Hal Duncan's Blog, page 9

Gobfabbler on Black Friday

Back in em bad old days, our Black Friday was when's the scrufftraders'd do their rounds, end of every week, looking to make a pretty profit off the poor as was starving and on the edge of being turfed out on the streets. Ain't that much different now, I suppose; it's still the merchants and masters rooking the desperate for all's they got, in coin or credit. And the rest of us, beggars and

In Other News...

RHAPSODY: NOTES ON STRANGE FICTIONS, my non-fiction book exploring strange fiction, its culture and nature, will be coming out from Lethe Press in April next year. If you've been reading this blog over the years, if you followed my Notes from New Sodom columns over at Boomtron, you'll have some idea what to expect, but don't be looking for a simple collection of accreted essay material. I've

A Scruffian Christmas Carol 3

Only two days till FABBLES: 1 is officially launched in trade edition, with copies going live on Lulu and hopefully available to buy at my reading at The Old Hairdresser's on Sunday 1st December. There will definitely be copies of Caledonia Dreamin' there for sale on the merchandise table--they just arrived today--but I'm on tenterhooks waiting to see if the Lulu order makes it here in time. I

A Scruffian Christmas Carol 2

I saw three ships come sailing inOn Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;I saw three ships come sailing inOn Christmas Day in the morning.And what was in those ships all three,On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?And what was in those ships all three,On Christmas Day in the morning?A host of Scruffians off for sale,On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;A host of Scruffians off for sale,On Christmas Day in

Scruffians Celebrate With Ice Cream

And afters, Vermintrude gots us all ice cream! Give us some bleeding ice cream, says she, or I'll cut yer knackers off! That's her in front, the littl'un. Yer don't wants to know what she's saying to that groanhuff on the left, the one what doesn't have his hands tied behind his back.

Scruffians Stamp Audio

Up for your entertainment, from now till Sunday, here's a wee reading of "Scruffian's Stamp," if ye have a spare 20 minutes to kill. (Actually just under 17. It was done a while back, and listening to it now, I reckon it's read a wee bit fast.) Anyways, enjoy it while ye can, and if it sparks yer fancy for more, get yer order in now.

A Scruffian Christmas Carol

Away in a sewer, no crib for his bedThe little scamp Icksquick laid down his sweet headThe rats in the brickwork looked down on his plightThe little scamp Icksquick asleep in the shiteThe rodents are squeaking, the scamp he awakesBut Icksquick's a Scruffian, no crying He makesHe digs out a morsel to feed to his chumsA ratcatcher's hand what is missing its thumbBe near me, sweet Icksquick, them

FABBLES: 1... A Wee Sneaky Peek

I thought I'd give yez a wee glimpse at the interior of FABBLES: 1, the chapbook what I've made as a wee stocking filler for your very own self, your nearest and dearest, or sod it, anyone as ye might care to buy a pressie for this Chrimbo. Cause who don't love some bloodthirsty indestructible Victorian urchins?

So, here we gots the speshul edition's added extras: the as-yet-undecorated (verso)

FABBLES: 1... A Scruffian Chapbook

Meet the
Scruffians, workhouse tykes and street arabs scrobbled by the Waiftaker
General, dragged to the Institute and put to the Stamp that writes your
very soul into your skin.



Meet the waifs of Ripper Vicky's Empire, Fixed forever as they are,
never ageing, never starving, ever bouncing back to exactly how they
were Fixed... the perfect child labour.



Meet the scamps and

Another Reading, 1st December

With the inaugural Speculative Bookshop event. See here



Event #1 - suggested donation £3



Our first ever event. Come on down to the Old Hairdressers on Sunday
1st December, 6:30 p.m. to eleven(ish), and check out some local writers
and distros.



Be amazed. Be nice. Buy stuff.



Here's what's happening...



Alexander Abraham


A reading by the lesser spotted Southside Kiwi.