Marches, riots, and Remembrance
I went on the NUS/UCU march yesterday. I could only appear in my lunch hour, so I missed the end where people 'rioted' across London. Well, across one street in London. Well, actually in one building...
View ArticleA Letter to my MP
Dear Sir John Stanley,I am writing to you to express my concerns about the Government's plans for Higher Education. The Government wishes to shift the burden of cost from teaching grants to fees paid...
View ArticlePlaceholding
In lieu of proper academic content, here is a link to a review written by me that went online today:http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2010/12/the_mammoth_boo.shtmlI hope to get back to proper...
View ArticleBurns night and Martial
The 25th of January is the birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet. Since the early nineteenth century this has been celebrated by Burns suppers, at which Haggis is eaten (which is almost...
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Make cakes, not war
I've been remiss in blogging the annual UCL and King's Classics Plays this year. Both were enjoyable. UCL put on Aristophanes' Lysistrata, for the third time in twelve years. Well, it's a good play,...
View ArticleNotes from the world of me
It's been quite a good month for me, what with one thing or another. First, the Doctor Who story The Ark was released on DVD. Back in November 2008, I was interviewed for one of the the special...
View ArticleFive lies told about AV
1. "It's too confusing."No it isn't. It's no more confusing than going into a restaurant, asking for steak pie, being told it's off, and choosing something else from the menu. Eating out would collapse...
View ArticleElisabeth Sladen, 1946-2011
On Tuesday night I saw a rumour over the Internet that I hoped wasn’t true. It was that Elisabeth Sladen, famous for playing the role of Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and spin-offs, on and off, for...
View ArticleConference on "The Influence of Greek and Latin Antiquity in Contemporary...
I've recently become aware of the following Call For Papers.http://colloque.antiquite-sfff.over-blog.org/pages/Call_for_papers-4933306.htmlI stress that I have no connection with this conference, and...
View ArticleKidbrooke Lysistrata redux
I raved about this production a couple of months back. Well, it's back, so go and see it if you can.
View ArticleMartin Skidmore
My friend Martin Skidmore died last night, at the ridiculously young age of 52. It wasn't unexpected - he'd been diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, and with each examination it became clearer and...
View ArticleA science fiction bibliography
I've recently been appointed as an external supervisor for a graduate student working on Greek mythology and science fiction novels. I'm very excited by the project, and having my first graduate...
View ArticleRelaunch of FA Online
One of the things that occupied what turned out to be the last months on Martin Skidmore's life was FA Online, a relaunch of a (or as Martin had it, the) critical comics magazine that Martin had edited...
View ArticleSwords, Sorcery, Sandals and Space: The Fantastika and the Classical World. A...
Swords, Sorcery, Sandals and Space: The Fantastika and the Classical World. A Science Fiction Foundation ConferenceAt The Foresight Centre, University of LiverpoolGuests of Honour/Plenary Speakers:...
View ArticleRoyal Holloway Classics Day
A few months ago, the Principal of Royal Holloway came up with a wheeze for the Classics Department - amalgamate it with History and lose six of its posts. I was amazed. This was not some minor...
View ArticleBSFA Awards nominations
For a number of reasons (largely because we can), the BSFA awards nominations deadline has been extended until 2200 UK time, Thursday 19th January. If you're a BSFA member, please nominate here, or...
View ArticleScience Fiction Foundation SF Criticism Masterclass 2012
The application deadline is approaching for the 2012 Science Fiction Foundation SF Criticism Masterclass (28 February). I've been on three of the six Masterclasses, and found them extremely useful in...
View Article2012 BSFA Lecture at Eastercon
The 2012 BSFA Lecture at Eastercon will be given by Dr Marc Morris, and is entitled 'Regime Change in England, 1066'. It draws on his recently-published book The Norman Conquest. The lecture will be...
View ArticleCFP Reminder: Swords, Sorcery, Sandals and Space: The Fantastika and the...
Apologies for cross-posting. Please distribute to anyone who might be interested.Swords, Sorcery, Sandals and Space: The Fantastika and the Classical World. A Science Fiction Foundation Conference29...
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