Anno Frankenstein wallpapers

It's the last day of the month and Abaddon Books have chosen to celebrate by releasing these fantastic free Anno Frankenstein wallpapers. They've been put together by Pye Parr, who created the Vitruvian Frankenstein to appear inside the book.

As David Moore of Abaddon's editorial team says, "Do you know what the problem is with the current desktop on your PC? It's not an Abaddon Books PAX BRITANNIA: ANNO FRANKENSTEIN "Vitruvian Frankenstein" Parchment Wallpaper desktop, that's what! So sort it out!"

And you can do just that here!

More love for Legends

The Black Library's Warhammer 40K anthology Legends of the Space Marines continues to receive good reviews. And even those who don't rave over the book are still enjoying my Black Templars short story The Relic - which is nice.

Highlights of the book include The Relic by Jonathan Green, The Returned by James Swallow and At Gaius Point by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

However, one reviewer was disappointed by the lack of soulless alien robot-forms in the collection.

My only gripe is that we dont hear enough about the "necrons" who (in my humble estimation) are the deadliest "mothers" in the universe therefore making them arguably the most interesting...

Well, that particular reviewer should make sure he picks up Victories of the Space Marines when it comes out, as that contains my Imperial Fists vs Necrons short But Dust in the Wind, which should make him one happy bunny.

You can buy your own copy of Legends of the Space Marines here, and pre-order Victories of the Space Marines (which also contains a story by me) here.

JG to write for GA

As I've already passed on, I'm writing Tin Man Games' seventh Gamebook Adventures title - Temple of the Spider God. I've already seen the preliminary sketches for the full colour illustrations that are going to appear in the app and they look awesome.

Here you can read more about the announcement and how it went down at PAX East in America.

Genre for Japan update

Just to remind you that charity auction Genre for Japan is running until midnight BST (GMT +1) on Sunday 3rd April.

The four Pax Britannia lots have already raised £375.00 but it's not too late if you want a piece of the action. Simply click this link and you'll be taken to the Genre for Japan website where you'll be able to bid on all of them (should you so wish).

And don't forget the Abaddon editorial team - Jon, David and Jenni - are also offering their services to hopeful writers here, and their combined total currently stands at £420.00!

So good luck!

Doctor Who - the countdown begins

First they gave us this:

Then this:


Then the prequel to episode one of the new series:


And now Auntie Beeb has presented us with this:


Be excited. Be very excited.

New review of Victories of the Space Marines

Victories of the Space Marines, which contains my Imperial Fists short story But Dust in the Wind, has been reviewed over at Graeme's Fantasy Book Review.

Here's what Graeme has to say about the anthology in general:

The first thing to cross my mind when I saw the title was ‘way to spoil the ending of each and every short story in the collection’. The Space Marines win… Ok… Now we know that, is there any point in reading the rest of the book?

The short answer, for me anyway, was ‘yes’ and on the whole I didn’t regret it. You may have a good idea about how things will turn out in each story but that’s almost beside the point really. If you’re reading a Black Library book then you’re after a well written tale (of course) but what you’re also after is a book where stuff happens.

And here's what he has to say about But Dust in the Wind:

Imperial Fists Marines versus the robotic Necrons in a fight to the death. Green’s story shows us in no uncertain terms that even though victory comes with a cost, the fight is still worth fighting. And there’s a face off between genetically powered warriors and tomb dwelling robots which is done in the best possible way. You can’t lose really. (9/10)

Dan Abnett signing Embedded - new date announced

Dan's signing of pre-publication copies of his new future war epic from Angry Robot Books Embedded at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London, has now been rescheduled for 7 April 2011, between 6.00-7.00pm. Click here for more details.

So thanks a lot, you so-called 'protestors'*, as I can't make the new date and won't be getting my signed hardback of Embedded as a result. Yeah, thanks for that. It's not enough that you have to bring chaos to the streets of the capital...

* I prefer the terms 'vandals' and 'hooligans'.

Genre for Japan

Just to remind you that charity auction Genre for Japan goes live at 9.00am BST (GMT+1) tomorrow, Monday 28 March 2011.

The two items I've donated are a walk-on part in my next Pax Britannia novel Time's Arrow and a signed poster promoting Anno Frankenstein.

You can peruse an index of all 137 items* donated here. All you need to do now (well, from 9.00am tomorrow, at least) is start bidding!

*137!!!!

Crisis on Coruscant - the trailer

It may have been out since January 2010 but I felt Crisis on Coruscant deserved a dedicated promo trailer - and here it is...

Pax Britannia: The Copernicus

You've got four days remaining in which to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit that is only available to buy here.

The lunar rover Copernicus from Dark Side.

BY EIGHT A.M., Greenwich Mean Time, Ulysses and his companions had relocated to what appeared to be a scrap yard and were staring up at the bulbous cockpit of a decrepit Lunar Exploration Vehicle. The LEV’s name was still just about visible, etched onto a brass plate, green with verdigris, secured to its hull.

Copernicus

The rover looked like a Pullman carriage with a giant goldfish bowl bolted onto one end and six giant rubber-tyred wheels, each as tall as a man.

Click here to buy your Lego lunar rover Copernicus now!

Pax Britannia Lego: The Sphere

You've got four days remaining in which to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit that is only available to buy here.

Oddfellow's Sphere from Dark Side.

And yet, impossible as it might seem, here it sat, squatting upon its claw-footed stand, as tall as a man and half that again, the esoteric machinery limned in a corposant of its own making. But where the device Ulysses had last seen vanish from the bowels of Alexander Oddfellow’s house had been gleaming polished metal, the strange artefact in front of him now appeared much older, its surface crazed with a patina of age, the brass pitted and stained with verdigris.

Click here to buy your Lego Oddfellow's Sphere now!

Pax Britannia Lego: The Phantom

You've got four days remaining in which to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit that is only available to buy here.

First up is the Mark IV Rolls Royce Silver Phantom from Unnatural History.

With a screech of tyres the Silver Phantom hared away along Prince Albert Road leaving a cloud of burnt rubber smoke in its wake, as Ulysses sprinted across the road – men, women and children running screaming in disarray all around him – towards the Overground pillar, and after Jago Kane.

Click here to buy your Lego Silver Phantom now!

Genre for Japan update

After offering a walk-on part in my next novel Time's Arrow, fellow Pax Britannia author Al Ewing has upped the anti by offering the chance for two of you to appear in his next El Sombra novel Pax Omega. As Al puts it in his own words:

On the block, taking my cue from Jon Green, I’m getting competitive by offering not one but TWO chances to appear in my next Pax Britannia novel, Pax Omega. Snapping one of these up will guarantee a speaking part – you could be fighting alongside El Sombra or Doc Thunder, or against them, or something even more outlandish, but whatever you end
up doing you’re guaranteed at least one line.

You can view Al's items in the Genre for Japan auction here.

So, in response to Al's challenge I too have offered another exclusive item for auction - a poster promoting Anno Frankenstein and featuring the Vetruvian Steamfrank designed by Pye Parr. And to top it all, Pye and I will sign it for you too.

The highest bidder will receive a special promotional poster for the forthcoming “Pax Britannia” novel, ANNO FRANKENSTEIN, signed by both author Jonathan Green & the artist and designer, Simon Parr.

You can view this item here. In the mean time, here a picture of me all merched up, holding the aforementioned poster. Did I mention that there's only ten of these in existence? This really is another money-can't-buy-prize!

And if you're wondering how you go about bidding for these fantastic Pax Britannia prizes, you can find out more here. Don't forget, bidding goes live 09:00 BST (GMT+1) on Monday 28 March!

Forthcoming Dan Abnett events

If, like me, you're a fan of Dan Abnett's writing then you may be interested to hear about the following...

Dan is going to be signing pre-publication copies of his new future war epic from Angry Robot Books Embedded at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London, tomorrow, 26 March 2011, between 1.00-2.00pm. Click here for more details.

UNFORTUNATELY THE FORBIDDEN PLANET EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED! I WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. More news as and when...

However, via the Black Library website, you can still enter a competition to win dinner with the man himself. You can find out more about this here.

Vlog 6 - Genre for Japan

World Book Day Meme (Very Belated)

Inspired by James Swallow's example, here are my answers to the meme that was apparently doing the rounds on World Book Day.

The book I am reading: Wulfrik by C L Werner. The tale of a doomed Chaos champion and his quest to lift his gods-given curse.

The book I am writing: Time's Arrow, the eighth Ulysses Quicksilver Pax Britannia adventure. Started it this morning, in fact. We've got something a bit special planned for this one, but more on that another time.

The book I love most: Tricky. I'm never good with 'favourites' or 'Top Ten' lists because I like so many different books for so many different reasons. However, today I'm going to go with Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. Then again, perhaps it should be Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, or I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett (which actually made me cry right at the end*), or On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, or Anno Dracula by Kim Newman, or Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve...

The last book I received as a gift: Dissolution by C J Sansom, given to me by Amanda Rutter of Floor to Ceiling Books in her role as book giver for World Book Night.

The last book I gave as a gift: It was four books actually. Howl of the Werewolf by Jonathan Green, Curse of the Mummy by Jonathan Green, Pax Britannia: Dark Side by Jonathan Green, and Victories of the Space Marines edited by Christian Dunn (but featuring a story by Jonathan Green). Do you see a pattern forming here? And the recipient? One Nick Sharps who won my recent forum giveaway competition.

The nearest book on my desk: Traction City by Philip Reeve, a Mortal Engines novella written especially for World Book Day.

* Big wuss that I am.

In the news today...

Congratulations to Amanda Rutter, Jenni Hill and all those behind the Genre for Japan project. They were featured today in the Guardian, in which the reporter put out a call to the likes of J K Rowling and Stephen King to do their bit too.

Meanwhile, over at the GamePron gaming website, Neil Rennison of Tin Man Games has been interviewed about Gamebook Adventures and specifically Temple of the Spider God. And you can watch the interview yourself right here.

Win a walk-on part in Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow and help the people of Japan

That's right - YOU could win a walk-on part in the eighth Ulysses Quicksilver Pax Britannia adventure Time's Arrow, due to be published in 2012 by Abaddon Books.

All you need to do is visit the Genre for Japan blog and follow the instructions there to bid for Item 56 in their forthcoming auction that's being held to raise money for the work being carried out by the Red Cross in Japan at this time.

Find out more by following this link.

Graham McNeill on writing novels

New York Times Bestselling Black Library author Graham McNeill has written a great post over at his website about the trials and tribulations he goes through when writing a novel. In it he confesses that he's one of those writers who can't help tinkering as he goes along and cannot bear the idea of writing 'The End' and then having to go back and effectively re-write the book.

I'm afraid I seem one of those writers who ploughs on to the bitter end then has a hell of a lot to do on the second pass. My manuscripts end up in good order (and probably all the better for the thorough going over) but you have to take a very deep breath before diving back in and battling your way through the novel for a second time when - psychologically at least - you've already finished it.

Perhaps with my next novel (my fourteenth and Ulysses Quicksilver's eighth Pax Britannia adventure Time's Arrow) I can take more of a McNeill approach to things.

Yeah, right.

The A to Z of Blogging

I try very hard to keep my various blogs up to date - some more so than others - but things invariably lapse when the pressure of deadlines looms. So, to keep me blogging through a busy April I'm going to be taking part in the rather unwieldy titled Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011.

The premise of the challenge is to post something every day in April except for Sundays, thereby producing 26 blog posts - one for each letter of the alphabet.

You can find out more about the challenge here, and don't forget to follow my progress here at Jonathan Green, Author by becoming a follower today.

Genre for Japan

We’ve all heard the news and seen the horrific pictures coming from Japan in the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami – and no doubt we’ve all wondered how to help.

Well the guys and gals* behind Genre for Japan have come up with a way, uniting the comics, science fiction, fantasy and horror communities, to show their generosity to those who need it right now.

They're going to run auctions for genre-themed prizes donated by those in the industry. Some of the prizes already donated include a year’s supply of books from Tor, signed artwork from Solaris Books and editing/critiques from professional authors and editors. And I've made my own small contribution too.

Deadline for prize donations is 25th March with the auction set to begin on 28th March. I'll post more on this in the lead up to the auction but for now, check out Genre for Japan's blog and if you're in a position to donate a prize email them at genreforjapan@gmail.com.

* Including Amanda Rutter of Floor to Ceiling Books and Jenni Hill, ace Abaddon Books editor.

Doctor Who to meet Jack the Ripper

It seems incredible that during the course of almost half a century's worth of who that the Doctor hasn't clashed with Jack the Ripper before but it's true*. But that's all about to change with IDW Publishing's Ripper's Curse.

You can read more about this story here as well as peruse some of the pages from the forthcoming comic.

Of course Ulysses Quicksilver has already met Jack the Ripper, after a fashion, in my fifth Pax Britannia novel Blood Royal, and you can find out more here.

* Although of course the Fourth Doctor story The Talons of Weng Chiang was clearly inspired in parts by the legendary serial killer.

The Fighting Fantazine blog

Yes, they've only gone and done it!

The guys behind the Fighting Fantasy fanzine (Fighting Fantazine) have set up a blog to help promote their sterling work. And you can find it here.

Sucker Punch - Dragon

Another animated short inspired by the forthcoming Sucker Punch movie, this time harking back to the fantasy staples of orcs, knights, and one very big fire-breathing lizard...

Dan Abnett signing Embedded

This Saturday, 26 March 2011, Dan Abnett will be signing limited edition copies of his new novel Embedded, at an exclusive pre-publication event at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, from 1 - 2pm.

To find out more, click here. If you're unable to go yourself, you can pre-order this amazing new novel here.

Dread Knights or Dreadknights?

The April issue of White Dwarf arrived the other morning, bringing with it news of the Grey Knights chapter Nemesis Dreadknights.

Dreadknights, I thought. That name sounds very familiar. And then I remembered - it's the name I gave to the Knights of the Black Shroud in Night of the Necromancer.

You can buy your copy of Night of the Necromancer (which reviewers have described as 'excellent', 'a book that can easily be enjoyed by teenagers and adults alike', 'Another great addition to the Fighting Fantasy series', 'Top stuff' and 'well worth the purchase') here. You can find out more about the Nemesis Dreadknights here.

Pax Britannia Lego - available again for a limited time

Yes, the Pax Britannia Lego kits are back and available to buy via eBay.

First up there's Oddfellow's Sphere from the climactic scene of Pax Britannia: Dark Side (which, I have to say, has been going down a storm). This kit includes an incredible 8 minifigures (4 goodies and 4 baddies), including the Lego incarnation of PB competition winner Jared Shurin.

Next up there's the lunar rover Copernicus, again from Pax Britannia: Dark Side. This set contains 6 minifigures - Ulysses Quicksilver and Nimrod, in both their normal attire and environment suits, and two alien Selenites.

And then there's the Rolls Royce Mark 4 Silver Phantom, that made its first appearance in the very first PB novel Pax Britannia: Unnatural History. This set has two minifigures - the dashing dandy detective, and Hero of the Empire, Ulysses Quicksilver, and his indefatigable manservant Nimrod.

As with all good Lego kits, you can make a plethora of different models from each of the kits - or why not combine them all in one incredible Pax Britannia-gasm of steampunk-y goodness?

So don't delay and visit eBay today!

Temple of the Spider God - the news continues to spread

The news that I'm writing for Tin Man Games' Gamebook Adventures line is starting to spread now. The latest place to pass it on is GameZebo and you can read their piece here.

Temple of the Spider God is due to be released this July and you can read more via the press release Tin Man Games have put here.

Victories of the Space Marines - first review

Thanks to fellow scribe Sarah Cawkwell (who pointed me in the right direction) I've seen the first review of Victories of the Space Marines which includes my latest Warhammer 40K short story But Dust in the Wind.

Here's what Bane of Kings, over at The Founding Fields, had to say about my contribution:

But Dust in the Wind by Jonathan Green

An Imperial Fists Story

Right, we’re coming to the end of this anthology, and we have a third short focusing on the first founding chapters, this time the Imperial Fists, and written by Jonathan Green, whose work includes The Armageddon Omnibus, A Print on Demand collection of Black Templar Novels.

Having not read anything by Jonathan Green in the past apart from a good short story in Legends of the Space Marines, I was pleased to see a new take on the Imperial Fists as I did not, if I am being honest, enjoy Sons of Dorn by Chris Roberson. Now, as Jonathan Green had written about the Black Templars in the past, I was wondering what his take would be on the fists would be.

I must say, that I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it’s good to see that the Necrons are getting more love nowadays, as they are the main enemy that the Imperial Fists have to face.

Now, whereas Black Dawn lacked the epic battles, But Dust in the Wind makes up for it with epic encounters between the Imperial Fists and the Necrons, and comes complete with a tragic conclusion. Despite there being little character development in this short, I felt that I enjoyed it nonetheless, and this has defiantly made me interested in picking up The Armageddon Omnibus.

Rating: 7.5/10

Not sure if he meant 'defiantly' there at the end or 'definitely'. Anyway, it's interesting to hear that Bane preferred my take on the Imperial Fists to Chris Roberson's.

Remember, you can pre-order Victories of the Space Marines here.

Author visit

I had a very fulfilling morning, this morning, away from my desk at Durston House School, where I spoke to the Key Stage 1 classes about being a writer, as well as sharing some stories with them, as part of the school's Book Festival.

The Author waxes lyrical about the need for a notepad.

The Author assessing potential illustrators for the future.

I just want to say a big thank you to all the children, and their teachers, for such a rewarding morning. I hope to be able to do it again some time.

If you'd like me to come into your school to talk about my work, then drop me a line at info@JonathanGreenAuthor.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anno Frankenstein - the movie?

Before you get too excited, no it's not. What it is, in fact, is the new animated short film 'The Trenches' that gives us an insight into part of the forthcoming Sucker Punch movie. But seeing this - especially the bit where the dead soldiers are brought back to life - I could almost believe I was watching the Prologue to Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein.

Pax Britannia the movie? We can but dream...

Anno Frankenstein goodies

Look what came in the post today!

That's right - lots of Anno Frankenstein goodies featuring the fantastic Vetruvian SteamFrank as designed by the inestimable Pye Parr. What you've got there is a promotional postcard, notebook and poster, along with a few Pax Britannia fridge magnets (also designed by Pye).

What's even better is that those people who won my recent forum competition will be receiving a couple of these choice items in the post along with their books.

Here's me excitedly showing off the goodies whilst wearing my brand new Anno Frankenstein* T-shirt.

And here's me holding my copy of Dissolution which Magemanda of Floor to Ceiling Books kindly sent me in her capacity as a book giver for World Book Night.

* You can pre-order your copy of Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein here!

Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein

There's only a couple of months to go now until the release of Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein and, just to whet your appetites for the title still further, I have a little treat for you today - the blurb from the back cover of the book.

BORN OF SCIENCE... BORN OF MADNESS!

Ulysses Quicksilver, agent of the crown, jumps into a time vortex pursuing Daniel Dashwood, a madman bent on sharing modern technology with Hitler's forces and changing history to suit his evil ends. Rewind several decades, to the time of the Second Great War, to Darmstadt. The Nazis are battling the steampunk empire of Magna Britannia, cooking up necrotic super-soldiers in the gothic towers of Castle Frankenstein.

In the forests outside the castle, other forces are gathering. Ulysses' father is there, proving that dashing good looks and a talent for swashbuckling adventures run in the family, and wondering why his British masters have partnered him with weakling scientist Dr. Jekyll. The ladies of the Monstrous Regiment are also there to help, but there may be other gothic monsters in the hills...

Anno Frankenstein is released on 12 May in the UK and May 17 in the US.