Gorgantis to stomp through Northwest

Like a gigantic, fire-breathing, proto-Godzilla (no, wait, that's the blurb from the book cover) author James Morrow (Towing Jehovah, The Last Witchfinder) tours the Northwest with his new book Shambling Towards Hiroshima (2009, Tachyon).

Set in 1945, the book features the travails of Syms Thorley, a Hollywood horror actor based on Lon Chaney. So, in addition to the usual readings, Morrow's stomping book tour/film fest “From Hollywood to Hiroshima," will also include screenings of Chaney's Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and The Mummy’s Curse (1944). Morrow will introduce and provide commentary on the films.

Known for satire, Morrow is the author of 11 books from The Wine of Violence (1981) to The Philosopher's Apprentice (2008) and Shambling. He's also written three short story collections (the most recent of these is The Cat's Pajamas (2004)). His works have received two World Fantasy Awards, two Nebula Awards, the Prix Utopia, and the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire. Shambling Towards Hiroshima tells the story of the U.S. Navy’s attempts to make the Japanese surrender using a Godzilla-esque biological weapon — "the merciless Gorgantis."

In Seattle: Morrow reads 2 p.m, Sun., March 16 at University Book Store and presents “From Hollywood to Hiroshima," 7 p.m., Mon., March 16, at NW Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. $5 donation suggested. Co-sponsored by NW Media Arts, Tachyon Publications, and the University Book Store.

In San Francisco: See “From Hollywood to Hiroshima," 6:30 p.m., Wed., March 11 at the Variety Preview Room, The Hobart Building, 582 Market St. Free. This is an SF in SF event sponsored by Tachyon Publications. Morrow reads 7 p.m., Thurs., March 12 at Clayton Books, 5433 D Clayton Road, Clayton CA.

Speaking of Tachyon, other recent releases from this San Francsico-based publisher, include short story collections: Thomas M. Disch's The Wall of America, WisCon 33 Guest of Honor Ellen Klages' Portable Childhoods, Michael Stanwick's The Dog Said Bow-Wow, and Susan Palwick's The Fate of Mice; and anthologies: The New Weird, Rewired: The Post-Cyberpunk Anthology, and Steampunk. There are also novels out by Peter S. Beagle, Nancy Kress, and Carol Emshwiller and a collection of essays Content: Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future by Cory Doctorow (whose novel, Little Brother, (Tor, 2008) is up for a Nebula).