The sadly-neglected Chung Kuo wiki has, unfortunately, turned into a cesspool of spam – evil spammers take advantage of the open edit policy to fill the pages with Viagra ads. I’ve decided to take some action that will hopefully: a.) reduce the prevalence of spam, and b.) encourage more people to contribute content and edits. So, I’ve set up a new wiki at Wikia, a wiki community that features some of the most popular wikis for popular entertainment. I’ve transferred all the content from the old wiki housed here (minus the spam) into the new Wikia page, and the Wiki link on the menu here now redirects there.

Hope you all like, and if you get a free moment, make some contributions!

Written on May 21st, 2012 , News

After almost a year and a half, I decided this site is overdue for a bit of an aesthetic update. I thought the original iteration was a little dull and devoid of color. Hope you all like the new revision. The background image is a composite of different (royalty free) images that I thought captured the darkness and mystery of the lower levels, combined with some imagery of the very futuristic Shanghai skyline, which might reflect that the first level topography of mansions and Security installations. The header font has been updated to something more modern (the typeface is Michroma), but vaguely reminiscent of retro-futurist styling.

If you hate it, let me know. I can go back with only a handful of clicks. :)

Written on May 18th, 2012 , Reflections

This is exciting for those of you in the London area: David will be participating in a Q&A and debate about dystopian futures, including a reading from Chung Kuo, at Waterstones Piccadilly on Thursday, June 7, 7:00pm. Tickets are £3. If anybody can grab a video, I’d be happy to feature it here.

More details can be found at the Waterstones events page here.

Written on May 16th, 2012 , News

I’ve just received an update from David, addressing some recent concerns. Luckily, everything is going as planned. David’s message is below:

_____

I see there are a few grumbles about my long silence. Truth is, it’s (understandably) taken the new editorial team at Corvus – Sarah and Maddie – four months to read and assimilate the list and now everything is full steam ahead. I spent last weekend proof-reading not one but two manuscripts – for Books Three and Four – and it’s going to be a book every three months from here on in. I am also working flat out to try and get me a US publisher, but in the meantime the books will be available on e-book in the States.

I’m also going to start blogging more regularly, and expect to see my thoughts on the Bo Xilai affair – maybe in three or four parts – in the next week or so.

One other factor that has made all of this a lot slower was Sue getting a new job writing for the UK’s biggest soap, Coronation Street. She’s the first new writer taken on in eight years, and she’s just served her apprenticeship and joined the writer’s team (with a proper contract and all!). It’s meant big adjustments here as the job is demanding like no other and she has to go and conference every three weeks. Adapting hasn’t been tough – it’s actually been a lot of fun – but it has been exhausting. Imagine joining the team for ER or DAYS OF OUR LIVES or any of those big shows. Corrie as it’s known regularly proves to attract the biggest audiences on UK television, and has done since its inception in 1961. It has five shows a week and a writing team of twenty, with full back-up. Sue’s taken to it like a duck to water.

I’m giving myself two weeks and then I’ll be starting on a total rewrite of Book 19 – King Of Infinite Space – alongside getting a first draft down of BURYING THE SMITH, my new fantasy work. But more of that anon. Best wishes to you all!

David

Written on May 16th, 2012 , News

Content ©2011-2012 Of Gifts and Stones — The Chung Kuo Fansite
Don't forget to visit the Official Chung Kuo Website here.
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