Welcome to Hamgee University Press publishing books by M T McGuire.
Set in a parallel world with side-order of British humour and a sprinkling of sci-fi elements (laser guns and flying cars) readers who enjoy the work of Steve Higgs, Terry Pratchett or the Stainless Steel Rat series will enjoy these books.
Hello from the author
Hi, I’m M T McGuire and I write humorous urban fantasy books. Think Terry Pratchett, only not as good. Or maybe, the original StarWars, but with better jokes.
In the early 1990s (yes, I am OLD) I lived in London and used to do stand up. I would to come home after a gig, well after midnight, completely wired, and I would often have a hot bath and then watch telly to wind down a bit. At that time of night, the only thing on was 1960s sci-fi; stuff like The Prisoner, Original StarTrek, James Bond, The Avengers, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Randal and Hopkirk (deceased) etc or ancient films like The Day The Earth Stood Still.
These had a huge impact on me. Then, of course, there’s Dr Who, because it’s British, and I aim for the same ability to be funny and serious at the same time.
Beyond telly there’s books; sci-fi and fantasy but it’s stuff like Asimov, John Wyndam, The Five Children and It, Narnia, Tolkein, Patty Jansen, JJ Greene etc. There are a lot of books that aren’t remotely sci-fi that inform the way I write; Bill Bryson, John McCarthy, Graham Greene and H E Bates are some of my favourite authors. There are all the historical novels I devoured as a kid (big hats and swords, what’s not to love?). There’s a strong influence from late 1980s/early 1990s 2000AD Magazine which I loved borrowing off my flat mates at uni. There’s more than a passing nod to those stories and worlds in K’Barth. Then there’s a ton of non-fiction, memoir and history books of course. History is a huge influence on what I write. Along with all that film and telly.
That’s what went into my brain mincer … and my books are the stuff that comes out.
Why?
These are the kinds of books I want to read and I ended up having to write them, myself, because no-one else had. I like mash-ups and it seems I’m rarer in this than I originally thought.
If you like your books humorous or you enjoy uplifting stories about flawed and human folk working together to do great things (and succeeding against all odds) you might enjoy my stuff. Although the characters are not all strictly human per se.
If you want to try some of my stuff, risk free, it’s easy. I have some free short stories and novellas you can read if you like. Just click here or use the incredibly subtle button below.
Our hero, The Pan of Hamgee is a coward whose aversion to danger makes him one of the nation’s best getaway drivers, there’s an evil dictator who must be overthrown … oh and it’s portal fantasy … and a love story … in places. If you’re unsure did I mention that there are some short stories and novellas that are free? Mwahahargh! Just follow this secret link here: https://www.hamgee.co.uk/cmot3 or click the very unobtrusive orange button which, in case you didn’t notice the other one, appears again, just … here.
Free stories … I’m cutting my own throat here
All the best and happy reading …