Breakfast in the Ruins

Snowcastles - A (Belated) One-Shit Book for Xmas

Clarky the Cruel returns to Derry and Toms to revive the One-Shit Book (books that could potentially be read on one visit to the throne) format as we look at SNOWCASTLES by Duncan McGeary.
We consider wizard contracting standards, when barbarians aren't barbarians and just what the hell is under Greylock's fur...? We don't read the sequel but we do wonder why those people look like they're out of a 1970s public information film for children.
Check out Clarky's blog for updates on his various gaming and reading activities, as well as an end-of-year review and his plans for 2024. Visit the Duncan McGeary webpage for details of his more recent novels and short stories and his author's blog.

Birthday Special 2023 - w/ Joe Monti of Saga Press

In this Birthday Special double-bill of salutations, Joe Monti (editorial Director at SAGA Press) drops by D&Ts to engage in day-drinking, Moorcock talk and chew the fat about editing amazing fantasy and various other bits n' bobs. Also, Joe gets Crabs.
 
Then Phil and Loz join me for a serious* roundtable. Whilst we drink mucky booze and engage in a hastily and lazily bashed together but closely contested Moorcock-related quiz, Phil disses my gourd, Loz dumps on steampunk and a particularly challenging beer punches us in the temple (thanks Ash).
 
*not that serious
 
Quiz Beer slate:
· Gravity Well – Photonic Molecules Pale Ale 4.6%
· Overtone Brewing Co King of Feasts Pale Ale 4%
· Twilight Pilgrim Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout 5.0%
· Emperor’s Brewery Kessel Run Peanut Butter Jelly Imperial Stout/Porter 13.1%
· Brasserie de Noir Bere Speciale cuvee exceptionale Rhum finish 5.5%
· Snake Bite in a can from Aldi the name of which I think I may have suppressed because it was just that  ‘orrible
 
Michael Moorcock chorus/refrain is from The Dewey Decibel System by BlöödHag

The Queen of the Swords Part Two

Simon Perrins (artist, graphic designer and co-host of Can I Pod With Madness) returns to Derry and Toms so we can finally conclude our re-read of the second Corum adventure, The Queen of the Swords.
Between wading gods, crackles from beyond the veil and other interventions from the old gods of chaos, we managed to get through books two and three of this adventure intact. So join us for small talk about Moorcock, fighting fantasy books, Loz's Lovecraft formula and our favourite close-harmony choir of chaos oddballs...
The artist whose name we couldn't remember, responsible for the Berkley edition covers as above, is David McCall Johnston.
Simon is, of course, the geezer behind the visual identity of BITR too. Find him on Instagram and check out his store.
Also, have a look at Karmanal of Zert by Blaze Atoms - Here's some info from their bandcamp page (sadly I can't find any evidence of their  "Swords & Space Wizards" demo - if you know of it... LET ME KNOW):
"This is an instrumental, almost completely mixed preview of the version of "Karmanal of Zert" that will appear on the upcoming "Swords & Space Wizards" demo in early May 2016. This recording is completely unadvertised and uploaded solely so Michael Moorcock himself can hear it. So if you found it, good job. :)
lyrics
all music conceived, composed and arranged by Aaron DiDonatoall guitar, bass, and drums performed and recorded by Aaron DiDonatolyrics (when vocals are added) adapted from the chapter "The Frozen Army" in the book "The Queen of the Swords" by Michael Moorcock (1971)Looming in the distanceOver the valley now, come the hopping thingsBouncing, several-legged creaturesMultiversal nomads, indestructible beingsKnowing not of mortalityPledging no allegiance to Law or ChaosKnowing not true existenceHaving no soulsThe Karmanal of Zert are comingThe Karmanal of Zert, yeah, are coming for youThe Karmanal of Zert are comingHere they come - look up and seeThey lope down the slopes of the hillsSeeking the Champion Eternal they’ve been sent to kill – to killAltering the fates of untold civilizationsOn untold planes of existence – parallel dimensions of the EarthMassive fangs clash, huge eyes rollMany tentacles lash, fighting for Cosmic controlDoing the bidding of the Chaos LordsWhile in another time and plane they are fighting for LawFighting for no purpose, no sought-after endFighting indifferent to consequenceThe Karmanal of Zert always sing before they feast – alwaysThe Karmanal of Zert always sing before they feast – hear them singMaimSlayFeastThe Queen of the Chaos Swords’ laughter fills the skyMaimSlayFeastThe Queen of the Chaos Swords’ laughter fills the skyAs the Eternal Champion prepares to diePrepare to dieHear the Karmanal of Zert singHear them, hear them (repeat)Hear them, hear the Karmanal of Zert sing"

Memoriam & Other Realms of Chaos with Karl Willetts

Power up your voxcaster, recite a litany of protection and light a lho stick as beer lover, wargamer and death metal LEGEND Karl Willetts braves the Immaterium to warp over to Derry and Toms and discuss Memoriam, Bolt Thrower, Warhammer and his three rules of beer…
Memoriam's latest release is Rise to Power and it and their back catalogue are available at all good stockists.
I also wistfully recall my first exposure to Bolt Thrower with the epic and massive game changer for British metal... Realm of Chaos
 

Halloween Special 2023 - James Herbert’s DOMAIN

Miles and Phil brave nuclear Armageddon, mutant rats, zoom meltdowns and horrific rabies treatment to join me in Derry & Toms and check out our patron-selected Halloween double-bill of James Herbert's Domain and Bruno Mattei's Rats: Night of Terror.So paint your windows white, lock the dogs and cats outside, get safely ensconced in your inner sanctum and JOIN US!
... and listen to the Casual Trek Podcast

The Legacy of Guy N Smith - a Conversation with Tara Paulsson

In this, the second blow of that one-two punch of GNS brain matter, Graham and I welcome Tara Paulsson to Derry and Toms to talk about her Dad and his work.
Tara will be at Tamworth Castle's Tales From the Darkside Week on Saturday 28th October and you can find details about 'An Ode to Guy Newman Smith's, 1970's Pulp Fiction Horror' and how to book at www.tamworthcastle.co.uk/darkside  
You can find all of Tara's GNS content on Instagram,  Youtube and soon the official website will be back up at http://www.guynsmith.com.
To get on the mailing list for the newsletter, email Tara at blackhillbooks@gmail.com 
You can find Bamboo Guerillas on Spotify and Bandcamp and follow them on Instagram and TikTok

CRABS ON THE RAMPAGE (Guy N Smith Re-revisited)

Graham and Phil return to Derry and Toms to tackle our third adventure in the company of the mighty Professor Cliff Davenport in the first of a one-two punch of GNS-related early Halloween action.
Disturbing violence, saucy language and copious amounts of pus await the unwary traveller.
Be sure to check out Graham and the Duck Pond Sailors' latest release Urban Navigators.
There's much more to say on Guy and his extensive body of work so tune in to the next episode for a conversation with Guy's daughter Tara.

Phoenix in Obsidian (The Silver Warriors) Part One

Phil returns to Derry & Toms to tackle the second Erekosë volume - Pheonix in Obsidian, also known as The Silver Warriors in the USA.
Misery, perversion and very metal methods of conveyance abound in this tale of an Earth in its final ebbs of existence.
JOIN US!

Letters From Hollywood

Chris (AKA Dirk the Dice) returns to Derry and  Toms to discuss Michael Moorcock's sort-of-memoir of his time in LA and wider California in Letters From Hollywood. Along the way we drink fusty northern beer, console one another about Pernod-soaked catastrophes in our salad days, wistfully recall the Moorcock/Tolkien Weekender and muse on what form it could take in the future (Dannus/Lud-in-the-Mist Premier Inn Takeover anyone?*). 
You can find The Grognard Files on all good podcatchers and be sure to read the full Richard Glyn Jones blog post on New Worlds.
*#FUCKINGDANNUS

The Fireclown (The Winds of Limbo)

Andy Darby shakes off the Monkey for an evening and drops by D and Ts to take a look at one of Moorcock's 60s SF tales, The Fireclown (later retitled The Winds of Limbo but I'm sticking with the original title for vaguely defined reasons related to being old and finnicky).
Strap in for a political thriller laced with astute observations on the natures of media and personality politics, the odd sprinkling of futurism and some oddly prescient sort-of predictions.
Check out Andy's brace of psychedelic, acid-laced adventures about a poorly-behaved Monkey taking on the illuminati, worm-holes and Lovecraftian horrors.