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Reviewing The Starless Sea
Tonight I will be on the arts/culture show Arena on RTÉ Radio 1, presented by Sean Rocks, reviewing The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.
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Book review on Arena
Tonight I will be on Arena on RTÉ Radio 1, presented by Kay Sheehy, reviewing Cilka's Journey, a loose sequel to Heather Morris's book The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
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Discussing Ursula K. Le Guin on Arena
I'll be on RTÉ Radio 1's cultural show Arena this evening to discuss the life and career of American writer Ursula K. Le Guin on the first anniversary of her death.
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Fire and Blood on Arena
Last night I was on Arena, RTÉ Radio 1’s culture show, talking about George R.R. Martin‘s latest book: the 700-page Goliath called Fire and Blood, Volume 1. You can listen back to the piece online if you want to hear me discuss Martin’s career and review this tome. I’ll note up front that this is a book that is touted as a history, and not a novel, so consider it something akin to Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. Martin has made the joke that this is his ‘GRRMarillion.
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Talking comics again on Arena
I’ve been on the RTÉ Radio 1 arts and culture show, Arena, twice recently. On Monday, 25 June I was discussing the 2000 AD Special Sci-Fi Magazine, and on Monday, 2 July I was reviewing the new Cambridge Companion To The Graphic Novel. I always enjoy being on Arena, and chatting to presenter Sean Rocks, but I particularly love talking about comics and expressing my passion for this artform to a wider audience.
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Profile of Philip Pullman on Arena
There’s much excitement about the publication tomorrow of the next novel in Philip Pullman‘s His Dark Materials saga – titled The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage. This evening I appeared on RTÉ Radio 1 arts show, Arena, and discussed Pullman’s work for those unfamiliar with the stories, and those who are keen to get the first big instalment in Lyra’s adventures for seventeen years. You can listen back to my discussion with Arena host Sean Rocks online. After all the prep I did for the show my memories of enjoying the first series were revistalised, and now I’m eagerly anticipating returning to Pullman’s marvellous universes.
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Reviewing Marvel’s The Defenders
I had a whirlwind return from Helsinki as I was scheduled to review the new eight-episode Netflix show, Marvel’s The Defenders, on Arena today. I was able to watch the first four episodes of the new show before the radio interview with Arena host Kay Sheehy. Fans of the four series, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, should not be disappointed. I’m eagerly looking forward to watching episodes 5 – 8 when the entire season debuts on Netflix on 18 August. Episode 4 ends on a climatic note, so be prepared to want to watch the next episodes immediately!
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Borne Review
Tonight I reviewed Borne, the latest novel by Jeff VanderMeer, for the RTÉ Radio 1 Arts show, Arena.
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Kindred – the graphic novel
I recently appeared on RTÉ Radio 1’s culture and arts show, Arena, in which I gave a brief overview of the graphic novel adaptation of Kindred, the award-winning novel by science fiction legend Octavia E. Butler. The graphic novel is adapted by Damian Duffy (writer) and John Jennings (artist), and published by Abrams ComicArts. You can listen to the show as a podcast online, and my segment is at the end. It’s a pity I didn’t have more time as I could have talked for longer about this fine work. Butler was a writer hero of mine when I was a teenager; her sf novels about the struggles with identity,…
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Talking Bande Dessinée on Arena
This evening between 7pm – 8pm I’ll have a segment on Arena – RTÉ Radio 1’s Arts & Culture show – to discuss the forthcoming Fête de la Bande Dessinée, the Irish / French Comic Book Festival, which is taking place from 2 -3 March in Dublin. I’m very much looking forward to this event in Dublin, and delighted to be able chat about it and promote it with the Arena audience. Here’s the programme for the festival: Wednesday 2 March, from 6.30pm Pulse – Irish Comics Now Mart Firestation: 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6 Pulse takes a snapshot of what’s happening in Irish comics right now. From small-press…
