only at night, to feed quietly on the dregs of society and slip back into the shadows. But now their time has come – their time to rise up from their hiding places and take back what is theirs.

San Francisco homicide detective Bryan Klauser is supposed to be hunting a serial killer. But a serial killer couldn't be responsible for the seemingly impossible DNA evidence the crime-scene techs keep finding – or for the gory, strangely prophetic dreams Bryan keeps having. And what about the connections he keeps finding to a century-old cult – and his superiors' sudden reluctance to give him the answers he needs about cases that should be dead and buried?

Ultimately, Klauser's investigations will reveal a race of killers who've long lurked beneath San Francisco's streets – and are preparing to take back the city. Klauser is the only man who can stop them, because ... he might not be a man at all.”

Anomaly by Skip Brittenham and Brian Haberin. Book review.

Anomaly by Skip Brittenham (writer) and Brian Haberin (writer and artist). Anomaly Publishing $75.00

Reviewed by Peter Coleborn

Usually, when one reads a graphic novel it is comprised of chapters based on the monthly comic book. Not in this case. Anomaly is a 350-plus page comic strip without these natural pauses. And this means that one is compelled to read the whole thing in a single sitting. And that can be an exhausting experience.

It is the 28th century and Earth is depleted of all resources. And so the Earth government – rather the Conglomerate – raids and takes over other words, mostly by force. But there is one far-off planet that hasn’t succumbed and it is to here that Jon and Samantha and Jasson and others are despatched. They think they are there to discover what went wrong previously. In fact, the Conglomerate has sent these people – thorns in the company’s side – to die.

This planet is an anomaly – hence is named Anomaly. It is home to dozens of intelligent life-forms rather than the single one encountered elsewhere. And as is typical in this sort of story, the Earthmen find themselves in a multi-species conflict: the many intelligent species do not, after all, live in perfect harmony. After landing in a desert in which a virus-like organism consumes all polymer substances, the crew have to cope in the primitive world on an equal footing with the denizens of that place. And like John Carter of Mars, and no doubt in many other similar SF scenarios, Jon fights the leader of one band to take command of an army, to combat the evil Muties…

What makes this book extra special is its production values. They are impressive. Anomaly is a lavishly-presented, hefty publication. And I mean hefty: over 350 fifteen by ten inch glossy pages, bound in landscape format – wider than it is high. The book is around one inch thick; I haven’t weighed it but it is heavy! This wide format allows for some spectacular artwork, particularly apt for some of the landscapes and space-scapes depicted therein. The art is at times exquisite, although it can be difficult recognising some characters – but this is a problem with almost all non-superhero comics, anyway.

It looks as if the artwork was produced digitally rather than using traditional pen and ink, as if they are images used in a computer game; but on checking the web, it looks as if Anomaly has no connection with any computer game I could see. However, the company is tying in the book to digital media via iPhone and other apps, to provide an interactive experience. All details of this – and a whole lot more – can be found on the company’s website. Here’s what the website says about the company:

“Anomaly Productions is a cutting-edge media company launched by creators Brittenham and Haberlin. Anomaly Productions combines stunning artwork and rich stories to build deeply immersive worlds than can be experienced across multiple platforms and in a multitude of ways. Anomaly is its first release, with three other projects in various stages of production.”

If you like big-scale space opera mixed with helpings of Burroughs, Anomaly is right up your street. It is a stunning production all round, with great graphics tied in with the extras via computer apps. This is a visual treat!

The book comes in its own cardboard box which will provide storage protection because it will be a beast to fit on your bookshelves. The $75 price works out at around £50, I guess, although I have seen it advertised on the web for around £30. Anomaly is on target for the special Christmas gift.

New books from Titan

Titan Books has announced a range of attractive books, in time for the Christmas market. Here’s just a sample:

Prometheus: The Art of the Film by Mark Salisbury (£24.99): “As the only book to directly tie in to the film, this lavish title created such a demand from fans that the book was re-printed three times prior to its publication! Prometheus: The Art of the Film offers fans the opportunity to delve deeper into this epic science-fiction production. The lavish hardback includes newly revealed production art, exclusive interviews, extraordinary behind-the-scenes material and an introduction by legendary director Ridley Scott.”

Jaws- Memories From Martha’s Vineyard by Matt Taylor (£34.99): “For the first time ever, these behind-the-scenes photographs taken by residents of the island during the filming of Jaws, have been compiled into a virtual treasure trove of Jaws rarities. With a Foreword by director Steven Spielberg, interviews with production designer Joe Alves, screenwriter Carl Gottlieb, location casting director Shari Rhodes and much more, this book provides an unprecedented all-access pass to the creation of some of the most memorable and terrifying scenes in film history.”

Dinosaur Art: The World’s Greatest Paleoart (various artists) edited by Steve White (£29.99): “Featuring ten of the most prominent artists working today, Dinosaur Art: The World’s Greatest Paleoart is a blend of breathtaking artwork and cutting edge science that set the planetology blogs and science pages buzzing earlier this year!” “Bringing to life a lost world as seen through the eyes and informed imaginations of some of the greatest contemporary natural science illustrators in one volume.” –Terryl Whitlach, scientific illustrator, known for her creature designs for Star Wars.

Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration by Scott Tracey Griffin (£24.99): “Celebrating one hundred years of Tarzan, Titan Books presents the only official commemorative illustrated history of this worldwide phenomenon. In Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration, acclaimed Edgar Rice Burroughs expert Scott Tracy Griffin explores the 24 original novels and the many varied appearances on stage, screen and in print.”

Tales From Development Hell: The Greatest Movies Never Made? by David Hughes (£9.99): “A compulsively readable journey into the area of film-making where all writers, directors and stars fear to tread: Development Hell… This in-depth tour of tinsel-town’s unmade, takes in everything from Darren Aronofsky’s Batman starring Clint Eastwood, to a John Boorman version of The Lord of the Rings featuring the Beatles. Hughes interviews the writers and directors involved to investigate these fascinating lost projects and many more.”

The Art of Assassin’s Creed III by Andy McVittie (£24.99): “Assassin’s Creed is one of the most highly-praised, beautiful and action-packed game franchises ever created and Assassin’s Creed III sees the franchise step into a brand new era, with a new assassin in a revolutionary world. Packed with never-before-seen concept art and artists’ commentary throughout, The Art of Assassin’s Creed III is an exclusive hardback title exploring the vision and development of the game, Assassin’s Creed III.”

The Return Man by V M Zito

The Return Man by V M Zito is due in November from Hodder (£7.99).

“Before the outbreak, Henry Marco was a doctor, doing his utmost to save lives. Now his job is to end them… The Outbreak tore the USA in two. The East remains a safe haven. The West has become a ravaged wilderness. They call it The Evacuated States… Civilisation’s gone. He’s stayed to bury the Dead.”

From Hell to Eternity by Thana Niveau

From Hell to Eternity by Thana Niveau is part of the Gray Friar Press’ New Blood series, and now available (£8.99).

“From Hell... Where shadows speak from the depths of a haunted sea. Where a little girl’s obsession conjures a terrible bogeyman. Where a woman’s body becomes her own worst enemy.

... To Eternity: Where familiar places harbour ancient evil. Where a dinner party descends into blood, sex, madness and death. Where a camera can steal more than your very soul.”

The collection includes an introduction by Ramsey Campbell.

Red Country by Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie’s Red Country (Gollancz £16.99) is now available:

“The past never stays buried.

Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell; er brother and sister have been stolen and she’s going to have to return to her bad old ways if she’s ever going to see them again.

The journey takes them across the lawless plains, to a frontier town gripped by gold fever … and high into unmapped mountains to a reckoning with ancient enemies…”

Para Imminence: Stories of the Future of Wraeththu

New from Immanion Press: Para Imminence: Stories of the Future of Wraeththu, edited by Storm Constantine and Wendy Darling:

“The androgynous and mysterious Wraeththu have risen to replace humanity upon a ravaged world. Is it inevitable they will forget the mistakes of the past wrought by their human ancestors or will they truly evolve to become the guardian, sentient race this Earth deserves?

Based on the world created by Storm Constantine for her Wraeththu novels, the stories in this collection explore different aspects of Wraeththu’s possible future. Whether that is leaving the earthly realm to explore the uncharted reaches of the multiverse via the Otherlanes, raising the ancient lost continents of humanity’s myths and legends, surfing the psychic equivalent of the Internet, coming to terms with their race’s human past, or simply revisiting earlier territory where pain and disappointment might still lurk, Para Imminence offers a compendium of visions of the future of harakind."

Features stories by Storm Constantine, Wendy Darling, Martina Bellovičová, Andy Bigwood, Victoria Copus, Suzanne Gabriel, Fiona Lane, Maria J Leel, Martina Luise Pachali, Daniela Ritter and E S Wynn.

Hellblazer: The Devil's Trench Coat

One of my favourite comic books, Hellblazer,  sees a new graphic novel out now from Vertigo ($16.99). The Devil's Trench Coat collects issues 283 to 291 of the monthly comic. The two stories, "The Devil's Trench Coat" and "Another Season in Hell" are written by Peter Milligan, with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Stefano Landini. In the first story, Constantine's old, foul-smelling trench coat assumes a life of its own, with bloody consequences (aren't most of Constantine's action coloured with blood?). And in the second tale the anti-hero revisits hell, to rescue a lost soul. And once more he pits wits against the various demons he encounters.

The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers

The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers, a new Zamonia novel, is published next month (Harvill Secker £20.00). This edition was translated from the German by John Brownjohn. The book is embellished with many cartoons by the author.

“Over two hundred years ago Bookholm, the City of Dreaming Books, was destroyed by a catastrophic firestorm. Optimus Yarnspinner, who witnessed this disaster, has since become Zamonia's greatest writer and is resting on his laurels at Lindworm Castle. Spoilt by his monumental success and basking in adulation, he one day receives a disturbing message that finally reinvests his life with meaning: a cryptic missive that lures him back to Bookholm.

Rebuilt on a magnificent scale, the city is once more a vibrant literary metropolis and Mecca of the book trade teeming with book fanatics of all kinds. On the track of the mysterious letter that brought him there, Yarnspinner has scarcely set foot in the city before he falls prey to its spirit of adventure. He is reunited with old friends like Inazia Anazazi the Uggly and Ahmed ben Kibitzer the Nocturnomath, but he also encounters the city's new marvels, which include the mysterious Biblionauts, the warring Puppetists, and the city's latest craze, the Invisible Theatre.”

The Screaming Book of Horror edited by Johnny Mains

The Screaming Book of Horror edited by Johnny Mains is available in hardcover from Screaming Dreams (£20.00)

This anthology should remind you of a time “when horror books didn’t try to be overly literary or snobbish or superior in tone. The tales inside will take you back to when your stomach took the occasional lurch. This is a horror anthology in the tradition of the anthologies we all grew up with.”

There are 21 stories in this lovely looking tome, including tales by John Llewellyn Probert, John Brunner, Alison Littlewood, Paul Finch, Rhys Hughes, Alison Moore, Reginald Oliver, David A Riley, Steve Rasnic Tem, John Burke, Christopher Fowler and Charlie Higson.