The Swipe Volume 1 Chapter 39
Hello from the just-past-mid point of Nanowrimo, where yer boi is having to manage his expectations. This year’s work has evolved from word-count to project based, to protect my fragile sense of control. The aim is to complete an old story, and I’m happy as long as I get a bit of time in front of the keyboard every day. The massively social week just gone was terrible for creativity, but enormously good for the soul. A big plus point—I’m actively enjoying the process this year. Onwards, with a smile on my face.
Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.
Rob is reading…
Or rather re-reading Warren Ellis, John Cassandra’s and Laura Martin’s Planetary. A radical reimagining of pulp fiction and comic traditions, it’s a romp across Marvel and DC traditions, lightly disguised. A few clever thoughts on the nature of the medium, aspects of fiction and some mind-bending ruminations on time travel. It’s a lot of fun, and luckily embraces the inherent ridiculousness at the heart of my beloved scientifiction. When it comes to Ellis and his #MeToo moment, he seems to be one of the few who is on record as working through his transgressions in mediated sessions with some of the women he so badly let down. In this case I’m happy to separate the art from the artist but I completely understand why people are still yicked out by the guy.
Rob is watching…
Talking of reinterpretations…
Rob is listening…
To the sound of the wind in the trees. Means I’ll have to go and sweep some leaves later, godammit.
Rob is eating…
The rabbit at Pierre Victoire in Oxford. I haven’t been in a while and I’m happy to report the joint was just as cosy, friendly and welcoming as I remember. Rammed out on a Wednesday night as well, which speaks to the fact it hits the brief so well. The food is full-on French, bulging with cream, butter and salt and therefore utterly delish. That lapin, boned, rolled around a herb farci and wrapped in bacon was gloriously excessive. I couldn’t eat like that every day, but oh it was good.
Rob’s Low-Key Obsession Of The Week…
BlueSky. Just got an invite and having a gay old time in there. It really is the closest thing I’ve seen to old-school Twitter. Mastodon’s still cool, though.
@conojito.bluesky.social if you want to come and say hi.
Richard Godwin from The Spirits comes up with an idea which conflicts me. On the one hand, it is against nature and should clearly be exiled to a slow, quiet death in the forest. On the other hand, curiosity is going to get the better of me. I recommend reading the whole post, which conflates my favourite Campari-based beverage and the process of carcinification extremely elegantly.
Mike Achim asks a simple question—if there was a recall button for something in your past you’ve done or said, what would it be for? His example will curl your toes, but the replies are GOLD.
The concept of The Digital Garden is part of a slow trend away from social media presence, towards a more thoughtful, curated and personal approach. I’m not convinced about the argument that blogs are not part of the garden aesthetic. I’ve been doing this for a real long time and it’s exactly the vibe I’m going for, reflecting current, ongoing and future interests in a simple-to-read and accessible platform. Lots of good ideas contained within, though.
Charlie Stross reveals the uncomfortable truth about science fiction, and how the rich and powerful people using common SF tropes as a design for life really do have the wrong end of the stick.
The saddest thing about Bezos, Musk and Branson’s obsession with space and humanity’s glorious future among the stars? When we get past the atmospheric barrier, things get very unfriendly in all sorts of squishy biological ways…
A song that sounds dreadfully familiar but which no-one can quite place. Sounds like an alien invasion taking place through the medium of music to me. Whatever you do, hit mute before they infect your brains.
Alexandra Petri at The Washington Post reports on the irritating tendency of people to not do as they’re told, even though it’s in the best interest of the hidden powers which rule the world. Honestly, the sheer ingratitude.
Bouncing back momentarily to Digital Gardens. The great thing is when you get to meet and enjoy the company of the gardener. My favourite online haunts are run by people who I like to spend a bit of time with every week. Their wit warmth and personality shine through with every edition. I like to hope this space has a little of that feeling. Anyway. Anne Friedman, featured regularly in The Swipe, has some news.
Last up, a long read from Kate Dwyer in Esquire on what it takes to be a writer in the 21st century. Yes, this is very pertinent to my interests, but still worth looking at as an overview on the work involved in being creative in public these days.
Outroism in the company of The Smile, Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood’s side-project. The promo, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Greenwood has been his soundtrack guy for years, hence the collab) is beautiful, and I’m happy to flag a modicum of involvement as part of The Day Job. There’s a lot of effects here which were done in camera, involving multiple exposures of the same bit of film through the camera. That amazing final tracking shot? Thirteen passes. Really pleasing to see the old ways still have a part to play.
See you in seven, true believers.
