It’s a list.
That’s what this is.
1.
BLACK HOLE SUN (Demo)
You can find this all over and mostly, it’s a looser, lower-fidelity version of the original. But like all good demos, its power is in dissembling the original. Listen closely and you can hear that they actually toned down Cornell’s vocals, and that Kim Thayil is working overtime (so many strange little flourishes). But the bit that really gets me is the middle section which sounds so much more Sabbath-esque.
2.
THE IRON CLAW & KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (Movies)
I’ve been at the movies lately.
The Iron Claw is an interesting case-study in ending well; the first half of the film is so much less than the second. My overall first impression was: too camp. I could’ve done without Zac Efron’s hair and the elevated performances. But a few days later, I realised the film would have been unbearable without these lighter touches.
A week later, I finally watched Martin Scorcese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. I loved it and found myself quite shocked out how a 3.5 hour movie could be so lean. I strangely didn’t love the bit many others enjoyed: the end. I thought the radio play mea culpa was a bit pat.
Scorcese pulled a similar move at the end of Wolf of Wall Street, and it landed there because that movie made no bones about its pop sensibility. We were entertained by the gloss and power of Jordan Belfort. But Killers of the Flower Moon is a fairly sombre affair. Did anyone mimetically desire the events unfolding here? No. Scorcese wanted to make a 3.5 hour movie about this. And he did. And it’s awesome.
But that’s not on us.
3.
GETTING LIT: ‘GOLD COAST CONFIDENTIAL’ (Podcast)
This is the only interview I did for The Strip where I was tipsy. I’m a little disappointed in myself — but only because I got better as the interview went on. It seems two pints is the correct ratio to get me properly loosened up.
Matt and I talked about all kinds of stuff:
James Ellroy’s ever-shifting self-image
How my naivety is actually my writing superpower
Australian ‘literary crime’ as grandmother fiction
Writing a crime novel having never fired a gun
My insanely vague retelling of the history of Broken River Books, and Kelby Losack’s (maybe) assault rifle
My feelings about polygamy
Preview it here. The full monty here.
Just subscribe already.
4.
I’M BACK IN BUSINESS (Website)
I had to close my website for a month because I was physically separated from my stock. But I’m back in business now at iainryan.com. I have paperbacks, hardbacks and ebooks for sale. Some of them are signed. Everyone, all over the world, should be able to buy direct from me for a reasonable price.
NB: some international market / contract bullshit applies. Not all of the above will be available everywhere.
A lot of this is on Amazon, too.
Any questions, sing out at iainkryan@gmail.com.
5.
CURRENTLY READING (Books)
I’m making my way through Kent Anderson’s absolutely mortifying Night Dogs. Goddamn. If you want to know what it’s like when policing goes wrong, this is your book. Absolutely hectic. Not chill at all.
6.
DITCH YOUR TO-DO LIST & DO THIS INSTEAD (YouTube)
I don’t know who Sam Corcos is. But YouTube served me this video and in a moment of weakness, I watched it. Then — even more bizarre — I actually implemented what he’s talking about here.
Not only does this work, it works for the exact reason he outlines: a to-do list is infinite, but your time is finite + we’re all terrible at estimating how long tasks take. This Sam guy might be a genius.
For instance, I blocked out an hour to write this list and I’m still sitting here 2 hours later (after fussing with my online shop, clearing my inbox, checking socials).
7.
PATRICIA HIGHSMITH TALKING TRASH ABOUT FLANNERY O’CONNOR (Tweet)
From this: https://twitter.com/JakeHinkson/status/1759382991120257166
(Jake Hinkson is a great noir novelist. Check him out.)
8.
TIP CITY (Short Story)
Things are getting creepy in my fortnightly stories. This is a bit of last week’s story:
Things are getting creepy with my fortnight shorts:
Milly sat up at the counter like a customer.
‘Milly?’ Robert said. ‘You need to stand up for me, girl.’
She looked over. ‘Oh god.’ She almost laughed.
‘I ain’t gonna hurt you. I just got this gun so you don’t hurt me.’
Milly sipped her coffee. ‘You can take me in once I’m done with this.’
That’s all.
— IAIN
PS: Read my public-facing thoughts Twitter and see how I live my life on Instagram.
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