You nit!

Little play on words there; 'you nit', 'UNIT' - geddit? Oh well. So the first Big Finish release from me in a while - and it's quite a hefty box set. Should be an interesting and entertaining listen - I hope! Here are some details and an appetite whetting trailer:

Decades after their defeat by the Eleventh Doctor, the Silence prepare to rise against humanity....

  House of Silents

There is no record of the presence of an alien species known as ‘The Silents’ on Earth. UNIT has never engaged hostiles capable of editing themselves from observers’ memories.

There is no evidence that such an opponent, if real, is regrouping and beginning a new plan of infiltration and manipulation.

Kate Stewart and her team are in no mortal danger. How can they be, when they don’t even know the enemy exists?

  Square One

It’s business as usual at UNIT, and thankfully, Kate Stewart has no immediate threats to concern her. Or so she believes.

But when Sam Bishop returns from leave, he notices things aren’t quite as they seem. Soon he and Osgood are on the trail of an elusive enemy.

Meanwhile, Kenneth LeBlanc and his controversial political movement gather momentum, and one UNIT team member isn’t quite themselves...

  Silent Majority

Kenneth LeBlanc looks set to lead his party to national victory, overturning political opinion and taking the polls by storm. UNIT can only stand and watch as a silent revolution takes place.

But who are LeBlanc’s real backers? And what use to them is the triumph of a leader who seems to be nothing more than a liability?

The Silents are about to make the headlines.

  In Memory Alone

When Sam Bishop and Osgood visit an orbiting space station for a routine mission, they have no idea that they are part of an alien scheme, years in the planning.

As the global situation spins out of control, Kate seeks help from an unlikely source.

The Silents are not done with humanity yet – and they will have their revenge.

Jemma Redgrave Kate Stewart Ingrid Oliver Petronella Osgood Warren Brown Lieutenant Sam Bishop 

James Joyce Captain Josh Carter Ramon Tikaram Colonel Shindi Tracy Wiles Jacqui McGee Joanna Wake Miss Faversham Nicholas Day Kenneth LeBlanc/Heston Tom Alexander Cecil/Derek Aaron Neil Homeless Man/News Reporter/David Nimmy March Baroness Vance/Telokni  

John Banks Mission Control/Captain/Soldier and Nicholas Briggs as The Silence

Written by Matt Fitton & John Dorney
Directed by Ken Bentley  

* * * * *
 

Earlier today, I finished recording a series of audio stories which are scheduled to be released, starting early next year, which is now getting quite close! As usual, all a bit secret at the moment, but not long to wait for a proper update. Last week, I also had great fun doing some telly acting, which I haven't done for some time. It was quite a challenging part to play in some ways, but was nevertheless a very enjoyable project to work on and again, details will be revealed as soon as possible. And so, to sign off in time honoured fashion...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

So what can that mean, 'Children of Sicarus'? Well, it's another full cast audio drama from Games Workshop which, astonishingly, becomes my 7th audio release of October and 48th of 2016 - phew!

Here are some details to whet your appetite and potentially, denude your savings...

Children of Sicarus

A Horus Heresy audio drama

Kor Phaeron of the Word Bearers and his devoted followers adjust to life on the daemon world of Sicarus. Threatened by enemies and surrounded by terrors, will they survive to exact revenge on the Imperium?

After the destruction of the Infidus Imperator, Kor Phaeron of the Word Bearers brought his followers to supposed safety in the Eye of Terror. However, their newly adopted home, the daemon world Sicarus, is far from the sanctuary they imagined – the twisted hordes of the Kairic Adept Larazzar seek to crush these newcomers and all who would ally with them.

Only in the ancient legends of Sicarus can their salvation be found, but is Kor Phaeron the one to lead them to it?

Featuring:

 Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth & Penelope Rawlins

Written by Anthony Reynolds & Produced by Matt Renshaw 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Horus Heresy anthology

Another Saturday and another Saturday release from Games Workshop - 'raay! In fact, as far as my contribution to this collection goes ( I've asterisked the stories I've read ), it's really a repetion of previously released material. There's an almost bewildering variety of 'bundled' stories to be had for the listener, keen to collect absolutely everything from The Black Library and Games Workshop, so just to tap into that sense of completeness, here are details of this latest anthology:

Books 22-24: Unabridged Audiobook Collection

A Horus Heresy audiobook collection

Traitorous brothers unite to take on mankind's Imperium not once but twice in a collection of audiobook adventures that encompass the Shadow Crusade that devastates Ultramar and an even more shadowy mission into the Eye of Terror – plus 'Shadows of Treachery', which collects two novellas and five short stories.

These stories all delve into the previously untold stories of the Heresy, filling in the gaps between Isstvan and Terra for several Legions, and showing the lengths to which the Traitor Primarchs will go to achieve their victory over their former brothers.

Two primarch team-ups change the face of the galaxy! Fulgrim and Perturabo team up for a mission that will prove the apotheosis of one and the beginning of the end for the other, while Angron and Lorgar bring ruin to the Ultramarines as their Shadow Crusade unfolds. Meanwhile, the anthology Shadows of Treachery brings tales from across the Imperium, from the killing fields of Isstvan V to the Iron Warriors' battlefleet where the Imperial Fists fight for survival, and the halls of the Imperial Palace itself where Rogal Dorn ponders the Imperium's future.

  The Crimson Fist by John French
  The Dark King by Graham McNeill *
  The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett *
  The Kaban Project by Graham McNeill *
  Raven's Flight by Gav Thorpe *
  Death of a Silversmith by Graham McNeill *
  Prince of Crows by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Angel Exterminatus by Graham McNeill
Betrayer by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Narrated by John Banks, Jonathan Keeble and David Timson & Produced by Matt Renshaw

 Running time approximately 48 hours. 

* * * * *

I've been very busy in the recording studio over the last few weeks and there's much more to be done in the coming weeks; next week however, I'm filming a television drama documentary, in which I play an American cop (!). The audition was great fun and I hope the actual job will be equally enjoyable; I will of course, give further details when I'm allowed to talk about the project more fully. 

To finish on a tec note: I mentioned the non-functioning 'slideshow' feature last week and sadly, it will no longer work as part of this website, as the Picasa photo web site is no longer being updated and is unsupported now by Google. Maybe there'll be something better coming along soon to replace it; we shall see!

In the meantime that's...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Another quick update release, this time on a very interesting audio drama from Games Workshop and here are some details:

Vox Tenebris

A War Zone Fenris audio drama

In the midst of the daemonic assault on the Fenris system, a Space Wolf and Dark Angel must overcome their enmity and work together if either is to survive.

When the Fenris system is overrun by the forces of Chaos, the Imperium rallies to its defence, and Space Marines from many Chapters arrive to lend their aid to the beleaguered defenders. The battle to reclaim the worlds of the Space Wolves is waged on many levels – in space, on land and in the very seas themselves.

A Space Wolf and a Dark Angel must join forces when the rest of their strikeforce is slaughtered by daemons, deep underground. Unless they can find their way through the underworld back to the surface, they are doomed – but the trials that face them will test them to their very limit.

 Performed by John Banks, Steve Conlin and Toby Longworth.

Written by Robbie MacNiven & Produced by Matt Renshaw.

Running time 65 minutes.

*****

 

For some reason, the 'slideshow' feature which used to be situated at the bottom of this web page, has been removed. It's annoying, to say the least, that possibly as the result of a software update, a widget has ceased to function. I'll try to get it back up and running again, but it may now be impossible...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Bleeding Shadows...

And on we go. The last eighteen or so months has been a very busy time in the recording studio for me and as a consequence, lots of audio stuff is now being released. It's tricky to work out an exact correlation between recording and publication, as some recordings have a longer production process than others. My recording of The Bible for example is still caught up in that process; I had originally thought it might have been published back in May. But as you can see from the 'new releases' area to the left of this page, highlighted in bright green, even in the last few months of the year, new work is still being published - and often to my surprise.

This week has seen the release of two new recordings; one, an anthology of short stories from Games Workshop and the other, an intriguing mystery, Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor, which is available to download from audible.co.uk or Amazon.

Here are some details of both recordings:

1934, London. Into the decaying cul-de-sac of Bleeding Heart Square steps aristocratic Lydia Langstone fleeing an abusive marriage. 

However, unknown to Lydia, a dark mystery haunts Bleeding Heart Square. What happened to Miss Penhow, the middle-aged spinster who owns the house and who vanished four years earlier? Why is a seedy plain-clothes policeman obsessively watching the square? What is making struggling journalist Rory Wentwood so desperate to contact Miss Penhow? And why are parcels of rotting hearts being sent to Joseph Serridge, the last person to see Miss Penhow alive?





A Horus Heresy anthology

From the battlefields of Phall and Isstvan, to the haunted shadows of Terra itself – the Horus Heresy rages on across the galaxy in this collection of short stories and novellas.

This anthology spans the entire Horus Heresy, with short stories from Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Gav Thorpe, as well as two brand new novella-length tales. Learn the fate of Rogal Dorn's fleet originally sent to Isstvan III and descend deeper into the darkness of the Night Lords Legion.

Performed by John Banks* Jonathan Keeble and David Timson, Produced by Matthew Renshaw 

This anthology contains the following stories:

The Crimson Fist by John French
The Dark King by Graham McNeill *
The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett *
The Kaban Project by Graham McNeill *
Raven's Flight by Gav Thorpe *
Death of a Silversmith by Graham McNeill *
Prince of Crows by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

From the battlefields of Phall and Isstvan, to the haunted shadows of Terra itself - the greatest war in the history of mankind rages on. While the traitor Legions continue their campaign of terror across the galaxy, preparations are made for the defence of the Imperial Palace and the final, inevitable reckoning that must yet come between Horus and the Emperor...

Running time: 11 hours and 44 minutes

I'll see if I can find some audio clips to go along with these titles, just to give a flavour of the content, although alas, that's not always possible. In the meantime, my latest news is that I started recording a series of classic sci-fi novels on Friday, which will hopefully see the light of day early in the new year, so much more on that subject nearer the time of publication - and having had a lot of fun with the Games Workshop crew recently, I'm recording more with them next week. top secret at the moment of course, but patience will always be rewarded - so I'm told!

Thanks for stopping by...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

ORB SCEPTRE THRONE

Good afternoon! Much to relay of recent and future adventures, but for the moment, here's a 'newsflash' update to note the release of this audio book:

The tumult of great powers colliding has passed, and the city of Darujhistan and its citizens can at last get on with what matters: trading, bickering, politicking and enjoying all the good things in life. However, not all are ready to leave the past behind.

A treasure hunter digging amongst the burial grounds that surround the city is about to uncover a hidden crypt. He will open the last of a series of sealed vaults - the one that no other dared touch - and in so doing set free something so terrifying that the knowledge of its interment may have been systematically wiped from all history.

Fortune hunters are also at work far to the south. When a fragment of Moon's Spawn, once the home of Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness, crashed into the Rivan Sea, it created a chain of small islands. Legends and rumours already surround them. The most potent of these is that here is hidden the Throne of Night, claimed by some to be the seat of Mother Dark herself.

Either way, all who seek this ancient artefact - renegade mages, hardened mercenaries, even a Malazan army deserter - believe it will bestow unlimited power upon the eventual possessor. The stakes are high, greed is rife, betrayal inevitable, and murder and chaos lie in wait....

Written by Ian C Esslemont, produced by Neil Gardner and narrated by me. 

Running time 25 hours, 23 minutes

A Random House Audiobook, available now from audible.co.uk

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

October-fest...

Once again, my apologies for the lack of updates over the last few weeks; my excuse as ever, is that I've been immersed in preparation and recording. Details of what I've been doing will certainly appear here as soon as possible, although alas, not in this posting, as the intensity of work continues and I'm in the studio for the next several days. Before the middle of next month, I'll be recording four audio dramas and six audio books and time, as you can imagine, is at an absolute premium.

Such a short update, but there is something I can mention immediately, which is the release of an anthology of Warhammer stories that appear now as a single edition and here are some details:

Corax: A Horus Heresy anthology

The Lord of Ravens, Master of Deliverance, Primarch Corus Corvax of the Raven Guard takes centre stage in a collection of works by Gav Thorpe that explore his campaign of vengeance against Horus' allies and his desperate attempts to hold his Legion together.

After Isstvan, after Deliverance, the Raven Guard still endure. Their primarch Corvus Corax has rallied countless warriors to his banner, striking back at the forces of the Warmaster on every front – from the degenerate hereteks of the Mechanicum to the cruel legionaries of the Sons of Horus, none shall escape his wrath. But although Corax has managed to stall the physical corruption of his own Space Marines, what of their spirit? And what sinister end must await those who dwell forever in the darkness?

This anthology contains all of Gav Thorpe’s tales of the Raven Guard in the Horus Heresy – the novellas Soulforge and Ravenlord, and short stories ‘The Shadowmasters’, ‘The Value of Fear’ and ‘Raptor’. Also included is the brand new novella Weregeld, taking Corax’s legend to its grim conclusion.

 Narrated by Gareth Armstrong and John Banks  

Produced by Matthew Renshaw & Written by Gav Thorpe 

Audiobook running time 12 hours and 49 minutes

 * * * * *

Also,  released on the 6th October from Audible.co.uk, is my audio book version of Ian C. Esslemont's Novel of The Malazan Empire: Orb, Sceptre, Throne. 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

...an 'august' update - hopefully!

Only the second update this month and very little in the way of excuses as to why I've been away from the blogosphere. Wait a minute; did you say 'Olympic Games'? Ah, yes; I have been glued to the Olympics and huge congratulations to all, medal winners or not and indeed to Rio for hosting the whole thing under difficult circumstances. Roll on Tokyo!

I wonder what events the Space Marines would be good at? Weight lifting? Shooting, TaeKwon-Do? At least those and several others I should imagine; but I digress.

Once again those good folks at Games Workshop have managed to spring a surprise or two over the last couple of weeks and I should give proper details of them here. A while ago, I mentioned that the second quartet of stories in the Realmgate Wars series had been released under the collective title Knights of Vengeance. Subsequently, the entire eight story saga was also released under the title The Realmgate Wars: The Audio Collection. What I have only recently noticed however, is that the first four stories have also been released under a collective title, The Hunt For Nagash. And so, perhaps somewhat out of sequence, here are the details:

In the long-ago Age of Myth, Sigmar's pantheon of gods conquered the Mortal Realms and ruled them in peace – until the coming of Chaos. Among the greatest of Sigmar's allies was Nagash, the god of Death and ruler of the underworlds of Shyish.

At the height of the Allpoints war, Nagash betrayed his oaths of loyalty and doomed Sigmar's plans to failure. Now, as the God-King's Stormcast Eternals battle to liberate the Mortal Realms, a force from the Hallowed Knghts Stormhost has been sent to find Nagash and bring him back into the fold. But as they search the Realm of Death, they find only the servants of Chaos – until a chance encounter provides hope. If they can trust a vampire, that is.

The Hunt for Nagash Audio Drama Collection consists of four audio dramas by Josh Reynolds, in a zip file:

Performed by:

 Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, Stephen Perring,

 Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto

Written by Josh Reynolds & Produced by Matthew Renshaw

* * * * *

And secondly for this month and coming as a complete surprise, a release from the Warhammer 40,000 range of stories, which are set some 10,000 years after the original Space Marine adventures.

  

Deathwatch: The Last Guardian

Dark Angels Brother Balthasar and a Deathwatch kill-team investigate a long-dead eldar craftworld infested with daemons…

As part of an elite Deathwatch kill team, Brother Balthasar of the Dark Angels joins a special Inquisitorial mission to the eldar craftworld of Kher-Ys. Long ago ravaged by the daemonic forces of Slaanesh, the craftworld may still harbour the unlikeliest of allies for the Space Marines, and the key to a greater victory for the Chapter.

Performed by:

Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, 

Penelope Rawlins and Tania Rodrigues 

Written by C Z Dunn & Produced by Matthew Renshaw

* * * * *

And that's just about it for this posting; I'm currently preparing an audio book to record in October and awaiting some audio drama scripts for early September. I think there might also be another audio book or two to fit in around that schedule, although, as the sun is shining and the great outdoors beckons, I reckon I can safely defer any proper activity at least for the rest of the afternoon - a bit of executive time management - The Doctor would surely approve!

...all for now, more as soon as it happens!

Novels of The Malazan Empire: Stonewielder

Released by Random House Audiobooks on 4th August, Stonewielder, by Ian C. Esslemont.

Greymane believed he'd outrun his past. With his school for swordsmanship in Falar, he was looking forward to a quiet life, although his colleague, Kyle, wasn't as enamoured with life outside the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. However, it seems it is not so easy for an ex-Fist of the Malazan Empire to disappear, especially one under sentence of death from that same Empire.

For there is a new Emperor on the throne of Malaz, and he is dwelling on the ignominy that is the Empire's failed invasion of the Korel subcontinent. In the vaults beneath Unta, the Imperial capital, lie the answers to that disaster. And out of this buried history surfaces the name Stonewielder.

In Korel, Lord Protector Hiam, commander of the Stormguard, faces the potential annihilation of all that he holds dear. With few remaining men and a crumbling stone wall that has seen better days, he confronts an ancient enemy: the seaborne Stormriders have returned.

Religious war also threatens these lands. The cult of the Blessed Lady, which had stood firm against the Riders for millennia, now seeks to eradicate its rivals. And as chaos looms, a local magistrate investigating a series of murders suddenly finds himself at the heart of a far more ancient and terrifying crime - one that has tainted an entire land....

Stonewielder is an enthralling new chapter in the epic story of a thrillingly imagined world.

Produced by Neil Gardner and narrated by me. Running time is 26 hours and 42 minutes.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

listen, enjoy, repeat...

Y'know, those good folks at Games Workshop do seem to like springing surprises and this month has had it's fair share. Earlier in July, I mentioned the four story collection of Realmgate Wars audio dramas Knights of Vengeance. 

Now also available, in a single box set collection, are the eight audio dramas that make up the entire epic saga: The Prisoner of the Black Sun, Sands of Blood, The Lords of Helstone and Bridge of Seven Sorrows by Josh Reynolds & Beasts of Cartha, Fist of Gork, Fist of Mork, Great Red and Only the Faithful by David Guymer.

Here's some fabulous artwork and further details of the stories in this collection:

A journey into the Realm of Death in search of Nagash himself leads the Hallowed Knights Warrior Chamber known as the Bull-Hearts into a dangerous alliance with an arch-betrayer... and the consequences of that decision lead them on another hunt, searching the Realm of Beasts in a quest for vengeance. Eight audio dramas weave a tale of hope, treachery and retribution that crosses Realms, life and death.

Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Beth Chalmers, Steve Conlin,

 Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth, Stephen Perring, Saul Reichlin, Luis Soto and Ramon Tikaram 

Produced by Matthew Renshaw

Also released this month, is the audio drama The Either, again with some fabulous cover art. This story has been available in other formats earlier this year, but here it is now in all it's individual glory!

Tybalt Marr, Captain of the Sons of Horus, swears to bring down a thorn in the Warmaster's side: the commander of the so-called "Shattered Legions", the infamous Shadrak Meduson.

Captain Tybalt Marr of the Sons of Horus, so often overlooked by his more glory-hungry brethren, returns to his Legion in triumph. However, his boasts of having slain the infamous Iron Hands warleader Shadrak Meduson soon fall flat when he learns of the recent assassination attempt on Horus himself. Gathering his forces upon the conquered world of Dwell, Marr returns to battle against the Shattered Legions, determined to earn his rightful place in history.

Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Robin Bowerman, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin, 

Toby Longworth, Luis Soto & Ramon Tukaram 

Written by Graham McNeill & Produced by Matthew Renshaw

...all for now, more just as soon as it hapens!

The Dragon Lords: Fool's Gold

Released today from Hachette Audio UK:

It's not easy to live in a world ruled by dragons. The taxes are high and their control is complete. But for one group of bold misfits, it's time to band together and steal back some of that wealth.

No one said they were smart.

Unabridged audio book narrated by me with a running time of 15 hours - 46 minutes. 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

...hi John, yeah, it's a great part - a gangster. Yeah, a gangster, really mean; gritty. Oh - and he's a raccoon...

Sometimes I wonder if the guys at Big Finish - Mssrs Richardson, Briggs, Bentley, Dorney & Fitton - get together from time to time, share copious amonts of alcohol and devise characters commensurate with the phrase "...betcha Banksy can't play that!"

Who knows? Whatever the case may be, the 'challenges' that have so far come my way, include being required to play several Gestalt Entities ie, The Morass, a swarm of leeches, a sponge, a fog, several Metatraxi and Numlocks (could have been Tabshifts or Alt Gr Backspaces!) a whole host of other creatures and alien beings, a dingo, an octopus and most recently - a raccoon. A raccoon. Happy to pick up the gauntlet and run with it, I decided to make him Swiss - just for the fun of it! And here is the result:

Come to Ricosta! Tropical climate, untouched beaches, fabulous cuisine... and no extradition treaties. The perfect retirement planet for a certain type of 'business person' – such as Ms Melanie Bush, formerly the co-owner of the Iceworld emporium, now on the run from her former criminal associate's criminal associates...

Some other former associates of Ms Bush are abroad in this space Costa del Crime, however. Not long ago, the time and space traveller known as the Doctor arrived here, alongside his sometimes-criminal associate, the reformed juvenile offender Ace. But now the Doctor's gone missing – and Melanie Bush is about to learn that on the planet Ricosta, the wages of sin... are death.

 Sylvester McCoy The Doctor   Bonnie Langford Mel   Sophie Aldred Ace 

Ginny Holder Gloria/Secretary  Des McAleer Lefty Lonnigan  Stephen Hagan Nathan Later

 Harry Myers Atomon/Sperovore Banker/Steward 

John Banks Mayor/Sperovore Auditor/Sperovore Financer 

Other parts portrayed by the cast

Written by Matt Fitton
Directed by Ken Bentley  

This is quite an unusual addition to the Big Finish playlist and I'm very much looking forward to giving it a listen. In the meantime, I'm back in the BF studio next week for more fun; but that's...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

...what's going on?

...a line from Eastenders or a classic album from Marvin Gaye? Your call; mercy, mercy me...

So this month of July brings some new stuff for the ears of the world to wrap themselves around and a few audio surprises to savour. I've also been in a variety of windowless rooms, otherwise known as recording studios, to lay down some heavy sci-fi/fantasy beats, for no other reason than to bring joy and enlightenment to the universe - well, someone had to give it a go.

The first thing to mention this month is the release of Only The Faithful, the fourth instalment of The Knights of Vengeance series from Games Workshop, in which I play Lord Relictor Ramus. Here are some details:

At last, the Hallowed Knights have cornered their quarry... but the vampire they seek has amassed an army of the dead, and the price of vengeance will be dear indeed.

After a gruelling journey, the warriors of the Hallowed Knights and Astral Templars have found their quarry in the Sea of Bones. During the hunt, Mannfred the vampire lord has raised a mighty undead host to protect the realmgate he has claimed.

Whilst Ramus of the Hallowed Knights seeks the vampire’s head and Vandalus of the Astral Templars wants to reclaim the realmgate, both must fight as one and alongside their orruk allies if they are to triumph. Against one of Nagash’s mortarchs, the test will be stern and only the faithful will prevail...

Performed by:

Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, 

Stephen Perring, Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto 

Written by David Guymer & Produced by Matthew Renshaw

One of the surprises I alluded to above, is that all four stories in this series are available together; whoda thought it?

As this is only the first week of July, the rest of the month's releases are, well, yet to be released. I will of course publish details here when they become available; in the meantime, here's news of an unabridged audio book I recorded recently for Hachette, which is scheduled for release on the 19th:

It's not easy to live in a world ruled by dragons. The taxes are high, and their control is complete.

But for one group of bold misfits, it's time to band together and steal back some of that wealth.
No one said they were smart.


Written by Jon Hollins and narrated by me, with a running time of 15 hours, 46 minutes.

* * * * *

There's much more to come this month, but for the time being and in time honoured fashion, I'll sign off by saying...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

The Trouble With Crimson Angel Guards...

Oh dear, I see it's been a cheeky month since my last posting here! There's no excuse, absolutely no excuse for such a long delay in updating the blog... well, there is, there is an excuse, a very good one, in fact, the best excuse there is - I've been busy working! The downside to that mini revelation, is the usual caveat of saying that I can't talk about what I've been doing yet; does that ever get less boring to hear? No, I thought not, sorry, but as ever, all will be revealed as soon as possible.

In the meantime though, things that I also wasn't allowed to talk about when they were first recorded, can now be splashed across these cyber pages in all their glory, because they are now available for the listening pleasure of all those who actually derive 'listening pleasure' from them - ah, as neat a slice of tautology as you could hope to find!

Moving swiftly on; I think we're up to release number 33 now with this lates batch. Not the floods of early spring, but a gentle summer trickle to match the mood of the weather, which is a bit soggy and warm at the moment. So here goes - in order of release, sort of:

This month's first offering - and coming in at a whopping 32 hours & 14 minutes - is the third novel/audio book in Ian C. Esslemont's Malazan Series, produced by Neil Gardner and read by me for Penguin, Random House and now available from audible.co.uk:

The return of the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard, could not have come at a worse time for a Malazan Empire exhausted by warfare and weakened by betrayals and rivalries. Indeed, there are those who wonder whether the Empress Laseen might not be losing her grip on power as she faces increasing unrest as conquered kingdoms and principalities sense freedom once more.

Into the seething cauldron of Quon Tali--the Empire's heartland--marches the Guard. With their return comes the memory of the Empire--and yet all is not well with the Guard itself. Elements within its elite, the Avowed, have set their sights on far greater power. There are ancient entities who also seek to further their own arcane ends.

And what of the swordsman called Traveller who, with his companion Ereko, has gone in search of a confrontation from which none have ever returned?

As the Guard prepares to wage war, so Laseen's own generals and mages, the 'Old Hands', grow impatient at what they see as her mismanagement of the Empire. But could Laseen have outwitted them all?

Could she be using the uprisings to draw out and finally eliminate these last irksome survivors from the days of her illustrious predecesor, Kellanved?

* * * * *  

Next up is another audio book, this time from Games Workshop  - and coming in at a relatively paltry running time of 10 hours & 57 minutes - Angels of Caliban:

The First Legion go to war, and their primarch's brutal actions threaten to tear apart the fragile alliance of Imperium Secundus.

With the Dark Angels spread across a hundred systems, primarch Lion El’Jonson stands as Lord Protector of Ultramar – though his true motives are known to few indeed, and old rivalries on the home world threaten to tear the Legion in half. But when word comes of the Night Lords’ attack on Sotha, the Lion’s brutal actions bring Imperium Secundus once again to the brink of civil war.

Not even the most fearsome warriors of the Dreadwing, nor any arcane secret of the Order, can guarantee victory if he sets himself against his loyal brothers.

   Written by Gav Thorpe and Produced by Matthew Renshaw

* * * * *

...so, last and certainly least (in terms of running time!), the latest adventure of The Fourth Doctor, The Trouble With Drax:

Altrazar. The temporal Atlantis, a place lost to time. Believed by many to be a myth, it has long been the perfect location for the rich and powerful to hide away their most dangerous secrets.

Until now.

Because the somewhat crooked, not exactly honest, wheeler-dealer cockney Time Lord known as Drax has found a map that leads to its location. And, at the behest of a manipulative businessman, he's going to use it.

When the TARDIS is dragged out of the space-time vortex, its crew aren't best pleased to see the Doctor's old school friend, even less when he pressgangs them into joining a raid on the most secure safe-house in history. However with Romana and K9 held hostage, the Doctor has little choice but to agree. With Drax in tow, he heads for the planet.

Which is where the trouble starts.

 Tom Baker The Doctor    Lalla Ward Romana    John Leeson K9/Cabot  

Ray Brooks Drax    John Challis Rosser    Hugh Fraser Charles Kirkland/Shopkeeper 

Jane Slavin Shopkeeper 2    Miranda Raison Inspector Fleur McCormick    

John Banks Grunthar/Street-Cleaner

 Written by John Dorney
Directed by Nicholas Briggs 

* * * * *

And that is almost it for this posting; but there's just enough time to say that I'm currently preparing to record an audio book next week, followed the week after with a trip up to Games Workshop Head Quarters to record more audio drama narration and I'm really looking forward very much to all that.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll do my best to update again before too long!

...all for now, more just a soon as it happens!

...and in a late item of news...

...yes, late indeed! Late at night and late to post. The two releases described below actually became available last week, quite unexpectedly too I might add.

My only excuse for such tardy behaviour is that it's been a bit of a 'full on' week one way and another and I'm also now deep into preparation for quite a bit of Games Workshop activity next week, followed by a 'fantasy genre' audio book to be recorded the following week for Hachette, which is part of the Little, Brown Group for whom I recorded Nev Fountain's novel, Painkiller, last autumn - small world! I'm enjoying the slower pace of preparation for these recordings, as the last six or seven months have been almost too crazy for comfort. This new audio book, when recorded, will I think, be the 43rd audio recording (ie books & drama) since completing The Bible in mid November '15 - crazy indeed!

But onwards, ever onwards! And onwards in this posting to two very interesting releases (28 & 29 in this year's tally) from Games Workshop - here are some details:

Meduson: Ultimate Edition

A Horus Heresy anthology

Ten tales of the Tenth and their Shattered Legions allies bring the brutal guerilla war to life as the Sons of Horus hunt the leader of the insurgency – the infamous Shadrak Meduson.

Driven almost to the brink of self-destruction by the death of Ferrus Manus, the Iron Hands now seek vengeance for the many horrors of Isstvan V. Gathering survivors from the Raven Guard and the Salamanders aboard any vessels capable of warp travel, they wage a new campaign of annihilation against the traitor forces across the galaxy - a campaign masterminded by legendary warleader Shadrak Meduson.

In Meduson: Ultimate Edition, Black Library is proud to present seven short stories from the original anthology, as well as Grey Talon and The Either as full-cast audio dramas with complete production scripts. Finally, the defiant strength of the Iron Tenth begins to fall in the brand new story Hand Elect by Chris Wraight.

Meduson by Dan Abnett

Unforged and Unspoken by Guy Haley

Immortal Duty by Nick Kyme

Hand Elect by Chris Wraight

The Keys of Hel by John French

The Noose by David Annandale

Deeds Endure by Gav Thorpe

   

368-page hardback book with full-art matt PPC hardcover

Gloss dustjacket in the Horus Heresy series style with gold foiling and art by Neil Roberts

 

Includes 2 CDs contained in the endpapers

 Grey Talon by Chris Wraight. Running time 60 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth & Luis Soto.

 The Either by Graham McNeill. Running time 67 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Robin Bowerman, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth, Luis Soto & Ramon Tikaram.

Great Red

 

Part 3 of the Knights of Vengeance audio drama series

In the Sea of Bones, the Hallowed Knights and their allies meet a worthy foe – and a possible ally – in the mighty Great Red and his Ironjawz horde...

The hunt for Mannfred von Carstein takes the Hallowed Knights and Astral Templars far into the hazardous Sea of Bones. It is here that Ramus of the Shadowed Soul and Vandalus, the ‘King of Dust’, meet a worthy foe: the Ironjawz. Led by the fearsome Great Red, this orruk tribe sees the intrusion of the Stormcasts as a challenge. War against the orruks would threaten their mission, so Ramus and Vandalus set out to broker an alliance – but Ironjawz only value strength and, to appease their savage nature, the Hallowed Knights and the Astral Templars must prove they are mighty enough to be considered allies...

Performed by:

 Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, Stephen Perring and Luis Soto

Written by David Guymer & Produced by Matthew Renshaw

* * * * *

And so to wrap up this late edition, I'd just like to say how pleased I am that the Tenth Doctor Adventures mentioned previously, seem to be being very well received, so thanks to all who have expressed such a positive reaction to these stories, of which, I am delighted to have been a part.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!