An Occupation of Angels Launch - 02.12.05

Sweating I was, hoping and praying that the book would make it... thankfully it did, albeit without the back cover.

I left Bridgend whilst it rained, and arrived in London Paddington and it was still raining - was this to be a portent of the night ahead

Almost exactly to the day since I arrived at a BFS Open Night for the launch of Stuart Young's book, and about the fourth journey to the big smoke in about three years, I actually got the hang of the tube. I'll probably forget by next year...

With my rucksack of thirty books strapped to my back, I jostled my way past tourists - I wasn't a tourist, I looked like a normal London citizen, honest... - I tried to find Forbidden Planet. And could I? Could I fuck... don't ask me why, but I just couldn't place it. I know, it's only like the biggest Forbidden Planet in the country.

Anyway, time was a-getting on and onto the Arran - my hotel of choice (cos it's cheap) for the last three journeys. I had already agreed to meet up with Mark Samuels, so I just took a cup of tea, shower and waited.

Mark turned up along with his wife Adrianna, and we strolled to the pub - The Devereux, just off The Strand down an alleyway opposite the Law Courts. And yes, it started to rain. We jumped on a bus and, you know what, it was probably quicker to walk. :)

We eventually got to the pub, and it was full to heaving - lawyer types, finished for the day and a quick pint or two before going home to Surrey. It wasn't as if it was a huge amount of people, more like the pub was very small. Managed to get served, then bumped into Gary Couzens, Pam Crais, then Ben Baldwin (superb cover artist, commission him now) turned up along with this girlfriend and her sisters, followed by Chris Fowler looking for someone.

Unfortunately, we were quickly told by staff that the room upstairs had a party and it was over-running... we eventually got up there after an hour. And dear God there were a few of us... but no Lavie.

Where the fucking hell was Lavie?

Phew... found him, don't know where he was, but I spied him.

Upstairs, also saw Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane, along with Dave Howe who became Master of Ceremonies, and Matthew "Garth Merenghi" Holness, Andrew Hook of Elastic Press and Allen Ashley. Pete Crowther of PS Publishing and Bob Wardzinski of Talking Dead eventually turned up, and all in all I'd say at least a hundred people were crammed inside the room.

Mingling, selling, yes selling - woo-hoo, I actually sold out, which I am extremely thankful for to one and all of you, and so is Lavie who should be receiving a cheque at some point in the new year, well, Spring time. :)

And then we got to the raffle, and I didn't win. What a bloody surprise! And after the raffle, a little bit more selling, mingling and gradually getting drunker. How good it was to find a pub that served a decent pint of Guinness.

The hours wound on, and I got to meet Michael Marshall Smith - I wish I brought along my copy of Lonely Dead to sign...

I also met Alex [surname omitted due to memory] who is the Literature Officer for Nottingham County Council, who intends to run a horror/sf day in Derby next year: should be interesting, more details forthcoming...

Anyway, as we approached eleven o'clock the crowd dwindled and by half past I was out the door myself - catching the tube back to bed. Unfortunately, I couldn't sleep: police sirens, ambulance, fire engines. It was all go that night outside on Gower Street.

I awoke on Saturday just wanting to go home, but ended up wandering the streets of London waiting for my train... which was delayed, but I got a seat and was soon on my way.

Overall, it was a great evening - all the better because you lovely people bought a book - and now the photographs:

An assembly of rogues...

Marie loves her new teddy

Lavie tries to remember his own name

Bob Wardzinski and the "catalogue pose"

Alas... Hook and Young

Pete Crowther and Lavie Tidhar... at a slight angle...

Oh the horror!!

Pendragon Press, Po Box 12, Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan, South Wales, CF34 0XG
chris@pendragonpress.co.uk