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OTHER BOOKS BY DARREN HUMPHRIES
To Infinity (and maybe that's far enough)
The Great Rock N Roll Doomsday Tour
An Orc Not Like Others
New York City Legend
The Sword In The Tree
Stormwreck
Sharing A Fence With The Twilight Zone
Goodnight Dear:The Unsentimental Diary Of A Bereaved Husband
The Sci Fi Freak's Guide To The Televisual Galaxy
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A Word About The Author
 Darren Humphries is English and in his forties. He is, therefore, a child of the Star Wars era with a corresponding love of science fiction brought about by repeated science fiction movie seasons on BBC2 and, of course, Doctor Who.
As well as being a TV and film science fiction addict since birth (apparently) he has been writing stories since he learned to write, possibly spurred on by placing in a national competition when he was about six years old.
In later years, he has produced a number of science fiction/fantasy/horror novels all of which are now available on Kindle through Amazon and in print through Lulu.com as well as an encyclopedia of Science Fiction television shows (also available through Lulu.com).
Despite all this, he is fairly normal. Well, he thinks so anyway.
He is widowed, has two children and needs to pay the bills.
Between the kids and work and all the other adult stuff that he pretends to be grown up about, he still watches and reviews science fiction television and movies on the Sci Fi Freak Site at www.scififreaksite.com.
 Space - the final frontier. TO INFINITY (and maybe that's far enough) is one of the most popular of Darren Humphries' non-U.N.D.E.A.D. books. A romp through science fiction tropes, it's fun in outer space.
"It is a dark time for the Galactic Republic.
Fusion reactor fuel rod prices have gone sky high and people can't afford to switch their lights on.
Even more importantly, the Halreptors are ravaging the edges of known space, destroying outposts, hijacking freighters, stealing every copy of Galactic Heat magazine and leaving nobody alive to tell the tale. Emboldened by their successes, their last attack was deep inside Republic borders.
The Space Corps, relegated by centuries of peace and decadence to little more than glorified traffic wardens, cannot cope. The Senate is either in bed or disarray.
The Galaxy is in desperate need of a leader, a hero.
What it gets is Kaymer Haynes, con man and currently inmate of the escape-proof prison planet Srindar Djem.
Can one man succeed where the might of the entire Star Fleet has failed? Can Haynes overcome telepaths, homicidal pigs, love androids, bounty hunters, unfriendly ship computers, floating palaces and being the holy prophet of the God of Dung in order to save the day?
Or even the hour?
REVIEWS
"This book slammed me straight on the funny bone. Some books cry out to have bits memorised so you can throw out quotes at appropriately humorous moments in your life. This is such a book." - PE (amazon.co.uk)
"I agree with the other commentators. I've read some of the great funny Sci-Fi writers, such as Alan Dean Foster, Terry Pratchet, or the other new-comer who wrote Admiral Who. However, this book by Darren Humphries is like those execept I wasn't given much of a chance to stop laughing, because it seemed that every other page gave me another reason. I was on an airplane and kept wanting to bother my fellow passengers with passages--which I did manage to resist. However, I sent my brother an email just to notify him about this book and am currently bugging my son to read it as well. I loved the U.N.D.E.A.D. series which were also funny and engaging, but I really want some more of "To Infinity..." Will you be writing another one of these? PLEASE? Just simply Hilarious and engaging. " - Richard in CA (amazon.com)
"One of those books that will have you laughing throughout. Seriously, read the sample chapter. The whole book is like that. The book starts with the hero escaping a inescapable prison, hidden in pig poo. Not only that, he is frozen in the poo for a long time. Once he has escaped, he goes after the man who betrayed him. There is also a plot about a violent alien ship that is destroying human ships. Of course, our hero will get tangled in it. A funny character is a psycho spaceship, who takes every chance to insult the hero. The hero has to threaten to fry her circuits to get the ship to do anything. The middle slows down a bit, but the book then picks up slack. The funny moments are spread out through the book, and kept me interested. Recommended. - Shantnu Tiwari (goodreads.com)
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 Probably the silliest story that Darren Humphries has written (and that's certainly saying something), but chock full of jokes, crazy characters and wild situations.
"Reality's a funny thing.
One day it means debating the use of the semi-colon in literature at the largest book festival in the country and the next it means being on the run for your life with the company only a woman called Ellie who claims to be your Bodyguardian angel and who has a penchant for really big guns.
Strange things are happening in the Big Apple and the thing is that nobody else seems to have noticed.
Doug and Ellie have to find out what has happened and why without getting dead (again in Ellie's case) in the process.
The Great Rock 'N' Roll Doomsday Tour is a comic romp through New York as reality takes a holiday and narrative convention takes it place. Jammed with crazy characters and even crazier situations, this is quite simply fun."
REVIEWS
"Based on reading U.N.D.E.A.D 1 and To Infinity... I was expecting crazy surreal humour. I found this story really silly rather than surreal but it's just so good! You can see a lot of it coming from a mile away but somehow he just keeps you hooked even through the really stupid bits, and you have to keep reading even though you can guess the next 10 pages. For a couple of quid, you just can't go wrong, but be ready for extreme silliness or you will be disappointed! " - Fu Man Stu (amazon.co.uk)
"Basically I read to escape from life, from its mundaneness, its stress and all its other annoyances... This book was absolutely perfect to escape into... amazingly colourful characters and a twisty, turny, convoluted (but perfectly followable) storyline peppered with amusing comparisons left me laughing out loud on more than one occasion... A gem of a book which is totally delightful but doesn't take itself too seriously. i am off to seek out more of this guy's stuff... " - Ashrae (amazon.com)
"Darren Humphries has recently become my favourite author of humorous stories. Again, he has produced another rollicking good funny story. The opening chapter sets the tone. Hilarious! Read the sample and you'll see what I mean. You'll want the rest of the book as the laughs don't stop. - Patti (goodreads.com)
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 Taking the worlds of epic fantasy and having some fun with them, this is the closest that Darren Humphries has come to a straight fantasy novel. It's not necessarily that close, though.
"Life Isn't easy for Orcs now that the war is over and they lost.
As Usual.
Balrek, though, isn't like other orcs, a fact that is rarely lost on those who encounter him. He has a brain and now, thanks to the Wizard Mangar, he has an education. He's tired of being cannon fodder for any would-be Dark Lord with delusions of world domination.
Balrek has a plan and it will either lead him to freedom or to a cell full of very sharp torture implements before a visit to the hangman.
Orcs are the oft-ignored and always maligned footsoldiers of evil in fantasy, but for once they take centre stage in a tongue-in-cheek tale of what happens to the minor characters after the point where most other fantasy epics finish."
REVIEWS
"I have read this book at least once a month since I bought it last september and each time I read it something new surfaces.I know the plot is a little curtailed at times and I know this book should be longer but it makes me think when I am not reading it.I am possibly putting too much into this fantasy fairy story but hell it's my time.Sometimes I laugh so hard and sometimes I cry at this book especially when it brings a remembered thought or feeling to me. You can read this book on a superficial level and enjoy it or like me you can ask this book what its really talking about. " - Christine K (amazon.co.uk)
"This is an extremely thoughtful piece of work by Darren Humphries. The orc of the title is one of a species created in Orc Farms to kill and be killed in wars instigated by others. They are considered to be effectively animals and treated like slaves. A major war has recently finished and the orc Balrek is fending for himself. He is taken captive by a mage and there we begin to see that there is more to him than a fierce and stupid fighting animal. His own intelligence comes to the fore and this brings us up with a wonderful adventure story as he helps a princess to regain her position in her city kingdom.
Darren Humphries can do so much more than science fiction and humour (though you should keep your eye out for The Clean Dozen!). His writing here, though simple in places (Balrek's original speech and mode of thought) is extremely powerful. The treatment of one species by another in this book is very thought provoking. It reminded me so much of what I have read about white people's treatment of black Africans. Perhaps I am so aware of this as I live near the Wilberforce House museum and have seen and read about how our fellow man was treated as an animal. Fortunately not everyone feels that Balrek is an 'it' or a pet. He is a wonderful, brave and resourceful creation and I really would enjoy reading more about him. " - Ignite (goodreads.com)
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had action, romance and above all humour introduced at the right time place and pace. Darren Humphries explores the perils of underestimating others and making assumptions about their capabilities in a very enjoyable way. Recommended to all lovers of humorous, fantasy fiction. - Sooj (amazon.co.uk)
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 This is the first novel that Darren Humphries completed and was one of the first that he published to the Kindle platform. It is also his most overlooked story.
"New York can be the loneliest, most impersonal place in the world, but it also has a magic all of its own, if you know where to look. Ben Darkly doesn't have to look because the magic has found him.
Following a chance discovery in Central Park, the worlds of men and magic have collided and Ben is stuck right in the middle of it.
Landscapes both magical and material are explored in this story of self-discovery, unicorns, nymphs, baseball, wizards, construction, magic and kidnapping, all in the Big Apple.
If there is still magic to be discovered in the world then this is how it might be found.
Magic is where you are least expecting it.
REVIEWS
"This book was a true fantasy and a delightful idea, well executed. Magic exist still in the heart of New York (I think it exists in some form everywhere if you have the right outlook) and is endangered by hard-nosed businessmen engaging in shady deals. It is said that, for evil to thrive, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing. Ben Darkly is a good man and he is not prepared to stand back and see something wonderful destroyed without a fight. The plot is active, engaging and in places, quite tense. I was gripped by the book and enjoyed it very much. No-one with a heart could do otherwise." - Ignite (goodreads.com)
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 One day, Darren Humphries will write a serious version of the Arthurian legends, but until that day this comic romp is the closest that he's going to get.
"Camelot! The very name conjures up visions of chivalry and honour and tables that are round.
The truth was somewhat different.
When a train deposits Barnaby back in the time of King Arthur, he finds that the reality leaves a lot to be desired when compared with the legends. It's up to to him to restore the glory of the tale, but he's not got a lot to work with.
The Sword In The Tree is a comic retelling of the Arthurian legends in a way that they have never been told before."
Let's hope they can take it.
REVIEWS
"I've just finished this on my Kindle and am so glad I bought it. It's a really funny book about a man who finds himself back in King Arthurs time and is trying to get back to the present. All the characters were written so well I felt I was in the story - a great bit of escapism. The book is very well written and I will definately be buying more of this authors books if this is anything to go by.." - Vanessa Jackson (amazon.co.uk)
"When Darren Humphries presented his book to a challenged collection of "DRM or NOT" arguers... AND, I found it only to be 1 dollar, I had to give it a whirl. What did I have to lose? Oh... and don't judge the book by its cover. ;) This book seriously caused, on more than 1 occasion, a caffeinated gas of laughter wherever I had it open. Ok, I'm not a writer, (to include reviews), but this book was great, awesome, I loved it! It included time travel, adventure, mystery, comradery, and so much more! I would highly recommend this book to anyone, child or adult as it will certainly entertain your mind and pain the cheeks with a permanent smile. :) Thanks for an AWESOME book, Darren! What's next? " - The color (amazon.cm)
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 Darren Humphries' only (to date) horror novel. No comedy. No jokes. A change from the norm.
"Kelsynack Cove - a sleepy little Cornish fishing village trying to scrape a living now that the fishing has moved away. It's about to be hit by the largest, most destructive storm the region has seen in a long time.
That's nothing new. The sea is in the people's blood. They've weathered everything that the sea can throw at them and they're prepared to weather this.
This time, though, the storm is not coming alone.
It's bringing something with it; something that nobody has ever seen before, something with a past and a purpose, something more deadly than they could ever know.
STORMWRECK is an old-fashioned atmospheric horror tale that just might put you off your cream teas."
REVIEWS
"Going through all of Darren Humphries books to select the one I was going to read first, I went for Stormwreck as it was the one that was most likely to appeal to me, as I like everything weird and spooky. I thought I'd familiarise myself with the writer by reading something from my favourite genre before moving on to something sci-fi or humoristic. I was even more enthusiastic at the idea of reading it as other group members who had read it and who knew my tastes in books thought it was a book for me. And boy were they right ! What really stuck me with this book, is how it doesn't give the feeling of being "fast-paced" somehow. You would think the fact that the events happen over a few hours only (and there are quite a few things going on), all on a background of violent storm, would give the book a very rapid rhythm, but instead I found that the main feeling was that of oppressiveness, of gloom, something that makes you feel claustrophobic even though you're there, with all the characters, on a beautiful Cornish cove. That said, you can't help but notice how the story builds up with the storm, how the evil grows, how scared the villagers become, and how more and more drawn-in you become as a reader. This book is definitely a different experience from what I've had so far. You don't get excited as such to get to know what happens at the end, you want to get there because you want that feeling to end, that weight to lift off, you want to disperse that cloud of mystery. It could be very easy I guess to write a novel that would just state the facts, but I think the whole atmosphere thing is created with skill, and is what sets this book apart from the other horror/mystery/paranormal books I've read in my life. It's all very hard to explain, it's really something you really need to feel for yourself ! " - Lorraine Arndell (amazon.co.uk)
"The essence of horror is lack of control. True horror shows us that our safe, secure little world over which we have power and in which events are predictable - or at least logical - is nothing but a comforting fairy-tale. It harks back to some long-forgotten race memory in which life could be snuffed out in an instant in a world that did not always make sense. So what better setting for a horror story than an isolated community in the teeth of a massive and potentially deadly story. Throw in a long forgotten secret, give early indications that Supernatural is Permitted and, for good measure, cut the cast of characters off from the rest of civilisation.It's an excellent set-up and in Darren Humphries' masterly hands becomes a highly compelling and satisfying read. As a narrator he is authoritative but never obtrusive, his characters are rounded and sympathetic and the whole thing trips along with an ease that will have you reading all night." - Jenny Shaw (amazon.co.uk)
"A good ghost story that kept you reading. The build up was excellent and the rest superb." - Mo Brown (goodreads.com)
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 This collection brings together all of the short stories written by Darren Humphries (to date anyway) into one volume. The word 'eclectic' applies.
"Forrest Gump said that life was like a box of chocolates and you never knew what you were going to get. Clearly he had never looked inside the lid or consulted those little cards you get in the fancier boxes that tell you exactly what you're going to get.
This collection of short stories are like Forrest's chocolates (no not sticky and half-melted) - a varied mix of light and dark, of sweet and sour, soft and hard-centred. Some are longer than others whilst some are shorter. Some are thoughtful and some are just fun. Some have already been available on the internet, some have never been seen before. This is, however, the only place where they have been gathered together in one place.
The world will end (possibly more than once), men will hear the voice of God, nature will fight back, technology will threaten and be misused, vampires will be born (or will they?), gifts will be given and aliens will make contact."
REVIEWS
"Best short story collection I've read in a while, especially the 6 interlinked apocalypse stories." - Denise (goodreads.com)
"The short story genre has grown on me since I bought my kindle and this collection is a great example of why. We have several distinct types of story here. The first group are often funny, wry, sometimes thought provoking; the second are, as they group title suggests, dark, apocalyptic and harsh. The third group returns to the style of the first, sometimes outright funny, sometimes wryly amusing, always original. Darren Humphries is often thought of as a humorous fantasy writer - a style of writing he does particularly well. This collection of stories will prove that he is much more than this. It's well executed, thoughtful and far ranging. It deserves a place on every e-shelf." - Ignite (goodreads.com)
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 A real life account of a real life-changing event. All author royalties go to charity.
"Maite Humphries-Farge died on January 14th 2011, quite suddenly and without warning.
She was not targeted by a serial killer or the victim of some vampire boyfriend's nemesis because this was not fiction. This was merely the kind of day-to-day family tragedy that barely makes the local news.
This is the story of the first year after Maïté's death, as told in diary entries made by her husband, recounted in the hope that anyone involved in a committed relationship who reads it might think to find out where the insurance policy is, decide to take out that funeral plan or simply ask themselves what they would do if it happened to them.
Because it happens to someone every day."
REVIEWS
"You'll know what this book is about from the synopsis and other reviews. People talk of avoiding difficult subject matter. I urge you, whatever your circumstances, to read this book. I bought it this morning and read it in one straight sitting. Altough it details loss, it's filled with love, life, compassion, honesty and above all, self belief and hope. Mr Humphries writes without bitterness and anger about the most profound loss he is ever likely to experience. In talking about the death of his wife, the circumstances, practicalities and life thereafter, Mr Humphries has painted a memorable picture of a vibrant, loving and wonderful lady. What greater tribute could there be? Although he talks the reader through many of the details necessarily associated with sudden death, he does so with honesty and even humour. His wife will be proud of this work. His children will later have an insight into their mother and the wonderful, much loved and vibrant individual they lost. Mr Humphries helps everyone to understand why we should never avoid whatever words are needed to provide some small comfort. A bereaved person will remember and reflect for a long time afterwards. Obviously not an easy read, but an emotionally positive and ultimately uplifting experience because of the feeling that he is dealing with his loss and life thereafter in such a positive way. Thank you Mr Humphries for a memorable and thought provoking work. " - Bookie (amazon.co.uk)
"Mr. Humphries did an amazing job chronicling the first year after his wife's unexpected death. It may be unsentimental but it is NOT unfeeling. Instead it offers a roadmap of sorts to help deal with the obstacles that come up after a death of a loved one. It is not overly sad, it is a strange mixture of a downer story and a uplifting story. The theme really is how to survive. I would recommend this to everyone. " - Mathgod (amazon.com)
"It took me a while to write this review, as I had to take a few days to truly process what I had read. It is not very often I give a book a 5 star review, but if just once in my lifetime I was able to give a book 10 stars, I would award it to this book without question. This is not a story of sadness and pain, but rather a beautiful tribute to his wife, who I wish I could have known. I have the utmost respect for Darren Humphries; not just for being brave enough to publish a story so close to his heart for the world to see, but for the way he dealt with the situation he was in. The death of a loved one is something we all have to go through, unfortunately, but I cannot put into words the admiration I have for Darren, for going through what he did and coming out the other side; something many of us would not have been able to do. It is indeed unsentimental, but at the same time absolutely full of emotion and told in such a raw and honest way you really connect with it. After reading this, it is very clear just how in love Darren was with his wife and how much he cares for his children, who really are lucky to have him. He has taken a subject so utterly destroying and made it uplifting and informative; while there were parts that made me cry, there were also parts that made me smile and even laugh. The subject of this book may put you off, but I urge you to read this book. I promise you will not forget it. It is beautifully written and utterly thought-provoking. Darren is truly inspirational." - Katy (Goodreads.com
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 When Darren Humphries needed a guide to science fiction, fantasy and supernatural horror shows on TV and found that there wasn't one, he decided to compile it himself.
Hundreds of TV shows from all over the world are detailed, reviewed and rated from A For Andromeda to Xena:Warrior Princess. He is still looking for shows beginning with Y or Z.
REVIEWS
"If you, like me, are a great fan of sci-fi TV, you need this book. It contains excellent, entertaining synopses of all the shows, both British and American, easily found with the use of the active table of contents. The money I've spent on this book has more than been regained through the savings I've achieved in not purchasing DVDs of shows I've seen already or might not enjoy. Definitely the most used reference book on my kindle." - PE (amazon.co.uk)
"If you are like me and have a huge collection of shows that you like to re-watch over and over again, this book is an amazing guide to episodes. It's easy to search through each show and find the exact episode you want to watch and saves me attempting to google poor memories to work out what episode I'm thinking off. I very much enjoyed the little introductions wrote in a very comedic but factual way and for shows I haven't watched it, it was a lovely introduction. I have definitely got some new shows to put on my to be watched pile!!" - Louise-Lesley (Elle) (Goodreads.com)
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