Charlottesquam'sfifleSt .7 " ' ' I books@list.co.uk
GERRY ANDERSON
The puppet master gets animated
HITLIST >l<
Who is your ldVUlllllt.‘ (‘mny Anderson creation? Is it the indestructible adversary of the Mysterons, Captain Scarlet; the singing sheriff lex tucker; the speccy aquanaut Joe 90; the chiselled matinee idol Troy Tempest; or any of International Rescue? When Lew Grade first saw the rushes for Thunderbirds, he chomped on his stogie, then bellowed: ‘This is too good for just half an hour!’ And the rest is marionette history. FAB indeed.
I Consignia Theatre, 14 Aug, 8pm. F8 (£6).
‘Looks like we got ourselves a reader’: Bill Hicks
I Alan Bennett Does
ALI SMITH
First book you read? The one | ‘./'l\/l(tl‘," remember is Edward Lear’s Book or Nonsense.
Best book ever? Alasdair Gray's Book of Prefaces. A massive achievement showing language is communal. books never lose their live connection and no matter how bad history is. things can always begin again.
Most over-hyped novel ever? iii/hite Teeth. But I don't mind the hype. it was in a good cause. Publishers; buy bookshop Window space in the big chains. so seeing a book featured eveiywheie
just i’)iib|i:;hers making iitoney out of ubiquitous featuring. Which dead writer would you liked to have been? (Iolette. She Wiote antl ll‘.’(}(l long and happil\, and seXIIy aiiil v/iyly t}‘.’(:l
T FESTIVAL GUIDE
isn't an endorsement of anything.
after, '.'.’ltll (:lt‘.’l£tl)l(3 panache. tl:;.;aii, ti". warm places or in Paris.
Should stand-up comics be allowed to write novels? ()t i:r>.ii:»e_ ‘.'.'iitiiigi keeps then‘. off ()ill telexisie'it; lei lo'tgei Favourite line? 't xerytiiiiig ll‘. the soda began ‘.‘.’ltlt a yesf First line of (Ziai‘iite Lispector's The / tour of .‘I‘e 5531/.
Most outrageous idea for a book
you’ve had? \i‘i/lten l ‘.'.'as a student l" t'ii‘
80s, I ‘.'/£tltt(:(l ti; .'.’llt(f an anti nucleai noxel ‘.'.’lll(le lll‘.’()l‘.'(,’(l' its 'eaiieis li‘. a ieaw,
gripping and complex .'.el~ of liapittsii rigs.
lhen, Ill the iitiilille. tlit.‘ \.'.'lltll‘.gt 13.i<l<li:'ll‘.
(lisappeais off the pages, '.'.'lill ill-‘7 res! c‘ the book left blank.
Favourite joke about writers? t):
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I Ai’iSmith.'1.'i<;'(f.'i.'ii:.1i'..7i'i'. .i” .‘§,'>/e_<;e:'!ié/ii, (if-I SHE", iii/tau.
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anyone capture the minutiae of little-living on the British Isles better than the bespectacled Yorkshireman’? Well. no. Rare is barely adequate a term to describe these at.)i.)(->araiices by the man wl‘io made Tliora Hird an icon. Consignia Theatre. lO/tug, 17.30am <8
I I Aug. 7pm. 53/ (£75).
I Walter Mosley Bill Clinton's favourite author and chronicler of the rnurkier sides of crime-ridden Los Angeles has a dark secret himself: he adores the music of Rolf Harris. See i'Jrevievt-z Consignia 7heatre. 70 Aug. (5.30pm. $8 (576/ 8 I 1 Aug,
K1. 30m 7 t. l." 7 {5 ‘55).
I Joyce Carol Oates Never a believer in telling a tale briefly (the paperback 0 her epic B/ono’e has an almighty 933) pages). the writei also known as crime scribe Rosamonr'i Smith gives her own take Ol‘. modern America. See prei.iiei.'.'. Cor isi‘g/ iia '/ t teat/e. ,’ t) A: re. 8pm. £78 {5‘61 5; l .7 Aug. 4.30pm. ,‘7 i'i‘o'i'.
I Germaine Greer She's battled v-i/ith misogynists. feminists. post~feminists the bortyvfascist culture and irrec- Tonv’ Parsons. Now. her Charlotte Sguare audience gets a chance to ruffle the feathers of academia}; high profile pioneer. Sheena McDonald median-2s. Consignia Theatre. 73Aug, 17.30am. £7 (513).
I Garrison Keillor ln among all this high-minded theorising. here's some dry humour from the creator of Lake lit/ohegon. Grab one of two chances to dip into the mirthful mind of this American institution. Consignia [Meat/e. ‘13 Aug. 8pm. 5‘8 i’f‘tii 9% .7-1 Aug, / 1.30am. l‘f "it'll.
The Spiegettent, Consignia Theatre, Field and Lawn Marquee, Studio Theatre and Children’s Theatre are all based in Charlotte
Square Gardens. The box office number is 0131 624 5050 and website is www.edbookfest.co.uk