Christopher Fowler's Blog, page 353

PageRipper 1: Readers & Bookshops

As Annie hasn’t yet taken up her guest blogspot, I thought I’d do a new occasional list of thoughts here.

1. First, Fiona writes; ‘I thought I’d mention that you are quite good looking. I shall have to find time to drop everything else and read your books.’ This strikes me as one of the most [...]

A place where one can comment generally on Christopher Fowler’s books, without interrupting an incomprehensible thread

Here you go, Annie, knock yourself out.

Annie Morgan (related to Alan? I’m forming a 3D map of my readers) asked for a comment spot, and in the absence of anywhere else to do so – my web designed having mysteriously vanished – you might like to have a bash here.

Today’s picture is by the artist [...]

Two parts beautiful, one part deranged

Danny Boyle directed the visually astonishing ‘Frankenstein’ at the National Theatre, so he’s used to stitching together a monster from lots of different parts.

Even so, the Olympic opening ceremony must have presented a challenge for him. The sublime highs – Isambard Kingdom Brunel directing the forging of the rings in a river of molten steel, [...]

Competition: Want To Come To A Party?

On August 2nd, ‘Bryant & May and the Invisible Code’ is launching in central London. You can win an invitation to the launch party by telling me where it’s going to be held. Here’s your clue.

You’ll find another clue in the shot’s title. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by the [...]

Olympiad 2: First Day

Off to a flying start with the visiting Mitt Romney suggesting London’s not ready for the Olympics. Guess who’s now seated right at the back of the world stadium, just like Salt Lake City?

Lords turned away Mexican archery fans because the event wasn’t licensed for spectators, fearing a ‘King Harold’ moment.

The Taiwan flag disappeared from [...]

Not Invisible After All

‘Bryant & May and the Invisible Code’ is now visible. I know because some poor sod lugged a massive crate of copies up the five floors to my gaffe. Compo time next week – I have been compiling fiendish clues to confound and bemuse…watch this space!

Eve of the Olympiad

Not strictly true, as the Olympics already began with Women’s Football in Wales drawing the ‘Who Cares’ card. They managed to project a North Korean flag with South Korean players (or was it the other way around?) and the team walked off – so that’s off to a good start then.

But this is England (and [...]

Au Revoir, Champagne!

So they thought our mothers were hamsters and our fathers smelled of elderberries, did they? Well, for years the French conned the world about their overpriced acidic antifreeze-pimped drink, but California proved them wrong a few years back in blind taste tests, and now it seems that the English are finally catching on too.

Back [...]

I’m Not With The Brand

If I opened a toy shop selling coloured hoops, could I arrange them in the Olympic symbol without the design police kicking my door in and creating a veritable kristallnacht of my display? I’ve seen some very funny creative ways of avoiding the problem, least of all the range of shirts and bags bearing the [...]

A Cult Comeback

This is about a book that begins like this:

There’s blood everywhere, and none of it’s where it’s supposed to be.
On the carpet. On the curtains. All over me. And I know it won’t wash out because this shirt is pure silk. If you don’t want to ruin silk, never sneeze in a Starbucks with a [...]