Click here to read an extract, the prologue of the novel. 

Reviews:  

• “This mix of mythology and science fiction isn’t a natural one at first glance, but Lovegrove pulls it off with aplomb.  A good, enjoyable romp with plenty of bang for its buck. The prose is solid … and there is a smattering of humour to keep things bubbling along.  A fun read that doesn’t get bogged down with technology or lengthy paragraphs of exposition” Total Sci-Fi
• “A barking mad fusion of Andy McNab and Ray Harryhausen … a rollicking page-turner, crammed with violence, lurid plot twists and mythic monster-battling adventure.  The plot moves like a bullet … energetic and entertaining stuff” SFX
• “What kept me reading was the characters. I cared what happened to them and some surprising people got killed, especially early on. I even felt sorry for the Minotaur. It is this characterisation that is the book’s strength … One of those books that I have no regrets about reading … A fine book, a thumping good read and well worth the money.” The Hub
• “The second book of the Pantheon trilogy sees the Greek gods imposing their hegemony on contemporary Earth, bringing stability and peace but also wreaking terrible revenge on those who oppose their rule. Samantha Akehurst, an ex-cop with a tragic past, and 10 others with their own reasons to hate the regime of the gods, are brought together by billionaire weapons tycoon Regis Landesman to kill the gods and their monsters. Nothing, however, is quite as it seems, and this huge novel, almost 700 pages long, expertly unpicks the motivations of both Landesman and the gods. It’s a compulsive, breakneck read by a master of the craft, with stunning action sequences and acute character observations. This is the kind of complex, action-oriented SF Dan Brown would write if Dan Brown could write.” The Guardian
• “The technology of the armored suits, weapons and related paraphernalia is extremely well done too and counterpoints very well with the Olympians’ powers and their creatures’ abilities which all are described in a scientific way despite the seeming supernatural involved in them.  And the action is just unbelievably good, keeping the reader on his/her edge of the seat so to speak; the monster hunts and later the direct fights with the Gods are the highlights of the book, while the humor and the jibes balance the tension well – though the explicit titles of mythporn movies that are used as cover against the all-seeing Argus who is now the “global moderator” of the world are not for the easily offended.” Fantasy Book Critic
• “The Age of Zeus is fun, entertaining and endlessly explosive. It is a fantasy in the sense that it is a daydream let loose on paper. Very readable and very enjoyable.” Pornokitsch
• “FIVE STARS! A brilliant combination of modern warfare and Greek mythology. Though the synopsis has the sound of Fantasy, believe me when I say this is Science Fiction. One must read the entire story to fully understand my meaning. Author James Lovegrove’s writing style is intense. His plot is creative, impressive, and could almost be called noble – no matter which side of the battle line the reader may mentally stand on. Lovegrove is on his way to greatness.” Huntress Reviews

The research, not normally my favourite thing, was fun, reading up on the copious myths related to Ra, Set, Osiris, Isis, Horus et al. Working which of them would rule over which portion of the earth was also enjoyable, matching national traits to each deity’s personality and divine domain.

More of a challenge was working out how this world would function, and also reconciling and streamlining the mythological backstory, because the Egyptian theology arises from a number of different sources and much of it is self-contradictory. Most challenging of all was figuring out a plot that would work on two levels, the human and the godly, each coexisting and interleaving with the other.

I made a conscious effort to write a book that was light and fast-paced and yet dealt with serious, heavy issues. My principal inspiration was Alan Furst, whose World War II spy novels I have expressed my admiration for before (I’ve even reviewed one of them for the Financial Times). Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and American Gods also played a part.

The Age Of Ra is about factional infighting (of course) and family (again of course) and the distancing, corrupting effects of wealth (I really must find some new themes). Over all, my feeling is that as a weird fusion of military thriller with fantasy elements it’s unique and works well. But then I would say that, wouldn’t I?

Amazon UK:

• The Age Of Ra [Solaris pbk, August 2009] – ISBN 978-1844167463

Reviews:

• “Ancient Egyptian gods have defeated other gods (including Jehovah, Allah, Odin and Zeus), and now specific dieties control various earthly power blocs in Lovegrove’s thought-provoking futuristic adventure. The gods gain strength from their followers’ worship, so each nation lives according to its god’s demands, up to and including warring with other countries. When British Lt. David Westwynter leads his paratroopers into a desert reconnaissance mission, arming them with god-powered light weapons, medieval flails and ancient maces, they encounter mummies and annihilating duel-cell fusion bombs. In Freegypt, the only country not controlled by religion and a specific deity, David meets the enigmatic masked Lightbringer, who challenges the gods for control of the earth. Lovegrove deftly weaves social commentary on religion, family, love and war into the contest between theocracy and humanism.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
• “What elevates Lovegrove’s eighth novel above much recent military SF – quite apart from the honed precision of his prose and his concern for characterisation – is the unique world he’s created: the Egyptian gods have divided Earth into warring factions, each of which pay homage to a different deity. [...] Impeccably researched, intricately plotted, this is the first in a series which will explore the impact of ancient gods on the modern world.” Guardian
• “An intriguing mix of military action adventure and mythic fantasy… manages to be a ripping Boy’s Own adventure that knows the right moment for a massive battle sequence or an attack from marauding mummies. Intelligent and provocative, it’s yet more proof that Lovegrove is one of the UK SF scene’s most interesting, challenging and adventurous authors.” SFX
• “Looking at the author’s style of writing, his plotting, the pace of the novel, twists and turns – you can’t ask for more. The human characters, David, the Lightbringer and David’s (eventual love interest) Zafirah (a fierce female warrior who leads a company of men in the name of the Lightbringer) are well wrought and believable. As are their actions throughout the novel. The world building is excellent and the glimpses into Ra’s quest for peace gives a clear perspective of the First Family and their squabbles.”The ending of the novel is satisfying, tying up the loose ends, but yet, but yet… there are two more books in the offing from the author in this series with each book focussing on another pantheon; Greek and Norse, respectively. The series has started with a bang and if James Lovegrove’s writing is anything to go by in The Age of Ra, we are all in for a very big treat.” sfrevu.com
• “The author just shines with larger than life and memorable characters in all the major Gods above and their doings. While there are some hints about their powers and reach, Mr. Lovegrove – wisely in my opinion – does not try to explain everything and bring the novel within pure rationalism with alien super-beings, so in that sense the book is partly a fantasy too. Not that it matters since however you label it, it is still great stuff.Mr. Lovegrove is one of the best writers out there as style goes and he could easily write literary stuff, though maybe that’s why his genre novels are quirky and not that well known, but I hope The Age of Ra and the planned related novels will remedy that and bring him well deserved acclaim.Highly, highly recommended, The Age of Ra has been a big positive surprise for ’09 with the caveat above not to expect a straight mil-sf with valiant rebels going to fight against dastardly opressors, though it has some of that too, but something subtler and more complex which does not allow an easy one-line description.” fantasybookcritic
• “For anybody who enjoys a mix of Egyptology and Action, I thoroughly recommend this book. Indeed, for anybody who doesn’t like Egyptology and Action, still check it out. In this day and age, huge dollops of originality are hard to come by, but Lovegrove has managed a feat of stunning creativity that will leave you hungering for more. Read The Age of Ra. It’s an experience you won’t regret!!” andy remic on his website

Fledging and the second book in the series, Pirates Of The Relentless Desert, came out in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and have since been bound together in a lovely, fat omnibus edition, The Wingless Boy, published in spring 2008. A second omnibus edition, collecting the third and fourth volumes in the series, Darkening For A Fall and Empire Of Chaos, has the title The Clouded World and an October 2008 publication date.

I chose Jay Amory as a pseudonym mainly because it’s a sort-of pun on my real name (“amor” being Latin for love, of course, and Jay sounding like my first initial) but also because it was non-gender-specific, which is important because the books are intended to appeal to both male and female readers. Writing them was a ball from start to finish, with pace and plot of paramount importance throughout.

Amazon UK:

• The Wingless Boy by Jay Amory [Gollancz, July 2008] – ISBN 978-0575083714
• The Clouded World by Jay Amory [Gollancz, September 2008] – ISBN 978-0575083721

Reviews:

• “Amory peppers the ground with an absolutely wonderful cast of characters. All great stuff! … Amory is a writer with an innate social conscience and a voice that calls to readers of all ages. I look forward to seeing how the story develops in the next volume.” – SF Revu 

• “Amory’s short brisk chapters with succinct headings keep the plot revelations coming and the pages turning. And particularly successful are the vivid scenes where Cassie’s family scour the predator-ridden landscape in the ‘murk-comber’ for items that fell from the sky cities. The Fledging Of Az Gabrielson is an entertaining read, and though part of a trilogy stands on its own.” – Starburst 

• “Amory also alludes to the abuse of religious dogma, a theme that is explored so dazzlingly in His Dark Materials. However, I think that The Fledging Of Az Gabrielson does have an appeal of its own; the story taps straight into that atavistic human desire to fly and there are some intriguing, ambiguous characters (I loved Mr Mordadson) who are often beautifully named (Ramona Orifielsdaughter Enochson!)” – Achuka Reviews 

• “The novel’s themes of unthinking faith, blind consumerism and segregated society, as well as the problems of the “disabled” young hero must overcome, are perfect for the young adult market. Do buy this for your kids.” – SFX 

• “One of the greatest fantasy novels that’s ever been written by a groundling. You can read this book as an allegory of western civilization and our exploitation of the third world… or you can just enjoy it.” – Teen Titles 

• “Amory’s ethereal descriptions of the ‘world above the clouds’ in the opening chapters are wonderful, and he manages to paint the sky cities in an entirely believable light. Amory’s real skill is in crafting inventive action sequences, and from the high-powered explosion of the Deacon’s Chancel in book one to the epic airship battle in the skies at the end of the second, these scenes are a real pleasure to read.” – Dreamwatch 

• “What makes the novel so compulsively readable, quite apart from Amory’s skill in narrating a story full of incident at breakneck pace, is that the reader comes to care about the varied cast. In lesser hands the characters might have become ciphers, but Amory imbues even the minor players with life and individuality. It’s also thrilling, with a magnificently described aerial dog-fight finale and a dénouement crammed with cliff-hangers.” – The Guardian  

• “I’ve been riveted by each book in the series, they are real page turners. The action is relentless, nothing is as straightforward as it seems, the clarity of plotting is superb and each of the main characters is so vividly drawn that I have cared about each and every one of them. The villains of the piece are also vividly drawn and each has a believable motivation for his or her actions. The characters come over as real people, deeply affected by the momentous events they are living through. I’d love to read more about the characters and the world they inhabit.” sfcrowsnest.com

Zombies in the military seemed to be the way to go – commando cadavers, Frankenstein fusiliers, grunts who grunt. And that’s how Dead Brigade came into existence.

It’s double the length of the usual Barrington Stoke title, so I class it as a novella rather than a short story. It’s also gory, funny, nasty, cynical, and sad. If you don’t feel rather sorry for the book’s half-living heroes by the end, then I haven’t done my job properly.

Amazon UK:

• Dead Brigade [Barrington Stoke, August 2007] – ISBN 978-1842995082

On this occasion, what waltzed into my head was a simple idea: what reason would someone have to kill a person they’d never met? I was due to write another Barrington Stoke title at this point anyway, and I suddenly realised I had the germ of a story right there. I freely admit that the initial part of the tale is a crib from Strangers On A Train (as pointed out in the review below) but the rest of it, with all its twists and turns, is pure spontaneous, original invention.

Amazon UK:

• Kill Swap [Barrington Stoke, January 2007] – ISBN 978-1842994474

Reviews:

• “Barrington Stoke is a new venture publishing short novels for reluctant readers. Universally excellent, its list features thrillers by such leading authors such as Robert Swindells, Kaye Umansky, Terry Deary and Catherine McPhail. James Lovegrove’s Kill Swap is typically clever and gripping.”Jack’s father is in debt to a gangster. He rings a mysterious company called Trouble Fix and is told that the gangster will be murdered if Jack murders a banker in turn. It’s like Strangers on a Train crossed with Big Brother, as the plot twists in an unexpected direction. Written in clear, terse prose, and typeset in easy-to-read paragraphs, this is hard-edged, fast-paced reading that does credit to an excellent enterprise.

  “[The book is] pure gold for boys who have read everything by Anthony Horowitz… or have not been able to tackle him yet.” – Amanda Craig, The Times

Cold Keep

It was only after the book was plotted that I saw the movie The Village and realised there were certain superficial similarities between the two. I decided to press ahead anyway, because (a) nobody has a monopoly on ideas, and (b) I had the idea first. So there, M. Night Shyamalamadingdong!

Amazon UK:

• Cold Keep [Barrington Stoke, January 2006] – ISBN 978-1842993637

Why ‘Provender Gleed’, you ask? Beats me. It just sounded right. It had a nice ring. The forename speaks of mercantilism and bountifulness, and the surname … well, I thought it was a nonexistent word I’d made it up, but apparently it’s a real word, meaning a small spark or ember. Which also suited the character well, he being a young man whose zest for life is kindled like a flame during the course of the story.

Anyway, it so happened that Worldstorm was next on the list of novels to write, so I left Provender Gleed to germinate for a while.

Now, here’s the weird bit. Fast forward a year or so from the above ‘third honeymoon’, and my wife and I are on holiday again, this time in the West Country, Somerset to be precise, with a small baby Monty in tow. I’ve finished writing Worldstorm and I’m planning on taking a breather and trying to get to grips with the whole fatherhood thing. Provender Gleed is still bubbling away nicely on the back burner but I have no intention of beginning work on it because I’m pretty exhausted, what with post-first-draft comedown and general new-parent sleep deprivation.

Then, one day, we decide to go for a trip on the Taunton-to-Minehead steam railway. While waiting to board the train, we get chatting with the station master, one of the volunteers who keep the line going, and then I notice something. Blow me down if the name on the man’s lapel badge isn’t ‘P. Gleed’. Spooky, huh? (Turns out his first name is Peter, but then it was hardly likely to be Provender, was it?) So I take this as a sign from above, an omen, a nudge from the gods of coincidence. The world is telling me I need to start writing the book. That very day, I get to work on the plot. Once we’re back home, I launch myself into actual writing. Four months later I have a first draft done, which is record time for me. I can’t remember when I enjoyed writing a book more. I had a laugh throughout. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation.

Provender Gleed is fun, exuberant, comedic, but also with dark overtones, a serious message, and (I think) credible, humane, in some cases loveable characters. It’s also allowed me to indulge my love of wordplay (cf. Days, Gig). I’m immensely proud of it.

Amazon UK:

• Provender Gleed [Gollancz hbk, September 2005] – ISBN 978-0575076839
• Provender Gleed [Gollancz tpbk, September 2005] – ISBN 978-0575076846
• Provender Gleed [Gollancz pbk, August 2006] – ISBN 978-0575077768

Reviews:

• “A balls out SF adventure, set in a parallel England with murder, chases and comedy detectives. This is ridiculously exciting stuff. Fast paced and amazingly realized.” Dreamwatch
• “Pick up James Lovegrove’s latest novel and you can rest assured that you are in the safe hands of a master craftsman. There a few things sweeter than reading a writer who’s so absolutely in love with the English language, and Lovegrove is clearly head over heels.” SFX
• “There’s lots of fun to be had in Provender Gleed, The latest novel by James Lovegrove, one of the UK’s most brilliant and versatile genre writers. With its imaginative and beautifully rendered setting, its cast of colourful characters and its delicate construction, reminiscent of all that is traditionally best in those robust and traditional British murder mysteries, Provender Gleed is a real treat for readers. It’s a novel with a unique feel and one in which its hugely talented author balances the comedy and the drama perfectly. Highly recommended.” SFRevu.com
• “We start out with an alternate history that satirizes our addiction to celebrity tat and the growing power of globalized big business by presenting a technologically restrained world and a rather archetypal tale of the troubled heir who’s forced to grow up. But Lovegrove keeps ringing the changes. By a third in, you have no doubt who the ‘blackhearts’ are, and then you’re given an insight that entirely sympathizes them. And after that, the entire novel does a hairpin turn as Lovegrove introduces the two Anagrammatic detectives, and starts to indulge in wordplay that would have The Two Ronnies cheering and groaning in equal measure but which is such fun that you forgive the plot device.” Starburst
• “Lovegrove’s concerns are the same as ever; in a sense, he is SF’s Richard Curtis, forever dedicated to Middle England, forever dedicating his books, whatever their apparent subgenres and speculative impulses, to that contemporary muse. Provender Gleed is a genuinely compelling story, a mixture of cliff-hanging political thriller and semantic farce. It is some of its author’s best work thus far. Provender Gleed is not especially valuable as SF, but its satire strikes vigorously home in the end, and its motivating love story is wonderfully conceived and handled.” Locus
• “This is a book about quiet competence — Provender and Isis, his kidnapper’s accomplice, are one of the more charming couples in recent fiction because they are both too smart and able for simple romance.” Time Out
• “Perhaps the best description of Provender Gleed … is an old-fashioned romp. More often than not used as faint praise, in this case it encompasses both the pacing of the plot, as it skids between kidnap, escape, intrigue and discovery, as well as the book’s overall readability. Not high literature, it remains extremely enjoyable. Here’s hoping this won’t be the last heard of Messrs Gleed and the Anagrammatic Detectives.” Edge
• “James Lovegrove’s new novel wears its costumes and disguises with acuity, mischief and skill. [...] What starts off as a contemporary comedy of manners … soon morphs into something more dangerous and nourishing, while all the way through the trademark Lovegrovian quirks are easily and brilliantly visible. [...] Provender Gleed shows, if more evidence was required, that James Lovegrove is one of the foremost novelists of his generation. His story-telling skill, and more importantly his knack of wrong-footing the reader, are exemplars.” Interzone
• “My favourite book of the year is Provender Gleed by James Lovegrove. It’s a futuristic satire on the class system, beautifully written. Lovegrove is one of the very best SF writers in the land.” — Bradford Telegraph & Argus

Like Provender Gleed, Ant God was written at white-heat speed. From five o’clock one morning till lunchtime, in fact. Which means it has a bouncy energy and vitality, while at the same time carrying a meaty, stop-and-think concept. Again, I’m very proud of it.

Amazon UK:

• Ant God [Barrington Stoke, July 2005] – ISBN 978-1842993293

Worldstorm

Added to this is the titular Worldstorm, a great howling nightmare of climatic carnage which roves the planet, wreaking death and destruction wherever it goes.

So much for the premise. As for the plot, it weaves together three narrative strands which are at first seemingly unconnected but, of course, prove not to be. And to say any more would be to give away too much. I’d like this to be a book full of surprises for the reader. (It certainly was for me when writing it, in spite of the fact that I plotted it as tightly as I’ve ever plotted anything.) I’ve never attempted something on such a large canvas before, and I might go so far as to say that Worldstorm is a Dickensian piece, in size and scope if not execution. I’m very pleased with the result. I must, also, categorically state that there is going to be no sequel. I know I’ve muttered about doing one, or even two, but I’ve now decided firmly against the idea. Worldstorm is a standalone epic, and proud of it.

Amazon UK:

• Worldstorm [Gollancz hbk, September 2004] – ISBN 978-0575073876
• Worldstorm [Gollancz tpbk, September 2004] – ISBN 978-0575073883
• Worldstorm [Gollancz pbk, September 2005] – ISBN 978-0575076563

Reviews:

• Made SFX‘s list of honourable-mention, not-quite-the-top-ten Books Of 2004.
• “The protagonists are solidly likeable, warts and all, and the eventful story is excellently written… an enjoyable book… a nifty whodunit from the angle of the future victim. [Plus some Harry Potter comparisons which we shan't consider.]” **** — Andrew Osmond, SFX
• “…will surprise you with cleverness where you least expect it and doesn’t pretend to offer easy answers with neat solutions… the antithesis of so many fantasy quests: a quiet, frail, philosophising tour de force.” — Stuart Carter, stuandmel.plus.com
• “[blah blah blah, gives away the entire plot, every twist and turn right up to the final page, but nothing in the way of actual comment about the book though one assumed she liked it since she gave it 4 out of 5]” **** — Barbara Davies, Starburst
• “Worldstorm is tremendously entertaining. There’s tragedy, but also humor; there’s in-depth characterization, but also action. There’s suspense in the mystery of Elder Ayn’s death, and surprise in the unfolding of his plan. There’s even a neat twist at the end. [...] James Lovegrove’s world building is superb. He succeeds not only in bringing to life an improbable world in which nearly everyone is endowed with a supernormal power, but in convincingly imagining how differently such a world would work … Lovegrove has created an extraordinarily rich and fascinating world.” – SFSite

Pete Crowther, at PS Publishing, completely ‘got’ the book — not only the basic conceit but my vision of how it should look as a product. The only way it would work is if neither novella was obviously the main one. They had to be perfect equals. The jacket had to be designed in such a way that the reader could start from either end, not feeling the novellas were in a preordained sequence. The result is such a fine-looking book, with such a cunningly designed dustjacket, it fair brings tears to your eyes. Throw in a couple of introductions by Eric Brown, who also played along wonderfully with the whole idea, and you have a package to be proud of.

We’re hoping that, as well as the current limited-edition run, Gig will come out as a mass-market paperback, PS’s first such, perhaps sometime in 2005.

PS Publishing:

• Gig [slipcased hardback, June 2004] – ISBN 978-1902880846
• Gig [jacketed hardback, June 2004] – ISBN 978-1902880838

Reviews:

• “Lovegrove gives us a page-turning, drug-fuelled rockumentary, full of sly digs and wry observations about the music biz. Set in a surreal, Ballard-esque near-future of warring Beatles fanatics and designer drugs, it’s all hugely enjoyable even if you don’t pick up on all the wordplay and hidden levels of meaning.” ***** — Dave Golder, SFX
• “An enjoyable read… Characterisation is uniformly excellent, and there’s quite a few entertaining moments — I can’t let Chapter 3 of ‘Kim’ go unmentioned … it’s one of the funniest things I’ve read in ages. A lovely book, and three cheers to Lovegrove for writing and to PS for publishing a pair of such novel novellas.” — John Toon, Infinity Plus
• “Lovegrove casts his satirical eye over the nature of fandom. He finds the very human qualities in the characters and plays to them, allowing the humour and the reality of the situation to come to the fore. Harking back to British genre peculiarities, such as the cosy catastrophe, Lovegrove delivers a wonderfully palindromic tale. This is one gig for which you’d give you eye teeth for a backstage pass.” — Ian Emsley, Interzone