We are almost caught up on the Fringe podcasts now. Tom has edited the May readings and I’ll be able to put them live in early June once our upload allowance has reset. In the meantime here are the April readings, which feature the legendary BristolCon Fringe Open Mic. Because I had to catch a train down to Plymouth for work I could not stay for the whole event, so Tom got his first taste of hosting. He did a fine job. Also I got to read first.
In the first session we have the following:
Me, with part of my Amazons in Space story that I’m trying to write for the Space Marine Midwives anthology. This is a very rough first draft of the opening, which I had to cut down a bit to make it fit in 5 minutes. For those interested in the history, by Amazons are based on Scythian women warriors (who very much did exist). Enaree is a Scythian term for a non-binary person (probably assigned male at birth, possibly a eunuch).
Ian McConaghy with the opening of a science fiction novel set in near future Los Angeles.
Joanne Hall with a short story about monks, illuminated manuscripts and dragons. This one is apparently due to appear in an anthology soon. I’m looking forward to it.
Felicia Barker with a fantasy short story featuring some very famous fairies. I’ve not heard Felicia read before and I was impressed.
In session 2 we have:
Chloe Headdon with the opening of a YA fantasy novel. Chloe is someone else I’d not heard before, indeed this was her first ever public reading. Again I was impressed.
Steve Tanner with an extract from his fantasy novel, Blind Faith.
Suzanne McConaghy with part of a science fiction short story, “Partners in Crime”.
Justin Newland with short story that forms the prologue to fantasy novel set in China.
There is no Q&A in the open mic, because we want to make the experience as friendly as possible for the readers. Some of them are quite frightened enough without having myself or Tom thrust a microphone in their face and quiz them.
The June Fringe event will feature Pete Newman and Kate Coe.
While I wouldn’t expect a Q&A at an Open Mic (one doesn’t typically have that kind of thing at a *performance*), I am slightly surprised that most of it is readings and not other kinds of entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, musical acts, or lip synching (which is frighteningly popular out here).
Well it is an event by and for SF/F.H readers and writers. There’s no rule against music, poetry, etc., but it does have to be SF/F/H related.
There are, of course, more traditional open mic events around Bristol. Comedy seems very popular, but flash fiction does well too. If there is lip synching, my mind has blotted it out to preserve my sanity.