The Journal of Gerard Arthur Connelly – Audio Version (Work in Progress)

I’ve been thinking about how to vary the content on the show and one of the ideas generated is to do an ‘audio book’ version of an old write-up of one of Loz’s Moorcock themed games from a few years years ago.

Gerard Arthur Connelly is a character I created over 25 years ago (perhaps more) and have returned to regularly over the years. Being lazy and just playing variations of the same bod seems suitably Moorcockian.

I’ve shared some of the progress to date with patrons and, as nobody has told me it’s shit, I’ve done some more AND added some music. It’s still a work in progress and the atmosphere music is just to plug a gap until I get around to doing something original for it (probably with some help from Neil and Johnny Royale). I also realised when I got to the last chapter it was never finished so I haven’t recorded that yet. Will have to have a big splurge on the writing front if I decide to continue with it.

Once the individual chapters have had some more attention they’ll probably end up being dropped at the end of regular shows as an episodic deal or, if they don’t really end up working they’ll just stay on the Patreon site as oddities for our glorious patrons.

July is looking like a busier month (at last), I should have The Eternal Champ ep 2 uploaded this week, I’m catching up with Natasha a week tomorrow to round off The Jewel in the Skull and later this month Loz and I will embark upon our tour of the Corum books.

In other news the Gollancz Collection is finally almost complete. They may lack inspiring covers but they are definitive texts and are excellent reading copies. Sadly a lot of my older 60s, 70s and 80s editions are getting a bit fragile.

Finally for today, I just concluded play on Dirk the Dice’s terrific three-part Hawkmoon RPG scenario Casa De Mercurio. It was a ton of fun with a great plot, tons of Moorcockian flavour and a great group of players.

Incidentally, Dirk’s latest episode of The Grognard Files is all about the Hawkmoon Role-Playing Game and other associated bits and bobs. It’s required listening as always. Even if you’re not a gamer Dirk and Blythy’s observations on the Hawkmoon series of novels and the games they inspired are as astute, warm and informative as ever. Check it out here.

The Eternal Champion Part One

We’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 Old-Fashioneds and draw comparisons between Noonos and Grimsby, adding that ancient port-town to our list of mildly insulted settlements.

We have a brand new logo (actually a suite of logos) by the brilliant Simon Perrins (@hf_tf on Twitter). Check out his fabulous work at https://cjthorpe1.myportfolio.com/ and pay him cash money to draw you stuff.

Since the last show Dirk over at The Grognard Files asked me on to do a turn on his My First, My Last, My Everything spot. I thoroughly enjoyed it and you can find that episode here. If you didn’t know anything about Lyonesse by Jack Vance before listen to this and you’ll be all over it. While you’re there listen to all of his other shows too. They’re brilliant.

We also have a new patron, Jim. He runs a small press publisher and is working on a guide to Elric collectables. Pay him a visit.

Finally thanks to everyone out there that has stayed interested and enquired about the show. You’re great motivators.

Stay safe and I’ll see you on the moonbeam roads.

Episode 06 – Elric of Melniboné Part Two w/ @lozbearfield

Elric of Melniboné Part Two

Loz 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. Elric is full of pith and vinegar for a change and we get a good look at him from a different perspective.

Excellent beverages are consumed along the way.

Episode 05 – The Final Programme Phase One w/ @husseindharma

The 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 world of Michael Moorcock.

Hussein pops a couple of cherries, appearing on his first podcast AND reading his first ever scifi/fantasy novel! He also gets to marvel at the wonders of psychedelic 70s scifi covers. Meanwhile I keep mixing up my Perssons with my Brunners.

Massive thanks to new patrons Matt and Tom, as well of course as existing Chaos Engineers Norman, Fred, Malpertius and David. I’m ruminating on what I can do in terms of patron exclusives. Watch this space.

Episode 04 – Happy Birthday MM and Phil!!!

Happy Birthday Michael Moorcock and Phil

One 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!

Sweet, sweet synchronicity.

This presented an opportunity to celebrate both birthdays with a special, festive episode recorded in a four poster suite in the ancient 16th century Bagdale Hall Hotel in Whitby, the salt-bitten harboured, red-roofed jewel in Yorkshire’s Crown.

What’s more, some fine friends of the show sent along their messages to MM for inclusion.

So thanks Rob, Michael, Fred, Anthony, Asako Soh, David and The Pastor for your contributions. I’d like to think that in some cycle of existence MM may hear your words and feel the love.

The Pastor went the extra mile and sent a video of his salutation. As I could only keep the audio for the episode, here is his contribution in all its heavenly glory!

Thanks again Pastor!

So, many happy returns of the day to Phil, to Michael Moorcock, to anyone else who shares this day and anyone who just happens to listen to this on their birthday at any point in the future, from Earth 01 to Earth 16 or anywhere in the multiverse!

Finally, my gratitude to new patrons Malpertius and David, who join Fred and Norman in the ranks of Chaos Engineers. I’m always humbled that anyone would offer up their own sheckles to support this podcast. I hope I can repay your confidence.

Anyway, I hear the Song of the Swords. A transition approaches so… I’ll see you on the Moonbeam Roads!

Bored, cold, so… YouTube Channel?

Frost is laying over the Bradford hills like a crisp, armoured shiver blanket so I thought balls to it… I’ll knock out another video version of a podcast episode (lazily put together this time on the native Windows video maker with a slideshow and audio). I’ve done this, as much as anything else, just to see how the process works. It also makes a change from uploading short videos of Lindsey in Predicaments.

So many predicaments…

On balance I probably prefer the Lindsey clips. Somehow I need to figure out a way of combining the two. Anyway, here’s the YouTube version of Episode 01…

Perhaps we’ll do a video episode at some point…

Episode 03 – Elric of Melniboné Part one

Elric of Melniboné Part one

Loz 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).

Episode 02 – The Jewel in the Skull Book One

The Jewel in the Skull Book One

Natasha 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!

Thanks are once again due to Neil for his ace moral and technical support.

Note: The bulk of this was recorded before Episode One, so we’re already entering into the true spirit of Moorcock by complicating our own internal chronology.

Breakfast in the Ruins Book Club

Thanks to a great sugestion from a fellow traveller (@walfseo, you know who you are), I’ll now be posting in good time to let you know what we’ll be covering next.

So, with that in mind, dust off your copy of The Jewel in the Skull and get reading.

In epsiode 02 Natasha and I will be discussing Book One of The Jewel in the Skull (pages 7 to 39) and having a few tugs of Angostura Rum and some delicious Trinidadian cuisine!

If you can get your thoughts to me by Sunday 28th October I’ll include them in the outro!

Episode 01 – Elric part 1 – The Dreaming City

The Dreaming City

Join Loz and I as we discuss the first published Elric story, The Dreaming City.

Loz is an old friend and fellow traveller of the moonbeam roads and will be a regular contributor.

In this, the first full-blooded episode of Breakfast in the Ruins we take a look at the first published story featuring (arguably) Michael Moorcock’s most enduring creation, the moody albino warrior-sorcerer-emperor-wanderer Elric.

As discussed in the episode, be sure to check out the Stormbringer episodes of The Grognard Files (available at https://thegrognardfiles.com/tag/stormbringer/)

Thanks to Neil (@nelbert1 on twitter) for the ace support and Jonny Royale for the enthusiasm and positivity that ensured I got on and did this.

The music in this episode is by Giantkind, by kind permission of Loz & Neil!