I listen to a lot of film scores when I write, and Bernard Herrmann is among my favourite film composers of the golden age of cinema. His score for Mysterious Island, is one of many Fantasy scores that he did for Ray Harryhausen movies.

Tribute Film Classics recently debuted on the film score scene as a new soundtrack label, re-recording classic film scores in their entirety. Mysterious Island was previously released by CD label Cloud Nine, fourteen years ago! It’s long out of print, and once of many Herrmann scores in my collection.

This new – complete – version by Tribute features nearly an hour and ten minutes of Herrmann’s classic Fantasy score. Many tracks have never been heard, outside from viewing the film, and it’s a revelation to hear the intricacies of score cues that are new to the ears. Pure awe and wonder from track-to-track.

My favourite track, the most famous, is called ‘The Bird’. It runs 2mins43seconds and is a frantic Scherzo-type piece that is heavy on brass, with contrasting rhythms that resonate with booming low-tones, typical of Herrmann’s psychological film music. It’s a great listen, and great music to write to.

Just got back from town – after an exhausting Saturday rush, my legs like jelly and my body aching with all the walking I’ve done (nothing in Nottingham is flat!). Nipped into my favourite antiquarian book shop and browsed the Fantasy section like a kid in a candy store.

I bought a big tome of a Fantasy encyclopedia. It retailed at £50 originally, a massive, oversized hardback book, over 1,000 pages of tiny text – it’s long out of print – and I got it for £18, so I’m well chuffed that I was able to pick it up.

It covers every aspect of the Fantasy genre, and is absolutely mind-numbing with the detail of its entries. The scope is pretty huge. It defines a lot of elements that you find in Fantasy fiction, so it’s a total resource for my Fantasy writing. It’s very inspiring to be able to read in detail certain elements that set the imagination going.

This huge volume is the first comprehensive encyclopedia of the fantasy field. It will prove to be the definitive guide for years to come, not only describing the genre, but redefining it – offering an exciting new analysis of this highly diverse and hugely popular sphere of literature, from precursors such as Shakespeare and Dante, through Lewis Carroll, George MacDonald and L. Frank Baum to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and their modern successors, like Ursula K. Le Guin, Peter S. Beagle, Stephen R. Donaldson and Jostein Gaarder.

With over 4,000 entries and over 1 million words, it covers every aspect of fantasy – in literature, films, television, opera, art and comics. Written and compiled by a team of editors with unparalleled collective experience in the field, it will be an invaluable reference work not only for anyone with an interest in how elements of the fantastic are used in the imaginative arts.

‘Its scholarship is immaculate, its enthusiasm profound’
The Times

‘Superb; accurate, detailed, critical’
New Statesman & Society

‘The best reference book on its subject to appear’
Washington Post

‘Scholarly, accurate, detailed, critical and interesting … an essential purchase’
TLS

‘Excellent’
Literary Review

Writing it was completely different to what I’ve written before. In 2006 I wrote a few Fantasy stories, but never pursued it. Now I can’t wait to write another! I’ll drum up a few notes tonight. I’ve already got a cool title and general idea of what the next short story will be.

I’m going to revise ARENA OF TITANS a couple of times until I’ve got it exactly how I want it, word-perfect.

In a volcanic cavern a great, awakening beast brings to life all that is violent and base in the enchanted land of Corona. Nothing will remain unscathed.

In the tiny settlement of Dundalis a savage, merciless attack by the creatures of the night leaves two orphans, Pony and her friend Elbryan, trying to rebuild shattered lives. Barely more than children their lives teeter between despair and destiny.

And on a far-off island, an order of monks discovers a new source of magic. A magic that carries the key to all that is good in the world … and all that is evil.

I thought that as I’ve read two David Gemmell books back-to-back, I might as well give another Fantasy author a try. So I chose R.A. Salvatore, as I’ve heard he’s very good! It’s a whopping big book, over 600 pages, with a tiny font (220,000+ words), so I’ve no idea how long it’ll take me to read it.

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything, and I’m definitely feeling the urge to write some Fantasy, after reading David Gemmell’s WINTER WARRIORS. To say I’m feeling inspired would be an understatement!

The Legend

Druss, Captain of the Axe: the stories of his life were told everywhere. Instead of the wealth and fame he could have claimed, he had chosen a mountain lair, high in the lonely country bordering on the clouds. There the grizzled old warrior kept company with snow leopards and awaited his old enemy death.

The Fortress

Mighty Dross Delnoch, protected by six outer walls, the only route by which an army could pass through the mountains. It was the stronghold of the Drenai empire. And now it was the last battleground, for all else had fallen before the Nadir hordes.

And hope rested on the skills of that one old man …

After I enjoyed reading Gemmell’s WINTER WARRIORS, I immediately went out and bought seven more David Gemmell books. I aim to read all of his Fantasy fiction in 2008.

LEGEND is legend, from what I’ve read about it. Gemmell’s first book, written when he was erroneously diagnosed with cancer; he put his heart and soul into a book – which is literally a metaphor about death – and wrote LEGEND. Can’t wait to finish this beauty!

The prophecy was clear. Upon the death of three kings the world will be plunged into chaos, and all the cast-out demons of history will return to bring blood and horror to the world.Two of the kings are dead. The third, about to be born, is hunted by the Demon Riders of the Krayakin, Lords of the Undead.

All the terrifying forces of evil range against a pregnant queen at bay in a haunted forest. But she is not alone. Three warriors stand with her: the last remnants of the once proud Drenai army. Three old men, ancient heroes, discarded by the king; Nogusta the Swordsman, Kebra the Bowman, and the hulking fighter, Bison.

The fate of the empire rests on their fading skills as they journey through a tormented world on a perilous quest to save the unborn king.

As it’d been a whilse since I’d read anything, I noticed WINTER WARRIORS on my bookcase, and thought, why not, it might be good. And it is brilliant so far! David Gemmell’s style is amazing.