Roll on 2024!
What I Did In 2023
COMMANDO: DUEL IN THE DARK
2023 has been a great year for expanding my experience of writing comics, with the Rivers of London: Here Be Dragons miniseries published this past summer. But I couldn’t miss an opportunity to do another story for Commando, my sixth for D.C. Thompson’s long-running war comic series – and out today is issue #5707, a Cold War-era story set during the early years of the Space Age entitled “Duel in the Dark”…
In the early years of the Space Race, as the United States of America and the Soviet Union challenge one another for dominance of the ‘High Frontier’, two Air Force astronauts find themselves trapped in a dying space capsule when an out-of-control Russian weapon threatens to spark World War III…
For those of you unfamiliar with Commando, it’s one of Britain’s longest-running comics, first published in 1961. Four issues are published every two weeks in a ‘digest’ format, each featuring a single, complete 63-page story – two all-new tales and two reprints. Commando carries on the tradition of two-fisted, action-packed adventure comics, with wartime dramas in the tradition of movies like Where Eagles Dare or 633 Squadron.
The cover for “Duel in the Dark” is another great piece of work by Neil Roberts, with interior art by Gary Welsh.
I’d been kicking around the idea of pitching a space age Commando story for a while, after reading about the aborted space programs of the US Air Force from the late 1950s and early 1960s – specifically the Dyna-Soar spaceplane and the “Blue Gemini” and Manned Orbital Laboratory. At the time, the USAF were developing their own military space projects alongside the civilian NASA agency, born out of the Cold War conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, who at that time were the world’s only space powers.
Based on NASA’s two-man Gemini space capsules, the plans for the so-called Blue Gemini were to create a larger, modified version of the craft for USAF operation – perhaps, as some observers suggested, one that might eventually be equipped with weapons! In tandem, the USAF were working on the Manned Orbital Laboratory (or MOL), a small space station that purported to be a base for low gravity science experiments – but this was the cover for the MOL’s true mission as a space observation platform, from which America could spy on the USSR. Russia also had its own military space projects in development, including the Almaz, an armed platform designed to destroy enemy satellites in orbit, which was allegedly live-fire tested in space in the 1970s.
Perhaps for the better, Blue Gemini, the MOL and the Dyna-Soar projects never went the distance, cancelled when it became clear that unmanned spy satellites could fulfill the same missions for a fraction of the cost – and the high frontier of space did not (at least for now) turn into another Cold War battleground, with many of the astronauts trained for the project transferring over to the early Space Shuttle program at NASA.
I was inspired by watching the brilliant alternate-history space drama series For All Mankind (currently in its 4th season on Apple TV+) and I returned to my original idea for a story. My Commando comic posits a different take on real events, where the US and Soviet military space programs continued onward, leading to the deadly confrontation that takes place in “Duel in the Dark“.
Although the story is fiction, I tried to draw from reality wherever I could – for example, the scene where KGB agents secretly record their conversation with the American astronauts and run out of tape is based on a moment that actually happened to some of NASA’s Apollo mission crewmen. I took a few dramatic liberties to make the narrative flow, but in the writing of this comic I had a great time delving into the history of these lost space endeavours and I hope that shines through in the story.
If you’d like to know more about these programs, check out this Discovery Channel documentary on YouTube. For more in-depth detail, I recommend reading The Dorian Files Revealed from the Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance and Bill Rose’s Secret Projects: Military Space Technology, both of which were invaluable resources while researching this story.
For more about “Duel in the Dark”, follow this link or go here to visit the official Commando website. You can also check out details of the other Commando stories I’ve written here; and I’m pleased to say I’ll be back with more Commando adventures in 2024 – keep an eye on this blog for further information…
STAR TREK: THE POISONED CHALICE 10th ANNIVERSARY
Ten years ago this month, I got to be a part of an exciting event in the Star Trek literary universe; my novel The Poisoned Chalice formed the penultimate chapter of a five-part miniseries called The Fall, an epic cross-over event that pulled in characters from all across the then-current line of Star Trek tie-in fiction.
The events of The Fall take place across a period of sixty days in the year 2385, beginning on the “new” DS9 space station in Revelation and Dust by David R. George III, when an assassination causes shockwaves around the galaxy; in The Crimson Shadow by Una McCormack, the action moves to political fallout on Cardassia Prime; David Mack’s A Ceremony of Losses touches on the events as they connect to a population crisis among the Andorians; my novel The Poisoned Chalice kick things into high gear as the clandestine forces behind the incident show their hand; and finally, Peaceable Kingdoms by Dayton Ward brings the whole series to a dramatic, thrilling conclusion.
The Fall builds on narratives established beforehand in the Star Trek: Typhon Pact series of novels and the Star Trek: The Next Generation – Cold Equations trilogy (along with a few other earlier ‘litverse’ tales), but at its heart it’s a mosaic story showing how the lives of different characters are affected by the aftershock of a terrible event and the discovery of the conspiracy underpinning it. The Fall details an existential crisis for the United Federation of Planets and a clash of ideals that ultimately puts its core fundamental principles to the test.
I had a great experience working on this series; we assembled a virtual “writers room” not unlike what would have been created for a TV series, building out on a project that was first pitched back in the Summer of 2012 by editor Margaret Clark; Margaret’s germ of an idea was to give the Star Trek literary universe its very own “Archduke Ferdinand” moment, in echo of the event that lead to the First World War.
Opening with David R. George III’s novel – which was also the 20th Anniversary Deep Space Nine story, The Fall occurs during the period it takes for the United Federation to choose a new President. We had to dig deep into the fictional workings of the UFP’s political system to make it work, as well as juggling plotlines that ran all over the Star Trek galaxy; David Mack created a huge timeline spreadsheet that became our shared work document, as we broke the storyline down into day-by-day (sometimes hour-by-hour) events to make sure everything dovetailed together.
As for the collective title for the series, as my colleague and fellow Brit Una McCormack noted, it was originally a placeholder to designate a release date, but Una and I “didn’t realize she simply meant the books due to come out in autumn, and immediately said, ‘Brilliant title!’”
The back-cover blurb for my contribution reads as follows:
One simple act, and the troubles of the United Federation of Planets have grown darker overnight. The mystery behind the heinous terrorist attack that has rocked the Federation to its core grows ever deeper, and William T. Riker finds himself beset by rumours and half-truths as the USS Titan is ordered back to Earth on emergency orders from the admiralty.
Soon, Riker finds himself drawn into a game of political intrigue, bearing witness to members of Starfleet being detained – including people he considered friends – pending an investigation at the highest levels. And while Riker tries to navigate the corridors of power, Titan‘s tactical officer, Tuvok, is given a series of clandestine orders that lead him into a grey world of secrets, lies, and deniable operations.
Who can be trusted when the law falls silent and justice becomes a quest for revenge? For the crew of the USS Titan, the search for answers will become a battle for every ideal the Federation stands for…
While The Poisoned Chalice isn’t branded as one, it was my intention as the author that it would also very much be a part of the Star Trek: Titan book series, placing it chronologically between Michael A. Martin’s Fallen Gods and John Jackson Miller’s Absent Enemies. I enjoyed writing a Star Trek political thriller in the style of a Tom Clancy novel, with drama in the corridors of power mirroring boots-on-the-ground action sequences. My touchstone was Clancy’s Clear and Present Danger, and you’ll find a deliberate nod to the movie version of that story in Will Riker’s confrontation with President Pro-Tem Ishan Anjar at the end of The Poisoned Chalice, which I wrote to echo Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan in the climactic scene in the Oval Office.
The Poisoned Chalice became my 3rd New York Times bestseller, and the book remains one of my favourite Star Trek projects, not just because of the challenge it was to write, but because of the great experience I had collaborating with Margaret, David, Una, David and Dayton. I’m proud to have been a part of it.
Star Trek: The Fall – The Poisoned Chalice is now out of print in paperback, but the eBook is still available along with the other four books in the series from publishers Simon & Schuster – you can find them all right here.
60 Years In The TARDIS
Today marks the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, the BBC’s long-running adventure drama featuring the renegade timelord known as The Doctor, who travels through all of time and space in a battered blue police box…otherwise known as the TARDIS.
Growing up British with strong geek genes like I did, I couldn’t avoid the iconic presence of the Doctor’s escapades – mine was the Tom Baker/Peter Davison era – but I never suspected back then what would happen, as I hid behind the sofa from Dalek exterminations and invasions of Cybermen. In the early 2000s, I got to write a story for the Doctor, an audio drama for Big Finish Productions titled Singularity, and it remains a career highlight for me.
After Singularity, I wrote more audios (Kingdom of Silver, Old Soldiers, Shockwave, and Cyberman 2), a novel (Peacemaker) and several short stories (including Museum Peace, which was later made into an audio book). You can find out more about them by clicking on the individual title links, or see all my Doctor Who-related projects here.
It’s been great to be a part of the huge Who-niverse of stories – I got to meet and work with some incredible, talented people, it’s been a real gift. And after six decades of adventures, the Doctor shows no signs of slowing down – so here’s to more of the same!
DARK HORIZON is out in paperback!
My latest thriller DARK HORIZON is now out in the world in an all-new paperback edition!
I’ve had great reader feedback on this book and I’m hoping to build on that audience still further with this new release – DARK HORIZON is a fast-paced, action-packed story, and if you’ve enjoyed my Marc Dane novels and my previous stand-alone AIRSIDE, this is one for you…
Only a handful of people know the reason why pilot Kate Hood left the military in disgrace… But to keep her secrets, she must take a last-minute assignment to fly a covert cargo out of the country to a non-extradition nation, with no questions asked. The cargo is a prisoner who swears he is an innocent man. As Kate races through the night, a team of ruthless assassins are hunting the people she cares about, forcing the pilot to divert her aircraft. But is the endgame to liberate the captive – or kill him?
If you didn’t pick up DARK HORIZON in hardcover or digital format, the paperback is the perfect opportunity to jump in (or add it to your seasonal gift list for the thriller fan in your life)… As well being available from your local independent bookstores, via Amazon or Bookshop.org, DARK HORIZON will be on sale in Waterstones, Asda, and branches of WH Smith on the high street, train stations and (fittingly!) airports!
RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #4 AUTHOR’S NOTES
The final issue of Here Be Dragons is out now, published by Titan Comics and set in the world of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London – part urban fantasy, part modern-day police procedural.
Written by me, with guidance from Ben, script editor Andrew Cartmel (Doctor Who, The Vinyl Detective series) and senior editor David Leach (Death’s Head, Warhide), the story features interior art by José María Beroy (Deadman, Star Trek, Heavy Metal) and an exciting cover by V. V. Glass (Kamen Rider Zero One, Blade Runner: Black Lotus).
In the last issue, magic cop Peter Grant’s investigation into a series of attacks by a dragon-like wyvern uncovered connections to the Fey, legendary rock star Jimi Hendrix and the iconic Centre Point skyscraper – but with time running out, Peter must find a way to contain the creatures…or destroy them.
With Here Be Dragons I’m posting an “author commentary” piece to highlight and annotate some of the concepts that appear in the comics.
Spoiler Warning! These notes give away story points from issue #4 of Rivers of London: Here Be Dragons and other stories from the Rivers series!
The title of issue #4 is “All Along the Watchtower”, once more referencing a famous (and my personal favourite) song by Jimi Hendrix.
P.3 – The “hunters” Peter mentions are seen in the Rivers of London comic miniseries Cry Fox. I had originally planned for them to appear in this story, but that subplot was cut for length (early promo text for this series still mentions them).
P.4 – Peter calls his father – jazz trumpeter Richard ‘Lord’ Grant – for information on the life and times of Jimi Hendrix. Off this, he tracks down ex-roadie Plugs after visiting key London locations from Hendrix’s life – his flat on Brook Street in Mayfair, the Bag O’ Nails rock club, the former Olympic recording studios and the Samarkand Hotel, where Hendrix died from an overdose of sleeping pills.
P.6 – As we did in issue #3 to suggest the alternative universe of the Fey realms, the art style here shifts to something in the style of Roger Dean (notable for his work on many a prog rock album cover) and French comics artist Jean “Moebius” Giraud.
P.8 – Jimi Hendrix’s custom-made Gibson Flying V guitar appears briefly in issue #3, but it plays a bigger role in this part of the story. Nicknamed “The Black Angel”, it is (as seen later on P.11) on display in London’s Hard Rock Café. Modified for Hendrix’s left-handed playing style, it features gold-plated hardware and pearlescent ‘arrow’ inlays.
P.11 – The Hard Rock Café’s vault museum – which literally is a former bank vault – contains several legendary items of music memorabilia, including a few of Hendrix’s guitars. The magical effects surrounding the Flying V are, fittingly, a purple haze.
P.13 – Rivers of London fan-favourites Molly the maid and Toby the dog get walk-ons here; Toby’s pose mimics that of Nipper, the dog from the painting ‘His Master’s Voice’ by Francis Barraud, which later became an advertising icon. Danny Philo and the helicopter crew from issue #1 play Hendrix’s “Dolly Dagger” over India 99’s ‘Skyshout’ public address system.
P.14 – Millwall Stadium (also known as ‘The Den’) is home of one of London’s most notorious football clubs, and I chose it as the venue for the climax of the story. Frank Caffery first appears in the novel Rivers of London, and here he’s fulfilling his role as the man Peter calls when it’s time for the big guns. Frank references Godzilla and Game of Thrones in his question about the naming of the operation, but Peter chooses a designation that nods toward Hendrix’s song.
P.18 – Peter’s line “No, I don’t think I will” deliberately echoes Old Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame (even though technically, Here Be Dragons is set before that movie came out…)
P.19 – Peter suggests here that the dress sense of the High Fae bears a similarity to that of characters from the videogame World of Warcraft.
P.21 – Beverly Brook’s t-shirt is of course, from Star Trek: Discovery; her comment about a “furry jockstrap and a helmet with horns on it” is an oblique reference to the Marvel comic-book depiction of Conan the Barbarian.
P.22 – The Welsh radio announcer’s dialogue is: “This is BBC Radio Wales, continuing our tribute to Jimi Hendrix with this next classic, ‘Voodoo Child’…” I’d like to give a big thank-you to Wales’s noble son Gav Murphy for stepping in to vet the text for authenticity.
For more details on Rivers of London: Here Be Dragons, click Here or visit Titan Comics.
