The title line says it all, yard-apes. This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of Ad Astra - the local Toronto sf convention where we Torontonian sf people go each spring to see one another, talk about all things genre and hone our knife-throwing skills. I'll be there this weekend, on panels and doing a mini-launch for Eutopia.
Speaking of which - I'd be remiss if I didn't crow a bit, about a lovely review of my first solo novel by Chris Hallock over at ALL THINGS HORROR. It is a very lovely review indeed - I'm flattered to within an inch of my life - and in recognition of that, I'm going to quote a little more extensively than I do from these things:
Eutopia is the kind of book I'd recommend to literary snobs who badmouth the horror genre while completely ignoring the multitudes of splendid books on the shelves. Nickle comes from a different cut of cloth than a lot of current horror authors. He’s created a unique world that’s a far cry from any of the current trends in horror fiction. In fact, his style seems generations removed from all the apocalyptic zombie and vampire novels on the market. Thankfully, he understands that the most important ingredients are strong characters, originality, and a compelling story. That his novel is also dark, frightening, and beautifully written is just icing on the cake.
Eutopia crosses genres in a world where folks from a rustic Faulkner novel might clash with H.P. Lovecraft’s monstrosities. Add a dash of Cronenbergian body horror to atmosphere worthy of Poe, and you get one of the most original horror stories in years.
The whole review's posted right here, for the perusal of curious yard-apes.
And as for that Ad Astra Schedule? Here's how it's looking now.
Fri 8 p.m. Eugenics Erica Pai (m), Gord Skerratt, Herb Kauderer, Diane Lacey, David Clink, David Nickle
Sat 11 am Ballr. Centre Chilling Tales: A New Chapter in Canadian Horror and Dark Fantasy
Michael Kelly (m), Leah Bobet, Suzanne Church, Michael Colangelo, Claude Lalumiere, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Brent Hayward, Sandra Kasturi, David Nickle, Ian Rogers, Brett Alexander Savory, Simon Strantzas
Sat 1-3 pm Anton's Chilling Tales Launch
Michael Kelly (m), Leah Bobet, Suzanne Church, Michael Colangelo, Claude Lalumiere, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gemma Files, Richard Gavin, Brent Hayward, Sandra Kasturi, David Nickle, Ian Rogers, Brett Alexander Savory, Simon Strantzas
Saturday, 6 p.m. Reading
Sun 11 am Ballr. East Making Monsters
Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Michael Colangelo, Kate Daley, Kari Maaren, David Nickle, Rio Youers (m)
Sun 12 pm Ballr. Centre Working with Small Presses
Timothy Carter, Karen Dales, Don Hutchison, Laura Marshall, David Nickle, Douglas Smith
Sun 3 pm Salon 243 Face-to-Face Critique Groups
Aaron Allston, Robert Boyczuk, Matt Moore (m), David Nickle