Front Cover Quote!

A few of my reviews have been quoted on the back cover or inside cover of new books, but now, for the first time, one of my reviews has been quoted on the front cover of a book!

Translator Interview: Louise Johnson

Languages and translation has long intrigued me, and I've read quite a number of translated novels.  After reading Andrea Victrix, I had a lot of questions about the author and about the translation of his work. I arranged to meet Louise Johnson, translator of the novel, in Mallorca where the novel is set. Sadly, due to Covid, that wasn't possible, so we corresponded by email instead.

Read the interview at SF Crowsnest.

Book Review: Andrea Víctrix by Llorenç Villalonga

Hailed as a classic of dystopian literature in Catalan, Llorenç Villalonga’s 1974 novel Andrea Víctrix has now been translated into English for the first time and published by specialist small press Fum D’Estampa Press.

Read the rest of my review at SF Crowsnest.

The Camel Goes to Greece

 I'm very pleased to say that my camel-related story Englebert has been accepted by Greek magazine Ef-Zin, who previously published two of my stories several years back. It will appear some time this winter. 

This will be my sixth story in Greek, and the fifth language for Englebert.

The Gondolier in Kashubian

 Along with the Polish translation of The Gondolier, I received this Kashubain translation. Kashubian is a Slavic language related to Polish and is spoken by about 200,000 people. 

Gòńdoliéra

Gareth D Jones

 

Czôrni dzób mòji gòńdolë brnõł bez spòkójné wodë karnôlóv. Bëlni czółen richtich mje słúżił dłúgjé lata, wożõcë pasażéróv mjastovima wodnima szlachama, provadzoni rãkamë vjelenë pòkòlenjóv mòjich przódkóv.

Słúńce zapadało nad anticznim gardã, zmjenjivajõcë wodã v tintovõ blevjõzkã, leżõcõ pòmjidzë pësznima bùdinkama z pjôskòvca. Jem głãbòk wodetchnõn chłodnõ vjeczórnõ briżõ.

Je jakji snôżészi môl jak ten cëdovni gard karnôlóv? Kjéj bôt dobrnõł do sztrõdú, jô jem stanõł, żebë so rôd pòvzerac na corôzka cemnjészé njebò Marsa.

 

Kùnjc

  

Translated by Słavòmjir Jónkòvskji

The Gondolier in Polish

I received a Polish translation of The Gondolier quite some time ago but, due to an oversight, it never made it on to this site.

Gondolier

Gareth D Jones

 

Czarny dziób mojej gondoli sunął łagodnie poprzez spokojne wody kanałów. Smukła łódź służyła mi długie lata, przewożąc pasażerów miejską siecią wodnych alejek, sterowana dłońmi pokoleń moich przodków.

Słońce zachodziło nad starożytnym miastem, zamieniając wodę w atramentową wstążkę położoną między eleganckimi bryłami piaskowych budynków. Głęboko odetchnąłem chłodną wieczorna bryzą.

Czy istniało miejsce piękniejsze niż to wspaniałe miasto kanałów? Kiedy łodź dobiła do kei, zatrzymałem się, by pogapić się usatysfakcjonowanie na ciemniejące niebo Marsa.

 

Koniec

 

Translated by Słavòmjir Jónkòvskji

A Detective Inspector, a Week-Old Haddock and the Means to Destroy Paris

The comedy spy-fi story A Detective Inspector, a Week-Old Haddock and the Means to Destroy Paris that I co-wrote with Alex and Haydn is out now on the Tall Tale TV podcast.

This is the second of our joint stories to be published, after last year's The Good Ship Munders.

Tall Tale TV has previously published Alex's Unveventful Day of the Bodger; a complillation of three flash fiction stories that included Alex's Brothers in Qualms, Haydn's The Final Battle is But a Game and my own Escapades in Time; and my short stories Observers and The Righteous Indignation of the Naked Mole Rat.

Book Review: This Eden by Ed O'Loughlin

Michael is a struggling engineering student whose girlfriend, Alice, is a coder and is working on a mysterious project for a big Silicon Valley corporation. When she dies, that same corporation offers him a job, though he doesn’t really know why. With the job come secrets, industrial espionage and shadowy figures from Alice’s other life he knew nothing about.

Read the rest of my review at SF Crowsnest.

Polish Ants and Dinosaurs

 The Polish edition of Cixin Liu's Of Ants and Dinosaurs has just been released, and my review of the book from SF Crowsnest has been translated into Polish for the occasion.

Book Review: The Dalliances of Monsieur D'Haricot by Barbara Stevenson

As soon as I saw the cover of The Dalliances Of Monsieur D’Haricot, I knew I wanted to read it. A dapper Frenchman on what I assumed, erroneously it turned out, to be a steampunk bicycle. It reminded me of my childhood reading of the Agaton Sax books. Monsieur D’Haricot is a French secret agent with impeccable manners and a compulsive air of gallantry, dedicated above all else to the ideals of France.

Read the rest of my review at SF Crowsnest.