Litopia All Shows

Mal Peet is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest British writers alive. His books have won many awards, and reviews range from the merely enthusiastic to the ecstatic. A deeply creative writer, Mal joins us tonight to chat about the writing process, tar-grouted macadam, nano-drones and Tolkienism. Oh, and also his newly publishing book, THE MURDSTONE TRILOGY… which isn’t a trilogy at all. Click to order from Amazon Is there a formula for writing the next George “Rolls Royce” Martin swords-and-sorcery, high-fantasy epic troll opera? Mal says yes… and what’s more, he generously shares it with us. From the Greme Caves of Devon to the unspeakable trolls lurking near Sydney’s Opera House, by way of Norfolk (not pronounced the way it looks) – you’re in for a rollicking, high-octane evening! >>>>>> Download the show as an audio file Subscribe in iTunes  

On this day in 1918 – the eleventh day of the eleventh month, at the 11th hour – the hostilities of the First World war formally ended. This is Remembrance Day, aka Poppy Day. But why poppies? Well, contrary to popular belief, poppies have been associated with war since at least Napoleonic times, when a writer first noted how poppies grew over the graves of soldiers. It is theorized that the damage done to the landscape in Flanders during WW1 greatly increased the lime content in the soil, leaving the poppy as one of the few plants able to survive. At the war’s conclusion, it was an American professor who first suggested that wearing a red poppy year-round would fittingly honour the war’s fallen. Soon, the red silk poppy had been adopted as an official symbol of remembrance by the American Legion. And then the idea spread to Britain, where Field Marshal Douglas Haig – the "Butcher of the Somme” – used the motif to promote The Royal British Legion, which he co-founded. And yet, the poppy symbol remains an eni

She does her job with typically understated bravery. To meet her, you might think (for a moment) that this headscarved and very English lady is, perhaps, a headmistress, a rose grower or possibly something a bit nebulous in the arts. But this is Lindsey Hilsum. The woman for whom the expression sang-froid might have been invented. Specialising in remaining imperturbable under fire, and always meeting her deadline. As International Editor for Britain’s Channel 4 News, she reported from Belgrade in 1999 when NATO bombed Serbia, from Baghdad during the 2003 US invasion, and covered the Fallujah assault in November 2004. Her reports from Africa, the Middle East and Russia have earned her many awards. In 1994, she was the only English-speaking journalist in Rwanda when the genocide started. It’s an obvious question, but we still want to know – what’s it like being a woman in the front line? How do you cope when your friend and colleague, Marie Colvin, dies covering the siege of Homs in Syria? And – when you come

Making a welcome return tonight is journalist-turned-investigative-historian, Tim Butcher. Tim specialises in covering awkward places at difficult moments: Kurdistan under attack in 1991 by Saddam Hussein, Sarajevo during the Bosnian War of the 1990s, the Allied attack on Iraq in 2003, Israel's 2006 clash with Hizbollah in southern Lebanon among other crises. All good preparation, then for tonight’s skirmish with Ian... But it’s not all fol-de-rol and bon mots  ce soir. Tim’s new, widely-praised book is a quest to find history's most famous terrorist before Osama bin Laden... Gavrilo Princip, the teenage assassin who triggered the catastrophic series of events that led to the First World War. You may think that everything that could possibly be told about this particular Bosnian Serb has already been written. Not so. Listen to tonight’s show – and read Tim’s excellent book, The Trigger – and you will appreciate why reviewers have been showering it, and him, with praise. We’re indeed proud to host him to

Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amazing Amy, is missing... no, sorry – that’s the wrong storyline.  Or is it?  Maybe the zeitgeist is right for the rise of the female sociopath? Listen and decide! >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes

“The... case is thick with irony” says the NYT of today’s featured legal folly– “one company is accusing another of stealing its platform for ethical behavior.” Also - should children be protected from their parents’ childhood trauma? The British courts say – yes. Philip Larkin, in his memorable poem This Be The Verse, would presumably have demurred. Incidentally, Peter got it wrong when he said that Larkin was sometime British poet laureate – he never was. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes

Why is it wrong to kill a dead person in your fiction? Why should British judges decide if your writing is funny – or not? Why should the police approve your tweets before you post them?  Donna and Peter explore these and even more reality-bending topics in this edition of The Debriefer. Links to other stories featured in this episode... “Extremists” to have Facebook and Twitter vetted by police Author claims Disney’s "Frozen" copied her life story 'Mash-ups' now protected under copyright law - but only if funny What Bill Simmons’ suspension says about the changing world of journalism Ellora’s Cave Files Libel Suit Against Dear Author Blog Changing Hands Book Store, others sue over Arizona 'revenge porn' law Hilary Mantel 'should be investigated by police' over Thatcher assassination story, says Lord Jay Z fights lawsuit over use of oh in 'Run This Town' Playwickian adviser, student editor suspended for defying administrative orders with Redskins ban Occupy Wall Street Activists File Suit Over Control

Mik Whitnall is best-known as the lead guitarist with Pete Doherty’s Babyshambles, but before that he cut his teeth in the rated Ska band 100 Men. Here Mik talks about his new Ska project 1969 OK who will be on the road next year. Also joining Garry in a packed show are Chris Pope of Pope, one of the best songwriters to come out of the 1979 Mod Renewal, Damon Coles, who performs live in the studio, and via Skype 2-Tone legend Rhoda Dakar. As usual, the show also includes new music from the hottest new bands around - for full track listing, see the show notes. Remember – we’re keen to discover, play and support new bands and new talent – send us a music submission via the link on the website! Download the show as mp3 file Show home page

Football hooligans! The words are enough to strike terror into the hearts of the upstanding middle classes and have entire towns boarded up and quaking with fear. Garry’s guest has more than a casual acquaintance with the subject. Dougie Brimson, a former hooligan himself turned bestselling writer, is an expert. Join us tonight as we explore this controversial topic in depth. With over half a million books sold worldwide, Dougie’s first title was Everywhere We Go - first published in 1996, it remains a cult classic. His first novel, The Crew, held the #1 slot on the soccer charts of both Amazon and iTunes for over two years and was the most downloaded football related title of 2012 and 2013! In 2003 Dougie made the move into screenwriting with It's a Casual Life, a 15-minute film looking at the world of football violence from a Casuals perspective. His first full length feature, the Hollywood funded Green Street starring Elijah Wood, was released in September 2005 and has won numerous awards. >>>>

Morbidly obese misery of a writer – and Nobel Laureate (topical) – more than meets his match in the slender and deadly Nina, who conducts the last interview of the writer’s life. Secrets are dredged up and, in a twist, it *is* pretty. Keep your daggers handy. This is going to get nasty. >>> Download the mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes >>> From recent débuts to classics, fiction to non-fiction, memoirs, philosophy, science, history and journalism, Burning Books separates the smoking from the singeworthy, looking at the pleasures (and pains) of reading, the craft of writing, the ideas that are at the heart of great novels as well as novels that try to be great, but don’t quite make it. https://litopia.com/shows/burn/  

He gets $425,000 for a gig – that’s a whole lot of cheese – and Joel Thomas Zimmerman, better known as Deadmau5, is about to have the adventure of his life. The Walt Disney Company have finally woken up to the fact that Mr. Zimmerman’s rodentiatic trade mark bears some resemblance to their very own crown jewels… and they’re not happy.  Cue m’learned friends.  Someone’s getting pwn3d. Links to stories mentioned: EU Court: No Parody For You! European court rules that libraries can digitize books Deadmau5 fights Disney in mouse ear logo legal dispute Fan Arrested As Terrorist For Posting Lyrics Speaks Out Author Says Christian Novel Plagiarized, Sex Added World Fantasy awards pressed to drop HP Lovecraft trophy in racism row Barnes and Noble Suspends the Ability to Download Nook eBooks James Cameron Wins Another ‘Avatar’ Lawsuit Authors United Preparing New Amazon Initiative Photo by Drew Ressler >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTun

Rancid are one of the world's biggest ever punk bands. Formed in California in 1991, they have sold more than four million albums worldwide. Vocalist and guitarist Lars Frederiksen has been with them since 1993, and he also fronts his own streetpunk band The Old Firm Casuals. Son of a Danish mother and an Italian-American father, Lars has devoted his life to his vision of punk and the old ideals of uniting different youth tribes against the system. Tonight, he speaks frankly to Garry about his childhood experiences growing up with gang violence, and how UK rock weekly Sounds helped him survive the US equivalent of borstal. >>>>>> Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes Be a wonderful human being and support us with a donation

Baroness Susan Greenfield is one of the most interesting scientists alive on the planet. Reviled by some, admired by many, never short of a piercing insight and a provocative soundbite... Susan Greenfield is everywhere. But who is the real Susan Greenfield – and what is she really saying to us? On tonight’s show, we go head-to-head. And not just with our guest: but with her critics, too! >>>>>> Download the show as an audio file Subscribe in iTunes  

From particle physics to market predictions, we thought scientists, right or wrong, traded in the world of facts. What we did not expect is that all the while they were deeply concerned about their looks. Beauty is at the heart of scientific endeavour, and has always been. As the stakes get higher, however, can we afford to have outdated notions of aesthetics guide the way we engage with the world? We look at this specific question, as well as the many baby questions to which it gives birth, alongside author David Orrell. >>> Download the mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes >>> From recent débuts to classics, fiction to non-fiction, memoirs, philosophy, science, history and journalism, Burning Books separates the smoking from the singeworthy, looking at the pleasures (and pains) of reading, the craft of writing, the ideas that are at the heart of great novels as well as novels that try to be great, but don’t quite make it. https://litopia.com/shows/burn/  

“Like the Libertines playing Chas & Dave!” squeals the Guardian excitedly of Garry’s guests tonight, BUSTER SHUFFLE. But then, the Guardian just has to work Pete Doherty into everything, doesn’t it? In fact, Buster Shuffle are far more interesting than that. They’re a breath of fresh air, a rock ‘n’ roll Ska band with echoes of Madness, Blur and yes… Chas & Dave, too. In a sane world, these London herberts would be dominating the charts with massive mainstream airplay… but this isn’t a sane world – which is why we need The Hungry & The Hunted to shout from the rooftops about all the great independent bands you don’t see on TV. Remember – we’re keen to discover, play and support new bands and new talent – send us a music submission via the link on the website! Download the show as mp3 file Show home page

Donna and Peter are joined in the studio by special guest Ian Winn, who can (ab)normally be found hosting our sister show here on Litopia, Litopia After Dark. Links to stories mentioned: How Amazon got a patent on white-background photography Why Photographers Shouldn't Be Too Upset Over Amazon's White-Background Patent (Peter disagrees with this!) Victoria's Secret Loses PINK Brand Battle B&N Testing Espresso Book Machines Bert The Farting Hippo! FBI Agent Files Defamation Suit Against Ebony Philly Newspaper Editor Fired For Asian Slurs Why Female Writers Get Trolled The Most Florida Judge Rules That Facebook Likes Aren't Owned By Page Creators Judge Tosses Copyright Suit Filed By Makers Of ‘Deep Throat’ Against ‘Lovelace’ Biopic   Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes

Her role as Louise Raymond in BBC's EastEnders brought her stardom and notoriety, but Carol Harrison's true life story has been as gripping as the plot of any television soap opera. Born in London’s East End to a single mum, Carol grew up in abject poverty. It has been said that there are four main routes out of the East End - crime, sport, acting and rock'n'roll. Carol’s life connects three of those (she was once married to the son of one of Britain's best-known gangsters). Garry’s guest tonight opens her heart about her screen love affair with Ross Kemp's character Grant Mitchell... her crazy fans... and the dubious lure of celebrity TV. Yes, it’s a treat for EastEnders aficionados... but there’s a lot more besides... Carol’s life-long love of Mod culture, and especially Steve Marriott the singer with The Small Faces, has prompted her to become a theatrical producer. The stage musical All Or Nothing (which Carol wrote) opens in Worthing on 13th September, and tells the story of this iconic singer who inspi

Everything’s more or less normal in the little town of N until Piotr Stepanovich and his equally psychopathic sidekick, Nikolai Stavrogin, come back from abroad. One thing leads to another leads to another and another and some more after that in Dostoevsky’s extraordinarily rambling (as rambling as this sentence) novel, which does not end well for anyone involved, reader included. The devil inside, the devil inside, every single hour of reading this book – the devil inside. Download the mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes From recent débuts to classics, fiction to non-fiction, memoirs, philosophy, science, history and journalism, Burning Books separates the smoking from the singeworthy, looking at the pleasures (and pains) of reading, the craft of writing, the ideas that are at the heart of great novels as well as novels that try to be great, but don’t quite make it. https://litopia.com/shows/burn/  

Iron Maiden are one of the world’s most successful heavy metal bands with more than 85 million albums sales to their name. Dennis Stratton was their guitarist right back in 1979. He played on and co-produced their self-titled debut album and their first three hit singles. Here he chats exclusively with Garry (who wrote Maiden’s authorized biography Running Free) about life on the road in those early days – the laughs and the tension, and his enduring friendship with the band which, like him, was forged in the East End of London. Den is honest about his fall-out with manager Rod Smallwood that lead to his sacking, and the perils of working with their fiery first vocalist Paul ‘The Beast’ Di’Anno. He also talks about his early days on the London rock circuit of the pre-punk seventies, his work with hugely respected rock and blues bands, including Remus Down Boulevard and Praying Mantis, and his unfortunate encounter with Jonathan King. Still a working musician, Dennis is one of the most genuine and talented g

From litigious street-artists to litigious Angolan generals... Donna and Peter proudly present your suits du jour! Now with added dystopian designer stubble. Links to stories: Amazon Sanctions Customers To Get Back At Hachette Amazon Takes on Disney’s Superheroes  Blood Diamonds author faces $1.2m lawsuit Guild battling bosses over byline quota at Pioneer Press  Editors For ‘Survivor’ Return From Strike Over Right To Form Union  Terry Gilliam’s ‘Zero Theorem’ Slammed With Copyright Suit  Premier League warns fans not to tweet goal videos  Judge Orders Mediation in Latest E-book Price-Fixing Suit  1st Circ. Asked For Sanctions In Facebook Author Suit Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes