Black Bag

Neil Gaiman @ Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, 07/08

Full house cutting across strata of comic, fantasy and hip-lit fandoms. High quotient of PDBs (appropriate, given that NG himself favours uniformly dark dress). Introductory speech from co-arranger of Graphic festival. Surprise appearance by Kevin Smith, who, along with a representative from Screen NSW, presents highlights of animation competition and announces winner, "Seven Year Twitch" (a short about escaping the soul-crush of office work). KS worryingly obese in his uniform of baggy pants and hockey jersey, but as likable as ever in that genial, sweary way. Endearing acceptance from Canadian animator of "S/Y/T". Then Neil, to an ovation. Touched and taken aback, he has to ask us to stop clapping so he can begin his tale. It is called "The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains" and, set in olden timey-wimey Scotland, sees a dwarf and a border reaver undertaking a perilous journey in search of treasure and, ultimately, understanding. To say more would be wrong (and anyway, the text is available here - http://bit.ly/dfrQ09). Gaiman is a consummate storyteller, unfurling his sentences with nary a stumble or jumble. Intermittently, but not in any rhythm that could distract from the narrative flow, illustrations by the great Eddie Campbell are projected above the stage. Enhancing the changing moods and providing transitions when the author pauses to wet his whistle are semi-improvised pieces by the FourPlay string quartet (cello, viola, viola, violin). As I tweet afterwards, the effect is spellbinding. Neil has a unique gift for crafting modern myths that feel like ancient truths. Revelations are all the more shocking and terrible for being pronounced in his gentle, measured tones. Love it. Don't want it to end, but the ending is perfect and I can't complain. The illustrator materialises, looking dapper, to conduct an interview, having allegedly sourced questions from audience members. It soon becomes apparent that the funny, interconnected queries have really been sourced from the mind of Eddie Campbell. Gaiman treats us to unpublished poem, "In Relig Oran", a musing on St Columba supposedly burying the druid St Oran alive to strengthen the foundations of his church. Deeper meaning - pardon the pun - seems to be Christianity burying pagan traditions and, indeed, any dissenting voices. "I/R/O" is amazing, perhaps even better than "Black Mountains". Thoughts still racing when... Bows and applause. Bows and applause. Bows and applause, and PB and I leaving on a high.


Listening: "Doctor Who Unbound - Masters Of War" (2008) by Eddie Robson, "Prognosis #3-5", "Leave Your Sleep" (2010) by Natalie Merchant
Reading: "Game Boys - Triumph, Heartbreak And The Quest For Cash In The Battleground Of Competitive Videogaming" (2008) by Michael Kane, "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much - The True Story Of A Thief, A Detective And A World Of Literary Obsession" (2009) by Allison Hoover Bartlett
Watching: "Crank - High Voltage" (2009), "Starter For 10" (2008)
Nerd rap couplet: "Aimin' to please like a sniper/Got more cheek than Billie Piper". Needs work? :-)