On Saturday 7th June, Pixies frontman Black Francis joins writer Josh Frank and artist Steven Appleby for a unique event to celebrate the publication of their new book, The Good Inn. Hosted by David Quantick, the event takes place at the British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB, from 9pm. You can get your hands on tickets here.
The Good Inn, which SelfMadeHero publish in June, is a bold and visually arresting novel about art, conflict and the pioneers of early cinema. The evening includes a screening of two of the early classic French surrealist shorts that inspired the book: Buñuel’s masterpiece, Un Chien Andalou (1929), and Méliès’ ground-breaking A Trip To The Moon (1902), featuring a new score by French musical duo Air. This is followed by an on-stage discussion with Black Francis, Josh Frank and Steven Appleby, who will also sign copies of the book at the event. Authentic Parisian absinthe will be provided on the night by La Fée.
Based on a yet-to-be-written soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t yet exist, The Good Inn weaves together two historical events: the explosion on the battleship Iéna at the French port of Toulon and the making of La Bonne Auberge, the earliest known pornographic film from France, produced by the pioneering Bernard Natan. He is featured in the book alongside Pierre Batcheff, the actor who starred in Un Chien Andalou. Illustrated throughout by Steven Appleby, the novel combines fact and fiction to recreate this lost piece of history. An exhibition of Appleby’s artwork will be on display in the Conference Centre foyer on the night.
The Good Inn coincides with the release of Pixies’ first new album in 23 years, Indie Cindy. Pixies play Field Day festival the following day, Sunday 8th June, in the middle of an extensive world tour. You can watch Black Francis talk about The Good Inn alongside his Pixies bandmates below.
To book tickets for “A Night At The Good Inn”, click here.
It is sixty years exactly since Roger Bannister became the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier, and graphic novelist Paul Collicutt has been paying tribute to his achievement.
Collicutt, who is the author of The Murder Mile, a detective story that unfolds alongside the race to break the four-minute mile, has over the last week been tweeting watercolour portraits of every record-holder in the mile, from Walter George to Roger Bannister.
Athletics Weekly, which this week features profiles of the world’s greatest milers, illustrated by Paul Collicutt, is running a competition to win a copy of The Murder Mile. What’s more, winners will get their hands on a limited edition poster, which features portraits of the world’s greatest runners over the distance.
To enter, visit Athletics Weekly‘s website, and bring with you the answer to this question: Roger Bannister’s immortal 3:59.4 survived as the world record for little over a month, but who broke it and what was his time?
Here’s what the press said of The Murder Mile on its release last year:
“A beautifully illustrated detective story that unfolds alongside the race to break the four-minute mile. The Murder Mile is like Chariots of Fire as rewritten by Raymond Chandler, a mash-up that is completely delightful on the page.” The Guardian
“Collicutt’s watercolour artwork is a glorious tribute to the splashy élan of Fifties advertisements and cigarette cards, and there’s no shortage of impressive scene-setting, from widescreen sequences at the Normandy landings to evocative renderings of Jet Age streets, diners and stadiums.” The Telegraph
“An artistictriumph of suspense placed under the starter’s orders with an introduction by track legend Steve Ovett.” The Sun
You might have seen the news that we’ll be publishing Jörg Tittel and John Aggs’ irreverent satire Ricky Rouse Has A Gun in September (with a limited edition hardback available in June).
Well, now we can reveal the brilliantly bonkers promo video. It tells the story of a lonely Chinese rip-off mascot finding love in London, and it features an original song by UNKLE‘s James Lavelle, curator of this year’s Meltdown at the Southbank Centre.
Set in a knockoff Disney theme park, Ricky Rouse Has a Gun is a relentless action comedy, a satire of US-China relations, and a parody of Western entertainment. It follows the story of Rick Rouse, a US army deserter who takes a job at Fengxian Amusement Park, a family destination heavily “inspired” by Western culture, featuring Rambi (the deer with the red headband), Ratman (the caped crusader with a rat’s tail), Bumbo (small ears, big behind), and other original characters. But when American terrorists take the entire park hostage, only Ricky Rouse can save the day. In a furry costume. This original graphic novel takes a curious look at China – a country that, once we look past its often outrageous copyright infringements, is a culture ripe with innovation and a unique, courageous spirit. The book features an introduction by Christopher Sprigman, Professor of Law at New York University and author of The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation.
Find out how to pre-order the limited edition hardback (out 12th June) here.
We’re really excited to be launching I. N. J. Culbard’s first original graphic novel, Celeste, at Gosh! Comics on Friday 25th April – and you’re all invited!
You’ll know I. N. J. Culbard from his masterful adaptations of Lovecraft and other classics, as well as his work on The New Deadwardians (Vertigo). Celeste is the first original graphic novel that Culbard has both written and drawn, and he’s put his imagination and craft to incredible use. Here’s the blurb:
In London, the moment two commuters, Aaron and Lilly, lay eyes on each other on a packed Monday morning tube train, everyone else around them vanishes. In Los Angeles, Ray is sitting in gridlock on the 405 Freeway when he receives a call from an LAPD officer with news about his wife. Ray fears the worst. But just as the officer is about to give Ray the news, he is cut off. The caller has disappeared, and so has everyone else around him. Everyone except for a badly beaten man tied up in the trunk of another car.
In Japan, comic artist Yoshi has come to the demon-haunted Aokigahara Forest to die, but the spirits of the forest have other ideas. Taking us through the deserted streets of London, the empty freeways of Los Angeles, and the dream world of the Aokigahara Forest, Celeste is a compelling and profound graphic novel about the choices we make and the courage it takes to make them.
And here’s what the reviewers are saying:
“It’s a book that will keep you thinking long after you’ve closed it, and you’ll want to return to its images afterwards.” SFX Magazine
“As intriguing a debut as any in recent memory.” Your Days Are Numbered
At the launch, there’ll be signing and sketching, free beer and sparkling wine, not mention amazing company. Plus, you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these three limited edition book plates:
This week, at the London Book Fair, we’re thrilled to be revealing news of an upcoming release: Ricky Rouse Has a Gun by Jörg Tittel and John Aggs. Set in a knockoff Disney theme park, this original graphic novel is a relentless action comedy, a satire of US-China relations, and a parody of Western entertainment. It follows the story of Rick Rouse, a US army deserter who takes a job at Fengxian Amusement Park, a family destination heavily “inspired” by Western culture, featuring Rambi (the deer with the red headband), Ratman (the caped crusader with a rat’s tail), Bumbo (small ears, big behind), and other original characters. But when American terrorists take the entire park hostage, only Ricky Rouse can save the day. In a furry costume. Ricky Rouse Has a Gun takes a curious look at China – a country that, once we look past its often outrageous copyright infringements, is a culture ripe with innovation and a unique, courageous spirit. The book features an introduction by Christopher Sprigman, Professor of Law at New York University and author of The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation.
COPYRIGHT VS. CREATIVITY: A LONDON BOOK FAIR DEBATE
To coincide with the announcement of the book, SelfMadeHero are hosting a panel discussion at the London Book Fair, which will centre on some of the issues raised by the book. Chaired by The Guardian‘s Technology Reporter Alex Hern, the debate will feature the book’s author, Jörg Tittel, as well as BitTorrent’s Chief Content Officer Matt Mason (author of The Pirate’s Dilemma) and musician, songwriter and Guardian columnist Helienne Lindvall. Titled “Copyright Vs Creativity: Is Intellectual Property Reserved for the 1%”, the panel asks whether copyright has lost one of its principle functions: to protect authors and to combat fakes. It takes place on Thursday 10th April, in the Thames Room, Earls Court 1, 1pm-2pm.
PRE-ORDER THE LIMITED EDITION HARDBACK
Ahead of its paperback release in September, we’ll be publishing a limited-run “Gold Edition” of Ricky Rouse Has a Gun on June 12th. Available a full three months ahead of the book’s official release, this lavishly produced hardback is an object worth owning. The print run will be limited to just 500 copies, so you must pre-order.
To pre-order the Gold Edition of Ricky Rouse Has a Gun (£24.99 + P&P, out 12th June), drop an email to [email protected]. The first 20 pre-orderers will have their book signed by Jörg Tittel and John Aggs.
You can pre-order the paperback edition of Ricky Rouse Has a Gun (out September 11th) here.
