I hope you enjoy the book. In a disgraceful piece of shameless self-promotion, I should add that there is a facebook page and a SCS website, which are no more sensible than the novels. There’s also a film trailer for the second book somewhere, all about tea.

Anyway, it’s been a pleasure being here – keep up the good work!

The handlebar moustache is due a comeback in fashion any day soon. Capes, canes, hats, pocket watches, robes and full length jackets are on the way back too. Sir Patrick Moore has been couragously single handedly fighting for the monocle for years now.

Thanks for posting Toby. For what its worth, i think the cover is jolly good. But I think Smiths quirky smile on the covers of the sequels makes them way more epic.

I’ve never tried to grow a moustache quite like that, for fear that my efforts would not be manly enough, thus letting the side down. A friend of mine once turned up at a book signing having grown an impressive moustache, but it did make him look as slightly if he’d changed his name to Sven and gone into the washing-machine repair business.

Perhaps I should grow a handlebar moustache. My author photo would look even more foolish than ever, but it might be good for marketing. Hmm, I see a plan taking shape…

Thanks for posting! It was a slow day when we posted this one and I had a few of my friends mock me for it, seeing as it is comedy! And it was clear how much they loved it. So a pleasure to see you. Also because it has a low rating and people generally enjoyed it we don’t have to defend ourselves too much!

Please tell me at some stage you have tried to grow a moustache like that!

I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you: it isn’t me at all. In reality I look much less spiffing than that.

Otherwise, given that the book is a comedy about space Victorians fighting giant ant-people, it’s fairly accurate (there’s a good deal of parody of old Boy’s Own-type adventures, Dan Dare and the like). I think I would have made the laser gun a bit bigger though. And added some robots, but then there’s a reason they don’t let me do the cover art (and there’s a robot on the cover of the sequel anyway).

I think the artist did a worryingly good job of depicting the sort of thing that goes on in my brain, and looking at it as objectively as I can, I don’t think the cover is bad at all. For anyone with any remaining doubts, I’d suggest you buy a copy. Or three. Hell, buy five. I’m saving up for a yacht.

Regards,

Toby.

Have a look at his profile over at Fantastic Fiction and see what you think. Toby’s close up at the top, series’ book covers further down the page.

Come on Toby, let it be you. Be a legend.

we did have an author pose for one of my favourites so far:
http://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/2009/03/holysiege/

Nigel posed for that one.