Books

R.F. Long, reknowned romantic fantasy writer, has decided to launch her latest novel, The Scroll Thief, at Octocon 2009! The book launch will take place on Saturday evening at 5.30pm. R.F., or Ruth as we sometimes call her, will be selling the first copies of the book, signing them, reading, it and maybe even taking questions if you're all good! :)

Be there!

From the publisher:

Love is the wiliest thief of all.

A Tale of Ithian

Malachy and his sister rely on his talents as a thief to survive the dangerous streets of Klathport, former capital of the once-great kingdom of Ithian. Stealing a few papers should have been a simple job. Instead, it nearly costs their lives and throws them into an improbable alliance with a shape-shifting official, a desert tribeswoman, and a healer of enchanting beauty.

Cerys is far more than a simple healer—and the roots of her mission go deeper into the past than anyone can know. She needs Malachy’s skills to recover a stolen scroll, one that can be used to rewrite history and, in the wrong hands, release the dark powers of the Demon Realm.

Her mission was supposed to atone for a dreadful, long-ago act. Instead, it unleashes a chain of events which sees them pursued through city and desert by the fearsome Dune Witch and a killer known only as His Lordship. Romance, tragedy, and adventure blend in a tale of a magical land on the brink of war, and five unlikely allies who, by putting their lives—and their hearts—on the line, have the opportunity to finally set things right.

But at a terrible cost.

Oh hi there, October Convention-lovers!

These past few days, all we've been hearing are staged whispers about "letting out your inner geek" and "nerdgasming" and "transforming" and "rolling out", but what does it all mean?

Well, it may indicate a change in neuro-linguistical programming brought on by some kind of new mass-marketing machine built by Doctor Advertiso, OR, it could mean that Octocon 2009 is nearly upon us!

With only six days to go, we're putting together our final preparations for one of the greatest conventions of all time!

So, what do you have to look forward to besides The Golden Blasters film festival, Octocon's Next Top Monster, meeting Mike Carey, Derek Gunn, Michael Carroll, C.E. Murphy and more, meeting your fellow fans, and "competing to be the worst" at The Red Shirt Olympics?

We're glad you asked!

Two of Octocon's perenial favourite guests are returning in 2010 to discuss their work, and their thoughts on numerous subjects.

Michael Carroll, the astonishing author of The Quantum Prophecy and Superhuman novels and short stories, is welcomed back with open arms and we couldn't be happier to have him. Michael has written for such comic books as 2000 AD and FutureQuake.

Film-maker John Vaughan will also be returning, best known for the award-winning My Dad, which he calls "true horror". John Vaughan is also the man behind Octocon's Sci-Fi film festival, The Golden Blasters. We're so glad to have him back for 2010.

These two people have contributed so much to Octocon and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

Lots of love,

Octocon