Altered State
Matthew Collin with contributions by John Godfrey (Serpent’s Tail £10.99) * ilr * * 1r
Does the world really need another book on Ecstasy culture and acid house? Every fortnight the club listings of this magazine carry codified references to the types of music. Every month one of the dance music magazines refers to the obscure origins of club culture. Every other month, another book of stories emanating from the dancefloor is published. Every year the government announces another piece of legislation aimed at
curbing the drugs menace. Well, yes the world does need a
book which, as this one does, explains the scene and puts it into a cultural context. A book which, ' with verve, style and understanding, examines its roots in 605 pharmaceutical experiments, 70s gay disco and 805 electro; which documents their collision with a strange alliance of holidaying Brits in Ibiza, Thatcher’s entrepreneurial children, crusty travellers and committed hedonists.
Of course, with only 300 pages, much is missed out. The Scottish scene and the British gay scene are all but ignored in favour of over-long passages on Manchester hoodlums and London wide-boys. But with the sound of myths being put to rest and terminology explained, this is the most up-front, clear and downright entertaining explanation of the dance boom you are going to get. Until the next one. (1' D)
Matthew Collin
children‘s book The (hilt/ilet‘ (Orion
1 Salt l.at/.\' (Reyiew £9.99).
be discussing Scotland past. present and future. coinciding with Gray's new work Why Seats Slum/(l Rule Seat/am! (Canongate £4.99) and Scott. who is editor of Seat/and: An Unwon Cause (Canongate £9.99).
Launch Party For The Flamingo Book Of Scottish Writing Thurs 24 Apr. 7pm. \Vaterstone‘s. 13—14 Princes Street. 556 3034. The new collection. The Flamingo Bank Omettis/t Writing ("ilamingo £5.99). features previously unpublished authors. Some of them will be reading from their work. followed by a question and answer session and signing copies of the book.
The Shore Poets Sun 27 Apr. 8pm. £1. Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street. 225 2383. An evening ofliye poetry with Douglas Lipton. Nancy Somerville. Alan (‘rosbie and accompanying musicians. Hanif Kureishi Mon 28 Apr. 7.30pm. £3 (£1). Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 2204349. Tickets from Assembly Rooms and Waterstone's. Author of the best- selling 7'he Buddha ()j‘Sur/mrbia and celebrated screenplays including My Beautiful laundrette and Lulu/(m Kills He. presents his new collection of short stories [me In xi Blue 'Iinte (Faber & Faber £8.99).
Naomi Wolf Tue 29 Apr. 7.30pm. £3
(£1 ). Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 22() 4349. Tickets from Assembly Rooms and Waterstone's. ()ne of the most outspoken and controyersial feminists of her generation will be talking about her new book I’I'untlxt‘ttltiex — A Secret History ()fl't’ltltlll’ Desire (Chatto £12.99).
Roddy Lumsden And Don Paterson Wed 31) Apr. 7.30pm. £3 (£1). Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 22() 4349. Tickets from Assembly Rooms and Waterstone's. Two young Scottish poets will be presenting their new collections. with l.umsden reading from Yeah. Yeah. Yeah (Bloodaxe £7.95) and Paterson presenting (I'm/'5' (Ii/t 'Iii ll’bmea (Faber 8; Faber £6.99).
Ben Watt Thurs 1 May. 7.30pm. £3 (£1). Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. Tickets from Assembly Rooms and \‘1.’aterstone's. The other half of liyerything But The Girl will be talking
' about his book Patient (Penguin £6.99). which documents his fight for suryiyal after contracting an extremely rare. life- threatening disease.
books
events Glasgow
World Book Day Wed 23 Apr. John Smiths Bookshops. In celebration of World Book Day. there will be many special offers on the day at all the individual branches.
Glasgow Book Fair Fri 25 Apr. noon-~7pm; Sat 26 Apr 10am—5pm. 50p. James Moir Hall. Mitchell Library. North Street. For further information call (11436 676453. Antiquarian and second-hand books. plus maps and prints are on sale. Les Murray Tue 29 Apr. 8pm. £5 (£2). CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 332 7521. The extraordinary Australian poet and winner of the T. S. Fliot Poetry Prize. will be reading from his latest collection Sub/amiaa Rel/neck I’ve/hr (C‘arcanet Press £7.95).
Edinburgh
Pam Ayres In Concert Fri 18 Apr. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 22() 4349. Tickets from Assembly Rooms and Watcrstone's. Presenting her one-woman show, Pam will be chatting. and reading from her new book With These Ham/r ~- :1 Collection (( )rion £9.99) and her
£9.99).
Literary Lads Mon 21 Apr. 7.30pm. £3 (£1).Assemb1y Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. Tickets from Assembly Rooms and Waterstone‘s. Three young writers. published by Reyiew. will be talking about their new work. (‘harles Kennedy Scott reads from his new urban comedy l.(m' xilt'U/tul ( Reyiew £9.99). Hen Richards talks about his second novel Don 't Step ()a The Lines (Reyiew £9.99) and Alan Smith will be discussing lite
Susan Stinson Tue 22 Apr. Spin. West & Wilde Bookshop. 25a Dundas Street. 556 (1079. The author will be reading from her critically acclaimed 1)()\ e1 Martha Mum/r t\\’tiiiic‘ii's Press £6.99).
Alasdair Gray and Paul H. Scott Thurs 24 Apr. 6.30pm. Waterstone's. S3 (,ieorge Street. 225 3436. Tickets from the branch. Alasdair Gray and Paul Scott will
BOOKS
THE BEST SCOTTISH SEXUAL AND POLITICAL THRILLER SINCE 39 STEPS
ALASDAIR GRAY AND PAUL SCOTT
will be appearing at
Waterstone’s George Street Thursday, 24 April at 6.30pm
Reading from and discussing their new books
Why Scots should Rule Scotland -
Alasdair Gray
and
Scotland: An Unwon Cause - Paul Scott
- o k D A” U "W011 Cause
18Api- i 1.1;); 199/ THE UST87