I was intrigued (and slightly alarmed in truth) to notice that the paperback version of one of my novels is currently on sale, at Amazon of all places, for the princely sum of $1,860.39! The page claims this is a ‘first edition’ (though the typo converts this into a ‘frist edition’). Even so, it’s quite a chunk of change for a book that is also available through Createspace (part of Amazon) for a more reasonable $9.99.

(Besides which, can a print-on-demand book ever be really described as a ‘first edition’?)

I suspect this has been caused by the usual insanity regarding algorithms. There aren’t many copies of ‘The Dry Lands‘ in print, so there won’t be many available second hand. So the price shoots up.

I’ve alerted Amazon to the fact that there is a cheaper version available through their own Createspace store – and it should also be available through the regular Amazon store as well, though this might vary depending on where in the world you live.

If you want to pick up a bargain version at $9.99 or so, depending on your location and currency, you can do so here.

 

Love sci-fi? Speculative fiction? Spiders? Looking for something a little different to read? Then Richard Bunning has you covered:

AIA Publishing has just released its fifth book, and in line with previous fiction titles, the book has a unique voice and a metaphysical bent. Spiderworld by Richard Bunning turns the tables on humans and spiders, and makes you think about humankind’s relationship with animals and with each other.

Not even the time-lord, Orlando Oversight, knows everything. But speculation can turn into a real future, and the Lush Star system, where spider-like beings treat humans as we do animals, isn’t such a distant dream away.

Do Jack Baker, the self-styled ‘Spartacus’, and his followers have a future as more than meat and slaves? Will Athalie have the life she hopes for with her hero? And will the ‘spider’ Boklung hold his business together while funding and organising the Arcraft’s voyage across the Milky Way?

Spiderworld is another of Richard Bunning’s quirky, speculative, science fictions.

Is it any good?

Of course it is. It’s published by AIA Publishing, a selective publisher with high standards in quality control. It’s also Awesome Indies Approved and has been nominated for an Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence in fiction.

Will I like it?

Here’s what the Awesome Indies review says:

“This is a unique read in so many ways, and I loved it. Eight-limbed “spiders” rule the Multiverse. Humans (yeng) are an enslaved species, and also provide delicious meat to the Aranians. This was a book that pulled me into its pages. If you love sci-fi, alien worlds, even a bit of romance, then you’re bound to love this book.”

Where can I buy it?

Your local Kindle Store

Smashwords.

Who is Richard?

Richard is a citizen of the United Kingdom and New Zealand, but currently resides in Switzerland. He has seven substantive books published, plus one gift-market book written with few words and many short stories appearing in a number of anthologies. His novels are all speculative science fiction while his short pieces cover many genres. He’s also written ‘modern’ English language versions of French neoclassical plays that spouted from some quite different region of his author personality.

Details on all Richard’s writing, including free stories and ‘bloggins’, plus his reviews of many other writers’ works, can be found at:- http://richardbunningbooksandreviews.com

 

Sometimes it pays to take language back to its roots. Metaphors are powerful in all sorts of ways, but sometimes we use them without noticing the remarkable, grounded truth they contain.

I was reminded of this fact while weeding my vegetable plot and trying to rid of an infestation of creeping thistle.

No matter how deep you dig, it seems you always need to go just a little bit further. Leave even a fragment of the root behind, and it will be back. Persistence is essential. It might take years to eradicate the problem or even get it under control.

These lessons are true for fiction, too. A character can’t transform themselves overnight. Even huge events in their life won’t be enough to root out deep seated issues. All too often in stories, we accept major character change as happening almost instantly. Or too easily. A flash of insight, a bit of self-recognition and BOOM – the person is changed. A new day dawns. Head towards the resolution with flags flying.

Real life isn’t like that. Real people have to keep working at their issues day after day, year after year. Just as you think you’re making progress, the thistles reappear and you realise you have even more digging to do. Even more work is needed. It might never be over. You always have to keep an eye out for thistles, even if you got all the roots, the wind might still bring seeds.

We found a dressing-up box and a huge picture frame on our walk in the woods today.

I suspect this is possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever seen: the Swedish Chef, Animal and Beaker singing Danny Boy.

 

“Not being loved, it’s the best thing that can happen to you.”

 

Hugo has been spotted, in the wild:

Amazon

Amazon UK store

List articles – or ‘listicles‘ as they are sometimes known – seem to have taken over the internet entirely. They’ve always been a big thing, having morphed over from the world of magazines. But I’m done with  them. Here’s why – presented, of course, as a handy list:

1. The glibness

List articles always seem to be written in a  hurry, with little or no real content. Shallow, top of the head thinking hurled onto pixels with barely a second thought.

2. The clickbaityness (that is *so* a real word)

People write list articles because they know folks click through to them from social media links etc. That’s the reason. No other. Sure, it means they’re popular. But so is Justin Bieber and American Idol and Strictly Come Dancing. So there’s that.

3. The hectoring

It’s the bloggers curse – the irresistible urge to  adopt the ‘authority’ tone of voice, the ‘I know best, listen to me’  attitude – as if they are addressing a wayward child who really needs to listen up and take notice now because they’re doing everything wrong. They set themselves up as the teacher dispensing wisdom to all and sundry. Most don’t have the credentials, or the experience, or anything much to show why they think their opinion is so all important. Which is probably why they do it.

4. The self-righteous, sanctimonious smugness

For more details, see item 3.

5. The irrelevance

Seems like the writer always picks a number first, never quite thinks up enough items, so has to add one that’s just filler. Does that happen a lot? It seems to.

6. The Biblical thing

There were  ten commandments. Why not eleven, or seven, or 97? Not sure if anyone knows, except the person who wrote them, and She’s not telling. But the idea caught on and to this day list article writers sure do seem to want to lay down the law and put you straight about a few things.

7. The repetition and redundancy

I don’t think I need to explain this, do I?

Two more of my books have been given the official ‘Awesome Indies’ seal of approval. ‘The Dry Lands’ and ‘In The Wreckage’ have both been read  by the Awesome Indies team and given 5-star reviews. The review for ‘The Dry Lands’ is here, and ‘In The Wreckage’ is here.

A new site, Storyteller Alley, has been launched to promote the work of independent authors – and they are giving away books on a regular basis, so it’s well worth checking out for a huge range of authors and genres. The site has featured my books ‘Lost In Thought’ and ‘Ball Machine’ already, with ‘The Dry Lands’ and ‘Wreckage’ pending. (Which means, I only sent them the details on those books a few minutes ago…. as of the time of writing, of course.)

‘Lost in Thought’ now has a new cover (on Amazon, at least) and is now available in print, direct here, and on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in the near future.

The YA dystopian novel ‘Outlivers’ is now available in paperback. The book is set in a near-future where the wealthy enjoy extended long life, and the young are enslaved to their needs.

Paperback copies can be ordered directly from the print-on-demand suppliers here. Print versions are also available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.