Data Dump Sci-fi Poetry Award 2012

I've just now received two editions of Steve Sneyd's "Data Dump" (issues 183 and 184) in the post, which to my delight include a short list, and list of winners, for the 8th Annual Data Dump Award for science fiction poems published in Britain in 2012.

The keen-eyed among you will notice several nominations from Where Rockets Burn Through. The dull-eyed won't, but you've just been told, so read it again and brighten your cataracts:

SHORT LIST
Paul Farley, "The Circling Stars" (The Dark Film, Picador)
Bryn Fortey, "Singing" (Poetry Cornwall, iss 35)
W.N. Herbert, "Ice Station Zog" (Where Rockets Burn Through, Penned in the Margins)
D.S. Ketelby, "Lewisham, Monday. 10:47AM" (Banana Wings, iss. 51)
John Light, "Alone at Last" (Apocalypse: Poetry from the end of the world, Atlantean)
James McGonigal, "Inflight Memories" (Where Rockets Burn Through, Penned in the Margins)
Peter E. Presford, "Waiting Game" (On The Other Side of Dreams, Malfunction, Pantheon)
George Stevens, "In Robo Parentis" (Handshake, iss. 83)
Jon Stone, "What Robots Murmur Through Broken Sleep" (Where Rockets Burn Through, Penned in the Margins)
Barnaby Tidman, "Megara" (Where Rockets Burn Through, Penned in the Margins)
J.S. Watts, "Steelyard Sue Builds a Baby" (Songs of Steel-yard Sue, Lapwing)
Neal Wilgus, "O Brave New Atlantis Or, Lo! Passtellologue-Scriptolloids" (Awen, iss. 77)


AND THE WINNERS ARE....

FIRST PLACE
J.S. Watts, "Steelyard Sue Builds a Baby" (Songs of Steel-yard Sue, Lapwing)

SECOND PLACE
Jon Stone, "What Robots Murmur Through Broken Sleep" (Where Rockets Burn Through, Penned in the Margins)

THIRD PLACE
Barnaby Tidman, "Megara" (Where Rockets Burn Through, Penned in the Margins)


Congrats to all! If you'd like to read any of the poems from the folks published in Where Rockets Burn Through then you can buy several copies of the book here:
http://www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk/index.php/2012/10/where-rockets-burn-through-2/



Russell Jones

Other people's whisky and scrambled eggs

It's a rare occasion for me to post about anything other than myself. Very rare indeed. But prepare yourself for a shock...I'm about to! Perhaps I'm turning a new leaf, one which cares about the goings on of other bipedal mammals, the intricate nuances of existence outside of my own mottled skin. Perhaps. But don't worry, I'll drown a bag of puppies afterwards, just to keep equilibrium.

Two thing I shall tell you, and no more, cur. And this they be:

Non-me Thing number 1...

The tremendous Claire Askew, as part of "Women Supporting Women", has been involved in a project with vulnerable girls and women in Edinburgh. It has meant them reading and writing poetry, and then making short films based on their words. It's coming to an end, but they don't want it to fade into the ether! No, they want to get those poems and put them onto paper for the world to read! Do check out this link, read a bit more about the project and see if you can help out (yeh, I'm talking money here, Scrooge):  http://www.sponsume.com/project/making-it-home-project-help-us-build-book


Non-me Thing number 2...

Penned in the Margins, dynamic and free-wheeling publisher of poetry, short prose, essays and glory, are touring with their "Electronic Voice Phenomena", featuring music, poetry and performance that, much like a zombie gnawing on the face of "Dr" (she isn't) Gillian McKeith, is inspired by Konstantin Raudive's "experiments" of the 1970s in which it was claimed the voices of the dead were captured in white noise. Ah...ahahah. Ahem. Find out more here!
Website  electronicvoicephenomena.net
Facebook facebook.com/electronicvoicephenomena
Twitter  @_EVP


 That's all for now. Go away.

Russell Jones

Reviews Round-Up

Ahoy!

You’ve noticed that absence in your life haven’t you? A slow grinding down of your soul, that terrifying whisper of isolation? Well by now you’ve probably worked out that it’s because I’ve not been updating this blog very much. But worry not, lamb, I’ve a bounty of book reviews to keep your brain cell warm.

First it’s worth mentioning our event at the Scottish Poetry Library on April 25^th (starting 6:30 – get there early for a seat): Rockets For Edwin Morgan. It’s a celebration of the great man himself, with sci-fi readings from Ron Bultin, Pippa Goldschmidt, AndyJackson, Claire Askew, Ian McLachlan, Kelley Swain and James McGonigal. BOOK YER TICKETS NOW. A blog ditty penned by my cursed hand is here.

And now a host of reviews! If you don’t already own Where Rockets Burn Through: Contemporary Science Fiction Poems from the UK then I can only assume you’ve been incapacitated for the last 4 months, or that you’re just a terrible person. Salvation can be found here: Penned in the Margins.

And so to the reviews, keep 'em coming!

Star * Line (please scroll to the bottom of the page):

“I should probably check my enthusiasm and not say this is a landmark anthology, but I believe it is a major one [...] This is fresh stuff, and very accessible”

Poetry Scotland Reviews:

“An achievement and a milestone”

John Field writes a poetic and insightful review, with pictures to boot!

“When Rockets Burn Through is an anthology with considerable ambition.”

StarBurst awards 8 out of 10 stars:

“Science fiction and poetry, on paper at least, should be the perfect marriage. And, fortunately, it is! [...] an excellent addition to the science fiction poetry genre”

Geek Chocolate published the most ‘critical’ review of the book to date, summarising:

“as with the exploration of the universe, those scattered diamonds in the night are the reason for the journey through the dark spaces between”

The Telegraph calls Where Rockets Burn Through:

“an unusual stocking filler”

The Skinny:

“science fiction and poetry are, on this evidence, very complimentary forms”

Sidekick books call it:

“moreish work [...] a real genre zapper”

Russell Jones

Poetry Scotland Review reviews Where Rockets Burn Through!

Sally Evans of Poetry Scotland has written a substantial review of Where Rockets Burn Through. I urge you, as a midwife might urge a woman with child to 'push' or 'breathe', to read it and then go and buy several copies and bathe in its glory. Push. Breathe. Read. Buy.

http://poetryscotlandreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/sci-fi-poetry-liftoff.html?m=1


Russell Jones

Nature, naturally

The splendid folks at Nature have recorded 5 poems from "Where Rockets Burn Through"! Listen to them here:

http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/index-futures-2012-12-19.html

Poems featured:

"The UFOlogists" by Claire Askew
"Physics for the Unwary Student" by Pippa Goldschmidt
"Future Dating" by Joe Dunthorne
"Supper" by Kirsten Irving
"Man-of-War" by Ian McLaughlan

Enjoy!


Russell Jones

Lift off in Londinium

Get your T-Kirk costume out from the back of the cupboard, dust the ray gun, wash your BabelFish! It's nearly time for the London launch of Where Rockets Burn Through!

Toynbee studios are our hosts, with readings from Jon Stone, Kirsty Irving, Kelley Swain, Simon Barraclough, Sue Guiney (and more to be confirmed!)

The Ladies of The Press will also be doing mad and impressive things to your synapses, don't miss it.

The event blasts off at 7:30 and nerds in costumes are warmly welcomed -

Thursday 6 December, 7.30pm

Toynbee Studios
28 Commercial Street
London E1 6AB

Russell Jones

The First Review

The first review is a scary moment, I've found. But I'm happy to report that Starburst Magazine gave "Where Rockets Burn Through" a glowing 8/10.

Special mention also of Sarah Westcott's poem, "O" and Malene Engelund's "Owls"

Read it here!

http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/book-reviews-latest-literary-releases/4090-book-review-where-rockets-burn-through



Russell Jones