Parallel Universe Publications' Projects for 2021

Early sales results for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 indicate that the prospects are good for a second volume to be published in 2021, perhaps as early as May or June. More information about this when the next set of figures arrive at the end of January, which will include its first full month of sales. 

January 1st will see the publication of the paperback and kindle versions of After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Jim Pitts. The paperback will be £11.99 and the kindle just £2.99.

 

We have another project also lined up for 2021, an omnibus volume of a previously published fantasy trilogy that has been far too long out of print. The new book will have a cover and interior illustrations by Jim Pitts and is being revised and updated by its author. More information about this exciting publication soon. 

 

"This is an entertaining anthology of new sword and sorcery with a diverse range of unique tales." The Spiral Tower reviews Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

"This is an entertaining anthology of new sword and sorcery with a diverse range of unique tales." 

The Spiral Tower reviews Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy.

To read the full review click on this link. 

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales by David A. Riley, Illustrated by Jim Pitts to be published as paperback and ebook January 1st

After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales by David A. Riley, illustrated by Jim Pitts, will be published in paperback and as an ebook (kindle) on the 1st January next year.  The paperback will cost £11.99, the kindle £2.99. 

The paperback will be available through most online retailers and direct from PUP.

Like the hardcover version published recently, the book contains the following stories:
Three Eyed Jack
The Fragile Mask on his Face
Terror on the Moors
The Shade of Apollyon
Writer's Cramp
Fish Eye
Boat Trip
Prickly
After Nightfall

Here are just a couple of the illustrations, nineteen of which are full page.

 We will announce immediately this book is available to order online.

Will Anyone Figure Out That This Is A Repackaged First Collection? will be out of print after the 31st December 2020

Will Anyone Figure Out That This Is A Repackaged First Collection?

Out of Print after December 31st 2020

 

This collection of stories by Johnny Mains, and surely our most oddly titled book, will go out of print from the end of this year, though both A Little Light Screaming and  A Distasteful Horror Story by Mr Mains will continue to be available either online or from PUP direct. 

Amazon.co.uk 
Amazon.com  

The TOC of Will Anyone Figure Out That This Is A Repackaged First Collection?:

Reconvened: The Judge’s House
With Deepest Sympathy
Gun Money
Jesus Wept
The Bag Lady
Falling in Love with a Dead Boy
Losing the Plot
Bloody Conventions
The Spoon
The Trapper
Life through a Lens
The Family Business
Small Town Life
Stour Bridge
Final Draft
The Duel.

Still in Print

 

Still in Print

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy to be reviewed on Big Hits Radio UK this Sunday

 

Trevor Kennedy will be reading a guest review by Craig Herbertson of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy on Big Hits Radio UK this Sunday between 12 noon and 2 p.m.

 "Please join me this Sunday, 20th December at 12 noon (UK time) on www.bighitsradio.uk for the SUNDAY SERVICE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!

There'll be plenty of festive music, chat, listener requests/dedications, along with some brand new music from the Bristol-based band Little Villains and reviews of the following:

- SWORD & SORCERIES: TALES OF HEROIC FANTASY Volume 1, edited by David A. Riley and illustrated by Jim Pitts, in a guest review by Craig Herbertson.

- THE LAST WOLF: KARL EDWARD WAGNER (2020), the new documentary film directed by Brandon D. Lunsford and Brian M. McKnight."

 

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy - paperback and kindle

£11.99 in paperback/£2.99 in kindle

The contents of Volume One are:

INTRODUCTION - David A. Riley

THE MIRROR OF TORJAN SUL - Steve Lines

THE HORROR FROM THE STARS - Steve Dilks

TROLLS ARE DIFFERENT - Susan Murrie Macdonald

CHAIN OF COMMAND - Geoff Hart

DISRUPTION OF DESTINY - Gerri Leen

THE CITY OF SILENCE - Eric Ian Steele

RED - Chadwick Ginther

THE RECONSTRUCTED GOD - Adrian Cole

The cover and all the interior artwork is by Jim Pitts. 

 

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

 

Ideal Books for Christmas

Parallel Universe Publications has four new books that are ideal for Christmas - two in paperback and kindle, one in hardcover, paperback and kindle, and another as yet only in hardcover.

Like all our books they can be ordered through the usual online retailors like amazon or direct from us.

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy - paperback and kindle

£11.99 in paperback/£2.99 in kindle

The contents of Volume One are:

INTRODUCTION - David A. Riley

THE MIRROR OF TORJAN SUL - Steve Lines

THE HORROR FROM THE STARS - Steve Dilks

TROLLS ARE DIFFERENT - Susan Murrie Macdonald

CHAIN OF COMMAND - Geoff Hart

DISRUPTION OF DESTINY - Gerri Leen

THE CITY OF SILENCE - Eric Ian Steele

RED - Chadwick Ginther

THE RECONSTRUCTED GOD - Adrian Cole

The cover and all the interior artwork is by Jim Pitts. 

 

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

 

Kitchen Sink Gothic 2 - paperback and kindle.

£11.99 in paperback/£2.99 in kindle

Stories and authors in this book are:

THE RING ON THE ROOF - James Harper

THE CHRISTMAS TREE - Eric Nash 

VLOG'S LEGS - Shaun Avery

THE CAPSULE - David A. Sutton

WAKE UP SCREAMING - Adrian Cole

THE BOY ON THE TRAIN - Paul Lewis

DOUBLE EXPOSURE - Jonathan Mitchell

NIGHT FLIGHT - Eric Ian Steele

THE LONELY PASSION OF JIMMY TATE - Trevor Kennedy

THE DOOMED EMPIRE - Andrew Darlington

REAL LIFE - Franklin Marsh

STONES ARE BREATHING TONIGHT - Russell Hemmell

WINTER DISCONTENT - Stephanie Ellis

THE ADELPHI - Alyson Faye

PAIN - Mark Reece

THIS LITTLE PIGGY - Teika Marija Smits

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

Christmas in the Workhouse & Other Gruesome Tales - hardcover - price £20.00 (including p&p worldwide when order from PUP), £11.99 in paperback and £2.99 kindle.

 

This is the second collection of stories written by Craig Herbertson to be published by Parallel Universe Publications. A musician and songwriter, Craig lives in Edinburgh with his partner and children. Craig is one of the original authors included in the infamous Pan Book of Horror Stories series. Two of his stories received honourable mentions in Ellen Datlow's renowned lists - The Best Horror of the Year. When not writing Craig is playing folk music, mostly Scottish, or watching football.Some of the stories in this collection show the influence of some of his favourite writers, including Philip K. Dick and J. G. Ballard.

 

An ideal present for Christmas for anyone who loves well-written, dark, sardonically macabre stories, complete with several spot illustrations by Chrissie Demant and one illustration by Craig himself.  Published in hardcover with an illustrated dustjacket, this is one of the best collections we have ever published.

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales by David A. Riley, illustrated by Jim Pitts. There is a limited stock of these available for the pre-order price (signed by both the author and artist) though there is an additional cost for overseas purchases. The £20.00 unsigned copies are available inclusive of p&p worldwide. 

As well as over 20 illustrations by award-winning artist Jim Pitts, this hardcover book contains the following stories:
Three Eyed Jack
The Fragile Mask on his Face
Terror on the Moors
The Shade of Apollyon
Writer's Cramp
Fish Eye
Boat Trip
Prickly
After Nightfall

Here are just a couple of the illustrations, most of which are full page.

To order copies signed by the author and artist click on this link (There is only a limited stock of these left): Pre-order

Unsigned copies - £20.00 each, inclusive of postage and packing worldwide order 

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 continues to get great reviews on amazon. 

 

"All in all, an entertaining and fresh new anthology of sword and sorcery! Jim Pitts's cover is really distinctive; moreover, his interior illustrations are delightfully eerie, otherworldly, and evoke that "old school" charm." Jason Ray Carney

 

"A varied collection of stories. Not to be overlooked. And be sure to keep an eye out for Volume Two out next year with more art by Jim Pitts. " Richard Fisher

 

"One of the most cheering aspects of this anthology is ‘Volume 1’ on the front of a striking cover. Thankfully, there is no boring literature here and no mundane facts. There is action, intrigue, impossible places and unlikely scenarios. In short if you like fantasy you are in the right place. There is also a refreshing hint of the good old days in “Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy” spiced up with the approach of a new generation of fantasy writers – Let’s hope Volume 2 is not too long in coming." Craig Herbertson

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales available on amazon

After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales is now available on amazon as well as direct from Parallel Universe Publications. 

PUP

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-orders signed and ready to post of After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales

Met up with Jim Pitts (carefully social distanced!) to sign all the pre-orders for After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales, which will be posted tomorrow when the book is officially published. 

A big Thank You to everyone who pre-ordered this book. There is just till midnight tonight to buy this book at the discounted price of £18, inclusive of postage and packing within the UK. 

Pre-order

 

Poll for the year's best sword and sorcery anthology

There is a poll on Goodreads for the year's best sword and sorcery anthology. Feel free to vote for Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Vol 1 if you think it deserves it. 

Goodreads Poll

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

Kitchen Sink Gothic 2 - our "homeless" charity anthology

Just a reminder that our charity anthology Kitchen Sink Gothic 2 is still available in paperback and kindle.  All profits wiull donated to charities for the homeless. But don't think that just because this is a charity anthology that any of the stories in the book are any the lesser in quality. Every writer who submitted to us gave us as good as they can and you will be surprised at the variety and quality of the tales listed below. As one reviewer on The Vault of Evil website said: "Think we can safely chance that fans of Kitchen Sink Gothic Mk I will not be disappointed. A similar mix of relatively conventional ghost, fantasy and horror stories interspersed with occasional cosmic what-was-that-about strangeness."

Kitchen Sink Gothic 2 - paperback and kindle.

£11.99 in paperback/£2.99 in kindle

Stories and authors in this book are:

THE RING ON THE ROOF - James Harper

THE CHRISTMAS TREE - Eric Nash 

VLOG'S LEGS - Shaun Avery

THE CAPSULE - David A. Sutton

WAKE UP SCREAMING - Adrian Cole

THE BOY ON THE TRAIN - Paul Lewis

DOUBLE EXPOSURE - Jonathan Mitchell

NIGHT FLIGHT - Eric Ian Steele

THE LONELY PASSION OF JIMMY TATE - Trevor Kennedy

THE DOOMED EMPIRE - Andrew Darlington

REAL LIFE - Franklin Marsh

STONES ARE BREATHING TONIGHT - Russell Hemmell

WINTER DISCONTENT - Stephanie Ellis

THE ADELPHI - Alyson Faye

PAIN - Mark Reece

THIS LITTLE PIGGY - Teika Marija Smits

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

 

Craig Herbertson's Christmas in the Workhouse & Other Gruesome Tales now available in paperback and kindle

We are pleased to announce that Craig Herbertson's latest short story collection, with illustrations by Chrissie Demant, Christmas in the Workhouse & Other Gruesome Tales is now available as a paperback and ebook (kindle). 

Amazon UK

Amazon US

 

This is the second collection of stories written by Craig Herbertson to be published by Parallel Universe Publications. A musician and songwriter, Craig lives in Edinburgh with his partner and children. Craig is one of the original authors included in the infamous Pan Book of Horror Stories series. Two of his stories received honourable mentions in Ellen Datlow's renowned lists - The Best Horror of the Year. When not writing Craig is playing folk music, mostly Scottish, or watching football. Some of the stories in this collection show the influence of some of his favourite writers, including Philip K. Dick and J. G. Ballard.

An ideal present for Christmas for anyone who loves well-written, dark, sardonically macabre stories, complete with several spot illustrations by Chrissie Demant and one illustration by Craig himself. Also available in hardcover with an illustrated dustjacket, this is one of the best collections we have ever published. 

 

To order direct from PUP rather than through outlets like Amazon, just click on this link: Order Hardcover Books Direct

 

We also have copies of Craig's first collection The Heaven Maker & Other Gruesome Tales, which can be ordered for the same price.

After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales by David A. Riley, Illustrated by Jim Pitts

After a bit of a hiccup when the printer made a hash of the first copies ordered (inserting an extra, unwanted page before the Contents page), After Nightfall & Other Weird Tales will now be published on the 30th November. Up until then copies are still available for pre-order, all of which will be posted on publication. PRE-ORDER

Below are some photos of the interior of the book: 

 

Craig Herbertson reviews Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy presented by David A. Riley. Illustrated by Jim Pitts

Nov 17 2020
Filed In: Fantasy, Heaven, Uncategorized

A good buffet has something for everyone. Similarly, a good anthology treads the delicate balance of achieving a consistent feel while rewarding the reader with a mix of tales. “Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy” achieves this balance as one would expect from a veteran editor. David Riley has previously expressed his fondness for Lin Carter who almost single-handedly resurrected the fantasy anthology and it’s no surprise that this collection of stories seems a worthy successor.

After a fascinating introduction dedicated to the late Charles Black, we have eight very different fantasy tales enhanced by the distinctive art of Jim Pitts.

In The Mirror of Torjan Sul by Steve Lines a powerful necromancer sends his dubious apprentice to collect the mirror. It has a plot reminiscent of Jack Vance and convolutes in an interesting manner.

Desert peoples, suspicious meteorites, and the hero, Bohun, a young adventurer from the south, entertain in The Horror from the Stars by Steve Dilks. Bohun is on the hunt for his wife, bought by the evil sultan of Ibn-Shahik. The sultan may have bought a lot more than he bargained for as Bohun is not a happy fellow and will stop at nothing.

Trolls are Different by Susan Murrie Macdonald, is a little gem involving a head village lady in some subtle diplomacy to sort out the bad guys. The tale departs some way from a conventional fantasy tale but loses nothing by this.

I never got into the Grey Mouser or spoofs but Chain of Command by Geoff Hart is really a marvellous take on Leiber, brilliantly crafted, funny and slick. Suspiciously familiar heroines join with incompetent mages on a quest for the Chain of Office of a long dead king. Doesn’t work out well for most involved. Ten out of ten.

Disruption of Destiny by Gerri Leen had me yawning in the first page and applauding by the last. It starts in an innocuous manner and then takes on a maze of interesting twists. It’s a standout in a very good anthology. Don’t be fooled by the tarot cards and the witch. It is a far deeper and more interesting tale.

In The City of Silence by Eric Ian Steele the king Ariston and his loyal vizier, Obadiah seem to have come to the end of their adventures. When the king loses his sword, and some other bits, it looks like the end is nigh. But it ain’t.

Another standout is Red by Chadwick Ginther with its neat female protagonist on the search for her recalcitrant brother in the underground city. Funny at times, exciting at others this was one of the most enjoyable tales.

The final tale, The Reconstructed God by Adrian Cole, is an excellent and well plotted piece about the Key of Keys. Elfloq comes to an arrangement with the merchant Aggrabal but who will end up with the master Key? Keeps you guessing.

One of the most cheering aspects of this anthology is ‘Volume 1’ on the front of a striking cover. Thankfully, there is no boring literature here and no mundane facts. There is action, intrigue, impossible places and unlikely scenarios. In short if you like fantasy you are in the right place. There is also a refreshing hint of the good old days in “Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy” spiced up with the approach of a new generation of fantasy writers – Let’s hope Volume 2 is not too long in coming.

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Parallel Universe Publications

A great 5-star review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy on amazon.com

 

A great 5-star review, with a concise but in-depth look at the stories on amazon.com by Jason Ray Carney.

"All in all, an entertaining and fresh new anthology of sword and sorcery! Jim Pitts's cover is really distinctive; moreover, his interior illustrations are delightfully eerie, otherworldly, and evoke that "old school" charm."