Book List: Anthropomorphic Literature

To complement this month’s series of Panel Borders on anthropomorphic comic books, tonight’s Clear Spot explores the use of animal characters with human characteristics in literature. In the first half of the show, we’re proud to present an extract from one of Bryan Talbot’s lectures on anthropomorphism in children’s books, cartoons and comics, and their relevance to his own graphic novels series Grandville. Alex Fitch also talks to Bryan about his interest in the subject, and to children’s writer and illustrator Helen Ward about her adaptations of Aesop’s Fables for modern audiences. (Originally broadcast 13/08/12 on Resonance FM)

Bryan Talbot talks about Kamandi (photo by Matthew Rees) / cover of Grandville vol. 3 / covers of Varmints by Helen Ward + Marc Craste / Cover and interior spread from Aesops Fables adapted by Ward

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Bryan Talbot’s website
Video of Bryan giving his talk in another location on youtube
Buy Grandville as an ebook from Dark Horse Comics

Information about Helen Ward’s titles for Templar Books
Review of Helen’s adaptation of Aesop’s Fables at Publishers Weekly
Watch the animated film of Varmints on vimeo

Wikipedia pages on anthropomorphism and Aesop’s Fables

Listen to Alex’s previous month of shows on anthropomorphic comics Continue reading →

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Book List: Young Adult authors

With many kids now on their summer holidays, in this Clear Spot, Alex Fitch looks at two authors who are writing books aimed at the ‘tweenage’ audience. Philip Reeve discusses his award winning Mortal Engines series, his interest in steam-punk fiction and his new novel Goblins!; Jodi Picoult talks about her first Young Adult novel, Between the Lines, co-written with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, as well as her interest in comic books as displayed in her novel The Tenth Circle and her short run on Wonder Woman.

Cover + interior illustration of Between the lines, cover of Wonder Woman: Love and Murder by Jodi Picoult / covers of Mortal Engines + Goblins by Philip Reeve, promotional art for Seawigs by Reeve + Sarah McIntyre

(Originally broadcast 23/07/12 on Resonance FM)

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org Continue reading →

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Book list: The problem with autobiography

In a panel discussion recorded at the First Fiction festival (Sussex University, January 2012) author Sue Eckstein discusses the problems inherent in creating autobiographies with graphic novelists Nicola Streeten and Anuerin Wright and how creators can subvert and overcome these. Nicola’s book Billy, me and you and Aneurin’s Things to Do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park couldn’t be more different in their approaches, with the former combining cartoons, diary drawings and scrapbook montage and the latter depicting the author’s friends and family as anthropomorphic creatures in domestic settings. (Recorded by Nicola Streeten, edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)

Covers of Interpreters and The Cloths of Heaven by Sue Eckstein, Billy, me and you by Nicola Streeten and Things to do in a retirement home trailer park by Aneurin Wright

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Info about Interpreters, Billy, me and you and Things to Do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park
More info about the First Fiction festival (Sussex University, January 2012)

If you enjoyed this show, why not try Judith Vanistendael talking about her autobiographical comic Dance by the light of the moon
Continue reading →

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Book List: Children’s book illustrators

In an hour long show about children’s book illustration, Alex Fitch talks to three generations of illustrators: David McKee, creator of Mr Benn, King Rollo and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant; Dave McKean, artist of of young adult books by David Almond, graphic novels and picture books by Neil Gaiman and Richard Dawkins’ first science book for children The Magic of Reality; and Jim Kay, illustrator of Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls and Toby Forward’s Flaxfield Quartet of novels about dragons.
Also includes an extract from Dave McKean’s presentation of his work from The Magic of Reality at the book launch in Foyles, September 2011.

Mr Benn by David McKee, The Magic of Reality by Dave McKean and Richard Dawkins, and A Monster Calls by Jim Kay and Patrick Ness

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Random House titles by David McKee
Richard Dawkins / Dave McKean / Jim Kay websites Continue reading →

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