tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51434409984784791572024-03-19T01:47:45.849-07:00Approaching Pavonis Mons by balloonOccasionally science fiction but mostly frogs and bats.Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.comBlogger467125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-21428588663509369522024-02-16T04:27:00.000-08:002024-02-16T04:27:19.431-08:00First newt of 2024<p> I mean to say something about Chris Priest, but in the meantime, I did a bit of pond-dipping for the first time this year (it's remarkably mild and a friend turned up a frog yesterday) and found one of the resident newts doing well.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2wRf7gVMLG3tHGWr9MvfPVOkZDjLXrAD8BcruJWBl_wPsmVUFvLmSJlwcsKM1yepr69C87Fgf6xOSvjPk_077ScvKx7d0TT5X83BrkPBif7HjUaxtsTzcxkxbizwoWK584SA7QKN_6wjxahZgdmJ6FAcCUU30hdAi_zrZAzGpMl49ZyTkOkBr6ecrB0/s4000/IMG_20240216_114454226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2wRf7gVMLG3tHGWr9MvfPVOkZDjLXrAD8BcruJWBl_wPsmVUFvLmSJlwcsKM1yepr69C87Fgf6xOSvjPk_077ScvKx7d0TT5X83BrkPBif7HjUaxtsTzcxkxbizwoWK584SA7QKN_6wjxahZgdmJ6FAcCUU30hdAi_zrZAzGpMl49ZyTkOkBr6ecrB0/s320/IMG_20240216_114454226.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-81416665601519595462024-01-26T03:34:00.000-08:002024-01-26T03:47:30.362-08:00The Artwork Revisitation<p> If you've been reading this blog for at least a couple of years you might remember this bit of acrylic art I put up early in 2022:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfHa3tADf80g2wdJUu414tC6JWmytkmhEw21t_sIz9iJUQVn3KtubkXiJLKyV2cabM9jErWlFaZ7G2OKY_ixjfdrl8PQUVgAk4ebL_EO9ZZA-ndz3MHQfaPixCwNlMsqTE9j6pc-k8C36ptO0ID5a1k7NEaZkXOE37k5cxXvLY3lpxirhpe3ViaStaFc/s1800/art1%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1800" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfHa3tADf80g2wdJUu414tC6JWmytkmhEw21t_sIz9iJUQVn3KtubkXiJLKyV2cabM9jErWlFaZ7G2OKY_ixjfdrl8PQUVgAk4ebL_EO9ZZA-ndz3MHQfaPixCwNlMsqTE9j6pc-k8C36ptO0ID5a1k7NEaZkXOE37k5cxXvLY3lpxirhpe3ViaStaFc/w400-h325/art1%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>It was OK but something about it wasn't quite clicking with me. Then I read a recent article in The Guardian which included the brilliant Chris Foss talking about AI-generated imitations of his own style, and how they could never be mistaken for the real thing. </p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/21/we-need-to-come-together-british-artists-team-up-to-fight-ai-image-generating-software" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/21/we-need-to-come-together-british-artists-team-up-to-fight-ai-image-generating-software</a></p><p>I looked at the images in the link to Midjourney provided in the article and agreed that they only looked superficially Chris Foss-like - big bristly spaceships floating over alien landscapes etc - but the particular thing that the artist noted was that the images lacked depth, something undoubtedly characteristic of his pictures. He nonetheless noted that the AI-generated images might serve as useful prompts for composition and lighting, so he wasn't dismissing them entirely. </p><p>It occurred to me then that one of the faults with the painting above is the absence of depth - there's some atmospheric misting to push the towers back a bit, but the spaceship is just floating there more or less side-on, with no real reference points to place it in the scene relative to the other elements. Sometimes I use one or two point perspective construction lies to give a sense of a spaceship emerging from a scene, but in this case, I just winged it and drew it without any reference to perspective, figuring it would come out all right. I'm still happy with the ship, but in light of the Foss article - and a bit of renewed mojo for breaking out the airbrush - I thought I'd take another look at the canvas. And, rather than show the finished result, I thought it might be more fun to illustrate the process, even if it all ends up going horribly wrong.</p><p>So here's where we are now:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOx7HefOdY-WreEnxmoPZ6UW-HfRxGFQ03wr53JnXWZo9LcsN984SvFfq5RIw5g2RkvJIbXBj-qsjH_h3BibIrp6c13WSeAbNyG8GpaGkpNtYQxlO7dzb3sgb3mY7LiO8eAtydU5GmYsz_oZ-QuhApvjS1umOYD5Jf2bGQ7seD9BhHVVbYdjmiL0uJyo/s2272/P1150163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOx7HefOdY-WreEnxmoPZ6UW-HfRxGFQ03wr53JnXWZo9LcsN984SvFfq5RIw5g2RkvJIbXBj-qsjH_h3BibIrp6c13WSeAbNyG8GpaGkpNtYQxlO7dzb3sgb3mY7LiO8eAtydU5GmYsz_oZ-QuhApvjS1umOYD5Jf2bGQ7seD9BhHVVbYdjmiL0uJyo/w400-h300/P1150163.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I did a bit of additional masking and spraying on the ship itself, bringing out its forms a bit more clearly by defining shadows and highlights, but the main thing has been to start work on some foreground elements which project out into the scene and serve to push the ship back. In this case I picked a single perspective point and drew some lines projecting out to the vanishing point, which (when finished) will be walkways or landing pads of some kind. I could envisage some smaller spacecraft and/or figures in the nearer foreground.</p><p>I also added a touch of contrasting colour in the sky, but this came out much too heavily and will need to be pushed back a bit.</p><p>I still don't know whether this will end up being a piece of art that I'm satisfied with, but the journey is fun and these corrective steps and additions can be very educational, so even if this painting fails, the lessons learned will hopefully inform the next one, and the one after.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-8804806252739382772024-01-18T05:56:00.000-08:002024-01-18T05:56:04.663-08:00MACHINE VENDETTA out in UK and US<p> My new novel is out - published on Tuesday in the States, and today in the UK. It's the third in the Prefect Dreyfus sub-series and also a book in the Revelation Space universe. It's likely to be the last word on the RS universe for a bit, not because I'm fed up with it, but because I want to concentrate on standalones from now on.</p><p>There have been a few early reviews. Publisher's Weekly called it "a touching and spectacularly intricate sequel that also functions well as a standalone", while Booklist said "Reynolds pulls out all the stops ...readers’ fingernails will be left ragged."</p><p>The Daily Mail called it "an immersive, compelling, slow-burn space mystery" while SFX called it "a brilliantly realised melding of police procedural and hard SF".</p><p>That's it for now. I've not so far had any promotional activities offered to me but we'll see what eventuates. I'll also put up information on signed editions as and when there's something concrete to report.</p><p>best, and thanks to all who have pre-ordered.</p><p>Al R</p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-18776872575712058972023-12-19T03:36:00.000-08:002023-12-19T03:36:32.389-08:00You could do worse.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MgqBAaEDSoBKDgax98ppEREJ09HyIfBYgmZGF1xwWltm-N77V_PqtB_dHNUAuomhOeTbgGEe65QGPGt0toL98vxsbzF-k9Je-4ZgR-sDIinfemIaLjkJ8_ILqoqiFQsy5Y2KsgFQnLwShJd54Cb3a071j40JAhMNRNr3wZuur7a3p6apDGGXY4JoIhA/s4000/IMG_20231219_113125321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MgqBAaEDSoBKDgax98ppEREJ09HyIfBYgmZGF1xwWltm-N77V_PqtB_dHNUAuomhOeTbgGEe65QGPGt0toL98vxsbzF-k9Je-4ZgR-sDIinfemIaLjkJ8_ILqoqiFQsy5Y2KsgFQnLwShJd54Cb3a071j40JAhMNRNr3wZuur7a3p6apDGGXY4JoIhA/w300-h400/IMG_20231219_113125321.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-21066901328433028452023-12-13T04:19:00.000-08:002023-12-13T04:19:32.053-08:00It's coming on Christmas.<p> A new story of mine, "Lottie and the River", will appear in the Christmas issue of New Scientist, with a publication date of December 16th. Not only that, but it's a (mildly) Christmas-themed story. I'm extremely happy to have had this chance to contribute a bit of fiction to NS. Many thanks to Alison Flood and all at NS for having me onboard.</p><p>I won't say anything else about the story except that it's 3500 words and not connected to anything else I've done, but it is science fiction, and the illustrations are gorgeous.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-64070733237967974322023-10-24T08:32:00.003-07:002023-10-24T08:49:05.722-07:00Space Rocks and other adventures<p> After a relatively quiet summer, September and October were filled with travel, including a couple of international trips - a bit of a novelty these days.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljuKHQghumgwlN2ucrK89pshPfno2hmZgQoaBF5Rkv56K1X23NjMgHXwj6t3bbqHf3hTS8BDLWAZgVsCUy2J-Jd_Kyd-d8oTLSAZA5BAB3kvD2OaxWGy3cyLDcsISkjcZUYE7NaXvupC8hCKgxDqdywRpodRo41wPE8ZcWTvrKFXqwrVpt-lzd18GX1U/s4000/IMG_20231009_152338454_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljuKHQghumgwlN2ucrK89pshPfno2hmZgQoaBF5Rkv56K1X23NjMgHXwj6t3bbqHf3hTS8BDLWAZgVsCUy2J-Jd_Kyd-d8oTLSAZA5BAB3kvD2OaxWGy3cyLDcsISkjcZUYE7NaXvupC8hCKgxDqdywRpodRo41wPE8ZcWTvrKFXqwrVpt-lzd18GX1U/w320-h240/IMG_20231009_152338454_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a typically delicious Dutch appelgebak in Leiden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I started off with an enjoyable weekend as Guest of Honour at the UK Fantasycon in Birmingham. I was very pleased to be invited, and the reception couldn't have been nicer. The event hotel seemed very good and quite well located for the centre. I sat in on a few panels, attended others, and had a very nice time at the banquet and awards ceremony. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures, but I'd like thank all involved, and in particular Allan and Karen, for making me most welcome. In this day and age the genre boundaries seem to be increasingly porous, but it was still very nice that a "sci-fi guy" was invited into the fold and made to feel like one of the gang.</p><p>After that, I had a few days home before I was off again. This time it was to France, for Les Aventuriales, a lovely laid-back SF&F event near Clermont-Ferrand, in the Massif Central. The event itself took place in a small town called Menetrol, a few kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand.</p><p>Near the venue, a few of us noticed this striking wall mural:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBKRpjj65Yc8Ms3veFLuMX6m7qfaugzEZ7uv23KtUCmBRfcf1s4aBy_hIQF19nwMbCIf-jIHxz94qABUcPieRRpylNJMWYMoTJqzH6N9SU2oAGwCvIjBbO7x4lACPGxvGRiaIW6NWWalkakm4T_sIfnwQhz09X80n8tRvouDTb8kgWlq9L-DcxEPn4Wo/s4000/IMG_20230924_191045206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBKRpjj65Yc8Ms3veFLuMX6m7qfaugzEZ7uv23KtUCmBRfcf1s4aBy_hIQF19nwMbCIf-jIHxz94qABUcPieRRpylNJMWYMoTJqzH6N9SU2oAGwCvIjBbO7x4lACPGxvGRiaIW6NWWalkakm4T_sIfnwQhz09X80n8tRvouDTb8kgWlq9L-DcxEPn4Wo/s320/IMG_20230924_191045206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Rather wonderfully, you only got the full view of the cat when you'd peered around the edge of the (real) wall:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrzy4rOJUlvhPmpSKWZVb-BEK2DPWW0V_K_EspPvpXNOYkYjVtgR8tgRffYm93ZthyphenhyphenSdIre87i_TIocG4oOPcXL3Oec1nVBvU-F51RfhTsfuk9WiWw0xMDHprM82ZrJHru5_0gBJQVr-L_UfMe-TR2e54HG86OwXfBk92dcPhOoXlhVmZdgys1HkgrpY/s4000/IMG_20230924_191131816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrzy4rOJUlvhPmpSKWZVb-BEK2DPWW0V_K_EspPvpXNOYkYjVtgR8tgRffYm93ZthyphenhyphenSdIre87i_TIocG4oOPcXL3Oec1nVBvU-F51RfhTsfuk9WiWw0xMDHprM82ZrJHru5_0gBJQVr-L_UfMe-TR2e54HG86OwXfBk92dcPhOoXlhVmZdgys1HkgrpY/s320/IMG_20230924_191131816.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The festival itself took place in a sports centre, with Medieval tents and tables set up outside during what was a spell of very pleasant late September weather. As is the norm with French SF&F events such as this, there's an emphasis on dealer tables and signing, so you tend to stay parked in your seat unless you're doing a panel or suchlike. That can sometimes be a bit of a strain, but it was far from the case in Les Aventuriales, as I had such fine company. To my right was Sara Doke, writer and translator, who was always on hand if I needed help, and on my left fellow writer Jolan Bertrand, who was equally delightful to hang out with. Here I am pretending (I stress pretending) to play Jolan's ukelele.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cfBWzNbovt-d3rSH247H8ANnXS1jWivGXSKtNdP_f72sATRqlof3hIDSp406hkLDCehQzk-2RtGQUNxZf8snT2d4f-sbcg2naDWyr6XMe80Lu03YR3OSWijSMq8GiWKJI-KGlK2pd00sEPg7NEdOXQfSwlZgYeDzo_F5CHebkJ6Fn1kmpMFgNDsLM3I/s4000/IMG_20230923_173624415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cfBWzNbovt-d3rSH247H8ANnXS1jWivGXSKtNdP_f72sATRqlof3hIDSp406hkLDCehQzk-2RtGQUNxZf8snT2d4f-sbcg2naDWyr6XMe80Lu03YR3OSWijSMq8GiWKJI-KGlK2pd00sEPg7NEdOXQfSwlZgYeDzo_F5CHebkJ6Fn1kmpMFgNDsLM3I/s320/IMG_20230923_173624415.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my little stick of Blackpool Rock ...etc</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Everyone I met was extremely nice and welcoming, and a bottle of Leffe went down very well at the end of proceedings. When does a bottle of Leffe not go down well, of course. Here I am with French fan Olivier - also a Peter Hamilton fan, so I made sure to show this to PFH when we met for a coffee recently:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTPgW5_gUfjFeAcNkkp449Clidda9IykVew56OJ9AGljlVUpTIsxP-vEuLZDRb0S8yi8KnQTL2iOKoK24Xv9k82RJkSJJUFotP8ABcAgyJZA7m0ec7F-VYZsLQnyoIa_TzPLh0adwIAblvI3wqf16of6cSdvq31LIq_FDFX0nEVmHk8XKqDzsUHIpZwk/s4000/IMG_20230923_145751183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTPgW5_gUfjFeAcNkkp449Clidda9IykVew56OJ9AGljlVUpTIsxP-vEuLZDRb0S8yi8KnQTL2iOKoK24Xv9k82RJkSJJUFotP8ABcAgyJZA7m0ec7F-VYZsLQnyoIa_TzPLh0adwIAblvI3wqf16of6cSdvq31LIq_FDFX0nEVmHk8XKqDzsUHIpZwk/s320/IMG_20230923_145751183.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>And finally, here are my two hosts for the weekend, Marie and Jean-Pierre, who couldn't have been kinder. There were some unavoidable complications with my outward journey which caused us all a bit of stress, but it was all resolved efficiently, with the only downside being a very late arrival at the hotel. I'd like to thank Marie, Jean-Pierre and Dominique for sorting things out - and my wife for handling the emergency back in Wales! She was going to come with me, but we'd had a disastrous experience with an earlier attempt to travel to Paris in June, and she decided to sit this one out. This brings me to the minor observation that flight delays and cancellations have been a real headache with these trips, with each aggravation making the idea of flying next time just a little bit less attractive.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrOrQ7MkAdmdzlcQG3BsEtpCt-92zCsPX1aGN2_88LCDR-P99Q8I2bteKN27FpxXeZuGNj3qsGaGqrT3BYAOQ_7qKG-j2NDfqVAVBJZy7nZIO3oGxoNFBdTWPczl_gVlgvyout3s_D_QiWexa-n7X99t1KoK9hDkAYmUmtAEjNGFjefQNGghoLamQFZs/s3264/IMG_20230924_185547350_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrOrQ7MkAdmdzlcQG3BsEtpCt-92zCsPX1aGN2_88LCDR-P99Q8I2bteKN27FpxXeZuGNj3qsGaGqrT3BYAOQ_7qKG-j2NDfqVAVBJZy7nZIO3oGxoNFBdTWPczl_gVlgvyout3s_D_QiWexa-n7X99t1KoK9hDkAYmUmtAEjNGFjefQNGghoLamQFZs/s320/IMG_20230924_185547350_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely hosts for Les Aventuriales.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After some further complications on my return leg via Paris, I was back in good old Brexitland for just over a week before another trip, this time back to the Netherlands and a return to my old place of work, ESA's ESTEC Space Technology and Research centre, based on the Dutch coast in Noordwijk, close to the fine old university city of Leiden.</p><p>I was over there to participate in another Space Rocks event, this time in conjunction with ESTEC's annual open day. I've been honoured to be part of the Space Rocks family since 2018, but things have understandably been a bit quieter through the Covid years. Space Rocks is ramping up again now, and I couldn't have been happier to be invited. My hosts were Mark McCaughrean of ESA, and Alexander Milas and John O'Sullivan of Space Rocks. I was interviewed by Mark as part of the Space Rocks program of events, where we talked about the interplay between science and science fiction. After the interview, I was delighted to be presented with the inaugural Space Rocks inspiration award:</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh04XnsHoAx6tuKqPVcGGS5LZP-Py_-jxr3oDgMrPDeJ3TH77pckGqtnG7RTDqNZE-sBbmicO0w9DgtAcji7VBWxi7_aTxNUafQCoumsirPIoYkRP7VbI01kBoqnP3wr6SL07FKg7qcriebFhMSF_j4Ua3tKNAXiY895SiEV9Sj_Ut6MJGVHZwuoQmR3U/s4000/IMG_20231008_140620410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh04XnsHoAx6tuKqPVcGGS5LZP-Py_-jxr3oDgMrPDeJ3TH77pckGqtnG7RTDqNZE-sBbmicO0w9DgtAcji7VBWxi7_aTxNUafQCoumsirPIoYkRP7VbI01kBoqnP3wr6SL07FKg7qcriebFhMSF_j4Ua3tKNAXiY895SiEV9Sj_Ut6MJGVHZwuoQmR3U/s320/IMG_20231008_140620410.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark McCaughrean presenting me with the award</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There was also an opportunity to sign a few things just after the interview and presentation:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRujh37lkA0NCmBZ4tXnhJq8p9L41jsjBfdPyGM-_iXQOlO1ITe1wzNVmKNSIctPnNRJlKVvwxxkb4UYLMaCSoliqOwj7BpefkSsEdrVgRdKVpbUq5YHdLlln6r4vJdPWAECywXmKokF95GhjkjmLG00VCvr4_BCIjUsnjztjLSMY_UH1NAQs-bsgc7Y/s4000/IMG_20231008_141016501_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRujh37lkA0NCmBZ4tXnhJq8p9L41jsjBfdPyGM-_iXQOlO1ITe1wzNVmKNSIctPnNRJlKVvwxxkb4UYLMaCSoliqOwj7BpefkSsEdrVgRdKVpbUq5YHdLlln6r4vJdPWAECywXmKokF95GhjkjmLG00VCvr4_BCIjUsnjztjLSMY_UH1NAQs-bsgc7Y/s320/IMG_20231008_141016501_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I was extremely honoured with the award and would like to express my gratitude to my friends from Space Rocks and ESA.</div><div><br /></div><div>After that, it was time for a wind-down. My wife (who'd joined me for this trip) and I spent Monday quietly, then hooked up with Mark, Alexander, John, and ESA's Anja Appelt for a lovely evening over pizza and beer in one of Noordwijk's many beachfront restaurants. The Space Rocks dudes (and Mark) are prog/metal-heads so there was much to discuss besides the important matters of the day, such as which topping to order.</div><div><br /></div><div>My wife and I spent another day in Noordwijk, enjoying ice-creams and the roar of the waves before the warm weather turned a little chillier in the afternoon. It was great to be back in Noordwijk! I spent the better part of two decades there, and it really is a special place, with the sea a constant presence through the seasons. Being as it was something of a flying visit, I must apologise to friends still in the area who we didn't manage to hook-up with, but there really wasn't time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZdFuJ91KnXs6OrLE_64HT6pNz2kThyYjtBjyplXHYhuAcPIlSc5pK16MWC5g1plf25qfIxHqwZeqPq1yGIzT5sPP0b1qzPdDSMh7leRhlqKvlsa92hUO7OpMz2MeiQyLfDxYYF68YLeedZuH1Q5wZLRZOMidK5MYXVwINHEBKY6stGYBBRFb_7eL6IM/s4000/IMG_20231010_132227067.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZdFuJ91KnXs6OrLE_64HT6pNz2kThyYjtBjyplXHYhuAcPIlSc5pK16MWC5g1plf25qfIxHqwZeqPq1yGIzT5sPP0b1qzPdDSMh7leRhlqKvlsa92hUO7OpMz2MeiQyLfDxYYF68YLeedZuH1Q5wZLRZOMidK5MYXVwINHEBKY6stGYBBRFb_7eL6IM/s320/IMG_20231010_132227067.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my truth, tell me yours.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>All in all, a great series of trips, but it was with a certain amount of relief that I got back to Wales and could begin returning to a fairly regular writing pattern. Since my last update, I've done a bit of work for an entirely different part of ESA, and I've also written a new short story which - if all goes well - should appear on the newstands in the run-up to Christmas. More on that in due course. I've also completed a second story for Auki Labs, which has yet to go live (I'll link to it when it it does), and I've made slow but steady progress on the new novel.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure I've forgotten to thank a few people in all the above, but please forgive me if that's the case, and rest assured I was looked after very well at all times. Thank you all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Al R</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-63857122255340648292023-08-03T05:02:00.000-07:002023-08-03T05:02:15.611-07:00You wait ages...<p> Here's another slice of totally brilliant Gallic pop from the MEGAN soundtrack. I don't think I'd ever heard this before (it's from a few years ago), but wowie. Whoever was putting the music together for that film was really on it.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LkyIVKbCfG8" width="320" youtube-src-id="LkyIVKbCfG8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-83384446174725726972023-08-01T02:49:00.000-07:002023-08-01T02:49:06.409-07:00Freedom Fry<p> Caught this lovely piece of ethereal French dreampop on the excellent soundtrack to MEGAN - and had to dig it out. Hope you like it as much as I do.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmE7-5Zx9gM" width="320" youtube-src-id="cmE7-5Zx9gM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-86118403307434168092023-07-19T09:27:00.001-07:002023-07-19T09:27:51.608-07:00End User (a short story)<p> You wait ages (or maybe not) for a piece of online fiction from me, and then another comes along. This one actually went online a few weeks ago, but I neglected to link to it. It's one of two pieces of commissioned fiction I've agreed to do for Auki Labs, an interesting new tech venture, based around the theme of augmented reality. This one (per the invitation from Auki) looks at some of the less great ramifications around big tech and user privacy.</p><p><a href="https://auki.medium.com/end-user-a31957f10adf" target="_blank">https://auki.medium.com/end-user-a31957f10adf</a><br /></p><p>There's more fiction coming to Auki's medium on the broad theme of AR, in addition to the three pieces already up, by me and others. Well worth checking out. I'll be doing another piece for them shortly, this one taking a less dystopian slant. Thanks to my friends Nils and Karen at Auki for starting the ball rolling.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-34727532281329925452023-07-12T11:37:00.002-07:002023-07-12T11:37:57.383-07:00Detonation Boulevard<p>My new story is up on Tor, and I couldn't be happier about the wonderful artwork by Ben Zweifel. Rather than spoil the surprise by posting the image here, I'll just recommend that you head on over to Tor. </p><p><a href="https://www.tor.com/2023/07/12/detonation-boulevard-alastair-reynolds/" target="_blank">https://www.tor.com/2023/07/12/detonation-boulevard-alastair-reynolds/</a> </p><p>I really am very fortunate to have been blessed with so many gorgeous illustrations in my career.</p><p>Thank you to Ben for the picture, and to Jonathan and all at Tor for taking the story. Oh, and also The Sisters of Mercy, for the title.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-61288165569561612032023-07-05T08:08:00.002-07:002023-07-05T08:08:55.474-07:00Mid year update<p> A recent round of comments reminds me that you're owed an update on where we are with MACHINE VENDETTA. Unfortunately, for those that are keen to get hold of it, it's now been pushed back to January 2024. While the UK edition could have been out by the end of this summer (the book itself is done except for final proofreading, which normally happens about 6 weeks ahead of actual printed copies appearing) it was thought better to have it come out at the same time in America as the UK, which does make sense in terms of maximising the impact of reviews, publicity and so on. Since US publishers have tended to need longer lead-times for production and scheduling, that's unavoidably meant a push back into 2024. No biggie - it's just an SF book and there should be no shortage of good new material to keep anyone occupied between now and then. </p><p>For instance, and just off the top of my head, Naomi Alderman's THE FUTURE is really good and I expect will pick up a lot of attention and good notices in the coming months. I've also just read and enjoyed Tobias Buckell's forthcoming A STRANGER IN THE CITADEL, which I also recommend. I, meanwhile, have been busy on the next book after VENDETTA, entitled HALCYON YEARS, and which is another compact(ish) standalone in the vein of EVERSION. I'm guessing that one will come out in 2025 although since I'm already pretty advanced with it, there might be an outside chance that it will squeak into next year.</p><p>I've not got much in the way of additional news, but my short story for Tor, "Detonation Boulevard", will be available later this month. I'll post something here when it goes out.</p><p>A few weeks back I did a nice little interview with Robin of the Bookspin Youtube channel, where I (along with others) highlighted some hidden gems of SF. Hop onto the link to see the books I picked, and the tenuous connection between them - and the other recommendations, of course. Thanks, Robin!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7r98fxNBIk" width="320" youtube-src-id="s7r98fxNBIk"></iframe></div><br /><p>Although it's rather late in the day, I'll also mention that I'm taking part in a panel discussion in Cardiff tomorrow evening as part of the National Astronomy Meeting. Here's a link, should you be local and interested in attending:</p><p><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-space-tickets-638623840097" target="_blank">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-space-tickets-638623840097</a><br /></p><p>Cheers, and sorry for the long silence between updates.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-31503540645653499282023-04-07T03:19:00.004-07:002023-04-09T12:22:01.899-07:00Birmingham event and a gratuitous newt.<p> On Friday April 14, I'll be in conversation as a guest of the Birmingham SF Group. The event takes place at Millennium Point and online via Zoom, from 7.45pm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMWzGyF0T3KSKDbyK81OY_AUFMzarfy6YnDC17sw6y-lNhrQW2kfS9LdQCLefPRVeDQSsGtCUmup3Li4aj2gtfzNSmPmmzNAG4jcCa5AHMfjm-vr9eedZZoJd_LkL5vaKtikxtLdzqrq67RxDlyLwTzHAQKsU81o5u0sptCKaNOlxIY7iuqJAH2m2/s960/FsYuPYeXoAAjdrg.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMWzGyF0T3KSKDbyK81OY_AUFMzarfy6YnDC17sw6y-lNhrQW2kfS9LdQCLefPRVeDQSsGtCUmup3Li4aj2gtfzNSmPmmzNAG4jcCa5AHMfjm-vr9eedZZoJd_LkL5vaKtikxtLdzqrq67RxDlyLwTzHAQKsU81o5u0sptCKaNOlxIY7iuqJAH2m2/w400-h225/FsYuPYeXoAAjdrg.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The Brum group has always been most welcoming to me (my first ever solo author event was with them, back in 2000) and I'll be delighted to return.</p><p>In another news, I'm thrilled to report that my newts have survived the winter. Here's one:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1HVuA8qMGxkC-jk11fCiDSP_SEyEPtO_WcBD-d6dI7Mckr3G57Nf7WpxvmmXgBJGtZ-zNDxCUsLNqhUcbjD46StMVsOktTwvEJcQPqbJjwkyFfVgnz2yG9l5TGEyK-PS4uuZfT2AFp5cNcswtugfdDhJePGxvhtah9BzoFPW_N7i1L7Bss6dTtwf/s786/2023%2004%2004%202023%2004%2004%20Newt%20P1200664%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="786" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1HVuA8qMGxkC-jk11fCiDSP_SEyEPtO_WcBD-d6dI7Mckr3G57Nf7WpxvmmXgBJGtZ-zNDxCUsLNqhUcbjD46StMVsOktTwvEJcQPqbJjwkyFfVgnz2yG9l5TGEyK-PS4uuZfT2AFp5cNcswtugfdDhJePGxvhtah9BzoFPW_N7i1L7Bss6dTtwf/w400-h234/2023%2004%2004%202023%2004%2004%20Newt%20P1200664%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Last year the frogs were conspicuous by their absence (may have something to do with the newts) so I'll be interested to see what happens in the coming months.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-18975051979342566792023-03-23T05:24:00.003-07:002023-03-23T07:57:27.386-07:00Eric Brown<p> I'm hearing that Eric Brown has passed away. It's devastating news. Although I'd known that Eric was very unwell, we had all been hoping for the best. Eric, in his typical way, clearly didn't want to make much of a fuss about it.</p><p>I met Eric for the first time about 32 years ago, when a gang of Interzone contributors converged on Harrogate for the 1991 Mexicon SF convention. I was already a great fan of his from the stories he'd written in IZ, which were fresh, sparky and written with immense confidence and gusto. I never read a story of his that I didn't enjoy, and what shone through them - as others have noted - was his humanity, his kindness and his interest in people and locations, more than gadgetry and gosh-wow speculation. Once I'd started going to conventions more regularly I saw a bit more of Eric, and it was always a joy to catch up with him. I think he was universally liked within SF, and generally accepted as THE person to talk to you if you wanted a curry recommendation. I think he'd been to every curry house in the UK. Unfortunately I didn't see much of Eric once he moved to Scotland, but one always assumed there'd be another encounter once normal life resumed and the SF community started mingling again.</p><p>My wife and I extend our sympathies to Finn, Freya, and all of Eric's friends and family.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-84164605605123813072023-02-02T07:21:00.002-08:002023-02-02T07:21:44.562-08:00Teaching SF and F with Aliette <p> I'm pleased to announce that, in conjunction with Literature Wales, Aliette de Bodard and I will be teaching an online course in writing SF & Fantasy.</p><p><a href="https://www.tynewydd.wales/course/digital-course-sci-fi-fantasy/" target="_blank">https://www.tynewydd.wales/course/digital-course-sci-fi-fantasy/</a><br /></p><p>This course will be held over four online sessions on the following dates:</p><p>Tuesday 14 November, Tuesday 21 November, Tuesday 28 November & Tuesday 12 December 2023 from 7.00 – 8.30 pm</p><p><i>Over four online sessions, Aliette and Alastair will address the peculiar challenges and opportunities open to anyone wishing to write science fiction, fantasy or their related sub-genres. Drawing on their own experiences across a range of literary styles and formats, from short stories to novels and extended series, they’ll cover the mechanics of crafting a story, from planning and plotting, to the use of voice and viewpoint, setting and mood. They’ll address the unique challenges of worldbuilding within the literatures of the fantastic, from the use of language to evoke a time and a place to the invention of social systems and far-future technologies, and how to make those creations seem real to the reader. They’ll talk about the different stages of writing; from initial drafts to polishing, how to prepare work for submission and how to make the most of the literary marketplace, from traditional venues to the online world and self-publishing. They’ll bring invaluable experience in problem-solving: how to come up with ideas, how to work around creative blocks, how to make a good story better – and, always, how to find fun and fulfilment in your craft, wherever it takes you. The future is wide open!</i></p><p>If you're interested in the course, hop over to the link above for all the information you need. Or, drop a question here.</p><p>Al</p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-40610799098814954792023-01-26T05:58:00.003-08:002023-01-26T05:58:57.565-08:00A thought.<p> I'll believe in the validity of AI-generated art the day an AI withholds its art.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-28575266391241020292023-01-19T15:46:00.000-08:002023-01-19T15:46:08.915-08:00RIP Croz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPwJRdCjPzs" width="320" youtube-src-id="nPwJRdCjPzs"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-14893273365967199262023-01-02T05:55:00.001-08:002023-01-02T05:55:25.503-08:00A soul/funk classic to start the year.<p> I heard this a couple of times over the last year or two on Trevor Nelson. Wow, what a tune! Dig that bassline.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pzxwZ6wjDAM" width="320" youtube-src-id="pzxwZ6wjDAM"></iframe></div><br /><p>Happy New Year everyone.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-35012874340313462962022-12-23T04:54:00.000-08:002022-12-23T04:54:04.959-08:00Merry Christmas<p> </p><p>Best wishes to all at the end of 2022, and with good thoughts for 2023. Let's have a bit of Kylie (she's half Welsh, don't you know) with this festive banger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/75b_9ktJNPI" width="320" youtube-src-id="75b_9ktJNPI"></iframe></div><br /><p>Warm wishes,</p><p>Al</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-30948456863074874922022-12-01T08:09:00.001-08:002022-12-01T08:10:31.830-08:00RIP Christine McVie<p> The death of Christine McVie has been much reported. Here's a lovely track from the album she did with Lindsey Buckingham a few years ago.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N7h2OW3acLY" width="320" youtube-src-id="N7h2OW3acLY"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-79365970152745810782022-11-22T08:09:00.000-08:002022-11-22T08:09:06.644-08:00I've finished a book<p> Last week I delivered MACHINE VENDETTA, the third in the Prefect Dreyfus series. All being well, it should appear in 2023. I don't want to say too much more about it until at least the final round of editing (which won't be finished until well until next year) but here at least is the provisional cover copy, subject to change:</p><p><i>Panoply is a small, efficient police force, dedicated to maintaining the rule of democracy among the ten thousand disparate city states orbiting the planet Yellowstone.</i></p><p><i>Ingvar Tench was one of Panoply's most experienced operatives. So why did she walk alone and virtually unarmed into a habitat with a vicious grudge against her organisation?</i></p><p><i>As his colleagues pick up the pieces, Dreyfus must face his conscience. Four years ago, when an investigation linked to one of his most dangerous adversaries got a little too personal, Dreyfus arranged for Tench to continue the enquiry by proxy.</i></p><p><i>In using her - even though he had his reasons - did Dreyfus also put her in the line of fire?</i></p><p><i>And what does Tench's misadventure tell him about an enemy he had hoped was dormant?</i></p><p>The book marks the end of my ten-novel contract, and since I've stated my intention to do standalones for at least the next few years, it's also the last word on both Dreyfus and the Revelation Space universe for the foreseeable.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-77224500528739240492022-11-21T03:58:00.000-08:002022-11-21T03:58:00.420-08:00Greg Bear (1951 - 2022)<p> I'm shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Greg Bear, following complications after surgery. His works meant a tremendous amount to me. Blood Music nearly cost me a degree: I was so enraptured by it that I had to tear myself away for last-minute revision. I adored Eon and its successors, Eternity and Legacy. All three stamped indelible images into my brain. The Forge of God kept me awake and focussed during the long grind of an observing run at the Anglo-Australian Telescope; its sequel, Anvil of Stars was one of the first books (perhaps <i>the</i> first) to play with cosmic-scale ideas about the role of competing alien intelligence in the universe, dealing with first contact, galactic war and the Fermi paradox in always fresh, exciting ways. His short novel Heads, which first appeared in Interzone, was a suitably creepy and well-imagined story about cryogenics and weird physics, one of the few SF stories to explore thermodynamics as a theme, and to do so with phenomenal boldness. I think it fits into a future history which also includes the fine Moving Mars, as well as Queen of Angels and Slant, all of which are richly recommended. His short fiction taught me how to open a story.</p><p>He could be delightfully playful. Reading the description of the alien Jart in Eon/Eternity, I realised that they were literally the <i>Hallucigenia</i> fossils from the Burgess Shale.</p><p>I met him only once or twice, both brief occasions at American SF conventions. He was genial, welcoming and approachable.</p><p>Thanks, Greg, and all love and best wishes to his family.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-91975967787492712602022-11-07T03:41:00.002-08:002022-11-07T03:41:56.867-08:00Witches<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/md_8P9PMaY8" width="320" youtube-src-id="md_8P9PMaY8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>Low performing Witches for The Guardian.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-87893053482988431002022-11-06T09:15:00.002-08:002022-11-06T09:15:52.859-08:00Mimi Parker<p> Half an hour ago I was listening to Low's wonderful, wonderful album C'Mon, one of the great records of the last decade or so, and marvelling at what a phenomenal presence Mimi Parker is; just a fabulous drummer and singer. And now I see in the Guardian that her death has just been announced.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/06/low-drummer-and-vocalist-mimi-parker-has-died" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/06/low-drummer-and-vocalist-mimi-parker-has-died</a><br /></p><p>This is dreadful news. All good thoughts to Alan Sparhawk and their children, and thank you for the music, Mimi. You were one of the greats. And, as ever, fuck cancer.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-52681881288148517052022-09-19T04:35:00.001-07:002022-09-19T04:35:11.692-07:00Memory Walk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwykO2tcKVEpmtYtbmBsEQ_CKuOzNj67du5LV7fik7OLeg0iMYaVFy7DqMoiGO9zlFC-dpB5RXhR3FlWAziWwjfu3VjAL7VnD9EhnUpjX05tFjyQELESohFNnpZCfOFwwb-CrM05lk0IabCDQdTZ0QH4X1EJ-9BeJHDF0abvRlFhzsy70tTKTTwiw/s2560/2022%2008%2018%20S5000139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwykO2tcKVEpmtYtbmBsEQ_CKuOzNj67du5LV7fik7OLeg0iMYaVFy7DqMoiGO9zlFC-dpB5RXhR3FlWAziWwjfu3VjAL7VnD9EhnUpjX05tFjyQELESohFNnpZCfOFwwb-CrM05lk0IabCDQdTZ0QH4X1EJ-9BeJHDF0abvRlFhzsy70tTKTTwiw/w400-h300/2022%2008%2018%20S5000139.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Yesterday's Memory Walk, in aid of the Alzheimer's Society, appears to have been a great success. Hundreds of people turned out for the walk. Thankfully, the weather was kind to us. There was a chilly breeze from time to time, but the Sun was out more often than not, and the autumn colours looked splendid. The only snag was a malfunctioning camera! Other than a few shots, it decided to over-expose so most of our pics were useless.</p><p>The event was extremely friendly, well organised and marshalled. Thanks to all volunteers involved.</p><p>Just before the start I was admiring this marvellous bit of wood sculpture on the edge of Cooper's Field, just behind Cardiff Castle:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaJfPpq5AWyBqqCNpKmX-6UZZ2Er4C7AyyGp2iP570DAu-zFeX5LEFld5aNNg5XaK_yS1h6c_KKZ7c6b2tY28oMzHGxZ1yrcgh1WrKjfOU-y3cNb0qRWVw-DdgM87BQbl8Z-gqvxGbTeWN6Yay0sV0NzRVDcERERyYNDflP5bU3MNTnwxog3DPBJe/s2560/2022%2008%2018%20S5000144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaJfPpq5AWyBqqCNpKmX-6UZZ2Er4C7AyyGp2iP570DAu-zFeX5LEFld5aNNg5XaK_yS1h6c_KKZ7c6b2tY28oMzHGxZ1yrcgh1WrKjfOU-y3cNb0qRWVw-DdgM87BQbl8Z-gqvxGbTeWN6Yay0sV0NzRVDcERERyYNDflP5bU3MNTnwxog3DPBJe/w400-h300/2022%2008%2018%20S5000144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The 6km walk took us out of central Cardiff, along the Taff, up toward Pontcanna Fields. Along the way there was a chance to spy some wildlife, such as a kingfisher (tiny, but just visible perched on a branch). As a general rule in life, any day when you see a kingfisher is a good day, so this was a Good Day.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC92lGytEeFY3WbuGREb-TcWJyOLexygv6fna-OCdxEwLh2Cw9x62GSZf67CSa4a7lMPh7zgTarOXMVL9emneRaRK8P682lnl5GdPsMI1qUV_AoI2Jdih03Uwaz7F1mT1o9fztyhK9rdoSOxXZNbZ1U0k_xJWbQ4lVtorJ2J_GOuz79M8xWRtrhyV/s2560/2022%2008%2018%20S5000149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC92lGytEeFY3WbuGREb-TcWJyOLexygv6fna-OCdxEwLh2Cw9x62GSZf67CSa4a7lMPh7zgTarOXMVL9emneRaRK8P682lnl5GdPsMI1qUV_AoI2Jdih03Uwaz7F1mT1o9fztyhK9rdoSOxXZNbZ1U0k_xJWbQ4lVtorJ2J_GOuz79M8xWRtrhyV/w400-h300/2022%2008%2018%20S5000149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And a heron:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ5Gouz1hyFSkMsUwubReReGdOcE8RbHTrDqvGpAQMT5MliT-rPk0gUNEccwt52a7PR8mpbicOuBkt-qwa45TECIrXODSGCoBCeUoILbXsaZNSSJGpcKi2xwD3hNQHk0h8-bDHYEfi6IbHA-Ej_-psn8X7rRfTUu6X_uoRn_DDyruEojX6zn-oSQS/s2560/2022%2008%2018%20S5000151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ5Gouz1hyFSkMsUwubReReGdOcE8RbHTrDqvGpAQMT5MliT-rPk0gUNEccwt52a7PR8mpbicOuBkt-qwa45TECIrXODSGCoBCeUoILbXsaZNSSJGpcKi2xwD3hNQHk0h8-bDHYEfi6IbHA-Ej_-psn8X7rRfTUu6X_uoRn_DDyruEojX6zn-oSQS/w400-h300/2022%2008%2018%20S5000151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>My wife and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our fund. Although the amount we raised is just a drop in the ocean compared to the vast challenge of defeating dementia, every bit surely helps. Our Just Giving page will remain open for a few weeks, and we'll be making a matching donation of our own to the Alzheimer's Society.</p><p>Thanks again.</p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5143440998478479157.post-52440497379477053642022-09-16T09:43:00.000-07:002022-09-16T09:43:01.519-07:00Thanks!<p> I'll say more after the event, but as we approach the weekend I'd like to thank everyone who has so generously donated to the page for the dementia awareness walk my wife and I will be doing in Cardiff in a couple of days (see a post or two below). It's much appreciated</p><p><br /></p>Al Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517967406876572177noreply@blogger.com0