Not a plug for Paul Cornell's "Saucer Country" but instead the first breath of wind that heralds the arrival of The Air War.

As pointed out by Mark Guest in a comment to the last post, the 8th book of Shadows of the Apt will be out 2nd August, meaning I should start thinking about signings for around that date (and Fantasycon 2012's just a month later, for that matter).

This is of course the beginning of the end, in that it's the first volume of the final plot arc. We've had the first Wasp war, ending with the treaty signed at the end of Salute the Dark. We've had all the fallout, the stories of Che, Stenwold, Seda and Tynisa that have occupied the attention of Scarab, Sea Watch and Heirs. Now the Empire has got its act together. Compare and contrast with Mr Brooks' cover to Empire (out now, I believe).

As chance would have it, I'm on the final proofs for Air War right at this moment. It's pleasant to be able to get to this stage, which is often when the book is starting to seem like a house guest that just won't get the hint and leave, and still find the story zipping along quite nicely. Things explode. What's not to like?