A little under a month ago, Lee Harris, editorial fleshy part of the Angry Robot, approached me to see if I'd like to contribute to a "twelve days of Christmas" series of blog posts, wherein the Robot's newest converts would get a chance to introduce themselves to a captive (not to mention soon-to-be-enslaved) audience. Well, what could I say but yes? (Assuming I wasn't looking for an early trip to the rehabilation factories, that is?)
Then, for some preposterous reason, I decided the best thing I could do would be to write a brand new story. Because, with the deadline for Crown Thief rapidly approaching, the release date of Giant Thief even closer and a new day job on the horizon, what else would I possibly be doing with my time? The truth was, though, I'd had an idea for a little seasonal monstrosity bouncing round my brain for months - ever since the name "the Santa Thing" had somehow washed up on those squishy pink shores - and I'd never had time to throw together more than a few lines. Nor was it the kind of idea I really wanted hanging around there for too long. What better opportunity to extricate the icky little blighter?
It was touch and go for a while (most of the last three weeks, to be exact) but I got my story done. It's called A Study in Red and White, and you can read it here. It might not make your silly season any happier or brighter, but it should exponentially increase the odds of you violently attacking and / or running screaming from the next supermarket Santa you see. And for me, that makes it all worthwhile.
If I had one sensible idea throughout the whole episode, it was approaching my brilliant artist mate Duncan Kay to lend me his talents for an illustration. Because nobody in the whole wide world draws monsters better than Duncan.
You want proof? Here's your proof, whiskers.
Also, while we're here, quick thank you's to the ever-reliable Tom Rice and the ever-writing-great-stories-that-everyone-should-just-go-read David James Keaton for their lightning ninja proof reading skills.
And if you happen to go click on that Angry Robot link up there, why not maybe check up on the other eleven Christmassy blog posts? They're rather good, y'know.
Then, for some preposterous reason, I decided the best thing I could do would be to write a brand new story. Because, with the deadline for Crown Thief rapidly approaching, the release date of Giant Thief even closer and a new day job on the horizon, what else would I possibly be doing with my time? The truth was, though, I'd had an idea for a little seasonal monstrosity bouncing round my brain for months - ever since the name "the Santa Thing" had somehow washed up on those squishy pink shores - and I'd never had time to throw together more than a few lines. Nor was it the kind of idea I really wanted hanging around there for too long. What better opportunity to extricate the icky little blighter?
It was touch and go for a while (most of the last three weeks, to be exact) but I got my story done. It's called A Study in Red and White, and you can read it here. It might not make your silly season any happier or brighter, but it should exponentially increase the odds of you violently attacking and / or running screaming from the next supermarket Santa you see. And for me, that makes it all worthwhile.
If I had one sensible idea throughout the whole episode, it was approaching my brilliant artist mate Duncan Kay to lend me his talents for an illustration. Because nobody in the whole wide world draws monsters better than Duncan.
You want proof? Here's your proof, whiskers.
Also, while we're here, quick thank you's to the ever-reliable Tom Rice and the ever-writing-great-stories-that-everyone-should-just-go-read David James Keaton for their lightning ninja proof reading skills.
And if you happen to go click on that Angry Robot link up there, why not maybe check up on the other eleven Christmassy blog posts? They're rather good, y'know.
You know, part of why I loved this story was because I wasn't seeing that image. [It wasn't loading properly or something at AR.] But holy catsheet! That's plenty nasty.
ReplyDelete=big grin= It must be what Zelazny was trying to save us from. Er...
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(The first verification word that came up perfectly suited the story and my comment.... Hrm!)
Nasty? Well, sure. But he DOES have fur and holly hair. So maybe just a little bit adorable too?
ReplyDeleteIf you could hear me, that would be a muffled squeak -- mingled with I know not what.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about some pretty horrifying stuff, but no, I cannot bring myself to say "adorable" in this context. Not that I'd say I _adore_ the story of "The Terrible Old Man" precisely. =glee=
Sometimes you get what you deserve. Sometimes it's worse than that.
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