Well, gobsmacked is how I’d put it.*
Tag: Alasdair Stuart
Fantasycon 2019 is nearly upon us, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone for a weekend along the river from me in Dalmuir. There’s lots of splendid things on the programme, as per usual, and you can catch me at one panel and one other event across the weekend. And regarding that, I have news…
Before Worldcon, I’ll be wearing author and academic hats at a couple of events in Glasgow and Lancaster. You can also find my latest Shoreline of Infinity column in the new CYMERA special issue, featuring Louise Welsh and Gareth L. Powell. *Update* Plus news of my first published essay in the new anthology from Galli Books!
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Good Boy on Pseudopod
I’m thrilled to announce that Pseudopod have published an audio version of ‘Good Boy’, narrated by Andrew Reid, as part of Flash On The Borderlands XXXVIII: Letting Go.
This is my first audio story, a reprint of one that originally appeared in Far Horizons in 2015. And I have to admit, it’s been a curious experience: the sheer delight at Pseudopod taking this on mingled with nerves about how a story so rooted in my native North East England might be handled by someone else.
That’s why I’m grateful to Andrew Reid for narrating this one, as I think he brought out some really interesting nuances to the story, particularly in the pacing and cadence of his reading. Incidentally, Andrew released his debut novel Kingdom’s Fall just last year, which is well worth picking up from here.
Additionally, I’d like to thank Alasdair Stuart, who not only encouraged me to submit this to Pseudopod, alongside his partner Marguerite Kenner, but also handled the difficult outro to this story with such deft care.
You can hear Andrew’s reading of Good Boy as part of episode 549 of Pseudopod, which also contains a splendid pair of tales from Samuel Marzioli and Richard Farren Barber. Please be warned, it’s a very dark episode. Here’s the link to listen.
And finally to the last convention report of the year – a different perspective, this time, from 2014’s Fantasycon. Being based in the North East, attending genre cons often means a minimum 3 hours travel time for me. So the news that this year’s Fantasycon would be in York was a nice surprise. And after the rigours of a London Worldcon, what better time to give this Redcoat – or in this case, Redcloak * – lark a try?
Redcloaking would turn out to be immensely fun – and more than just an interesting opportunity to peek behind the curtain of one of Britain’s longest running literary cons. Lots of hard work to boot: Though Fantasycon is only three days, we got into it virtually on arrival – preparing goodie bags and registration. However, what most con-goers don’t realise is that Redcloaking isn’t only a physically demanding job. It’s one that requires a lot of common sense, some self-regard, and a wee dose of silliness to make it through.