The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

The programme for the world’s largest literary festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, was launched this morning with much gusto (and Bloody Marys and champers according to Sandra and John from Metaphrog who were there). I’ve not had time to look through the whole programme yet (you can check online yourselves, although the site seems a bit slow probably because thousands are now trying to browse the just announced events), but already among the huge range of writers of all sorts from across the globe I spot both Mark Millar and Neil Gaiman (doing multiple events), as well as Gary Erskine (returning after last year’s successful last minute comics workshop addition), Metaphrog and numerous other comics and SF&F related events.

On the SF&F front I see the frankly brilliant China Mieville will be in town, Alan Campbell offers up a fantasy writing workshop and Book Fest regulars (and locals) Iain Banks and Ken MacLeod will also be in attendance. On a very quick look through the large programme (two whole weeks of books, books, books; and this is against the backdrop of the world’s biggest arts festival at the same time) I can already see other events of much interest to comics and SF&F folks, including a Beano event and a superhero gig for the younger readers. And there’s international best-selling crime author Ian Rankin’s debut into the comics world too. And that’s before you consider the huge, diverse range of other writers who will be present. The EIBF runs from August 15th to the 31st; the programme is on their site now, but the box office doesn’t open until the 22nd, so if you’re going, browse now and plan out what you’re going to see. It really is a very special place for book lovers.