John Baker’s Blog

Richard Dawkins explains why God is a delusion, religion is a virus, and America has slipped back into the Dark Ages:

That trend toward enlightenment has indeed continued in Europe and Britain. It just has not continued in the U.S., and not in the Islamic world. We’re seeing a rather unholy alliance between the burgeoning theocracy in the U.S. and its allies, the theocrats in the Islamic world. They are fighting the same battle: Christian on one side, Muslim on the other. The very large numbers of people in the United States and in Europe who don’t subscribe to that worldview are caught in the middle.

Actually, holy alliance would be a better phrase. Bush and bin Laden are really on the same side: the side of faith and violence against the side of reason and discussion. Both have implacable faith that they are right and the other is evil. Each believes that when he dies he is going to heaven. Each believes that if he could kill the other, his path to paradise in the next world would be even swifter. The delusional “next world” is welcome to both of them. This world would be a much better place without either of them.

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York Literature Festival - Friday 9th March

Double Take – leading York writers in conversation.

Mike Kenny, called “one of the 10 leading playwrights in the UK” by The Independent, has written more than 60 plays, including more than 40 works for children and young people and many for special needs audiences and actors. He has won numerous awards, including the Writers’ Guild Best Children’s Theatre for “Stepping Stones” and the Arts Council of England’s first Children’s Award in 2001.

John Baker, called “One of Britain’s most talented contemporary writers” by The Times, has published eight novels, including a series set in York.
The novels are characterized by a self-conscious play on literary and cultural themes and philosophical ideas combined with an eye for political and social injustice leavened with humour.

Both writers live and work in York.

This evening they will read from their work and discuss the differing ways that character is developed in the novel and in the theatre. 6-8pm York Library. Free. Booking recommended. Contact 01904 552815.

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The paperback of John Barlow’s novel, Intoxicated, is published today. He’s put together a forty-five second video to help his publisher’s marketing department. The novel, set in Yorkshire, is about cocaine, madness and soft drinks in the late 19th century.

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