Rivers of Sheffield
May. 10th, 2017 10:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rich_jackoI went to an entertaining talk with Ben Aaronovitch this evening as part of Sheffield Uni's Arts & Humanities Festival. He was interviewed by a literature professor for an hour and then took (loads of) audience questions.
It was fascinating hearing Ben talk about the genesis of the series, from it's origins as a TV series pitch, and how it came about as an antithesis to every TV cop trope and Scandi noir detectives. The background to the Rivers was interesting too - It all started with Mama Thames as an immigrant goddess from a tiny stream in Sierra Leone.
This is an author who is clearly in love with the world he's created. He described the writing process in a very fun way, especially the way he envisages the characters talking to him ("why don't I have an arc?" "Some people need to learn when to stop talking." "You gave Lesley an arc..."). He was also very open about how much he's worked out and how much he's making up as he goes along, enjoying running to keep up with his characters as they go off in unexpected directions - much to his publisher's frustration!
He has plans to take Peter out of London again. Probably not to Sheffield, although he did expound on how he would characterise the River Don, and praised the virtues of Park Hill as a murder mystery location...
Afterwards, I got my copy of Rivers of London autographed, and chatted with Ben about book covers, comparisons with The Dresden Files, and why he chose deepest, darkest Herefordshire as the setting for book 5.
A good way to spend the evening. Plus I can report that The Riverside does a mighty fine burger. :o)
It was fascinating hearing Ben talk about the genesis of the series, from it's origins as a TV series pitch, and how it came about as an antithesis to every TV cop trope and Scandi noir detectives. The background to the Rivers was interesting too - It all started with Mama Thames as an immigrant goddess from a tiny stream in Sierra Leone.
This is an author who is clearly in love with the world he's created. He described the writing process in a very fun way, especially the way he envisages the characters talking to him ("why don't I have an arc?" "Some people need to learn when to stop talking." "You gave Lesley an arc..."). He was also very open about how much he's worked out and how much he's making up as he goes along, enjoying running to keep up with his characters as they go off in unexpected directions - much to his publisher's frustration!
He has plans to take Peter out of London again. Probably not to Sheffield, although he did expound on how he would characterise the River Don, and praised the virtues of Park Hill as a murder mystery location...
Afterwards, I got my copy of Rivers of London autographed, and chatted with Ben about book covers, comparisons with The Dresden Files, and why he chose deepest, darkest Herefordshire as the setting for book 5.
A good way to spend the evening. Plus I can report that The Riverside does a mighty fine burger. :o)
no subject
Date: 2017-05-11 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-12 06:43 am (UTC)Ben claimed that whenever you come across a minor character from somewhere apparently random (e.g. Belfast), it's entirely because he wants to hear Kobna Holdbrook-Smith do the accent! :o)
no subject
Date: 2017-05-12 09:33 pm (UTC)Kobna is superb. He brings Peter to life and the supporting cast feels like a cast of dozens not one man!
http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fiction/A-Rare-Book-of-Cunning-Device-Audiobook/B071YLQLRS/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1494624661&sr=1-1
I hope the link works! It's for an direct to audio short story about Peter ghost hunting with Postmartin in the British Library. It's free, but you might have to login with your Amazon account.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-14 04:15 pm (UTC)