Regular readers of this website will know that I am a fan of Neil Gaiman. In fact, I class him as my favourite author, so it is quite a big deal for me to hear that his latest novel, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is to be released on June 18th 2013!

As well as that, the publishers have released the cover, which is stunning. This is the US cover, which might change for the UK edition, but there is no word of that yet.

This is Gaiman's first adult novel in nearly 8 years. If you haven't read his most famous novel, American Gods, do it now. It's a fairly hefty tome, so you'll probably be finished just in time for his new one!

Read on for the cover...

Afterlife Inc., a comic book series by Jon Lock, is the ongoing tale of Jack Fortune who, after being brutally murdered, takes control of an afterlife in ruins.

We reviewed the first book in the series a few months back, and, as you can see, we loved it! Now Jon and his team of artists are using Kickstarter to publish volume 3, and you can help make it happen.

If you haven't read any Afterlife Inc. yet, then we suggest you head on over to the website where you can browse many of the stories that feature in the books.

Read on for more info and a great video from Jon...

October is the start of the scary season. As the dark and the cold start to draw in and the fires are lit, it is the perfect time to read stories of ghosts and ghouls and witches and more.

Here are some recommendations for some less-than-obvious reading choices this Halloween and beyond, that I hope will get you shivering as you read them late at night... by candlelight.

Dodger, the tale of a tosher and all round scamp in Victorian London, is the latest in a long line of Terry Pratchett books to receive a special, stamped and numbered slipcase edition - exclusivley available from Waterstones.

Sweet, dreamy, meandering and somewhat weak on plot, The Long Earth has received mixed reviews since its release in June of this year. I personally enjoyed it, but prefered the concept and whistful tone of the book to the actual story. 

Following on from Snuff, I Shall Wear Midnight and Unseen Academicals, The Long Earth is the fourth Pratchett book in as many years to be released in special, limited edition slip-case. 

UPDATE: The Boy & His Bee has now been launched and is available from the author's shop here. Buy it. Really, do. It is fantastic and kids, parents and bee keepers will all adore it.

This weekend, the 19th & 20th November 2011, sees the launch of a fantastic new children's book – The Boy & His Bee by Jen Smith.

Launching at the Thought Bubble festival in Leeds, The Boy & His Bee is the story of a young boy desperate for a pet bee, but he soon learns there is more to friendship than freezers and flowers...

Justin Gustainis is without doubt one of the most exciting authors currently writing in the "urban fantasy" genre. His two latest books, Hard Spell and Sympathy For The Devil, have caused quite a stir in the fantasy fiction community and it's easy to see why, Justin's dark sense of humour and darker worlds are engrossing and fantastic fun.

We are happy to present a glimpse into the authors mind, where witchfinders hunt and vampires run riot...

Oh, Jamie Smart, you sick bastard.

I mean that in the nicest way possible, I really do.

Monday 21st February was the start of the newest free webcomic by English cartoonist Jamie Smart.  As with much of his work, Corporate Skull is a strange blend of fun, cute illustrations, messed up characters and copious amounts swearing.

A nice, simple, well made book trailer. That's about all there is to be said and all that needs to be said. Too often trailers for books are too long, boring, or just plain pointless, but I like this one, and I'm looking forward to the book

Here you go...

I Shall Wear Midnight, the latest Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, is set for release on the 2^nd of September. Great news, can't wait.

What is more exciting though, is the release of an extra special, numbered edition which is being released on the same day.

If you have read our review of the graphic novel Grandville by Bryan Talbot, you will know that we loved it. The art work is superb, the story is gripping. Our only complaint was the length. Before you had a chance to really delve into the world Talbot had created, the book finished.

Grandville: Mon Amour, the sequel, will be released in November 2010...

Update: Mon Amour has now been released and you can find our review here

The latest book in the Mortal Engines hexology is a prequel to the original quadrilogy, but it's the sequel in the prequel duology, so that must make it a prequel sequel... I think...

Whatever.

Definitely looking forward to this latest outing by Phillip Reeve, just hope it is back to the glory of the original 4 Mortal Engines books as Fever Crumb was an enjoyable dissapointment.

A Web Of Air by Philip Reeve is published by Scholastic & due for release on April 5th '10

http://www.mortalengines.co.uk/

Update: A Web Of Air is now available from all good bookshops and a Review can be found HERE

I'm a fan of Tim Burton, not a massive fan, but a fair sized fan. I suppose it is his quirky darkness that I like. A collection of illustrations, drawings & paintings by Tim was published this month and it shows off the darkest corners of his vivid imagination, and it looks like a real treat.

The book does have a fair down side though, as the cheaper version of the book is £49.99, whilst the deluxe edition is over the hundred mark! But surely, if you are a big fan of Burton, this is a must buy.

Not sure how much you like Burton? Why not try The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy - a collection of short stories, written & illustrated by Tim Burton and priced at around £5, it's a massive amount cheaper!

http://www.timburton.com/

--Update 26/02/2010--

I have, just today, found out that Tim Burton started his career as an illustrator for Disney, which I suppose would explain his amazing artistic ability and the reason the book works. You may have already known that. I didn't.