Friday, October 15, 2010

Bouchercon, Day 1 and Tokyo Year Zero

It's easier to report on a Bouchercon panel when one has passed the hour in the audience rather than on stage moderating. That's a phenomenon full of psychological interest, but we can talk about it in another post.

In any case, Thursday's "Stamp of Death" panel with Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip, who write together as Michael Stanley; Yrsa Sigurðardóttir; and Christopher G. Moore talking about their books, their countries, and their cultures, and your humble blog keeper moderating, proved an convivial hour for the participants and, I hope, an entertaining and informative one for the audience. Details later.

As always at conventions, some of the most illuminating remarks are uttered at the bar. The day's favorite for me came from a Japanese crime-fiction reviewer named Naomi Hoida, who said that the British crime novelist David Peace had done a fine job in his Tokyo Year Zero. The book traces an investigation that takes place amid the hellish chaos of postwar Japan, and Naomi said she was surprised a foreigner could write so sensitively and accurately about the period.

Over the course of the day, met and hob-nobbed with John Lawton, whose attire included a Mailer-Breslin campaign button; Robert Ward, and Otto Penzler.

Now, to bed to rest up for moderating "Flags of Terror" on Friday, with authors James R. Benn, Cara Black, Lisa Brackmann, Henry Chang, Jassy Mackenzie and Stuart Neville.

And, with a heads-up to Sean Patrick Reardon, this year's Christa Faust picture (above right).

© Peter Rozovsky 2010

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6 Comments:

Blogger Solea said...

Someone has a love jones...

October 15, 2010  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I have heard that rumor, too. Don't know who it refers to, though.

October 15, 2010  
Blogger Janet Rudolph said...

Loved the Flags of Terror panel. Forgot to tell you. Great to meet Jassy Mackenzie.

October 17, 2010  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Thanks, and I will try to write about my panels one of these days.

Jassy, Stan and Michael are my South African peeps this Bouchercon. Jassy and the other two had not met before; it was interesting hearing them talking and seeking each other's opinions about their interesting country.

October 17, 2010  
Blogger Sean Patrick Reardon said...

Well done Peter!

October 21, 2010  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I set lofty goals, and I meet them.

October 21, 2010  

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