Launch party

We've been up in London for the launch of DARKLAND and of Neal Asher's latest book THE VOYAGE OF THE SABLE KEECH. This was held in the Phoenix Arts Club and I was philosophical about people showing up, because Gollancz had its authors' party on the same night, at the rather more prestigious Wallace Collection. However, we kicked off at 6.30 and the next time I looked at my watch, it was 10 pm. Lots of folk there and I will shamelessly namecheck Tanith Lee and John Kaiine, Chris and Leight Priest, Graham Joyce, Stephen Baxter, Paul McAuley, Geoff Ryman, Robert Holdstock, Alastair Reynolds, Pat Cadigan and Chris, and many more. I had some good conversations and congratulations to Lavie Tidhar for his new book.

And it was great for T to meet everyone at last, too.

A huge thank you to everyone for coming, and for Tor Macmillan for hosting this. It was a lovely evening. We bailed out about midnight and got a taxi back to Greenwich, and woke feeling a lot better than we should have done. It's been an average week so far - new mortgage, new book, new shop, new lodger, new dog and the forthcoming appearance in this household of the proprietor of Carnival El Diablo on Sunday will only complete matters: my life is a circus. Rock on.