Festival Books
booksélist.co.uk
' SQUESTIONS
BfiNlEL KALBER
It’s not everyone who packs their bags and heads to Tatarstan, Kalmykia, Mari El and Udmurtia - four of the most remote and least frequented republics of Russia. But that is exactly what anti-tourist and travel writer Daniel Kalder did for his debut Lost Cosmonaut. In Strange Telescopes he meets a Siberian taxi driver claiming to be the Messiah whilst making a tour of Soviet oddballs. Naturally, he is speaking on exploding travel-writing cliches. Andrew Brown 8 Daniel Kalc’ei: 18/4119. 8.30pm. If!)
('5 .‘ 7 I
New Edinburgh crime prince Tony Black has half an eye on Ian Rankin’s throne. Here he becomes king of our less than majestic Q&A
Give us five words to describe Paying For It?
Gritty. edgy, Edinburgh crime thriller.
Which authors should be more famous than they are now?
Ken Bruen and Allan Guthrie. two razor-sharp exponents of Celtic Noir. We are blessed with a wealth of crime writing talent in Scotland.
What do you love about Edinburgh in August?
Jerry Sadowitz is here kickin' ass like only he can. And the traffic's too heavy for stretch Hummers! Which does mean fewer pished-up Geordie lasses in pink cowboy hats. but hey. we can‘t have it all, eh?
Which dead author do you wish was still alive today?
George Douglas Brown. The one book he put his name to, The House with the Green Shutters is a masterpiece. | read that book again every year and it never ceases to amaze me how brilliant a writer he was.
What would you change about the publishing world?
There are too few independent retailers in this country now to give us a really vibrant literary scene. I really miss the small stores. staffed by tweedy, pipe—
smoking bibliophiles. The big retailers have some fantastically well-stocked stores
and great staff, but they just can‘t capture that small store, indie vibe. There's room for both. I 15 Aug (with Jenny Glynn), 4.30pm, £6 (£4)
Ilit ' + ‘ >l<
FESTIVAL BOOKS
* Anne Enrlght After winning the Man Booker prize for The Gathering last autumn, the Irish author talks about her latest effort, Taking Pictures. 3 short- story collection about female lives. 15 Aug, 11.30m, £9 (£7). * Chuck Palahniuk The creator of cult classic [-7th Club comes across the pond to launch his new book about the porn industry in the white marquees of Charlotte Square. See preview, page 10. 16 Aug, 8pm, £9 (£7). * Lisa Appignanesi One discussion on women and mental breakdown and another on censorship reveals the elastic brains behind this thought- provoking author. See preview, page 11. 17 Aug, 5pm, 7pm, £9 (£7).
* Gavin Francis The Edinburgh lad who has travelled the tundra discusses his adventures in arctic Europe and his new book, True North. See preview, page 12. 15 Aug, 8.30pm, £9 (£7).
* Charles Leadbeater The cultural commentator talks technology, addressing how software, the web and gaming is changing the way we operate as a society. See preview. page 14. 18 Aug, 8.30pm, £9 (£7); 19 Aug, 7pm, £9 (£7).
* Susan Greenfield Neuroscientist Baroness Greenfield discusses how technology, politics and modernity threaten our individuality. And hopefully how to prevent it. See preview, page 12. 19 Aug, 1.30pm, £9 (£7).
* Dave McKean The graphic designer who has worked on HeI/b/azer and The Sandman offers a masterclass in illustration and design for those who have ideas for the next Batman, and a talk for those who don't. See preview. page 12. 19 Aug, 8pm, £9 (£7).
All events take place in Charlotte Square, unless otherwise indicated. The box office number is 0845 373 5888 and the website is www.9dbookfest.co.uk
14 21 Aug 2(X)8 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 9