SF Canada member Richard A. Kirk’s latest book, Magpie’s Ladder, comprises stories that came to him while he was working on his visual art. Recently released by PS Publishing, a UK-based specialist publisher producing high quality, collectable but affordable signed limited editions within the field of science fiction, fantasy and horror. This illustrated book is Richard’s first collection of short stories.
A researcher’s curiosity draws her to the dream realm of the Darkling Lands.
Condemned by his own crime, an engrosser plumbs the labyrinthine depths of his firm’s building to find that he is not alone.
A giant searches for his missing brother.
A young woman opens a sealed house atop a crumbling bridge.
A young academic moves into the house of a dead professor and finds himself trapped in a dark fairy-tale.
These are five stories of yearning, curiosity, and darkness. They explore the fragile and dangerous correspondence between people and monsters.
Richard is an author, illustrator and visual artist. His fiction includes the short fantasy novel, The Lost Machine (Radiolaria Studios, 2010), and Necessary Monsters (Arche Press, Resurrection House, 2o17). He says, “Books have always been central to my life. Thinking about my literary inspiration and literary heroes lead me to authors like K. J. Bishop, Michael Moorcock, Mervyn Peake, Borges, John Banville, Brian Catling and John Crowley. These writers illuminate with their prose, but never fear the dark, qualities I’ll always aspire to with my own work.”
Find Magpie’s Ladder at PS Publishing and find more of Richard’s work on his blog.
