OK, no April's Fools jokes here - your webmaster/site designer/newsletter editor is in real anguish. The spring bug has caught me and won't let go. This lovely up and down weather in the States has been screwing with my system like there's no tomorrow and right now I wish there wouldn't be! But through it all, I know you won't rest until the newest issue of Necroscope news hits the stands, so here it is. :)

There are some new additions to the site this month and some subtractions. As you have seen by now, Paul's original Necroscope Artwork is no longer for sale. You snooze - you lose. There is however a new Autograph package in the Store that I'm sure many of you will be happy to see and hear about. Now all of you who have wanted your books signed but couldn't get to a convention to have Brian do it - are in luck.

It also looks like West End Games is officially out of business and the Necroscope RPG along with it. There site is no longer coming up online but I will leave the links on our site until I know for sure.

In case you haven't looked yet, the Necroscope Area on the site has been updated with the new info on Brian's next book, Defilers. Not to bring up any bad discussions or feelings, but even though some might not be happy about it, the cover for Invaders in the US is still going to be the cover for Defilers in the UK. It is not due to be released in the UK until October or so, but I'll have it up on the site as soon as I can. Don't forget, you can also order any of the series right from the pages if you are missing some in your collection. The paperback of Invaders in the US is due this May with the release of Defilers, both of which you can preorder through the site right now!

I wish I had more for you this issue, but my cold isn't allowing it. If anyone else out there is dealing with this flu/cold/bug, I feel your pain. Let's hope next issue I don't. Take care and we'll see you in June with the new look hopefully launched on the site!

Various bits and pieces this time around.

The Czech organizers of Bohemiacon have invited yours truly as Guest of Honor this coming August. Since we've never seen Prague or the Czech Republic (and since of course it is a real honor) Silky and I will go and ... do something different. It probably means I'll need an interpreter, but with my "Geordie" accent I usually need one anyway!

The Czechs have published the first four Necroscopes, and since they are a hit over there I imagine that's the source of the invitation. (I've just signed the contract for No. 5, Deadspawn.)

Oh, yes: and they recently did a collection titled Nekros!

Other things, places:

A Japanese publisher has had me rework the introduction to The Compleat Crow for a new Japanese edition. I'm truly pleased about this because they do such beautiful editions. (I think it was about fifteen years ago that a different outfit -- Kokuscho Kankhokei -- did The Caller of the Black in a gorgeous hardback edition with the original Arkham House Herb Arnold jacket.) But the new publisher will also reprint a recent Tor Cthulhu Mythos collection, with my story Big "C", and they've asked to see the first five book in ... you guessed it: the Necroscope series.

I'm about to sign contracts for the 2nd Necroscope, Wamphyri!, in Germany. The Germans are splitting the books in half and doing them in two volumes per title.

I'm still waiting for the British contracts on Defilers and Avengers from Hodder and Stoughton, and I'm now on to the last four chapters of the latter -- and last -- book.

Some great news: Paul Stanczykowski has won a contract from Hodder and Stoughton; his "staked skull" (what else?) jacket will grace Avengers! I am really delighted for Paul, and Silky will be sending a print of the cover off to Shadoe to put on the site, this is coming soon.

Keith Grant-Evans still has copies of Dangerous Ground for sale. This is a really rocking CD, and carries a couple of voice-overs by yours truly on the first and last tracks. When these CDs are gone they're gone for good. And incidentally, I don't earn a penny from this music ... it was just such a real pleasure to work with these great guys.

I've been trying out your puzzles with great interest, but -- the real brain-teasers are mathematical.

Try this one:

A big square is made up of 64 smaller squares (a four-inch square, equally divided into 64 half-inch squares). The numbers that will fit in these boxes are, obviously, 1 to 64. Put them in order so that the sum of each horizontal and vertical line, and of the two diagonals, all come out to the same total.

If you remember, Harry did this in Necroscope with a simple 4 X 4 square. Maybe that will give you a clue, right?

Have fun--

-- And now I'll Mobius on back into Avengers.

Cheers!

Brian

Fellow Lumlians...

Happy April Fool's Day! Don't do anything too naughty to your family and friends.

Here we are again, two more months gone by. I honestly don't know where they've gone. This has been a really busy period for Brian and myself. I've been spending far too much time in my study, and not by choice...

As you can see from Brian's column there are lots of things on at the moment. A convention in the Czech Republic in August, Vegas and World Fantasy Con in October and, last but certainly not least, Greece. Unfortunately though this year we'll only be doing one trip there.

The April monthly update is now on line as well. Lots of new bits and pieces.

One thing Bri didn't mention was that Tor are discussing the idea of a Brian Lumley/Necroscope Companion. Just talking at this stage. This is rather an expensive project for them so it takes a good deal of time costing and working out whether it's feasible or not. When you talk about using color artwork you are talking $$$$$. If it can be done ... they will do it. So don't be disappointed if nothing happens. This is just us letting you know what's going on and because I get lots of requests asking "is there going to be one?"

As was pointed out to you in the February/March NL, we have in the last year, been bombarded with requests for stickers for your books, and autographed photos. These have been sent our for free. Unfortunately, we can't continue this any longer because of all the time involved, postage fees, cost of photo prints, etc.

So making it's debut with this newsletter. In the Store section of the site you will now be able to purchase what we shall call the Autograph Package. All details are given in the Store.

Art project ... as you can see in the store I am working on a new art project. I'll try to have that up and running by the end of April ... but do give me time ... I can only work on one project at a time. This project is subject to cancellation at anytime. I am doing the costing at this time to determine whether it is feasible to continue in a smaller format.

And on the lighter side...

I'm trying to find some time to get my machine upgraded from Win95 to Win98. I'll need to find two days where I can spend time putting back in all my personal Preferences. Jeeze ... been having many problems though and hope that this will solve most of them. I can't just reinstall 95 because I've got mixed files between Win95 and Win3.11. What a switch over that was. Just about got used to one look and I had to start all over again. Fortunately, I've had a gander at Win98 and looks like a piece of cake to me ... I plan on viewing it in the "classic" mode ... not the browser mode. I hate change. I like what I'm used to and what works. Then there's that saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" But, in this case some of it "is" broke. Ah well ... sigh.

Sorry this is so short this time around. Brian has pretty much covered everything in his column. Not much happening house and garden wise this time of year. But between now and the June NL ... lots will be going on. Tell you all about it come June.

So I'll sign off saying roll on Greece...

Until next time...

Short, but Sweet, and Tasty, and Delicious, and Nourishing, and…

It is only a little over a month away from Brian's new book, Necroscope: Defilers. I prefer to call the book, E-Branch: Defilers even though I live in the USA and will probably never see that title. However, that is what Brian originally titled this final trilogy and that is the one I am sticking with. Nerdy marketing executive thralls be damned! Besides, how many of you lascivious Lumlians took notice at the very end of Necroscope: Invaders, which read:

NEXT: E-BRANCH: DEFILERS!

Hey, I know that I took notice so for me the moniker sticks.

In other Lumley News, I would like to blow a big, wet, slime-dripping, wamphyri-spore-tainted kiss to our newest columnist, Goth Girl! It is absolutely breathtaking to have a woman of such intriguing character and exotic cosmetic sense gracing the pages of this illustrious newsletter. I have followed many of her insightful postings on the www.brianlumley.com messageboards and I can't wait to read what the new Lady of the Stack has to say.

Well, that is all I have for this issue. Stay tuned 'til next week when we bring you the finals of the Miss…err, Mister…um, Thing…uh, WHATEVERTHEHELLITIS Starside Pageant!

What will be, has been.

The Bell Tolls

Well here we are again another newsletter, time flies as we all strive to catch up to it. I don't quite know where this year is going to. It seems like just yesterday when I was waiting for the Olympics to come to Atlanta. Then it was just this afternoon when I couldn't wait for it to be the year 2000. Well now 2000 is here and quickly fading into the past. Pretty soon I will be looking at the last installment of the Necroscope series, that is when I will know an era has certainly past. I know this sounds morose, and I don't mean for it to be, but what can I say? I will miss the series as I know so many others will. I am not too sad though, because with the passing of time we are that much closer to the second installment of Invaders. Defilers will be here soon, and not a moment too soon, I am just about to tear my hair out waiting to find out what will happen. And I know I shouldn't, but I can't wait to see all the evil that this new batch of vampires can hatch up. What can I say, but that it's a cathartic experience, all the stress and hectic rush of life, a little evil read here and there just makes your day a little more fun. Nothing like a little imaginary chaos to make the day seem better. I mean I can always look at my life and say at least I don't live in Starside. Becoming an unwilling participant in a circle of un-death, death and bloodthirst just isn't my cup of tea. I mean its bad enough that I have to be an unwilling participant in the cycle of death. (Although I still entertain hopes of being able to cheat death, without becoming a blood-sucker that is). Well enough of that prattle, as I was saying earlier. The fact that the end of the Necroscope series is fast approaching is not entirely a horrible thing. As much as I will miss it I am confident that after the series is over there will be an all new book and world created by the master Brian Lumley himself. I for one have enjoyed every book that he has ever written, so the thought of others coming about makes me just as happy as a new Necroscope book. (Well maybe not just as happy, but almost). Now having said all that, I will say that the day Mister Lumley decides to retire, then that will be the day I am sad, and will know for sure that a chapter in my life that I enjoyed so thoroughly will be finished and awaiting the next chapter to be written. Hopefully it will be written with the grace, style, intelligence and fun that is in all of Brian's books.

Speaking of which, that was what I wanted to talk about in this article. As I said last issue I have recently been on a reading spree. I have gathered up all of my Lumley books and re-delved into them. Upon each re-reading of these books another interesting thing always jumps out at you. This time when I was going through the Lost Years again I found a renewed amazement at how well the Necroscope novels come together as a series. I know that Brian has said that he is ending the series because of how difficult it is to not trip over his own plots and story lines. I can understand this completely, but think that as far as things go now, I find it extraordinary that he has been able to make a series so rich and full and hasn't tripped yet. There may be people who can point out discrepancies here or there, but that is just an injustice to his work. When I was reading the "Lost Years" some of the plot lines that joined with earlier plot lines from his books written years before made my head spin.

FROM THIS POINT FORWARD ENTER OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL!!

The pivotal point that I love so much in Lost Years was when we learn that Nostradamus was a recipient of one of Harry's darts, which was what gave him his powers. Harry himself is not aware of this revelation and will not be aware of its significance for years, but to me it was a stroke of beauty. Even his name is a word game playing on that he is a dart son. It is the sum of all of these things tied together in all of Lumley's works that never ceases to amaze me. I would challenge anybody to tell me of an author from present day writers, who have so eloquently woven such an intricate and precise beautiful tapestry of words as Brian has with the Necroscope series. I think that they would be hard pressed to find many. If a person can find a discrepancy here or there, good for you. I challenge that person to write a novel or series as well put together as this one. I have said it before and will say it again. Hello my name is Peter and I am a Lumley addict.

I hope you enjoyed this screaming plummet through the myriad twist and turns of my demented mind. As always, look to the future, learn from the past, and keep a Lumley book close on those dark nights when you are looking for a fun chill to run down your spine.

Goth Girl opens her twisted mind

As a newcomer to the newsletter, although not the website, I would like to thank ShadoeWolfe, Silky and of course, Brian Lumley himself for allowing me to spread the contents of my brain out for you all to peruse - believe me it¹s not a pretty sight.

Being a regular contributor to the Message Board, I've noticed the heated debates raging about the many pros and cons of the Ladies of the Wamphyri. As a newly ascended Lady myself, I thought that I would discuss some of the other Leading Ladies and discuss their various features, foibles and faults!

In my opinion, top amongst all the Wamphyri women, there stands out three names; Devetaki, Wratha and Karen. There were many more, to be sure, but these three are the ones who've fired my imagination the most. Judging by posts on the Message Board, it¹s not just imaginations that have been fired by these three, but passions also, but to quote Wratha "...If blood is the life, then surely lust is the spice..." So, let me examine these rare Wamphyri jewels in their turn.

Wratha - had the egg of Carl the Crag, a dullard by Wamphyri standards, enthralled by Wratha as much as she was in thrall to him. After overcoming being walled up and the encroaching madness that ensued, she finally ascended after exhausting Carl with her sex, plying him with strong wine and dragging his bed into daylight streaming through the window as he lay captive and chained. Stunning even by Wamphyri standards, she retained the image of youth, with milky white skin, and glossy black hair, falling to her shoulders in plaits. However, when enraged , she would change from beauty to hag in mere seconds, gaining inches in height, her clear skin turning leaden and her soft skin and firm breasts sagging and withering. Her eyes probably the most disturbing sight, becoming bulging blobs of poisonous hellfire. She died hanging from a silver cage as the sun rose over Starside, doomed by Devetaki, although she was doomed anyway, by leprosy contracted from the Lord Nestor.

Karen, egg daughter of Dramal Doombody, who when giving himself over to leprosy, bequeathed his egg to Karen in a simple kiss. An absolute beauty, with hair like burnished copper and a heart-shaped face which could belong to an angel - except for the burning red eyes of the Wamphyri. Slim and shapely indeed neither was she above using her stunning form to distract the male Wamphyri from her true thoughts and intentions. A strong mentalist, she was also special in that she was a Mother of vampires, capable of producing many eggs to spawn Wamphyri; indeed that was how she escaped death at the hands of Harry Keogh, when luring the leech out of her body. She left an egg in the shell of her body, then threw a thrall out of a window high on Karenstack to fool Harry into thinking he¹d rid her of her "contagion." She had a torrid affair with Harry Keogh following that, in the same bed that many, many sun-ups later would see the raging lust between Wratha and Harry¹s (unknowing) bloodson, the Lord Nestor. Alas, they met their fate when a Russian nuclear device was fired through the Perchorsk "Gate," taking the Lord Shaithis and the Ultimate Evil, Shaitan, with them.

Devetaki Skullguise - also known as the Virgin Grandam. Being neither a virgin (what, a Wamphyri Lady, pure?) nor a mother, for she desired no bloodsons or daughters, it was a courtesy title endowed upon her by virtue of her length of rule in Turgosheim, also that she never admitted to ever being an odalisk. She won her egg in a duel against the jealous blood-daughter of an elderly Lord, but unfortunately losing the right half of her face, which she then covered with a half-mask, which would be smiling or frowning, in accordance with her moods. Nevertheless she remained a beauty, with red hair, long limbs and full breasts, the very image of a warrior queen. Strong-willed, a powerful mentalist and devious to the extreme, she cultivated friendships with other Lords and Ladies only to betray them to her own ends; even the great Lord Vormulac Unsleep fell at her hands. Her previous closeness to Wratha was almost her undoing, as a kiss of friendship became a kiss of death as Wratha sought to pass on the curse of her leprosy; however it was to be Nathan that finally took out the Warrior Queen of the Wamphyri,as he blinded her with his killing eye then used his mastery of the Mobius continuum to turn night into day,dark into bright clean sunlight.

Other powerful Ladies possibly worthy of mention are Ursula Torspawn, masquerading as a Szgany lass, Carmen Who-Should -Not-Be, drained to undeath by Nestor, Zindevar Cronesap (although more for her devious Wamphyri nature than her looks!) and the vacant Siggi Dam, bereft of mind yet clinging to her Wamphyri existence. Travelling back further through Wamphyri history are such notable examples as Sheilar the Slut, who made a warrior with sexual organs and died in its embrace; and Freyda Ferenc, another Mother of vampires, to the extent of dying through depletion. And so to the future... what does the mysterious Lady Vavara hold in store for us? So, I give you the Ladies of the Wamphyri - whoever your favourite may be, they are all absolutely gorgeous, utterly evil and of course... WAMPHYRI!!!

Until next time...unpleasant dreams

luv, GG

Defilers from Tor is scheduled to appear in US May or June in hardcover. At the same time Invaders will be released in mass market paperback.

Defilers in UK. Contracts have not as yet been signed. Until they are signed we won't know about the scheduling date. It looks like it's title could be the same as the US: Necroscope: Defilers. Or, they could stick with E-Branch: Defilers. The jacket cover for Defilers will be the Eggleton jacket that was on US Invaders.

Titus Crow: Volume Two released in paperback in US by Tor. Stories included in this collection are The Clock of Dreams and Spawn of the Winds Get it now that's it's more affordable.

If you don't have them yet - what are you waiting for?! Both the US and the UK versions of Brian's latest novel are here. Grab them now. The Necroscope lives on! UK Title: E-BRANCH: INVADERS released in hardcover and paperback by Hodder & Stoughton, UK US Title: NECROSCOPE: INVADERS released in hardcover from Tor

The trade paperback Maze of Worlds by Tor has been released and is available now. The reprint of Brian's book of poetry, Ghoul Warning, came out at EerieCon, in Niagara Falls April 16-18. Many fans have waited long and hard for this rare book. We now have it! Necronomicon Press and W. Paul Ganley: Publisher have combined to bring out a new edition of Brian Lumley's poetry collection, Ghoul Warning. This edition features some added material as well as new illustrations by Donald Schank. If interested in this book, hurry while they last! Please include your name, address, and e-mail if possible, and contact one of the following individuals: W. Paul Ganley: Publisher PO Box 149 Buffalo, NY 14226-0149 wpaulg@aol.com Marc A. Michaud, Necronomicon Press PO Box 1304 W. Warwick, RI 02893 marc@necropress.com

For more info on these books or how to obtain them, please jump over to the site and look in the latest news page for details.

There's a new domain name out there if you haven't taken a look lately - and it just happens to have something in common with a certain saga that a certain author writes about.

If you need it spelled out - it's Necroscope.com, which was secured by yours truly for Brian last month. It had been owned by a fan for his personal site, but that fan chose not to renew it and we chose to grab an opportunity we had been waiting for for awhile. To give you a little history, Necroscope.com was the first suggestion I had for brian when the official site was in development but it was taken, so we all now read about Brian's work at brianlumley.com, an equal, if not more suiting place.

As of now, the lovely Necroscope trademark points to Brian's official site and will for the foreseeable future. Will anything ever be done with it? Possibly move the Necroscope Area on the site over to it and expand on that? Possibly......one never knows what the future might hold. One thing you can be sure of though - no matter if the site only points to the current official site or if it becomes an entity of it's own someday - it will live up to it's creator's vision. Just like everything Brian touches...it will be a masterpiece - THAT you can be sure of.

• Brian now has only 4 chapters left in book number three of the new Necroscope/E-Branch trilogy: Avengers

• The Paul Stanczykowski artwork is no longer for sale. I am working on a new format, a smaller version. I'll be keeping some of the old and adding some new. I'm doing the costing now. If it is feasible I'll go with it. Hopefully if this comes to pass it will be up and running by the end of April. If it does you'll see it in the Store.

--------2000--------

• FEBRUARY

• Friday, Feb. 4 - Book signing at Princess Louise pub in Holborn, UK at 6:00 PM

• AUGUST
  • August 18-20, 2000 Bohemiacon 2000 Sci-Fi/Horror/Fantasy Convention. Sixth convention averaging about 800 attendees. Czech Republic, Usti nad Labem. This town is situated about 100 km northwest from Prague.

• OCTOBER
  • October 22? (Date TBA) Possible signing session in Las Vegas, NV

• October 26-29- WORLD FANTASY CON - Corpus Christi, Texas - Brian will be appearing at the Con

--------1999--------

• FEBRUARY
• Titus Crow Volume I released in trade paper from Tor

• APRIL
  • April 16-18, 1999 - EerieCon One - a fantasy, horror and science fiction convention - Fallside Resort, Niagara Falls, New York - International Guest of Honor - Brian Lumley
• Ghoul Warning released at EerieCon, Niagara.

• MAY
  • New Necroscope novel E-BRANCH: INVADERS released in hardcover by Hodder & Stoughton, UK - US TITLE: NECROSCOPE: INVADERS from TOR
  • Maze of Worlds released by Tor in trade paperback

• JULY
  • E-BRANCH: INVADERS released in paperback in UK - US NECROSCOPE: INVADERS from TOR will not be in paperback until next year sometime

• SEPTEMBER
  • Titus Crow: Volume Two released in paperback in US by Tor. Stories included in this collection are The Clock of Dreams and Spawn of the Winds

--------1998--------

• FEBRUARY
• Necroscope comic book No. 1 released

• MAY
• Thursday May 7- Sunday May 10 - Brian Lumley was Guest of Honor at World Horror Convention in Phoenix and was presented the Grand Master Award of the genre
• MAZE OF WORLDS (sequel to House of Doors) (US Hardcover TOR) released at the World Horror Convention in Phoenix, AZ
• The House of Doors (US TOR paperback) reissued with a new jacket at the same time as the sequel Maze of Worlds
• A Coven of Vampires (Fedogan and Bremer limited hardback) released at World Horror Convention
• Necroscope comic book No. 2 released

• JULY
• www.brianlumley.com is launched! Now the official site is easier to find

• SEPTEMBER
  • release of the Dove Audio Greatest Horror Stories of the 20th Century. Contains Brian's short story The Viaduct

• OCTOBER
• UK paperback of A Coven of Vampires released
• UK paperback of House of Doors: Second Visit released

• NOVEMBER
• Necroscope III: The Source released by TOR in hardcover

To finish off this newsletter, we bring you the people involved. If you have a question for anyone, please e-mail them and let them know about it.

• Brian Lumley: brian@brianlumley.com
• Silky Lumley: silky@brianlumley.com
• Dave McDougle (ShadoeWolfe): shadoe@brianlumley.com
• Robb Coutinho (Veriatus): veriatus@brianlumley.com
• Ralph Jessie (Titus Mouser): titusmouser@brianlumley.com
• Peter McCabe: mccabe@brianlumley.com
• Deb Alton (Goth Girl): gothgirl@brianlumley.com