I'm only now beginning to appreciate how outrageous Beethoven's symphonies are: deliberately fragmented and jagged, with sudden disruptions of the flow, hesitations and breaks. Mozart makes everything look easy; Beethoven makes everything a struggle. I love them both.
The article I wrote about my new book "Stupid Stories for Tough Times" is now online here: www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2452267...
Sorry for the late notice, but for the attention of any in the Bradford area, today's Telegraph & Argus contains an article by me about my new book "Stupid Stories for Tough Times". It isn't on their website yet, but should be added in a couple of days: I will let you know about that as and when...
sometimes I wonder what kind of work Gershwin would have done if he'd lived into the 70s or 80s and get sad.
Technically, is it a parody if it just shows up how brilliant the original is?
There's still a few outlets for short fiction about, but they seem few & far between, alas. To scoot off at a slightly oblique angle, my new collection of tales "Stupid Stories for Tough Times" comes out in a month & Neil, your book "Art Matters" was an inspiration! renardpress.com/books/stupid...
In Stupid Stories for Tough Times a woodland spirit causes havoc in suburbia; a wayward uncle causes suspicion in the family; a ferocious troll seeks a friend; and Churchill’s statue goes walkabout in...
Starting to read Percival Everett, and getting the feeling I should have been doing it for years.... I loved "I Am Not Sidney Poitier", am now on "Assumption" which seems relatively conventional so far but perhaps he is fooling me....
Lately I've noticed a LOT of science fiction books that take place in a post-climate change future where a lucky few live in luxury and everyone else lives in the dirt. I've also noticed a lot of fantasy novels that lean into cozy sweetness. Five new books illustrate this perfectly! wapo.st/4bBdf2o
Dystopia or delight? These stories from Victor Manibo, Peter S. Beagle and others let you take your pick.