Christopher Fowler's Blog, page 516

Re:View – 'Iron Man 2′

Attempting to escape from deepening gloom over the election and the world financial crisis, I headed off to watch modern-day knights thumping hell out of each other. Or rather, they don't, because this is a cut above bubblegum entertainment, centring more on governmental shenanigans and boardroom politics than saving the world from evil.

Which is [...:]

Down The Tube, Into Hell

There's a 'hidden places' theme continuing this year – I'm getting some very respectable notices for 'Hellion', my first teen novel, which explores a forgotten London park and its nasty little secrets. Next comes 'Bryant & May Off The Rails', with the senex detecs poking about below the streets, and after that a new short [...:]

Sunshine? I Remember That

Back through dim grey clouds to the UK after a long weekend made memorable by seeing part of Spain with a relatively low tourist imprint. The coastal area isn't the big draw here; the culture and beauty of Jerez and the surrounding area is. People always talk about the 'soft colours of Britain' but give [...:]

Sherry-Tastic

I said I wouldn't blog but found a Wi-Fi connection on the roof. I'm staying in the old Mayor's house owned by Norwegian Jan in the heart of Jerez, where by day horses parade and at night the entire Feria is illuminated by avenues of lights. (The pics were taken on my iPhone, which felt [...:]

Goodbye, Georgy Girl

The Oscar-nominated Lynn Redgrave, sister of Vanessa and a member of one of Britain's greatest acting dynasties, has died aged 67 after a long fight with breast cancer. Her death comes three weeks after her brother Corin Redgrave and a year after her niece Natasha Richardson's death in a skiing accident. She'll be fondly remembered [...:]

On Vacation

Right, you lot. It's a bank holiday, and I'm off to the Feria in Jerez, Spain for four days. It's an event that began as a horse fair and has turned into a week-long celebration. I'll be back on Thursday, so there may be 'a reduced service' as London Transport says when there's bugger-all happening. [...:]

Ophidiophobes Beware!

Ssssss! My teen novel Hellion: The Curse Of Snakes is now out, and there's a website snaking this way – not quite finished, as you'll see by the ropey videos, but fun all the same. (Teenager looks, pulls face, says 'Yuk, a book', goes back to tearing aliens in half with laser) Go here.

Timely Elegance

There are various opinions about the first civilization to have measured time. Some say the Hindus, some Greeks, some Egyptians, but it took American ingenuity to create a masterpiece of timekeeping like this.This ad was forwarded by Anne Billson, who points out that you have to love a company that manages to misspell its own [...:]

The Election Reconsidered As A Slow Motion Car Crash

Oh man, you couldn't make this stuff up – after Bigotgate comes a literal car crash event at the unveiling of the new Labour poster. Of course, none of these hi-jinks should have any effect on the election outcome, but it makes for an entertaining run-up. If only something more awful would happen to Balloon [...:]

The Jig's Up

Apparently the leaders' debate ended with a dance-off. Gordon fell down on the Scottish Reel, Nick pulled ahead in the jigging-up-and-down-like-Michael-Flately. Next up; Pasa Doble.