The evenings may be getting shorter, the days colder and Cliff no doubt preparing his annual assault on the charts, but here at Halfcut we have a beacon of light to guide you through the darkness...

Residue by Andrew Hook is now back from the printers!

Available in both standard paperback and very special limited edition illustrated hardback formats, Residue collects 19 short stories from the acclaimed author of The Virtual Menagerie, Moon Beaver & Beyond Each Blue Horizon, and ranks as Hook's best work yet.

The anthology goes on general release from 20 November 2006, but the Halfcut website is now taking pre-orders at a specially reduced rate. Co-inciding with the book's launch, the dedicated Residue area of the website will also be updated with further exclusives including author interview and behind-the-scenes story notes.

As a taster for Residue, 'The Summer Of Hate' is currently up in The Leper Colony section along with the following short stories:

• Bellybones by Graeme Larmour
• Bruce's Survival Guide To The UK Part II by David Scott
• Earn As You Pay by Michael O'Brien

Finally, the second issue of our Halfcut zine is now out featuring Dirt by Andrew Hook, plus features on David Lynch & Niagra Blues, Danen Jobe's fictional Jandek biography. UK residents can get hold of a copy for free either from participating outlets or by sending their contact details to the website.

Til next time...

The Halfcut Team

http://www.halfcutpublications.com/

================================== ==================================

Welcome to the first of our monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror newsletters from Waterstones.com. This month's highlights include a fabulous set of re-designed SF Masterworks, a great 30 % off SF, Fantasy and Horror sale and, because it's never to early to start thinking about the future, what's hot in SF for children.

Science fiction has been a bit thin on the ground in 2007 while fantasy fiction has been pouring into the shops. Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy is a fine example of why fantasy is enjoying such a renaissance. The new short story collection from George RR Martin, Dreamsongs , although requiring Druss like warrior strength to lift is - IMHO a fantastic collection. On the SF side, I have my fingers crossed for 2007 and so far it looks as if it's shaping up to be a bumper year for the fanboys and fangirls. More of that next time.

Back in the present, my top three SF choices for 2007 have to be Galactic North by Alistair Reynolds, Gradisil by Adam Roberts and Judas Unchained by Peter F Hamilton. Olympos from Dan Simmons has selling well, with Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and anything Doctor Who also very popular. There are many more Who titles in our up to 50% off sale and the 30% off selected audiobooks.

Pre-order now...

Don't forget to treat yourself while stocking up on Christmas gifts.As well as all the fabulous bestsellers and new releases that are available now, check out our Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror page to see what will be hitting the shelves in the months to come.

We're particularly looking forward to Rob Grant's new novel, Fat; Terry Prachett's film tie-in edition of Hogfather, Powersat - the latest by Ben Bova, A Shout For The Dead from James Barclay and Terry Goodkind's Phantom.

Waterstones competitions...

We have a complete set of ten SF Masterworks, with the re-designed covers, to give away. All you have to do is write to us at content@waterstones.com with a list of your top ten, must-have, SF novels and the reasons why you have chosen them.

Please keep your entry between 100 and 1000 words and include a photo of yourself. The winning entry gets the books and a web page on Waterstones.com. It's closing on 7 December so get writing now! Terms and conditions apply.

Terry Pratchett's bestseller, Hogfather, has been transformed into a feature-length film, and one lucky winner could be heading to the UK premiere later this month. Enter now!.

Doctor Who (and Billie!) fans will love the massive box of toys collector's items, monickered by Billie, the pop starlet turned intergalactic side-kick. The lucky winner will receive: a Cyberman voice changer, a radio-controlled Dalek, a radio-controllled K-9, a Tardis talking money box, a stunning signed photo, a 2007 Doctor Who calendar, a signed Rose doll, a signed DVD of the complete first series of the new Doctor Who, a signed copy of Stone Rose, a signed Doctor Who 2007 annual, a singed copy of Doctor Who: The Inside Story, a signed copy of Rose from the Doctor Who Files series, and of course, a signed copy of Growing Pains.

Enter now or you will be upgraded!

On the box

SF fans are in for a treat this month as BBC Four hosts an extravaganza of all things SF and British. My favourite has to be the repeat of the excellent BBC TV adaptation of John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids. Some people seem to think that I am obsessed with these walking vegetables to which I reply "meh".


Season ten of Stargate SG1 is running alongside season three of Stargate Atlantis on satellite at the moment. Enjoy it while you can as it looks as if cancellation is looming. Again. Jaffa Kri!

I doubt I'm alone in thinking the re-invention of Battlestar Galactica is the dogs Muffits while the always frustrating Lost has moved to satellite for season three. With Doctor Who returning at Christmas and Torchwood going great guns, SF fans have plenty to choose from on TV.

At the cinema, we have the release of The Prestige, based on Christopher Priest's novel of the same name, as well as epic fantasy extravaganza Eragon with more dragons in it than you can shake an enchanted sword at.

Waterstone's recommends

SF for kids...

Children have had the lion's share of SF releases this year and what a choice they've had. Artemis Fowl is flying off the shelves (fairies with nuclear powered equipment is always a winner), Eragon is well on its way to becoming a kids classic, and Soul Eater and Thud! are both great titles that adults and children can enjoy. The Doctor Who 3-D Model Making Kit is a great gift while the Eragon and Eldest Boxset would take pride of place in any youngling's sleep capsule.

Live long and prosper

Adam

Waterstones.com

PS...Why not check out our selection of author profiles? We have David Gemmell, Iain M. Banks, Trudi Canavan, James Barclay, Rob Grant, Tom Llloyd, and Christopher Priest to name but a few.