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Scottish
science fiction - Braveheart or Blowinghard?
Those jolly jocks at the The Edinburgh International Book Festival
Box have come up with a stunning wheeze ... running a science fiction
theme across the event so strong that it puts the guest list of
many WorldCons to shame.
Said festival is running across the 11-27 August 2001 in Charlotte
Square Gardens, Edinburgh.
For all lovers of exploratory, visionary literature, we're bringing
you the SF side of the schedule, and crikes is it ever impressive.
These details were correct when we got them, but do phone and check
before you set out to deepest Jockland (contacts at bottom of the
page)!
Brian 'A.I' Aldiss with Helen Lederer
Saturday 11th August at 10.00am
Lucky Brian - one of the more critically respected figures in British
science fiction - gets to open the Edinburgh International Book
Festival 2001.
Crusty old Brian has written over 40 novels and 300 short stories,
one of which is the basis of Spielberg/Kubrick's movie AI.
Expect the unexpected as Aldiss is joined by comedienne Helen Lederer
in a short play about what really happened to Hitler.
Simon Clark
Saturday 11th August at 12 noon
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of The Day of The Triffids,
one of the early successes of the post-war science fiction scene.
Simon Clark, known as the "British Stephen King" for his previous
blood-curdling horror novels, has created a sequel, The Night of
The Triffids, in homage to John Wyndham's novel.
The new novel follows the fortunes of the original hero's son,
in a world devastated by the Triffid infestation.
Stephen Baxter & Brian Aldiss
Saturday 11th August at
3.30pm
Two of science fiction's names come together in a double bill.
Stephen Baxter, who is trained as a mathematician, engineer and
physicist, has been described - by his mom - as "the future of science
fiction" for his works.
He is due to natter with Brian Aldiss about mankind and the cosmos,
and the ways in which SF writers imagine the future.
John Clute & China Mieville
Saturday 11th August at 7.00pm
John Clute - famous Interzone critic and luvvy - talks with writer
China Mieville, who has made something of a name for himself since
graduating from Cambridge in 1994 with his own strange brand of
urban fantasy.
Perdido Street Station has been compared to Gormenghast in its
depiction of an odd universe.
John Clute, editor of the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, will
no doubt trot out his own vast display of SF facts'N'figures during
this interview.
Rob Grant
Sunday 12th August at 12 noon
Better known as the creator and writer for the TV series Red Dwarf.
His latest novel, Colony, is more of the same.
Things are going seriously wrong in the tenth generation of the
crew of a spaceship captained by an irresponsible adolescent with
a penchant for naming planets after unpleasant bodily functions.
Can they all be saved by a head in a jar? And what about the fluorescent
pink socks?
Iain M Banks & Ken MacLeod
Sunday 12th August at 3.30pm
Iain M Banks, one of Scotland's leading mainstream as well as SF
authors, is best known to us fans for his Culture series of novels.
His fellow Scot Ken MacLeod is also making a name as one of the
more intelligent SF writers of recent years; "a nova has appeared
in our sky" as Interzone trumpeted.
They chat about their work, SF as a genre, how to imagine the future
- with probably a few good jokes along the way.
Doris Lessing & Brian Aldiss
Sunday 12th August at 5.00pm
More Aldiss. They converse about SF, its unique attractions for
the novelist, and why they are drawn to the genre's visionary possibilities.
The Great Intergalactic Science Fiction Quiz
Iain M Banks, Ken MacLeod , Rob Grant and special guests
Sunday 12th August at 8.00pm
Quiz night - where you can test your knowledge of aliens, alternative
universes, Triffids and time warps by pitting your wits against
their expert panel. And if you come dressed as your favourite SF
character, there will be a prize given for the best costume.
Terry Pratchett
Tuesday 14th August at 5.00pm
Wealthy Terry Pratchett's fantasy Discworld novels - as the size
of his wad attests to - appeal to all kinds of readers of all kinds
of ages.
On Tuesday you'll be able to see him perform skits and readings
from the 26th novel in the Discworld series, The Thief Of Time.
Expect this puppy to be packed (e.g. book early, and turn up hours
before it starts).
Ricardo Pinto
Saturday 18th August at 11.30am
Edinburgh-based writer Ricardo Pinto constructed the alternative
universe featured in his Stone Dance of The Chameleon trilogy. His
fantasy tale was twelve years in the making, and the final volume
The Kissed is out this year.
Portugese-born Pinto might also be known to fans as a computer
expert who has also designed a number of games.
Alastair Reynolds & Paul McAuley
Saturday 18th August at 1.45pm
Wow. Alastair Reynolds, an astrophysicist working for the European
Space Agency, has been called the best British SF writer since Arthur
C Clarke. His novel Chasm City has recently followed his first book,
Revelation Space.
Paul McAuley, also a scientist and a former lecturer at the University
of St Andrews, will be there to chat with him. The Secret of Life,
Paul's latest work, blends classic space opera with the implications
of biotechnology.
Looks good, guys and gals. If you want to go to any of these panels,
you've got a week or so to contact them at ...
Tickets and Booking Information
Telephone: 0131 624 5050
Fax: 0131 228 4333
Web: edbookfest.co.uk
Or call 0131 228 5444 for a printed programme.
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