Eh, Vian!

I’ve just had confirmed that a story of mine is to be included in a tribute anthology to Boris Vian – one of my favourite writers. The book is forthcoming from Raphus Press – a great small press producing beautiful limited editions. Needless to say this is a great honour for me and I’m grateful to Rhys Hughes for alerting me to the opportunity.

Unlike my Sherlock Holmes stories, this is not a pastiche. Imitating Vian’s style is impossible. Instead I wanted to write something which had the feel of Vian’s world of the Left Bank in 1950’s Paris with cafes full of intellectuals and cellars full of Jazz. The lead character is somewhat based on Vian and, as with the master, I included his friend Jean Paul Sartre under a psuedonym (Jean Paul Georges, also known as Ringo).

I discovered Via at the age of about 16/17 with Froth on the Daydream. I then managed to find Heartsnatcher and some of his plays and in the last 20 years most of his work has been translated into English, including some of his Vernon Sullivan books. If you haven’t encountered this amazing author, now is a good time.