Posted on

New YA sci-fi yarn proves that boys don’t always get the best adventures

When reading, as she was growing up, Steve Harrison’s daughter complained about the lack of good adventure stories for girls. Having an author for a dad meant that a remedy was only a matter of time.

DARTFORD, KENT – 31 July 2019 – Elsewhen Press, an independent UK publisher specialising in Speculative Fiction, is delighted to announce the publication of Blurred Vision by Australian speculative fiction author, Steve Harrison.

Cover photography – Earth: NASA Earth Observatory; Polly & Kylie: Dean Drobot/shutterstock.com

The heroine of Steve’s latest book is Polly Hart, a schoolgirl who enjoys a normal life, in a normal school, with her friends somewhere in southern England. Her dad is a mathematician and her mum is an astrophysicist with the North Atlantic Space Research Centre and both are working long hours investigating a series of mysterious attacks on satellites which are baffling the space agencies. Polly decides to pursue her own research into the incidents and hacks the maintenance camera feed from the satellite that her model predicts will be the next target. What she sees is a shock: a blurry alien spacecraft vandalising the satellite. Even more of a shock is an alien from that spacecraft tapping on her bedroom window that evening. After that, her life will never be normal again…

Steve Harrison was inspired to tell the story of Polly Hart and her friends after his daughter complained that “boys always seem to have the best adventures”. He says that his intention was to write “a modern, sci-fi take on the no-nonsense Famous Five and Secret Seven adventure novels I enjoyed as a child. It was a lot of fun to write.”

Peter Buck, Editorial Director at Elsewhen Press says, “Steve is a consummate story-teller, spinning adventures that grab you from the outset and propel you through thrilling action towards an unknown conclusion. Blurred Vision is a very entertaining story, with the sort of adventure that we all grew up devouring, but with modern protagonists in a very 21st century setting. What young sci-fi fan doesn’t dream of being the one to make first contact? Although the heroine is a teenager, this is very definitely a story that will be enjoyed by sci-fi fans of all ages, regardless of gender.”

For many years the science fiction fan community has been very diverse, but it is only recently that many authors have started to realise that not all of their readers are male. Every reader, especially a younger reader, should be able to recognise themselves in the heroes and heroines of the stories they read. Elsewhen Press is proud to have published science fiction and fantasy stories from a wide range of authors with an equally diverse range of protagonists.

Blurred Vision will be available to buy on all popular eBook platforms from 16th August 2019 and is already available to pre-order. The paperback edition will be available on 18th November 2019.

Notes for Editors

About Steve Harrison

Steve Harrison was born in Yorkshire, England, grew up in Lancashire, migrated to New Zealand and eventually settled in Sydney, Australia, where he lives with his wife.

As he juggled careers in shipping, insurance, online gardening and the postal service, Steve wrote short stories, sports articles and a long running newspaper humour column called HARRISCOPE: a mix of ancient wisdom and modern nonsense.

His first novel TimeStorm, published by Elsewhen Press, was Highly Commended in the Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) National Literary Awards, Jim Hamilton Award in the fantasy/science fiction category, for an unpublished novel of sustained quality and distinction by an Australian author.

Visit bit.ly/BlurredVision-Harrison

About the book

Title: Blurred Vision

First contact?

“Take it easy,” said Kylie, still with a hint of amusement. “You’re perfectly safe. Think of me as a tourist.”

Polly squinted back at her. She couldn’t help herself. “Are you invading earth?”

“Are you kidding? Do you know how much that would cost?”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“We found you after you activated the camera on the satellite and were impressed by the other stuff you did to hide your tracks. Easy for us, but we all thought it was very cool. For an Earth human, anyway.”

“You don’t talk like an alien.”

“How many do you know?” asked Kylie.

Polly couldn’t argue with that. “Good point.”

When Polly Hart agrees to swap places with a girl from another planet, she has no idea that this makes her a fugitive in the fabulous universe revealed by her new friend, and now she must outwit the school bully, a weird teacher and an interstellar hit squad to survive. So annoying!

Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / Alien Contact;

Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / Humorous

Print edition: ISBN 978-1-911409-46-5, 240pp, Demy; RRP £10 / €12 / US$18 (18 Nov 2019)

Electronic edition: ISBN 978-1-911409-56-4, EPUB / Kindle; RRP £2.99 / €3.49 / US$3.99 (16 Aug 2019)

About the cover

The cover artwork of Polly and Kylie taking a selfie in space above Earth, uses an iconic photograph of the Earth courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory, and a photograph of Polly & Kylie by Dean Drobot / shutterstock.com.

Posted on

“brilliant gathering of short fiction” – review of Existence is Elsewhen in Aurealis magazine

Artwork by Alison Buck
Artwork by Alison Buck

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’s The Last Days, Stefan Jackson’s Luceria and Dave Weaver’s The 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.

 

Posted on

“a sharp collection” – 8/10 review of Existence is Elsewhen on Starbust Magazine

Artwork by Alison Buck
Artwork by Alison Buck

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.

 

Posted on

“excellent and wonderfully imaginative” – review of Existence is Elsewhen on Risingshadow

Artwork by Alison Buck
Artwork by Alison Buck

On Risingshadow.net Seregil 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.

 

Posted on

Published today – Existence is Elsewhen, Science Fiction anthology headlined by John Gribbin

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
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 GribbinJohn 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.

 

Posted on

“a very exhilarating read” – review of TimeStorm on The Review website

On The Review Website, Robert Southworth has written a review of Steve Harrison’s nautical timeslip adventure TimeStorm. Robert starts by admitting that TimeStorm was very different from the usual type of novel he would read and he started reading with a “mixture of trepidation and excitement”. But, he goes on to say that any fears he may have had “were soon dispelled with the first few pages”.

TimeStorm cover image
Artwork: Alison Buck, based on a photograph by nodff/shutterstock.com

Robert comments on Steve’s skill at presenting the story which “moves at a fine pace, keeping you turning the pages with a sense of anticipation”. He adds that this is helped not only by “an intriguing storyline but also the well-developed characters”. He also commends the way Steve creates an authentic atmosphere for the craft and crew in the 18th century, saying that Steve “delivers this skilfully”.

In his summary, Robert (himself an author) concludes that he “felt the novel was entertaining and well written, with diverse and interesting characters. The fact that time travel is involved is neither here or there, because the skill in which the author has written about the individuals and the trials they face is of such a high quality, that it is on them the reader concentrates.” Thanks Robert.

You can read Robert’s full review on The Review here.

 

Posted on

Tanya Reimer peeks into the life of Steve Harrison

Steve HarrisonTanya ReimerOn her blog Life’s like that, Tanya Reimer, author of Ghosts on the Prairies, A Sacred Land Story, peeks into the life of fellow author Steve Harrison, whose debut novel TimeStorm was published by Elsewhen Press last August. She asks him about writing TimeStorm, how he managed to juggle the different points of view, and why readers might find themselves rooting for the bad guy!

You can read Tanya’s interview with Steve here

 

Posted on

Interview with Steve Harrison on SydneyGen Reads

TimeStorm cover image
Artwork: Alison Buck, based on a photograph by nodff/shutterstock.com

Steve HarrisonOn the SydneyGen Reads blog, in the Sunday Spotlight, there’s an interview today with Steve Harrison talking about his novel TimeStorm as well as how he goes about writing. If you want to know what the soundtrack to TimeStorm should sound like, Steve tells us that he was usually listening to music by Two Steps from Hell as he worked on it. Anyone considering buying the film rights take note!

You can read the interview here.

 

Posted on

“one of the neatest time-travel packages I’ve read in a long time” – review of Timestorm on Throw the Book at us

Artwork: Alison Buck, based on a photograph by nodff/shutterstock.comOn the book review site Throw the Book at us, Australian writer Russell Proctor has reviewed TimeStorm by Steve Harrison. He gave it 5 stars (which they only give to ‘once in a lifetime’ books).

Russell starts by commending the level of research that Steve obviously did in order to “convey the sights, sounds and experiences of an Eighteenth Century sailing ship in vivid and realistic detail”, and also in “seeing Sydney in 2017 from the point of view of men from a time more than two hundred years earlier” once the ship has slipped forward through time. He says “I enjoy reading a book where the writer has taken on a subject they obviously know a good deal about”. He especially notes the details, such as the difference in the smell of the air. He says the characters are “well conceived and finely portrayed” and “realistic, too” and, although there are many of them, Steve manages to “keep track of them” and ensures the reader does as well. Russell was satisfactorily surprised by the ending, he says.

You can read Russell’s review here.

 

Posted on

“a first-rate adventure novel” – review of TimeStorm on Risingshadow

TimeStorm cover image
Artwork: Alison Buck, based on a photograph by nodff/shutterstock.com

On Risingshadow.net, Seregil of Rhiminee has just written a review of TimeStorm, the new adventure timeslip novel from Steve Harrison. Seregil starts his review of this “entertaining combination of classic sea adventure, fast-paced action and time travel” by commenting that it’s “a first-rate adventure novel that offers plenty of entertainment”. Mentioning the inevitable comparison of the hero Kit Blaney to Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey, Seregil says that Steve Harrison’s fluent writing about life at sea means that “this novel is a modern equivalent to Forester and O’Brian’s classic adventure novels”. Lieuetenant Blaney is a “delightfully old-fashioned hero. He’s an honest, dutiful and courageous man who has achieved a lot by working hard”.

Seregil goes on to say that Steve “paints a vivid picture of life at sea and shows how the members of the crew work together. In my opinion he manages to create a believable vision of life on the ship”. As fas as the convicts are concerned, he says that Steve “writes unflinchingly about the punishments of the convicts and doesn’t shy away from brutalities involved in the punishments, which is good, because life was harsh during the 18th century”.

Over and above the thrilling adventure, this is also a timeslip novel. Seregil says that the “arrival of men from the 18th century to a near future Sydney is handled in a surprisingly entertaining and exciting way. When the men find themselves in the future, they wonder about many things, because lots of things have changed. The author shows how the men feel about their situation. The crew members and escaped convicts have to face a new society in which new social norms, different manners and unfamiliar technology causes problems and difficult situations for them. They’ve all been dragged to the 21st century against their will”. He adds that the author “creates an absorbing story by writing about policemen, reporters, hostage situations, shootings, rescue missions, bodies etc. Although there are many happenings, the author manages to keep everything under control (in my opinion the author clearly enjoyes writing this kind of entertainment and wants to entertain his readers).”

He concludes his review by saying that “this novel is good entertainment from start to finish and the ending is satisfying to the readers. TimeStorm is a perfect adventure novel for everybody who has read C. S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian. It’s also excellent entertainment for all who enjoy reading fast-paced and exciting time travel stories.”

You can read Seregil’s review on Risingshadow here.