The Alt Clud Review of Books

It’s St Mungo’s Day and all throughout the former lands of the Kingdom of Strathclyde church bells are ringing, choirs are singing and bakers are selling the traditional Mungo cake shaped like a bird .[1] Down in the Clyde valley the sound of festivity has begun while even up in the moors the ghosts of the Covenantors can be heard wishing each other a Happy Completely Ordinary Saturday Day. OK, St Mungo’s Day isn’t really a thing, though it should be said Glasgow Churches Together do run a fun St Mungo’s Festival in partnership Glasgow Life and the City Council. But when you name your blog the Alt Clud Review of Books it almost feels wrong not to do something on the feast day of Alt Clud’s patron saint, though what exactly "to do" is an interesting question. St Mungo and a Teeny-Tiny Jesus I guess this is a good opportunity to say what’s the point of my recent blog rebrand and more regular updates. Well the later point is the easiest to explain. Basically I have a numb...

  It was 7:30am on the 30 th of September 2021. I had just experienced the joy of a Newcastle to Stockton commuter train and now I found myself wandering through the town looking for people planning to walk to Newcastle with me as part of the Young Christian Climate Network Relay to COP 26 . At the town square I saw a few people sitting down at one of the benches and holding out an unfamiliar banner that said “Christian Climate Action.” Now logically, most people would have assumed they would be the people I was looking for, however the caffeine from my breakfast coffee had yet to kick in and in a moment of panic I suddenly thought to myself “Oh no, anti-environmentalist people have come to protest us! [1] ” Thankfully sense reigned, I quickly Google’d Christian Climate Action, realised that weregoing to be fellow climate pilgrims and bleary eyed I went over to them and began four incredible days of walking and climate activism. Big fan of the blue, green, pink combo!   “Ti...

“There used to be some old prophecy or something, “ said Brother Plasterer. “ My grandad told me.” His eyes glazed with the effort of dramatic recall.” “Yea, the king will come bring Law and Justice, and know nothing but the Truth, and Protect and Serve the People withi his Sword.” You don’t all have to look at me like that, I didn’t make it up.” – p.24  One of the tamer Josh Kirby covers "“Throw the book at him, Carrot.” “Right, sir.” Vimes remembered too late. Dwarfs have trouble with metaphors. They also have a very good aim. The Laws and Ordinances of Ankh Morpork caught the secretary on the forehead. He blinked, staggered, and stepped backwards. It was the longest step he ever took. For one thing, it lasted the rest of his life.” – p.388 Guards! Guards! is the story about a moribund City Watch finding its purpose after dragon attacks become a nightly problem in Ankh-Morpork. It’s also the story of ordinary resentment (and petty evil) getting out of hand and I guess it’s also...