Previous Post My attempts to get twelve things in print this year continues with ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON - BOOK 2, the second and final part of, well, a story about a Roman knight and a bloody big dragon. With complications, of course. This one went out via Chillwater Press, which I generally use for works I think would baffle or challenge "normal" editors, for writing where I use my natural style. That may reveal all you really need to know about the volume. Meanwhile, the blurb says: ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON - Book Two An unstoppable creature of legend wakes to claim the world. To save her people, Princess Sabra volunteers to go to the dragon. But the wyrm Astorat knows that when he devours her he can overthrow the empires of man. Only one outcast knight threatens the horror's rise, a reluctant self-proclaimed dragon-slayer who hates to be called Saint George. As civilisation crumbles, while men and monsters run wild, a dragon, a damsel, and a tarnished hero face a final, fateful appointment. Award-winning fantasy author I.A. WATSON concludes the epic adventure of sword versus serpent, passion versus dragonfire, for the future of humanity. "St George and the Dragon - Book Two" ISBN-10: 1505808588 ISBN-13:978-1505808582 Published by Chillwater Press Release date: April 2015 Retail Price: $13.50 from here (and from elsewhere) Kindle Edition: $3.50 from here. Also due out as their publishers get round to it will be: BYZANTIUM: REBEL'S RUN (now missed third publication date) OCCULT DETECTIVE MONSTER HUNTER - A Vinnie de Soth story in a multi-author anthology BLACKTHORN: SPIRES OF MARS, an SF novel and about half a dozen other things that are still embargoed Next up in June from Chillwater [problem] Press is: Full list of publications et. al. at I.A. Watson's Homepage HH

THE NEW ADVENTERS OF SEMI DUAL features the return of pulp fiction's first occult detective. From his enthouse sanctum, the reclusive mystic known only as Semi Dual consults on cases where the bizarre and the impossible defy nayural solutions. Adventurous crime reporter Bryce finds the strange occultist an invaluable and dangerous asset in uncovering the darkest and deadliest mysteries of the big ity..

In this anthology collection for the Pulp Obscura imprint I.A. Watson contributes “The Curse of Urania” – where a millionire's suicide is complicated when the millionaire's long dead wife seems to appeal to Semi Dual for help in uncovering the truth.

"The New Adventures of Semi Dual"
ISBN 10: 1511433353
ISBN 13: 978-1511433358
Published by Pro Se Press
Release date: April 2015
Retail Price: $9.00 from here
Kindle version available here

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Now this is an interesting one. Semi Dual had quite a long publishing history ranging from the start to the end of the classic pulp era. The stories in this volume come from that very early period when his chronicler Bryce is a reporter at the city newspaper. Unlike Dr Watson, Bryce rarely accompanies his odd acquaintance on cases. Instead, Bryce is sent to investigate and Semi Dual remains in his skyscraper penthouse until the moment comes for him to act. For this reason the stories tend to be two acts of two-fisted reporter investigator assembling the clues and a final act of mystic payoff. It's an odd and oddly compelling format.

In the early Semi Dual stories, often the only really occult element was the man himself. Other supernatural content was subdued or actually turns out to be mundane (c.f. Scooby-Doo). Indeed, Semi Dual's own exotic background and power set was not immediately revealed. Think of how the first six years of Doctor Who, 1963-69, went without ever mentioning Time Lords or Gallifrey or twin pulmonary systems. The Doctor remained an entirely unexplained man of mystery. So it was with Semi Dual until an unusual mission to Persia revealed some of his origin. My story, "The Curse of Urania", and I think the others in the new volume, are all set in that pre-revelation period of the mythology where Semi Dual was a complete enigma to his chronicler Bryce as well as to readers.

Its interesting to look back on those original stories and see how they have influenced what has come after. Bryce could have happily sat down at a bar to drink whisky with Sam Spade, but I doubt that was a determining influence on Marlowe. On the other hand, Semi Dual's imprint is implicit on properties like the 1960s Lee-Ditko Dr Strange. Eastern-trained occultist? Weird ethnic manservant? Sanctum base in modern US city? Home filled with Eastern trappings? Consulting occultist? Adversary trained alongside him? Check, check, check. The inspiration may not have, probably did not, come direct, but the thread starts with Semi Dual.