Nick Bryan Dot Com

The End Of The Year Is Nigh

Believe it or not, when I posted my brief and innocuous Christmas message last week, I received a complaint from one reader that I hadn’t produced something more substantial. The fact I’d provided a 2000 word story about Christmas a few days previously didn’t seem to placate this guy.

So it’s really entirely his fault, the moaning bastard, that I’m about to inflict a full-length End Of Year blog post on you. I’m planning on listing my own 2011 highlights, then outlining the best cultural “stuff” I have enjoyed during the period. If that floats your boat, read on.

The first episode of Sherlock series 2, previewed for The Digital Fix!

Link: The first episode of Sherlock series 2, previewed for The Digital Fix!




Severed baby’s foot now found on spike in suburbia. Police await arrival of nappy-clad spleen. (Taken with instagram)

Review of Christmas Doctor Who now up on Dork Adore! Who feels festive? (Seriously, hope Christmas was good.)

Link: Review of Christmas Doctor Who now up on Dork Adore! Who feels festive? (Seriously, hope Christmas was good.)

Merry Christmas!

I did consider doing a whole blog post, rambling for a few hundred words, but I’m not sure there’s audience or need for it on Christmas Day, really.


Stil, to anyone reading, hope you’re having a good time with whatever combination of turkey, presents and crackers you’ve ended up with. If you’ve had a crappy year, you’re not alone, but that’s the beauty of the bright colours and big garish ideas. Distraction, if only for a day.


If you do want season-themed internet content, I posted a festive short story a few days ago, so give that a look. Otherwise, have a great one, and I’ll be back here before you know it. That Doctor Who Christmas special won’t review itself, y’know.

Merlin finale review up on Dork Adore already. It's a sort of Christmas present.

Link: Merlin finale review up on Dork Adore already. It's a sort of Christmas present.

On The Digital Fix, I preview tonight's Outnumbered Christmas special. Only one TV blog left before Christmas! Regular readers can probably guess what it is.

Link: On The Digital Fix, I preview tonight's Outnumbered Christmas special. Only one TV blog left before Christmas! Regular readers can probably guess what it is.




Stairway to heaven. (under construction) (Taken with instagram)

Festive Friday short story time: "Clear Present Danger"

Hello!


I’ve been away from the Friday stories for a while, mostly due to MA deadlines, but I really wanted to do a Christmas Friday story. Especially since I wanted to do one last year, but was stopped by having to voyage pointlessly back to London to replace my smashed glasses. (Don’t ask.)


So, here it is! To make up for last year (and because I ran over quite badly), it’s longer than usual. Ta-da.


I preview tonight's Rev. Christmas Special for The Digital Fix. It's pretty festive.

Link: I preview tonight's Rev. Christmas Special for The Digital Fix. It's pretty festive.

A lookback at the whole of Misfits series 3 for The Digital Fix, including the usual pining after Rudy.

Link: A lookback at the whole of Misfits series 3 for The Digital Fix, including the usual pining after Rudy.

Black Mirror review now up on The Digital Fix! And yes, this has been a very hectic TV blogging day. Hopefully you found at least one that mildly interested you.

Link: Black Mirror review now up on The Digital Fix! And yes, this has been a very hectic TV blogging day. Hopefully you found at least one that mildly interested you.

Today on The Digital Fix, I ask the question: What was your favourite West Wing Christmas episode?

Link: Today on The Digital Fix, I ask the question: What was your favourite West Wing Christmas episode?

A thoughtful lookback on the second series of The Killing (Danish edition) for The Digital Fix. Death & jumpers aplenty.

Link: A thoughtful lookback on the second series of The Killing (Danish edition) for The Digital Fix. Death & jumpers aplenty.

Final Misfits review of series 3 now up on Dork Adore. Who lives? Who dies? Other stuff?

Link: Final Misfits review of series 3 now up on Dork Adore. Who lives? Who dies? Other stuff?




The x-ray reindeer cookie. (Taken with instagram)





Gingerbread TARDIS - complete. (Taken with instagram)





Gingerbread TARDIS in progress. (Taken with instagram)

New raft of "humourously" captioned photos on Facebook!

Link: New raft of "humourously" captioned photos on Facebook!

And if you’re a particularly big fan, there’s even more in this other album as well.

Review of the penultimate series 4 Merlin episode on Dork Adore!

Link: Review of the penultimate series 4 Merlin episode on Dork Adore!




Welcome, street-people, to the Hotel Elephant. (Taken with instagram)





Notes on a verse-novel lecture. (Taken with instagram)

Misfits vs zombies in the latest Dork Adore episode review. (A few days late, sorry. I did post a podcast, though.)

Link: Misfits vs zombies in the latest Dork Adore episode review. (A few days late, sorry. I did post a podcast, though.)
Audio still up on the old Tumblr site.

The new podcast from the Television @ The Digital Fix people, featuring, terrifyingly, me talking about Christmas television in my post-cold voice. Features Doctor Who, obviously, and a few other things.

Feel free to give it a listen above, or you can download it for yourself here.

Last review of Him & Her series 2 for The Digital Fix. Including finale preview. How exciting.

Link: Last review of Him & Her series 2 for The Digital Fix. Including finale preview. How exciting.

Slightly exciting bit of blogging today, I've reviewed the upcoming Girl With The Dragon Tattoo movie for Dork Adore, some time in advance of release. Go read.

Link: Slightly exciting bit of blogging today, I've reviewed the upcoming Girl With The Dragon Tattoo movie for Dork Adore, some time in advance of release. Go read.

Review of the second Black Mirror on The Digital Fix, in which the concept starts to... perhaps unravel a bit?

Link: Review of the second Black Mirror on The Digital Fix, in which the concept starts to... perhaps unravel a bit?




The office Christmas tree is up, tiny atop the printer. Fa la la la la etc. (Taken with instagram)

The Digital Fix team review the X Factor final LIVE! As you can imagine, this is among the happier moments of my life.

Link: The Digital Fix team review the X Factor final LIVE! As you can imagine, this is among the happier moments of my life.

Another review of Merlin, this time filling in for the regular reviewer on The Digital Fix.

Link: Another review of Merlin, this time filling in for the regular reviewer on The Digital Fix.

My latest Merlin review on Dork Adore, featuring the worst deer pun in the world.

Link: My latest Merlin review on Dork Adore, featuring the worst deer pun in the world.

The Digital Fix team covered the X Factor final first night in a glorious live stream format. Behold.

Link: The Digital Fix team covered the X Factor final first night in a glorious live stream format. Behold.




Police baffled as another baby’s hand is found on a spike in suburbia. (Taken with instagram)

Review of both the new Misfits episode and the attached mini-episode thing "Erazer", up on Dork Adore.

Link: Review of both the new Misfits episode and the attached mini-episode thing "Erazer", up on Dork Adore.

Review of last night's Black Mirror debut episode on The Digital Fix. Pig sex finally hits the mainstream.

Link: Review of last night's Black Mirror debut episode on The Digital Fix. Pig sex finally hits the mainstream.

A short review of last night's X Factor, now up as part of The Digital Fix communal support group thing.

Link: A short review of last night's X Factor, now up as part of The Digital Fix communal support group thing.

Latest Dork Adore review of Merlin, in which Elyan gets his moment in the spotlight and... um, does nothing with it.

Link: Latest Dork Adore review of Merlin, in which Elyan gets his moment in the spotlight and... um, does nothing with it.




Mum has been trying to sell this… thing on her bazaar stall for 4-5 years. Anyone want it? Only £3. (Taken with instagram)

And on The Digital Fix, a general mid-season review of The Walking Dead Year Two to date. I think I've definitely covered it now.

Link: And on The Digital Fix, a general mid-season review of The Walking Dead Year Two to date. I think I've definitely covered it now.

Review of the Walking Dead mid-season finale on Dork Adore. Wow.

Link: Review of the Walking Dead mid-season finale on Dork Adore. Wow.




Tiny Christmas Skittles. (Taken with instagram)

New Misfits review on Dork Adore! A day or two late, sorry!

Link: New Misfits review on Dork Adore! A day or two late, sorry!

Tuesday Serial Time: "Satellite Four"

The final part of the “Satellite” serial, posted slightly later than normal in the day. Sorry about that, but I went to an all-night NaNoWriMo writing session on Saturday, it was a lot of fun, but my sleep patterns took a bit of a beating. Finally slept for 11 hours last night, which will hopefully get me back on track.

Anyway, you don’t care about this “Dear diary” stuff. This is the fourth part of a serial, so you may want to read Satellite One, Satellite Two and Satellite Three if you want to understand what in hell’s going on. Let’s see if I can wrap this up in a vaguely satisfactory way.





Behold. CCTV on a stick. (Taken with instagram)

New Merlin review on Dork Adore, in which I pine over Lancelot and try to sound serious occasionally.

Link: New Merlin review on Dork Adore, in which I pine over Lancelot and try to sound serious occasionally.

New Walking Dead review on Dork Adore, as our heroes sit. On a farm.

Link: New Walking Dead review on Dork Adore, as our heroes sit. On a farm.




Notes on a Short Stories seminar (Taken with instagram)

Tuesday Serial Time: "Satellite Three"

It’s time for more serial, because November is nearly over and I’m horrifically behind on my NaNoWriMo targets. Never mind. At least I managed to write this in time, just about.

If you haven’t been following it already, this is the third in a four part serial, the first two of which were cleverly called Satellite One and Satellite Two.

New Misfits review on Dork Adore, and it's Kelly vs Nazis.

Link: New Misfits review on Dork Adore, and it's Kelly vs Nazis.

Review of the latest Merlin now available on Dork Adore. Knights get spotlight, waste it.

Link: Review of the latest Merlin now available on Dork Adore. Knights get spotlight, waste it.




Battersea Power Station seen from a pub. (Taken with instagram)

An excited preview about the return of The Killing on The Digital Fix. (The Danish one, not the ropey remake.)

Link: An excited preview about the return of The Killing on The Digital Fix. (The Danish one, not the ropey remake.)

Review of the latest Walking Dead for Dork Adore. It's basically a gushing love letter to Daryl Dixon.

Link: Review of the latest Walking Dead for Dork Adore. It's basically a gushing love letter to Daryl Dixon.

Review of Fresh Meat series 1, now that it is finished, on The Digital Fix.

Link: Review of Fresh Meat series 1, now that it is finished, on The Digital Fix.

Tuesday Serial Time: "Satellite Two"

Hello!

Time for the second part of the serial, cleverly entitled “Satellite Two”. You might be able to take an intuitive stab at what the other two will be called. And yes, this too has been written as part of my NaNo word count.

For those just joining us, you may want to read Satellite One before continuing…

New Misfits review on Dork Adore. See Simon sit and stare!

Link: New Misfits review on Dork Adore. See Simon sit and stare!

My contribution to The Digital Fix group X Factor review now up. And check back an hour or so after Sunday's horror-broadcast for an update!

Link: My contribution to The Digital Fix group X Factor review now up. And check back an hour or so after Sunday's horror-broadcast for an update!

New Merlin review on Dork Adore, and the show is really trying to be "dark" this week. Old man torturing!

Link: New Merlin review on Dork Adore, and the show is really trying to be "dark" this week. Old man torturing!

Also, in trivia, this is the 501st post on this blog. Wow. (Yes, this might’ve been more exciting if I’d noticed in time for the actual 500th, but never mind.)





And I think it goes up forever. (Taken with instagram)

New Walking Dead review on Dork Adore. Love, zombies and well-cleaning.

Link: New Walking Dead review on Dork Adore. Love, zombies and well-cleaning.




Just found this in my wallet. Tempted to try and cash it. (Taken with instagram)





Write-in fuel. (yes, those are gingerbread Santas. Yes, that is the TARDIS.) (Taken with instagram)

Preview piece for The Digital Fix about tonight's Life's Too Short premiere, with Warwick Davis and Ricky Gervais.

Link: Preview piece for The Digital Fix about tonight's Life's Too Short premiere, with Warwick Davis and Ricky Gervais.

Tuesday Serial Time: "Satellite One"


So, last Friday I warned you that I might be trying something a bit different with the website stories. Since I'm reliably producing a steady stream of fiction in November for NaNoWriMo, I have decided to move from the Friday Flash collective to the Tuesday Serial one.
And so, below is the first part of a four part story I'll be posting through the month of November. Next part is next Tuesday. Enjoy.





It is raining at London Bridge. (Taken with instagram)

Latest Misfits review now up on Dork Adore. Some interesting stuff here.

Link: Latest Misfits review now up on Dork Adore. Some interesting stuff here.

New Merlin review, live on Dork Adore now!

Link: New Merlin review, live on Dork Adore now!

New Walking Dead review on Dork Adore. Witness the deadness.

Link: New Walking Dead review on Dork Adore. Witness the deadness.

Friday short story time: "Just Some Guy"

So, I’m doing NaNoWriMo this year to try and get some short stories out, and have decided that the website material totally counts as part of my word count. Therefore, I present to you the first 500ish words I wrote for NaNo.

It’s also a bonfire night themed story, because I own a calendar. Perhaps a little bit of a scary one too, maybe I’m not entirely over Halloween.

And next week, the website story routine may change a little. I’m working on something. For now, plenty more stories are available as ever. Oh, and I seem to have gone slightly crazy with Instagram lately, resulting in massive expansion to the photo category on this website. I may get over it soon.

The first three episodes of House season 8, reviewed for The Digital Fix.

Link: The first three episodes of House season 8, reviewed for The Digital Fix.




Notes on a Dickens Lecture - by Nick Bryan, aged 27 and a half. (Taken with instagram)

A recommendation for the excellent Russell Tovey sitcom Him & Her, which starts a new series tonight. Love that stuff.

Link: A recommendation for the excellent Russell Tovey sitcom Him & Her, which starts a new series tonight. Love that stuff.




Pub Classic. (Taken with instagram)

Also, my weekly contribution to The Digital Fix mass X Factor review, now available for your delight...

Link: Also, my weekly contribution to The Digital Fix mass X Factor review, now available for your delight...

Review of the series 3 Misfits premiere now up on Dork Adore! New character, new powers, new everything!

Link: Review of the series 3 Misfits premiere now up on Dork Adore! New character, new powers, new everything!

Latest Merlin review on Dork Adore! No Halloween theme!

Link: Latest Merlin review on Dork Adore! No Halloween theme!




The body of a giraffe. (Taken with instagram)





One Last Lantern (Taken with instagram)





Apples for Bob. (Taken with instagram)





Big Spider (Taken with instagram)





Pigeons: A Selection (Taken with instagram)

Review of The Walking Dead season 2, episode 2, now on Dork Adore for your Halloween zombie pleasure.

Link: Review of The Walking Dead season 2, episode 2, now on Dork Adore for your Halloween zombie pleasure.




Pub O’Lantern (Taken with instagram)

Friday short story time: "Living In Cars"

Today, a story that started off as a broadly Halloween themed concept. I’m not sure if I quite stayed on topic, it might not be very scary, but nonetheless, I present it for your judgment.

Also, I find it helpful to imagine the cars in this story as being the ones from the Pixar animated movie Cars, which I have never seen. As ever, if you want to read more stories, they are in the archives.





Sighted at badminton. (Taken with instagram)





Steampunk or merely pipes? (Taken with instagram)

My review of the Spooks finale for Dork Adore, posted within seconds of it finishing because I could.

Link: My review of the Spooks finale for Dork Adore, posted within seconds of it finishing because I could.

The Digital Fix team review X Factor, including 300 words by me. I did not like.

Link: The Digital Fix team review X Factor, including 300 words by me. I did not like.

Merlin reviewed on Dork Adore once again, and could it be... no-one dies?

Link: Merlin reviewed on Dork Adore once again, and could it be... no-one dies?

New series of reviews on Dork Adore: The Walking Dead season 2! (Well, not ENTIRELY new, I did cover season 1.)

Link: New series of reviews on Dork Adore: The Walking Dead season 2! (Well, not ENTIRELY new, I did cover season 1.)

A bit of anticipatory blogging for tonight's Walking Dead season 2 UK premiere, for The Digital Fix.

Link: A bit of anticipatory blogging for tonight's Walking Dead season 2 UK premiere, for The Digital Fix.

Friday short story time: "Colder"

Another slightly more flashy example of flash fiction this week, perhaps more an idle character exercise than a story, to be honest, but at least it’s something. I’m hoping to get the productivity going again in time for NaNoWriMo.

But there are plenty more short stories on the website, and my 12,000 word story in an anthology, so hopefully this isn’t too inconvenient.

Or, if you’d rather not pay money, consider liking my Facebook page, I’m shooting for the 20+ mark. (Begging is a valid social media strategy, yeah?)

Mid-series review of Fresh Meat for The Digital Fix, innit.

Link: Mid-series review of Fresh Meat for The Digital Fix, innit.

Now up on The Digital Fix, the last ever Spooks advance review ever to be written by man. Well, by me.

Link: Now up on The Digital Fix, the last ever Spooks advance review ever to be written by man. Well, by me.

My episode review of the last Sarah Jane Adventures story, now up on Dork Adore, which is a bit of a bummer.

Link: My episode review of the last Sarah Jane Adventures story, now up on Dork Adore, which is a bit of a bummer.

The final series of Sarah Jane Adventures, reviewed/tributed for The Digital Fix.

Link: The final series of Sarah Jane Adventures, reviewed/tributed for The Digital Fix.

Penultimate episode of Spooks reviewed on Dork Adore! Gosh!

Link: Penultimate episode of Spooks reviewed on Dork Adore! Gosh!

Group review of X Factor from The Digital Fix, featuring another glorious segment by me.

Link: Group review of X Factor from The Digital Fix, featuring another glorious segment by me.

New Merlin review on Dork Adore, in which I spoil the plot twist and complain that they didn't utterly telegraph it. Well, I don't complain sincerely...

Link: New Merlin review on Dork Adore, in which I spoil the plot twist and complain that they didn't utterly telegraph it. Well, I don't complain sincerely...

Friday short story time: "Opportunity #17"

Back for another week, this time with a story that has a number in the title. Never let it be said I don’t provide endless variety. Between my MA course restarting and getting this story out, it’s been a hectic week, so there is little news.

Oh, except it looks like I might be doing NaNoWriMo again, in some form. Not quite decided how yet. I know I said that exact same thing last year, and ended up just doing it in the normal fashion.

Anyway, fun time. More stories are available, as ever.

Advance spoiler-free review of the penultimate ever Spooks, now up on The Digital Fix.

Link: Advance spoiler-free review of the penultimate ever Spooks, now up on The Digital Fix.

Dork Adore review of the penultimate ever Sarah Jane Adventures. Sad? Me too.

Link: Dork Adore review of the penultimate ever Sarah Jane Adventures. Sad? Me too.

My latest Spooks review is on Dork Adore, covering their latest effort to confront religious fundamentalism.

Link: My latest Spooks review is on Dork Adore, covering their latest effort to confront religious fundamentalism.

The communal reviews of X Factor on The Digital Fix hit the first live show, including a 300 word bit by me...

Link: The communal reviews of X Factor on The Digital Fix hit the first live show, including a 300 word bit by me...

Latest Merlin review now up on Dork Adore, in which I say "I Told You So!" like a massive child.

Link: Latest Merlin review now up on Dork Adore, in which I say "I Told You So!" like a massive child.

Friday short story time: "Sketches Of Spain"

This week’s story is a bit briefer than usual. Sorry about that, I’ve been kinda busy with novel rewrites and my masters starting up again. Still, I think it’s not bad and it’ll take you about half as long to read as usual, so give it a go anyway.

And as before, you can get the anthology I’m in for as little as three quid if you go for the PDF format. It’s a decent story, honest.

Spooks preview time on The Digital Fix! Advance spoiler-free review of this coming weekend's episode! Excite yourselves!

Link: Spooks preview time on The Digital Fix! Advance spoiler-free review of this coming weekend's episode! Excite yourselves!

Sarah Jane Adventures series premiere reviewed on Dork Adore. Yes, new weekly gig, but only for three weeks.

Link: Sarah Jane Adventures series premiere reviewed on Dork Adore. Yes, new weekly gig, but only for three weeks.

Spooks episode 3 reviewed on Dork Adore. Lots of Dimitri, and only three episodes left this series!

Link: Spooks episode 3 reviewed on Dork Adore. Lots of Dimitri, and only three episodes left this series!

I wrote up both this weekend's episodes of X Factor for The Digital Fix, alongside a few other good folk.

Link: I wrote up both this weekend's episodes of X Factor for The Digital Fix, alongside a few other good folk.

Doctor Who may have finished, but you can now see me reviewing Merlin on Dork Adore on a Saturday night. Today: the series premiere!

Link: Doctor Who may have finished, but you can now see me reviewing Merlin on Dork Adore on a Saturday night. Today: the series premiere!

The Dork Adore review of the 2012 Doctor Who finale is upon us. And may I point out how efficient I have been.

Link: The Dork Adore review of the 2012 Doctor Who finale is upon us. And may I point out how efficient I have been.

This week, The Digital Fix does the top ten final episodes and I write up a couple of them. Crucially, one of mine is number one.

Link: This week, The Digital Fix does the top ten final episodes and I write up a couple of them. Crucially, one of mine is number one.

Friday short story time: "The Big Handshake"

This Friday story came to me remarkably easily, so it’ll probably either be brilliant or forgettable. Not sure. I think it might be somewhat of an inside joke, to be honest, but we’ll see.

And if you like it (or any of the others), you can still buy the anthology containing my 12,000 word piece “Blood Will Stream”, of which more details here. Or you can read the entire Friday story archives for free as ever.

Advance review of the third episode of Spooks on The Digital Fix, spoilers excluded.

Link: Advance review of the third episode of Spooks on The Digital Fix, spoilers excluded.

And, included for completeness’s sake, there is a “Meet The Team feature up on The Digital Fix too, which includes a picture of my real human face. Exciting, I know.

"Blood Will Stream" - New story available in actual book!

Hi! I have news!

A medium-length story I wrote called Blood Will Stream is in a new anthology called Standing In The Kitchen At Parties, from indie publisher Deserted By Dignity. (Yes, both those names do work pretty well for me.)

The story itself is about one woman’s quest to kill her boyfriend and stream it live over the internet. And I work part-time in IT and use a lot of social networking sites, so it’s obviously going to be 100% technically accurate.

Anyway, this does mean you’ll need to spend some currency to get hold of it, but the story is 12,000 words long, so you’re getting a decent chunk of me for your money. (That’s twelve times as long as the stories I post here on Fridays.) The publisher has posted a brief preview of my part on their website.

You can buy the book from Amazon UK, Amazon US, probably other branches of Amazon too. It isn’t up for Kindle yet, but I think that’s coming. For those of you who are not made of money and don’t care about having a real book, you can also get it in PDF format from Lulu for a much cheaper price.

(Although, for what it’s worth, I have the proper book and it’s a nice package. I’m rather pleased.)

Anyway, this is a big step for me, so I’m excited. If anyone buys the book and wants to let me know what you thought, there is a comment section below, or I also have an email address.

Latest Spooks review up on Dork Adore, as our heroes face the up-to-the-moment issue of... Spookileaks!

Link: Latest Spooks review up on Dork Adore, as our heroes face the up-to-the-moment issue of... Spookileaks!

My weekly small segment in the Digital Fix group X Factor review. At least something happened this week.

Link: My weekly small segment in the Digital Fix group X Factor review. At least something happened this week.

The penultimate Doctor Who of series 6, reviewed on Dork Adore with excitement.

Link: The penultimate Doctor Who of series 6, reviewed on Dork Adore with excitement.

Social Media Blitz

Because all the cool blogs seem to have them, and because Facebook seems to be taking more steps towards world domination and I want to make sure I’m “in there”, I have created a Facebook page for Nick Bryan Dot Com.


If you want to get updates without having to visit this blog or mess around setting up an RSS feed, just ‘like’ that and away we go.


Oh, and to a similar end, there’s also now a links-only Twitter feed for the site, for anyone who enjoys the writing but can do without the inane rambling on my personal one.


This has been an administration update. I do have some interesting news coming soon, I promise.

The Digital Fix counts down the top ten first episodes ever. I rave on about two Aaron Sorkin shows.

Link: The Digital Fix counts down the top ten first episodes ever. I rave on about two Aaron Sorkin shows.

Friday short story time: "Taking It On The Chins"

New Friday story this week! Brought to you by a particularly agonising series of rewrites. Anyway, I gather no-one likes seeing how sausages are made, plus if I don’t put some trousers on soon I’m going to be late for work, so let’s brush over that. More stories available in the archives.

A short look at the new Channel 4 show Fresh Meat, also for The Digital Fix.

Link: A short look at the new Channel 4 show Fresh Meat, also for The Digital Fix.

Advance non-spoiling review of Sunday's Spooks episode 2 now up on The Digital Fix. I do also write about things other than Spooks.

Link: Advance non-spoiling review of Sunday's Spooks episode 2 now up on The Digital Fix. I do also write about things other than Spooks.

Full review of Spooks series 10, episode 1, now up on Dork Adore.

Link: Full review of Spooks series 10, episode 1, now up on Dork Adore.

Review of Doctor Who's "The God Complex" episode now live on Dork Adore for your joy-reading.

Link: Review of Doctor Who's "The God Complex" episode now live on Dork Adore for your joy-reading.

I contributed a few slightly annoyed paragraphs to this week's mass X Factor review on The Digital Fix.

Link: I contributed a few slightly annoyed paragraphs to this week's mass X Factor review on The Digital Fix.

Friday short story time: "Sealed"

After attending the Out Of This World exhibition at the British Library on Tuesday, featuring lots of sci-fi books on sticks, I decided I’d attempt science-fiction this week. Admittedly, it isn’t exactly hardcore aliens and time travel.

Oh, and for fans of stories what I wrote, I may have some exciting news soon. Maybe, just maybe.

The final Torchwood: Miracle Day review on Dork Adore! Features Captain Jack menstruating backwards!

Link: The final Torchwood: Miracle Day review on Dork Adore! Features Captain Jack menstruating backwards!

I sampled the new Doctor Who online video Facebook app thing for Dork Adore and wrote a blog post about it!

Link: I sampled the new Doctor Who online video Facebook app thing for Dork Adore and wrote a blog post about it!

Advance review of the first new Spooks episode for The Digital Fix. Actually written in advance! Wow. (Don't worry, I've tried to avoid spoilers.)

Link: Advance review of the first new Spooks episode for The Digital Fix. Actually written in advance! Wow. (Don't worry, I've tried to avoid spoilers.)

New Doctor Who review on Dork Adore, in which I intuit the video game preferences of the creative staff.

Link: New Doctor Who review on Dork Adore, in which I intuit the video game preferences of the creative staff.

Friday short story time: "A Man You Don't Meet Every Day"

I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to manage a story this week, but then I got a cold and decided there was no way I was doing another audio recording when my voice sounded like a broken robot. So I mustered up all my inspirational powers and wrote a short one about… a man being sick.

Yes, the creativity was on fire this week. It’s named after this Pogues song, which I was listening to extensively when I wrote it but has little to do with the actual plot. As ever, more stories are available.

Dork Adore review of the penultimate Torchwood. Surely it is now action time?

Link: Dork Adore review of the penultimate Torchwood. Surely it is now action time?

New Doctor Who review on Dork Adore of the all-new, all-scary Night Terrors.

Link: New Doctor Who review on Dork Adore of the all-new, all-scary Night Terrors.




Man Vs Camera #106: Train Corner View

Up now on The Digital Fix: A preview of the mighty Outnumbered's new series.

Link: Up now on The Digital Fix: A preview of the mighty Outnumbered's new series.

Episode 8 of Torchwood: Miracle Day reviewed for Dork Adore. With mere weeks to go, it must be time to pick up the pace?

Link: Episode 8 of Torchwood: Miracle Day reviewed for Dork Adore. With mere weeks to go, it must be time to pick up the pace?
Audio still available on old Tumblr site.

In this week’s news broadcast, I take on the sudden omnipresence of football in my news consumption, seemingly (to me at least) much more so than in the last few years, and then that whole Nadine Dorries abortion counselling mess, just in case football was too dull and inoffensive.




Man Vs Camera #105: Hand Vs Scanner

The latest group X Factor write-up on Digital Fix, featuring a (somewhat grumpy) few paragraphs from me.

Link: The latest group X Factor write-up on Digital Fix, featuring a (somewhat grumpy) few paragraphs from me.

First Doctor Who review of the new half-series on Dork Adore. Let's Kill Their Web Servers!

Link: First Doctor Who review of the new half-series on Dork Adore. Let's Kill Their Web Servers!

The preview/predictions for the new Doctor Who episodes on The DigitalFix, including some recap haikus for early series six by me, as well asa paragraph of predictions.

Link: The preview/predictions for the new Doctor Who episodes on The Digital Fix, including some recap haikus for early series six by me, as well as a paragraph of predictions.

And if you like those, you can read my haiku representations for the first Matt Smith year on this very website.

New Torchwood review on DorkAdore, looking at pointless sex and violence and thinking "Aww, the good old days".

Link: New Torchwood review on DorkAdore, looking at pointless sex and violence and thinking "Aww, the good old days".
Still hosted on old Tumblr site, click back to listen.

My latest, apparently weekly, news broadcast. This week, Steve Jobs steps down from Apple, GCSE results step up their grades, the US earthquake destroys everyone’s steps and the cat steps up its reign of terror.




This is the end of my Confessions highlights package. More are available on the old Confessions blog if you like, namely the ones I decided weren’t good enough to come across here.



Communal review of X Factor up on The Digital Fix, including 200 words by me.

Link: Communal review of X Factor up on The Digital Fix, including 200 words by me.

Friday short story: There isn't one


A few weeks ago, I mentioned that my novel blitz during August might lead to a lack of Friday stories. And I squeezed one out for my anniversary, but reality has now caught up with me. If you want new material, a few of my experimental mock news broadcasts have been going up, along with sundry TV blog posts.

In addition, I’ve churned out this quick blog about the writing process behind these Friday stories. I don’t usually talk about that stuff, so thought it might have novelty value. If this is of no interest to you, stop reading here.

Latest Torchwood review on Dork Adore sees the show get stuck in a rut, again. And again. And again.

Link: Latest Torchwood review on Dork Adore sees the show get stuck in a rut, again. And again. And again.
Still hosted on Tumblr, click back to listen.

My latest news broadcast thing, exploring A Level results as well as the imminent return of both Big Brother and X Factor. 1.5 minutes of your life that you’ll never get back, but hopefully you won’t mind too much.

A mid-way review of The Killing US for The Digital Fix TV section. Some might say it moves slowly.

Link: A mid-way review of The Killing US for The Digital Fix TV section. Some might say it moves slowly.




Spooks is ending this year! The nice people at The Digital Fix let me write a heartfelt eulogy for the constantly angsting spies.

Link: Spooks is ending this year! The nice people at The Digital Fix let me write a heartfelt eulogy for the constantly angsting spies.




The latest Torchwood review for Dork Adore, and I'm starting to worry about these falling into a pattern.

Link: The latest Torchwood review for Dork Adore, and I'm starting to worry about these falling into a pattern.
Still hosted on the old Tumblr website, folks.

A second news broadcast by me, this time covering today’s Parliamentary debate on anti-riot measures. I’m still getting the hang of this, feedback welcomed.

If you want to check out my first attempt, you can still listen to it here. (For now, at least.)








“Cooked”


A small picture by Nicholas Matthew Bryan, aged 27 and a third.





You'll need to go back to the old Tumblr site to hear this. I'm afraid.

A mock news broadcast I recorded, using my actual voice, at 1AM on a Sunday morning. It’s only one minute long. Unsure whether I’ll ever attempt anything like this again - I don’t hate it as much as I expected to.




Friday short story time: "Duck And Cover"

Last week, I said there would probably be no story this Friday, but then I realised today marks (almost) one whole year since I first posted this story about ducks and the whole tradition began! So I thought I would strain one more out to mark my own anniversary. Admittedly, I haven’t quite managed a story a week, this will be the 31st I’ve posted in that time, but still.

In an indulgent homage to myself, this story also features a duck, and you can see the rest of the backlog as ever. Enjoy!

My weekly Dork Adore Torchwood review features a joke about Pythagoras's Theorem. Oh yeah.

Link: My weekly Dork Adore Torchwood review features a joke about Pythagoras's Theorem. Oh yeah.










I’m porting over some of the better efforts from my old The Confessions blog, to try and make this a more definitive chronicle of my “work”. I’ll post a couple a day until I run out. Enjoy! (I hope)





I drew this. It is called “Camping”.



Yeah, I don’t know.

Friday short story time: "Semaphore"

Hello. Welcome to another amazing Friday story. I would type more but I woke up late and panic is beginning to set in. However, I should mention that I am going to be attempting some kind of disciplined push on The Novel in the month of August, so Friday stories might be scarce (or non-existent) in the coming weeks.

But, as ever, you can always pick through the archives for past efforts you haven’t read if you miss them badly.

Third Torchwood Dork Adore review of series 4! It's still quite painfully average!

Link: Third Torchwood Dork Adore review of series 4! It's still quite painfully average!

Friday short story time: "Modern Methods"

This week’s Friday story is one of those things that just comes to you. Then you write it down. Then you stop for about a day to try and think of an ending. Then you wonder if it was really a good idea.

Still, I’m off to Belgium for the weekend shortly, so I don’t have time to write anything different, Enjoy! (As ever, more stories are available.)

The All-New All-American Torchwood takes things to a higher plane in my latest Dork Adore review.

Link: The All-New All-American Torchwood takes things to a higher plane in my latest Dork Adore review.




My reaction to a banner advert for the Captain America “fragrance”, documented. Click to enlarge.