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INTERACTIVE STORY

HARPERCOLLINS The Black Crown Project (www.blackcrownproject. com) ●●●●● Random House publishers dips a tentative toe into the waters of interactive storytelling with this online project that sounds more exciting than it actually is. Black Crown is free-to-play for anyone who signs up, and as players get deeper into the world of the story there are opportunities to pay to ‘unlock story strands, expedite the narrative, and acquire items and status within the world.’ The model is one with potential, but Black Crown’s story is wilfully bizarre and slow-moving, offering little compelling narrative to entice a player forward.

The story world is the creation of debut author Rob Sherman, and is told in the second person, positioning the player as a new employee in the mysterious Widsith Institute. It is initially weird and entertaining, a grotesque bureaucratic comedy that’s part Mervyn Peake, part Douglas Adams, but the interactive element is a red herring, amounting to little more than pressing buttons to keep reading, rather like turning a page. The story gets increasingly strange while a clear plot remains elusive, making it all too tempting to log out and browse elsewhere. (Paul Gallagher)

FLASH FICTION

NATURAL HISTORY by Wayne Price

Early in the morning and again in the evening, rain or shine, they cross the fields and woods behind the allotments where the houses end. In summer they cross the paths of early-morning joggers and walkers of dogs like the shadows of small birds too quick and subtle to be noticed. It’s over as quickly as that, the visitation, almost before it’s begun. They might leave their fingerprints as the first few spots of rain.

As the nights get longer and the doors at either end of the day get darker, they take their time and seem to dawdle. They might be glimpses of white on the scuts of grazing rabbits, the undersides of deer, or the pale throats of foxes.

In high winds, in summer, they enjoy the big, full crowns of trees whole swaying days like that are a refuge and rest for them. They feel camouflaged by restlessness.

They navigate by the sound of underground rivers, and the tiny magnets in the brains of pigeons. Because they never need to, they never look down. Sooner or later they lose the use of their eyes.

For as long as they keep their names they think of themselves as sailors; then as ships without sailors as the years roll by. Gradually, the sense of leaving is replaced by the sense of having been left.

If they come back to you at all, it is through the door in your

childhood you never saw opened. Wayne Price’s short story collection, Furnace, is published by Freight.

FOR EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2013

FEATURES AND PREVIEWS PICK UP OUR SPECIAL FESTIVAL EDITIONS OUT ON 31 JUL, 7 & 14 AUG LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVAL

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jaclyn Arndt. Indicates Hitlist entry

Thursday 11

Glasgow FREE Friends of Kilgore Trout Science Fiction Social The Edward Wylie, 107–109 Bothwell Street, 229 5480. 8pm. A social evening for science fiction fans. Edinburgh Publish Your Science Fiction with Charles Stross Pulp Fiction Café Bookstore, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7–9.30pm. £12 (£5). The successful sci-fi writer reveals what sort of book publishers look for, and how it differs from what was popular in the 2000s, plus a Q&A. James Oswald: Natural Causes Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. £3 (members £2). The tartan noir writer discusses his debut novel with author Russel D McLean.

Friday 12

Edinburgh ✽FREE Rustle of Leaves: A Listening Walk Royal Botanic

Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. 3.30–4.30pm. RGBE poet-in- residence Mandy Haggith leads an imaginative walk around the garden. Part of the Scottish Poetry Library’s Walking with Poets project.

Saturday 13

Glasgow ✽Glasgow Comic Con CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352

4900. 10am. Day ticket £12.50 (£9); weekend pass £20 (£15). Indulge your love of all things graphic at this fiesta of films, comics and fandoms. This year promises opportunity to meet and get sketches and autographs from Alan Davis (Captain Britain), Carlos Ezqurra (Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen) and Rufus Dayglo (Tank Girl), among many others. There’s also a cosplay competition, so it’s high time to dig that vintage Magneto helmet out of the wardrobe. See preview, page 50.

Sunday 14

Glasgow Glasgow Comic Con CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 10am. Day ticket £12.50 (£9); weekend pass £20 (£15). See Sat 13. See preview, page 50.w Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Skeptics Bookgroup and Cafe Social Espresso Mondo, 116 Lothian Road, 07896 745991. 2–4.30pm. Chat about non-fiction and science-related books, plus tea, coffee, booze and cakes. FREE Rogue Writers Pulp Fiction Café Bookstore, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 3.30–5.30pm. Informal meet- up and sharing of work for writers, followed by a pint or two.

Monday 15 Edinburgh FREE Tree Wisdom Poetry Workshop Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Times 2–4pm. Get some guidance on your own work with RGBE poet-in-residence Mandy Haggith. Presented as part of the Scottish Poetry Library’s Walking with Poets programme.

FREE Blackwell’s Book Group Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Get talking about The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks. FREE Edinburgh Creative Writers’ Club Pulp Fiction Café Bookstore, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7–10pm. Creative writers of all stripes poets, scriptwriters, flash fiction junkies discuss everything from procuring an agent to overcoming writer’s block.

Tuesday 16

Glasgow Perfecting the Page with Alan Bissett CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8pm. £6 (£3; members free). The Death of a Ladies’ Man author leads this second of three workshops in creating a successful piece of writing for publication.

Wednesday 17

Glasgow ✽FREE Charlaine Harris: Dead Ever After A True

Blood Novel Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 1pm. The author behind Sookie Stackhouse and her sexy vampire friends introduces the thirteenth and final novel in the series and signs copies of her books. FREE Weegie Wednesdays CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900, weegiewednesday.webs.com 7.30–10.30pm. Forum where literary types get together socially to talk about books and publishing. First timers, please contact the organisers online.

Edinburgh FREE Catriona McPherson: Dandy Gilver and a Deadly Measure of Brimstone Waterstones George Street, 83 George Street, 0843 290 8309. 6.30pm. The Scottish-born, California-based author launches her new mystery. Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £5. A helping of traditional Scottish tales tonight, with Calum Lykan leading proceedings. Charlaine Harris: Dead Ever After A True Blood Novel Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 7pm. £5 (members £4). See Wed 17, Glasgow.

Thursday 18 Edinburgh FREE Iain Macwhirter: The Road to Referendum Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. The political columnist presents his new book, a companion to the three-part television series of the same name. Please note: rescheduled date.

Friday 19

Edinburgh Heroes of Scotland: Home and Abroad Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Noon & 3pm. £4. Storyteller Colin Williamson regales the audience with tales of Robert the Bruce, Alexander Makenzie and other legendary Scots.

Saturday 20 Edinburgh FREE Meet the Poet Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. 2–4pm. RGBE poet-in- residence Mandy Haggith talks about folklore and wordplay in the lovely grounds of the gardens.

11 Jul–22 Aug 2013 THE LIST 53