I was born in 1961 in Essex, Great Britain, and still live there with my wife Caroline. I’ve been an SF and fantasy junky ever since having my mind distorted at an early age by JRRT, Edgar Rice Burroughs an..ubb. Sometime after leaving school I decided to focus on only one of my many interests because it was inclusive of the others: writing. Finally taken on by a large publisher, Pan Macmillan, my first full-length SF novel, Gridlinked, came out in 2001, The Skinner, The Line of Polity, Cowl, Brass Man and The Voyage of the Sable Keech, Polity Agent were published over subsequent years and Hilldiggers is due out this coming July, when I’m also due to hand in Line War. Most of these books have been taken by publishers in America, Russia, Germany, France, Portugal, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Romania and Japan. Over twenty years have passed since I first started banging away on a manual typewriter (pc now), but then nothing worthwhile comes easy.
More information available here: http://freespace.virgin.net/n.asher
http://theskinner.blogspot.com/
The Brass Man is my all time favourite anti-hero, have you read Son of Man? Sorry I'm not really good at non-face to face conversations - I think I read most of your books, timewise, backwards - I met the Skinner early but just now finished Line of Polity, that's Ok though, I take great pleasure in knowing I can just read em' again :)Quack Quack Quack
Neal, I had a little trouble with Anackire. This is a treat for me, finding a well published author who I haven't exhausted yet! Though I'm sure I will. Always having to wait for the latest hardcover or US imports of my favorite Brit authors, yourself included, yet I stumbled across Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell which I am well enjoying.
Haven't forgotten about you m8! Lately, I've fallen into a Tanith Lee, 70's, fantasy kick. Just discovered her Flat Earth series. Never even heard of that. Out of print and out of mind. I love the open sexuality of the 70's that she totally and unabashedly addressed. Still to this day. I see her echoes.
My client, the Genetecist, just went to Cambridge or Oxford or someother for a conference and she brought me back a copy of Hilldiggers. Couldn't put it down, its all I did all weekend. Wish you had some US releases of your other recents, Line War and Polity agent. Anything in the works? I'll probably just have to buckle down and pay the crazy import price, but you are so worth it.
Check out our new site at www. smokers-reunited. co. uk . We are now on page 1 of all petitions, so if you have not signed yet follow link on site. We want your friends to join us here on myspace and keep your recommended venues coming. Recommend your favourite smoking pub here www. smokers-reunited. co. uk. See you all at the Party soon.
Hi Neal! I just wrote the theme song to Prador Moon. I'm a little bit too inspired by you at the moment. Hope its all good. Free for download for you and your friends!
Thanks for the add! You really rock my world. I was laughing out loud when the Pradors started eating people. I love that sh$t! I'm waiting for Polity Agent to come out in US Paperback because I live in a 3rd World Country (America) I can't afford the exchange rate from dollars to pounds.
THE SMOKING POET: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – SPRING 2008
A fine cigar and good literature: two of life's finer pleasures.
THE SMOKING POET publishes flash fiction; fiction; nonfiction; poetry; feature author with novel excerpt; feature poet; book and cigar reviews. We publish work that ignites our imagination, inflames our passion, leaves us with a smoky aftertaste. The Smoking Poet also shares an extensive list of links and resources for writers and the cigar aficionado.
Submissions open year round. Send with editor’s attention in subject line: poetry, cigar reviews and stories to Zinta Aistars; fiction/non-fiction to Russell Rowland. For book reviews, please query first.
For full submission guidelines and contact information, visit: The Smoking Poet
Spring 2008 Issue Deadline: February 28, 2008
The Smoking Poet also seeks cigar reviews of between 100 and 300 words. Let our readers know what your favorite smoke might be — maybe it's a Nat Sherman Explorer, a Punch Rare Corojo, or a Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real, or whatever you'd care to share with us. Tell us what you like and why, and maybe even when you like it. Maybe there's a cigar lounge, where everybody knows your name, at which you stop nightly to unwind on your way home from work. If so, tell us about it.
It was December 24th on Hollis Ave in the dark When I seen a man chilling with his dog in the park I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear Looked at his dog, oh my God, an ill reindeer But then I was illin because the man had a beard And a bag full of goodies, 12 o'clock had neared So I turned my head a second and the man had gone But he left his driver's wallet smack dead on the lawn I picket the wallet up then I took a pause Took out the license and it cold said "Santa Claus" A million dollars in it, cold hundreds of G's Enough to buy a boat and matching car with ease But I'd never steal from Santa, cause that ain't right So I'm going home to mail it back to him that night But when I got home I bugged, cause under the tree Was a letter from Santa and all the dough was for me
It's Christmas time in Hollis Queens Mom's cooking chicken and collard greens Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees Decorate the house with lights at night Snow's on the ground, snow white so bright In the fireplace is the yule log Beneath the mistle toe as we drink egg nog The rhymes you hear are the rhymes of Darryl's But each and every year we bust Chrsitmas carrols
Rhymes so loud and prod you hear it It's Christmas time and we got the spirit Jack Frost chillin, the orchas out? And that's what Christmas is all about The time is now, the place is here And the whole wide world is filled with cheer
My name's D.M.C. with the mic in my hand And I'm chilling and coolin just like a snowman So open your eyes, lend us an ear We want to say
I just read 'Hothouse' by Brian W Aldiss. Was that an inspiration for you as a youngster? Seems like something you might have liked. Anyway, its a great story.
I saw a whole shelf of your books at Rome airport and got excited (well very interested anyway)because I realised there are heaps more of your books to read.I've read The Skinner & Brass Man so far, absolute brilliance!
