In the latest issue (#90) of Aurealis magazine, Robbie Colburn has written a review of Existence is Elsewhen. Although Aurealis is primarily a magazine about Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy they recognise the global nature of SF; and, of course, the line-up of authors in Existence is Elsewhen is itself distinctly global. Sydney-based author Steve Harrison’s satirical Earthsale was one of the stories that Robbie liked, but he also singled out Tej Turner’sThe Last Days, Stefan Jackson’sLuceria and Dave Weaver’sThe Copy. He complimented the diversity of the stories included in what he described as a “generous bumper collection of speculative writing”.
Aurealis #90 available from www.aurealis.com.au
You should read all of Robbie’s review in issue #90 of Aurealis – and while you’re at it read the rest of the magazine too which also includes original short stories. You can get Aurealis here.
Tommy James has just written a review of Existence is Elsewhen for Starburst Magazine. Describing it as a “sharp collection” of short stories, Tommy writes that Existence is Elsewhen presents an “eclectic range of ideas” producing an end result that is “extremely well written” and “rich with a wide variety of material”. That variety is shown in the choice of tones of the stories with some “genuinely amusing pieces which nicely punctuate the darker stories”, while singling out Douglas Thompson’s Bird Brains as a “provocative tale whose ideas will manifest themselves long after you’ve finished reading”.
Tommy concludes that Existence is Elsewhen is a “smartly presented collection” that anyone who enjoys short fiction “would be well advised to familiarise themselves with”, awarding it 8 out of 10 stars.
You can read Tommy’s full review on the Starburst Magazine website here.
On Risingshadow.netSeregil of Rhiminee has just reviewed Existence is Elsewhen. He starts by saying that as an anthology it “wonderfully showcases” what Elsewhen Press has to offer and is “something special and mesmerising”. He especially liked the fact that there was a wide variety of stories “that highlight the imagination and writing skills of various authors” ranging from “entertaining stories to thought-provoking stories” with a diversity from “colonising new planets to reverse evolution”. He adds that it is “an interesting anthology to those who want to read something out of the ordinary and want to be thrilled by stories that push and stretch the limits of normality and strangeness in various ways”.
He then gives a brief overview of each story, with his comments on each (all good, I’m pleased to say), followed by a slightly more detailed review of some of the stories that particularly interested him. I won’t try to summarise his detailed review in any more detail, except to say that he concludes by describing it as “a perfect anthology for readers who want to experience something different. Some of the sights and wonders explored in these stories are seldom found in modern speculative fiction, and thus make for an intriguing reading experience”. You really should read his full review here.
Twenty stories from twenty great writers, also including Rhys Hughes, Christopher Nuttall and Douglas Thompson
DARTFORD, KENT – 18 March 2016 – Elsewhen Press, an independent UK publisher specialising in Speculative Fiction, is delighted to announce the publication today of Existence is Elsewhen, an anthology of twenty science fiction stories from twenty great writers. According to Peter Buck, Editorial Director at Elsewhen Press, “The title paraphrases the last sentence of André Breton’s 1924 Manifesto of Surrealism, perfectly summing up the intent behind this anthology of stories from a wonderful collection of authors. Different worlds… different times. It’s what Elsewhen Press has been about since we launched our first title in 2011. We were thrilled when John agreed to headline.”
Artwork by Alison Buck
Headlining the collection is John Gribbin, with a worrying vision of medical research in the near future. Future global healthcare is the theme of J.A.Christy’s story, while the ultimate in spare part surgery is where Dave Weaver takes the reader. Edwin Hayward’s search for a renewable protein source turns out to be digital; and Tanya Reimer’s story with characters we think we know, gives pause for thought about another food we all take for granted. Evolution is examined too, with Andy McKell’s chilling tale of what states could become if genetics are used to drive policy. Similarly, Robin Moran’s story explores the societal impact of an undesirable evolutionary trend, while Douglas Thompson provides a truly surreal warning of an impending disaster that will reverse evolution, with dire consequences.
On a lighter note, there is satire as Steve Harrison uncovers who really owns the Earth (and why); and Ira Nayman, who uses the surreal alternative realities of his Transdimensional Authority series as the setting for a detective story mash-up of Agatha Christie and Dashiel Hammett. Pursuing the crime-solving theme, Peter Wolfe explores life, and death, on a space station, while Stefan Jackson follows a police investigation into some bizarre cold-blooded murders in a cyberpunk future. Going into the past, albeit an 1831 set in the alternate Britain of his Royal Sorceress
series, Christopher Nuttall reports on an investigation into a girl with strange powers.
Strange powers in the present-day is the theme for Tej Turner, who tells a poignant tale of how extra-sensory perception makes it easier for a husband to bear his dying wife’s last few days. Difficult decisions are the theme of Chloe Skye’s heart-rending story exploring personal sacrifice. Relationships aren’t always so close, as Susan Oke’s tale demonstrates, when sibling rivalry is taken to the limit. Relationships are the backdrop to Peter R. Ellis’s story where a spectacular mid-winter event on a newly-colonised distant planet involves a Madonna and Child. Coming right back to Earth and in what feels like an almost imminent future, Siobhan McVeigh tells a cautionary tale for anyone thinking of using technology to deflect the blame for their actions. Building on the remarkable setting of Pera from her LiGa series, and developing Pera’s legendary Book of Shadow, Sanem Ozdural spins the creation myth of the first light tree in a lyrical and poetic song. Also exploring language, the master of fantastika and absurdism, Rhys Hughes, extrapolates the way in which language changes over time, with an entertaining result.
Existence is Elsewhen, published today by Elsewhen Press on popular eBook platforms, will also be available in paperback from the 25th March with a launch at the 2016 Eastercon in Manchester.
Notes for Editors
About John Gribbin
John Gribbin was born in 1946 in Maidstone, Kent. He studied physics at the University of Sussex and went on to complete an MSc in astronomy at the same University before moving to the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, to work for his PhD. After working for the journal Nature and New Scientist, and three years with the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University, he has concentrated chiefly on writing books. These include In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat, In Search of the Big Bang, and In Search of the Multiverse. He has also written and presented several series of critically acclaimed radio programmes on scientific topics for the BBC (including QUANTUM, for Radio Four), and has acted as consultant on several TV documentaries, as well as contributing to TV programmes for the Open University and the Discovery channel.
But he really wanted to be a successful science fiction writer, and has achieved at least the second part of that ambition with books such as Timeswitch and The Alice Encounter, and stories in publications such as Interzone and Analog. But as John Lennon’s Aunt Mimi so nearly said “Sf is all very well, John, but it won’t pay the rent”. Another thing that doesn’t pay the rent is his songwriting, mostly for various spinoffs of the Bonzo Dog Band. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical and Royal Meteorological Societies.
On her blog Life’s like that, Tanya Reimer, author of Ghosts on the Prairies, A Sacred Land Story, has once again peeked into the life of a fellow author. This time Stefan Jackson, whose debut novel Glass Shore was published by Elsewhen Press last September. She asks him about the underlying themes of Glass Shore, his inspiration and the music to which he listens while writing; he also talks about the diversity of where he lives, the importance of family and how well he speaks Greek! An absorbing insight and entertaining interview, you can read it here.
On the Risingshadow.net website, Seregil of Rhiminee has reviewed Glass Shore by Stefan Jackson. He starts by saying that it is the perfect novel for readers who like fast-paced stories, seasoned with action, sex and violence, and populated with feisty and memorable characters. He says it is “one of the most intriguing modern science fiction novels I’ve ever read to date” and despite the number of dystopian future stories that have been written over thee years Glass Shore stands out among them due to its “feisty characters, fast-paced action and an entertaining story”.
Artwork by Alison Buck; photograph: Zhoozha/shutterstock.com
Seregil says that the main characters, Nikki and Apollo, are interesting because they are different from typical characters, due to their feisty and unpredictable nature, and as the story progresses more secrets are revealed about them. He goes on to say that even the minor characters also have fascinating personalities. The description of the future Manhattan, too, is “magnificent” and the changes to society and technology are described in a way that is “fluent and interesting”, giving readers a glimpse into this futuristic world.
There are sex scenes which are, he says, “surprisingly bold, uninhibited and well written” alongside the elements of a thriller. He says that Stefan Jackson “combines such themes and issues as government conspiracy, illegal weaponry and hackers in a superb way” and “doesn’t let the story become dull”. There is also “clever and enjoyable humour” with some some “delightfully funny” dialogue between Nikki and Apollo in some scenes; the “novel has a cool satirical edge to it” and certain scenes are “simultaneously thrilling and amusing when you think about what’s going on”.
Overall, he says, “one of the best things about this novel is that you don’t know what’s going to happen next. The author keeps the story flowing and delivers many interesting and unexpected twists and surprises along the way. Just when you think that you may know what’s going to happen next, the author manages surprise you with a clever twist.” Comparing the fast-paced action and “delightfully over-the-top feel” to sci-fi films like The Fifth Element, Seregil says he’d love to see Glass Shore on the big screen.
He concludes by saying that Stefan is a “promising new science fiction author” and he is looking forward to reading more novels written by him. With its action and plot twists, and the ingredients to please entertainment fans – “science fiction, cyborgs, sex scandals, mind control, fast-paced action, surprises etc” – “Glass Shore is a bold and fascinating vision of a future world where things have changed in many ways”.
Artwork by Alison Buck; photograph: Zhoozha / shutterstock.com
On the Upcoming4.me website, as part of their Story behind the Story feature, Stefan Jackson has written a guest article about the inspiration behind his debut novel Glass Shore and the process of populating it with characters and settings. He talks about the influence of the jazz music he loves so much, and even says some nice things about us! Thanks Stefan.
Glass Shore brings together government conspiracies, criminals and powerful corporations in a future where ‘Think Differently’ isn’t just a marketing slogan but the guiding principle of a mind control network creating a competitive workforce
DARTFORD, KENT – 05 September 2014 – Elsewhen Press, an independent UK publisher specialising in Speculative Fiction, is delighted to announce the publication today of New York author Stefan Jackson’s futuristic thriller Glass Shore, set in Manhattan in 2076. Life is vibrant and creative, a dynamic existence featuring fierce vehicles, cruel weapons and serious body augmentation.
“Government hit squads, illegal weaponry, hackers, cyborgs, twists, turns, sex, drugs, and a surprising lack of rock’n’roll – Glass Shore takes its readers on an express journey through the highs and lows of life in a dystopian future. Leaving you wondering at each turn what will come next, the story is superbly balanced between government conspiracies, criminals and corporations and how they inevitably intertwine.”
Artwork by Alison Buck; photograph: Zhoozha/shutterstock.com
Manhattan, 2076. The fabled city of gold realised. A city of dazzling buildings and beautiful people; a city celebrated for converting an obsolete subway system into an adult playground. Manhattanite Nikki’s life changes forever when she finds the files labelled ‘Project Blue Book appendix 63-A’. The report contains a disc related to the Glass Shore, the horrendous nuclear event at Puget Sound in 2062. Disclosure of these files is not an option, so powerful people want Nikki dead. To protect her, Nikki hires Apollo, her long-time friend and lover, who is magnificent at his job. He is also a clothes horse with an honest enthusiasm for life.
Nikki and Apollo are the hottest couple in Manhattan. Betrayed by friends at every turn, set upon by bounty hunters and other elements of security, law enforcement and civil protection, they utilise the best hotels, the sexy Underground and the glorious city of Manhattan as their shield.
Glass Shore is published today by Elsewhen Press in a digital edition in popular eBook formats, available from all good eBook retailers. It will be published in a paperback edition in December.
About Stefan Jackson
Photo by Angeliki Jackson
Stefan Jackson was born in North Carolina beside the calm eddies of the Trent and Neuse rivers, but spent the latter part of his childhood in southern California. In 1994 he moved to Brooklyn looking for a change, drawn to the energetic confluence of the Hudson and East rivers of the Big Bright City. There he met a lovely woman who became his wife, and they have an enchanting daughter. And a cat.
He now lives in Queens, where he writes stories, plays drums, coaches pee-wee girl’s basketball, works the cubicle life, cooks breakfast, rides the F line, laughs and rests his head in the land of jazz.
Stefan has had over two-dozen original short stories and comic scripts published in small press publications and on the web. Glass Shore is his first novel.
Stefan says “Cheers to the first fifty years. Hoping the next fifty are just as kind.”
Glass Shore takes its readers on an express journey through the highs and lows of life in a dystopian future
DARTFORD, KENT – 14 April 2014 – Elsewhen Press, an independent UK publisher specialising in Speculative Fiction, is delighted to announce that New York author Stefan Jackson has signed a deal to publish his futuristic thriller Glass Shore. A future in which ‘Think Differently’ isn’t just a campaign slogan, but part of a mind control network geared towards advanced sciences, creating a vibrant, creative and competitive workforce. A dynamic existence featuring fierce vehicles, cruel weapons and serious body augmentation.
Manhattan, 2076. The fabled city of gold realised. A city of dazzling buildings and beautiful people; a city celebrated for converting an obsolete subway system into an adult playground. Manhattanite Nikki’s life changes forever when she finds the files labelled ‘Project Blue Book appendix 63-A’. The report contains a disc related to the Glass Shore, the horrendous nuclear event at Puget Sound in 2062. Disclosure of these files is not an option, so powerful people want Nikki dead. To protect her, Nikki hires Apollo, her long-time friend and lover, who is magnificent at his job. He is also a clothes horse with an honest enthusiasm for life.
Nikki and Apollo are the hottest couple in Manhattan. Betrayed by friends at every turn, set upon by bounty hunters and other elements of security, law enforcement and civil protection, they utilise the best hotels, the sexy Underground and the glorious city of Manhattan as their shield.
“Government hit squads, illegal weaponry, hackers, cyborgs, twists, turns, sex, drugs, and a surprising lack of rock’n’roll – Glass Shore takes its readers on an express journey through the highs and lows of life in a dystopian future. Leaving you wondering at each turn what will come next, the story is superbly balanced between government conspiracies, criminals and corporations and how they inevitably intertwine.”
Glass Shore will be published later this year by Elsewhen Press in both digital and print editions.
About Stefan Jackson
Photo by Angeliki JacksonStefan Jackson was born in North Carolina beside the calm eddies of the Trent and Neuse rivers, but spent the latter part of his childhood in southern California. In 1994 he moved to Brooklyn looking for a change, drawn to the energetic confluence of the Hudson and East rivers of the Big Bright City. There he met a lovely woman who became his wife, and they have an enchanting daughter. And a cat.
He now lives in Queens, where he writes stories, plays drums, coaches pee-wee girl’s basketball, works the cubicle life, cooks breakfast, rides the F line, laughs and rests his head in the land of jazz.
Stefan says “Cheers to the first fifty years. Hoping the next fifty are just as kind.”
John Gribbin was born in 1946 in Maidstone, Kent. He studied physics at the University of Sussex and went on to complete an MSc in astronomy at the same University before moving to the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, to work for his PhD. After working for the journal Nature and New Scientist, and three years with the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University, he has concentrated chiefly on writing books. These include In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat, In Search of the Big Bang, and In Search of the Multiverse. He has also written and presented several series of critically acclaimed radio programmes on scientific topics for the BBC (including QUANTUM, for Radio Four), and has acted as consultant on several TV documentaries, as well as contributing to TV programmes for the Open University and the Discovery channel.
On her blog Life’s like that, 
