In Search of Space, 2012
So, my final post of 2012, and another idea suggested by Deanne. I’ve attempted a round-up of all the books featured in TFIPM in the last year (in reverse order of appearance). Before we get to the round-up, I’d like to say thank you to Stephen D. for lunch yesterday (fab!), and to everyone who has visited, liked, commented or contacted the blog in the last year – I really appreciate it.
Stephen D, 2012
I posted an awards page (https://thefutureispapiermache.wordpress.com/awards/digging-for-fire/) a couple of days ago. Lazy I know, but I haven’t got the time or energy to email everyone to tell them they’ve been nominated, so please check it out. And I started a new blog here: TFIPM Remix if you want to see a lot of the street portraits in one place.
A big thank you to John and Deanne and Terry for title shenanigans, and to J.E. Lattimer (Arcane Arrangements , Mysteries of the Wasteland, and Fictional Machines ) for a fantastic collaboration on George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).
And lastly but not leastly to Richard from CK Ponderings for being a brilliant, inspiring collaborator for the last six months (and a bit), and an all-round cool guy – it was great to finally meet him in November.
Right onwards…Taxi!
Taxi!, 2012
Recommendations 2012
From the bookshelves:
Hotel World (2001) by Ali Smith
Triangle Square Circle (1995) by William Wegman
House of Suns (2008) by Alasdair Reynolds
Re-Make/ Re-model (2007) by Michael Bracewell
Riddley Walker (1980) by Russell Hoban
Empty Space (2012) by M John Harrison
20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth (2008) by Xiaolu Guo
The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps (2001) by Michel Faber
The Entropy Tango (1981) by Michael Moorcock
England’s Dreaming (1991) by Jon Savage
The Lowlife (1963) by Alexander Baron
Sombrero Fallout (1976) by Richard Brautigan
Stone Junction (1990) by Jim Dodge
Travel Arrangements (2001) by M John Harrison
Kleinzeit (1974) by Russell Hoban
Species of Spaces and Other Pieces (1997) by Georges Perec
A Brief History of Time (1988) by Stephen Hawking
Exit Music (2007) by Ian Rankin
Ask The Dust (1939) by John Fante
The Dancers At The End of Time (1981) by Michael Moorcock
Under The Clock (2005) by Tony Harrison
Utopia Parkway (1997) by Deborah Solomon
The Frequency of Souls (1996) by Mary Kay Zuravleff
The Light of Day (2003) by Graham Swift
The Happy Owls (1963) by Celestino Piatti
The Accidental (2005) by Ali Smith
Fowler’s End (1957) by Gerald Kersh
Five Miles From Outer Hope (2000) by Nicola Barker
Pale Fire (1962) by Vladimir Nabakov
Walking on Glass (1985) by Iain Banks
From The History of Abstract Painting Week:
History of Abstract Painting (1989) by Jean-Luc Daval
From Science Fiction Fortnight:
The Cornelius Quartet (Comprising The Final Programme (1969), A Cure For Cancer (1971), The English Assassin (1972) and The Condition of Muzak (1977) by Michael Moorcock
The Ash Circus (a short story) (1969) by M John Harrison
Millenium People (2003) by J G Ballard
The Lathe of Heaven (1971) by Ursula K Le Guin
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) by George Orwell
Signal To Noise (a short story) (2006) by Alasdair Reynolds
Perdido Street Station (2000) by China Meiville
The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester
Breakfast In The Ruins (1972) by Michael Moorcock
Swarm (a short story) (1982) by Bruce Sterling
In The Country of Last Things (1987) by Paul Auster
Crash (1973) by J G Ballard
King of the City (2000) by Michael Moorcock
I, Robot (1957) by Isaac Asimov
Blood Music (1983) by Greg Bear
Under The Skin (2000) by Michel Faber
Light (2002) by M John Harrison
The Illustrated Man (1951) by Ray Bradbury
The War of the Worlds (1898) by H G Wells
The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C Clarke
Slaughterhouse 5 (1969) by Kurt Vonnegut
The Stainless Steel Rat (1961) by Harry Harrison
Concrete Island (1974) by J G Ballard
The Future Is Papier Mâché 
I very much enjoyed your posts this year and look forward to lots more in the coming. You’ve got an upbeat and imaginative approach to your site which is very effective. And you’ve also been very generous in your support to others on the blogosphere.
btw I’m pleased that you’ve added an exclamation point to your Taxi image because it most certainly deserves it. 🙂
That’s so nice to hear, John – thanks very much!
Ha, ha, yes! 🙂
Thank you! Enjoyed ALL of your pictures!
Thank you for visiting! And for your support! I’m really glad you like them.
Richard, See you in the new year! Your creativity is always inspiring.
Happy Holidays,
Karen
Thanks so much, Karen (so is yours)! Have a great break!
Richard
Thanks, Richard— And now on to 2013 [But it’s really kind of sad that everyone is so optimistic about the future- When it’s really just papier mache]! Enjoy the holidays——
🙂 Brilliant! Thanks, Josh! Have a great break!
The thing that makes that first image really work for me is the way the man is walking about, but there is the guy on the left that has turned to look at him, fantastic.
Thanks very much, Leanne. Yes, that was a lucky moment – there are another four shots of this scene that are not nearly so interesting.
Great images, inspiring as ever. And it’s been an honour, Mr G, to collaborate with you! 😀
Thanks so much, Richard! It’s been an honour to collaborate with you too! It’s been a blast – and an education – looking forward to January’s post already 🙂
happy holidays, richard! i’m looking forward to your 2013 posts.
Thanks so much! Happy holidays to you too! I’ve been really enjoying your photographs.
Thanks for experiences through twenty twelve, really enjoyed it… 🙂
Thanks very much, Drake! I love your posts and thanks very much for all your comments! 🙂
I look forward to more creative posts in 2013. Thanks for the terrific 2012’s!
Thanks so much, Elena! I shall try to oblige… 🙂
Have a great Christmas vacation and a peace-filled 2013… see you round the New Year bend!
Oh yes, this too, is an awesome post, just like the others. I especially liked your book choices.
Thank you, MJ! You too! Have a great 2013.
Richard Brautigan – now there’s a blast from the past…. He finally got his own library in Washington state. All the best to you and yours over the holidays!
He deserves a library – I’m sure he would have loved that. Thank you and all the best to you and yours too! Have a great break.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS 🙂 Thank you for a great blog!
Thanks so much, Amber! Thank you for yours! 🙂 Have a great 2013!
You too!!!! 🙂
Great photos as ever; the first one of the man striding away… something has happened, has his wife ditched him, has he been sacked, had=s he been caught out doing something very naughty? Or has he just found out his wife has given birth, he has THE part in a West End production, he has not got a killer disease? Maybe the guy in the hard hat has just had un coup de foudre and has fallen in love at first sight!
Great pic of Stephen D – what a story he has to tell!
… and I love the colours of the third picture – great!
Oh, and thanks for the bookshelf suggestions, I MUST read ‘Slaughterhouse Five’!
Happy Christmas, Richard, and thanks for all the fab pics you’ve shared!
LOL – brilliant! Thanks so much, Lois – hope you had a good one – I’ve been offline for awhile, so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do – no doubt I’ll find out how it went 🙂 Have a great 2013!
And you!
I think Concrete Island is my favourite Ballard. And John Fante! Paul Auster!
That first image is a great one Richard, with those words and the man’s back.
Thanks so much, Ashley! Have a great 2013!
Hopefully another year of great shots and colorful portraits. Love the first shot, feels like it’s from the set of film – lot’s of things going and I love the vented steam in the near background. And a very nice portrait of Stephen D, I like the use of perspective in this shot.
Thanks, Stevie! Yes, the setting was Stephen D’s idea – I wouldn’t have thought of doing that, and the steep angle was the only way to get the decorations in.
HI Richard. What a nice wrap up of 2012 in your own personal style. I enjoyed following your blogs during this year. I am looking forward to your work in 2013! have a wonderful new year! (with less rain)
Hi Chris
Thanks very much! You too!
I’ve really enjoyed your shots this year too – like your current round-up very much! Cheers.
I’m so glad you did a book reco list. I’ll definitely use it as a reference. Love the light in the mini cab image. Happy Happy Joy Joy!
Ha, ha, yes I’m a little ray of sunshine aren’t I? Can’t help myself:) Glad you like the list – thanks for suggesting it! Have a great 2013!
Thank you very much for your nice comments, and for following! 🙂
Wish you a very happy and creative 2013!
Marie
You’re most welcome – I love your work and your blog. Thanks very much, Marie! Have a great 2013!
Happy New Year, Richard!
Thanks very much, Cheryl! Have a great 2013!
Fantastic shots Richard … particuarly No Entry. Looking forward to seeing more in 2013. Happy New Year!
Thank you so much, Bethan! Happy New Year to you too!
Excellent post. Can’t wait to see where you’re headed now.
Thanks very much, Melanie. I’ll be changing lenses soon (for the first time since the old hand-cranking days), which I’m very excited about 🙂
I LOVE the photo at the top! 🙂