The Book Festival of Book Festivals...

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is upon us, and it features the usual massive, yet well-judged, selection of famous names including film stars, poets, news reporters and cult novelists, but mostly just some very fine writers. The really big names include the likes of Sean Connery and Richard Dawkins, but they sold out in minutes – lots of people swiftly sell out at this party. Fortunately, The Skinny has selected a few great events that haven‘t sold out yet for you to consider. Oh, and we’re promoting a couple of events of our own, the performance poet Shane Koyczan and novelist Chuck Palahniuk, best known for Fight Club. There’s more about them below, but first here’s some other events to consider:

Firstly, some Scottish writers. The ever-controversial Irvine Welsh is appearing on Thursday the 21st to promote his new novel, Crime, which is his first novel to be set mainly overseas, specifically in Florida. One day before this, on Wednesday the 20th, the up-and coming Ewan Morrison will be appearing, along with Scots-based Californian Cynthia Rogerson. Ewan is another Scot looking westwards; his excellent book Distance relates the tale of a transatlantic affair, carried out over the phone. Agnes Owens is also highly recommended – she’s often mentioned as one of the most overlooked authors in Scotland. She’s the author of several note-perfect novels and short stories, and it’s an indication of the esteem in which she is held that she’ll be in conversation with James Kelman on Thursday the 14th.

Alasdair Gray will not be at the festival exactly… but his biographer, Rodge Glass, will be in conversation with another Gray admirer, Will Self on Monday the 25th of August, the last day of the festival, which should be enjoyable. There’s another real treat on the last day of the festival as two rather brilliant poets, Sam Meekings and Kei Miller appear together. Meekings is the author of one collection, The Bestiary, and his accessible yet technically complex poetry is full of memorable images. Scots-based Jamaican Kei Miller writes distinctive poems which are memorably powerful in many cases. Another poet, Thurso’s George Gunn, will be showcasing his work on Thursday the 14th, and he’s been paired with Rebel Inc founder Kevin Williamson, who will be reading from his debut poetry collection In a Room Darkened.

Poetry not your thing? Then some of these should be: legendary radical journalist Tariq Ali will speak at two events on Sunday the 10th of August, firstly describing the political upheavals of 1968, and then at the second event talking about modern radicalism in South America. Both recommended. Charles Leadbeater deals with a different modern situation on Monday the 18th – his book We-think looks at the rise of mass creativity through technology. Some others will be taking a less serious approach to modern issues. Comedian Mark Watson will be talking about his book Crap at the Environment on the 23rd of August, about his efforts to half his carbon footprint over one year.

Or if you fancy something entirely different, then there’s a very special event for graphic novel fans when Hannah Berry, Alan Grant and Bryan Talbot appear on the 22nd of August. Berry produced a distinctive debut earlier this year with Britten and Brulightly, a kind of English noir comic. Alan Grant has worked on everything from Judge Dredd through Batman and even the One Book, One City graphic novel versions of Kidnapped and Jekyll and Hyde. And Bryan Talbot? Well, he only produced the first ever British graphic novel with The Adventures of Luther Arkwright. Unmissable.

And a personal pick to finish off. Linn Ullmann, who will be appearing with Jan Kjaerstad, was one of the surprises for me at the 2006 book festival, where she appeared in a small venue, but read from what turned out to be a surprisingly moving book called Grace. Her newest, A Blessed Child, is said to be her most autobiographical to date, and so I’m sure she’ll be good value. And if none of that grabs you, you could always try, vainly, to get returns for Shir Sean. Moasht Ekshellent!