R. B. Russell

This article is about the English publisher. For the Canadian labour organizer, see Robert B. Russell.

Russell in 2011

Ray B. Russell is an English publisher,[1] editor, author,[2] illustrator,[3] songwriter,[4] and film maker.[5]

Biography

Russell runs the award-winning Tartarus Press with Rosalie Parker, and for many years compiled the Guide to First Edition Prices.[6] As an author he has had four collections of short stories, three novellas and three novels published. His story "Loup-garou" was chosen for Ellen Datlow’s The Best Horror of the Year. "In Hiding" was nominated for the 2010 World Fantasy Award,[7] and "The Beautiful Room" for the 2011 British Fantasy Award.[8] Michael Dirda has described Russell as "...among the leading practitioners of classic supernatural fiction".[9]

His novella, Bloody Baudelaire, has been filmed by 3:1 Cinema with the new title Backgammon and was released 2016.[10]

He contributes artwork to Tartarus Press titles, and a selection of his art was on display at the Link Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax, 2010/11.

Russell is also a songwriter, having previously composed songs released by The Bollweevils.[11] His first solo CD, Ghosts,[12] was released by Klanggalerie in February 2012. The accompanying video presentation was premiered in Vienna in March 2012,[13] and was subsequently shown at Dean Clough Galleries October 2012.[14] Dean Clough Galleries presented The Romance of Shortwave Radio Numbers Stations as a video installation in 2018.[15]

Russell was the co-creator of C.W. Blubberhouse with Mark Valentine.

Writing

Guide to First Edition Prices

  • Eight editions, Tartarus Press, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 & 2010.

Short stories

  • Putting the Pieces in Place, Ex Occidente Press (Bucharest, Romania), 2009.[16]
  • Literary Remains, PS Publishing (Hornsea, East Yorkshire), 2010.[17]
  • Leave Your Sleep, PS Publishing (Hornsea, East Yorkshire), 2012.
  • Death Makes Strangers of Us All, Swan River Press (Dublin, Ireland), 2018.

Novellas

  • Bloody Baudelaire, Ex Occidente Press (Bucharest, Romania), 2009.[18]
  • The Dark Return of Time, Swan River Press (Dublin, Ireland), 2014.
  • The Stones are Singing, PS Publishing (Hornsea, East Yorkshire), 2016.

Novels

  • She Sleeps, PS Publishing (Hornsea, East Yorkshire), 2017.
  • Waiting for the End of the World, PS Publishing (Hornsea, East Yorkshire), 2020.
  • Heaven's Hill, Zagava (Germany), 2021.
  • The Woman Who Fell to Earth, Tartarus Press (Yorkshire), 2024.

Collected Edition

  • Ghosts, Swan River Press (Dublin, Ireland), 2012. (Contains Putting the Pieces in Place and Bloody Baudelaire. Available with Ghosts CD in a limited edition.)

Non-fiction

Translation

Music

  • Ghosts, Klanggalerie (Austria), 2012.
  • Bloody Baudelaire: A Soundtrack, Klanggalerie (Austria), 2014.[21]
  • The Romance of Shortwave Radio Numbers Stations, Persepolis, 2016.[22]
  • Copsford, (self released) 2020.[23] Reissued Bladud Flies! 2021[24] Reissued Warm Noise 2022[25]
  • Phantom Cities by The Sodality of the Shadows, Persepolis, 2020.[26]
  • Heaven's Hill, 7" single, Zagava, 2012.

Film/video

  • Backgammon, 2016 (co-scriptwriter)[27][circular reference]
  • Coverdale: A Year in the Life, 2016 (co-director/producer)[28][29]
  • Robert Aickman: Author of Strange Tales, 2015 (co-director/producer)[30]
  • Current 93: Live at Halifax Minster, 2014 (co-director/producer)[31]
  • Collecting Vinyl Records: A Personal History, 2012 (director/producer)[32]
  • A Mild Case of Bibliomania, 2011 (director/producer)[33]

Further reading

  • "An Interview with R. B. Russell", by John Kenny, Swan River Press Interviews May 2012.
  • "An Interview with R. B. Russell", by Jason Rolfe, Bibliomancy Tuesday, 7 February 2012.
  • "An Interview with Ray Russell", by Everett Bleiler, Fantasy Commentator, Winter 2001–2002, pps.97-100.
  • "Uncollected Characters of the Book World: 5", by Victoria Hyde-Greene, Antiquarian Book Monthly, May 1999, pps8-9.

References

  1. ^ Tartarus Press website
  2. ^ "Summary Bibliography: R. B. Russell". www.isfdb.org.
  3. ^ Illustrations by Russell
  4. ^ "R. B. Russell". Discogs.
  5. ^ "R. B. Russell". IMDb.
  6. ^ "Review" by Robert McCrum, Literary Editor, The Observer, 14/11/99
  7. ^ "Awards | World Fantasy Convention". Archived from the original on 27 October 2012.
  8. ^ "British Fantasy Awards 2010".
  9. ^ "Book-related videos you should watch" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  10. ^ "Backgammon". 11 March 2016 – via www.imdb.com.
  11. ^ "The Bollweevils (2) - Talk To Me". Discogs. 1990.
  12. ^ "R. B. Russell - Ghosts". Discogs. 23 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Ghosts CD and videos launch".
  14. ^ "What's On at Dean Clough".
  15. ^ "Raymond Russell: The Romance of Short Wave Radio Numbers Stations".
  16. ^ Ellen Datlow, The Best Horror of the Year, Night Shade Books, 2010, p.21.
  17. ^ Peter Bell, Supernatural Tales 18, Autumn 2010, pp3 82-83.
  18. ^ Publishers Weekly, 25 August 2009.
  19. ^ From the books of wandering by Aaron Worth, Times Literary Supplement, 19 December 2019.
  20. ^ "A Bird Was Learning Its Song," by Adrian Tahourdin, Times Literary Supplement, 21 May 1999.
  21. ^ "R. B. Russell - Bloody Baudelaire - A Soundtrack". Discogs. 23 May 2014.
  22. ^ "R. B. Russell - The Romance Of Shortwave Radio Numbers Stations". Discogs. 12 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Copsford by R.B. Russell". Bandcamp.
  24. ^ "Copsford by R. B. Russell". Bladud Flies.
  25. ^ "Copsford by R. B. Russell". Warm Noise.
  26. ^ "Phantom Cities by The Sodality of the Shadows". Discogs. 2020.
  27. ^ Wikipedia entry
  28. ^ "Secret film of a hidden dale draws the crowds". The Northern Echo. 10 February 2016.
  29. ^ "Coverdale: A Year in the Life". tartaruspress.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  30. ^ Film maker's webpage for Robert Aickman: Author of Strange Tales
  31. ^ Film maker's webpage for Current 93: Live at Halifax Minster
  32. ^ Film maker's webpage for Collecting Vinyl Records: A Personal History
  33. ^ Film maker's webpage for A Mild Case of Bibliomania