The Early Days of a Better Nation

Wednesday, October 31, 2012



Cell Culture - Examining how science and literature interact

I've been remiss in not proclaiming earlier that I'm taking part in an event this Saturday, 14.00 to 15.45, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the High Street:
How accurately does modern literature portray the life sciences? In what way is the use of science within fiction evolving to create new genres such as “lab-lit”? Is there more in common, than is often imagined, between the way in which both writers and scientists work?

These are some of the fascinating topics that are up for discussion in an afternoon of fact and fiction examining how fiction portrays life sciences and genetics. The event is being produced by the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, in conjunction with the Scottish Storytelling Centre, on Saturday 3 November 2012.

Cell Culture will feature participants including: Dr Jennifer Rohn, cell biologist, editor of Lablit.com and author of Experimental Heart and The Honest Look; Ken MacLeod, celebrated science fiction author; and Pippa Goldschmidt, short story writer and former writer-in-residence at the Genomics Forum.

The authors will read from their work before engaging in a public discussion which will be chaired Professor Stuart Monro, Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth.
Tickets £5 - booking details here.

Finally, speaking of events, a wee reminder that Iain Banks and I are manifesting on Friday evening at the Linlithgow Book Festival.

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Tuesday, October 02, 2012



Yet another classic!

The left-libertarian Center for a Stateless Society has republished yet another of my blasts from the past, this time a sympathetic but dissenting rant I wrote for the perennially fascinating (to me, anyway) Socialist Party of Great Britain on the occasion of its centenary in 2004.

Trainspotters of the political fringe may be amused to note, in that same centenary issue, a stirring call to smash cash, written in 1968 by David Ramsay Steele, one of whose later writings convinced me (eventually) that you can't. He went on to state the case more clearly, comprehensively, and readably than anyone before or since in a very interesting book.
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Monday, October 01, 2012



Two links

The left-wing market anarchists at Center for a Stateless Society have reprinted (with my permission and the publisher's) my Introduction to the American edition of The Star Fraction, as part of their ongoing series of left-libertarian classics. I hardly think it's anything of the kind, but who am I to argue? If it works to subvert the dominant paradigm, fine by me. (I'm not saying which dominant paradigm.)

The Herald magazine on Saturday published an interview with me, which is I think the first time I've ever featured in a lifestyle supplement. Thanks to Mike Calder of Transreal for the use of his shop for the photograph (in the print version only) of me holding a soft toy dinosaur and grinning wanly.

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