Originally published on guardianbooks.co.uk A wealthy dynasty brought to its knees by popular revolt, the highest in the land caught in a web of corruption, and at the heart of it all a powerful woman with remarkable hair. If you see the Murdoch clan, Chipping Norton set and Rebekah Brooks in these archetypes then you have clearlyContinue reading “A Game of Egos”
Author Archives: Damien Walter
The answer to a riddle
Last year I wrote a short story called A Vast Bit of Hod, which I published to my blog here. As I mentioned at the time, the story is also a riddle. I have congratulated half a dozen people who emailed me the answer. This evening James Everington tweeted me to ask: btw, when are youContinue reading “The answer to a riddle”
Secondary World Problems
You know, those things which are only an issue if you happen to be the denizen of a world created in the imagination of a jobbing fantasy author. Or an ageing English academic. Or a frustrated fan trying to turn pro author. A secondary world always tells you more about the inside of the authorsContinue reading “Secondary World Problems”
My quest for e-Weird concludes
My quest for weird has turned up some gems, and shown me that we need to nurture new writing talent in both mainstream and independent publishing. A month ago I threw open the doors of the Weird Things column to all comers. Nominate your weird stories I said, and nominate them you did. I’ve lookedContinue reading “My quest for e-Weird concludes”
The New Aesthetic and I
Every creative is always looking for a new aestehtic. And now there really is a New Aesthetic. I will date the New Aesthetic to Bruce Sterling’s essay on the subject, in response to the SXSW panel chaired by James Bridle. But I’ll date my personal interest to the AlterFutures talk I gave recently, where itContinue reading “The New Aesthetic and I”
Stop. You are not a machine.
I do not know the origin of this. But I agree with it entirely. Stop. You are not a machine. Your natural design does not tolerate 2-4 hours of travel per day, 8-12 hours of slave-labor 5-6 days per week for whatever monetary compensation on 5-6 hours of sleep in a system builtContinue reading “Stop. You are not a machine.”
Understanding Christopher Priest
Writing can be a cruel game. Not least for those who, to innocent bystanders, might seem like winners in the game of literary life. Take Christopher Priest for instance. With a long and esteemed career in writing, numerous accolades under his belt and a Hollywood adaptation of his novel The Prestige still within living memory,Continue reading “Understanding Christopher Priest”
The Critics of Fantastika
Science fiction and fantasy may not seem like natural targets of literary criticism. The last thing anyone wants while trying to escape into a fantasy world is some clever clogs popping up to tell you the novel you’re reading is a reactionary construct perpetuating an outmoded value system in the face of a post-industrial reality.Continue reading “The Critics of Fantastika”
STORY SALE: Star to Universe Magazine
I’m quite chuffed to say that my story Star has been accepted by new UK based Universe magazine and will appear in their first ‘Albion’ themed issue in May 2012. Star was written in the 5th week of my time at the Clarion writer’s workshop in 2008. I went to Clarion with the mission of breakingContinue reading “STORY SALE: Star to Universe Magazine”
Im Abendrot
UPDATE: A new translation sent to me by Richard Gardner UPDATE: A contemporary re-imagining of Im Abendrot by Neil Fulwood UPDATE: I have added a new translation contributed by Robin Wallace, and the amazing performance by Jessye Norman of Richard Strauss ‘Im Abendrot’. I’m collecting translations of the poem ‘Im Abendrot’ by Joseph von Eichendorff,Continue reading “Im Abendrot”
5 indispensable guides for fiction writers
Many people say writing can’t be taught. But it can certainly be learned. (I actually think it can be taught as well, or I wouldn’t teach it.) When we’re young and full of beans we like to think we know it all. It’s hard to admit to ourself we don’t how to do something. ButContinue reading “5 indispensable guides for fiction writers”
The Quest for Weird
Fellow seekers, I need your help as I seek the grail of great, original and independently-published fiction in ebooks and on the web. People have been telling weird stories for as long as we’ve been huddling around fires attempting to keep the dark at bay. Our earliest stories overflow with the weird. The Babylonian EpicContinue reading “The Quest for Weird”
Damien Walter 