Beano

Busy, busy, busy as we celebrate British Comics Month at FPI; we've been making a big effort to add independent UK talent to a nice new British Small Press section - put several on this first week and more look set to come onboard, so it will be filling up. There's not really a huge amount of money in this area, but we decided we wanted to give it a good push anyway and give some of the homegrown indy talent a chance; I'm already finding a hell of a lot more going on than I knew in the UK comics scene and I'm not exactly ignorant of graphic novels and comics.



For instance I didn't know Manchester had its own superhero in Queen of Diamonds, a superhero who just happens to be a raging great queen!Creating material for the blog each day to go along with the theme and contacting folks to talk about it is a heck of a lot of work. But then again, this week I got to talk to the man who edited the Beano. How bloody cool is that?

Scary WMDs

New Scientist carries a quite frightening report on the possibility of accidental or terrorist-inspired radiation leakages or even detonations from nuclear warheads being transported to and from military bases. This disturbing story reminds me too much of worries expressed back during the Cold War when it was known secret convoys bearing nuclear warheads would pass along the motorway right through the middle of Glasgow, the most populous city in Scotland, on the way to the large submarine base as Faslane on the west coast.

Not surprisingly a lot of people - not just CND campaigners - were somewhat alarmed by this and worried about either an accident or terrorist attack (from the IRA in those days). Of course, everyone was told by the government that there was no risk and of course there was no need to move warheads by ship instead (imagine transporting to a naval base by ship, what an obviously bizarre idea...). Now it looks like yes, there always has been a risk and the buggers knew it all along. Amazing what you can get away with in the name of security of the realm...

Evil Monkey Speaks to the Nation

Courtesy of Jeff VanderMeer; now his rabid monkey puppet posting becomes clearer:

Football more important than lives and world events according to BBC

I've mentioned before how annoyed I am that the BBC often tends to forget the news is being broadcast to the whole of the UK and assumes that everyone wants to know about the English football or cricket teams and that these stories are so important they put them in the headlines as well as in the sports segment. I'm not interested very much in Scottish results either, which is why I like to watch the news part of the news and go and make a cuppa when the sports piece comes on, but now I have sports stories pushed at me. World cup football has exacerbated both problems.

Today the BBC went even further. Today they went from annoying me to disgusting me. The main BBC TV news throughout today had the headline top story of David Beckham resigning. Relegated to second story was the death of two British soldiers in action in Afghanistan. Yes, it is official - the BBC considers the death of British soldiers not as important as some braindead footballer. The day after the BBC gave coverage to the moving events for the 90th anniversary of the awful slaughter on the Somme they consider a man more famous for his hairstyles than sports ability more important than fallen soldiers in current misadventures abroad. Nice message to send to the relatives of people with family members serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, BBC. Whichever editor picked this running order then stuck with it all day for each broadcast deserves to have his or her arse kicked and feel utterly ashamed of themselves.

What the Author Says

It was another good week on the FPI blog for author pieces as I had several writers who kindly took time out to write for the What The Author Says feature. The terrific Neal Asher scored a two-for-one, writing about his latest novel Voyage of the Sable Keech (not to be confused with Stacy Keach) and his forthcoming Polity Agent. I love Neal's work - it is strong stuff and not for everyone, but I think it will appeal to folks like me who love Richard Morgan's Kovacs novels since Neal builds an absorbing future society, gripping narrative and also some tremendously violent scenes which could easily be simple action-porn but, as with Richard's work, are underpinned by intelligence rather than simple action for the sake of it (although you still get the guilty pleasure and thrill from reading those parts).

A debut Scottish novelist who Neal has praised highly was another willing victim for WTAS; Alan Campbell, one time game programmer (he was involved in the jiggly hookers for GTA he tells us), talks about his first novel, Scar Night. The first of the Deepgate series, the main location of Deepgate is a dark, religious town suspended by endless chains over a yawning abyss, where their dark god is supposed to dwell. The setting is as effective a location as I've read in fantasy since Jeff's Ambergris or China's New Crobuzon (although Cheryl Morgan and I were joking the whole thing was a cunning pastiche of the dour ultra-protestants on the Western Isles of Scotland). You probably remember me this time last year endlessly singing the praises of Glasgow author Hal Duncan's Vellum; well, Hal also praised Scar Night and with the second part of Hal's tale running late I recommend those who enjoyed Vellum have a look at Scar Night if you need a good, dark, intelligent fantasy for reading this summer.

The third WTAS victim this week was more unusual - Michael Reccia is one of the guys behind what is essentially a journal, but a journal which he is treating more as a book, SciFi and Fantasy Modeller. Partly a fan publication exploring the age-old craft of model building for SF shows and movies (not everything is CGI even today) it has some incredibly in-depths looks at contemporary and classic material which a lot of fellow geeks who are interested in special effects will enjoy. As you might guess from the title is also showcases creations by amateurs and gives ideas and tips for doing your own - check out Michael's post on the FPI blog, it's worth looking at just for some of the pics of finished models he sent me, I'm jealous I'm too handless to ever make something so intricate. The second has one of the most in-depth articles around on the new Cybermen from Doctor Who, which is rather timely since they cropped up again last night in the first of the two-part season finale.

Meme time

Got this via my mate Jeff - feel free to copy and stick in your own repsonses:

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?

Nope, although I had an asshole of a motorbike cop tell me off for cycling past a bus which had just cut me up. When I angrily asked him why he was picking on me and ignoring the bus driver’s dangerous actions he told me he could make a warning into an actual charge; presumably his helmet was too tight and constricting his small brain.

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?

No way! I love roller coasters - rode my first one, the Cyclone at Morecambe when I was about 5 or 6 with my dad and rode many more white knuckles rides thereafter, often with dad. Not sure if it’s the roller coasters I love more or the fact that I have so many memories of enjoying them with dad.

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?

Ohhh, a good while ago, probably back in my 20s, while at a ski resort.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?

Like my own space in bed, but there’s nothing like snuggling up to someone. And the cats like to make themselves comfortable on top of the duvet as well of course.

5. Do you believe in ghosts?

I am haunted by my disbelief. If someone can prove their existence properly, fair enough, but hearsay and conjecture isn’t proof. A friend of mine has investigated ghosts for years (he has a book out this winter on it) and only came across one case he can’t find an explanation for.

6. Do you consider yourself creative?

Of course - why, anyone who decides to mix Baileys into the blender with ice cream and choccy milk shake is clearly creative.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?

Surely you are not suggesting our Western system of justice for all equally could be corrupted by people who are rich and famous???

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?

Can I have both, please? No? Oh. Well, probably Angelina - not only incredibly foxy but barking mad and you just know she’s be inventive and downright dirty.

9. Do you stay friends with your ex's?

Not especially, but I have good relations with my Zs and my Qs.

10. Do you know how to play poker?

I refer you to the Goon Show: “This is Minnie Bannister, the world-renown poker player. Giver he a poker and she’ll play any tune you want.”

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?

Not sure how long it was, but do recall working on some college projects all day, through the night on the computer then off into college next morning to print it all out, bind it and hand it in. Also recall being kept awake by friends like Leonie using my computer at home since it was the early 90s and most folks didn’t have a PC at home, so if you did you were very popular.

12. What's your favourite commercial?

Right now the Tango pastiche of the Sony Bravia ad with the coloured superballs bouncing down a San Francisco hill street, redone as apples, lemons, oranges etc bouncing down steep English village hill street, splattering, smashing windows, all to the same Jose Gonzales track

13. What are you allergic to?

Thumbscrews and Nazis.

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around do you run red lights?

Generally no, partly in case I just haven’t noticed someone crossing in the dark or something like that, partly because a lot of main junctions have cameras on them.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?

Hmmm, I have a couple of Deep Dark Secrets, but the other folks involved know too, so not really. Not that they will talk now, oh no (wipes dirt from hands, locks away shovel and laughs).

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?

Ah, baseball - almost as boring as cricket but at least they get matches over somewhat more quickly. Other than Charlie Brown’s team, all baseball bores the hell out of me.

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?

Yup, was taken several times to the wonderfully monikered Crossmyloof rink in Glasgow.

18. How often do you remember your dreams?

Quite often and sometimes dream events which happen, although those dreams only come back to me just as the events are happening, so that’s pretty useless. Picked up the occasional short story from good dreams.

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

All the time. I’m easily amused and believe in totally surrendering to hilarity. Humour is one of the best defence mechanisms we have for coping with life.

20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles?

Lucy in the Sky with Carbon C-60,
She Loves Me Longtime, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Corporal Condiment’s Heart Condition Band,
I Saw Her Standing There (the stalker’s song),
Yellow Deep-Sea Submersible

21. What's the one thing on your mind now?

Trying to get stuff together for British Comics Month on the FPI blog.

22. Do you know who Ghetto-ass barbie is?

Never heard of her, but I did see a Lois Lane Barbie at FPI recently, does that count?

23. Do you always wear your seat belt?

Not always, only when in the car. Wearing it the rest of the time is just being silly.

24. What cell service do you use?

I carry a loudhailer.

25. Do you like Sushi?

Yep, some American friends told me about the non-fish Sushi which I could eat as a veggie.

26. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?

No, it actually killed me, I just haven’t stopped moving yet because I am a stubborn bugger. And Enoch Root gave me a nice pick-me-up.

27. What do you wear to bed?

My smooth and creamy Celtic skin and an attitude.

28. Been caught stealing?

Nope, I learned from Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat - call me Slippery Joe.

29. What shoe size do you have?

7.

30. Do you truly hate anyone?

“I don’t believe in hate anymore, I hate to think on how I felt before” as Edie Brickell put it. Hate leads to the dark side. I do loathe what some folks do, like Bush and Blair, but I try not to let hate into my soul, the stains it leaves just don’t come out.

31. Classic Rock or Rap?

Wouldn’t that make the an acronym ‘CRRAP’???

32. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?

Hmm, would have to choose between my top three celeb’s I’d like to snog list, which consists of Audrey Tautou, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci. Think it would have to be Audrey Tautou. Unless I can pick someone from any period of time, in which case probably Audrey Hepburn or Louise Brooks.

33. Favourite Song?

Can’t really answer this, depends so much on my mood. Some days I want to listen to John Lee Hooker, other days Schubert, other days Velvet Revolver. Tori Amos’ “Crucify” would be way up the list though and right now loving pretty much everything Regina Spektor sings (plus her name makes her sound like a 60s Bond villain!).

34. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror?

‘Singing’ may be too grandiose a title for it.

35. What food do you find disgusting?

Eating animals.

36. Do you sing in the shower?

Oh yeah, my Don Giovani in the shower is amazing. Of course you just have to take my word for that.

37. Did you ever play, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours"?

Took it one step further - my first ‘girlfriend‘ and I had our Action Man and Syndey doll snogging and ‘doing it‘. We had no idea what ‘doing it’ actually was of course, but it was fun.

38. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?

All the time! One of the hallmarks of good, solid friendship is you can slag each other off comfortably and laugh about it because even when joking about aspects of each other’s habits which annoy you know you still love each other.

39. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?

Of course. It’s not just about standing up for someone you don’t know, it’s about defending principles. If you won’t stick to your principles for anyone and everyone then you don’t have any principles. Why do you think I am so opinionated on the blog???

40. Have you ever been punched in the face?

No, but I had a sabre break in a fencing duel and the broken shaft stab into my chest, does that count?

Shiona's memorial

It's been over a month and a half since we lost Shiona Wood; yesterday a gratifyingly large crowd of some of her many friends left the bright sunlight behind to squeeze into an auditorium in her base of operations at Edinburgh's wonderful Filmhouse, which has been one of my favourite haunts since my student days. In fact it was in my student days I met Shiona as she guest lectured on one of her favourite topics in film studies, the representation of gender. For that module we were very lucky the organising tutor, Andrew Tolson, thought that it would make for a more interesting course if we had a second lecturer and that it would be good to have a woman discussing gender roles with us for some more balance. I'm very glad he did that or I may never have met Shiona and once you met her you never forgot her. In among the audience yeterday I briefly bumped into some friends from those college days who I rarely see these days, so that was quite lovely too (hello Caroline and Rhiann if you're reading!); funny how some people can be in each other's lives so much for a period then drift slowly apart and hardly hear from one another.

We gathered together to hear film critic and friend of Shiona, Mark Cousins talking. He told us about the funeral, which was good for those of us who learned of it too late to attend; he told us about Shiona arriving in a stylish fashion which was very her, drawn in a beautiful horse-drawn hearse (she liked horses - I bumped into her more than once fresh from a ride still with horse hairs sticking to her clothes) with the horse's traditional black mourning plumes replaced by bright pink feathers and how Abba's Dancing Queen blasted out at the ceremony. We all turned up in bright colours because Shiona's fashion was a bright law unto itself - this was unusual for me since I normally wear black, black and black. In fact I wear so much black kids follow me down the street saying "Mr Cash, I loved you in Walk the Line". But yesterday a bright Captain Bluebear T-shirt and my extremely loud tie-dye bandana, which I suspect Shiona would have wanted to borrow :-).

In fact with us all so brightly attired and the general feeling of goodwill it wasn't a sombre memorial, it was a good-natured celebration, which is what she would have wanted. Obviously sadness remains and, as Mark said, anger too. Anger that this awful thing called cancer claimed yet another good person, something all too many of us have experienced. Well, yesterday proved one thing - cancer, you didn't take Shiona from us. You removed her bodily from our everyday lives but you couldn't match her spirit and yesterday's warm gathering showed that. As V tells Evey in V For Vendetta, there is a face beneath this mask, but it is not me, anymore than the muscle beneath that face is me or the bones - we are all so much more than that and that inner, essential core of our being is something mere illness cannot touch.

And so we sat and watched one of Shiona's favourite movies, Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce. Directed by Michael Curtiz, who of course directed one of my favourite movies of all time, Casablanca, it was made really as a "woman's" movie, but actually its a cracking movie for any gender or age and littered with those beautiful styles of fashion, design and cinematography that you associate with 40s movies, as well as some great lines (Joan appears for the first time in front of her new man in a swimming costume ' "No whistle?" she asks him "I'd need a police siren" he returns, deadpan; Joan's voice over as she bakes to make ends meet "I was always in the kitchen. Sometimes I thought I was born in a kitchen, with just a short time outside to get married. It didn't take long." That line must have really hit a chord with many women in the 40s).



The British Film Institute had donated the print free of charge because many of the BFI folk knew and loved Shiona too, while the money from the tickets went to Saint Columba's Hospice. A nearby hairdressing salon she used to visit gave out cards for a free hair session to everyone who came along, which made me chuckle (not just because I don't have enough hair left for them to style, unless they want to groom my chest) but because how many memorials do you go to and get given an offer of a free styling offer to friends of Shiona??? That kind of summed it up in some ways - irreverent and fun, she's have laughed at that.

Mel had come along with me and afterwards we walked back to her place along the restored canal, which was glittering in strong summer sunlight. We picked up a ton of fresh veg and other food and when Gordon came round to join us we enjoyed a nice bit of al fresco dining and drinking outside in the garden with Dizzy slinking around the garden and attempting to pounce on bees as they visited the flowers (so many blooms this year after all the clearing and pruning we did - for someone like me who is generally useless with plants very gratifying). Drinking and chatting and eating until the sky grew dark (which is way after ten here at this time of year and even then the northern sky remains aglow, never completely dark) then inside to drink more and watch movies. What could have been a sad day had actually been a really good day with friends.