Another solid outing from Mr Herron. There are dimishing returns with any formula driven series – which, for all its wit, intelligence and biting political commentary, the Slough House books still are. But the writing improves book on book, the characterisation is exceptional, and while some instalments have more pizazz than others, I've not yet read one that is anything less than very enjoyable. On to Bad Actors next, and then I'm all caught up.

Interesting application of the left-right brain distinction to writer's block, which Klauser argues is due to the left-brain's tendency to criticise and analyse when what's needed is right-brained free-flowing creativity. A range of exercises help break this tendency, allowing the left-brain its proper role as editor and improver of unimpeded creativity, and there are also useful tips on grammar, writing pitfalls, logical fallacies, etc.

#writing

I'm currently in the process of contacting libraries to stock my novel MUNKi. This is my local, which is one of about 50 or so branches across the UK and Ireland that have purchased copies so far. So check out your local library. If they don't have any, there's usually a form or contact email where you can suggest that they buy a copy. You can read more about my library escapades here: https://garethsouthwell.com/munkis-in-the-libraries/

A well executed blend of cyberpunk sci-fi and noir detective fiction. I've not read Chandler or Hammett, but all the tropes seem to be present and correct: the world weary PI, the femme fatale, the corrupt city, and of course the wry, cynical monologue through which everything is portrayed. A bit more cyberpunk would have been nice, and at times the prose is so tightly mannered it sucks away Harkaway's ebullient personality, but well worth a read.

Lots in this book is well done. The premise is intriguing, it's well written, there are twists and mysteries that keep you reading, and everything comes together in a neat way. But despite all this, it just didn't grab me. Maybe the characters lack depth or some quirk of individuality or something, but I just didn't care anything about them. There were also aspects of the plot that, on reflection, felt artificial. Anyway, decent, but not more.

I‘ve done another little book list/interview type thing over at Shepherd.com on “The best books on understanding the crazy world of contemporary art”. So if you‘ve ever wondered how people make money from pickling sheep and leaving their beds unmade, then this is the place to go: https://shepherd.com/best-books/understanding-the-crazy-world-of-contemporary-ar...

So, gradually still working my way through Banks's sci-fi/Culture novels. This was interesting, as it's a Culture novel masquerading as a sort of historical/fantasy novel, because the main events take place on a planet that has no space travel (but that doesn't mean it doesn't have space travellers...). Anyway, a quite intense meditation on power, politics and morality, with a dark undertone running throughout. Recommended.

Just a little bit of exciting news I want to share. My sci-fi novella “Pale Kings“ is now an audiobook! It's been narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (whom fans of The Archers may recognise as the voice of Annette Turner). She's done a lovely job and it really brings the comedy of the piece alive.

You can check out a free sample via WoodPig Press: https://woodpigpress.com/product/pale-kings-audiobook/

A skilfully interlinked series of stories exploring the disquieting consequences of privacy-invading robot pets. I realy enjoyed this. I must check out her other work.

Read my full review here: https://garethsouthwell.com/little-eyes-by-samantha-schweblin/

A great book. Rushkoff is an experienced cultural and technological commentator, and here he brings his wisdom to bear on a weird fact: the rich benefit from destructive behaviour that funds ... their escape from the consequences of their destructive behaviour! A well-informed and angry-making book that ends on a positive note with suggestions for change.

Full review here:

https://garethsouthwell.com/survival-of-the-richest-by-douglas-rushkoff/

Came across this because the book is now a series on Apple TV starring Gary Oldman (one of my fave actors). Watched the series first then read the book, and enjoyed both immensely. Herron has been christened the new Le Carré, but he's quite a different writer - funny and more accessible, if less profound. The characterisation is great, the plot twisty and satisfyingly complex, the dialogue fantastic. Good modern spy thriller with satiral edge.

If you haven't heard of it, Shepherd.com is a book recommendation site where authors list their top 5 books related to one they've written with little write-ups. I think everyone here will love it.

Here's mine: https://shepherd.com/best-books/why-we-should-rise-up-against-our-robot-overlord.... Or read more in my blog: https://garethsouthwell.com/my-ai-reading-list-on-shepherd-com/

A great little book - one of my faves. Lanier's scepticism to do with modern technology is all the more powerful when you consider his credentials (among other things, one of the early pioneers of virtual reality). Highly recommended.

Full review here: https://fiction.garethsouthwell.com/you-are-not-a-gadget-by-jaron-lanier/

Started off well but trailed off. Still worth a read. The world-building is subtle and it's a plausible cautionary tale of what happens when Amazon takes over the world. I was sideswiped by a direction one character took later on that undermined the sympathy they'd built up, but it's generally well done and Hart's heart is definitely in the right place. Annoyingly the ebook is marred by paragraphing errors that make it hard to tell who's speaking.

Le Carré's first novel, and the first George Smiley novel. I think, prior to this, the earliest I'd read was The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (his 3rd). It's a little clunky in places, compared to his assured later works, and a little generic – it's a more run of the mill spy-themed murder mystery type thing. However, enjoyable, very nicely read by Michael Jayston (as usual), and interesting to see the master learning the ropes.

I quite enjoyed this audiobook, but slightly less than other titles in this series. It's cleverly constructed and Weir certainly knows his qubits from his spooky action at a distance. The characters are nicely drawn and the whole thing is an ingenious little take on what quantum computing will mean for security in general - in this case, a Las Vegas casino. So, enjoyable, if a little overly technical in places. Beautifully read by Janina Gavankar.

I absolutely loved this short story, and will definitely be reading more of Mr Towles' oeuvre! I listened to it on audiobook and it's read by David Harbour (the sheriff in Stranger Things), who really is a very fine voice actor - the inflection and tone really bring the dialogue (especially) alive beautifully. I may even just hunt down books that he reads just to listen to him! As for the book itself: near future sci fi - I'll leave it at that! :)

A fantastic book. Full of subtle insight, engaging personal anecdote, as well as providing a clear overview of the general philosophical landscape over the last few centuries. The most fascinating thing is the connection O'Gieblyn makes between transhumanism/Silicon Valley enthusiasm for AI, and medieval theological attitudes to God. Full review: https://philosophy.garethsouthwell.com/book-reviews/god-human-animal-machine-by-...

New novella out - Mr Wolf. Another Merrywhile book, a sort of standalone followup to MUNKi, which I'm calling a “near future sci fi whodunnit“ - because, well, that's what it is!

Check it out here: https://fiction.garethsouthwell.com/books/mr-wolf/

Image: Aibo the robot dog! (from Meghan O'Gieblyn's “God, Human, Animal, Machine“)

Listening to this as an audiobook. It's fantastic - she really is a wonderfully astute and subtle writer. And she seems to be following much the same train of thought as I've had regarding “transhumanism“. Her grasp of science and philosophy is particularly impressive.

Quite enjoying this. It's been on my kindle for a while, and finally took the plunge.

A quick self promo (thank you for your indulgence). For those interested, the ebook of my near future sci fi novel MUNKi is currently 0.99 (dollars and pounds).

UK: http://tinyurl.com/munkigb
US: http://tinyurl.com/munkius

#sale #ebooks #scifi #robots

Thank you! :)

If you're on Goodreads, I'm always looking to connect with fellow book lovers - this is my profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/701854.Gareth_Southwell

#goodreads #goodreadsshelves #goodreads2022

New cover for my ebook short story “Content Provider“. Do people like it better?

Full blurb here, if interested: https://fiction.garethsouthwell.com/books/content-provider/

Most of the characters are in some way connected to the music industry, but the real theme is time: “Time is a goon“, a heavy-booted thug who's happy to leave the fragile hopes and dreams of youth bleeding in the gutter of middle-aged regret. Each chapter takes a different viewpoint and we get multiple perspectives on the same characters at different times, often in an innovative way. One chapter is a Powerpoint! Sad, funny, clever, interesting.

A vampire whodunnit, essentially, taking place in a monstrously sized castle at a sort of undead AGM. Shepard manages to blend a dreamlike surrealism with psychological realism and a mystery-driven plot, all delivered in his wonderfully evocative prose style. There is lots of meditation on the vampire condition, metaphysical speculation and other intellectually meaty things, permeated with disturbing vampiric eroticism, violence and horror.

Shepard is incredible. He has a wonderful gift for evocative language and a deft feel for characterisation and setting - his travels in South America and Asia furnish the stories with intriguingly rich and believable backdrops. However, the collection is a mixed bag. Some are great - the title story, Shades, A Wooden Tiger, Nomans Land - others fall flat, and a few are bizarre, distasteful or (The Scalehunter's Beautiful Daughter) just tedious.

For those still trying to understand the crazy world of high finance, Michael Lewis is still the best guide. Not an easy read (synthetic collateralised debt obligations, anyone?), but what carries it is Lewis's cast of eccentric characters who saw the 2008 crash coming, and it's these lively pen portraits that are as intriguing as the crash itself. TL;DR: you think there's someone at the wheel? There's not - or they're drunk.

Can books morally corrupt? Claire Harman traces the scandal surrounding William Harrison Ainsworth's “Jack Sheppard“, a Dick Turpin like story that may have inspired one of the most gruesome and shocking murders of Victorian times. Harman writes beautifully, detailing the background to the crime, the victim and perpetrator, as well as the public debate that surrounded the book, which drew in the likes of Dickens and Thackeray. A fascinating read.

As I am retiring the old cover of my sci-fi novel MUNKi, I thought it might be nice to offer a giveaway of the three remaining paperbacks I have in stock. Each will come with a little doodle (example pictured), and will be signed and dedicated to the winners. To enter the draw, just sign up to my newsletter, and respond to the welcome email, letting me know you want to enter the draw.

Sign up here: https://fiction.garethsouthwell.com/the-writing/

A great book on a fascinating topic. Raphael writes brilliantly, and there are many lovely turns of phrase and witty one liners. He is a little verbose at times, and it can interrupt the flow a little while you look up some Latin or French, or some passing cultural or historical reference, but it's all worth it. As for Byron himself, this is definitely a warts and all biography, but he is no less fascinating and enigmatic a character for that.

After she finishes this, she'll be moving on to some Dogstoevsky.

Sorry.

Excuse self-promo:

For a short time, my novella Content Provider is available free. A darkly funny take on future technological trends that people are calling a “darkly funny take on future technological trends“ (I guess those “people“ must be me)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Content-Provider-Near-Future-Philosophical-Merrywhile-e... or
https://www.amazon.com/Content-Provider-Near-Future-Philosophical-Merrywhile-ebo...

“The corollary is that a book is not finished until it is read. The writing is not complete until what is said has passed from the physical volume which gives it sensory reality into another mind where it kindles thoughts and impressions: a whole understanding of what it means to be, ignited on foreign soil in an act that is either erotic or imperialistic, but in either case miraculous. We become one another.”

Thanks for the tag, @eeclayton!

1. Probably The Dark Heart of Italy by Tobias Jones.
2. Shamefully, I haven't finished a book at all yet this year.
3. Tagged, and just finishing biography of Byron, by Frederic Raphael, as well as listening to Murder by the Book, by Claire Harman (all of which are great).

1. Yes! (Sorry, old logician's joke.) I would go forward to the future, where they have a machine that lets you see what it was like in Elizabethan England! Is that cheating?

2. Peripheral by William Gibson has sort of time travel - you'll have to read it. Very clever, and a return to form for Gibson. Soon to be a TV series, which I'm looking forward to.

#Two4Tuesday (Hmm, it's now Wednesday, so quite fitting...)
@TheSpineView

The boy is playing the snake game. It‘s pretty basic, really – left, right, up, down; eat the food; avoid the walls; and your own tail. There are other variations – ones with two snakes, ones with mazes, or where things chase you or bounce around – but for some weird reason he prefers the simplest one. It starts off easy, but it gets harder.

[second illustration for the illustrated edition of MUNKi - only another 12 to go... :)]

Hmm. It seems that it's slightly slipped my mind that I've promised to review this for Big Al's Books & Pals. I shall remedy immediately.

This looks rather intriguing. Have my finger hovering over the buy button on Audible. Should I?

Ok, we are underway...

Enjoying it so far. Wordy, weird and philosophical - might just be my kind of book!

Byron's house in Venice sounds like a hoot.

By the way, Claire is the mother of his illegitimate child, Allegra.

Campo de‘ Fiori is relatively quiet, the clear, crisp mid-January morning keeping away all but a few out-of-season tourists strolling idly among the handful of market stalls, mixing with locals on their morning shop. And even so, this is never a particularly busy place; not a rival to many of Rome‘s more striking piazze, to Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps.

[Art from illustrated edition of novel, which is still in development...]

Anyone have any suggestions? It's been stuck at 72% for almost a day.

#litsywelcomewagon #litsyhelp

Debating whether to start this - have read mixed reviews. It's completely my area of interest, but worried it's a bit rambling and overly complex. And there's only room for one Gravity's Rainbow in my life! Love the cover.

Mad, bad and dangerous to know indeed. Very enjoyable biography so far - two thirds of the way through. Witty, well researched and a very acute psychological study. Bit verbose at times. But look at that illustration! Superb cover.

This is the original cover to the novel, before I changed it.

Read the sample of this on Kindle, and am a bit undecided whether or not to continue. Very nicely written, but somehow it's not really grabbing me. Anyone have any views on it? Should I persevere?

I am completely new to Litsy, so please feel free to advise/correct/chastise/forgive as you see fit!

This is the cover of my near future sci-fi novel MUNKi. I've just redesigned all my covers (I'm also an illustrator/designer). Will post others shortly.

#sciencefiction #scifi #robots #artificialintelligence #AI #virtualreality