Books EVENTS COMIC
SUPER VILLAIN MARK MILLAR & STEVE MCNIVEN Nemesis (Titan) ●●●●● Mark Millar took the top spot in The List’s Hot 100 at the end of 2010 and with the release of Nemesis in hardback you can see why. It’s a full- throttle thrill ride boasting some of Millar’s most audacious action set pieces to date and with a title character who is nothing less than a suave bastard. Very much the anti- Batman, our bored multi-millionaire playboy has used his resources to become the world’s ultimate criminal, leaving a body count that hits the 100s (if not 1000s) in his wake, before locking horns with Washington’s top cop in a vicious battle of wits.
Packed with profanity, ultra-violence and immorality, there’s so much forward momentum that you hurtle past any implausibilities in the plot. The writing is sharp and focussed and never takes its foot off the accelerator and while there is a certain gratuitousness in places, it’s all told with a knowing wink and a crooked smile. Despite his brash writing style, Millar never treats his readers like idiots and signs off with a sting in the tail that leaves things open for another series. Even under all that gore, Steven McNiven’s art is still utterly gorgeous. Wholesale destruction has never looked so good. (Henry Northmore)
ALSO PUBLISHED HISTORY BOOKS
EVENTS Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least fourteen days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor.
Thursday 3
Glasgow FREE Poetry Discussion Group Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 6pm. Lively and informal monthly discussions of poetry. Edinburgh FREE Beyond the Corporation National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. David Erdal’s latest book discusses stories of success in a number of different companies. Places must be reserved in advance by visiting www.nls.uk/events/booking or by phone. FREE Young Edinburgh Writers Launch: Muffins and Musings Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. The city’s teenage writing collective launches its first ever book with music, poetry, stories – and of course tasty muffins. Please RSVP to reception@spl.org.uk. FREE Gillian Galbraith Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road, 529 5595. 6.30–7.30pm. Crime writer Galbraith reads from and discusses her work on a short library tour. FREE Sara Sheridan: Secret of the Sands Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Have a glass of wine to celebrate the launch of Sara Sheridan’s new novel Secret of the Sands.
Friday 4 Glasgow Aye Write! Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Times vary. Prices vary. Hosted by the city’s magnificent Mitchell Library, Glasgow’s book festival offers a feast of book-related events. The first day’s offering includes readings and discussion from South African writers Kevin Bloom and Peter Harris (6pm), a session with Graeme Garden of 70s comedy plonkers The Goodies (7.30pm) and dizzying displays of rhyming flair at the Scottish Poetry Slam Championship Final (9pm). Reading the Leaves Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. £2. Join guest writers for an evening of poetry and creative writing.
With history being made all around us in north Africa and the Middle East, the books which reflect those seismic upheavals in Libya, Egypt, Bahrain and beyond will no doubt be in the throes of getting commissioned as we speak. For this month, it’s time to reflect on troubles which have been hitting the headlines for a little longer. Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of
Britain’s War in Afghanistan (Quercus) by Toby Harnden (pictured) is the inside story of a notorious tour of duty from 2009 while our former man in Moscow, Rodric Braithwaite, brings fresh insight into the conflict which helped destabilise the Soviet empire with Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan 1979–89 (Profile). The erudite Scottish historian Niall Ferguson identifies the six factors (including science, medicine and the work ethic) which led to the West dominating the world for so long in Civilization: The West and the Rest (Allen Lane). Less of a history book and more of a crystal-ball ‘what if’ affair is The Prime Ministers Who Never Were (Biteback) from Francis Beckett. What if Neil Kinnock had won the 1992 General Election: would things have been ‘alriiiiight’ as he over-triumphantly told that ill-fated Sheffield rally? How would Britain have got on in WW2 with Lord Halifax at the helm rather than Churchill? Would the New Labour project have gone down the same road to war with John Smith steering the ship? All intriguing and entertaining, if arguably pointless questions. (Brian Donaldson)
46 THE LIST 3–31 March 2011
Edinburgh Polly’s Pink Pyjamas Christ Church, Morningside Road, 667 3633. 3.30–5pm. £3 per child. Songs, stories and activities from author Vivian French. Ages 3+. Tickets available from The Edinburgh Bookshop (447 1917).
✽✽ An Evening with Alexander McCall Smith St Mary’s Cathedral,
23 Palmerston Place, 07962 219446. 7.30pm. £10. Discussion, wine and cake to launch AMS’s new No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novel, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party. Also performing are the St Mary’s Cathedral Choir. The event is to raise funds for future musical projects. Livingston West Lothian Write! Howden Park Centre, Howden, 01506 777666. 7pm. £3; performers free. An evening of poetry, readings and storytelling, hosted by Alan Bissett and featuring West Lothian writers. Those wishing to perform should prepare a piece of at least six minutes, and inform the Box Office when they book a free performer’s ticket.
Saturday 5
Glasgow ✽✽ Aye Write! Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Times vary. Prices
vary. Start day two of Aye Write! with either Alexander McCall Smith discussing his latest No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency title, or
writer/comedian Des Dillon on his intense new portrayal of a recovering alcoholic (both 10.30am). Later on, guests include philosopher Mary Warnock (12.30pm), food writer Nell Nelson (12.30pm), cartoonist Steve Bell (2pm), Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan (2pm), witty New York scribe Gary Shteyngart (3.30pm; see feature, page 44), Barry Cryer discussing Kenny Everett (3.30pm), Maxine Hong Kingstone (5pm) and a special World Book Night event with Sarah Waters (8.30pm). FREE World Book Night Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 7–9pm. Special late event to mark World Book Night, with signings by local authors Caro Ramsay, J David Simons and Alex Gray, refreshments and prizes to be won. Kirkintilloch FREE World Book Night William Patrick Library, 2–4 West High Street, 775 4524. 2.30pm. A celebration of World Book Night with soprano Catriona Morison, author Doug Johnstone and Charlie and the Bachelors jazz band.
Milngavie FREE World Book Night Milngavie Library, Allander Road, 956 2776. 2.30pm. Local author Leela Soma gives away 48 copies of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning Half of a Yellow Sun in celebration of World Book Night.
Sunday 6
Glasgow ✽✽ Aye Write! Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Times vary. Prices
vary. Day three starts with collaborating poets Hamish Whyte and Diana Hendry (noon) and continues with such non- fiction writers as historian Alistair Moffat (1.30pm), Adam Smith biographer Nicholas Phillipson (1.30pm) and political commentator Peter Hennessy (3pm). There are also appearances from Jackie Kay (3pm), Michael Frayn (6.30pm) and Claire Tomalin (5pm).
Edinburgh FREE Spark! Creativity Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6–8.30pm. Open session for musicians, songwriters, poets, storytellers and performers of any kind, all hosted by William Douglas.
Monday 7
Glasgow ✽✽ Aye Write! Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Times vary. Prices vary. Today’s highlights include a session on the making of the BBC’s Human Planet series (6pm), a delve into some literary car- crashes with Robin Ince’s Bad Book Club (6pm), this year’s Tannahill Lecture, which is delivered by Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina and Louise Welsh (7.30pm) and a chat and Q&A session with graphic novelist and Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar (7.30pm). FREE Telling Tales Glasgow Women’s Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 10am. An event aimed at counteracting the negative portrayal of women in fairy tells, from wicked witches to evil stepmothers.
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8201. 6pm. Teams of up to five members welcome. Please arrive for 5.45pm. FREE Getting Started at NLS National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Find out how to register, seek out specific books and peek inside the Reading Rooms, then enjoy a lifetime of reading books free of charge.
Tuesday 8 Glasgow Aye Write! Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Times vary. Prices vary. The festival continues with a discussion of The Future of Capitalism with economists Ha-Joon Chang, Andrews Simms and Anatole Kaletsky (6pm), two