Shows
Breakfast in the RuinsEPISODE 101We're back for our last show of 2024 and it's dropping in that weird 'between time' when I'm sick of festive food and just craving a tin of beans, but also wondering how much Yorkshire pud I can fit on my plate when my NYE appetite returns. And because Episode 101 has emerged through a haze of mince pies and sherry and our 18th viewing of Krampus, it's a lazy, boozy one that features a hastily conceived, tenuous theme.
It also goes on for about three days.
JOIN US!
2024-12-303h 18Breakfast in the RuinsBIRTHDAY SPECIAL 2024 - EPISODE 100 (featuring Michael Moorcock)It's Mike's birthday... It's Phil's birthday... It's our centenary...
For this one, we have a very special guest. It's Michael Moorcock!
Also, me and Phil go to Morecambe blah blah blah... JOIN US!!!
2024-12-172h 11Breakfast in the RuinsThe King of the Swords Part OneSimon Perrins is back in Derry and Toms to pick up the third instalment of the first Corum trilogy. Many delights await as Mike puts his foot down on drawing together the threads of this first ten years of Eternal Champion cosmology and, as usual, Jhary wears some nice threads.
JOIN US!
2024-12-091h 49Breakfast in the RuinsThe Book Lovers - a Conversation with Steve AylettSteve Aylett, Moorcock's favourite modern absurdist and one-man genre, drops by Derry and Toms to talk about his work, satire and his latest novel The Book Lovers (available Dec 2nd 2024).
This was a real treat for me as I've been a fan of Steve's since happening across Lint in a King's Cross bookshop nearly 20 years ago. Since then he's continued to amuse and alarm with a whole range of writings and claims.
In his own words:
"My writing has been described as dreampunk, slipstream, bizarro, cyberpunk, new weird. I call it satire. I'm an a...2024-11-221h 18Breakfast in the RuinsWarhounds and Witch Hammers (MM & RPGs VIII maybe?)For this almost-delve into Moorcock's dark and inspired quest fantasy The Warhound and the World's Pain, I'm joined by author, playwright and Games Master David Griffiths. Inevitably, we ended up going down various routes in a wide-ranging conversation including Target Books (again), Moorcock and other inspirations, roleplaying games and, eventually, The Warhound and the World's Pain, which is getting a fresh coat of paint thanks to Joe Monti and Saga Press and their brand-new hardcover Von Bek collection (releasing in December). We will follow up on this in the next few weeks with a deeper delve.
We...2024-11-122h 00Breakfast in the RuinsHalloween Special 2024 - Guy N Smith's SABATThe patrons spoke and this year's full-bore Halloween Special is Sabat - The Graveyard Vultures (and more) by Guy N Smith...
It's fair to say that this one was challenging, and not just because our hero is a massive wanker. There's more... much more...
Content warning for sexual violence and exasperated hosts.
2024-10-302h 07Breakfast in the RuinsSLIMER (Halloween 2024 continues)In this, our third (?) Halloween episode for 2024, we tackle the book Loz describes as, "crass, bluff and gittish"!
It's SLIMER... our second experience of Harry Adam Knight action on Breakfast in the Ruins and it certainly was a book. Interesting developments on the 'base under siege by weird monster' are brought low by some of the unfortunate tropes of the genre at the time. Still, fortunately, the D6 Wandering Beer Table made a welcome return and generally we rolled rather well!
Content warning for sexual violence (in the book, not between me and Loz) and r...2024-10-212h 13Breakfast in the RuinsThe House on the Borderland (Halloween 2024)We are firmly in our Halloween groove. The eco-horror of Pisces Rising may have given us a light step into the season, but now we're up to our necks in it and our choices for this year not only include the winner and one of the runners-up from this year's patron poll, but we're also taking a look at one that has featured on past polls but never reached the top...
William Hope Hodgson's classic of weird fiction and cosmic dread... The House on the Borderland.
Author, editor and musician Allister Thompson is back for...2024-10-141h 55Breakfast in the RuinsBreakfast with Robert (a Prelude to Bastable)In this bonus fix-up episode, I meet up with our pen-pal Robert MacMillan in a coffee shop in Bradford to set the scene for our journey into the worlds of Bastable… this wasn't our initial plan. Still, life intervenes in strange ways sometimes and we follow the moonbeam roads as we must.
As well as Moorcock, we talk about 1980s coach holidays to Palamos, VHS tracking, Bond, Who conventions, Pontins Prestatyn, the literary merits of Lawrence Durrell and all sorts of other things.
2024-10-081h 08Breakfast in the RuinsPISCES RISING (Tales From Pops's Coffee Table)It's October already so it's time for Graham to return for our traditional Halloween period of exploring killer critter features and, from time to time, discovering new author rabbit holes to tumble down. This time, it's PISCES RISING by NEL stalwart Peter Cave and his one-time collaborator Margaret Wredden.
Fantastic creation myths combine with brutal deaths, drinking bitter in a pub in Lowestoft, and a sadly underfeatured octopus called Bluey.
JOIN US!!!
2024-10-041h 39Breakfast in the RuinsBARBARIAN BINGO -Thongor and BrakFrom the North he came, to seek knowledge and fortune. Cast out by his tribe for offending Ulfr, God of the Wastes, he is driven by mirth, restrained by melancholy. One day he will return to make offerings to the Bear Druids, particularly Mewler the Claw. She thinks he’s an idiot but owes him a debt.
Memories of Krangg, The Iron Bear
Clarky is back in Derry and Toms to talk Conan knock-offs, and pool our thoughts on an all-Barbarian game and how to resolve the inevitable "Pah! My hand-tailored sandals are more northern tha...2024-09-121h 40Breakfast in the RuinsBEFORE ARMAGEDDONNew traveller Liam Jones drops by Derry & Toms to discuss one of his favourite things... Victorian Invasion literature... as we tackle the Moorcock-edited anthology Before Armageddon, a collection of Victorian and Edwardian imaginative fiction.
Liam also teaches me about the Parisian dandy criminals, the Apaches! (Who I must now write into my next game...)
Very cool!
At some point we'll take a look at volume II - England Invaded
2024-09-032h 02Breakfast in the RuinsHither Came ConanDave is back in Derry & Toms to talk about some stories that were as formative for him as they were for me back in our teens... The Robert E Howard Conan stories, The Phoenix on the Sword and The Scarlet Citadel.
Dave also gives us an update on the latest SÖNUS news and we delve into some of the murkier aspects of the pulp of the time. But mostly we enjoy the head smashing and the surprisingly textured and erudite version of the Cimmerian in those first two stories.
Although this is our first Co...2024-08-162h 20Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock & RPGs Part VII - Reflections on The VoidPig-bombs, priests in daisy dukes, dressing down the Theocrat of Pan Tang and getting torn apart by dogs are just some of the highlights as I’m joined in D&Ts once again by Steve Round to talk Stormbringer gaming and this time he’s brought the whole damn party.
The wandering beer table returns and, as a reward to the gang, we debut an all-new lazily assembled table of rubbish demon-bound quest goodies.
So join Steve, Chloe, Sara, Roddy, Jay, Richie and Ceirun as we board the Merciful Servant and reflect on what it take...2024-08-062h 26Breakfast in the RuinsThe Coming of the Terraphiles - Part TwoMiles is back to carry on our deep dive into Mike's Who/Multiverse mash-up and also talk about Ncuti's first run, the Timeless Child arc, writing Who fiction, engaged Tom vs couldn't give a hoot Tom and loads of other stuff no doubt.
Join us!
And be sure to check out the Casual Trek Podcast too.
2024-07-171h 47Breakfast in the RuinsThe Land That Time ForgotAllister Thompson returns to Derry and Toms as we hurtle back to 1918 and brave the cold waters of the Atlantic to take a look at The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs, subject of Michael Moorcock's sole filmed movie script (along with James Cawthron of course).
Expect discussions about mysterious island tropes, personal propensities to cannibalism, dodgy theories of race and C Thomas Howell!
Allister's latest release (at time of posting this at least) is Apocalypse Man by Khan Tengri and it includes a nice Moorcockian track too.
2024-06-272h 09Breakfast in the Ruins(The Coming of) The Coming of the TerraphilesFINALLY!
After all this dancing around the subject of Michael Moorcock writing for the iconic Doctor Who IP and talking Alien and Quatermass and Blake's 7, Miles joins me in the Cloister Room as we just about get to The Coming of the Terraphiles...
Just about...
But with our tendency to go off on tangents AND 61 years of Doctor Who to consider perhaps it was inevitable that this would be a multi-part deal. Anyway, join us as we talk about Timelords, edgy 90s Who novels, 12p swiss rolls and much more besides... even a b...2024-06-061h 43Breakfast in the RuinsBlake's 7 by Trevor HoyleJoin my co-conspirator John and me as we board the Civil Administration ship London where our brutally oppressive crew sets the speed to Time Distort 5 and makes for Cygnus Alpha where we will all suffer for our crimes!
En route, we'll have plenty of time (between beatings and summary executions) to discuss Trevor Hoyle's novelisation of the first four episodes of Terry Nation's Blake's 7 and the series itself. And some other stuff.
Sadly, we chose a book that features NO SERVALAN WHATSOEVER. But we still talk about her...
2024-05-151h 38Breakfast in the RuinsThe Blade in the Angel's Shadow w/ Andy DarbyAndy Darby is back in Derry and Toms to talk about his all-new novel, The Blade in the Angel's Shadow!
Enochian madness, brutal sieges, swordplay and the machinations of the Elizabethan court all combine to give our heroine a hard time, some gnarly powers and a profound ethical dilemma.
It's available from all good stockists now...
2024-04-301h 10Breakfast in the RuinsQUATERMASSAndrew Nette returns to Derry and Toms as we continue to muse over some formative telly, novelisations and other stuff but on this occasion to talk about Nigel Kneale's enduring and iconic character Professor Bernard Quatermass (and a load of other digressions, naturally, including brief musings on a favourite mercenary war flick). We roam around the original Hammer films, the impact of Quatermass on the zeitgeist and, most specifically, the 1979 serial and its novelisation by Nigel Kneale himself.
HUFFITY-PUFFITY PUFF!!!
Check out Quatermass III on Bandcamp
2024-04-162h 07Breakfast in the RuinsALIEN: When IPs collide (Colony Wars and Cold Forges)In our continued deliberations about tackling Michael Moorcock's Doctor Who novel The Coming of the Terraphiles, several questions about the pitfalls of writing for established IPs have arisen, and a pressing one is:
What happens when Trumpton and British politics intrude upon the Alien universe?
We investigated so you don't have to, so join Miles Reid-Lobatto (writer and co-host of the Casual Trek Podcast) and SF Starship artist and designer Ian Stead AKA Biomassart as we look at what makes the Alien IP tick and how some recent books have tackled it. Mainly Alien: Colony...2024-04-022h 01Breakfast in the RuinsThe Weird of the White Wolf
Loz returns to Derry & Toms to talk about the remaining tales we haven't covered that complete Michael Moorcock's The Weird of the White Wolf.
Elric tests some early chat-up lines in While the Gods Laugh, Moonglum finally shows up in The Singing Citadel and Loz bares all (though not his nipple) in a grievance-filled tirade against neopolitan ice cream.
JOIN US!
2024-03-191h 50Breakfast in the RuinsNew Edges For Old Heroes w/ Oliver BrackenburyOliver Brackenbury returns to Derry & Toms to talk about the next phase of his excellent mag New Edge Sword and Sorcery. Moorcock talk, uncovering and unleashing a golden age hero anew and copious amounts of caffeine and lemsip dominate.
JOIN US.
Be sure to check out the Backerkit link for New Edge Sword and Sorcery issues 3 and 4 and Oliver's podcast So I'm Writing a Novel...
The conversation about The Dreaming City and The Folk of the Forest is on Youtube
Also check out Dan Charnley's podcast, Dan Rambles and the Preston Sp...2024-02-271h 19Breakfast in the RuinsOptions (Robert Sheckley)
Derek AKA Imrryr returns to Derry and Toms to talk about fellow New Yorker Robert Sheckley, the late master of SF satire and absurdist parables, and his rather unusual and wigged-out 1975 opus... Options.
Spoiler... it's out there... AND I LOVE IT!
All of the Imrryr catalogue is available via Bandcamp, including merch, and when I get the links for the upcoming physical releases I'll add them here.
2024-02-201h 35Breakfast in the RuinsThe Time of the HawklordsSo it turns out there's a 'Britain is Fucked' novel about Hawkwind tonning around in a van fighting ghosts and squares with guns that shoot their music AND that happens to feature Moorcock as a tertiary character with a saucy house computer.
WHO KNEW???
Well, some of you did obviously... but I didn't until my mate Yarks sent me a copy for my birthday a few years ago. It turns out that I was dimly aware of author Michael Butterworth at the time as I'd had some of his Space 1999 novelisations on my shelf for...2024-01-291h 45Breakfast in the RuinsSnowcastles - A (Belated) One-Shit Book for XmasClarky the Cruel returns to Derry and Toms to revive the One-Shit Book (books that could potentially be read on one visit to the throne) format as we look at SNOWCASTLES by Duncan McGeary.
We consider wizard contracting standards, when barbarians aren't barbarians and just what the hell is under Greylock's fur...? We don't read the sequel but we do wonder why those people look like they're out of a 1970s public information film for children.
Check out Clarky's blog for updates on his various gaming and reading activities, as well as an end-of-year review...2024-01-101h 19Breakfast in the RuinsBirthday Special 2023 - w/ Joe Monti of Saga Press
In this Birthday Special double-bill of salutations, Joe Monti (editorial Director at SAGA Press) drops by D&Ts to engage in day-drinking, Moorcock talk and chew the fat about editing amazing fantasy and various other bits n' bobs. Also, Joe gets Crabs.
Then Phil and Loz join me for a serious* roundtable. Whilst we drink mucky booze and engage in a hastily and lazily bashed together but closely contested Moorcock-related quiz, Phil disses my gourd, Loz dumps on steampunk and a particularly challenging beer punches us in the temple (thanks Ash).
*not that serious
Quiz Beer slate:
· Gravity Well – Photonic Molecu...2023-12-182h 34Breakfast in the RuinsThe Queen of the Swords Part TwoSimon Perrins (artist, graphic designer and co-host of Can I Pod With Madness) returns to Derry and Toms so we can finally conclude our re-read of the second Corum adventure, The Queen of the Swords.
Between wading gods, crackles from beyond the veil and other interventions from the old gods of chaos, we managed to get through books two and three of this adventure intact. So join us for small talk about Moorcock, fighting fantasy books, Loz's Lovecraft formula and our favourite close-harmony choir of chaos oddballs...
The artist whose name we couldn't remember, responsible...2023-12-071h 50Breakfast in the RuinsMemoriam & Other Realms of Chaos with Karl WillettsPower up your voxcaster, recite a litany of protection and light a lho stick as beer lover, wargamer and death metal LEGEND Karl Willetts braves the Immaterium to warp over to Derry and Toms and discuss Memoriam, Bolt Thrower, Warhammer and his three rules of beer…
Memoriam's latest release is Rise to Power and it and their back catalogue are available at all good stockists.
I also wistfully recall my first exposure to Bolt Thrower with the epic and massive game changer for British metal... Realm of Chaos
2023-11-171h 11Breakfast in the RuinsHalloween Special 2023 - James Herbert’s DOMAINMiles and Phil brave nuclear Armageddon, mutant rats, zoom meltdowns and horrific rabies treatment to join me in Derry & Toms and check out our patron-selected Halloween double-bill of James Herbert's Domain and Bruno Mattei's Rats: Night of Terror.
So paint your windows white, lock the dogs and cats outside, get safely ensconced in your inner sanctum and JOIN US!
... and listen to the Casual Trek Podcast
2023-10-272h 10Breakfast in the RuinsThe Legacy of Guy N Smith - a Conversation with Tara PaulssonIn this, the second blow of that one-two punch of GNS brain matter, Graham and I welcome Tara Paulsson to Derry and Toms to talk about her Dad and his work.
Tara will be at Tamworth Castle's Tales From the Darkside Week on Saturday 28th October and you can find details about 'An Ode to Guy Newman Smith's, 1970's Pulp Fiction Horror' and how to book at www.tamworthcastle.co.uk/darkside
You can find all of Tara's GNS content on Instagram, Youtube and soon the official website will be back up at http://www.gu...2023-10-201h 03Breakfast in the RuinsCRABS ON THE RAMPAGE (Guy N Smith Re-revisited)
Graham and Phil return to Derry and Toms to tackle our third adventure in the company of the mighty Professor Cliff Davenport in the first of a one-two punch of GNS-related early Halloween action.
Disturbing violence, saucy language and copious amounts of pus await the unwary traveller.
Be sure to check out Graham and the Duck Pond Sailors' latest release Urban Navigators.
There's much more to say on Guy and his extensive body of work so tune in to the next episode for a conversation with Guy's daughter Tara.
2023-10-191h 31Breakfast in the RuinsPhoenix in Obsidian (The Silver Warriors) Part OnePhil returns to Derry & Toms to tackle the second Erekosë volume - Pheonix in Obsidian, also known as The Silver Warriors in the USA.
Misery, perversion and very metal methods of conveyance abound in this tale of an Earth in its final ebbs of existence.
JOIN US!
2023-10-131h 18Breakfast in the RuinsLetters From HollywoodChris (AKA Dirk the Dice) returns to Derry and Toms to discuss Michael Moorcock's sort-of-memoir of his time in LA and wider California in Letters From Hollywood. Along the way we drink fusty northern beer, console one another about Pernod-soaked catastrophes in our salad days, wistfully recall the Moorcock/Tolkien Weekender and muse on what form it could take in the future (Dannus/Lud-in-the-Mist Premier Inn Takeover anyone?*).
You can find The Grognard Files on all good podcatchers and be sure to read the full Richard Glyn Jones blog post on New Worlds.
*#FUCKINGDANNUS
2023-09-151h 56Breakfast in the RuinsThe Fireclown (The Winds of Limbo)Andy Darby shakes off the Monkey for an evening and drops by D and Ts to take a look at one of Moorcock's 60s SF tales, The Fireclown (later retitled The Winds of Limbo but I'm sticking with the original title for vaguely defined reasons related to being old and finnicky).
Strap in for a political thriller laced with astute observations on the natures of media and personality politics, the odd sprinkling of futurism and some oddly prescient sort-of predictions.
Check out Andy's brace of psychedelic, acid-laced adventures about a poorly-behaved Monkey taking on the...2023-08-291h 42Breakfast in the RuinsThe Fungus by Harry Adam Knight - an Uncosy CatastropheGraham returns to Derry and Toms to pick up the chat regarding another Uncosy Catastrophe, on this occasion recommended by listener Paul Miles... 1985's The Fungus by Harry Adam Knight, a book that somehow passed us by despite being firmly in our wheelhouse.
Exploding landlords, extremely poor mission personnel choices, sweaty liaisons and deeply unfortunate children await in this tale of an England overwhelmed by scientifically boosted mycelium.
2023-08-021h 26Breakfast in the RuinsThe Sword of the Dawn Book TwoDave returns to Derry & Toms to pick up our thread with The Sword of the Dawn Book Two, the third instalment in Michael Moorcock's epic The History of the Runestaff.
Hawkmoon gets some swish togs but seems to have a real blind spot when it comes to fighting pirates. Meanwhile, D'Averc is... sort of there?
Don your wafters and JOIN US!
(and check out SÖNUS on bandcamp)
2023-07-141h 33Breakfast in the RuinsGOR Blimey!!!Miles of the Casual Trek Podcast returns to Derry & Toms as we turn flagellant and cast our eyes over the first in John Norman's GOR series (and the Cannon movie adaptation as a Brucey Bonus).
Publishers disdain it, booksellers sneer at it and the literary establishment would rather just not talk about it. But the GOR series still has a habit of popping up in the second-hand bookshops we frequent, because there are still millions of 'em kicking about probably. And there's even a Gorean subculture in Darlington!!!
But which side are we on?
2023-06-291h 45Breakfast in the RuinsTales From Strange Cupboards - Moorcock and RPGs Part VI
For our latest exploration of multiversal gaming, friends of the show Dave and Steve bring games mastering knowledge and expertise to Derry and Toms (as well as a couple of afternoon libations of course).
Whilst we consider whether Stormbringer is the Moorcockian RPG to rule them all, we also yak about the lineage of the Stormbringer RPG (see terribly boring powerpoint slide below), gaming as shit-kickers, when games get too meta, cat character sheets, how to nail the dream realms, playing games in Littlewoods cafe, and memories of Oyster Stout (all bad).
You can catch up with Dave and Steve's...2023-06-191h 35Breakfast in the RuinsBlack Swords & Storyboards - a Conversation with Goran GligovićGoran Gligović stopped by Derry and Toms to discuss his art and influences, as well as his work on the recently kickstarted Black Sword Hack: Ultimate Chaos Edition, a Moorcock-influenced roleplaying game from The Merry Mushmen
We rove around the joint and, for possibly the first time, Excalibur gets a mention on Breakfast in the Ruins... how it took so long I honestly can't say. We also do a prize draw for some lucky Patron Demons!
Check out Goran's Patreon and his InPrnt store.
2023-06-0650 minBreakfast in the RuinsThe Queen of the Swords Book OneSimon returns to D&Ts to look at the first part of the second volume of the adventures of Corum, Prince in the Scarlet Robe and tell us all about his new(ish) podcast Can I Pod With Madness (available wherever you consume your pods).
Beer mistakes and dodgy audio can't dampen our enthusiasm for some fantastic world-building and the first true appearance of everyone's (well ours anyway) favourite companion/hat/cat combination.
JOIN US!
2023-05-151h 42Breakfast in the RuinsThe Fortress of the Pearl Part ThreeLoz returns to Derry & Toms to brave the final gate (and the depredations of the beer slate) as we conclude our re-read of Michael Moorcock's 1989 Elric novel The Fortress of the Pearl.
Expect revisionism (both textual and personal), rose-tinted reflections on the dole, a beer challenge best described as cyclopean and some RPG-focused grumbling as we complete our re-evaluation of a novel we haven't read in over 30 years and fail to pronounce simple English words.
JOIN US!
2023-04-281h 37Breakfast in the RuinsThe Final Programme Phase IV - The Last Days of Man on EarthWe're back in Derry and Toms in the company of Joe Banks to take a look at Robert Fuest's 1973 film take on Moorcock's The Final Programme (AKA The Last Days of Man on Earth).
As is traditional we roam around, but mostly we evaluate The Final Programme as both an adaptation and as a work that stands (or falls) on its own merits, and Joe has a startling take on that ending that I'd never considered. And we talk about some other stuff.
JOIN US!
2023-04-061h 22Breakfast in the RuinsNew English Library - BikermaniaAndrew Nette returns to Derry & Toms to look at the legendary UK publisher of horror, science fiction and alarmingly violent but sociologically savvy pulps -New English Library. NEL looms large on my shelves but I've never delved into their bikersploitation output... UNTIL NOW!
Rum content ahead as we talk about the publisher, the key players behind some of their more exploitative output, and two similar yet very different biker novels from the early 70s:
Angels From Hell by Mick Norman
and
The Devil's Rider by Alex R Stuart
We also refer to Andrew's...2023-03-241h 47Breakfast in the RuinsThe War of the WorldsAllister Thompson, musician and author of The Music of the Spheres, is back in Derry & Toms to talk about the scientific romance and hardcore disco prog phenomenon that is... The War of the Worlds.
We look at our entry points into WOTW fandom, the original 1897 classic by HG Wells, a number of adaptations and spin-offs, and the one adaptation that looms large over all the others (the Jeff Wayne album, obviously).
2023-03-072h 10Breakfast in the RuinsThe Sword of the Dawn - Book OneDave AKA SÖNUS returns to Derry & Toms and we pick up the exploits of Dorian Hawkmoon and his amusing companion Huillam D'Averc in The Sword of the Dawn, third volume of Moorcock's epic The History of the Runestaff.
Meliadus gets miffed, Hawkmoon's stoicism is tested, D'Averc gets naked and Count Brass is bored shitless.
Join us as we discuss this and much more!
2023-02-271h 31Breakfast in the RuinsJames Herbert’s The Dark - The Nature of the Uncosy Catastrophe Part OneGraham and Miles join me in Derry & Toms to delve into more James Herbert disaster action and muse over the glut of uncosy catastrophes coming out of the 70s paperback boom to answer Aldiss's dismissal of the British sci-fi apocalypse novels of the 60s.
We talk about The Dark and touch upon some other examples we've been picking up.
As trailed in the show you can find The Casual Trek Podcast on all good podcatchers and you can still find the episode of the Closer to Midnight Podcast covering John Christopher's The Death of Grass...2023-02-131h 52Breakfast in the RuinsNew Edge Sword & Sorcery MagazineOliver Brackenbury drops by Derry & Toms to give us the low down on New Edge Sword & Sorcery, his new anthology magazine heading to Kickstarter around about the time this show goes out.
We talk about the magazine as well as numerous things including the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy at Toronto Public Library, Oliver's related podcast Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection, his path to writing and editing and his main podcast So I'm Writing a Novel.
You can find more info about Oliver and all of his projects and activities at https...2023-02-011h 12Breakfast in the RuinsThe Fortress of the Pearl - Part TwoLoz returns to Derry & Toms to pick up our coverage of The Fortress of the Pearl, muse on Elric's 'nice guy' characterisation, grumble at Jack Three-Beaks, coo over weird sky descriptions and suffer the depredations of the returning D6 wandering beer table.
In other news I was delighted to be a guest of Jeff and Hoi on the Appendix N Book Club. Be sure to check out their interview with Mr Moorcock himself too.
Also, check out the exquisite black metal dungeon synth of Fortress of the Pearl on Bandcamp.
2023-01-252h 15Breakfast in the RuinsThe Devils of D-Day 2: Manitou Boogalou
After falling foul of birthday libations first time around, we're back to finish our exploration of Graham Masterton's The Devils of D-Day.
The Seven Tests return, Dan McCook still isn't owning his fundamental rookie error, the Official Secrets Act counts for sweet FA and it turns out Eloise is the MVP of this whole story.
We also watch a movie! Surely there has to be a better Graham Masterton protagonist out there right? Turns out there's two (and a very unfortunate doctor)!
2023-01-061h 26Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock, Art & Comics II - Saga of the Man ElfSimon is back in Derry & Toms to carry on our chinwagging and this time we're joined by Guy Lawley, author of Saga of the Man Elf. This 1989 five issue Trident comics run is my most highly treasured Moorcock-related comic and Guy tells us how it came to be, how Mike gave it his blessing, and how he worked and moved through UK comics and fanzines.
We also discuss the artists involved in the conception of the Man Elf character and story, and dedicate this show to the memory of Steve Whitaker.
2022-12-301h 19Breakfast in the RuinsBirthday/Xmas Special 2022 - The Devils of D-Day (Part I)Another year has flown by and we return to Derry and Toms for our fourth annual Phil and MM birthday special and celebrate another year on the planet. This time by reading some patron-selected festive horror!
Tanks, demons, onion soup, calvados and freezing weather all combine to create a truly seasonal challenge for a horny cartographer.
This is a little bit late for reasons explained in the show (birthday boozing) but Happy Birthday to Phil, MM and Sebastian Weetabix - and Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and whatever you may celebrate at this time of year...2022-12-201h 34Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock, Art & Comics (and more) PART ISimon Perrins joins me in Derry and Toms to discuss Moorcock, art, comics, Tolkien, TV adaptations, role-playing games, tortured poet musicians we adored in our youths and generally go totally fugazi.
Simon is the man behind our banner art, logo, Gerard Arthur Connelly portraits and pretty much our entire visual identity. Follow him on Twitter and check out his store.
Listen to BITR Breakfast in the Ruins Radio on Radio Garden.
For a visual guide to the imagery we discuss along the way check out the Patreon Post or the BITR Blog.
2022-11-251h 55Breakfast in the RuinsHalloween Special 2022 - THE FOG (James Herbert)
Phil and Graham return to Derry and Toms to gas about James Herbert's second novel, 1975's The Fog. One year on from The Rats he's back terrorising London and the south-east, this time with a rampaging combination of mutated disease and spooky weather condition. He also baffles and amuses us with protracted sexy-times, which was de rigueur for Herbert at this early stage in his career. Also, I can only apologise to any German listeners for reasons that will become apparent.
Behold the crapness of the cover of my Pan edition in the middle. NEL were streets ahead in the co...2022-10-302h 10Breakfast in the RuinsMe and the Monkey - Chronicles of the Monkey God Vol. I
Andy Darby joins me in virtual Derry and Toms to talk his tales of the Monkey God, Moorcock, and lots of other stuff including reminiscences about Johnny Seven, Lion annuals, Commando comics, Mme. Blavatsky, My First Two Thousand Years and tripping in Amsterdam.
You can pick up Vol I and The Paddington Incident now and Vol II releases on 5th November. There are QR codes with the illustrations in Vol 2 and The Paddington Incident that link to audio sections narrated by Andy, and you can connect with him on Goodreads.
Brayna's Creed, the second track from the upcoming Journal Vol II...2022-10-241h 19Breakfast in the RuinsThe Black Corridor
Derek AKA Imrryr joins me in Derry and Toms to discuss this choice piece of 60s SF courtesy of Moorcock and Hilary Bailey, as well as his new(ish) The Black Corridor inspired album and his latest variation on his ongoing Elric-related project The Dreaming City III. Then Graham calls in from his weird shack* in the woods to add his tuppence ha'penny worth and his thoughts on collaborating with ＮΛＮD to interpret this novel as a musical suite.
Speculations on a grim future...
Musings on a grim present...
Bleak experimental electronica...
Politics...
We leave it all hanging out.
Imrryr's The Black Cor...2022-10-172h 01Breakfast in the RuinsThe Mad God’s Amulet Book Two
Dave (AKA SÖNUS) is back in Derry and Toms to pick up the second and concluding part of our quest for The Mad God's Amulet.
Join us as we discover the greatest NWOBHM band to never exist... THE MUTANT WAR JAGUARS OF ASIACOMMUNISTA... and Lord Shark's Ostentatious Couch returns.
Things mentioned in the show include Gates of Londra - a must have if you dig your industrial black metal with a Moorcockian twist.
Imrryr's latest release The Dreaming City III is out now featuring Dave and Allister Thompson AKA The Gateless Gate.
Massive thanks to Dave Dempster for the Maega...2022-09-301h 55Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock and RPGs Part V - Stormbringer Redux!
Ted AKA @tedankhamen joins me in Derry and Toms for the second leaf of our Summer diptych musing on Moorcock, gaming and whatever else enters our eyeline.
Some choice cuts in here including miniature bashing, Tolkien (again), a shock Strongbow appreciation story, chaosium-isms... but mostly some good, chewy thinking on modelling Moorcockian worlds and cosmology. I also bang my BoL drum again.
Be sure to have a good delve around Ted's blog Tomb of Tedankhamen.
Ted also mentioned Lasers and Feelings by John Harper. Lots more good stuff on his itch.io
You can check out the Tentacled Whisperer of Secr...2022-09-051h 11Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock and RPGs Part IV - Sandboxing the Multiverse
We're back in Derry and Toms to talk gaming again, this time with CLARKY THE CRUEL.
Dave gets shocked by the crap number of TV channels we had in the UK as kids, Clarky tells us about his sandboxing adventures beyond the ultraworld, and I get inspired. And we digress. Obviously.
You can find Clarky's Dissecting Worlds podcast archive and all of his game logs on his blog (including entires by yours truly describing the action from the perspective of post-apocalypse fiction powerhouse Roy Saveloy.
Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter and check ou...2022-08-271h 13Breakfast in the RuinsThe Art of Bob Haberfield (1938 - 2021)After 40 years of obsessing over the Mayflower covers of Bob Haberfield, Dave and I get to wig out and talk to Ben Haberfield about his Dad's life, art and the gestating project to celebrate the breadth of his work in the form of two art books.
You can keep up with Ben's work at bobhaberfield.com and follow him on Instagram.
Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter and check out his store.
Listen to BITR Breakfast in the Ruins Radio on Radio Garden.
2022-07-301h 12Breakfast in the RuinsThe Winds of Gath (EC Tubb) - an Old Pier Bookshop Special
Phil returns to Derry & Toms as we visit Morecambe's (and perhaps the world's) premier second hand book vendor to select a candidate for the first ever Old Pier Bookshop Special.
We choose, or rather are chosen by, The Winds of Gath by EC Tubb - first in a 33 book series spanning three decades that charts the adventures of Earl Dumarest of Terra.
In honour of old school SF we drink old school beers. Well, I do. Phil drinks fancy wine. But we meet in the middle when the mysterious books of booze box appears for the first time in D&T...2022-07-192h 18Breakfast in the RuinsThe Mad God’s Amulet - Book One (Hawkmoon)Dave AKA SÖNUS returns to Derry and Toms to dive into the fast-paced and very metal, yet weirdly just OK-ish first part of The Mad God's Amulet, second in the Hawkmoon sequence The History of the Runestaff.
As always, digressions await the unwary traveller as well as ostentatious coughing and just excellent pants.
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Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter and check out his store.
Chapter...2022-06-171h 52Breakfast in the RuinsThe Fortress of the Pearl - Part One (Elric)
Loz returns to Derry & Toms to revisit an old adversary, Michael Moorcock's The Fortress of the Pearl.
Join us and marvel at our declining energy.
Bridle, as Loz declares The Chronicle of the Black Sword a shit book and denigrates poetry.
Along the way we 'wake the chicken'. What does that even mean? How many names are there for trousers? Why would anyone smoke stout?
Listen as we mull over the answers.
(Spoiler - we don't know)
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Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on T...2022-05-092h 06Breakfast in the RuinsMy Experiences in the Third World War
Finally, we're back at Derry & Toms to take a look at the 1980 Moorcock collection My Experiences in the Third World War. Along the way Phil and I compare notes regarding our mindsets in the 1980s, laugh at the preposterous Controller and let fate decide on the Wandering Traumatic Nuclear War Film Table.
Also, on this occasion we might not offend a small town in the UK but potentially ALL of Canada. But seriously what DOES 'pie-dish of privilege and broken promises' really mean?
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...2022-04-161h 59Breakfast in the RuinsTo Rescue Tanelorn / SÖNUS - Usurper of the UniverseDave AKA SÖNUS is back in Derry & Toms to celebrate the release of his second cut - USURPER OF THE UNIVERSE - out now on Forbidden Place Records.
As it aligns nicely we also take a dive into the 1962 Moorcock story To Rescue Tanelorn and make some connections. Along the way we talk about some other guff.
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Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on T...2022-02-052h 07Breakfast in the RuinsBirthday Show 2021 - Reflections on 2 & a bit years of Breakfasting in the RuinsAnother year down and this is our third show celebrating Mike Moorcock and Phil's birthdays. It's also the Breakfast in the Ruins podcast's second birthday... sort of.
Loz joins me in Derry & Toms to reflect on two and a bit years of podcasting against the strangest of backdrops. Plus the wandering beer table returns, for both good and ill.
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Clarky's multipart Tenerife campaign as discussed on the show is detailed on his excellent site. My in-character (as Roy Saveloy) chapter write-ups are here and here.
2021-12-181h 49Breakfast in the RuinsGuy N Smith Revisited - Crabs‘ Moon
After the Halloween Special we couldn't stay away. Phil needed to know how the Crabs came to be. Where did they come from? What do they want?
So we read Crabs Moon and discovered the answers to none of these questions. But we did have a hoot and we were joined by Graham (aka @opensussex AKA Apkallu of Enmerkar AKA DECADNIDS) to have a couple of beverages, discuss Crabs Moon and to talk in general about the late Guy N Smith, his diverse writing career. We also raised a glass to the man too as this show lands close to a...2021-12-141h 52Breakfast in the RuinsDangerous Visions and New Worlds w/ Andrew NetteAndrew Nette, journalist, writer and lover of all things pulp, joins me in Derry and Toms to talk about his new book Dangerous Visions and New Worlds Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985 . In this deep dive into the progressive, sexy explosion of challenging stories we wander off on various tangents including an Australian viewpoint on pulp and genre fiction, the wonders of the publisher NEL (New English Library), Jon Pertwee Doctor Who (again), long dead bus drivers and Rollerball!
We also touch on PS Publishing's Midnight Movie Monographs.
2021-11-191h 32Breakfast in the RuinsHalloween Special 2021 - Night of the Crabs by Guy N Smith
The patrons have spoken.
This year's Halloween Special looks at the classic New English Library killer critter classic, Night of the Crabs by Guy N Smith.
Death...
Destruction...
Rumpy pumpy...
Knobhead crabs...
It has it all. And sorry to Rhyl (again).
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Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter and check out his new store.
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2021-10-311h 47Breakfast in the RuinsThe Final Programme Phase ThreeHussein is back in Derry & Toms to triumphantly conclude our epic coverage of The Final Programme.
We talk parties... get older... and add Rhyll to the list of towns we've offended... but damn it we got through it!
The best news is that Hussein WILL return again.
This show is played out once again by Ｎ Λ Ｎ Ｄ with the new track Gallery of the Lost.
DIG IT!
2021-10-042h 04Breakfast in the RuinsDays of the Underground w/ Joe BanksWe're back in Derry and Toms Once again via the Ladbroke Grove counter-culture scene, this time in the company of journalist and author Joe banks as we talk about his book Days of the Underground: Radical Escapism in the Age of Paranoia. We yak about Hawkwind, Moorcock, Target Books and other digressions.
Joe's website is daysoftheunderground.com.
John Coulthart's website is www.johncoulthart.com
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Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter and check out his new...2021-08-311h 26Breakfast in the RuinsThe Music of the SpheresMusician and author Allister Thompson navigates the frozen Northern Wastes (Canada) to join me in Derry and Toms and talk about Moorcock, music, writing and, most importantly, his debut novel The Music of the Spheres.
We also run our first competition (sort of) and The Singularity repeatedly attempts to shut down our groove.
Check out the new N Λ Ṇ D album Journal and the DECADNIDS vs N Λ Ṇ D collaboration The Black Corridor
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Check out our Patreon for exclusive updates and content.
Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrin...2021-07-291h 18Breakfast in the RuinsWizardry and Wild Romance
Grognard Files host Dirk the Dice joins me at Derry and Toms to investigate Wizardry and Wild Romance, Moorcock's critical appraisal of the field of heroic fantasy/sword and sorcery .
Inevitably there's some salty talk, most of it from MM himself, and beverages are consumed via the D6 wandering stupid beer table.
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Check out our Patreon for exclusive updates and content.
Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter and check out his new store.
Our avatar is by Wyrmwalk. Follow him on Instagram.
2021-06-291h 29Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcockian Music - SÖNUS and ImrryrIn search of Moorcock-tinged sonic experiences and the stories behind them we pack up and hit the road on a coast to coast trip across the USA to talk Mike, space rock and bleak electronica in the company of SÖNUS and Imrryr.
As usual we go off beam a bit.
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Our banner art and logo is by Simon Perrins. Follow him on Twitter.
Our avatar is by W...2021-06-112h 19Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock and RPGs Part Three - A Deep Fix?In the third and final part of our Moorcockian RPG triptych Rob (aka OldShabbyGamer), host of the Confessions of a Wee Tim'rous Bushi podcast, joins me at Derry & Toms to talk Moorcock, D&D, when a beer is not a beer, and Tolkien!
Graham, Neil and Norman also drop by to talk Stormbringer 3e, ploons, shit sailors & what would make our own ideal Moorcockian RPG. It's a really Deep Fix. No prizes for guessing who provides the soundtrack!
2021-05-112h 21Breakfast in the RuinsDannus - The Dark Straits of Reglathium (a one-shit book?)Tash is back in Derry & Toms as we embark upon an epic quest to the Jennithusian Continent to search for the perfect one-shit book!
Is it Mike Sirota's fourth Dannus opus, The Dark Straits of Reglathium?
TUNE IN AND FIND OUT.
We talk Sword & Planet fiction, how to ruin expensive spirits and reminisce about No Frills Value Cola Flavour Drink.
Rum features.
2021-04-211h 27Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock and RPGs Part Two - STORMHACK!We're back in Derry and Toms and returning to Moorcock's influence and presence in RPGs in the company of Ralph Lovegrove, host of the Fictoplasm Podcast and designer of STORMHACK!
We talk Moorcock (obviously), gaming, podcasting and other bits n bobs, as well as Ralph's own take on the Moorcockian role-playing game... STORMHACK!
Find Ralph's gear at these links:
STORMHACK!
Appendix N and Cousins
Runequest's Appendix N
2021-03-271h 23Breakfast in the RuinsSven Hassel & Wheels of Terror - Part OneOld pal Robbo joins me in Derry & Toms to discuss the book from Pops that blew my mind into tiny pieces back in the early 80s, Sven Hassel's Wheels of Terror! We look at the man himself, including the shroud of mystery around his history, the first part of the novel and it's horrific, bleak yet darkly humorous depiction of the impact of war, and whether this was really suitable reading for an 11 or 12 year old to move onto from the Doctor Who novelisations by Target Books. We also talk Moorcock (naturally) and the impact growing up in the ru...2021-03-031h 39Breakfast in the RuinsSpirits Burning w/ Don Falcone
We're back with another look at Moorcockian music, this time in the company of Don Falcone, captain of the starship Spirits Burning, long time collaborative portal for progressive and space rock projects involving luminaries from across the rock field, most recently Michael Moorcock himself with their last two albums being musical adaptations of the Dancers at the End of Time trilogy.
We talk Moorcock (obviously) and Don's influences and history as a musician and producer, as well as a few other bits n' bobs as we go.
The Journal of Gerard Arthur Connelly continues with Chapter 10 and an unusual encounter (sco...2021-02-231h 49Breakfast in the RuinsThe Knight of the Swords Book ThreeLoz is back as we conclude our look at the first volume in the psychedelic adventure of Corum, the Prince in the Scarlet Robe.
As usual our conversation veers around a bit, covering beers, rhubarb, hernias and just how much agency Corum has. We also have a good think about what to cover next, roll some dice to decide, and get bowled over by the sheer quality of @nand_soundtrax's journal soundscape!
2021-02-031h 49Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcockian Music - Elric and CorumWe delve into the worlds of Moorcock influenced music with the other-worldly Dungeon Synth of The Artist Called Elric, and the powerful METAL!!! of Corum, two faces of the Eternal Champion.
Gerard Arthur Connelly returns and gets his poor boots wet, with all new atmos and score by @nand_soundtrax
Elric and Corum's Bandcamp pages are:
https://elricstormbringer.bandcamp.com/
and
https://metalcorum.bandcamp.com/
2021-01-171h 12Breakfast in the RuinsMichael Moorcock Birthday Special 2020It's December 18th 2020, Michael Moorcock and Phil share a birthday AGAIN (weird right?) and, with the help of some friends, we celebrate a great day and take a look at Mike's Sherlock Holmes story, The Adventure of the Dorset Street Lodger.
In addition we consider the broad appeal of Moorcock and how it crosses some boundaries that in this strange day and age are often extraordinarily difficult to bridge, and we get to showcase some great music.
Happy birthday Mike and Phil!
2020-12-181h 42Breakfast in the RuinsSonic Assassins - Moorcock and Hawkwind Part OneOn our first purely music focused show we talk Hawkwind with biographer and writer Ian Abrahams. We also muse on how notice boards on launderette walls can produce great results.
Also, Loz calls in to Derry & Toms to drink some traditionally stupid beers and reminisce about the days of yore, sleeping dogs and the Giantkind track Breakfast in the Ruins.
2020-12-061h 29Breakfast in the RuinsThe Rituals of Infinity (sort of) with KEK-W
After getting caught between worlds and never managing to quite hook it up, through a radio link between Earths 2 and 5 we finally get it together to discuss Moorcock with comics luminary and 2000AD Script Droid KEK-W!
We talk Moorcock, The Rituals of Infinity, comics, Dark Judges, music and the disturbingly beautiful art of Dave Kendall.
I continue to learn regarding online recording, with mixed results.
Gerard Arthur Connelly gets his slippers wet.
As discussed on the show Jim’s Kickstarter for Urish’s Horde – The Guide to Elric Collectibles is at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcbooks/urishs-horde-the-guide-to-elric-collectibles
2020-12-011h 23Breakfast in the RuinsThe Knight of the Swords Book TwoLoz returns as we head up to the Roof Garden to ruminate over Corum's endless jawing with a slightly dubious sorceror in The Knight of the Swords Book Two.
Multiple varieties of pants are considered along with a couple of actually palatable beers. Progress I say!
2020-11-161h 26Breakfast in the RuinsHalloween Special - The RatsIt's Halloween, so Phil and I enjoy some spooky old fashioneds and engage with the horror of James Herbert's 1974 debut novel, The Rats!
It's got the lot. A creepy hero... out of order tramps... vicious critters... and an abundance of thigh references!
STAY SAFE!!!
2020-10-311h 36
Breakfast in the RuinsThe Final Programme Phase Two
Finally, the Spheres align and Hussein and I manage, after ten months, to get it together and look at Phase Two of The Final Programme.
We talk about Mike's uncanny prescience, wrestling in Featherstone Library, and Hussein rags on sci-fi again. It's a fun time all round.
Also, GAC reaches the village of Treybach. Foxes may be abroad.
2020-10-111h 43Breakfast in the RuinsThe Eternal Champion Part ThreeWe're back, and this time Phil joins me at Derry and Toms to conclude our coverage of The Eternal Champion.
Turns out Erekosë is just a horny jock. Who knew?
We also find that if you're being peer pressured into genocide you just need a bath, dinner and an intervention... it's just so relatable!
2020-09-281h 42Breakfast in the RuinsThe Knight of the Swords Book OneWe're back at Derry and Tom's and unfortunately so are the challenging porters.
REJOICE as we finally get around to covering Corum...
SIGH as we continue to fail to avoid weird beer...
DESPAIR as our energy levels dip in the second half...
GASP at chapter two of The Journal of Gerard Arthur Connelly...
2020-08-231h 18Breakfast in the RuinsMoorcock RPGs and the Journal of GACPhil, Loz and I celebrate an all too brief interlude in lockdown life to drink weird porters and muse upon Moorcock’s treatment at the hands of tabletop role-playing games.
Phil taunts us with her syrupy beer avoidance skills, two-man canoes get far too many mentions and Loz gatekeeps Moorcock RPG play (the rotter).
Also, The Journal of Gerard Arthur Connelly debuts with chapter one. There are 5 more to come (and if I don’t get pelted with rottent tomatoes I may write more).
2020-08-021h 36Breakfast in the RuinsThe Jewel in the Skull Part ThreeTash returns from her exile in Sri Lanka and finally we get together after a four month Covid delay to finish The Jewel in the Skull. Stand by as we flatten the curve!
REEL at the variable sound quality as my Tascam once again has to do some heavy lifting.
MARVEL at the disagreements over the last few chapters.
HOWL at Tash's toilet allocation of an all new (to me) classification of a certain type of fantasy novel.
SHOEGAZE to the mellow sounds of Breakfast in the Ruins by the mighty G...2020-07-191h 22Breakfast in the RuinsThe Eternal Champion Part TwoWe're back.
The Eternal Champion continues on his crusade to defeat the enemies of humanity and further proves himself an absolute duffer with the ladies.
Phil reveals a penchant for watching extreme violence against Ewan McGregor and Channing Tatum.
I wring my hands at the horror of it all.
JOIN US!
2020-07-141h 16Breakfast in the RuinsThe Eternal Champion Part OneWe're back in Derry & Toms roof gardens to mull over 1970's The Eternal Champion, the novel debut of Erekosë/John Daker.
It's got everything. Bad pronunciation, silly names and nudity.
Phil returns to the co-host chair, we drink an old old-Fashioned or two and draw comparisons between Noonos and Grimsby, adding that ancient port-town to our list of mildly insulted settlements.
2020-05-301h 25
Breakfast in the RuinsElric of Melniboné Part ThreeLoz is back as we conclude our coverage of the 1972 Moorcock novel Elric of Melniboné.
Join us as we are horrified by a challenging beer and Loz offends Scunthorpe (as well as narrowly avoiding a date with Dannus). As usual we struggle with pronunciation and saying The Ship That Sails Over Land and Water.
2020-03-051h 25
Breakfast in the RuinsThe Jewel in the Skull Part Two
Natasha is back with me as we continue our deep dive into the first Hawkmoon novel, The Jewel in the Skull.
MARVEL at Tash's brutal takedown of mothers-in-law...
SIGH at the rambling non-sequiturs...
GASP at Tash's salty sailor talk...
WONDER at the gradual breakdown of recording discipline...
WEEP at the continual intrusion of traffic, crisp packets and leather furniture...
2020-02-161h 11
Breakfast in the RuinsElric of Melniboné Part TwoLoz is back with me at Derry and Tom's as we dive into Straasha's ocean depths to prize open the mysteries below and discuss (most of) Book Two of Elric of Melniboné.
Excellent beverages are consumed along the way.
2020-01-281h 08
Breakfast in the RuinsThe Final Programme - Phase One
After a degree of arm-twisting and one false start, Hussein finally gets his head into a sci-fi/fantasy book and agrees to tell the tale!
We cover the first Phase of The Final Programme, the introduction of Jerry Cornelius into the Multiverse of Michael Moorcock.
Hussein marvels at the wonders of psychedelic 70s scifi covers and I keep mixing up my Perssons and my Brunners.
2020-01-141h 34
Breakfast in the RuinsHappy Birthday Michael MoorcockOne of the twitter gang tipped me off a few weeks ago that December 18th is Michael Moorcock's birthday. It took a while for the penny to drop, but when it did and my brain was penetrated by the copper and grub of ten thousand grasping fingers, I was taken aback for a second.
December 18th is also my brilliant and long-suffering partner Phil's birthday, so I made her read something because CONTENT!
So happy birthdays all around!!!
2019-12-1855 min
Breakfast in the RuinsElric of Melniboné Part OneLoz is back with me at Derry and Tom's as we tackle the 1972 novel Elric of Melniboné.
We have a few drinks and muse upon Elric's early pre-wanderer, Stormbringerless years on the Ruby Throne of Imrryr.
We also ponder the news of a possible Elric TV show and attempt to get comfortable on Lord Shark's Ostentatious Couch (spoiler, we don't).
2019-11-241h 22
Breakfast in the RuinsThe Jewel in the Skull Part OneNatasha and I discuss Book One of The Jewel in the Skull. It's got it all!
Moorcock discussion? Check!
Moorcroft? Sure, why not!
Bagging small English towns? Check!
Dogs wagging tails? Check and check!
NOW IN THC SOUND!
Note: The bulk of this was recorded before Episode One, so we're already entering into the true spirit of Moorcock by confusing our own internal chronology.
2019-10-271h 26