This is a fascinating website about the art of Penguin Science Fiction. In recent years I have become obsessed with the covers that Penguin produced for their science fiction books and this website chronicles alot of them. I don’t have a great deal to say really, just head on over to the site for a look and a read. Once you click on a book cover, it supplies you with information about the book, but also about the cover design.
JG Ballard died on Sunday morning. While I am not a great fan of his later work, I do enjoy his earlier novels. He certainly had a great way of writing. I guess he will always be known for writing Empire Of The Sun, which was about his experiences as a child during World War Two. This was turned into a movie by Steven Spielberg and starred a young Christian Bale. It flopped at the cinema, but I think it is a fantastic film. I’ve never read the book, but I am tempted to read it now. Some of the themes that appeared in his books were celebrity culture, surveillance culture and global warming. I rate him as highly as I rate Philip K Dick. Anyway, if you want to read more about JG Ballard’s death then head over to the BBC website.
John Christopher‘s “The Death Of Grass” has been dramatized for Radio 4 and is being broadcast this week at 10.45am and 7.45pm. It tells the story of what would happen if all the grass died due to a virus and follows the story of a family as they try to escape to a safe haven. It runs from March the 2nd to the 6th and you will be able to listen again online. I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages so I will be tuning into this dramatisation. Also, this book is being reprinted after being out of print for years. It will be out on the 2nd of April through Penguin books.
JG Ballard‘s first novel is currently being broadcast on BBC 7. It’s an excellent story set in the future where Global Warming has occurred and the world has become flooded. It’s set at a scientific testing area in London and follows a scientist as the heat finally gets the better of him.
Analogue books in Edinburgh is publishing another book by Nigel Peake. This one is called Maps and should be available to buy from Thursday! They are having a small show and book launch on Thursday the 6th of November at their shop. The exhibition will be up for two weeks. If you don’t already own Sheds, then I suggest you pick up a copy. It’s lovely. Also you should check out Nigel’s blog as well.
I spotted this book at the weekend. Its a bit hard to describe. Its got lots of the covers that weren’t in the English version of the Akira graphic novels and erm, it shows lots of promo items and stuff. If you like Akira, then I think you would like this. I still need to get the other parts of the graphic novel. Anyway, this book is out now and is priced about £25. Amazon have it for £17.50 and you can get free P&P on it. Check it out. It’ll be on my Christmas list, no doubt.
Saturday (July the 7th), would be Robert A. Heinlein‘s 100th birthday. BBC 7 are marking this even by airing a version of The Green Hills of Earth and then on Monday they are going to broadcast an adaptation of Methuselah’s Children.