SFX Writer Guest Stars In New Book Series

Imagine our surprise when SFX hack Steve O’Brien turns up as a character in a new series of books about an ex-sci-fi TV series script editor who turns detective

The new Mervyn Stone series of books by comedy scriptwriter Nev Fountain ( Have I Got News For You , Dead Ringers ) aren’t strictly speaking SFX territory. But they do feature the former script editor of a classic sci-fi TV series, Vixens From The Void , who’s skills at plotholing mean he also makes a mean amateur detective. And a lot of it is set in the sci-fi world of conventions, and fandom, and TV production. And there are loads of sci-fi in-jokes. And it does feature an SFX writer…

Hang on. Rewind. WTF?

Yes, book three features a cameo from SFX former news editor (and now trusted freelancer) Steve O’Brien… as an SFX freelancer. (We won’t be getting him to review the books.)

Blimey.

The three books – Greek Tragedy , DVD Extras Include: Murder and Cursed Among Sequels – are all published on Friday 21 July by Big Finish (yet more proof of their SF credentials, as that‘s the company behind all those Doctor Who audio adventures) and have cover blurb from David Tennant proclaiming, “ Columbo meets Blake’s Seven – with gags – and sex,” which we though is a phrase you’d never hear attributed to David Tennant.

And one final geektastic fact: Nev Fountain’s partner is Nicola Bryant, Peri from ’80s Doctor Who . Lucky man. Which is probably why she appears to be on the cover of the first book…

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.