London, Again…

Posted Rick O'Shea

Was lucky enough to be in London for a couple of days early this week on RTE Radio 1 duty and with a bit of time to spare. We were there for this – thanks to the Irish Literary Society for organising a room, guests and an audience for our one hour Poetry Programme Special. It’ll go out on Xmas Eve at 7pm. Managed to fit in a few other pretty picture taking opportunities along the way… And then it was to the new extension of Tate Modern for the first time after lying around in the Turbine Hall for […]

Book Club Books Of The Month – December 2016

Posted Rick O'Shea

Two jewels for you to read along with in December – Jess Kidd’s new debut novel “Himself” and, from 1938, the absolute classic that is Daphne DuMaurier’s “Rebecca”. First is one that really should have been in last month’s pair if I’d gotten my act together and read it when I got it! For someone brought up in London in an Irish family, Jess Kidd’s touch with voice and character is as assured as if she’d lived in the fictional Mayo village she’s writing about. It’s a murder/mystery (but much more than that) with incredible characters. Stylish, genuinely creepy, warm, […]

Books To Buy – Xmas 2016 (And January 2017!)

Posted Rick O'Shea

As it’s something I get asked at the end of every year this has now become a sort of annual thing. So if you’re looking for ideas for books to buy as presents or to get for yourself if Book Tokens are your drug of choice this Xmas here are quite a few ideas with shortened reviews to give you at least a few starting points for your trip to the book shop. Also, before someone says X is missing (as they always do) this is far from a definitive list of the best books of the year, just the […]

Bad Ambassador Playlist – Friday November 25th

Posted Rick O'Shea

DJ Kool – Let Me Clear My Throat (Old School Reunion Remix) Jay Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) The Fratellis – Baby Fratelli The Rapture – House Of Jealous Lovers Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Parlor Arcade Fire – Wake Up Bob Dylan – Everything Is Broken Jamie T – Sheila Garbage – Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go) R.E.M. – Orange Crush Nouvelle Vague – I Wanna Be Sedated The Cribs – Mens Needs Manic Street Preachers – Motorcycle Emptiness The Macabees – Toothpaste Kisses A Tribe Called Quest – Dis Generation Jeff Buckley – Last […]

Science And Me

Posted Rick O'Shea

All over and done with now, but I think the end product looks brilliant. Thanks to RTE TV for commissioning it in the first place and to the excellent stop.watch television for doing all the heavy lifting! 5 interviews, all RTE Player exclusives and fascinating one and all. Be aware they’re only there until mid-December: http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/collection/832241-science-and-me/

Seven Short Book Reviews

Posted Rick O'Shea

  Firstly, I am SO sorry. I’m way behind here. Seriously, what sort of reviewer does that make me? (Keep your answers to yourself…) Various – Cyberpunk Malaysia I bought this on a trip earlier in the year in London. Just wandered into Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue (something I haven’t done in, literally, decades) and ended up down in their SF section which is gloriously outfitted and varied. The plain, reflecting silver cover was what grabbed me… It’s (unsurprisingly) a collection of new cyberpunk short stories from Malaysia or Malaysian authors and is pretty much universally strong to brilliant […]