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One of the greatest fantasy epics of the 21st century ends here, with Alex Pheby's mind-bending Waterblack. We go in-depth into the trilogy and the surprising inspirations behind its central themes. Also, Skibidi Toilet. Music by Homeskin: https://homeskin.bandcamp.com/track/blood-to-disk Theme tune by Caïna: https://cainaband.bandcamp.com/
We press publisher and writer SAM JORDISON for the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Sam is one half of Galley Beggar Press, the small independent publisher with a bunch of big hits to its name: Eimear McBride's Women's Prize winning A Girl is a Half Formed Thing, Lucy Ellman's Booker-shortlisted Ducks, Newburyport and Alex Pheby's Cities of the Weft trilogy to name but a few. Sam talked us through what it's like to found and then run a small press, including the economic challenges, and sifting through the submissions pile. He also talked about his writing career, including the now-legendary Crap Towns series.Check out Galley Beggar Press here: https://www.galleybeggar.co.ukHead to https://www.patreon.com/hellishpod to access episodes early and ad free, where you will find out which artists our guests will meet in Hell. You'll also get our two pilot episodes, and a bunch of other stuff depending which tier you pick - including the chance to come and work for Hell's H.R. department! If you just want to be nice/bribe your way out of Hell then you can also tip us over at https://www.ko-fi.com/hellishpodHellish now has a bookshop - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/hellish - where you can get books written by our guests, and a choice selection of Hell literature. Help us out by ordering from us! (Though if you're ordering Galley Beggar books, get them direct from them instead)Find us on Spotify to hear the songs on Sam's Infernal Playlist in full, as well as the Ultimate Infernal Playlist which combines the choices of every damned soul we've met so far. https://tinyurl.com/hellishpodYou can find us/beg for absolution on social media...Instagram: www.instagram.com/hellish_podThreads: https://www.threads.net/@hellish_podFacebook: www.facebook.com/hellishpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/hellishpod.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/hellishpodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/hellishpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Discourse Labyrinth has once again trapped Langdon and Eden! First, they must do battle with online """Leftists""" to defend a Marxist reading of Foucault (while stabbing the actual man repeatedly, luckily he is already dead). Then, the two dive into the maze of Platonist, reality-bending, weird fantasy that is Alex Pheby's Malarkoi! Talking dogs, gods, ideal realms, time manipulation, and general malarkey abounds. Music played: Gods of Eden - Through the Abyss https://godsofeden.bandcamp.com/track/through-the-abyss Armory - The Hunters from Beyond https://armory417.bandcamp.com/track/the-hunters-from-beyond
With Playthings as the August edition, Alex Pheby's gripping, fictional take on the 19th-century German judge Daniel Paul Schreber's experience of psychosis, we talk to Susie Orbach. With Orbach, we open out from the Schreber case to ask about the value of psychotherapy... the importance of 'the session', whether it's writing or talking, how it works and whether it can help an individual join the wider the community. Before Sigmund Freud's formal psychoanalysis began, Schreber (1842-1911) set about writing out his experience of mental illness in "Memoirs of My Nervous Illness" which would become an important source account for Freud and others. Susie Orbach is a psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, writer and social critic.
Spoiler alerts, Marx, and Alex Pheby's Mordew, plus we talk to Hugo Hamilton about his latest work, a novel narrated by another novel: "The Pages."
Bonus Episode! Todd Doughty joined Ryan on the podcast to chat about his book, Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World. Be prepared for an episode full of dopamine and two friends catching up! Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World Todd Doughty Spotify Playlist Follow Todd Doughty on Instagram Other Books Mentioned During this Episode: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (audiobook) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (audiobook) Gmorning Gnight by Lin-Manuel Miranda (audiobook) From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (audiobook) An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard (audiobook) Darling Girl by Liz Michalski (audiobook) The Firm by John Grisham (audiobook) A Time to Kill by John Grisham (audiobook) The Pelican Brief by John Grisham (audiobook) Shady Hollow by Juneau Black (audiobook) Mordew by Alex Pheby (audiobook) The Every by Dave Eggers (Indie Exclusive Hardcover!) (audiobooks) Louise Penny Gamache Series (audiobooks) Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon (audiobook) Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (audiobook) Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (audiobook) Other Links Gibson's Bookstore Website Purchase Gift Certificates! Browse our website by Category! Donate to the bookstore! Check out our Events Calendar! Gibson's Instagram The Laydown Instagram Facebook Twitter Libro.fm (Our Audiobook Platform) Use the code “LAYDOWN” for 3 audiobooks for the price of 1! Email us at thelaydownpodcast@gmail.com
We're now deep into September, and once again Gary and Becca have got a week full of events and an incredible number of new books to talk about! Events this week: Tuesday, September 21st: Jonathan French, in conversation with Will Damron Wednesday, September 22nd: Ari Honarvar Thursday, September 23rd: Alex London, in conversation with Tui Sutherland Friday, September 24th: Young Adult Book Club discussing This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron Saturday, September 25th: Virtual Storytime with Catherine Manning Monday, September 27th: Alex Pheby, in conversation with Christopher Buehlman New this week: A Girl Called Rumi by Ari Honarvar Battle Dragons: City of Thieves by Alex London The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki Daughter of the Morning Star by Craig Johnson All These Bodies by Kendare Blake The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi Into the Dying Light by Katy Rose Pool Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick On Location by Sarah Echavarre Smith Gutter Mage by J.S. Kelley She Rides the Storm by Caitlin Sangster Maya and the Return of the Godlings by Rena Barron Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe, illustrated by Godwin Akpan Barb the Last Berzerker by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson Rivers by David Gaffney, illustrated by Dan Berry Swing, Volume 4 by Matt Hawkins, illustrated by Yishan Li You can now find us on Patreon! Unlock exclusive content by subscribing today! Special thanks to Austin Farmer for letting us use the track "Kill the Farm Boy", from his album Bookshelf Symphony Orchestra! Send us your questions to mystgalaxypod@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok! And support the store by ordering books at mystgalaxy.com!
Alex Pheby reads The Clinic by Uschi Gatward. The clinic comes from Uschi's superb new collection of stories English Magic, which is available now in our online store (https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/paperback-shop/english-magic) and from all good booksellers. You might also enjoy reading this fantastic Q&A with Uschi: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/qa-uschi-gatward-english-magic
This week, host Jason Jefferies is joined by Alex Pheby, winner of the Republic of Consciousness Prize and author of Lucia, which is published by our friends at Biblioasis. Topics of conversation include Lucia and James Joyce, Finnegans Wake, Egyptology, Harry Potter, fan fiction, the likelihood that current authors will be studied in one hundred years, and much more. Copies of Lucia can be purchased here with FREE SHIPPING for members of Readers' Club+.
Bonfires and book blurbs, "Cat Person" controversy, and Lori and Sam chat with author Alex Pheby about his novel that imagines the life (and the death) of Lucia Joyce.
While Mark is busy editing some more episodes of our sister show All Of Time And Space, Iain and Matt have a chat about Virgin's New Adventures series of Doctor Who books. Looking back thirty years on, will the memory cheat? All Of Time And Space Podcast https://anchor.fm/alloftimeandspace Iain's Timewyrm Genesys Blog: https://www.iainmartinbooks.co.uk/thirty-years-of-the-new-adventures-looking-back-at-timewyrm-genesys/ Ben Aaronovitch's website: https://www.benaaronovitch.com Matt Barber's Daemons: https://obversebooks.co.uk/product/26-daemons/ Strangers In Space Podcast https://strangersinspace.libsyn.com/ Mordew by Alex Pheby: https://www.waterstones.com/book/mordew/alex-pheby/9781913111120 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nerdology-uk/message
To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, seventh episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Fantasy City, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with writer Alex Pheby to discuss books, genre fiction vs literary fiction, the world of rights and publishing, and the ins-and-outs of Pheby's new fantasy novel, Mordew. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/7. Thanks for listening. LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Alex about who he'd like to get a book recommendation from, what book he'd like to live in, and what his home bookshelves look like. (from 0:48)Alex discusses the origins and influences of his new fantasy novel Mordew, the tensions between genre fiction and literary fiction, the complicated world of rights and publishing, and the darkly fantastical world of Mordew. (from 15:15)Finally, Alex discusses the future of the Mordew trilogy and what he's currently reading. (from 1:02:28)Jay wraps up with the books and authors that were discussed in the episode: the works of Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, Jack Vance, JRR Tolkien, Paul Stanbridge, Albert Camus' The Plague, Simon Gough's The White Goddess, Eimear McBride's A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing, Jonathan Gibbs' Randall, Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, Stephen King's Carrie, Lucy Ellmann's Ducks, Newburyport, Graham Greene, Preti Taneja, Fritz Leiber's Swords and Deviltry, Iain M Banks, Hilary Mantel, and the short stories of Richard Yates. Jay also recommends two of his favourite fantasy/sci-fi writers, Ursula K LeGuin and Becky Chambers. (1:12:25)Buy, read and review Mordew now, available from all good bookstores! Alex's earlier novels Lucia and Playthings are also available for purchase. Alex's bonus episode is available on our Patreon page now.Thanks for listening and tune in again (very very very) soon for Episode Eight!
Alex Pheby is a British author and academic. His second novel, Playthings, was described as “the best neuro-novel ever written" in Literary Review. We talked about the importance of fiction and its impact in world. The variable subjective realities and what are some ways we can have enriching experience of self.Books:MordewPlaythingsLucia
Alex Pheby is a British author and academic. His second novel, Playthings, was described as “the best neuro-novel ever written" in Literary Review. We talked about the importance of fiction and its impact in world. The variable subjective realities and what are some ways we can have enriching experience of self.Books:MordewPlaythingsLucia
Alex Pheby is a British author and academic. His second novel, Playthings, was described as “the best neuro-novel ever written" in Literary Review. We talked about the importance of fiction and its impact in world. The variable subjective realities and what are some ways we can have enriching experience of self.Books:MordewPlaythingsLucia
You're going to thank us for this one. Mordew is acclaimed author Alex Pheby's first foray into fantasy, and it's incredible. Imagine Gormenghast, China Mieville, Bloodborne, Dorohedoro- if it's dark, fantasy and stuff we like then it's an ingredient here. We talk about writing, publishing, Dark Souls, Harry Potter and more. You can order Mordew here: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/paperback-shop/mordew Or join Galley Beggar's subscription service for Mordew and a bunch of other good books, plus treats: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/subscribe Music by Paradise Lost: https://paradiselostofficial.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian
Alex Pheby reads chapter one of his forthcoming novel, Mordew. You can pre-order Mordew here: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/paperback-shop/mordew If you do, we'll also give you a secret password to enable you to listen to the entire book as Alex reads it in weekly instalments. Alternatively, you can subscribe to those instalments on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=7263656
Alex Pheby reads a very tasty little morsel from Mordew and Sam Jordison reads Pliny's account of the eruption of Vesuvius.
"I don’t think we as human beings are ethically clean… My entire existence as a human being is unethical... If you’re vegan and get your vegan food from Sainsbury’s you’re just subsidising their bacon... We’re all bad people. We need to work on that." Actual genius Alex Pheby in conversation with Sam Jordison at the Greenwich Literary Festival 2019. Includes readings from Playthings and Lucia - and keep listening to the end for a world exclusive first reading from the forthcoming novel Mordew. For more information and to buy Alex's wonderful books, please visit galleybeggar.co.uk Here's a longer sample, courtesy of twitter user @danieldaviswood who typed it out heroically: "I don’t think we as human beings are ethically clean. I don’t think that is a position you get to occupy. I don’t think you, as a human being—sitting here, you—get to sit there and think that by virtue of you wanting to be a good person, you are a good person. Your entire existence, my entire existence… is already unethical. The very existence of you—no matter how nice a person you are, no matter how good you are, no matter how good you try to be—you’re already, always already, wrong. Your existence has ruined the planet. Your existence as a human being is predicated on hundreds and hundreds of years of brutal repression of other people, appalling crimes that your culture has committed and continues to commit.
We hosted the shortlisted authors for the Republic of Consciousness Prize 2019 in an evening of readings at the London Review Bookshop. Rewarding the most exciting and interesting literature published by small presses in the UK and Ireland, the Republic of Consciousness Prize has previously been awarded to John Keene (Counternarratives, Fitzcarraldo Editions) and Eley Williams (Attrib. and other stories, Influx Press). This year’s shortlist of six is: Daša Drndić for Doppelgänger, (Istros), Will Eaves for Murmur (CB Editions), Wendy Erskine for Sweet Home (Stinging Fly), Anthony Joseph for Kitch (Peepal Tree), Chris McCabe for Dedalus (Henningham Family Press) and Alex Pheby for Lucia (Galley Beggar). Sadly, Daša Drndić died last year, but was represented at the readings by her publisher and translator. See the full shortlist here. The readings were introduced by the prize’s founder, Neil Griffiths. The Republic of Consciousness Prize was set up in 2017, and is given yearly to a book published by a small press in the UK & Ireland. It is the only prize that awards money to both the publisher and the author of the winning title. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Alex Pheby was born in Essex and moved to Worcester in his early childhood. He has Masters degrees in critical theory (Manchester Metropolitan University) and creative writing (Goldsmiths, University of London) and a doctorate in critical and creative writing from the University of East Anglia. Alex’s first novel, Grace, was published in 2009. His work deals with madness and social exclusion, loss, and the middle ground between reality and fantasy. His second novel, Playthings, was shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize 2016. 5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Learn more about 5x15 events: http://5x15stories.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/5x15stories Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5x15stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5x15stories
This week we speak to Alex Pheby about having different editing and writing persona, blending fiction with historical research and whether it's rational to have any faith in an external reality. Alex's novels include 'Grace' (Two Ravens Press), 'Playthings' and the forthcoming 'Lucia' (both Galley Beggar Press - [https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/alex-pheby](https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/alex-pheby)) You can follow Alex on Twitter [@alexpheby](https://twitter.com/alexpheby) Follow us [@unsoundmethods](https://twitter.com/unsoundmethods) or [unsoundmethods.co.uk](https://unsoundmethods.co.uk/)
The first of three shows for the 2016 Wellcome Book Prize, with shortlisted authors Cathy Rentzenbrink & Alex Pheby. Cathy Rentzenbrink was born in Cornwall, Grew up in Yorkshire and now lives in London. A former bookseller at Waterstones, she was until recently Project Director of the charity Quick Reads, and is currently books editor at the Bookseller magazine. Her first book, The Last Act of Love, has been shortlisted for the 2016 Wellcome Book Prize. Alex Pheby is a writer and academic. He is the co-founder and co-director of the annual Greenwich Book Festival, and is the programme leader of the University of Greenwich's creative writing programmes. His first novel, Grace, was published in 2009, and his latest novel Playthings is shortlisted for the 2016 Wellcome Book Prize. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
We’re delighted to host Alex Pheby to read from his historical “neuronovel” Playthings currently shortlisted for the prestigious Wellcome Book Prize. Paul Schreber is a man who wants to go home – but can’t. He is a man crippled by an illness he doesn’t understand – and sometimes doesn’t even know he has. He's no condition to face the worst - but the worst keeps on happening to him. His family is disintegrating, past traumas are coming back to haunt him - and so are those troubling, seemingly laid-to-rest fears of persecution… Paul Schreber is paranoid - and they really are out to get him. Playthings, Alex Pheby's astonishing second novel, delves deep into a disturbed mind - and in doing so, also unearths the roots of the great ills in the twentieth century, the psychological structure of fascism, the cancer of anti-Semitism, and the abuse of institutional power. Based on the true story of a man who became a case study for Freud and a foundation stone in the psychological make-up of the twentieth century, Playthings is an intense and poetic exploration about what it means to be human. It will shake you to the bone.