Books

Events

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to suaanne.black@list.co.ult. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.

Thursday 29

Edinburgh

Scottish PEN 1927-2007: 80 Years in Scotland Writers‘ Museum, Lady Stair‘s Close, Lawnmarket. 529 4901. Until 5 May. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. An exhibition celebrating 80 years of the Scottish branch of the worldwide writers association, set up by Hugh MacDiarmid. Scottish PEN works on behalf of oppressed writers all over the world. strengthening the international impact of Scottish voices.

The Poetry Path Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. Until 26 May. Mon—Fri

I lam—6pm; Sat noon—4pm. Free. Photographs by Douglas May taken along the River Eden in Cumbria where 12 poems by Meg Peacocke have been inscribed on stones.

A Vigorous Institution: The Living Legacy of Patrick Geddes Blackwells. 53—59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Free. Walter Stephen talks about his new book, a tribute to Sir Patrick Geddes, Scottish biologist, botanist and forward thinker in the realms of town planning and education.

(Oi

Edinbur h

The Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £3. Edinburgh’s monthly storytelling club with guest Rosie Mapplebeck and host Russell McLarty. All are welcome to share a story or a song.

Glasgow

Harry Morris Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 2pm. Free. The ex-copper turned author signs his anecdotal series of ‘Harry the Polis’ novels: Even More Lies, Even the Lies are True, Nuthin'Like the Truth and Ye 're Never Gonnae Believe It.

Edinburgh

The Music of What Happens Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43—45 High Street, 556 9579. l lam—5pm. £30 (£24). A look at Celtic storytelling.

Jodi Picoult

26 THE LIST 29 Mar—1 2 Apr 2007

Glasgow

Creative Writing Class Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 6—8pm. £30 for 6 sessions. Alistair Patterson hosts a writing workshop every Monday called ‘Discover and develop the writer within’. For further info please call 07969 823712 or email prism.atic@virgin.net.

Edinburgh

SPL Monthly Reading Group Scottish Poetry Library. 5 Crichton‘s Close. Canongate, 557 2876. 6—8pm. Free (£1 for tea and biscuits). A poetry reading group open to all. For more details please contact Lilias Fraser on 0131 557 2876 or lfraser@spl.org.uk.

Tuesday 3

Edinburgh

* From Aesop to Mifly: Animal Magic at NLS National Library of Scotland. George [V Bridge. 226 453]. lpm. Free. Eoin Shalloo introduces the furry friends to be found among the NLS collections, including the children’s favourite. Miffy. See Big Picture. page 9.

Wednesday 4

Glasgow

* Jodi Picoult Borders Books. 98 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 12.30—2pm. Free. Popular and prolific author Picoult talks us through her popular tale of family dysfunction, Keeping Faith and perhaps chat about her new role in comics as Wonder Woman writer.

Thursday 5

Edinburgh

Songs & Tales of Legend Holyrood Tavern. 9 Holyrood Road, 557 4972. 8pm. £6 (£4). Author and storyteller Stuart McHardy takes you through some of Scotland’s most famous myths and legends.

Beatnix Poetry Nite The Jazz Bar. 1 Chambers Street, 220 4290. 8pm. £4 (£3). Open mic poetry and music hosted by Anita Govan. (Call 07962 912590 for more info).

Edinburgh

Starting with Stories: Animal Magic Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43—45 High Street, 556 9579. 1.30—4pm. £15 (£12). Introduction to stories and storytelling skills.

Monday 9

Glasgow

Creative Writing Class Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 6—8pm. £30 for six sessions. See Mon 2.

Tuesday 1 0

Edinburgh

A Swing Through Time National Library of Scotland. 33 Salisbury Place, 623 3845. 7pm. Free. Olive Geddes launches the revised edition of her golf history book.

The School of Poets Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 7.30pm. Annual subscription: £10 (£5). Monthly workshop-type poetry session aiming to encourage and develop writing skills. Beginners and more experienced writers are equally welcome.

Wednesday 1 1

Edinburgh

Storytelling Cate: Fairytales Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. 556 9579. 7pm. £3. An evening of live storytelling, based around l'airytales, for anyone curious about the whole thing. With Kate Hibbert.

Comics

CROSSOVER MANIA MARK SCHULTZ & ARIEL OLIVETTI Superman and Batman v Aliens and Predator (DC/Dark Horse) coo

JOHN LAYMAN & FABIANO NEVES Marvel Zombies v Army of Darkness (Marvel/Dynamite)

COO

.I H l

Every now and then you get an Abbot & Costello meet Frankenstein or Freddy v Jason, but it’s comics that have truly embraced the crossover. The Aliens vs Predator comics even went as far as inspiring (the admittedly rather tepid) AVP movie. It's a cheap way to boost sales as fans, and the plain curious, buy into the latest, invariably hastily written, double headliner title. Things aren’t as crazy now as they were in the 903 where comics worst excesses ran rampant across the industry with glow in the dark and foil covers being the norm, and the biggest explosion in crossovers ever (X-Men meets Star Trek being an extreme example).

And here we get one of the most overcrowded yet with 8&BVP&A, but with all the potential inherent in some of the most iconic characters in comics and sci-fl it’s a bit of a let down. The main problem with any crossover, especially the more bizarre. is that it spends half the time just

contriving to get all the characters in one place at the same time. So there's an average story with some nice art, but the Aliens in particular are criminally underused. Swiftly followed by Marvel Zombies v Army of Darkness where the alternate Marvel universe inhabited by living dead superheroes take on Evil Dead’s hero Ash. Totally preposterous, but if you're willing to just run with its ridiculous concept there are a few laughs to be had. Flippant, gory and gutsy, this opening issue (of five) is just a peek at the bloodbath to come. Unfortunately it never quite gets the right handle on Ash’s personality (as played so decisiver by B-movie legend Bruce Campbell in the infamous video nasty). A missed opportunity that would have lightened any horror fanboy's heart if they’d nailed it, but there's still a few cheap thrills to be had along the way. (Henry Northmore)

FANTASY

MIKE CAREY 8: GLENN FABRY Neil Gaiman’s Nevervvhere

(Titan) coco

The presence of Neil Gaiman’s name is going to have an army of vaguely gothic comic geeks turning out in their droves to buy it. Even if his writing doesn’t actually appear therein.

This is an adapted version of Sandman scribe Gaiman‘s novel and television series Nevem/here, although, fortunately, the quality of those involved blows away any air of a cash- in. Mike Carey is something of a rising star as a comic writer - he’s worked his way up from 2000AD to Vertigo's Lucifer and now regularly works for Marvel, while Glenn Fabry is an

VVNiUIi-‘t:\l\‘..\i\.\ I )

exceptional painted artist.

80 their version of Gaiman’s dark but fantastical tale of a hidden ‘London Below', as discovered by working stiff Richard Mayhew, is sharply written and vividly illustrated. balancing adult themes and a fairytale setting. Hopefully, though, any future spin on this particular setting will be handled with equal respect. (David Pollock)

CRIME

CARLOS TRILLO & EDUARDO RISSO

Chicanos

(IDW) coo

Fellow Argentineans Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso’s fourth collaboration, originally published in Italy and France, is a New York City-set crime comic featuring a pointedly unconvenuonal protagonist: a short, fat, ugly Mexican female private investigator named AY Jalisco. whose run of bad luck is offset only by her stoic attitude to life working the sleazy underbelly of the Big Apple.

Penned by Trillo in the edgy hardboiled mould and inked by Risso in the atmospheric film noir style, Chicanos reads somewhat similarly to Risso's better know 100 Bullets. The artwork here is of the same high standard, with Risso's eye for the details of street life as sharp as ever, while working in bold black and white produces even more striking illustrations.

However, Trillo’s writing is no match for Brian Azzarello's on 700 Bullets. The plotting is much simpler and the dialogue lacks streets smarts. though perhaps the latter can be attributed to the translation.

(Miles Fielder)