Way back in the distant days of 1988, I started running a pencil and paper roleplaying game campaign that would go on to last over a decade, based on the world of Cyberpunk, a sci-fi RPG produced by R.Talsorian Games. One of my players was Adam Rosser, who has since gone on to become the award-winning producer-presenter behind BBC Radio Five Live's Game On, and I've been pleased to be a regular voice on his show talking about my work in the games industry and as a prose writer.
In this week's show, m'colleague Adam has interviewed me about Ghost, the new novel in my Marc Dane series of action-thrillers, and we talk about the challenges of writing of fiction against the backdrop of a real world filled with geopolitical intrigue, and making the thriller work in a post-Cold War era.
And with the recent unveiling of the first full trailer for Cyberpunk 2077, a videogame based on that original RPG we loved so much, Adam and I could not let the opportunity pass to talk about our hopes for this upcoming release.
Check out the episode here via the BBC Radio Five Live website, which will be available to download for the next thirty days.
Game On - James Swallow, old school cyberpunk
The third book in James Swallow's 'Marc Dane Series' - Ghost - is out now and he joins Adam Rosser to talk about building a technothriller series and then two old chombattas cast a rheumy Kiroshi optic over 'Cyberpunk 2077'...
Last month I was over in Sweden to visit the offices of Ubisoft Massive in Malmo, one of the developers of The Division 2 - the sequel to the hit game from the Tom Clancy franchise, which will be out on all platforms in March next year.
This week was the big E3 videogames trade show and the first official trailer for The Division 2 dropped...
...along with some in-game footage showing one of the games "control point" side missions. I got to play through this myself while I was in Malmo, and it was pretty cool. As a fan of the first game, I'm looking forward to this new iteration of the franchise.
I'm excited to be contributing some scripts to this game, joining a team made up of several great writers and talented, passionate developers. The elements I'm working on haven't been revealed at this point, but I'm sure I'll be talking more about it in the months ahead. Also, just to clarify as some folks have been asking - I'm not currently working on a novel or a comic tie-in... although that would be cool!
To learn more about The Division 2, check out the official website right Here.
Another week, another new release! I'm pleased to announce that Fear Itself, the latest tie-in novel based on the TV series Star Trek: Discovery is out now in the USA in trade paperback, digital and audiobook editions (the rest of the world will get it in the next week or so!) This has been a unique book to work on, from signing on to the gig over a year ago and working alongside the writers and production team on Discovery to today's publication; Fear Itself is an original story set before the events of the series, centered on the character of Saru, and I've worked to create something that I hope will dovetail with the show and expand readers' understanding of the series - along with an exciting adventure in true Star Trek style...
Lieutenant Saru is a Kelpien, a member of a prey species born on a world overrun by monstrous predators…and a being who very intimately understands the nature of fear.
Challenged on all sides, he is determined to surpass his origins and succeed as a Starfleet officer aboard the U.S.S. Shenzhou.
But when Saru breaks protocol in order to prove himself to his crewmates, what begins as a vital rescue mission to save a vessel in distress soon escalates out of control.
Forced into a command role he may not be ready for, Saru is caught between his duty and the conflicting agendas of two antagonistic alien races.
To survive, he will need to seek a path of peace against all odds, and risk compromising the very ideals he has sworn to uphold….
Earlier this week, the good folks over at TrekMovie.com posted an interview with me, where I talk in greater detail about the book, my experiences writing it, the challenges of working alongside an ongoing TV production and more. To read the interview, click Here.
And for more details on Star Trek: Discovery - Fear Itself, check out the official page for the novel at the Simon & Schuster website right Here.
It gives me a great pleasure to say today is release day for GHOST, the third novel in my bestselling thriller series!
The action in GHOST continues the adventures of ex-MI6 officer and hacker-turned-hero Marc Dane, and the previous books in the series – NOMAD and EXILE – were hits on the Sunday Times, Irish Times and Amazon bestseller lists, so I’m hoping GHOST can catch fire with audiences in the same way! GHOST is out now in a hardcover edition, export trade paperback version and digital eBook from Bonnier Zaffre.
In
this story, I tackle ideas about how hacker attacks and digital warfare
impact the real world, as Marc Dane and the Rubicon team deal with
deception and new dangers. I have to say, writing GHOST was a
challenging experience; who knew it would
be so tough to create a modern-day thriller in a
time when actual real-world events seem to be outstripping fiction?
But that said, I had a blast writing this novel
and I’m hoping that energy comes through in the prose. I’m very proud of
this novel and I want to thank the team at Bonnier Zaffre and United
Agents, and my friends and family for their support during the project –
especially my dad. This one’s for you, Pop.
A BRUTAL ASSASSINATION IN A SILENT CITY.
A DEVASTATING BETRAYAL AT THE HEART OF A COVERT STRIKE FORCE.
A DEADLY PURSUIT ACROSS A DIGITAL BATTLEFIELD.
A RUTHLESS TERRORIST FUELLED BY REVENGE.
When a shattering betrayal strikes at the heart of the Rubicon team, Marc Dane and his partner – ex-Special Forces sniper Lucy Keyes – must uncover the plot of a deadly cadre of digital terrorists.
These ‘ghosts’ plan to use their terrible virtual weapons against vulnerable civilian targets; but is this elite team of hackers merely out to spread chaos and destruction, selling their skills to the highest bidder? Or is there a deeper, more personal agenda at work?
As devastating attacks unfold across the globe – power grids crippled, cities blacked out, trains crashed and riots triggered – Marc must call on all his skills and ingenuity to track down the mysterious figure behind it all – a faceless criminal known only as “Madrigal”...
Before they plunge the world into war...
Marc Dane returns in the explosive new thriller from the internationally bestselling author of NOMAD and EXILE...
Visit ReadersFirst to download a pdf of the first two chapters of GHOST.
To order a copy of GHOST, click Here or check out the official website of the series at WhoIsMarcDane.com.
And a reminder that I'll be signing books and talking about the novel in conversation with my fellow author Ben Aaronovitch (creator of the Rivers of London series) at Waterstones Bromley bookstore on Thursday 7th June at 6.30pm. Details about the event can be found Here.
To keep up to date on the Marc Dane, click on the tab on the top right of this page ("Sign Up For Free!") to join the Reader's Club mailing list.
My new thriller novel Ghost will be on sale at the end of this month, and to celebrate I'll be taking part in a launch event on Thursday 7th June at 6.30pm, at Waterstones Bromley.
My fellow author Ben Aaronovitch (creator of the Rivers of London series) will be interviewing me about the writing of my books, followed by an open Q&A and book signing. There will be wine, door prizes and giveaways – including copies of Ghost and the previous books in the series, the Sunday Times bestsellers Nomad and Exile.
I've had great support for these novels from readers and my publishers at Bonnier Zaffre, and we're hoping Ghost will be a success too! You can check out more about the book at Readers First, including a downloadable sample of the first two chapters.
The launch event is free to attend, and you can call the bookshop for more information on 02084606037 or just come along!
Here's a link to the event page at Waterstones Bromley, and here's another with directions to the store location.
