Editor James Wylder interviews SIGNET creator James Hornby about the series’ first instalment, Night of the Yssgaroth.
Q: SIGNET is a brand new series to the worlds of Doctor Who. What can you tell us about it? A: SIGNET is a series exploring the darker aspects of the Doctor Who universe. It follows a group of investigators trying to do what’s right in a surreal and dangerous world. But, unlike most organisations we’ve seen in this universe who want to kill or capture anything that isn’t human, SIGNET has a heart. They look at the story behind the phenomenon, and try to find a solution that doesn’t involve bloodshed. Q: How does SIGNET differ from other organisations in the Doctor Who universe? A: I’ve already mentioned SIGNET’s motive in this world, but that’s not all that makes them different. Every other organisation we’ve seen in Doctor Who to date has been backed by something greater: a government or world power. SIGNET is privately funded, by a man who prioritises morality over dedicating his time to cases which make a profit. This results in something rather unique, and allows for new possibilities in storytelling. Q: Where is SIGNET set? A: SIGNET is based on the outskirts of York. I live in Yorkshire, and it’s an area of England that hasn’t really been explored in the Doctor Who universe up until now. Most aliens we’ve seen seem to focus on other cities like London and Cardiff, but I reckon there’s a good few species out there in the universe who prefer the countryside. I think I’m one of them. Q: What connections to the Doctor Who universe can we expect to see? A: Not just the Yssgaroth, I assure you! For the past few years, I’ve been working with a number of names in the creative world of Doctor Who. Lance Parkin, Steve Lyons, and Dan Freeman have been kind enough to let me use their concepts. A special mention here goes out to David A. McIntee, who has been a great help while I’ve been setting up this project — he’s even created Jae-Sun, one of the members of the team. You can expect to see his concepts arriving in the future, but exactly which ones are a tightly kept secret for now. Q: How did you find the writing process? A: I’ll be honest with you, it was overwhelming at first. SIGNET is a huge project, and came with a large shopping list of elements I wanted to include. However, with each successive chapter, pieces of the jigsaw started falling into place, and I'm incredibly proud of the result. Q: What should readers expect from Night of the Yssgaroth? A: Readers should expect a very character-focused story that mixes the genres of science fiction and horror. The Yssgaroth are Doctor Who monsters that are very integral to the series’ lore, and with Night of the Yssgaroth I wanted to explore the almost universe-shattering power it possesses from the perspective of ordinary people… and aliens. Q: What are you most proud of about your story? A: I’m very proud about forging a new corner of the Doctor Who universe, with its own unique quirks, but after that, it has to be Xana, the book's main character. She's a very flawed character from the offset, and Night of the Yssgaroth very much throws her through the wringer. I feel her reactions to the story are very genuine, and I’m keen for readers to see how she develops over the course of the series. Q: This has been a passion project for you for some time, what drew you to creating SIGNET? A: The simple desire to create something new in a world I love. SIGNET is set in a largely unexplored region of the Doctor Who universe, and isn’t bogged down by previous continuity. Sure, we’re using pre existing concepts, but our new setup allows readers to experience them with a fresh perspective. Q: Where else can we find your work? A: I’ve done a lot of work for Arcbeatle Press, most of which can be found in current and upcoming instalments of Cwej: The Series. Beyond Arcbeatle, I’ve written some Doctor Who charity stories for Altrix Books, Pencil Tip Publishing, and a UNIT short story for Candy Jar Books. Q: What can we expect to see from SIGNET in the future? A: Exciting things! We’re currently editing the second book in the series, which is authored by none other than legendary Doctor Who writer John Peel. He’s written a very gripping story that sees SIGNET battle a threat on a global scale. Beyond that, David McIntee is writing his own tale, and discussions for an anthology have begun, but more on that later.
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Spookiness is here in force this Halloween at Arcbeatle Press with a new anthology, Horrors of Arcbeatle. “A lot of people working behind the scenes at Arcbeatle thought it would be a fun idea to do one,” says anthology editor, Sean Dillon. “I had a horror short story sitting in a drawer for a few years, waiting to be published. A few others had some stories that they had ideas for. It was an interesting opportunity for us to share these stories.” The anthology features stories from the various worlds of Arcbeatle Press, including tales of Coloth and Auteur from Doctor Who and Faction Paradox, Decipher INC’s WARSONG, and an early peek at Arcbeatle’s latest Doctor Who spin-off, SIGNET. “You can expect some delightful stories with a few scares in-between,” adds Sean. “One of my favorites is a story about a group of kids exploring a closed library featuring angry librarians, demonic creatures, and a wry sense of humor.” When asked if we can expect any more anthologies like this in the future, Sean replied: “Who knows, eh? Who. Knows?” Horrors of Arcbeatle is available in paperback and Kindle. Inquiries can be send to [email protected]. Cover by Aristide Twain. Arcbeatle Press are proud to announce SIGNET, a new range of books from the worlds of Doctor Who.
SIGNET follows a privately funded organisation fighting alien incursions and investigating the supernatural. "Heart is at the core of SIGNET," explains SIGNET creator and range editor James Hornby. "Most organisations we've seen in this world combat threats to humanity with prejudice. But are they always in the right? SIGNET looks out for the little guy, whether that be someone under the threat of invasion, or a stranded alien looking for a home." The first book in the series, Night of the Yssgaroth, sees our introduction to the team as they combat an ancient threat, first seen in Doctor Who: The Pit. "Xana is a fugitive on the run. Desperation takes her to Earth, the galaxy’s fabled sanctuary. But when a primordial entity begins to emerge, nowhere is safe. She crosses paths with SIGNET, a freelance organisation offering refuge to aliens and humans under threat. To survive she must place her trust in SIGNET, but for Xana trust has never come easy. Can she learn to overcome the trauma of her past, or will the Yssgaroth take them all?" More releases are to follow, featuring works from popular Doctor Who writers such as John Peel. SIGNET: Night of the Yssgaroth will be available for print and Kindle on 2 November, 2023 in most territories. Preorders for the Kindle edition are now open, with the print version available for sale on the day of release. Inquiries can be send to [email protected] Cover by Stuart Brown. Logo by Nathan Dowd. The Battle of Phobos Series Comes to its Epic Conclusion With WARSONG: Codettas.
The long wait for the finale to the Battle of Phobos book series is over. WARSONG: Codettas is out now. Originally planned for release over a decade ago, WARSONG: Codettas finally completes “The Battle of Phobos” saga. “We know fans have been wanting to see how this story ends for ages, and we’re honored to pick up the torch and finally get this book into their hands,” said writer James Wylder. In the far future, a splintered humanity has reached the point of no return on the divisions between them, and now war between these fractious groups is inevitable. Over the skies of Mars, the biggest conflict in humanity’s history is about to begin, and the choices of Wilgress, Hallard, and Higen will make all the difference. WARSONG has its origins in Decipher’s WARS TCG, whose setting and story were created with the help of New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Stackpole (X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, I, Jedi). The stories and characters have continued on from it, with the support of a devoted fanbase. Following the series' publication under Arcbeatle Press, the Phobos series has been rereleased with WARSONG: Preludes and WARSONG: Stretti, before concluding with this latest release. This final volume features novellas by the esteemed Hugo Award Finalist and Locus Award Nominee Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Predator: Eyes of the Demon, Shortcut), WARSONG veteran Sabrina Fried (A More Civilized Age, WARSONG: Stretti), and James Wylder (Cwej: Down the Middle, 10,000 Dawns), as well as a short story by Michael Robertson (Goblinpunk, Cwej: Down the Middle). “I’m excited for everyone to finally see what happens to these characters. This book has all the action, excitement, emotion, and intrigue people have grown to love from this series. We can’t wait to tell even more stories in this world," Wylder said. WARSONG: Codettas is now available to purchase from Amazon in paperback and ebook formats. Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGL7TQRS Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/WARSONG-Codettas-Battle-Phobos-Book-ebook/dp/B0CC9VD778 UK Paperback:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGL7TQRS UK Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CC9VD778 You can read or download the story below, and pre-order WARSONG: Codettas by clicking HERE! ![]()
The Great Technician Kaguya, by James WylderFebruary, 2385 "If you go to any areas not listed on your itinerary, you will immediately be taken down by snipers." Well, always nice to have a friendly greeting. Au Kaguya just smiled and nodded. "You should be honored to meet our employer," the armed man said. "I am, of course." Not that she knew who she was meeting in the slightest. The job listing had simply listed requirements, a salary, and a cypher. She'd solved it, sent her resume in, and had promptly gotten a request for an interview. She wouldn't have even gone if her mother hadn't badgered her about it. Yes mom, I'm still at home. No mom, I haven't found a job. Yes mom, I should have gone for a Masters degree you're right. Now that she put some thought into it, the options seemed pretty limited: Secret Operations for CiSyn on Earth, or the Government of Mars. Or Gongen. Whatever they were calling it now. Or, the Yakuza. She wasn’t sure how she’d feel about serving the Ebon Gate. She sighed, and man looked her up and down as the train car jostled. She could tell he was disappointed in her level of dress. What had he expected; that she'd come wrapped in a yukata, hair and makeup done up like it was New Years? She was here to interview for a job, so a yellow turtleneck and slacks would do just fine. The man kept blathering about all the security measures that would kill her if she slipped up on protocol, so she moved her eye to activate the visualizer in her glasses, and scrolled through social media till they go too far into the facility for the signal to carry. After that, there was another hour, giant doors slamming behind their railcar. The place was intentionally disorienting, but she could feel artificial gravity under her feet, something that took either a lot of experience or a lot of research to notice. That wouldn't be necessary on a normal train, it meant the thing had a functional grav drive in it, that could propel it at speeds fast enough for space travel. And it confirmed one of Kaguya's suspicions: this train was going straight down, deep below the surface of Mars. That she felt like she was going horizontal was an illusion. This was the kind of place that liked its smoke and mirrors. Duly noted. Finally, right before the nearly empty train pulled into its stop, noise canceling headphones were placed over her ears, and black hood was pulled over her head. She could feel a person's hand guiding her, not the man in the train with her, these fingers felt different, and she held tight, getting jerked along till she felt the hand pull away and the hood whipped off of her face, the headphone pulled off from the back. Kaguya was standing in the center of a series of gray monoliths, a blue light shining from a panel on the face of each one. Other than that, they were smooth and featureless. "Princes Kaguya, so the fable goes, came from the moon. As I understand it, that is true of you as well, Ao Kaguya." A light came down on her from the ceiling, illuminating her like an actor. "That is true, sir or madame...or...am I speaking with Shocho?" The lights flashed. "That is correct." She bowed deeply, "It is an honor." "That is correct." She'd expected something odd, but not for Shocho. She didn't entirely trust it, the most powerful Artificial Intelligence every constructed. Connected to every aspect of life on Mars. She let out a deep breath. "Recite your story to me, Kaguya. Of your name." "I'm sure you know it, Shocho-san." "Correct. But I wish to hear your telling of it." She coughed, "Yes, alright then, uh, the tale of Technician Kaguya..." * * * Earth, the Exclusion Zone, 2381 "Please make sure your partner's hazmat suit is secured tightly, ZIR Tours is not responsible for death, cancer, or any other ailment related to improper suit usage," the tour guide said over the intercom, then more quietly, "...or anything else really." Kaguya hadn't wanted to come, but her mother had insisted, so here she was risking her own wellbeing in order to walk through a carefully prepared part of Tokyo that the CGC allowed tours through. Her partner, a man who she'd already forgotten the name of, checked her suit, and she returned the favor. Everything seemed to be in order, and as the whole armored bus finished signaling they were ready, they were let out of the airlock two by two. They were on a sun-faded street, a canyon of disheveled sky scrapers crawling at the base with abandoned cars. They walked along a carefully cordoned path, and she looked into the wheeled vehicles windows they passed. Cups sat abandoned in their holders, their liquids long abandoned. A child's doll lay on it's side, plastic eyes staring eternally into the seat back. It almost seemed too on the nose: she got it, this was a tragedy unlike any other, the individual human cost had been immense. Now let her go back to the hotel and read before bed already. She'd probably be enjoying this more if her body had reacted better to the training and medicine to prepare her for Earth's higher gravity--she had felt exhausted the whole trip, a never-ending headache betraying even her ability to sleep. "...When the nuclear disaster that devastated Asia in 2071 hit Tokyo, residents were hit by the radiation without warning. Of course, this was only one of a number of tragic events involving nuclear energy in the history of the island of Japan..." She could see a pair of sneakers in the window of a shop, they were totally white from the long sun exposure, but the more shaded picture behind them showed they'd once been blue. The history intrigued her less than these individual stories, the lives of the people who had walked these streets. Had someone stood here, admiring these shoes just as she was? "...Many of you are descended from the evacuees who moved from Tokyo to Mars--" "Gongen!" someone in the back yelled. "...Mars," the tour guide gritted her teeth, Kaguya knew she'd never be allowed to say the G-Word on a CGC sanctioned tour. "I myself am descended from a Tokyo resident who chose to stay here on Earth, moving to San Paulo. But we're all united in our common ancestry, and our mutal ties to this land." The tour guide finished her prepared speech with a certain tiredness that expressed a deep wish that no one would try to fight her on things she'd lose her job if she disagreed with." The man in the back began to speak again, but Kaguya turned and shook her head no. He stopped. Pursing his lips with a bow of his head. The relieved tour guide continued their journey, and it struck Kaguya for the first time that this wasn't her home. Her body barely was able to function here in Tokyo, but more than that, she didn't feel the connection her mother had hoped she would. She felt bad for her ancestors who had died here, but the ones who lived had brought her to red-soil beyond these skies. With every step, she felt more and more hollow. Earth had emptied from her, and all she wanted to do was go home. To where her family was. Where she belonged. * * * 2385 "You may not come from the moon, but you come from the stars Kaguya. You have been looking up wherever you are, and have never found your place." She stuck her hands in her pockets, "And you believe you can give me that place?" "I believe that you will find that place yourself when given the chance." A short pillar rose from the floor, and with a small frown of confusion, Kaguya stepped up to it. The only thing on it was a nametag. "Lead Technician Ao Kaguya" She picked it up, "That's a very interesting job title, Grandfather." "Your name is a legend, but the times that will come soon will birth new legends, frightful and wondrous, and as they come to pass I will need hands. Hands that are familiar with some of everything, hands that will be loyal and can help create a glorious future for Gongen." She ran her finger across the embossed nametag, "...I think this could be my destiny to be here, in this room." "Then you accept?" "If you answer one question. The way you're talking, I always heard Shocho talked in a very forthright and analytical manner. So why do you talk to me of legends with glossy words?" There was a pause, the red light flashed. "Because my child, I have lived a long time. And I have many ways of speaking. I simply chose the manner that would be most effective towards bringing you to my cause." She smiled. "But you had already concluded this." "I had." "This simply re-enforces your suitability for the job." She picked up the nametag, and pinned it on, "Alright then, Grandfather Shocho, when shall we start?" The light flashed again, as though it were an excited child, "Well then, Moon Princess, let us see if you live up to your name. I will be sending you to Deimos." She raised an eyebrow, "There's nothing on Deimos." A hologram appeared, and as she investigated it, her eyebrow only raised further. "I see you've been busy." "The work, Technician Kaguya, has only just begun. Things are merely under construction." She nodded, she'd remember that phrase. "Fly me to the moon."
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The Battle of Phobos Series Comes to its Epic Conclusion August 27th With WARSONG: Codettas.7/20/2023 The Battle of Phobos Series Comes to its Epic Conclusion August 27th With WARSONG: Codettas.
The long-awaited finale to the Battle of Phobos book series is finally here with the new book WARSONG: Codettas. Readers have been waiting for the conclusion of the three intertwined stories of Jack Wilgress, Rogan Hallard, and Higen Orochito for over a decade now. “When the series started back in 2010, I never guessed I’d be the one shepherding it to its finale,” said range editor James Wylder. “I was just an excited fan at the time, so its an honor to bring it to its conclusion.” This final volume takes the build up from the previous books, Preludes and Stretti, and hammers it to a climax. In the far future, a splintered humanity has reached the point of no return on the divisions between them, and now war between these fractious groups is inevitable. Over the skies of Mars, the biggest conflict in humanity’s history is about to begin, and the choices of Wilgress, Hallard, and Higen will make all the difference. Codettas features an exciting line up of talent, featuring novellas by the esteemed Hugo Award Finalist and Locus Award Nominee Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Shattered Shields, Infinite Stars), WARSONG veteran Sabrina Fried (A More Civilized Age, WARSONG: Stretti), and James Wylder (Cwej: Down the Middle, 10,000 Dawns), as well as a short story by Michael Robertson (Goblinpunk, Cwej: Down the Middle). “Working with Bryan Thomas Schmidt on this book was a dream come true, and his prowess as a writer and editor really made these stories shine. I think readers will find something special with this one,” Wylder said. WARSONG has its origins in Decipher’s WARS TCG, whose setting and story were created with the help of New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Stackpole (X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, I, Jedi). The stories and characters have continued on from it, with the support of a devoted fanbase. The Phobos series began in 2010 from Grail Quest Books, before moving to Arcbeatle Press in late 2019. Since then the series has been rereleased in new editions before continuing to its conclusion. “It's been a long road,” says Wylder, “but this final volume makes it all worth it.” WARSONG: Codettas will be released August 27th. Digital Pre-Orders are available now, while the print version will be available on day of release. Pre-Order Here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC9VD778 Cwej: Down the Middle is set to be rereleased as three smaller volumes, from publisher Arcbeatle Press.
“We want to make Cwej: Down the Middle as accessible and affordable as possible for our readers,” explains project supervisor James Hornby. “The separate volumes will allow readers to jump into whichever arc they’re interested in, without missing the details prevalent to their understanding,” adds editor Hunter O’Connell. Down the Middle follows the adventures of Chris Cwej, a former companion of the Seventh Doctor from BBCtv’s Doctor Who, now embarking on his own journeys through the universe with his very own mischievous companions, Larles and Kwol. The three volumes feature stories from writers such as Simon Bucher-Jones (Doctor Who: The Death of Art), Jeffrey Koval (EverymanHYBRID), James Wylder (WARS, 10,000 Dawns), James Hornby (UNIT), and the creator of Cwej, Andy Lane (Doctor Who: Original Sin) alongside many fresh voices. “These ‘arc editions,’ as we internally call them, are meant to attract an audience which would otherwise be intimidated with Down the Middle’s size and wish to start smaller,” O’Connell says. “We look forward to seeing a new readership experiencing these incredible stories for the first time, in a whole new way.” The first volume, Living Memory, is set to be released 27 July, comprising the stories from A Bright White Crack to In the Loop. Dying to Forget (from Ring Theory to The Eternal) and Uprising (from The Ursine Brood to the finale) are to follow in September and November. Further updates on the series’ future are to follow soon afterward. Full disclosure: I tend not to thank my loyal readers enough. Mostly because, like my disillusionment with long series’ being milked dry, I think more is less and less is more for thanks and showing appreciation. It will mean a lot less if I keep saying the same thanks time and again, while showing nothing for it. That being said: Thank you all. Thank you thank you THANK YOU.
Every delay, you’ve been patient with. You’ve been there, reading and waiting as we drum up fanfare for the excellent upcoming books. The patience of you all is unmatched, second to none. Every author, every illustrator, every reader. We’re in this together. Thank you. Now, for the less sentimental (but equally important!) news. There will be many upcoming releases you can look forward to. We haven’t been sitting on them, we’ve been working tirelessly to give a product that we’re proud to share. And we’ve gotten far enough that I wanted to share some of them with you. Cwej: Down the Middle’s recent reprint has art of Frey the Friend (which we previously mistook for Romana), the online-exclusive Ursine Brood artwork, and individual busts of the characters from the original cover art. The original front and back covers make a return as interior illustrations. Minor tweaks to the original text were made, such as a few occasions of the singular use of Cwejen being fixed to Cwej, and editing mentions of P.R.O.B.E. to SIGNET, an organization starring in our upcoming series of adventures in the Doctor Who universe. The Aftermath’s title was edited to Aftermath, because I thought having so many titles starting with “The” at the very end of the book was aesthetically unpleasing on the table of contents. Sam’s story is no longer included, as I said previously. This is a volume doing away with drama, and starting fresh. These admittedly minor tweaks make the book look, read, and feel all the more impassioned. You can pick up a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Cwej-Down-Middle-Hunter-OConnell/dp/B0BYR5F8CP/ Now let’s talk about the hardcover. The exclusive short stories are being wrapped up, which means I must tell you about them and the situation with printing them. If you have bought the paperback, you’re in luck! We’ve decided to collect all the initially-exclusive stuff into a paperback, which will come out at a later date. This as-of-yet untitled mini-collection, internally being called Book 1.5, is for those loyal customers who have already purchased one of the two editions, and want the chance to experience these new and incredible tales. The hardback collects both Down the Middle and Book 1.5 into a single binding with colored illustrations, but if you’ve already bought the paperback, you’ll still get the opportunity to read the new stories in their entirety. The contents are as follows: Foreword, by Hunter O’Connell (~5,000 words) A Message to Panda, by Paul Magrs (806 words) Burnyard of the Cryptopyres, by Tyche McPhee Letts (~4,000 words) A Tour of La Kraw el Sol, by Hunter O'Connell (~4,000 words) Ode to a Broken Appliance, by T Maynard Banks (807 words) Untitled story, by Hunter O'Connell (~15,000 words) ALSO: For those on a budget or who have more interest in certain arcs of Cwej than others, we’re splitting them up into three cheaper collections. All with the same content, but more affordable, and for people who want to experience the events in a different way! Living Memory - All stories from A Bright White Crack to In the Loop. Read about the origins of Chris’ companions Larles and Kwol, how they came to meet, and their first few adventures in space and time! Dying to Forget - All stories from Ring Theory to The Eternal. Experience Chris Cwej’s more self-contained adventures, from one end of the Totality to the other. His odd jobs for the Superiors are documented here! Uprising - All stories from The Ursine Brood onwards. The lore-heavy interconnected epic you’ve always dreamed of! Deconstructing and reconstructing each character, over the span of a 50-year space battle. Once these have been released, we’ll release the five novels of Hidden Truths as separate paperbacks, all to be collected in a huge hardback tome, with colored illustrations. Hidden Truths carries on from the Uprising saga, with Chris picking up the mess he made as more threats Loom than he could possibly fathom… Finally, I’ll be attending Texas Author Con as a featured guest, autographing books for those who attend. I’ll be selling the books at a 25% discount, so be sure to join me and many other authors of incredible fiction at the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel for the convention, held on July 14th and 15th! Admission is FREE! Here’s the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/411782651997 See you there! This should give you a good idea of the direction we plan to take this series in. The audiobook readings are still being figured out, as is the ultimate end of the story. There’s still a lot we have left to do, but we’re constantly chipping away at the little things, and we’re working to ensure a consistent release schedule which we’ll share with you all later. Things are looking bright! More updates to come. And once again… Thank you! ~Hunter O’Connell
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