| Author | Message | ||
     Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.189.17 |
 Mostly Monochrome Stories by John Travis The ExaggeratedPress 2009 ================================================ I anticipate many here loving this book, including me! Having just bought this book, I intend to write one of my real-time reviews here: http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/mostly_monochrome_stories__by_john_travis.htm | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I posted this elsewhere but it bears repeating: I'm a big admirer of Travis's unique work. He combines humour with the fantastic in a way that is intriguing and often creepy as hell. There's also a nice dose of surrealism in his stuff. The closest comparison I can think of is the TV series "One Foot in the Grave", and I know JT is a huge fan. His stories - stories about things like haunted sausages, haunted slippers and talking animals - have the same unsettling humour. Highly recommended. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.106.220.19 |
This is excellent news. John was telling us about this at last year's FantasyCon. In fact, when I asked him if he was doing a reading last year, he said no, but that if his book came out during 2009 he would give a reading at 09's FCon...  | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.70.206 |
Just started dipping in. Really like The Other Exhibition – so surreal and Dance of the Selves -good and very weird. John read for the first time at an event in Penistone last year and he is so good at it - perhaps he will read at Fantasycon. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.189.17 |
Well, I've now reviewed the first two stories. Anyone heard of a group called the Pixies? | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.13.44 |
Anyone heard of a group called the Pixies? On here, I'd say at least gcw, Zed and me... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Yes, and JT is a massive fan - he and I have discussed the merits of "Surfa Rosa" over "Trompe le Monde" on several occasions. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.13.44 |
Erm, where can I buy this book? I've not heard of Exaggerated Press and I'm unable, with a cursory search, to find their site. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Very good band the pixies. Where is My Mind is a cracking tune (although I think Placebo did it better) | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Mick - it's only available on Lulu.com, or from JT direct. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.189.17 |
Mick, according to this book (that I bought direct from John), it is run by my old friend Terry Gates Grimwood (who had a great story in Nemonymous One in 2001) - and the email addres in this book is: terrygatesgrimwood@msn.com | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.105.4 |
Hey, everyone. I wanted to be the first to announce that John Travis has got a new -- Oh. Never mind. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.13.44 |
Cheers Zed & Des - I've just emailed John to see about buying it direct from him. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.13.44 |
...and sorted. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.189.17 |
Here is a quote from this book (in a story that was first published in 2006): "Looking from the windows I saw a group of men and women attacking a man in an expensive suit. Looking closely I recognised him as the local MP. That made me laugh, at least.” I've now reviewed the first five stories. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Just ahead of you in reading this collection, des, and I have to disagree regarding "The Arse of Dracula". I thought it was hilarious; the final coda made me laugh out loud. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.208.112.230 |
The story 'Nothing' (which I think was also originally in Nemonymous) is heartbreaking. The sense of bereavement really struck a chord. 'The Strainer' unsettled my stomach (you'll know if you read it). | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 217.43.30.36 |
I've now completed my review: http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/mostly_monochrome_stories__by_john_travis.htm | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.191.95 |
I'm probably the odd one out with this, but 'Doolittle' was always my favourite Pixies album. I love 'Bossanova' too. At the beginning of the '90s all my friends were raving about Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I was constantly trying to explain to them how the Pixies and Jane's Addiction were so much more original and talented... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
When Kurt Cobain first heard Pixies, he knew immediately what he wanted Nirvana to sound like. I remember when Smells Like Teen Spirit first came on the radio; I thought it was a new Pixies song. Doolittle is one hell of an album, Huw. I fluctuate between that and Surfa Rosa being the best. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.191.95 |
Me too, to be honest - Surfer Rosa and Come On Pilgrim (I have them on one disc) make for an amazing album. I wasn't so fond of the very late stuff, but even that is much better than most other bands' best efforts. | ||
| Steveduffy (Steveduffy) Username: Steveduffy Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 86.156.195.99 |
Doolittle for me, though SR/COP is also fine. Quiet bit / LOUD BIT is an enduring style! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Pixies are unique - in the true sense of the word. You know a Pixies song from the opening bars. I can't think of any other band I can say that about... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Black Lace. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
You and cool live on different streets, don't you? Nay, different planets.  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Yeah, but my neighbourhood is chav free. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
It was before you moved in. (Oh, bull's eye, sir. Bull's eye.) | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
You is well out ov order, man. You is disrespecting me. I could sue you for that, for real. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.90.63 |
Trying to catch up with books and have just been reading Mostly Monochrome Stories by John Travis. Excellent collection. Three really caught my attention...Dance of the Selves..The Other Exhibition and Ode to Hermes #54. It will be on the Screaming Dreams table at Fantasycon tomorrow. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Just wanted to mention here, as I think I did very loudly in the curry house, that after Mr Travis recommended it to us, I dragged Kate off for a private JLP performance of The Arse of Dracula, which is absolutely one of the funniest and most affectionate movie tributes I have ever read. Partly in a West Country accent. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 93.96.181.75 |
Yes, it was brilliant - both from the reading and the performance.  I was in stitches. | ||
| Steve Jensen (Stevej) Username: Stevej Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 82.0.77.233 |
Gawd, I always miss out on the best things *cries*...I'm still laughing at Lord P consoling the 'woman' who read his Coffin Nails: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL-0Re9zCQA  I'd have loved to have seen John's performance, and the awards presentation.  | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.156.38.102 |
Johns' book was one of the (many) I picked up, it looks great frankly -looking forward to reading it! gcw | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
Thanks for posting my video links Steve... I only wish I'd had the chance to capture John's reading. At least I got to see most of it whilst waiting to close down another room on the 10th floor. I've got a few more video clips of the awards to add, but I've just ran out of steam this evening - first day back at work. | ||
| Steve Jensen (Stevej) Username: Stevej Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 82.0.77.233 |
Thank you for filming the ceremony, Martin - seeing as I couldn't attend FCon, I'm really grateful that you made the videos available. | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
No problem Steve... and I just realised we seem to have hijacked John's thread about his short story collection... but I'm guessing he'll let me off since I brought this on Sunday  | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.222.21 |
I managed to catch a few readings but I missed John's story - double damn. | ||
| Ian Alexander Martin (Iam) Username: Iam Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 99.199.107.118 |
I'm reading this collection next. Mr. Travis' first novel The Terror and the Tortoiseshell is coming out in March next year. Simultaneous to that is John Llewellyn Probert's <s>Fifth</s> Fifth Collection of stories: Wicked Delights. Both are hardbacks and both can be pre-ordered from Atomic Fez Publishing. So, you see, it all gets wrapped up and back together again: it started with John, then John got involved, then we mentioned John again, and now they're all in this post. Isn't it wonderful? Let's have a group hug. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.222.21 |
Glasses raised to both Johns! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 81.155.31.72 |
Are there any other reviews of the Travis book - and the Grimwood one - (both ExagerratedPress) - oher than my reviews of them? | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.43.214.156 |
Just seen one about MM! http://www.kissthewitch.co.uk/seinundwerden/monochrome.html |