Publishers Marketplace: Douglas Smith


	Douglas Smith

This writer is looking for an agent.

NEWS
Mar 17, 2010: Quill and Quire, magazine of the Canadian book trade, gives Chimerascope a *starred* review.
Mar 15, 2010: Library Journal gives a glowing review of Chimerascope here.
Mar 1, 2010: Doug's story, "Radio Nowhere," makes the final ballot for the 2010 Aurora Awards
Jan 25, 2010: Publishers Weekly review of Doug's new collection Chimerascope
Oct 7, 2009: Full detail on Doug's new collection, CHIMERASCOPE
Apr 21, 2009: Follow Doug on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dougsmithwriter

"Doug Smith is, quite simply, the finest short-story writer Canada has ever produced in the science fiction and fantasy genres, and he's also the most prolific. His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think."

— Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Hominids

"With every new story, the more impressed I am with [Smith's] subtlety and vision. I've yet to read a work of his that wasn't beautifully written, but more than that, his stories resonate with a deep understanding of the human condition as well as a characteristic wry wonder... Stories you can't forget, even years later. Doug's published extensively, though only in short fiction to date, but I believe he's also working on a novel. Thank goodness! When that's published, it will be on my must-read pile for sure."

— Julie Czerneda, author and editor

Doug is an award-winning Canadian author of speculative fiction, whose stories have appeared in over eighty professional magazines and anthologies in twenty-nine countries and twenty-three languages, including InterZone, Amazing Stories, Cicada, Jim Baen's Universe, Dark Wisdom, Weird Tales, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, Postscripts, On Spec, and The Third Alternative, as well as anthologies from Penguin/Roc, DAW, and others.

Doug's second short story collection, Chimerascope, is now available for ordering from ChiZine Publications. Chimerascope contains sixteen stories, including an Aurora Award winner, a Best New Horror selection, nine Aurora finalists, and three Year's Best Fantasy & Horror honourable mentions. Full information on Chimerascope, including the table of contents, story excerpts and ordering information is available here. From the reviews:

"...Chimerascope is a massively enjoyable trek through the far-fetched, the horrifying, and the flat-out weird, all filtered through Smith's remarkable imagination and prodigious talent. ... Although Smith's tales may centre on the fantastic, what is immediately notable is his steady grasp of character, which lends humanity to even the most absurd situations. The stories in this collection traverse genres and styles -- from outright horror to witty surrealism to martial-arts mythology -- without missing a beat. ... 'The Dancer at the Red Door,' with its mix of oblique horror, urban fantasy, and monsters ... recalls Clive Barker at his most disturbingly fanciful. ... The closing story, the post-apocalyptic narrative 'Memories of the Dead Man,' contains echoes of Stephen King. Chimerascope is a sterling set, with nary a weak or disposable entry. Smith's writing, evocative yet understated, gracefully brings to life his imagined realms."
— Quill and Quire, Mar 2010 *Starred Review*

"The 16 stories in this collection showcase the inventive mind and immense storytelling talent of one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction. Covering the spectrum from sf ("Enlightenment") to horror ("By Her Hand, She Draws You Down") to fantasy ("The Boys Are Back in Town"), Smith writes with a keen eye for detail and atmosphere, crafting each story with wit and perception. VERDICT: Twice winner of Canada's Aurora Award, Smith writes stories that will appeal to fans of such literary sf writers such as Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe."

— Library Journal

"Smith's second collection (after 2008's Impossibilia) delivers an entertaining selection of stories that deftly span multiple genres, often milking surprisingly original tales out of tired tropes. The Zelazny-inspired "The Boys Are Back in Town" nicely toes the line between quirky humor and pathos. "State of Disorder," featuring a classic mad scientist out for revenge, is a neat twist on time travel and quantum physics. "Jigsaw," a young adult tale, is a fun romp involving aliens and continental drift. The best of the bunch, "By Her Hand, She Draws You Down," is a haunting variant on the vampire legend with an understated and brutal ending."

— Publishers Weekly

His first collection of short fiction, Impossibilia, was a finalist for the 2009 Aurora Awards and is available from the award-winning UK press, PS Publishing. Here's a selection of the reviews:

"Both thematically and stylistically, these stories sometimes recall the work of better known authors, including Harlan Ellison, Theodore Sturgeon, and Ray Bradbury. But Smith puts such a personal stamp on his stories, and invests them with such depth of feeling, that they transcend the dangers of ... imitation and emerge as wholly original. ... There is a certain exhilaration that comes from reading the book's complex and powerfully emotional stories couched in that deft and smooth prose. It is easy to see why PS Publishing considers Smith an author who deserves more attention. ... [Smith deserves] to be known to by a very wide audience indeed."

— Matt Cardin, Dead Reckonings Magazine

"The three stories collected in 'Impossibilia' are very different, covering almost the entire range of speculative genres. The writing is superb. Douglas Smith is an artisan and his stories beautifully crafted. ... In my search for the perfect short story, the three in this volume certainly qualify."

— SF Crowsnest Book Reviews

"Highly, highly recommended."

— Fantasy Book Critic

"An ambitious and adventurous new writer."

— Gardner Dozois, author and editor

"...echoes of Ellison again, and of Ray Bradbury..."

— Mike O'Driscoll, The Fix

A short film based on his supernatural horror story "By Her Hand, She Draws You Down" is currently in post-production (TinyCore Pictures). The official "By Her Hand..." Movie Companion book is available for ordering now. He may be contacted via his web site.