Hello!

It feels like quite a while since we last sent a newsletter… And that’s because it is.

But!

We’ve been diligently and happily working behind the scenes on our next couple of books - and quite a few more things.

More on those below.

We’ve also been gathering praise for our most recent release.

More on that right away:

Waterblack: a “landmark”

I know it’s a while since Waterblack came out, but reviews are still coming in.

It’s a big book, after all - and it has given critics an awful lot to think about.

An epic and detailed review has recently landed in Strange Horizons, for instance, where Matthew Eatough says:

“For those readers open to ambitious, challenging novels full of big ideas, Waterblack will be greeted as a fitting conclusion to one of the landmark works of experimental fantasy of the twenty-first century, joining the likes of China Miéville’s Bas-Lag trilogy (2000-2004), Jeff VanderMeer’s Ambergris novels (2001-2009), Michael Cisco’s The Narrator (2010), and Vajra Chandrasekera’s Rakesfall (2024). It is a series that sets a new standard for what is possible in fantasy; and it is a series whose legacy will be determined as much by the authors who find the need to grapple with it in the future as by its reception in the here and now.”

Matthew Eatough has put an awful lot of time and thought into consideration of Alex’s trilogy, which makes us all the more grateful - and pleased that the books have been viewed so favourably.

There has also been an even longer review in Typebar magazine, where Simon McNeil explores Alex’s ideas on power, justice (lack of justice!), violence and much more. He says:

“There is a plot. It’s actually quite thrilling. But, much like the Modernist novelists to whom Pheby is obviously indebted, the plot isn’t the main attraction. You don’t read Ulysses for the thrill of finding out what happens next.”

If I were stronger, I would be able to resist the “yes, yes, yes” you do joke.

Anyway. My suggestion is that you make yourself a nice cup of tea and give yourself a brain-expanding hour reading both these reviews. Then, make more tea and, what the hell, take the day off. Take the week off. Tell your boss to stick it, because you’ve got better things to do. You’re going to read the whole trilogy! (Yes, it’s available in our online shop. Along with lots of other good stuff.)

After all, as the great Ian Mond said in Locus magazine, these books have “soul” and they are “a magnificent and intellectual delight.”

Ian Mond added:

“I hope this isn’t the last we see of this world – Waterblack’s final appendix ends with a hint that there are more tales in the offering – but if this is it, I won’t be sad or disappointed. Alex Pheby has entertained me; he’s made me laugh, gasp, and hold back tears. What more could I want?”

I don’t think it’s giving too much away to say that we have good news for Ian - and the world - on that score…

It’s been a delight seeing Waterblack get some of the recognition it deserves. It’s also been a relief. It was a big production! And a proud one for us.

I’m also glad to note that the books we posted back at the start of the year have all just about reached their destinations. That also took a while. I was even beginning to think that the craziness of the world and the breakdown of international postal systems were going to try to break me too. But things - give or take the general insanity - feel like they’re back on track. We’ve worked out a new system for getting (most, non EU) international mail out there and books are safely arriving. In fact, we’re feeling so confident that soon we’ll be having a summer sale.

But more on that in our next newsletter. Before then:

Upcoming excellence

I’m pleased to say that the extraordinary Telenovela by Gonzalo C Garcia has now been sent to our wonderful typesetter and we’ll be sending out review copies soon. (A few details below about the book can be found below the sign off. As well as exhortations to please pre-order your copy.)

Elly and I have also been working on edits of the next novel from Mark Bowles: How Do People Stay The Same. I don’t want to give away too much at this stage, except to tell you that when you read it, you will need to hold onto your heart.

More on that soon too.

And, here’s some more ‘more soon’. We’ll also be announcing the start of our annual short story competition before too long.

We have lots to look forward to, in short, but this particular letter has already gone on long enough. Thank you for reading it.

Fondly,

Sam

PS Telenovela

We’ve started taking pre-orders on our next book.

Briefly, Telenovela is a book about complicity with the regime of an insane, murderous, rightwing sociopath.

I’m sure you don’t need me to spell out why it resonates so strongly - but it’s worth explaining what Gonzalo has done that makes this book so necessary.

Telenovela is also about human beings; with all their hopes, aspirations, affections, ideals; all their jumble of strength and weakness, fear and malice. And it’s about the fact that these humans, although they have things about them that are worthy of compassion and love, can also allow terrible things to happen. They may choose to just get on with their lives and pretend everything is fine. They may also become directly implicated in dreadful crimes.

As well as reflecting back our time, Telenovela explains a very specific and important historical moment: the fall of the Pinochet regime in Chile. It’s a book where the end is in sight - and offers up a beautiful kind of hope as well as a necessary reckoning. All the more so because Gonzalo’s writing is so humane, so empathetic and so funny. He may be furious - but he’s also lovely.

The book is available here - and you can read the full blurb on that page too. It’s out in November. I know that’s a while off - but pre-orders are incredibly helpful when it comes to funding print runs and all the other production costs. So if you want to get in early, we’ll be ever so grateful.

PPS Substack again

Thank you to everyone who has also read my Substack. It’s still going well. It’s an interesting way of sharing things that matter to the press, but would perhaps feel excessive in our regular letter.

It’s already started making a bit of money for Galley Beggar - a blessing, after five years of increasing prodution costs - but I’m also very keen to keep most of it free and accessible so that all our newsletter readers should be able to enjoy it too. You can find my ‘stack’ here.

Recently I’ve written about:

AI slop infecting audiobooks!

HG Wells!

An evil publisher and a better one!

PPPS A reminder of the podcast I appear on with the wonderful Lori Feathers. We’ve had some amazing guests recently and fascinating conversations. The most recent episode features Wendy Erskine. Her new novel, The Benefactors, is wonderful:

PPPPS A continuing appeal

If you want to buy something from our backlist, or, best of all, subscribe to our Galley Buddy scheme, or even donate, will be very gratefully received. Thank you.

PPPPPS The Good Solder

The usual reminder that we’ve produced a new ebook edition of The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford.

If you haven’t read it, now is your chance. Ford’s novel is superb; a shocking and constantly surprising tale of marital strife, sexual intrigue, deep deception, fathomless mystery and tragic death. It’s wrong-footing, deceptive, brilliantly plotted … and a masterpiece. One of the finest novels of the twentieth century.

PPPPPS You can find us on Bluesky if you’re keen for more book talk and more pictures of our dog, Sirius.

PPPPPPPS Thanks for reading all the way down here. I’m still very much looking forward to the huge new Bruce Springsteen archive release. On a related note, I saw Sam Fender in concert a few weeks ago, and he is wonderful. I’m looking forward to the new Suede album. And, this newsletter goes out just before the next day of our Lorde. The three singles I’ve heard so far from Virgin are pretty great. Here’s hoping…