Podcast Twelve!

Hi all,

We're clearly on some kind of obscene roll. Podcasts just keep happening, without any of those pesky six-month hiatuses...

The twelfth podcast, A Pax in Time, Book Nine,* sees the return of that earth-shattering editor David Moore, and likewise the return of that plucky pensmith, Jonathan Green, and of our intriguing intern, Colm Bannon.

Jon's here to talk about the Pax Britannia universe, the recent (and profoundly affordable) Ulysses Quicksilver Short Story Collection, ebooks in general, his experiences with the Fighting Fantasy series, and the upcoming Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow, a very exciting project in which Jon will let the story unfold in short ebook-format "chapbooks" and allow readers to vote on the direction the story will take each time. Find it here on iTunes, or go to the Store and search for "Abaddon and Solaris."

You can also just go here to look at the feed direct, or to subscribe using an RSS application, like Outlook.

Cheers,

David

*This title is a total lie. Time's Arrow is book eight. But that would ruin the name of the podcast. I dunno, pretend like the Short Story Collection is book eight, or something.

Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #11 now up!

Hi all,

Check it out! Twice in one month!

Well, kind of. Truth be told, I got a bit behind updating the blog on the podcast, so for those of you who wait to read it here before going to listen to it, I decided to trickle the last two in rather than tell you both of them at once.

The eleventh podcast, No Man's World But Pat's, brings together handsome and debonair Desk Editor David Moore (hey, I can say what I want; nobody checks these things) and dry raconteur Pat Kelleher, author of the stunning No Man's World series, including the up and coming Ironclad Prophecy. Find it here on iTunes, or go to the Store and search for "Abaddon and Solaris."

You can also just go here to look at the feed direct, or to subscribe using an RSS application, like Outlook.

Cheers,

David

The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #10: Eric of Eternity

Hi all,

Right, regularity still a slight challenge with the Podcast, but it's still trickling in...

The tenth podcast, Eric of Eternity, finds peerless Editor-in-Chief Jon Oliver face-to-face with Eric Brown, author of the Space Opera epic Kings of Eternity, out now from Solaris Books.

Find it here on iTunes, or go to the Store and search for "Abaddon and Solaris."

You can also just go here to look at the feed direct, or to subscribe using an RSS application, like Outlook.

Cheers,

David

Back Up On iTunes!

Hi all,

The much-anticipated (seriously; for, like, six months) return of the Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast to the iTunes Store is finally here!

Find it here on iTunes, or go to the Store and search for "Abaddon and Solaris."

If you were already subcribed previously, you'll need to resubscribe.

You can also just go here to look at the feed direct, or to subscribe using an RSS application, like Outlook.

Cheers,

David

Podcast Episodes You Need To Catch Up On

Hey all,

So now that I've explained why you haven't heard anything from the Podcast for a bit, here's a little bit of an update on the 'casts you will have missed if you weren't already subscribed to us on iTunes.

Buckle your seatbelts...


Podcast #7: To the End of the Line

In the run up to the publication of Solaris Books' anthology of underground-travel-themed horror, The End of the Line, Editor-in-Chief Jon Oliver (who also edited the anthology) invited contributors Pat Cadigan and Adam LG Nevill to join him in the studio and talk about the book and their ideas on horror.


We also went to the pub with them later.


Podcast #8: A Year in Publishing

Editor-in-Chief Jon Oliver, Junior Editor Jenni Hill, and Desk Editor yours truly tuck ourselves away in the studio to look back on 2010 and ahead to 2011.


Podcast #9: The Welcoming Party

A time of welcomings. We welcome our generally mic-shy Account Manager Ben into the booth, we welcome our new PR Coordinator Michael Molcher to the company, and we welcome Jon and Ali's new baby Maia Oliver into the world.

Left to Right: Me, Ben Smith, Jenni Hill and Michael Molcher.

If these images and words intrigue you and you haven't already heard them,

Go and Listen Now

Cheers,

David

The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast (Update)

Hi all,

You may have been wondering what's been going on with the podcast for about six months, and you would be right to do so.

The reason we haven't announced any new podcasts is because, while we have been recording them and posting them, they haven't been going up on the iTunes Store, and that's the main link we use to direct people to the 'cast.

The reason for that is that the automated systems at iTunes got the link mixed up, somehow, and the tech support at Apple has been unable to resolve the issue for us (this isn't necessarily a criticism of Apple, you understand; it seems to have been an odd problem). We could have just posted the RSS link directly, of course, but the solution always seemed to be one more step away, so we wanted to leave it until we had the problem fixed.

Of course, weeks turned into months, with no result, so we should have just gone ahead. Apologies to those of you who look out for these posts to listen to the 'cast.

If you've been subscribed, you should have received the last two 'casts, so I hope you enjoyed them. The old link has been cancelled now, in the final (at the end of a loooong process) attempt to fix the problem, so now you'll all have to use the new RSS feed directly until the new link goes up in iTunes.

Which, I'm glad to say, should be a week or so away now! We've finally solved the problem (basically we gave up on the old podcast and started a totally new one; something else we should have just done right at the start) and the new 'cast should be available on iTunes shortly. I'll be sure and post about it when we do.

Until then, then, here is the

New RSS Feed for
The Abaddon and Solaris Books Podcast!

You can listen to the latest episodes directly here, and the new iTunes link will be posted soonish.

Keep reading for the run-down on the most recent episodes...

David

Podcast #6: A Brand New Format!

Hi all,

So after we skipped the May podcast to catch up, then the June podcast went up in July, but you didn't hear about it until August (do try and keep up), we then skipped the July podcast and have recorded the August podcast, which has also gone up in August! We're on fire, man!

Yes, that's right. The Sixth Abaddon & Solaris Books Pocast is now available to download and listen! As always, go to this link in iTunes (or search "Abaddon" in the "Search Store" box), to check it out, or be overwhelmed by the efficiency with which iTunes has already downloaded it. See alternative instructions below if you're just not into the whole iTunes bag.

In The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #6: Bring Tha Noiz, Jon interviews Ian Whates, author of Solaris's very recently released space opera The Noise Within and of the upcoming sequel, The Noise Revealed.

And here's the best bit: this is the first test of a new slicker, quicker, less polished podcast. And it's thirty-three minutes long! Get in.

We're especially keen to hear feedback, what with the new, shorter format.

Cheers,

David



*We tried to get a quote from Jon's mum, but then I just made one up.

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• Not on iTunes, and have sworn to end your life rather than download a single Apple application? Here to help! Just point your RSS client here to download the feed without putting a penny in Steve Jobs' pocket. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, in case we change the host or something crazy like that.
  
• Bewildered by the term "RSS" and unsure what all this means? No problem, ignorant Luddite! Just follow the exact same link, click on the link to the mp3 of the episode you wish to hear, and you can listen right on your browser! Everyone's a winner!

Podcast #5 out now! Er, two weeks ago. Sorry.

Hey guys,

So you remember me saying we might just skip May and call the next one the June one, to catch up on ourselves? Well, we went right ahead and did that shit, and then took so long getting the blog out that it went up on iTunes in July. And then I forgot to blog about it. So you're hearing about it in August.

So, er. Yeah. Sorry.

At any rate, you'd already know this if you're subscribed to the 'cast via iTunes, but if not, the Fifth Abaddon & Solaris Books Pocast is now available to download and listen! Point your iTunes to this link, or search "Abaddon" (or "Solaris") in the "Search Store" box at the top-right corner of iTunes, to check it out. If you are subscribed, you probably already have it. If you don't, then I guess resubscribe to it or something? How should I know? Call Apple's helpdesk.

David, Jenni and Jon at Abaddon Books and Solaris Books assault your mind and brain with sounds and information in what a well-regarded authority* might have called "an hour jolly well spent."

In The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #5: Pax Britannia Across the Pond, Jon demonstrates his versatility and leet interviewing skillz by interviewing two authors at once. Jonathan Green, author of the Ulysses Quicksilver novels (the fifth Quicksilver book, Blood Royal, is out now), and Al Ewing, author of El Sombra and the brand-new sequel Gods of Manhattan, assume their places on Jon's metaphorical couch and talk about the Pax Britannia universe, the future direction of the series and whatever pops into their heads. You also have two readings: one from each author. In our increasingly regular on-the-spot feature, Jenni Hill interviews Rebecca Levene and Scott Andrews at the top-secret launch of Rebecca's The Infernal Game: Cold Warriors, also out now.

Now, I've totally let you down, length-wise. Because we had two authors, two readings, and a launch report, this has gone well over the hour. You may have to listen to this in a couple of sittings. Two meaty, rich, fulfilling sittings.

As always, we'd love to hear any feedback.

Cheers,

David



*We tried to get a quote from Jon's mum, but then I just made one up.

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• Not on iTunes, and have sworn to end your life rather than download a single Apple application? Here to help! Just point your RSS client here to download the feed without putting a penny in Steve Jobs' pocket. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, in case we change the host or something crazy like that.
  
• Bewildered by the term "RSS" and unsure what all this means? No problem, ignorant Luddite! Just follow the exact same link, click on the link to the mp3 of the episode you wish to hear, and you can listen right on your browser! Everyone's a winner!

Podcast #4 rocking you headphones RIGHT NOW!

Hey guys,

So we're still going. We're kind of stretching the "monthly" concept here, since this is the April podcast and it's mid-May. Maybe we'll sneak a date change on you and call the next one the June podcast. I bet you won't even notice. We'll just go right ahead and do that shit.

Anyway, that's the rather oblique way of announcing the Fourth Abaddon & Solaris Books Pocast, winging it's way to your iTunes folder as we speak! Point your iTunes to this link, or search "Abaddon" (or "Solaris") in the "Search Store" box at the top-right corner of iTunes, to check it out. As ever, if you're a subscriber, iTunes should upload it automatically; it's probably already done so, cheeky little scamp that it is.

David, Jenni and Jon at Abaddon Books and Solaris Books drill directly in through your ears to your cerebrel cortex, monkey up your medulla oblongata and play hell with your limbic system in "what consistently remains the Coco Pops™ of the Podcast world."*

The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #4: Shiny, Happy Gods is introduced by Editor-in-Chief Jon Oliver, who decided to have a rest and let his minions do all the interviewing today. Desk Editor David Moore gushes uncontrollably over interviews James Lovegrove, author of Solaris's Age of Ra and Age of Zeus, and talks about gods, inspiration, writing, research, and frogs and rabbits. Junior Editor Jenni Hill, meanwhile, catches up with Jetse de Vries and Gareth L. Powell - respectively the anthologist of and one of the contributors to the upcoming Shine anthology - at EasterCon, and talks about the anthology and the convention. A good time was had by all.

Special Note: We promise in the blog that James will remember the name of the book of essays he discusses and we'll blog it. And we always keeps our promises. James briefly discusses D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths and the introduction by Michael Chabon, but can't remember the name of Chabon's collection of essays, Maps & Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands. He urges you to look both books up.

Now, as promised, I have managed to rein this one in to the tune of ten minutes, so it's about an hour and five. We'll try and make the next one even shorter, but we just have loads of cool stuff to offer you.

As always, give us your tasty, tasy feedback. We love it. We made completely different mistakes this time, so we want to know what mistakes to make next time.

Cheers,

David



*I think this one was Jenni's mum, but don't quote me.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Not on iTunes, and have sworn to end your life rather than download a single Apple application? Here to help! Just point your RSS client here to download the feed without putting a penny in Steve Jobs' pocket. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, in case we change the host or something crazy like that.
  
• Bewildered by the term "RSS" and unsure what all this means? No problem, ignorant Luddite! Just follow the exact same link, click on the link to the mp3 of the episode you wish to hear, and you can listen right on your browser! Everyone's a winner!

The Third Podcast is Up!

Hi all,

Sheesh. To think, only two months ago the first Podcast was going up. How young and naive we were. We thought we were changing the world. We thought we knew the lot. Now, two months on, we're putting up the third podcast, and we're older. Wiser. More seasoned. Makes you look back on old times and get all nostalgic.

Yes, you heard it right! The third Abaddon & Solaris Books Pocast is even now on your iTunes Store! Point your iTunes to this link, or search "Abaddon" (or "Solaris") in the "Search Store" box at the top-right corner of iTunes, to check it out. As usual, if you reeeeeeally luff us and have subscribed to the 'cast, iTunes should find and upload the new episode automatically.

Jenni, Jon and David, at Abaddon Books and Solaris Books thrill with the "most insanely groundbreaking instalment yet"* of their much-loved, widely-discussed podcast.

The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #3: Staples of Horror! is introduced by desk editor David Moore, who they didn't let do any real interviewing this time as he scares authors. Editor-in-Chief Jon Oliver interviews Greg Staples, cover artist and comics legend, about his inspiration and his thoughts about different art media, and junior editor Jenni Hill runs around the World Horror Convention at Brighton interviewing our authors. Simon Bestwick, author of Tide of Souls, accosts Steven Savile, our new Knights of Albion author, and basically doesn't give him a chance to speak. How rude...

Now, this one's a doozy. It's, like, an hour and a quarter. We're going to try and rein that in next time, but basically, this is how much good stuff we had this month! Think of it as, like, two podcasts. Listen to Jon and Greg, put the podcast away, then come back later and listen to Jenni and various drunk authors. So you're getting two podcasts for the price of one. How cool are we?

Please listen to it, and once again, we'd love feedback. We got some great feedback last time, and have tried to make completely different mistakes this time.

Cheers,

David



*2010, noted talking head and vox pop specialist, David Moore's mum.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Not on iTunes, and have sworn to end your life rather than download a single Apple application? Here to help! Just point your RSS client here to download the feed without putting a penny in Steve Jobs' pocket. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, in case we change the host or something crazy like that.
  
• Bewildered by the term "RSS" and unsure what all this means? No problem, ignorant Luddite! Just follow the exact same link, click on the link to the mp3 of the episode you wish to hear, and you can listen right on your browser! Everyone's a winner!

Interviews!

Here are the final two parts of Jonathan Oliver's interview with Pornokitsch. See the earlier parts here.

Part Four
Part Five

And here's an interview with another Abaddon author from the guys at Horror Reanimated.

Interview with Simon Bestwick.

I had the pleasure of meeting Joseph D'Lacey from the site and the dubious pleasure of interviewing Simon B myself over the weekend at Brighton World Horror. Let me just say, I admire Joe for being able to get a word in edgeways!

I've just been listening to said recordings I made at the convention. We're going to be using them in the next Podcast. I interviewed Simon Bestwick, Paul Kane, Steven Savile (who'll be writing the first Knights of Albion) story, Paul Finch (who'll be writing Stronghold for the Tomes of the Dead line) and several Solaris Books authors.

Most of these interviews took place in the hotel bar, which is, to say, in the natural habitat of this species we refer to as 'author'.

So, for laughs, I've sorted the interviews into two files entitled 'Drunk' and 'Sober.' And no, I'm not telling you which is which!

-

Podcast Part #2!

Hi all,

The second Abaddon & Solaris Books Pocast is now up! Point your iTunes to this link, or search "Abaddon" (or "Solaris") in the "Search Store" box at the top-right corner of iTunes, to check it out. Or if you're a good boy/girl and subscribed to our feed last time, just run iTunes and it should find and upload the new episode automatically.

The editors and staff at Abaddon Books and Solaris Books continue to deliver the "very best, most hard-hitting and innovative"* of podcasting entertainment in this second, thrilling instalment.

The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast #2: Juliet McKenna and the SFX Weekender (okay, it's a functional title; it does what it says on the tin) is introduced by junior editor Jenni Hill, who's trying to overcome her fear of the microphone, so everybody be really nice about her. Jon Oliver interviews Juliet McKenna, author of Solaris's The Chronicles of the Lescari Revolution books, sharing thoughts on coming up with fantasy names, writing and the future of fantasy fiction, and Juliet gives us a reading from the second Lescari book, Blood in the Water. Finally, Jon and David talk about the SFX Weekender, and we hear David's interviews with daleks, authors, and a couple of special guests.

Seriously, you can't get this stuff anywhere else. Barack Obama's considering starting a war with the UK, just so he can justify sending the CIA in to kidnap us. That's how cool we are.

Please listen to it, and once again, we'd love feedback. We got some great feedback last time, and have tried to make completely different mistakes this time.

Cheers,

David


*my mum again.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Not on iTunes, and have sworn to end your life rather than download a single Apple application? Here to help! Just point your RSS client here to download the feed without putting a penny in Steve Jobs' pocket. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, in case we change the host or something crazy like that.
  
• Bewildered by the term "RSS" and unsure what all this means? No problem, ignorant Luddite! Just follow the exact same link, click on the link to the mp3 of the episode you wish to hear, and you can listen right on your browser! Everyone's a winner!

Podcast Coming Up!

Hi all,

The Abaddon & Solaris Books Podcast second instalment, "Juliet McKenna and the SFX Weekender: From Lescar to Camber Sands," is underoing final editing now, and should be up tomorrow afternoon.

Featured is an interview with Solaris Books author Juliet McKenna and a reading from her book, Blood in the Water, and a convention report from Editor-in-Chief Jon Oliver and the roguishly charming David Moore on their recent jaunt to the SFX Weekender at Pontins Camber Sands, including interviews with Abaddon's own Al Ewing and Jonathan Green, with a dalek, and some pretty exciting surprises.

Keep an eye out on the blog. Should be a good one.

David