Richard [K] Morgan's News and Views

So, fantasy now... Feels very strange all the way out here, deprived of my usual stock of technological metaphor. No more feelings "like the juddering of bad brakes", no more "amped-up appeal", no more talk about the body's "motor systems". These characters, even the cool ones, just know so little about the universe the live in! And the distances!!! Shit! In Black Man/Thirteen you could get from any major city on the planet to any other in forty five minutes. Now suddenly I'm needing days at a time to get anywhere at all, and crossing the known world could take months! I'm still reeling from the plot implications of it all.

In more general terms, I'm also still reeling from being selected as one of 25 "authors for the future" by Waterstone's – I mean, I'm delighted to be on this list in the first place, but even more I'm blown away that any SF/F writer figures in it at all. Genre respectability – who'd have thought it? In fact, the Waterstone's list is a remarkably egalitarian and broad-church inspired piece of work, including as it does literary fiction, crime, SF, humour, childrens' fiction and cookery – Granta's Best of Young British Writers it ain't. Oh yeah, and it didn't hurt that the launch party at Waterstone's' flagship Piccadilly branch came the night before Black Man was released in the UK. Serendipity in her finest glimmering attire.

Speaking of attire, following Black Man/Thirteen, I'm due something of an overhaul – while I get on and tinker with Land Fit for Heroes, my UK back catalogue of paperback editions are all getting re-jacketed for an October release alongside Black Man, and the website is coming down temporarily to be redesigned in line. It all feels a bit like going for a much-needed haircut – a little anxiety at the thought of letting go of my accustomed appearance, blended with an equal degree of anticipation at the change. The site address itself won't change, though, will still feature the same direct contact button, and I'll still – eventually – get back directly to anyone who mails me.

Finally, here's a small kernel of useful information in amidst my ramblings: dates for the US tour for Black Man/Thirteen, which this time for logistical reasons will be limited to the West Coast. This list is not yet definitive, there may be a couple of add on events, but here's what we have set up for now:

Monday, July 23 - SEATTLE, WA
Time: 7:00pm
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE

Tuesday, July 24 - PORTLAND, OR
Time: 7:30pm
Powell's Books
1005 W. Burnside

Thursday, July 25 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Time: 7:00pm
Booksmith
1644 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Friday, Saturday & Sunday July 27th, 28th & 29th - SAN DIEGO, CA
Comic Con International
San Diego Convention Center

See you there!