The Apex Book of World SF. vol II. is due for publication in 2011 and has revealed a very exciting line-up of World based authors, with a good African representation this time round: Rochita Loenen-Ruiz (Philippines)-Alternate Girl's Expatriate Life Ivor W. Hartmann (Zimbabwe)-Mr. Goop Daliso Chaponda (Malawi)-Trees of Bone Daniel Salvo (Peru)-The First Peruvian in Space Gustavo Bondoni (Argentina)-Eyes in ...

My apologies for the long delay in updating this blog, but illness has been enduring and I have concentrated on getting through the day, subsequently writing relatively little. Still, at least I have been able to read - a great African SF/F book by Nnedi Okorafor Who Fears Death; Lavie Tidhar's excellent Cloud Permutations and ...

Apologies for the update delay but health has been - and continues to be - a pre-occupation. Still, I'm getting to the point where I'm learning to manage it better, and am hopeful that some form of healthy equilibrium will materialise by the end of the year. The illness has derailed any current writing, but I've sent out a ...

Lauren Beukes' Zoo City has been released and a glorious follow-up to Moxyland it is too! For my money it's an even stronger, more focused and powerful book. It has a great premise involving both a blurred integration of science and traditional African beliefs, as well as a fantastical and metaphorical link between human and ...

Two big African speculative fiction books are due to be launched in the next couple of months. Perhaps first out of the blocks with a 29 April 2010 release is Lauren Beukes and her follow up to Moxyland, entitled Zoo City. This looks like it's going to be a rollicking, snorting follow-up,

I've just finished a Cape to Cairo narrative written with a difference - it's entitled Dark Continent My Black Arse by Sihle Khumalo (2007); Umuzi Press; Roggebaai (Cape Town). The book does what it says 'on the tin', i.e. provides a contemporary account of Khumalo's epic journey, made via 'bus, boksie, matola' and what sounds ...

Further to my previous health-related post, my health issues are relatively minor - for real courage in maintaining creativity in the face of adversity and disability, please see the Attitude Awards from New Zealand TV, which celebrate the achievements of disabled New Zealanders and includes a focus on New Zealand spec-fic author Glynne MacLean: http://tvnz.co.nz/attitude/s2009-awards-video-3228227. Fuller introductions ...

I hoisted a pile of keys in my hand this morning, but couldn't find the front door one. I trawled left, poked right, prodded both front and back of this jangling pile hanging heavy in my hand, wondering if they had somehow mysteriously bred overnight. There were big keys, little keys, keys with black rubber ...