Meet Andy at Manchester Waterstones.

Just a note to say I'm doing a signing for BIOHELL at Waterstones, Deansgate, Manchester, on Saturday 21st Marchh 2009 at 2.00PM...

Meet Andy Remic Biohell
WATERSTONE'S MANCHESTER DEANSGATE
Saturday, 21 March 2009, 2:00PM
Come and meet the cult author of thrillers, science fiction and military science fiction when he signs his latest novel instore. No ticket required.
Further details: 0161 837 3000

Also check:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=200002

Cheers

REM.
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Top 5 Spectrum Games of All Time...

OK, this is the way it works. I'm getting some WTF questions on my decision to write a Spectrum 48K game of my current novel BIOHELL. Well, this is how it goes...

Got a Spectrum when I was 13. October 1984 to be precise. I was (and am) a Spectrum-junkie game-head. Even though I was "a kid" I wrote some admittedly not-very-good-by-industry-standards games, but hell it was just fun to be a little fish in the big pond of the Speccy games industry at the time. I revelled in it. I started writing in BASIC when I was 13, and ended coding in Z80a assembly (well, at least most of my routines; sometimes they were still cobbled together by compiled code). Occasionally I would use GAC to put down ideas for an adventure game - I think this was the budding storyteller in me which eventually transmogrified into an SF/fantasy novelist. Anyway!!...

A few months back I was playing STARQUAKE by Steven Crow, my all-time fave Spec game. And I thought, shit, wouldn't it be retro-cool to write another game? I pitched the idea to my Solaris editor Dunny, who said "Go for it!" and here we are. Anyway, for the purposes of this blog I thought it might be fun for people to list their top five Spectrum games. Mine are:

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1] Starquake by Steve Crow.

2] Heavy on the Magick by Carter Follis/ Gargoyle

3] Sabre Wulf by Ultimate/ ACG.

4] Manic Miner by Matt Smith.

5] Exolon by Raf Cecco.

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(although I could go on, and on, and on/// I always said if I was to go on Mastermind against Iain Banks, then my specialist subject would by the ZX Spectrum, haha, and I'd kick his ass).

Anyway, here's an invitation to post your top 5 games here....... I'd love to hear from all you retro-Speccyphiles out there ;-)

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It's Coming ... BIOHELL for the 48K ZX Spectrum!!

And So It Begins ........

So It Begins
A Sciene Fiction Anthology

I was asked to pen a short story for this anthology, and came up with a Combat K adventure entitled "Junked", starring my favourite character triumvirate Keenan, Pippa and Franco Haggis.

Available now, in the US. Below is the official press release:

greenfirephoenix@aol.com
DARK QUEST BOOKS SIGNS AWARD-WINNING SERIES!
So It Begins Contributors Some of the Biggest Names in Military Science Fiction

HOWELL, NJ Local publisher Neal Levin and editor Mike McPhail have joined forces to produce the anthology So It Begins. This book has a lot to live up to. As the second in the Defending the Future anthology series, it follows Breach the Hull which was the winner of the 2007 Dream Realm Award for Best Anthology and a finalist for the 2007 Dream Realm Award for Cover Art. So It Begins will release in Spring 2009, though the official launch of the book will take place in Hunt Valley, Maryland on May 24th as a part of the programming of Balticon, one of the longest running science fiction convention on the East Coast.

"[Breach the Hull] kicks down the doors in a way that allows anyone access to the genre[...]it
read like a bunch of soldiers sitting around swapping stories of the wars," says Jonathan
Maberry, multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author.

Those who read science fiction, military and otherwise, will recognize such names as Jack
Campbell (“The Lost Fleet”), David Sherman (“Demon Tech”, “Jedi Trial”, “Star Fist”), John C.
Wright (“Chronicles of Chaos”), Bud Sparhawk (3 time Nebula Finalist), Charles E. Gannon (“Traveller”), and Andy Remic (“Combat K”). Added to their ranks are some very promising newcomers to the genre: Jonathan Maberry (“The Deep Pines Trilogy”), CJ Henderson (“Teddy
London”,”Jack Hagee”), Jeffrey Lyman, James Chambers, Mike McPhail, Tony Ruggiero (“Team of Darkness”, Patrick Thomas (“Murphy’s Lore”), James Daniel Ross (“Radiation Angels”), and Danielle Ackley-McPhail (“The Eternal Cycle”). With such an array of talent
participating, So It Begins is more than ready and able to carry on as the first book began.
"So It Begins has been over a year in the making,” says Mike McPhail. “We faced both old and new challenges in order to bring these original works of some of the leading (and up and coming) military science fiction authors to press. I'm honored that they have once again put their faith in us."

Stop Press - Book Signings.

Some new REMIC signings/events coming up soon ...

Newcastle: 28th February, 1-2PM, Forbidden Planet.

Manchester: 21st March, 2-3PM , Waterstones Deansgate.

Liverpool: tbc.

Glasgow: tbc.

Eastercon: Bradford, 11th April. All day attendance.

Alt.Fiction: Derby, 20th June. All day attendance.

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Andy Remic - Biohell: A Combat-K Novel
Saturday 28, February, 1:00PM - 2:00PM
Forbidden Planet Newcastle,59 Grainger Street, Newcastle, NE1 5JE
RRP: £7.99Our Price: £6.99
Join Andy Remic at Forbidden Planet, 59 Grainger Street, Newcastle Ne1 5EJ, on Saturday 28th February 1 – 2pm.
On a planet teeming with corruption, guns, sex and designer drugs, a global technology company manufactures the Biomod Human Upgrade – and creates a zombie population packed with hardcore weaponry. Dropped into the midst of this wasteland of murder and mutation, the Combat-K squad must fight their way to the dark heart of Nano-Tek corporation. This is hard-hitting military science fiction to make you rethink everything you’ve read before!
Biohell will be available to buy on the day, but if you can't make it to the event you can click here to order your signed copy.
All Orders must be placed before 12pm on Friday 27th February 2009

New Interview.

Did a really funny interview over at HORROR REANIMATED last week with Joseph D'Lacey. You can read it at http://www.horrorreanimated.com/2009/02/12/andy-remic-interview-by-jdl/.

HARDCORE.

HARDCORE
by Andy Remic

Paperback: 456 pages
Publisher: Solaris 4th January 2010
ISBN-10: 1844167933
ISBN-13: 978-1844167937

Sick World was a planet dedicated to the ill, the deformed, the dying and the dead.

Humanity as an organism was not the most durable chassis. After mixing it up with aliens, the human shell developed a host of unwanted and incurable ailments… esoteric diseases, curious viruses, life-changing bugs, vomit-inducing deformations. So a beautiful planet, Sick World, was terraformed with limitless funding, state-of-the-art research centres, gleaming wards and towering operating theatres providing unparalleled care, a perfection of medicine and a pinnacle of repair for the plethora of grotesque diseases and mutating conditions. However, a thousand years ago something happened, and the planet was evacuated in totality. Today, it lies uninhabited.

Combat K: Keenan, Franco and Pippa, forced by implanted logic cubes into an unholy alliance of cooperation. Mission: to infiltrate Sick World and carry out a simple fact-finding mission prior to SLAM excavations to research the new Junk threat. It should have been safe, simple, secure.

As the first day fades, so a long hibernation ends. The Medical Staff of Sick World, the doctors, the nurses, the patients, those abandoned long ago, a thousand year gestation of hardcore medical mutation and accelerated healthcare technology... they can smell fresh meat, and begin to awake…

HARDCORE. You’ll never look at a nurse the same way again.

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Forbidden Planet Signing A Rabid Drooling Success!!

Had a ball on Saturday signing books in London's Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue. I thoroughly enjoyed the signing experience, and got to meet lots (*lots*!!) of fans who shall hereby be referred to as "Combat K Squaddies". Sold a quantity of books (always a bonus) and also met the acroamatic Mr David Devereux, a thoroughly nice chap (described by one fan as a writer of "misogynistic torture porn"- excellent, haha!!) and author of Hunter's Moon and the recently published Eagle Rising, both by Gollancz. You can check out his website at http://www.david-devereux.com/ and we shall subsequently appear as a comedy beer-drinking duo at the upcoming Eastercon. Oh yeah, and Mr Torture Porn recommends a mean pint of ale...... and in fact, a cool place to drink it, as well. Is there any end to the man's talents? Bastard.

Combat K Squaddies spotted in full urban battle dress.

FP Signing Still On, Says Remic.

I'm still travelling to the Big Lon for my signing tomorrow, and have it on good authority that Jeremy Clarkson himself may well be attending*, as he's a massive fan of my books. Despite having stupid hair, and making sometimes idiotic comments, he's been quoted as saying he'd rather read War Machine or Biohell than have sex!! Amazing stuff.


So, join me and Jeremy Clarkson* at Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue from 1-2!!

BIOHELL

On a planet teeming with corruption, guns, sex and designer drugs, a global technology company manufactures the Biomod Human Upgrade – and creates a zombie population packed with hardcore weaponry. Dropped into the midst of this wasteland of murder and mutation, the Combat-K squad must fight their way to the dark heart of Nano-Tek corporation. This is hard-hitting military science fiction to make you rethink everything you’ve read before!

*a lie.

Upcoming Signing in London.

Andy Remic signs Biohell at London’s Forbidden Planet.

Andy Remic will be signing copies of his novel Biohell at London’s Forbidden Planet on Saturday 7 February 2009 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Remic – who has been described as “the new master of rock-hard military science fiction” – follows up the hugely successful War Machine with a new Combat-K novel.Biohell sees the squad fighting against a sinister corporation on a planet that is brimming with weapons, sex and designer drugs.

The Forbidden Planet Megastore is located at 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR.

Bring your beer money :-)

SciFi Now...

Wowsers, it would seem Biohell has had not one, but two good reviews this month, for which I'm very grateful. SciFi Now also have a "profile" of me, in which they have amusingly raided my website for information and pulled one of my pugly pictures for the mag. That means my mirror-crackin' mug has featured in two top Sciffy magazines during January 2009 - I'll be mugged in the street for my autograph at this rate (probably not, actually).

So then, Issue 24, Alasdair Morton makes some amusing comments on Biohell:

"The attitude which bristles throughout his prose is more often than not a perfect accompaniment to the guns and explosions", and

"It is a carnage strewn affair, with the action and zombie-bashing very much pushed to the forefront, and here Remic excels. His staccato prose is punchy and he delivers in the action stakes", and finally,

"it is a fun read, and one which is packed with enough zombie mayhem to keep you going... A winner with the Combat-K fans, and not a bad introduction to those new to Remic's work."

*Author note: Yeah yeah, I know, I'm just waiting for the real bad reviews to roll in now, ho ho. Critics are usually polarised on my work - either they like it lots, or they despise it. But at least they don't find it boring..... because, my friends, that would be the real crime. *Yawn*.

So, bring on the bad reviews!! I'm expecting a few :-)

SFX Review & Interview

Biohell is starting to do the rounds, and received a very positive review in the February 2009 issue of SFX "The World's Number One Sci-Fi and Fantasy Magazine", out now.

Calum Waddell writes a cool review, awarding 4 stars out of 5, and giving some ace cover quotes. Check this:

"A tense and tightly plotted story of military survival, alien beasts and zombie girlfriends"... and

"Biohell can stake a claim as the finest viral nightmare since 28 Days Later"... and finally,



"Those with a sensitive stomach should be warned: this book may represent some kind of first in its graphic, and gruesome, depiction of a zombie vagina".




Cool, man :-)



SFX is out now, and contains a "Mind Probe" interview as well; a fuller interview can be found at: http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=author_interview_andy_remic

Best Remic "interview" quote of the century: "What if, I extrapolated, Microsoft did tits? Well, you have to run with an idea like that"... It's coming, I predict: Microsoft and soft squidgy female* body parts........ you watch!!
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*save male pie-eaters, of course.

More Amazonia....

Here's the first Amazon-type post for BIOHELL, by a very kindly Mr Spuler:

Aaron Spuler said...
Posted November 24, 2008, 9:02 AM EST: Holy crap!I just finished Biohell and this book KICKED ASS!!! Andy Remic did a great job with it. I really loved how Franco was more of the main character this time. He is one crazy s.o.b., some of the stuff he did in Biohell was completely wild and over the top -- I loved every minute of it! Wonder what that says about me??? Out of all the books I've ever read (and that is A LOT), Franco Haggis has to be in the top three for my 'favorite characters' list. Was interesting to see the Combat-K universe from his perspective this time around.I'd been waiting for Biohell to come out for a little over a year now.... wanted to read it as soon as I finished War Machine last year (bought that one on its release date and read it as soon as I could). The Combat-K universe is my first introduction to the writing of Andy Remic, and because of these two books, I plan on picking up his earlier works (Spiral, Quake, Warhead).If you like combat, action, humor, and aren't afraid of a little profanity and gore (ok, maybe a lot of profanity and gore), then I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you. You don't necessarily NEED to read War Machine -- Biohell can stand alone on its own, but I highly recommend it. All I have to say is keep up the great work, Andy. I was thoroughly impressed with Biohell and I hope that you can get out Hardcore (part 3) by this time next year (or earlier?). I will be waiting in line to buy it. Anyway, just wanted to express my thanks for Combat-K -- may there be many more books in that series!

Amazon Reviews.

I don't, as a rule, check out Amazon reviews. I just cannot be bothered with the bad spelling and txt spk mte, and besides, have a full enough schedule writing anyway. However, I was drunk, waiting for my wife, and listening to some old toons (The Cure, their entire collection, to be exact), so browsed along for a bit of a peekaboo.

Anyway, this cheered me up no end. Got a couple of new reviews for War Machine that really made me LOL (if you'll excuse the illiterate text shite):

5 STARS.
Pure Action, November 1, 2008
By
J. saldana "TennHorn" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

Characters well developed and likable. The technology is interesting and the fast paced action will keep you reading late into the night. It is dark novel filled with death and sexual images so not for the kiddos. Science fantasy minded folk will enjoy, reminds me a little of Dan Abnett's work.

Cheers J. Saldana "TenHorn" from Nashville :-) Nice one.

Then I got this (well, it was posted earlier, but just read it... ho ho), and it reaffirmed my faith in humanity and a balanced viewpoint in order to stop writers' heads and overused pulp egos from promoting a DIY frontal-lobotomy.....

1 STAR.
Horrible, poorly created characters., October 8, 2008
By
Chuckpa "Sci-reader"
War Machine is not just miliporn, it is poorly written miliporn. The character's are on dimensional and the plot is non existant beyond go there, get that. The premise is of a super elite squad of normal humans who will "do what it takes to win". The author's attempt at character is the protagnoist leader who is grieving over the loss of his wife and children, and his determination to "get their killer". Now any reader with half a brain will figure out the killer 80 pages in, just like any reader who has had any real relationships and actually has kids will not believe the ending. That aspect of the book alone makes this reviewer believe that it was actually written by a 13year old boy, who needs to have his closet checked and his babes w/ guns mags taken away. Or better yet, maybe his he-men with big guns mags. No matter what this work is the fevered dream of someone who has real weapons-phallic power issues. The work, and I can't be gentle about this, stinks. It is written for people who dream of being profiled in Soldier of Fortune and don't understand why women don't date them. This is a chickenhawk's form of miliporn, totally unrealistic and aburd. David Drake is a literary giant next to Remic and that is a crying shame.

Ha ha. Apparently I'm an "on dimensional" 13 year old, who's never had a woman and loves Soldier of Fortune magazine. Um. OK, Chuckpea, ho ho. You obviously got deep in my head there, sweetie. You are beautiful, insightful, and deserve a big sloppy tongue kiss for your psychological observations and inherent understanding of a writer's psyche. SLURP. There you go. Did you enjoy that?

And yeah, Chuckpoo, I agree, mate. I'm totally, utterly aburd.


Don't those AMAZON dudes just make you chortle!! What a bunch of geezers :-)

SFX Review.

Yup, it's that time of year again! An impending SFX review of BIOHELL in issue 179, with accompanying interview and mag Q&A. Great fun, all of it!! Cheers Dave.

Extract: "What if, I extrapolated, Microsoft did tits?"

To read more, check out the mag at http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=author_interview_andy_remic

He Didn't Think It Too Many...

Just hit the 10K mark on Podiobooks for downloads of Spiral and War Machine (well, around 10,500 to be exact) - which ain't bad going for a flu-infected Mancunian warbler. Who are all these crazy people who listen to my podiobook gibberings? Crazy people, that's who.

Anyway, 10,500 downloads in 3 months is pretty cool, I thinks. If you want a slice of Remic Pie, then head over to http://www.podiobooks.com/

And remember, it's all TOTALLY FREE!!

Back to Business... 2009 - A Busy Year.

Upcoming Signing...

Saturday February 7, 2009 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Forbidden Planet Megastore
179 Shaftesbury AvenueLondon, England WC2H 8JR
Category: Media
Website: http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/Signings.html

On a planet teeming with corruption, guns, sex and designer drugs, a global technology company manufactures the Biomod Human Upgrade – and creates a zombie population packed with hardcore weaponry. Dropped into the midst of this wasteland of murder and mutation, the Combat-K squad must fight their way to the dark heart of Nano-Tek corporation. This is hard-hitting military science fiction to make you rethink everything you’ve read before!

Check out
http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/Signings.html

And Ben Vorlich...

Note the icicles on the dog's whiskers... ho ho.

More Mountain Pics... Beinn Tulaichean.

These were too good to keep to myself :-)

I've Been on the Mountain.

What a way to spend New Year/ Hogmanay. First, a hectic snowy climb up Beinn Tulaichean, just past Rob Roy's burial site (worth a visit), to stand in awe above the mist at over 3000 feet which flooded the valleys below. As you looked around, every peak you could see poking from the mist was a Munro!! Unbelievable. I've been on the mountain? Damn right. Never seen anything so stunning. Cooked German sausage with mustard, and watched God peel the top off the world.

Then back to the Ardlui Hotel at the north end of Loch Lomond for a five course meal of steak, salmon and venison with great friends and the bouncing kids. Lots of Guinness and whiskey, kilts, Hogmanay hugs and Scottish dancing. Magic.