Lucian Poll's Collection

[Lucian Poll]

I splashed out on the limited edition of Gary McMahon's The End, another book launch at FantasyCon:


The End by Gary McMahon (limited edition hardcover) by lucian.poll, on Flickr


Signature page of The End (limited edition hardcover), signed by Gary McMahon, launched at FantasyCon 2014. by lucian.poll, on Flickr

I managed to hold up the queue while I pumped Gary for answers to umpteen questions regarding his Concrete Grove trilogy:


The Concrete Grove trilogy by Gary McMahon, comprising The Concrete Grove (2011), Silent Voices (2012) and Beyond Here Lies Nothing (2012) by lucian.poll, on Flickr

...which he was only too happy to sign...


The Concrete Grove title page, signed by Gary McMahon. (Comment alludes to an interesting typo that suggested a much grimmer earlier draft (p205, penultimate paragraph) - turns out it was simply a typo. Phew!) by lucian.poll, on Flickr


Title page of Silent Voices, signed by Gary McMahon. by lucian.poll, on Flickr


Title page of Beyond Here Lies Nothing, signed by Gary McMahon by lucian.poll, on Flickr

Even when I pulled out a sneaky fourth book from my bag!


Dead Bad Things by Gary McMahon. by lucian.poll, on Flickr


Title page of Dead Bad Things, signed by Gary McMahon at FantasyCon 2014. by lucian.poll, on Flickr

[Lucian Poll]

The most notable absence from FantasyCon 2014 was Graham Joyce, whose illness had taken a turn for the worse in the run-up to the event. Despite this, it was a sad shock to learn yesterday of his passing. I really enjoyed The Year of the Ladybird (released in the US as The Ghost in the Electric Blue Suit). I've come relatively late to his work, so I'm looking forward to reading this handsome collection of his short fiction, recently launched by PS Publishing, and reading more of the stories he has left behind.


25 Years in the Word Mines - The Best Short Fiction of Graham Joyce (PS Publishing hardcover) by lucian.poll, on Flickr

[Lucian Poll]

Just as poignant would be my purchase of Cemetery Dance's The Century's Best Horror Fiction. I spotted both volumes on a dealer's table at FantasyCon and was immediately drawn to them. It was only when I picked them up that I realised the whole table comprised books once owned by Joel Lane, who passed away towards the end of last year. His family were selling his books to help raise money for his mother. The purchase of these two volumes was never in doubt, and yet it felt wrong to pay for them and simply dash off without a chat. I'm glad I stayed, if 'glad' is the word. The bittersweet recollections, combined with the dignified yet still-raw emotions in which they were told, will stay with me for some time.

Given that one of Joel's stories features in the second volume of this collection, I have an uneasy feeling I may have purchased the contributor's copy he would have received from Cemetery Dance. Either way, these are two books I'll be taking extra-special care of.


Volumes 1 & 2 of Cemetery Dance's The Century's Best Horror Fiction, as purchased from the late Joel Lane's collection at FantasyCon 2014. by lucian.poll, on Flickr

[bookworm 1]

Some super additions to your collection. I have but not yet read The Century's Best. It is a huge collection. One I really like and look forward to reading myself. Seems like you had a great time. Despite some of the sadness overshadowing the event. .....By the way how is your next project coming along?

[Lucian Poll]

Thanks, Tom. A good time was had. It was nice to put more faces to names and to meet up again with those who attended last year's World Fantasy Convention.

Re: projects - barring the odd short story spilling out of me here and there I've been tinkering with a sci-fi detective story, which is coming along slowly but shaping up nicely. (I shelved last year's NaNoWriMo effort as it needs a rethink.)

[RJK1981]

Thanks, Tom. A good time was had. It was nice to put more faces to names and to meet up again with those who attended last year's World Fantasy Convention.

Re: projects - barring the odd short story spilling out of me here and there I've been tinkering with a sci-fi detective story, which is coming along slowly but shaping up nicely. (I shelved last year's NaNoWriMo effort as it needs a rethink.)

Very nice adds. Considered getting the Century's Best collection when CD first offered it, but the price was too high for me at the time, and honestly I probably would get around to reading it anyway, lol.

Already decided what I will be doing for this year's NaNoWriMo. Going to be redoing what I did for last year since so much of what I did last year was junk, lol. I really want to read this story, I just need to actually write it, lol.