Well, I was hoping to have photographs from two different gigs to pick from this week. Unfortunately I was denied a photopass at the first one, and the second one was cancelled.

So, no gig photos; instead, here’s a demonstration of how PicoCon’s organisers ensured no one got lost between the tube station and the venue:

Who says science fiction fans can’t keep it lo-fi, eh?

Writing about music:

Less gig reviewing than initially expected - see above.

Been battling to keep up the one-album-review-per-day regime at TDP, and have just kept my head above the water; I need to play catch-up over the weekend to give myself a buffer zone again.

I had the opportunity to revisit Gary Numan’s Replicas - how groundbreaking was that album? And I don’t care how dated the synth patches are, the signature riff from “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” still stirs the neck-hairs every time.

Writing about books:

Technically zilch. Have hardly read more than a chapter of Wolfe, either.

Futurismic:

Various behind-the-scenes stuff continues apace at Futurismic, though at a somewhat reduced rate over the last week.

Just a few final adjustments to make over the weekend, and then it’s the return of original fiction to Futurismic on Monday! wh00t!

YACP*:

Despite the sparseness of the above, this week has been absolute bedlam and panic in Velcro City Towers. But the deadline was met; the task completed; the dragon slain.

What was I doing? Oh, you’re just going to have to wait to find out, I’m afraid …

Books and magazines seen:

Nowt of note.

Coda:

If this all seems a little sparse and disappointing to FPB fans, I must apologise; this week has essentially been a game of survival against the odds.

The afore-mentioned deadline of doom (combined with a mild bug I picked up at PicoCon) meant all my efforts have been devoted to not dropping any of the metaphorical balls.

Frankly, I’m proud to have made it to Friday having achieved exactly that, even if it meant skipping out on FFF for this week.

So while there’s plenty to be done over the weekend, I’m feeling pretty relaxed right now, safe in the knowledge that I don’t need to be sat at this here keyboard until past my bedtime just to avoid calamity.

I think I even have enough flex in my schedule to pop out for a beer or two with the gang before coming home and sitting down to an hour or so buried in a book before bedtime - ah, decadence! But first things first - yesterday’s (comparatively) healthy repast must be counteracted with The Friday Curry Of Tradition And Merit.

And d’you know what? This week, I really feel I’ve earned the damned thing.

Have a great weekend, folks. Hasta luego!

[ * Yet Another Clandestine Project. ]

Digging in the crates yet again, I’m afraid.

Here’s four foot of iguana watching the sunrise over the Caribbean at Tulum in Mexico, where I’d much rather have been based for most of this chilly week*:

I don’t even need to explain, do I? That lizard knew the score, I tell you. I could see it in his eyes, and his disdainful demeanour.

Writing about music:

Plenty of music hackery has taken place, though nothing of particularly majestic note in the last seven days; I assume those of you with a keen interest in such things are already subscribed to The Dreaded Press**!

With the exception of the Munroe Effect show last Friday (which was a rare gig-for-pleasure), I’ve not been out reviewing or interviewing this week.

However, this Sunday sees me off the Brighton to review The Dillinger Escape Plan, and next week Gallows and F*cked Up (and others) are playing just down the road from me. Busy, busy, busy!

Writing about books:

My critical facilities (as concerned with literature) remain unexercised.

Futurismic:

This has been the main time drain once again, though things are starting to settle - watch out for the brand new site layout and theme to come over the weekend! The first new piece of fiction is ready to roll out of the door, and things are shaping up on the non-fiction front as well.

I will (as I keep threatening) talk more about my plans for Futurismic, but at the moment time is of the essence, and I at the moment feel it’s better to execute plans rather than talk about them***.

Books and magazines seen:

A care package came from Orbit with a bunch of fantasy titles and the paperback edition of Ken MacLeod’s The Execution Channel; I have no need of the latter, as I already have the hardback (and an A4 typescript from when I was sent it to review for Interzone ages back).

I may think up some crafty contest in which I can give it away to some lucky reader. Hmmm …

PicoCon!

For them what ain’t aware, ’tis PicoCon at Imperial College London all day tomorrow. Guests of honour are the legendary Cory Doctorow, the charming and erudite Liz Williams and the endearingly geeky Paul Cornell - further details at the ICLU website.

The most it’ll cost you to get in is £8, and there promises to be a good showing from the Third Row Fandom crew and certain of their auxiliary and ancillary members (including myself), so if you’re at a loose end you could do far worse than turn up.

If you are already going (or decide to after reading this verbose yet highly persuasive exhortation), please look out for me and say hello. I’ll be easily identified as the tall shabby hippie who tries to force a flyer for Futurismic into your hand**** …

Completely unrelated-to-anything announcement:

I’m very seriously contemplating selling my laptop and getting an ASUS Eee instead, as the latter can do everything I use my laptop for in a smaller and more efficient package. That is all.

Coda:

Another swift and sweet FPB this week. As I have to be up and about at ZOMFG o’clock tomorrow to catch a train, and will have little time for writing-type work during the day, I’ve got lots to sort out this evening - including (but not limited to) an interview for TDP, and Friday Free Fiction at Futurismic.

And of course there is the Sacred And Virtuous Curry Of Fridayness to be crammed into the schedule (and my stomach) … so I’ll thank you all for reading and bid you a good weekend.

Hasta luego, amigos y amigas. Suerte!

[ * That said, the place I stayed in when I was there was a terrible sh*thole full of drunk Italian teenagers, but there are some awesome beach huts for hire. ]

[ ** When VCTB's subscriber count is matched by TDP's, I promise to stop hustling like this. In other words, subscribe and save yourself the agony. Capiche? ]

[ *** Those who have known me for a long time will probably find this sentence hilariously funny. ]

[ **** Or possibly Cory Doctorow's hand. Most likely both, though. ]