Duncan Long's Lesser Gods novel available in print

The paperback version of artist Duncan Long's science fiction novel Lesser Gods is now available, printed via Amazon's Print On Demand service CreateSpace, with additional artwork not found in the ebook version.

In Lesser Gods, wisecracking hacker Ralph Crocker finds himself in the middle of a bloody turf war between a cyborg named Death, a gang of organ-stealing street monstrosities, and genetically modified government agents trying to discover the secret of a new drug that turns men into gods.

The Singularity has not yet come to the dystopian future. Transhumans roam the streets and the automated legal system has run amuck. To survive, Ralph must brave dangerous shadow worlds and trust Alice (who may be virtual rather than real flesh and blood). Joining forces, the two play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a superhuman inventor who pulls the strings from behind the scenes to alter perceptions and change reality.

With a witty narrative and skillful plotting, Lesser Gods travels around the planet and beyond, from streets haunted by mechanical prostitutes in deadly tourist traps to virtual worlds where anything can happen – often with deadly results.

"Many of my clients have been using CreateSpace to print their books, so I thought I’d try this myself," says Duncan, whose work featured in SciFiArtNow. "It has been a few years since I last used this POD (Print On Demand) service, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see how it had improved.

"CreateSpace is easy to use and — perhaps more importantly for self-publishers — feeds directly into its parent company Amazon.com, so books produced through CreateSpace automatically get listed in the Amazon catalogue," Duncan notes.

"To make the process even more tempting, CreateSpace offers a free catalog number so publishers don’t have to buy an ISBN for the book (while also allowing customers to use their own ISBN if they wish).

"Basically a self publisher can create his own virtual press, putting his logo and address on the back cover."

• Duncan has posted a detailed appraisal of the CreatSpace service on his own blog here

• Buy Lesser Gods from amazon.co.uk

• Buy Lesser Gods from amazon.com 

Larry Blamire releases Steam Wars trailer

One of the chapters of SciFi Art Now touched on steampunk and included the work of

writer, director, actor and artist Larry Blamire. Larry has been promoting a project, Steam Wars, for some time now, and I'm delighted to report he has just released this trailer video to promote the animated movie he dearly would love to make.

"Give it a share on Facebook or wherever," he urges.

Set in the late 1890s, Steam Wars envisions a world where wars are fought in massive (and not so massive) Victorian walking machines. The story follows the detailed operations of one crew, specifically a reckless trio of heroes who often succeed despite themselves.

Such is the danger of the steam service - and difficulty recruiting - that, instead of being chastised, each time they destroy a "rig" they're assigned a bigger one.

And when will the film be made?

"When we have enough folks behind us and get the funding we need," Larry enthuses, "which is why it helps so much for folks to share this!"

"Exposure is the key to making this ambitious project happen. And Enjoy!"

• More info: http://steamwars.com or Like the Steam Wars facebook page 

• Follow Larry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/larryblamire or Facebook

Wetter's Works: Prime, Androids and more

SciFi Art Now and SciFi Art contributor Oliver Wetter writes to let us know his work also features in the new Prime the artbook collection from 3d-total.

Priced just shy of £36, this unique set of five books featuring some 400 art works is housed in a single slipcase, with each book devoted to a classic gallery theme – science fiction, character, cartoon, fantasy or scenes – and featuring stunning work that comes courtesy of some of the greatest artists in the industry. There's more info here.


On another note, he has also just finished a new work recording his creative process in a speedy demo, retouching a piece in the vein of the Android Legacy series he started. For more information, visit this page on the Behance web site.

SciFi Art Postcard book on sale now

The long-awaited SciFi Art Postcard title from ILEX is now officially on sale, comprising a selection of ace science fiction art included in SciFi Art Now and some other art specially selected for this project, too.

With a cover by Patrick J. Jones, it features some art used in the Sci-Fi Art Now book and other illustrations - 30 gorgeous SF-inspired postcards in total.

The artists featured are: Larry Blamire, Matt Gaser, Rian Hughes, Stuart Jennett, Paul McCaffrey, Aaron Jasinski, Patrick J. Jones, Michael Kaluta & Lee Moyer, Tom Kelly, Yigit Koroglu, John Malcolm, Sergey Musin, Nemons, 2012 Hugo and Chelsey Award-winning John Picacio, Neil Roberts, Steve Sampson, Smuzz (who I'm working with on the Crucible comic), Jon Sullivan, Dave Taylor and Oliver Wetter.

The book looks great and joins a number of similar titles from ILEX, more information here in an earlier post.

New Scientist's Arc magazine publishes new Jack Womack story

The latest issue of Arc, Forever alone drone, is available to buy now.

Arc is an exploration of the future from the makers of New Scientist - published every three months, it considers the possibilities of tomorrow's technologies and societies, featuring new work by the world's most visionary writers and thinkers.

Forever alone drone explores the technological wilderness over 180 pages of exciting new science fiction and futuristic ideas from a fantastic selection of notable writers.

Urban paranoias and human possibilities throw off sparks in Forever alone drone's bumper crop of stories, featuring Jack Womack's first short work in 17 years, alongside exciting new stories from Robert Reed, Liz Jensen, Bruce Sterling and Romie Stott.

Womack's from his work as a writer include the novel Random Acts of Senseless Violence) and  guest stints on William Gibson’s blog, but he’s also a well known publicist in the S/FF field.

Also in Forever alone drone you'll find new essays and ideas about how we might share our future from Kim Stanley Robinson, Smári McCarthy, Frank Swain, American writer Madeline Ashby, Sumit Paul-Choudhury and Simon Ings.

All issues of Arc are available for iPads, tablets, smartphones, Android devices, PCs, Macs, Kindles and Nooks. You can also buy a DRM free e-Pub version and a collectible print edition. Visit arcfinity.org to find out more.

• Buy Forever alone drone now

• Arc on Twitter: @arcfinity  • Arc on Facebook