His portrayal of Villa in Blake’s 7 was and remains a huge influence on my writing. Of course most notably when I write Caleb Scudder in the SURVIVE THE UNIVERSE books (the character was always intended to be Villa mixed with the spirit of certain kids I went to school with). However I also think there’s shades of Keating’s very British style of downtrodden and weary humorous delivery in BITE BACK! too.
Michael Keating as Villa in Blake’s 7
Either way it’s always a delight to watch him try to duck and dodge, outwit and wrangle his way out of anything that looks like danger or (even worse) hard work. It’s also a delight to draw inspiration from his performances, there’s a bit of business with Caleb Scudder in the upcoming NINETEEN AND FAR FROM VASTRID that’s wholesale me channeling Villa. And I make no apologies for it, I welcome the opportunity for his legacy to live on and only hope my use of the inspiration serves as a worthy tribute.
CHILDREN OF THE TIDE REJOICE💫 Yes indeed my new space opera novella NINETEEN AND FAR FROM VASTRID will be available for kindle download on 29/05/26 and as all formats ebook freebie through my mailing list from June.
It’s my intention that this should be available for free for as many people as possible (and I’ll be attempting to launch using a free for 5 days promo on Amazon) HOWEVER should any kind souls wish to tip your author and help with the accursed algorithms of the digital age you can get it via the presale here: https://amzn.eu/d/00CT4N7G
Fancy a synopsis? Well I’ll give you a synopsis…
Nineteen years old. Captain of a stolen starship. Chosen by a cosmic force he barely understands.
Ryan Tyler thought surviving the massacre at the Vastridian Debutant Ball would be the hardest part. He was wrong.
Now a captain of the rogue vessel the Salvatore, Ryan and his unlikely crew of fugitives, outcasts, and reluctant heroes are drifting deeper into a universe consumed by fear, corruption, and war. The sinister Shadox Corporation continues to spread its influence across the stars, twisting alien energies into terrifying new weapons and leaving entire colonies swallowed by ruin.
The crew of the Salvatore’s latest mission leads them to Terra Ferus, a lawless wasteland smothered in toxic green mist and haunted by secrets nobody was meant to uncover.
There, Ryan encounters Kelita Finch, a sharp-tongued teenage scavenger surviving one day at a time amongst the wreckage of forgotten lives, and Arbie, her strange empathic floating companion whose quiet compassion hides deeper mysteries. Drawn into a desperate fight for survival alongside the weary bounty hunter Aric Lammont, Ryan begins to uncover horrifying experiments linked to corrupted creatures known as synistrails and rumours of something even worse waiting in the darkness.
But Terra Ferus holds more than mysterious laboratories and deadly secrets.
Far out beyond the drifting mist, something ancient and grieving watches the world below.
As Ryan struggles with the growing power of the Tide of Light inside him, loyalties begin to fracture aboard the Salvatore. Sacrifices must be made, painful truths begin to surface, and Kelita finds herself searching for answers about her own past amongst the ruins of a galaxy that has discarded countless others before her.
Fast-paced, emotional, and filled with cosmic mystery, Nineteen and Far From Vastrid is a sci-fi fantasy adventure about destiny, survival, friendship, sacrifice, and the fragile light people leave behind in one another.
The universe is in danger. The light is calling. And somewhere in the space between hope and oblivion, Ryan Tyler is running out of time.
Just thought I’d drop a little update to you all as I know it’s been a quiet start to the year.
I suppose the biggest headline is that your new favourite space opera novel SURVIVE THE UNIVERSE 💫 got a little bit of a boast last month. I was thrilled to see that it had picked up readers in Japan 🇯🇵 for the first time. I’m always humbled and grateful when my books travel to other countries especially as they haven’t been translated (I’d love to translate them but y’know it’s expensive to do). Also it climbed back up in to the TOP TEN of a few genre charts, which I always find charming. There’s always something I loved about genre charts, I think it goes back to the data of ITV pop music show THE CHART SHOW where they’d have the indie chart and all kinds of underground curios got a chance to shine on TV if only for a second or two.
As for new stuff? I’m still chipping away at the novella. I’m about half way through, it’s taking me much longer than I hoped it would but I seem to struggle to write during winter. Though I struggle with most things in winter, I’d happily hibernate through January and February if I were able. Still as the nights grow lighter I’m feeling more productive so hopefully it’ll be ready in a couple of months. Dare I propose a Whitsun release?
One problem I do have is that my MacBook has grown too old for updates so I’m without the tech to publish. I’m desperately trying to save for a new-second hand one but I’m not getting far with that so if anyone wants to gift me an old one I’d be grateful – no harming in asking right? 😉
ANYHOWSA I hope you all are happy and healthy and if not I hope you’re getting the help you need to make things better.
Yes indeed I’m thrilled and honoured to announce that by their request your new favourite space opera SURVIVE THE UNIVERSE has been added to the available catalogue inventory of the following libraries:
The Bodleian Library Oxford University, The Cambridge University Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin
So if you’re a study cat swinging by any of those fine institutions feel free to borrow it.
If you’d rather buy a copy it’s still available and still awesome from Amazon :
Or if you like to parade magnificently around the boutiques and boulevards it’s still available by quoting ISBN 9781068648601 at your nearest book trader.
Or U.K. 🇬🇧 friends with Waterstones vouchers go spend them here!
Phoenix Phil Morley - author 