Rob Thompson

[a:EC Tubb 17093421 EC Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.New Words Science FictionNew Worlds was a British science fiction magazine that began in 1936 as a fanzine called Novae Terrae. It adopted its current title in 1939, after John Carnell became editor. First published professionally in 1946, it became the leading publication of its type; the period to 1960 has been described by historian Mike Ashley as the magazine's “Golden Age”.Carnell joined the British Army in 1940 following the outbreak of the Second World War, and did not return to civilian life until 1946. He negotiated a publishing agreement for the magazine with Pendulum Publications, but only three issues of New Worlds were subsequently produced before Pendulum's bankruptcy in late 1947. A group of science fiction fans formed a company called Nova Publications to revive the magazine; the first issue under their management appeared in mid-1949. New Worlds continued to appear on a regular basis until issue 20, published in early 1953, following which a change of printers led to a hiatus in publication. It was not until early 1954, when Maclaren & Sons acquired control of Nova Publications, that the magazine returned to a stable monthly schedule.New Worlds was acquired by Roberts & Vinter in 1964, when Michael Moorcock became editor. By the end of 1966 financial problems led Roberts & Vinter to abandon New Worlds, but with the aid of an Arts Council grant obtained by Brian Aldiss, Moorcock was able to publish the magazine independently. He featured a good deal of experimental and avant-garde material, and New Worlds became the focus of the “New Wave” of science fiction. Reaction among the science fiction community was mixed, with partisans and opponents of the New Wave debating the merits of New Worlds in the columns of critical journals such as Speculation. Several of the regular contributors during this period, including Brian Aldiss, J. G. Ballard and Thomas M. Disch, became major names in the field. By 1970 Moorcock was too deeply in debt to be able to continue with the magazine, and it ceased publication with issue 200. The title has been revived multiple times, with Moorcock's direct involvement or approval; as of 2012, 22 additional issues have appeared in various formats, including several anthologies.As for the story itself, it's a rather sad tale about a love that can never be. A suicide pact and the mental torment that triggers this decision. Well written, but not one of my personal favourites (I like more action!)Get a copy here.

[a:EC Tubb 17093421 EC Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.Nebula Science FictionNebula Science Fiction was the first Scottish science fiction magazine. It was published from 1952 to 1959, and was edited by Peter Hamilton, a young Scot who was able to take advantage of spare capacity at his parents' printing company, Crownpoint, to launch the magazine. Because Hamilton could only print Nebula when Crownpoint had no other work, the schedule was initially erratic. In 1955 he moved the printing to a Dublin-based firm, and the schedule became a little more regular, with a steady monthly run beginning in 1958 that lasted into the following year. Nebula's circulation was international, with only a quarter of the sales in the United Kingdom (UK); this led to disaster when South Africa and Australia imposed import controls on foreign periodicals at the end of the 1950s. Excise duties imposed in the UK added to Hamilton's financial burdens, and he was rapidly forced to close the magazine. The last issue was dated June 1959. The magazine was popular with writers, partly because Hamilton went to great lengths to encourage new writers, and partly because he paid better rates per word than much of his competition. Initially he could not compete with the American market, but he offered a bonus for the most popular story in the issue, and was eventually able to match the leading American magazines.As for the story itself, the name derives from Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? Who will watch the watchers? Or, literally, who will protect the people from their own protectors? ... Those who had power invariably abused it and were eventually replaced by others who inevitably followed the same path. Here we see a few of the military manning a facility on orbit that can trigger the ultimate annihilation of the “enemy”. Everyone knows pressing the launch will mean annihilation of their own side too. And the men breaking down due to stress of so much responsibility. The optimistic ending gives the reader some hope.A couple of quotes struck home:“He feels no guilt at whatever he proposes doing. It's a case of glorified buck passing. He takes orders & blames the man who issues them. The man who issues them probably salves his conscience by telling himself that he won't really be the one to fire the missiles. It's easy to kill if you don't have to pull the trigger.”“Traitor is a bad word–bad that is to those who give it. To others a ‘traitor' could well be a savior because a traitor is merely a person who does not do as others decide. No man could ever really be a traitor to himself, not if he did what he believed to be right. And no man could possibly be a traitor if by so being he was instrumental in saving his race.”Get a copy here.

To put it simply, no country on earth, relative to its size, has contributed more to the modern imagination. There is, however, one area in which we can claim superpower status: our popular culture.

Britain has been in gradual decline since 1945. With the Empire gone along with our manufacturing base, we have compensated by engaging the energy and ingenuity that made the Victorians great to the creative arts. This is a book about the considerable success and the possible meaning of Britain's modern popular culture. From Bond and the Beatles to heavy metal and Coronation Street. From the Angry Young Men to Harry Potter, from Damien Hirst to The X Factor. We've exported them lucratively around the world.

Sandbrook has a knack of restating hardly original ideas in a way that strikes you as if you'd never heard them before. Heartily recommended.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”New Words Science FictionNew Worlds was a British science fiction magazine that began in 1936 as a fanzine called Novae Terrae. It adopted its current title in 1939, after John Carnell became editor. First published professionally in 1946, it became the leading publication of its type; the period to 1960 has been described by historian Mike Ashley as the magazine's “Golden Age”.Carnell joined the British Army in 1940 following the outbreak of the Second World War, and did not return to civilian life until 1946. He negotiated a publishing agreement for the magazine with Pendulum Publications, but only three issues of New Worlds were subsequently produced before Pendulum's bankruptcy in late 1947. A group of science fiction fans formed a company called Nova Publications to revive the magazine; the first issue under their management appeared in mid-1949. New Worlds continued to appear on a regular basis until issue 20, published in early 1953, following which a change of printers led to a hiatus in publication. It was not until early 1954, when Maclaren & Sons acquired control of Nova Publications, that the magazine returned to a stable monthly schedule.New Worlds was acquired by Roberts & Vinter in 1964, when Michael Moorcock became editor. By the end of 1966 financial problems led Roberts & Vinter to abandon New Worlds, but with the aid of an Arts Council grant obtained by Brian Aldiss, Moorcock was able to publish the magazine independently. He featured a good deal of experimental and avant-garde material, and New Worlds became the focus of the “New Wave” of science fiction. Reaction among the science fiction community was mixed, with partisans and opponents of the New Wave debating the merits of New Worlds in the columns of critical journals such as Speculation. Several of the regular contributors during this period, including Brian Aldiss, J. G. Ballard and Thomas M. Disch, became major names in the field. By 1970 Moorcock was too deeply in debt to be able to continue with the magazine, and it ceased publication with issue 200. The title has been revived multiple times, with Moorcock's direct involvement or approval; as of 2012, 22 additional issues have appeared in various formats, including several anthologies.As for the story itself, sees a ray of hope for the destitute Martian colony - a plant that will grow in the desert. But to get recognition they had to threaten Earth itself. A well written tale that packs in twists and turns. Of course, the various strands come together rather quickly in the end. But such is the case in a short story. A really great example of Tubb at the height of his storytelling powers. Recommended to all fans of 50s pulp sci-fi.Get a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.New Words Science FictionNew Worlds was a British science fiction magazine that began in 1936 as a fanzine called Novae Terrae It adopted its current title in 1939, after John Carnell became editor. First published professionally in 1946, it became the leading publication of its type; the period to 1960 has been described by historian Mike Ashley as the magazine's “Golden Age”.Carnell joined the British Army in 1940 following the outbreak of the Second World War, and did not return to civilian life until 1946. He negotiated a publishing agreement for the magazine with Pendulum Publications, but only three issues of New Worlds were subsequently produced before Pendulum's bankruptcy in late 1947. A group of science fiction fans formed a company called Nova Publications to revive the magazine; the first issue under their management appeared in mid-1949. New Worlds continued to appear on a regular basis until issue 20, published in early 1953, following which a change of printers led to a hiatus in publication. It was not until early 1954, when Maclaren & Sons acquired control of Nova Publications, that the magazine returned to a stable monthly schedule.New Worlds was acquired by Roberts & Vinter in 1964, when Michael Moorcock became editor. By the end of 1966 financial problems led Roberts & Vinter to abandon New Worlds, but with the aid of an Arts Council grant obtained by Brian Aldiss Moorcock was able to publish the magazine independently. He featured a good deal of experimental and avant-garde material, and New Worlds became the focus of the “New Wave” of science fiction. Reaction among the science fiction community was mixed, with partisans and opponents of the New Wave debating the merits of New Worlds in the columns of critical journals such as Speculation. Several of the regular contributors during this period, including Brian Aldiss, J. G. Ballard and Thomas M. Disch became major names in the field. By 1970 Moorcock was too deeply in debt to be able to continue with the magazine, and it ceased publication with issue 200. The title has been revived multiple times, with Moorcock's direct involvement or approval; as of 2012, 22 additional issues have appeared in various formats, including several anthologies.As for the story itself, it describes a touchingly beautiful gesture, the yearly service to those men who had never returned from space, yet psychologically timed to appeal to the very young in whom the future rested. An unusual Tubb tale, one which explores the thoughts, hopes and fears of the people involved in the space program. Pretty good, but not an all time classic.Get a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.Authentic Science FictionAuthentic Science Fiction was a British science fiction magazine published in the 1950s that ran for 85 issues under three editors: Gordon Landsborough, H.J. Campbell, and E.C. Tubb. The magazine was published by Hamilton and Co., and began in 1951 as a series of novels appearing every two weeks; by the summer it became a monthly magazine, with readers' letters and an editorial page, though fiction content was still restricted to a single novel. In 1952 short fiction began to appear alongside the novels, and within two more years it completed the transformation into a science fiction magazine.Authentic published little in the way of important or ground-breaking fiction. The poor rates of pay—£1 per 1,000 words—prevented the magazine from attracting the best writers. During much of its life it competed against three other moderately successful British science fiction magazines, as well as the American science fiction magazine market. Hamilton folded the magazine in October 1957, because they needed cash to finance an investment in the UK rights to an American best-selling novel.As for the story itself, there were surprises in store when they set out to do what appeared to be a simple repair job. Spacemen land on a planet to fix their broken rocket. But an invisible force threatens their safety. A nice short story, with a little twist in the end. Worth reading if you like decent 50's sci-fi pulp.Get a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.This short story is about an agent. A person who looks after the interests of his client; in the entertainment world he is ungrammatically known as a ‘flesh peddler'. So, what if the customers got what they asked for, real meat on the hoof?A simple enough story, which isn't anything too special. Vintage Tubb, but not one of his all time classics.Get a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.” Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.In this short story we see two actors, wife and husband, desperate for work. Set in the near future the most popular form of entertainment is 'mannequin theatre'. The minds of actors are used to inhabit these 'mannequins', which are sophisticated robots. These robots are then placed into violent stories. At the moment of death, the actor re-inhabits their bodies. The twist in the story is that the both wife and husband end up in the same play. Battling robots, where only one person lives.A fairly inventive tale which highlights what Tubb is good at. Packing a thought provoking story into a brief, half an hour read.You can grab a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.Authentic Science FictionAuthentic Science Fiction was a British science fiction magazine published in the 1950s that ran for 85 issues under three editors: Gordon Landsborough, H.J. Campbell, and E.C. Tubb. The magazine was published by Hamilton and Co., and began in 1951 as a series of novels appearing every two weeks; by the summer it became a monthly magazine, with readers' letters and an editorial page, though fiction content was still restricted to a single novel. In 1952 short fiction began to appear alongside the novels, and within two more years it completed the transformation into a science fiction magazine.Authentic published little in the way of important or ground-breaking fiction. The poor rates of pay—£1 per 1,000 words—prevented the magazine from attracting the best writers. During much of its life it competed against three other moderately successful British science fiction magazines, as well as the American science fiction magazine market. Hamilton folded the magazine in October 1957, because they needed cash to finance an investment in the UK rights to an American best-selling novel.As for the story itself, its a rather strange tale of a woman who is living vicariously through a man who lacks ambition and motivation. Its insinuated that she is transgender, and while there is some love hinted at, he ultimately lets himself. And by default, also her. A brave attempt at something different, which doesn't quite come off.Get a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.” Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.As for the story itself, it sees two rival interior designers battling for a lucrative contract. Each takes different approaches, and have differnet ticks up their sleeves. However, the unexpected out-of-control growth of a symboitic moss from Venus sees the fate of one of them. A strange tale, from Tubb's inventive mind. Definably out of the ordinary and it shows how inventive Tubb could be. Worth a read, but hardly a high octane thrill a minute tale.You can grab a copy here.

[a:Edwin Charles Tubb 14053911 Edwin Charles Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.Authentic Science FictionAuthentic Science Fiction was a British science fiction magazine published in the 1950s that ran for 85 issues under three editors: Gordon Landsborough, H.J. Campbell, and E.C. Tubb. The magazine was published by Hamilton and Co., and began in 1951 as a series of novels appearing every two weeks; by the summer it became a monthly magazine, with readers' letters and an editorial page, though fiction content was still restricted to a single novel. In 1952 short fiction began to appear alongside the novels, and within two more years it completed the transformation into a science fiction magazine.Authentic published little in the way of important or ground-breaking fiction. The poor rates of pay—£1 per 1,000 words—prevented the magazine from attracting the best writers. During much of its life it competed against three other moderately successful British science fiction magazines, as well as the American science fiction magazine market. Hamilton folded the magazine in October 1957, because they needed cash to finance an investment in the UK rights to an American best-selling novel.As for the story itself, a man likes to read books which talk of the past. He likes to think of this as a simplier time. His wife dosen't like this sort of behaviour, so leaves him. Entering therepy, he is discouraged from reading, after all, books are old fashioned. A swift injection and he's metnally transported into the past he loves so much. This so called cure has the exact opposite effect. Instead of discouraging him, it actually motivates him. Tubb gives us a nice, neat morallity tale here. A lesson at the end of the story demonstrates that trying to stop people doing what they love, makes them even more desperate to do it.You can grab a copy here.

Not On Your Telly is an informative and witty book on the more obscure corners of pop culture. It collects some of Tim's writing on lost, forgotten or censored television shows. Of particular interest to Doctor Who fans it includes hefty features on:
= The Evil Of The Daleks,
= The Space Pirates,
= The Android Invasion, and
= a radio adaptation of the Peter Cushing Dalek Films.

Also covered are BBC ‘Sunday Classics' serials produced by former showrunners Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks. It also has features on:
= Fist Of Fun,
= Play School,
= The Tyrant King,
= The 8:15 From Manchester,
= Madhouse On Castle Street,
= Rubovia,
= Bizzy Lizzy,
= Dear Heart,
= Hear'Say It's Saturday, and
= Kelly Monteith. And, um, Spatz.

Its clear that Tim's is extremely enthusiastic about his subject. A great read, especially if you're of a certain age and from the UK.

[a:EC Tubb 17093421 EC Tubb https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. [a:Michael Moorcock 16939 Michael Moorcock https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”Much of Tubb's work was written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He used 58 pen names over five decades of writing, although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.In this short story, Tubb gives us a tale of revenge. Left to survive on an alien world, a victim takes a terrible revenge. A rather gruesome tale, especially at the end. It almost foreshadows movies like Alien. Beware, baby parasitic aliens are involved!Get a copy here.

Sandbrook's epic history of Postwar Britain reaches the early seventies by which time the country seemed to be tottering on the brink of an abyss. Embracing the period of the Heath Government from 1970-74, we see the optimism of the Sixties becoming a hazy memory. Strikes, blackouts, unemployment and inflation dominated the headlines. But amid the gloom, glittered a creativity and cultural dynamism that would influence our lives for decades to come. Sandbrook recreates the gaudy atmosphere of the early Seventies. A time of:
Enoch Powell and Tony Benn,
David Bowie and Brian Clough,
Germaine Greer and Mary Whitehouse.

An age when the unions dominated. Where socialist revolution seemed at hand. But one in which feminism, permissiveness and environmentalism were transforming lives. Sandbrook also covers topics as diverse as:
miners' strikes,
tower blocks,
IRA atrocities,
celebrity footballers,
curry houses,
package holidays,
gay rights, and
glam rock.

State of Emergency is a splendid guide to the luridly colourful Seventies landscape of popular culture, social change, economics and politics. A 650-page book on an unfashionable epoch of a declining country that shaped our present.

Adam Roche has cornered the market in telling interesting and lesser known backstories to famous Hollywood films and stars. In 1939, 20th Century Fox teamed Basil Rathbone with Nigel Bruce in their lavish production of The Hound Of The Baskervilles and Hollywood introduced one of the most enduring detectives to the world of film. Over the decades interest in Sherlock Holmes wavered and he appeared antiquated to a modern world on the brink on a second world war, until a new plan was instigated....

For people of a certain age who grew up with Basil Rathbone as “their” Holmes, this will be a fascinating narrative. it covers both the stories of the actors and the films themselves. Roche has an engaging style. An enjoyable listen on an unusual but enjoyable subject.

Trivial, but absorbing and entertaining

No Such Thing as a Fish is a weekly British podcast series produced and presented by the researchers behind the BBC Two panel game QI. In it each of the researchers, collectively known as “The QI Elves”, present their favourite fact that they have come across that week.
The regular QI elves who present No Such Thing as a Fish are Andrew Hunter Murray, Dan Schreiber, Anna Ptaszynski and James Harkin.

This book is effectively a massive episode of the podcast. The Elves present a compendium of topical facts in 365 categories. Each presenter takes it in turn to present their favourite facts. Then they discuss the information surrounding that fact, and the other presenters add in extra facts and information connecting to it. This bumper book is fun, and packed with offbeat, silly facts. The tone is just right: dry, sharp and deadpan. Recommended for everyone who loves nuggets of trivial news.

As Royal Mail faces an uncertain future, Dominic Sandbrook charts the historical development of the post office and examines its profound impact on literacy, free speech, commerce and communication.
Launched in 1516 by Henry VIII, it was intended to support royal communications and increase intelligence. The rise in literacy, trade and interest stimulated a demand for a public service. After the advent of the Penny Black in 1840, it became affordable to the public. Over the centuries, the Post Office has become a much-loved social institution, linking people together and extending their vision outward into the broader world. How the people made it their own is a fascinating story that has been untold.

It's called Royal Mail but it should be affectionately known as the People's Post.

Jack Bennett asks Sherlock to investigate his employer and future father-in-law Professor Presbury. The professor's personality and behavior have suddenly changed. Bennett fears that Professor Presbury could become dangerous. As does the professor's daughter Edith. The changes in the professor's character have coincided with his dog taking a sudden violent dislike towards him. While Bennett is discussing the case with Holmes, Edith arrives. She says she saw her father's face at her bedroom window the previous night. The problem is her bedroom is on the second floor and there is no way for any man to have been able to get to that window.

Presbury is a widower engaged to a considerably younger woman, Alice Morphy. The Professor is quite displeased at hearing that Bennett, who also happens to be his assistant, has hired the Great Detective. He escorts Holmes and Watson off the property. When Holmes reads of thefts from zoos — all monkeys and apes — he begins to unravel the mystery.

This is definitely one of the more extraordinary and fantastical stories of the Holmes canon. With a extremely odd climax which verges on science fiction.

Blake's 7 (sometimes styled Blakes 7) is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC. Four 13-episode series were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also created the Daleks for the television series Doctor Who. The script editor was Chris Boucher. The main character, at least initially, was Roj Blake, played by Gareth Thomas. The series was inspired by various fictional media, including Robin Hood, Star Trek, Passage to Marseille, The Dirty Dozen, Brave New World and classic Western stories, as well as real-world political conflicts in South America and Israel.

Blake's 7 was popular from its first broadcast, watched by approximately 10 million in the UK and shown in 25 other countries. Although many tropes of space opera are present, such as spaceships, robots, galactic empires and aliens, its budget was inadequate for its interstellar theme. Critical responses have been varied; some reviewers praised the series for its dystopian themes, strong characterisation, ambiguous morality and pessimistic tone, as well as displaying an “enormous sense of fun”, but others have criticised its production values, dialogue and perceived lack of originality, with broadcaster and critic Clive James describing it as “classically awful”.

In this book, each of the show's four seasons is given a short behind-the-scenes overview. We get production and cast listings, a brief summary and a fairly thorough analysis. The main selling point of the book is the authors' own analysis of the episodes. Stevens and Moore have scripted some of the commercially available spin-offs themselves, and they certainly know their subject. Any reader who's ever puzzled over an uncharacteristically charitable act from Avon, or wondered why the show had to end in a massacre, will find the answers here. Stevens and Moore's thoughtful dissection of plot and character is probably the most scholarly examination of Blake's 7 I've read. It's an intelligent, well written critical analysis, packed with details about production problems, script alterations, and acute observations of characters and sub-texts.

Recommended for fans.

Edwin Charles Tubb was born in 1919 and died in 2010, having written around 130 novels and over 200 short stories. The Temple of Death was published in 1996. It was a previously unpublished work written 1954. Fast paced, a relentless plot with little characterisation. Perfect for an easy and enjoyable read.

Another thrilling tale by Dave Sinclair
I enjoyed this book enormously. Its a quick, fast paced read. Plus it progressively develops Bishop as a complex character too. This time the wise-cracking MI6 secret agent is in China . His former mentor threatens to trigger a nuclear war. A darker feel than the first book, offset by lots of cheeky humour too.

Naturally, the story is far fetched, but it is grounded in current events. A wild, adventurous ride which I can recommended.

Tubb's best known series is The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra). This is a far future epic science-fiction saga charting the adventures of traveler Earl Dumarest. A man who is trying to get back to his home planet, Earth. The problem is he is in a region of space so far distant that most people think the existence of the planet is a myth. Originally written in what Michael Moorcock has described as a “conscious and acknowledged imitation” of Leigh Brackett's Eric John Stark stories, the series subsequently developed a style of storytelling unique to Tubb.

Published over a span of more than 40 years, the Dumarest Saga comprised 33 novels. This is #28, and while some of the preceding books had started to get a repetitive and formulaic, he's back he's back on form. The story sees Dumarest infiltrate a circus, hoping to gain access to a girl whose song can unlock lost memories. Maybe one of these will reveal the location of Earth? This has a nice setting, and a great pace to it. Supporting characters are all fleshed out. And of course, the Cyclan are involved too. One of the better entries in the series.

Tubb's total output exceeds 130 novels and 230 short stories. Of his many pseudonyms. His first SF novels were pseudonymous: Saturn Patrol (1951) as by King Lang. This is a fast paced space opera, full of action and 1950s SF fun.

. The author: Edwin Charles Tubb (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. Michael Moorcock wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”

. Summary: The second volume of Tubbs's heroic fantasy novels, The Chronicles of Malkar (both published in 1999):
1) Death God's Doom
2) The Sleeping City

Like its predecessor, it's full of relentless action and rich, poetic writing. This propels the plot forward so the reader is never far away from fights, monstrous villains, amazing sorcery or awful monsters. The book also boasts a great Ron Turner cover too. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

. Quote:When a man has nothing to lose he can afford to gamble all.
. Characters: marks 2* /5. Plot: marks 5 /5. Settings: marks 4 /5. Dialogue: marks 4 /5Reviewing CriteriaCharacters: = one-dimensional; generic cardboard cut-outs; didn't care if they lived or died
** = a few redeeming features; slightly fleshed out; only wanted to punch a few of them
* = nicely rounded; would probably go for a pint with them; may add as a Facebook friend** = almost a real person; almost fully formed & three-dimensional; care about their motivations & actions
*** = fully formed & three-dimensional; completely invested in them; would probably date themPlot:* = boring; confusing; possibly generated by computer with a grudge against humanity = unoriginal but tolerable; several gaping holes; just about holds the reader's interest
* = average; unexception but works in the context of its own genre; nothing too earth shattering here** = exciting and dramatic; impressive; only a few minor flaws which can be overlooked
*** = rip-roaring; moved to tears; didn't want it to finish; wanted to re-read the book immediatelySettings:* = limited; hardly moved from one location; induces sleep (zzzz) = some variation; helped move the plot along; added a small degree of interest
* = fluid; generated a sense of anticipation; worked well with the plot & characters** = several locations; well described and exciting; propelled the lot along
*** = extensive jet-setting; exotic locations & well described geography; makes me want to add these to my bucket listDialogue:* = unconvincing, dull and clichéd. Blurgh (sad face) = somewhat bloated, a bit turgid and generally below par
* = not bad; fairly convincing; may be a bit exposition heavy but overall it works** = above average; very convincing; mostly enjoyable; worked well with the characters
***** = sparkling & erudite; intelligent & clever; brilliantly fitted to the characters

Earl Dumarest continues to follows false trails as he searches to find the legendary and long lost planet called Earth.

This is the 24th book in the ‘Dumarest of Terra' series of science fiction novels. The planet in this book possessed two unique elements. One was it produced the galaxy's most desirable hallucinatory drug. The other was it was a stock broker's paradise.

The world was split into affluent men's holdings – and every hour, every minute these were being traded on a continuous stock-market. Up and down went values as men plotted to seize others' properties, to force prices down and costs up. Their money game controlled everything else – the common people, workers, farmers, homes, lives, poverty and luxury.

Dumarest goes there to find his next stake. Find the drug-gem or manipulate the market – two possibilities. But behind the scenes stood the advisors of the inhuman Cyclan, determined to fix the odds against Dumarest.

Another good pulp science fiction story in the long running saga.