Author of THE SWARM accused of plaigirsm

This is interesting, because the author is accused of having plundered a scientific website, not someone else's novel. Are scientific facts common property or not? What are the intellectual property rights when writing SF (the novel is a thriller with strong SF elements)? It's claimed that the same wording was used, however, not just the ideas. Or is the scientist in question just trying to cash in?

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1453810,00.html

Poison garden mark 2

A keen but depressed gardener somewhere in Britain killed himself last summer by eating foxglove leaves and slashing his wrists with a gardening knife. The report was in the paper today.

Please don't try this at home: they're ultra toxic. But how Brother Cadfael of him....

A not-decadent day

Had to go into the office this morning to meet one of the new agents. He has some useful contacts, but why do all our prospective business partners come from the Axis of Evil? Libya and Iran, in this instance. Presumably because they can't deal with the Americans...Ironic, because the vast number of people we have to deal with couldn't give two hoots about politics or religion and just want to do business.

Otherwise the writing has stalled somewhat while I think about things. But that's no bad thing. What's due to happen in this plot is going to affect the rest of the book retroactively on the rewrite, always an interesting process.

I have also been getting my head around the CalMac ferry schedules for the proposed post-WorldCon jaunt to the Outer Hebrides, and sorting out the remaining Milford bureaucracy.

Went to the library again today and have now lost the new library card. I am crap. Oh well.

Update on Borders in Brighton

The Borders SF nights in Brighton are still planned, but due to a shop re-fit, the new events manager has suggested I wait until July before we get this off the ground again. Frustrating for all of us, but unavoidable.

Book meme

Nicked from altariel1

In Farenheit 451, volunteers memorise entire books, to preserve the text from burning: what text would you learn and save?

THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS

Have you ever had a crush on a character in a book?

Oh yeah, certainly. Though not for some years - I am growing old and cynical and focusing on live prey.

The last book you bought is:

MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN

The last book you finished is:

See above.

What are you currently reading:

David Mitchell's THE CLOUD ATLAS (finally got around to it)

Peter O'Donnell's DEAD MAN'S HANDLE (seem to be going through a Modesty phase for lighter moments, like the bus. TCA is a whopping big hardback).

A GUIDE TO LEGENDARY LONDON (this is research).

Five desert island books:

Ray Bradbury's MARTIAN CHRONICLES
Lawrence Durrell's ALEXANDRIA QUARTET.
The collected SHERLOCK HOLMES.
Mary Stewart's MERLIN trilogy
Dorothy Sayers' GAUDY NIGHT.

No obvious classics because if I'm stuck on a desert island, I need lighter relief. Not taking Proust because I've read it and once was enough. I am not taking the Bible for obvious reasons, but Shakespeare would be good...

Gulls

It's spring. This time last spring, a pair of gulls nested on the opposite roof. What with all the seagull shit from the nest, a small but very verdant bunch of vegetation has sprouted. Now the gulls are back, very puzzled. They keep looking at the greenery and poking it. Then they make disconsolate wheeping noises.

Just now the female said (I could interpret this clearly, of course) "Oh fuck it, Bert. I'm going to sit on it anyway." So she did, for about a minute, before storming off up the roof muttering to herself.

Why do they have to be so loud?

Not that this is even vaguely amusing, of course

Mentioned by matociquala and numerous other people because I suspect it strikes a horrible chord in many hearts, including mine:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/blackholly/50626.html?#cutid1