Paul Cornell's Friday Newsletter

I’m a Guest at Caption!

On the afternoon of Sunday, August 17th, I’m going to be a guest at the Caption Small Press and Comics Festival in Botley, Oxford. I’m on the Networking in Comics panel. Do come along if you can!

‘The Longest War’

That’s the title of the issue of Commando I’ve written, which is tentatively due to be released in August. The artist is the great Steve Yeowell, and it’s amazing work. I’m delighted to have contributed to this very exacting classic format. More news nearer the time!

Gnomes of Lychford and The Lychford Collection

On 9th September, Tor.com Publishing is releasing the sixth book in my Lychford series of rural fantasy novellas, Gnomes of Lychford. It’s a re-editing of the serial I ran on this newsletter, and I’ve taken the opportunity to sort out a couple of little plot problems. I think it’s my best Lychford book, and, weirdly, it’s a great jumping-on point, because everything about the series is explained at the start. You can read all about it here.

And you can now pre-order!

“An unlikely group of supernatural creatures terrorizes the sleepy village of Lychford. Okay, they're gnomes. That's not a spoiler: you worked it out it from the title. When an ancient prophecy clashes with an unfortunate modern design aesthetic, the people of Lychford must band together to put out fires (both literal and metaphorical) to save their town before the king of the Gnomes (King Greg, and it's dangerous to laugh at a gnome) calls in the terms of an old promise. Trouble is: no one knows what the promise is, nor how to fulfil it. It's going to be a long night.”

And also up for pre-order, and out on the same day is The Lychford Collection, which contains my first three Lychford novellas. (Cover design for both by FORT.)

Who Killed Nessie?

On 18th September, Avery Hill will be releasing a bookstore edition of Who Killed Nessie?, the graphic novel by myself and the great Rachael Smith.

You can read all about it, and see lots of sample pages, here.

And you can pre-order it here.

You can also pre-order it from Amazon UK and Amazon US. And from all good bookstores and comic shops.

The reviews are already coming in, including this lovely one from Monkeys Fighting Robots.

And on Saturday, 20th September, from 1pm-2pm, Rachael and I will be signing the book (copies of which will be on sale) at Waterstones London-Piccadilly!

Those of you who backed the graphic novel on Zoop, don’t worry, you’ll be getting a unique edition with a different cover. (And you’ll be getting it first.)

“A cosy comedy murder mystery… with a monstrous twist! Lyndsay Grockle has just started her new job at an isolated hotel. She’s trying to get over heartbreak. She’s amazed to be left in sole charge just before a big convention. When the terrifying guests start to arrive, she realises why: this is a gathering of the fantastic beasts of myth and legend! The attendees ask her to stay in her room and let them be. But when the Loch Ness Monster is found dead, there’s nobody else they trust to solve the murder. She may not entirely believe in them… but they believe in her! Lyndsay is going to have to dig deep into her own fears and vulnerabilities to discover… WHO KILLED NESSIE?”

The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s

On November 13th, I’ve got a book coming out from Bloomsbury that’s part of a new range of popular studies of Marvel Comics! The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s is fully illustrated with panels from the comics, and is my journey through how Marvel’s main super team navigated that difficult decade. You can read the announcement here at AP News. This is very much a labour of love for me, a book I’ve wanted to find a way to write for the longest time.

And you can now pre-order it from the publisher (and from all good booksellers)!

Thought Bubble

Our application has been accepted, so I’m pleased to say that Lizbeth Myles and I will once more be tabling at the wonderful Thought Bubble comic convention in Harrogate on November 15th and 16th. (You can find the full list of exhibitors here.)

Of Intrigue and Espionage

I have a story in this just-announced forthcoming volume from Stars and Sabers publishing, which is due out in October 2026. I’m in good company, as you can see from the full announcement here.

Telefantasy Time Jump

The new podcast from me and Lizbeth Myles covers the history of SFF on TV, from 1953 onward, with our regular episodes (on the 14th of every month) covering a show released that year in the UK, and the Patron Bonus episodes (on the 28th) covering a show from the rest of the world. The shows for June (covering 1958) are The Invisible Man (plus the play I Can Destroy the Sun) and Tales of Frankenstein. The main episode is available free wherever you get your podcasts. To get the bonus episode, you need to follow us on Patreon at £3/$3 or above. (And you get access to seven years of Hammer House of Podcast bonus episodes!) You can find all the info here.

My Ko-fi and eBay Stores

Here’s my Ko-fi store, where you can buy my books and comics, signed and personalised, for shipping worldwide. And here’s my ebay store, full of Bronze Age Marvel comics at bargain prices.

My Linktree

You can now find all my social media links, my website/blog and links to where you can buy my books, in one place here, thanks to Linktree!

The Work of Friends

Jendia Gammon, the novelist, short story writer and publisher, is doing so well right now, and she’s got a cover reveal for her new collection, To Wonder and Starshine to share at her website (where you can also find pre-order details), thus I won’t share the wonderful Mikio Murakami cover art here.

My Week

I’ve been very disciplined this week, with two or three pages of Monarch comic plus 1000 words of unannounced Official Sequel every day, and two sets of exercises. The latter has been very good for my mental health, keeping me on an even keel and fending off the horrors. Also this week the final text of my Avengers book was approved, and I’m now extremely proud of it and very much looking forward to talking about it in San Diego. Another big project, which is going to be announced there, was also the subject of a lot of my time this week, and putting together materials for that has been incredibly exciting. Plus there’s the England Men’s Test Cricket team beating India (who are a powerhouse) in fine fashion, brave and stylish. So all in all right now I’m in about as good a place as I can be.

Thomas has also been doing very well. Most mornings before I get up I can hear him singing from downstairs. His repetoire of videos to sing along with now seems to include Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up that Hill’, which is pleasing. I’ve no idea how the Kid YouTube algorythm got him there. He’s doing well at circuits in science at school, I’m told. Much of his chat these days concerns the very friendly Ginger Cat which has started to hang around. Thomas looks forward to its return, but when it does always calls Caroline or me out to encounter it with him. The adult’s job is to have the cat rub its head on their hand so that Tom can stroke it.

I’m living very much with one eye on future dates right now. These two big projects still to be announced are pretty great. The approach of San Diego Comic Con is also filling me with joy. As ever, I’m lapping up every detail, sending Liz cryptic (to most people) messages like ‘Shudder have an activation in the Gaslamp!’ This year I’m being very specific about which meetings to pursue, because the thing I’m announcing plus my panels will take up a chunk of time, and to be honest I want to have more fun.

So, all to play for. And there’s a pub quiz tonight. Wish me luck!

To Be Continued

It looks like, unless one of the companies I’ve involved with announces early, I’ll be able to start telling you about those SDCC panels around July 10th.

And I hope to see all of you again next week!