MY VERY FIRST READER!

Today is quite a notable day. I received my first feedback regarding the DM for a real reader! Jackie, who describes herself (somewhat harshly) as a ‘humble Waterstone's bookseller’ came by a bookproof of the DM from Ron at Quercus. This is what Jackie said:

‘Hope you are fine and dandy! Well - the Demi-Monde is read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the quirkiness of the premise that you were reading an old-fashioned tale of peril and derring-do but within this incredibly well-thought out and constructed futuristic parallel world. It was kind of like the Eagle Annual fused with Neuromancer! The integration of the factual information regarding Demi-Monde and the socio-political/racial components of each zone was inspired and I liked the way that this information was introduced at a steady pace and in a non-intrusive way, whilst keeping you submerged in the central plot. I thought the characterisation was remarkable both in relation to the actual historical figures and the pure fictional constructs from the evil and oily Heydrich/Crowley, to intensely annoying Trixie, the loathsome but comical Burlesque and the wonderful duo of Ella and Vanka - the Dempsey and Makepeace of the Demi-Monde...well maybe not! My only slight criticism would be that the siege of Warsaw section does seem to go on as long as the actual siege of Warsaw but having said that that's not bad only having one criticism! I know it's a bit of a cliché but I was genuinely upset to reach the end of it as it's going to be ages before Part 2 if this isn't out until January (DM 2 is scheduled for January 2012, Rod). I have been whipping up a frenzy of excitement about it at work and there's at least 4 other booksellers who want to read it so if you fancy sending any additional copies to the shop that would be great. It would be good to get 'The Demi-Monde' train on the track as this is perfect for 'fiction' readers who embraced 'The Passage' despite its futuristic bent and I think this could certainly tap into the same market.’

What a nice girl! And very perceptive too if her comment re Vanka and Ella is anything to go by. It will be interesting to see if other readers have the same opinion about the Warsaw section of the book. I’ll also have to read Neuromancer to check out Jackie’s comment regarding the DM being a fusion of that and the Eagle Annual (now bringing Dan Dare into the DM would be a real blast!).

Anyway it’s great to see that the DM is jingling some jangles...writing’s quite a lonely operation and it’s easy to slide into the frame of mind that what you’re writing is crap, so unsolicited words of the kind kind are always gratefully received.

Many thanks, Jackie!