Blog

I’ll put my general blog here…

The Burning of Matthias Jase – a new novella by Gary Budgen

Matthias Jase, the loner who had fallen in with the Order, a strange occult secret society, is fascinated by the strange creatures he has discovered lurking in the edgelands of his small town. Driven towards a great sacrifice to gain their salvation he finds himself in a strange after world ruled by a terrible and beautiful goddess. In the town he has left behind strange forces begin to intrude. Days of rain are followed by an impenetrable fog. A mutilated dog doing lurks by the morgue. How will the secret Order respond as members fail to respond when sent to find out the truth? And as Detective Angela Morino investigates what has happened to Jase she discovers the strange obsessions that have led him on. As the supernatural intrusion worsens everyone is drawn into a final deadly confrontation where the stakes for the world could not be higher.

https://gravestonepress.co.uk/ebooks/b18456-the-burning-of-matthias-jase.htm

Ultraclocks a novel by Gary Budgen

The shape of data screaming in the October night…

In the city of Genesia a chance encounter with Olympia, one of the clockwork dancers from the cabaret, leads Detective Evergreen Fox into a taking the job of finding a killer. Drawn into a world of deception and danger Fox faces both the fascists of the Renewal Society and their enemies in the underground movement known as the Masquerade. All the while he must contend with his growing fascination with Olympia and with the cyber augmentation in his head that has developed a taste for atrocity. As both a coup and a revolution threaten to tear the city apart Fox begins to understand that in a place that delights in masks it is impossible to know which side anyone is on.

https://fiction4all.com/ebooks/b18440-ultraclocks.htm

Two new stories out

At Liverpool Street Station the rolling advertising posters display the smooth flanks of luxury cars next to the smooth flanks of women lounging amid palm trees and sun-block bottles. Then like a bony hand on my shoulder those adverts, those well-meant solicitations to donate to cancer, dementia and heart disease.

I crossed Bishopsgate quickly into Artillery Lane and that obscure neighbourhood of backstreets that had somehow escaped the waves of redevelopment.

The shop had a dusty window display behind a metal grill. But none of us in the know ever looked in the window, at all that popular trash. No, the treasures we were after were elsewhere.

“Radium Cigarettes” in Dark Tales Volume 1 Gravestone Press 2022

When Blue entered the bar of the Blind Tailor the men there turned their backs to him. Even the barman lowered his eyes as Blue inspected the room. In the corner sat two men at one of the mahogany tables beneath the dartboard. Another man sat alone at the bar on a high stall. It was always better to approach those who were alone.

Blue put his hand on the man’s shoulder.

“I need a volunteer,” he said, “You must come with me now. Your family will be suitably compensated.”

“The Ear Factory” in Schlock Webzine November 2022

https://www.schlock.co.uk/

In the Light of the Derelict Sun

Towards the end I went back to the part of the city where I’d lived as a child. It was in one of the fire zones now, where the days erupted in flame and it was only possible to venture out at night.

My story, “In the Light of the Derelict Sun”, is published in Other Worlds Volume 2 Double Dragon Press September 2022 edited by Dorothy Davies

Recent work

Some recent(ish) publications from Gravestone Press.

“Little Red Cyber Head” in Once Upon a Scream Gravestone Press 2022

“Blinding a Few Dogs” (REPRINT) in Previously Used Gravestone Press 2022

“Imminent Signs” in Dripping in Blood Gravestone Press 2022

Update

I’ve updated my bibliography with some stories that came out late in 2018. Also had the honour of reading my story ‘Ultra Love’ at Virtual Futures. Thanks to all involved organising such a great event.

virtual futures