Events
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to suzanne.black@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Thursday 12
Glasgow
Write-Tron for All Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. 10:30am l2:30pm. £35 (£20). (‘reative writing workshops for adttlts run by Stephen Barttes. Booking essential.
Edinburgh
Scottish PEN 1927-2007: 80 Years in Scotland Writers' Museum. Lady Stair‘s Close. Lawnmarket. 52‘) 490]. l'ntil 5 May. Mon -Sat l0am 5pm. liree. An exhibition celebrating 80 years of the Scottish branch of the worldwide writers association. set tip by Hugh MacDiarmid. Scottish l’liN works on behalf of oppressed writers all over the world. and strengthening the international impact of Scottish voices. The Poetry Path Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘t'ichton‘s Close. (‘anongate. 557 2876. t'ntil 26 May. Mon Fri
l lamsbpm; Sat noon 4pm. Free. This event is all about the photographs by Douglas May taken along the River liden in (‘timbria where 12 poetns by Meg l’eacocke have been inscribed on stones.
Monday 1 6
Glasgow
Scarcer Ever Out of My Thoughts Department of Scottish Literature. (ilasgow t'niversity. 7 l'niversity Gardens. 662 ()l 12. 5pm. Free. Here comes the book launch of .S’eureely liver Out of)“ Thullg/IIS.’ The Letters of lit/(lit 'Ii‘et'lyn (irieve Io ('Itri'slop/ier .llurruv (irieve (Hug/i Mite/)iumtiil). edited arid with an Introduction by Beth Junor and with a foreword by Deirdre (irieve.
Creative Writing Class Borders Books. ()8 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 6»~-8pm. £30 for six sessions. Alistair Patterson hosts a writing workshop every Monday entitled ‘l)iscover and develop the writer within'. For further info on how to dojttst that please call 0796‘) 8237 l 2 or email prism.atic(a virgin.net.
Edinburgh
Poetry Book Group Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘richton's (’lose. (‘anongate. 557 2876. 6.30 8.30pm. £5 (£3). [p for discussion this month is lt'i/tl (ieese by Mary ()liver. in a session led by Julie Johnstone. Please book iii advance.
Wednesday 18
Glasgow
>i< Paulo Coelho Sli(‘(‘. l‘innieston Quay. 0870 040 4000. 7 9pm. £10. The acclaimed Bra/ilian author of literary works of genius like The Alchemist discttsses his new novel. T/It’ Hire/i of" I’m‘lu/u’l/n, a postmodern fusion of philosophy. religion and morality set on l’ortobello Road. London. Keep your lighters out of the air. though. it's not that kind of event.
Edinburgh
Getting into Poetry Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘richton‘s ('lose. ('anongate. 557 2876. 6.30 8pm. £5 (£3 inc wine). This is a series of three sessions introducing different styles of poetry and how to approach it. The session is led by Vicki l-"eavcr. author of poetry collections. ('lose Relatives. 'I'lie II(II1(//(’.\'.S' Alan/('11 and The Book of Blood. £l0 (£6) for all three workshops.
32 THE LIST 12—26 Apr 200/
Edinburgh
=i= Ewan Morrison Waterstone's. I28 Princes Street. 226 2666. 6pm. Free (ticketed). (‘atch the ‘purveyor of erudite filth' signing his first noyel. about (ilasgow swingers. after the success of short story collection. The Last Burt/v you Read. See preview. page 30.
=i< AL Kennedy Waterstone‘s. 83 (ieorge Street. 225 3436. 6.30pm. l‘ree (ticketed). An evening with the darkly humorous writer as she talks about and sigtis her new novel. [)uy'.
The Big Word The Jan Bar. 1 (‘ltantbers Street. 220 4290. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). The Big Word is back and groaning under the strain of so many guests with performance poetry arid music from Alistair liindlay author of Set. Deal/i (Hill I‘oollmll. Rob (ice. lilspeth Murray attd Richard Medrington. Rapun/el Wizard and Mike Rafferty. all hosted by Jenny Lindsay. (‘ontact
jennylindsaym ginail.cotn or 07989 508 436 for more info.
Andnew Greig Blackwells. 53 5‘) South Bridge. 622 8222. 6.30pm. l-‘rec (ticketed). A reading and signing with the Bannockburn-born poet and author. whose most recent book was the William Hill Sports Book of the Year nominee. I’re/ereil Lies: A Journey to the Heart ofSr‘oHiy/t (in/f. which takes a playful look at the essence of the gatne.
Glasgow
Creative Writing Class Borders Books. ()8 Bttchanan Street. 222 7700. 6 8pm. £30 for six sessions. See Mon l6.
Tuesday 24
Glasgow
Conversation Pieces: Mike Russell & Iain McKie Royal ('oncen llall: Strathclyde Suite. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. lpnt. £4. BB(‘ Radio Scotland‘s lain Anderson qtii/les Mike Russell and laiti McKie on their recent book. Shir/ey- .l’lt'k’lt'.‘ The Price (if/Itiiiit'elti‘t'. abotlt the cx-police officer and the now notorious fingerprint case.
>5: Janice Galloway Mitchell Library. 20] Nonh Street. 287 290‘). 7. l5pm. Free. The celebrated Scottish writer talks abottt her work from novel debut The 'I‘rit-k is to Keep Brent/ring to the recent ('Iurti.
Edinburgh
The Hairy Bikers \VllSinitlt. 33 South (iy'le Avenue. South (iyle Broadway. (iy le Shopping (‘entre. 33‘) 8855.
12.30 1.30pm. liree. The bearded twosome tl)ave Myers and Si King) motor in to sign copies of their latest cookery venture. Hurry Hikers Rule steam.
George Mackay Brown New battle Abbey (’ollcge. Newbattle Road. 66.3
W2 l. 7.30pm. liree (ticketed). Alan Massie c‘ltttit‘s 2t discussion entitled ‘.-\ l’m‘ketful of Hope: lidwin Muir‘s gift to (ieorge Mackay Brown' in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Newbattlc Abbey (‘ollege Booking essential.
Comics
DVD
ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2: RISE OF THE BLACK PANTHER (12A) 70 min
(Lionsgatel ooo
Taking its cues from Mark Millar's The U/t/rnates. Marvel returns to the animated world With the second part of their Ultimate Avengers series. The alien menace has now reached Africa and is threatening the
s nall but technically advanced nation of Wakanda. which is ruled over by none other than the Black Panther. From there on in it's lull on alien warfare as the Avengers assemble to battle a threat of global proportions.
Marvel so almost get it right. It's a classic Avengers lineup of Captain Arrierica. Black Widow. Iron Man, Thor. Giant -Man and Wasp iWith notable guest spots from The Htilk and Nick Fury). But they never quite get a handle on appealing to both kids and adult fans; some of the voicing and plotting is leaden and the artwork is solid if unremarkable. However if you’re already an Avengers fan this is pretty entertaining. though the first part was far superior. Extras include featurettes. gag reel. DVD game and sneak peeks at Iron Man and Dr Strange.
(Henry Northmorel
DVD
GOLGO 13: THE PROFESSIONAL (18) 95 min
(Manga Entertainment) OOO
A kind of nascent anime James Bend. the re release of this 1083 action film was based on the long-running Manga comic of the same name. When taciturn, Asian super-assassin Golgo 113 is hired to
bump off a Mafia boss. the job leads him up an alley of trickery. deception. and ever more inventive and bloody murders. Oh. and some truly lumpen softcore sex scenes. whose lack of grace might have something to do wrth the somewhat dated animation style.
Goi’go 73‘s Vintage does indeed show through in the sometimes less-than- precise cell art detail. which often gives it more the feel of a 70s comic than the high-definition anime work of today. Still. there's a John Woo- style slow-mo grace about the majority of the action set—pieces. and anime historians should find plenty amidst this tough-as-nails action yarn to keep them entertained. (David Pollock)
DVD HELLBOY: SWORD OF STORMS
(12) 78 min (Anchor Bay) .00
‘)lu.l.( )l’l)(.i ‘filli )‘K’L'i‘?
The first of three feature length televrsion cartoons adapted from Mike Mignola's marvellous comic book series. Sword of Storms takes Hellboy and his Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence colleagues east to Japan where they duke it out With a pair of elemental demons and an ancient samurai warrior.
It's a watered down version of the original comics. geared towards newcomers and kids. and the uneven animation doesn't do
justice to Mignola's atmOSpheric artwork. But the cast of the Hellboy live action blockbuster (Ron Perlman, Selma Blair and DOug Jones) are back onboard. and their vocal talents give this animated cousin a degree of Credibility. particularly Perlman's Hellboy who enjoys self-COHSCiously pulpy lines like. ‘There's no upside to cutting the undead any slack.‘ Plenty of extras including a reasonably illuminating commentary by Mignola and a swathe of Making Of d()Ctirn(-3ritaries.
(Miles Fielderi
DVD
KARAS: THE PROPHECY
(12) 90 min
(Manga Entertainment) 0..
From the Opening battle sequence. the action scenes in Karas are a retina-searing blend of CGI and slick animation with da/zling sci-fl imagery and Videogame aesthetics. Edited at a dwyingly fast pace. as just a shame that when the action eases off the throttle the art quality slows Wlllt it. The story revolves around a hi— tech warrior. Karas. and his battle against blood sucking robotic demons that are threatening earth. As is customary With all Manga there's a large dose of baffling eastern mystiCIsm and notions of honOur. While stunning in places land they've even managed to secure some Hollywood veice talent such as Matthew Lillard and Piper Perabo). it's too confused to be truly gratifying. Future instalments should help round out the steiy. The DVD comes With an exclusive Karas comic. featurettes. concept animation and English and original Japanese versions. (Henry Northmore‘l