Apathy
Air Travel
Moon doodle.
5 years ago
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
My Worldcon Schedule
From 2-6 September, I shall be attending, and participating in, the annual Worldcon meeting of the World Science Fiction Society, which this year takes place in Melbourne. There are some big names in the field taking part: the guests of honour include Kim Stanley Robinson and my fellow Allen & Unwin author Shaun Tan.
The full programme is here. I am appearing on several panels, and will also be doing an individual reading and signing, and a 'kaffeeklatsch' (an informal meeting between an author and a small group of interested persons). My panels include the following:
Thursday 2 Sept., 1600, Room 204: Steal the Past, Build the Future: New Histories for Fantasy Fiction
Many fantasy novels and stories base themselves around a medieval European setting. Others tread a little further from such comfortable territory, presenting worlds inspired by 18th century Paris, or 11th century Viking sagas, or Ancient Rome and Egypt. What’s left? What are the creative opportunities and historical settings lying in wait from which authors might draw inspiration?
Amanda Pillar, Catherynne M. Valente, Jonathan Walker, Kate Elliott
Thursday 2 Sept., 1700, Room 219: If you wrote it, they wouldn’t believe it
Maintaining realism and ensuring readers believe what is happening are all-important considerations when writing fiction - but when did real life ever consider its readers? A look at the significant moments in history so unlikely that, despite having actually happened, nobody would believe them in a fictional story.
Tansy Rayner Roberts, Jennifer Fallon, Gail Carriger, Jonathan Walker
Monday 6 September, 1000, Room 204: From ideas to images: Illustrating SF
When creating illustrations to accompany prose fiction, the artist is given a balancing act between finding a way to accurately express the author’s prose in visual terms and expressing his or her own creativity and artistic style in the
same way. How do different artists approach the art of illustrating fiction, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of that collaborative process?
Andrew McKiernan, Nick Stathopoulos, Shaun Tan, Bob Eggleton, Jonathan Walker
Monday 6 September, 1400, Room P1: Counterfactuals: Science fiction vs historical analysis
What role can alternate history fiction play in historical analysis? By examining the potential after-effects of a fictionalised course of events, do we gain a fresh and valuable perspective on what actually happened? If so, what requirements exist for alternate history fiction to achieve this aim? A look at alternate history fiction from two perspectives: as science fiction readers, and as historians.
Kim Stanley Robinson, Gillian Polack, Dena Taylor, Jonathan Walker
My individual events are as follows:
Friday 3 September, 1200, Rm 201: Kaffeeklatsch
Numbers are limited to nine, and you will need to sign up in advance, either at the Con, or by e-mail at kaffee@aussiecon4.org.au. More details here. The format of this meeting will be decided by whoever turns up for it.
Monday 6 September, 1100, Rm 219: Reading.
Mainly from Five Wounds, but I might throw in a little from Pistols! Treason! Murder! for contrast.
Monday 6 September, 1300, Rm 201: Signing.
At the same time as Charles Stross, Robert Hood and Helen Lowe.
I am a long-time reader of all things science-fiction and fantasy and comics-related, but this is my first ever Worldcon, and I am probably an unknown quantity to most of the attendees, so I am a bit worried that no-one will turn up for these latter events. If you are attending, and you enjoyed Five Wounds - or you are just curious to find out about local authors - please come along and say hello, even if you haven't read the book. Overseas visitors might want to note that Five Wounds is currently only available in Australia, so this is your chance to get an advance look at it before it's published in the US and UK next year.
For more information on Five Wounds, see my site, where you will find a free chapter and some introductory videos (the videos can also be found here).
The full programme is here. I am appearing on several panels, and will also be doing an individual reading and signing, and a 'kaffeeklatsch' (an informal meeting between an author and a small group of interested persons). My panels include the following:
Thursday 2 Sept., 1600, Room 204: Steal the Past, Build the Future: New Histories for Fantasy Fiction
Many fantasy novels and stories base themselves around a medieval European setting. Others tread a little further from such comfortable territory, presenting worlds inspired by 18th century Paris, or 11th century Viking sagas, or Ancient Rome and Egypt. What’s left? What are the creative opportunities and historical settings lying in wait from which authors might draw inspiration?
Amanda Pillar, Catherynne M. Valente, Jonathan Walker, Kate Elliott
Thursday 2 Sept., 1700, Room 219: If you wrote it, they wouldn’t believe it
Maintaining realism and ensuring readers believe what is happening are all-important considerations when writing fiction - but when did real life ever consider its readers? A look at the significant moments in history so unlikely that, despite having actually happened, nobody would believe them in a fictional story.
Tansy Rayner Roberts, Jennifer Fallon, Gail Carriger, Jonathan Walker
Monday 6 September, 1000, Room 204: From ideas to images: Illustrating SF
When creating illustrations to accompany prose fiction, the artist is given a balancing act between finding a way to accurately express the author’s prose in visual terms and expressing his or her own creativity and artistic style in the
same way. How do different artists approach the art of illustrating fiction, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of that collaborative process?
Andrew McKiernan, Nick Stathopoulos, Shaun Tan, Bob Eggleton, Jonathan Walker
Monday 6 September, 1400, Room P1: Counterfactuals: Science fiction vs historical analysis
What role can alternate history fiction play in historical analysis? By examining the potential after-effects of a fictionalised course of events, do we gain a fresh and valuable perspective on what actually happened? If so, what requirements exist for alternate history fiction to achieve this aim? A look at alternate history fiction from two perspectives: as science fiction readers, and as historians.
Kim Stanley Robinson, Gillian Polack, Dena Taylor, Jonathan Walker
My individual events are as follows:
Friday 3 September, 1200, Rm 201: Kaffeeklatsch
Numbers are limited to nine, and you will need to sign up in advance, either at the Con, or by e-mail at kaffee@aussiecon4.org.au. More details here. The format of this meeting will be decided by whoever turns up for it.
Monday 6 September, 1100, Rm 219: Reading.
Mainly from Five Wounds, but I might throw in a little from Pistols! Treason! Murder! for contrast.
Monday 6 September, 1300, Rm 201: Signing.
At the same time as Charles Stross, Robert Hood and Helen Lowe.
I am a long-time reader of all things science-fiction and fantasy and comics-related, but this is my first ever Worldcon, and I am probably an unknown quantity to most of the attendees, so I am a bit worried that no-one will turn up for these latter events. If you are attending, and you enjoyed Five Wounds - or you are just curious to find out about local authors - please come along and say hello, even if you haven't read the book. Overseas visitors might want to note that Five Wounds is currently only available in Australia, so this is your chance to get an advance look at it before it's published in the US and UK next year.
For more information on Five Wounds, see my site, where you will find a free chapter and some introductory videos (the videos can also be found here).
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Melbourne Writers Festival Authors on ...
Franz Kafka
Melbourne
Dinosaurs
Their First Computer
Listening (including my comments on the ending of Lynne Ramsay's Morvern Callar)
Melbourne
Dinosaurs
Their First Computer
Listening (including my comments on the ending of Lynne Ramsay's Morvern Callar)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Melbourne Writers Festival Authors on ...
Federico Fellini
Dreams
Mornings (including my commentary on an excerpt from a short story by Italo Calvino)
Dreams
Mornings (including my commentary on an excerpt from a short story by Italo Calvino)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Interview on 'The Comic Spot'
Above is the audio file of my recent interview on 'The Comic Spot', with John Retallick and Jo Waite, broadcast on 15 July 2010, on 3CR Radio in Melbourne. I have edited the clip so that it only includes my interview, but the full show is available to download from the podcast archive.
Monday, August 2, 2010
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