list.co.uk/books COMIC
COMICS ROBBIE MORRISON & JIM MURRAY Drowntown: Book One (Jonathan Cape) ●●●●●
Scottish comics writer Robbie Morrison got his first big break, like so many great British writers before him, at 2000AD. He co-created Nikolai Dante, Shakara and Shimura (the final one also served as the mainstream debut of artist Frank Quitely), and perhaps unsurprisingly, Drowntown has retained the sly black humour and love of action that British sci-fi periodical is famed for.
Set in a bleak future where London has been flooded and genetically
enhanced animals co-habit with humans, our hero is Leo Noiret, a big lug of a bodyguard/private investigator who has been hired to look into his client’s mysterious past. This leads him into a world of gangsters, big business and dodgy politicians. Jim Murray’s gorgeous art is reminiscent in style of a toned-down Simon Bisley, and his attention to detail really brings this grimy, waterlogged world to life. It’s fairly short and Book One doesn’t work as a standalone story in its own right (it feels more like the opening chapter of a far bigger narrative), but there’s just enough intrigue to hook you in for the next instalment. (Henry Northmore)
FLASH FICTION
BENT by Elizabeth Reeder He’d toed the line for years – he’d drawn it across the same patch of worn carpet, for the same audience of one – his younger, arrogant, flaunt of a sister – while their mum was in the kitchen making tea each Sunday. It was a duel of sorts: he drew the line, his sister moved it. The first rule? Just don’t do it. Actually, Don’t even think about it, should have been the first one but by the time he’d thought of it, she’d already crossed both lines, and so it became If you do it, don’t brag about it, and when she’d done that too many weekends in a row it became, If you continue to flaunt it like you’re hell bent on doing, definitely don’t do it where our mum or any of her friends can witness it, and then it became, if her friends see you, be sure to let them know that it’s not really what they think it is and you’re not what they fear you might be and, if mum finds out, apologise without using any inflammatory language but if you don’t apologise definitely don’t bring your girlfriend to dinner, but, if you bring your girlfriend home, don’t profess your love for her at a birthday party or any other holiday and definitely don’t pull out a ring and propose, definitely not in the living room where we both grew up and when mum throws her glass at you, duck and don’t talk back, and definitely don’t call her a homophobic old cow and even though you’re angry and in a rage definitely don’t bring me and my boyfriend into your battles. ■ Elizabeth Reeder’s novels are Ramshackle (Freight) and Fremont (Kohl).
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jaclyn Arndt. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 13
Glasgow Christopher Brookmyre and Mark Billingham Sloans, 62 Argyll Arcade, 221 8886. 7pm. £3 (members £2). Literature’s comedy double act, crime authors Billingham and Brookmyre, are instore for a talk and signing.
Edinburgh FREE Inky Fingers SPEAKeasy The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, 229 4922. 5.15–7.45pm. A group for writers of all levels and types to practise performing their work aloud to a supportive group of peers. Email inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com to book a place.
✽Cross Cultural Reading: Pia Juul and Ali Smith Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 6pm. £5. Danish author Juul and Scot Smith both read from their latest publications.
Melrose ✽Borders Book Festival Harmony Garden, St Mary’s Road, 0844 357 1060. Times vary. Prices vary (£3–£13). Taking place in the National Trust’s Georgian Harmony Garden, the Borders Book Festival attracts world-class writers and also hosts the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. For its tenth year, the festival sees Joanna Lumley and Phyllida Law talk autobiography; a number of fiction writers, including Kate Mosse, Hilary Mantel and Simon Scarrow; and a slew of non-fiction events cover crime, food and drink and history.
Friday 14
Glasgow Ian Tilton: Set in Stone STATIC Collective, 82–86 Saltmarket. 5.30–11pm. £3. Ian Tilton launches his book of photographs of the Stone Roses on the eve of the band’s massive gig on Glasgow Green. Neu! Reekie! The Poetry Club, 100 Eastvale Place, neureekie.tumblr.com 7.15–10.15pm. £8. The avant-garde spoken word, film and music night heads back to Glasgow, this with Sparrow and the Workshop, filmmakers Kim Moore and Gareth Griffiths and poet and novelist Kevin Williamson.
Edinburgh Caesura The Artisan, 35 London Road, 07719 481092. 7–11pm. Entry by donation. An eclectic and experimental night of poetry, performance and spoken word. Rally & Broad Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 07989 508436. 7.30pm–1am. £5. A literary-flavoured cabaret night, followed up by a spot of dancing. With poetry from Hannah Jane Walker, Agnes Torok and Peter MacKay and tunes from Jonnie Common, Hiva Oa and Range of the Awful Hand. Melrose Borders Book Festival Harmony Garden, St Mary’s Road, 0844 357 1060. Times vary. Prices vary (£3–£13). See Thu 13.
Saturday 15 Glasgow FREE Lobey Dosser Day Lobey’s Statue, Woodlands Road, westendfestival.co.uk 1pm & 2.30pm. A celebration of the life of cartoonist and poet Bud Neill, with song and storytelling. West End Festival.
Events | BOOKS
Edinburgh Leafing through Natural Scotland Book Festival Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Times vary. Prices vary. A weekend of talks, demonstrations and activities that investigate our relationship to the natural world as explored through writing. Speakers include Sir John Lister-Kaye, TC Smout, Esther Woolfson, Ian Edwards and Fi Martynoga.
✽FREE Terry Deary: Horrible Histories Christ Church,
Morningside Road, 447 1917. 2.30pm. The author signs copies from his successful series after telling a few tales. Presented by Edinburgh Bookshops.
Melrose ✽Borders Book Festival Harmony Garden, St Mary’s Road, 0844 357
1060. Times vary. Prices vary (£3–£13). See Thu 13.
Sunday 16
Edinburgh Leafing through Natural Scotland Book Festival Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Times vary. Prices vary. See Sat 15.
Melrose ✽Borders Book Festival Harmony Garden, St Mary’s Road, 0844 357
1060. Times vary. Prices vary (£3–£13). See Thu 13.
Monday 17
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell’s Book Group Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Chat about Elizabeth Bowen’s The Heat of the Day with fellow bookworms. FREE Bike Slam The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, 229 4922. 7.30– 10.30pm. Inky Fingers knit together the worlds of poetry and cycling with this bike-themed slam. Edinburgh Festival of Cycling.
Wednesday 19
Glasgow FREE Unstated: Writers on Scottish Independence CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. Contributors to Unstated talk about the impending referendum. FREE Weegie Wednesdays CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7.30–10.30pm. Writers, poets, publishers, librarians or anyone else with a literary interest talk about books and publishing. First timers, please contact the organisers. Edinburgh Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £5. Tonight, a special Refugee Week Scotland version, with Zimbabwean guitarist Rise Kagona and a host of other musicians and artists. Refugee Week Scotland.
Thursday 20
Glasgow FREE Poetry in the Park Glasgow Green, Greendyke Street, 248 9969. Noon–2pm. Glasgow Women’s Library hosts this lovely picnic on Glasgow Green, where a selection of writers read their poetry. Meet at the drying greens. FREE Karen Campbell: Fact v Fiction Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 6–7pm. The author of This Is Where I Am talks about her book, which focuses on a refugee family, and speaks with representatives of Refugee Council Scotland. Scottish Refugee Week. Graham Hancock: War God Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6.30–8pm. £3. The controversial speaker introduces his epic fantasy novel, set in Mexico during the Spanish conquest. 13 Jun–11 Jul 2013 THE LIST 49