Hilldiggers.

[Neal Asher]

Here's the first review of Hilldiggers over at fantasybookcritic by Robert Thompson.

[dustinzgirl]

Originally Posted by Neal Asher

Here's the first review of Hilldiggers over at fantasybookcritic by Robert Thompson.

Wow, thats a great review Neal! Congrats!

From the review, I found this statement piqued my interest:

In fact, I can safely say that “Hilldiggers” is a character-driven novel. First, we have the aforementioned Consul Assessor David McCrooger, an Old Captain/hooper from the planet Spatterjay who relates events via a first-person narrative and reminded me some of Ian Cormac, but is actually quite different.

Sounds like a great read to me!

[Ian Whates]

Great review, Neal. I suppose this is another one I'll have to buy (sigh). All being well, I should still be coming along to heckle you (not to mention getting you to sign a few books!) at Forbidden Planet on Saturday 7th.

I'd suggest meeting up for a glass or two before or after, but presume you're being lavishly entertained by the shop and/or Peter Lavery and co.

Congrats on Hilldiggers at any rate!

[Neal Asher]

dustinzgirl, yeah, I did enjoy writing McCrooger. I think that at some point in the future I'll do an entire book in first person.

Ian, actually Peter won't be there, but after the signing me and some others will be slipping to the pub round the corner for a beer or two.

[Neal Asher]

I must get hold of a copy of Death Ray Magazine. Here's either part or all of a review in it of Hilldiggers:


"Asher has an axe to grind, but what a shiny, well-honed and beautifully weighted axe it is... He's on top of his game with this one and his confidence entwines a fibrous thread throughout the plot. Multiple narratives occurring in different time frames, shifts between first-and third-person perspectives, a detailed and convincing description of planetary ecosystems...In lesser hands, a rambling wayward text could well result. What we have instead is a wonderfully rich and complex tale that happily flips between giving the mind something weighty to mull over and pleasing its baser, thrill-seeking desires... Asher's skill is making it all seem wild, wonderful, politically provoking and fresh."

Very nice.


Blackfish Publishing

[Neal Asher]

Ahah, Caroline was out on a reconnoitre of Lakeside for me today as this mobile phone image proves...

[Rane Longfox]

Just started Hilldiggers. Only the first 10 or so pages so far, but first impressions are as good as ever.

[Neal Asher]

Excellent reviews of Hilldiggers have now appeared in the national (mainly SFF film and TV oriented) magazines SFX, Starburst and Deathray. Here’s some samples from them:

It might not quite trump his barnstorming epic The Line of Polity, but if there’s a more enjoyable and provocative sci-fi action saga this year, we’ll be surprised.
– Saxon Bullock (SFX)


So, despite the space-war back ground, what Asher actually delivers here is a political novel, about conflicts between military and civilian authorities, between war and post-war generations, messianic belief, and the balancing of truth and reconciliation in the aftermath of atrocities – with massive space battles and scheming boo-hiss villians who show unexpected sides as an added bonus.
– Anthony Brown (Starburst)



In lesser hands a rambling, wayward, text could result. What we have instead in a wonderfully rich and complex tale which happily flips between giving the mind something to mull over, and pleasing its baser thrill-seeking desires.
– Jonnie Bryant (Deathray)

[Rane Longfox]

Just finished Hilldiggers last night, and overall really enjoyed it. The storyline was great, the characters were engaging and the twist right at the very end worked very well. I felt it lacked a grandstand finish, which was a shame, but that's a minor quibble

[Neal Asher]

I can't keep doing those grandstand finishes, Rane, I've only got suns left to blow up.