Here are a few pics taken during my time at Celsius 232, in the beautiful town of Avilés, in Asturias, Spain. I can honestly say I have not been to a better literary festival. Hanging out with the monumental writers Joe Abercrombie, George R R Martin, Lisa Tuttle and Ian Jackson were but two highlights in a week packed with great company, food, talks and signings, paella, beer, Jack Daniels served in glass buckets, culture, conversation, genre diehards, sunshine, and I met my Spanish publishers. Long live Celsius and thanks for having me!
Drinking with kings: with Joe Abercrombie, world class translator Diego Garcia Cruz, and the mighty George R R Martin.
Best Served Cold: the epochal Joe Abercrombie and a convert to vapour.
Joe Abercrombie onstage.
George R R Martin and Lisa Tuttle onstage talking about Windhaven.
My Spanish publishers at Minotauro, Marta and Joseph (centre).
The incomparable Ian Watson, author, screenwriter, co-organiser of Celsius.
Producer, Director, Actor and Writer, Peter Berling with Joe Abercrombie
Victor and Manuel, two young princes of Spanish horror
Here I am in action at the Auditorio De La Casa De Cultura, interviewed by Jesús Palacios. The entire interview was translated as we went along by Diego (which has to be seen to be believed, and the guy worked all day, every day for the English speaking authors).
Here’s another from the back (just to prove there was an audience). Pics by J. Abercrombie
This is what we like to see – books on the table in the dealer’s tent.
Promotional samplers courtesy of Minotauro.
The curious Oscar Niemeyer installation on the edge of town. Some fitting 70s sci fi.
The Dome at the Oscar Niemeyer. Where the townsfolk retreat when the dead rise.
The exhibition hall – Joe in foreground.
The two cafes that became the heart of the festival.
Shots of the town 1.
Shots of the town 2.
Generation X – Spanish purveyors of terror, sci fi and fantasy.
It was EPOCHAL.
It sure was. Monumental with few disasters (beside one gentleman's orange).
"This is what we like to see – books on the table in the dealer's tent"
Hehe. Metro 2033 by Gluchovsky is also nearby. But as a matter of fact, the book is bornig and clumsy.