BOOKS | Events
COMIC
SUPERHEROES VARIOUS Avengers vs X-Men (Marvel) ●●●●● Every year DC and Marvel fans have come to expect a big ‘event’, a huge crossover blockbuster that ties into nearly every title they publish. They can be convoluted and pointless (such as Bloodlines or Zero Hour) while some are great (Civil War or the epic Final Crisis) and genuinely impact on the fictional universes these characters inhabit. From the title alone, Avengers vs X-Men sounds like the perfect excuse for a massive
rammy between Marvel’s most powerful superhero teams.
In the red corner, the Earth’s mightiest heroes led by Captain America
and Iron Man; in the blue corner, the mutants of mayhem headed by Cyclops and Emma Frost. The main problem is that both teams are good guys, but the multiple writers (including Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron and Ed Brubaker) manage to engineer a situation where there’s enough motivation of this superpowered conflict. The Phoenix Force is returning to Earth with the X-Men believing this
could be the rebirth of mutantkind while the Avengers fear it could destroy the world and so attempt to take teenage ‘mutant messiah’ Hope into custody (she’s the predicted host for this cosmic power). If you don’t follow events in the Marvel Universe you might end up scratching your head as various lycra-clad weirdoes punch each other across 13 issues. But if you have tapped into their world this is a hellishly exciting protracted fight-scene that deals with some interesting ideas on themes of power and corruption. (Henry Northmore)
ALSO PUBLISHED
CRIME FICTION
Anne Holt (pictured) certainly has an intriguing background for a prominent career in crime writing. A law graduate and anchor woman on a TV news programme, she worked in the Oslo police department before setting up her own legal practice and then taking on the job of Minister of Justice for a short period. But it’s her books about Hanne Wilhelmsen, a detective in the Norwegian capital, which has brought her most acclaim and Blessed Are Those Who Thirst (Corvus) is the second of her crime series to be published in the UK. Shuichi Yoshida’s Parade (Harvill) has the unique distinction of being described as ‘a Japanese Friends with fewer laughs and more violence’. Four twentysomethings share a Tokyo apartment, but next door something odd is going on. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is the key investigator in Elly Griffiths’ Dying Fall (Quercus), who looks into the mysterious circumstances behind an old uni pal’s death while mother and daughter writing team PJ Tracy return with their sixth novel, Two Evils (Michael Joseph). Here, homicide detectives Magozzi and Rolseath turn to a computer analyst for help in solving a multiple murder case.
Scottish crime scribes are making their voices heard at the start of the year with Anna Smith bringing us Screams in the Dark (Piatkus), as crime journo Rosie Gilmore gets on the case of a mutilated Albanian man fished out of the Clyde while Quintin Jardine delivers his latest Primavera Blackstone Spain-set mystery. Deadly Business has our heroine’s past being raked through with extortion and blackmail not too far round the corner. (Brian Donaldson)
44 THE LIST 24 Jan–21 Feb 2013
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Charlotte Runcie. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry Thursday 24
Glasgow ✽ Darren Shan: Zom-B Underground Waterstones, 153–
157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6–8pm. £3. Shan signs copies of the second in his (kid-friendly!) zombie apocalypse series. Scottish Spina Bifida Association: Glasgow Burns Supper 2013 Hilton Glasgow, 1 William Street, 01236 794517. 6.45–11.45pm. £85. Charity Burns supper with all the crucial drams and verse.
Edinburgh FREE Paddy Ashdown: A Brilliant Little Operation Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. The politician-turned-writer signs copies of his new history book about World War Two. FREE Robert Burns Selected Poems and Songs Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Celebrate the publication of a new collection of Burns’ poems and songs, edited by Robert Irvine, just in time for Burns Night. Supper with Burns Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9.30pm. £25. Enjoy your traditional Burns Supper with storytellers Linda Bandelier and David Campbell. A supper of haggis, neeps and tatties is included in the ticket price. Booking recommended. Livingston FREE Burns Nicht at Waterstones Waterstones, The Elements 308 Almondvale, 01506 435893. 6pm. Local writers get together to read and perform in honour of the bard.
St Boswells Suzanne Fagence Cooper: Effie The Main Street Trading Company, Main Street, 01835 824087. 1.30pm. £8 (includes glass of wine). Cooper talks about her well-researched biography, Effie: The Passionate Lives of Effie Gray, Ruskin and Millais, which focuses on the love triangle of the subtitular characters and the inspiration Effie lent to Millais’s paintings.
Friday 25
Glasgow Federation of Writers (Scotland) Alternative Burns Night Committee Room No.9, 18 John Street, 553 2490/ 0845 1666035. 7.30pm. £16. The opposite of a traditional Burns night, with a buffet rather than a sit-down meal, everything out of order and entertainment from the Federation of Writers. Email marcsherland@btinternet.com in advance if you’d like to attend. Edinburgh FREE Burns Night Poetry Grand Slam National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6–8pm. The National Library of Scotland hosts its first ever poetry slam, as poets of every different style and genre perform their work and celebrate Burns’ heritage. Former Scottish Slam Champion Graeme Hawley is your host for the night, with traditional Burns Night fare available. Booking essential.
✽ The Neu! Reekie! Mega Burns Bash! Summerhall, 1 Summerhall,
0845 874 3001. 7–9.15pm. £7. The usual blend of spoken word, film- animation and music fusion takes on a special Burns edition, featuring star guest poet Jackie Kay as well as Kevin Williamson (sporting a new ‘multi-media
interpretation’ of Tam O’ Shanter), Rachel Maclean, punk-fusion poetry band The Bum Clocks and gypsy-jazz music from Emelle. Reps from Gutter magazine and Freight publishing are also on hand to display their literary wares. Guid Crack: Animal Magic Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30– 10pm. £3 suggested donation. Storyteller Gerry Durkin leads an evening of animal tales, including some mentions of famous animal lover Robert Burns himself.
Pitlochry ✽ Winter Words Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port–na Craig, 01796
484626. Times vary, until Sun 3 Feb. Prices vary (£6.50–£18.50). Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s flag-ship literary festival returns with an abundance of events for literature-lovers. Among those appearing are Paddy Ashdown, Trevor Royle, Max Benitez, Hamish Scott, Mick Fowler, Tom Pow, Tam Dalyell, Julie Davidson, Alistair Moffat and Sarah Fraser, while child-friendly entertainment, workshops and, of course, the book fair are also on the menu.
Saturday 26
Glasgow FREE Paddy Ashdown: A Brilliant Little Operation Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 1–2pm. See Thu 24. Edinburgh Burns an’ a’ That Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9.30pm. £5 (£3). Traditional ceilidh evening of Burns poems, songs and stories, with storyteller Tim Porteus and the Pans Tellers.
Sunday 27
Edinburgh GBL: The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. 2–4.30pm. £12 (£10). Join the Gallery Book Lounge to discuss the Hemingway story of an old fisherman’s attempts to bring home an enormous marlin. John Bellany made a series of prints on this theme, casting himself as the old man in the story, and you can have a look at those at this event, too. Ticket price includes entry to the John Bellany: A Passion for Life exhibition. Booking essential. Shore Poets Henderson’s @ St John’s, St John’s Terrace, 3 Lothian Road, 229 0212. 7.45–10pm. £5 (£3). Regular local poetry meet. This time the headline poet is Helena Nelson, with more poetry from newcomer Nick Brooks and Shore Poet Ian McDonough. As always there’s live music, too.
Tuesday 29
Glasgow Burns Night Celebration Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. £6 (£3). A bumper night of Scottish poetry and song with Rab Wilson and The Mill Girls. Edinburgh FREE Alanna Knight: Murders Most Foul Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Celebrate the new installment of the Faro series by Edinburgh crime writer Alanna Knight.
Thursday 31
Glasgow ✽ Stuart MacBride: Close to the Bone Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6–8pm. £3 (redeemable against a copy of the book on the night). Appearance from Aberdeen crime writer Stuart MacBride, to promote his new Logan MacRae novel Close to the Bone. MacBride discusses his book and signs copies afterwards. Booking essential.
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