Richard Strachan

'Strachan is a formidable talent' Martin MacInnes In the skies above war torn Europe, Stanley Wake and his fellow aircrew at Bomber Command risk their lives on missions that are incredibly dangerous and highly pressured. As the strains of their work press on him, Stan is beginning to suspect that either their plane is haunted or Stan himself may be haunted by his part in bringing about death and destruction to so many. On the ground in Lincoln, Abby Sallow is desperately trying to keep her own ghosts at bay. Working in a factory dismantling wrecked aircraft, Abby struggles to escape the nightly visions of her only son, who was killed at the very outset of war. While Stan longs to live, Abby seems intent on bringing about her own death. And for intensely superstitious, Harry Culpepper, one of Stan’s crewmates, it is only the Fates can keep him alive. He has crafted a talisman – a bird skull – that he is convinced will guarantee his safety. But as the bombing intensifies and the crew count down towards 30 flights completed – the point at which they will be given a reprieve from their deadly work – all three characters will discover whether they can find a chance of peace amongst the devastation of war, and whether the ghosts that haunt them can ever truly be laid to rest. A moving, evocative, beautifully written work of historical fiction, Night Fire establishes Richard Strachan as a major new name in historical fiction.

'Impressive' Sunday Times'Audacious' Scotsman 'Beautifully written' Michelle Paver 'Stunning' Rebecca Netley'Eerie' Naomi Kelsey 'Compelling' Martin MacInnesWhat the years have buried is about to be exposed...The gloomy fortress of Gallondean lies on the Scottish coast. Local legend has it that if the heirs to the house hear the howling of a spectral hound nearby, their death will quickly follow. The current owner of the house is Jacob Beresford who, up until the unexpected death of his father, had never set foot within its crumbling walls. Jacob, already haunted by his own demons, has no need of more ghosts, but as the First World War staggers through its last terrible months and he uncovers unsettling details of his new home’s past, the shadows seem to be growing around him. Then he meets Esther, a young volunteer nurse serving at nearby Roddinglaw, an elegant country house requisitioned for use as a temporary hospital ward. Esther, widowed in the early months of the war, dreams of being a poet as she assists the men around her, some of whom are struggling to come to terms with permanent, life-changing injuries. But is it one of the soldiers who appears to have only a minor injury, whose life comes to intersect with both Esther and Jacob in horrifying and unexpected ways. Danger stalks the woods and coast around them, but it soon becomes clear that the gravest threats are within…. Both unsettling and evocative, deeply atmospheric and brilliantly engaging The Unrecovered is an unforgettable historical debut inspired by a real life legend and marks the arrival of an outstanding new talent.

An unforgettable historical debut inspired by a real life legend which marks the arrival of an outstanding new talent

Ten new science fiction and fantasy stories in the latest Wyldblood Magazine. Bronze by Richard Strachan is a story of desperation and hard choices. A traveller rescues a young girl in a land of bandits and thieves.Last Chance Lottery by Michael Teasdale shows escapees from a ruined Earth reflecting on what they've left behind.Mirror Girl by Isabel Hinchliff asks in a world of clones, what happens to the originals?The Price of Green by Jonathon Mast is a cautionary tale of loss and wonder where what we now take for granted comes at a cost - a very high cost. Is it a price worth paying?No Rescuers for an Aging Princess by Jo Miles tells the story of a widowed princess who suddenly finds herself surplus to requirements, and what she chooses to do next - and the obstacles she must overcome in pursuit of her new destiny, The Golden Idol of the Dreadful Palace in the Hollywood Hills by Chloe Smith is a rescue story in virtual reality with some delicious dark twists. Noctes by Billy Stanton tell of a painting bringing dark horror to those under its mesmeric spell.The Bearable Fragility of Ordinary Things by Elisabeth Ring shows a burst of chaos magic bringing new forms to ordinary people A young man made of glass must tread carefully and find his new purpose.Untenanted by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar tells of an out of body experience with a terrifying twist.Hannah's Journey by Tom Jolly rounds off the collection with story about a disembodied hand falling into the clutches of thieves and finding it now has a life of its own - what choices will it make?