Pre-order 'The Darkest Timeline'
Strange Exiles host Bram E. Gieben's dystopian debut essay collection for Revol Press is now available to pre-order
THE DARKEST TIMELINE is my first collection of critical essays, out on June 28 from Revol Press. Drawing on two decades of writing, performance and research tied to the apocalypse, collapse, and the future, I trace the outlines of our dystopian present, and our increasingly impossible futures. I explore apocalyptic themes in literature, film, theory and hard science in an attempt to answer the question... are we in the darkest timeline?
I am Bram E. Gieben, the host of Strange Exiles, and I’m thrilled to present my first book. It’s now available for pre-order, shipping internationally from your bookshop of choice.
Here are some smart, talented humans saying nice things about the book:
“Bram’s political and social commentary is not just entertaining, but also horrifically coherent.” - Darren McGarvey (Orwell Prize winner 2018, author of Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us)
“For a book which explores such dark pathways it glows with the light of intelligence.” - Ewan Morrison (multi award-winning novelist, author of Tales From The Mall and Nina X)
“Poet, emcee, producer and all-round polymath Bram E. Gieben has offered up a belter of a social and cultural commentary here. In a propulsive anarcho-punk prose style that carries shades of CrimethInc and vintage K-punk, The Darkest Timeline gazes unflinchingly into the broken mirror of contemporary culture, taking us on a kaleidoscopic journey through our apocalyptic present moment, towards a thoughtful and humane meditation on what it might mean to live well in a world with no future. 'Timely' feels too small a word for the task this book sets itself - a bracing and essential read.” - Kieran Hurley (playwright and screenwriter, Beats and Adults)
Friends, please support this! If I sell enough, maybe I get to write another one… You know how much this means to me. Please smash that preorder button, and get in touch if you'd like to get me involved in events, readings or podcasts. DM me for a review copy if you’d like to respond on your blog, in print, or on the airwaves.
Stay tuned here, or follow me on Twitter for news about events, readings, podcast appearances and more as I do my best to spread the word about the end of the world and all things. Should be fun!
Here’s some links to find out more about The Darkest Timeline:
Strange Exiles: Update
Getting this book ready for print has disrupted the Strange Exiles schedule a wee bit, so let me finish with a little taste of what we have coming up here on the blog, and on the podcast, in the next few months.
22 May: Our first live event in Glasgow, with Theory Underground
We’ll share some clips from this event in the weeks after it takes place. At Glasgow Zine Library, join us for an exploration of Timenergy by Episode 23 guest David McKerracher, and readings from The Darkest Timeline. If you’re in Glasgow, join us!
The follow-up post from Episode 23, with reading suggestions and more from David of TU and Michael Downs of The Dangerous Maybe, will drop here on the blog after the event. Thanks for your patience with that one.
Episode 24 onwards…
We’ve got interviews coming up with some amazing folk, including an award-winning Scottish playwright, and a cultural critic who theorises about death metal and afrofuturism. Later in the year, I’ll interview a legendary left-tube critic. I’ll keep the details cryptic for now… more soon!
We’ll also be welcoming back Revol founder Mike Watson to discuss his forthcoming book, Hungry Ghosts in the Machine. I’ve had the pleasure of an advance read of Mike’s book, and I can tell you, it might be his best so far. We’ll also have a good chat about all things Revol. All this, plus two solo episodes from me - one of which is a co-production with a New York theatre producer, and a New Jersey actress. That’s all I’ll share for now!
Stay in touch, and look after each other.
-Bram, Glasgow, 3 May 2024
The Darkest Timeline: Living in a World With No Future (Revol Press)
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