Machines can’t lie,” I said, lying through my circuits.

I managed to hide it from the cleaner, which was pretty easy given I had no muscles in my face with which to change my expression.

Daud didn’t know how Corvo had found the strength to spare him.

Melancholy can be good for the soul.

The L.A Trilogy is a series of three novels starring Ray, a robot detective, and his boss, a computer called Googol. Set in an alternative version of 1960s Los Angeles, each book will be more or less standalone but together will form an overarching story arc with 'Brisk Money' as the origin story.

The L.A. Trilogy is completely separate from my far-future space opera series, 'The Spider Wars,' which kicks off in March with 'The Burning Dark.' I like to write across different styles and genres - I love space opera and science fiction, but I also love crime and noir, so this is a great opportunity to have some fun with another genre mash-up.

To be honest, writing comics is a dream come true - the form is unparalleled and is home to some of the most original and innovative storytelling around.

'The Burning Dark' needs a certain kind of soundtrack - something dark and moody, electronic, weird. One of my favourite bands is Ladytron, and I think they'd fit the bill quite well.

The appeal of the Golden Age heroes for me is their simplicity, even their naivety - they represent the fundamental building blocks of the whole superhero genre, whether it's a 'super' man able to lift cars, or a vigilante who terrorises criminals at night like Batman.

That's the most amazing thing about writing, whether it's in prose or comics: that you can create something from nothing, and suddenly they come to life, like they've always been there.