The Elmer Adventure will be at Lanark Memorial Hall from Saturday 10 May until Monday 12 May puppetry and songs based on the Elmer books by David McKee (creator of Mr Benn) And bringing the stories to life is the Tall Stories theatre company well known for their adaptations of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom So why not celebrate Elmer’s unique patchwork colours and wear your most colourful clothes as you join Elmer and friends on a jungle adventure not to be missed For more information on show times and to book your tickets, please go to the box office or phone 01555 673199 Employment support for care experienced young people Bold course set for health and social care in South Lanarkshire Elmer having a jungle adventure in Lanark next month Award for charity that connects people with jobs New Education director for South Lanarkshire Pupils’ voices heard as school wins award Have your say on future of council buildings Good_sports_are_a_perfect_match_for_each_other Find out more about what's happening in South Lanarkshire The 35-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of a disturbance in Douglas. Police were called to Springhill Street around 8.35pm on Sunday after reports of a disturbance. A 35-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Following a post-mortem, the death is being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “An investigation is under way following the death of a 35-year-old man in Lanark. “Around 8.35pm, on Sunday, April 13, 2025, police received a report of a disturbance in Springhill Street, Lanark. Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. “A postmortem examination will be carried out in due course and officers are treating the death as suspicious. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" A MAN has been stabbed to death on quiet Scots street Detectives have launched an investigation after the 35-year-old man was found after being violently attacked on Sunday night Officers swooped following reports of a disturbance on Springhill Street in Lanark Police and paramedics raced to the scene at around 8.35pm The man was tragically pronounced dead at the scene Detectives have confirmed they are treating the death as suspicious with a post-mortem examination set to take place Shocked locals described how the street was swamped with emergency vehicles, including around a dozen police cars Forensics teams and specialist officers remained at the scene into Monday afternoon as investigations continued Neighbouring streets and a nearby green space have been cordoned off, while several police cars and vans remain stationed at the site. Police Scotland said their enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances A spokesperson for the force said: "An investigation is underway following the death of a 35-year-old man in Lanark police received a report of a disturbance in Springhill Street "Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene "A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course and officers are treating the death as suspicious "Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances." Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here To kick off the We Stand with Survivors campaign to Lanark County along the Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail at the Almonte branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library Participants included Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry and Coun Sexual violence continues to be a prevalent and alarming problem in Ontario Lanark County Interval House and Community Support (LCIHCS) and the Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County are bringing the We Stand with Survivors campaign to Lanark County supporting survivors and working toward prevention “We are joining this campaign to let survivors of sexual abuse and assault know they are seen heard and supported,” LCIHCS executive director Erin Lee stated in a news release “The banner sends a clear message — it is not just anti-violence organizations that care,” LCIHCS communications co-ordinator Emma Kinsman added “It is the entire community standing together believing survivors and showing support,” she said LCIHCS has provided support for women and children living with or escaping from domestic violence the agency operates an emergency first-stage shelter and a second-stage residence and provides extensive community support programs the Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County provides support to individuals over 16 who have experienced sexual violence The agency is funded by the Ministry of Children To learn more about LCIHCS, click here. The agency’s crisis line can be reached at 1-800-267-7946 or 613-257-5960. To access community support programs (non-emergency), call 613-253-3336 Anyone in immediate danger should call 911 or go to the nearest police station For more information about the Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County, click here. The non-profit organization is also available 24/7 for information and support at 1-800-663-3060 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Aled Jones is extending his popular Full Circle tour and has now added Lanark Memorial Hall to his spring tour So now is your chance to book your tickets to see Aled Jones as you’ve never heard him before who captivated the world with his angelic cover of Walking in the Air from The Snowman film has gone on to star in musicals including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas he has also found fame as an award-winning TV broadcaster and radio presenter notably the BBC’s Songs of Praise and his weekend Classic FM morning shows talking about his remarkable career in this one-man show tales from the decades and for the first time now is the time to come Full Circle with Aled at the Memorial Hall on Thursday 17 April at 7.30pm Please book your tickets online or phone the Box Office on 01555 673199 The marmalade-loving bear is in the town as part of Paddington Visits a trail of Paddington Bear statues across the UK and Ireland to celebrate the forthcoming release of Paddington in Peru Paddington took a seat on a bench on Lanark High Street and was immediately embraced by the local community Provost Margaret Cooper had the honour of unveiling the statue She said: “It was great fun being able to join in the town’s enthusiasm for the unveiling of Paddington and it was fantastic to share some marmalade sandwiches with Emily and Matthew from Lanark Primary School as we sat next to him.” said: “I am sure the Paddington statue will become a real focal point for the town centre as he is a character that resonates with everyone Discover Lanark Manager said: “We are excited to be part of Paddington Visits and to see our statue in the heart of Lanark town centre Visitors will love sitting beside Paddington and we look forward to seeing lots of photos with happy Speaking on the launch of Paddington Visits a spokesperson from StudioCanal who produce the new movie said: “We are delighted to launch Paddington Visits a trail which will see everyone’s favourite bear bringing fun kindness and warmth to communities across the UK “We hope that everyone seeks out their local Paddington whether that’s dropping by for a chat about your day or to enjoy a marmalade sandwich or two while enjoying the view Paddington is ready to welcome everyone." The statue and bench were partly funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund from the UK Government which is administered by South Lanarkshire Council The work will take place on St Leonards Street (south side between no's 36 and 52 –old Post Office and Car Park) in the town from Monday 17 March and is expected to last for 10 days Work will only take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm each day To facilitate the work and to ensure work force/public safety the following traffic/ pedestrian management will be in place: said: “We apologise for any inconvenience these works may cause to roads users and pedestrians “The closures are essential though to allow us to complete the improvements “We hope residents of Lanark and beyond will appreciate the long-term benefits of these works." Lanark community members celebrated the official opening of the new Lanimer workshop(Image: Billy Quigley/Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)Preparations for Lanark’s annual Lanimer celebrations are motoring ahead thanks to the opening of a community workshop and committee hub The building at Lanark Moor Country Park will provide a new home for a number of procession entrants to construct their Lanimer lorries ahead of the town’s landmark week of celebrations in June Lanimer Queen Lacey Steele and Queen-Elect Maisey Talbot carried out the official opening cutting a ribbon to welcome community members to the new space and planting a birch tree in the grounds The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now Get all the news from your area – as well as features sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Dozens of community members attended the workshop for the opening of the new facility, led by Lanimer committee chair Gordon Gray and Lord Cornet-Elect Edward Pringle. The workshop leased by the Lanimer organisers gives space for community groups to prepare their elaborately-decorated lorries as well as housing other projects and becoming an important central hub Lanimer committee representatives said: “This fabulous building has been constructed by South Lanarkshire Council and has now been leased to the committee to be a new hub for all our Lanimer activity “It will also be a new home for a number of our Lanimer entrants to construct their fabulous lorries as well as a space for other groups to work on community projects – we can’t wait to see what wonderful lorries will be constructed this year “The Lanimer committee would like to thank South Lanarkshire Council for their tireless efforts delivering this fantastic facility, it will be a real asset for our future Lanimer celebrations.” the perambulation of the marches and shifting of the standard taking place the following day with the traditional procession and crowning of Queen Maisey outside St Nicholas’ church The week of celebrations then concludes with children’s treats and the Lanimer Queen’s reception the following day Queen-Elect Maisey’s champion will be fellow Lanark Grammar pupil Ajay Shearer and she will be crowned on the day by May Dickman while Lord Cornet-elect Edward will receive his sash of office from Clydesdale councillor Catherine McClymont * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share! You will receive an email from our administration office with your login details This is for those who are already NFUS members and who want to register to access the members only areas of this site. If you are not currently a member of NFU Scotland, click here for details of how you can join Please provide a valid email address. All emails from the system will be sent to this address. This will include certain news items or notifications from NFU Scotland. This email address is not made public and will be used if you wish to receive a new password. If you do not wish to receive news items or notifications from NFU Scotland please contact us Please re-type your e-mail address to confirm it is accurate Forgotten your details? Click here.   Nigel Power named recipient of award during Union’s annual dinner in Glasgow.The Membership Flame – the NFU Scotland award that recognises outstanding efforts in recruitment and retention of members - has gone to the hard-working Nigel Power from the Lanark office.  Author: Diana McGowan ©NFU Scotland • All Rights Reserved • Web design by Big Red Digital • Log in A fleet of dedicated volunteers and staff have spent months working to return the 1911 Petrie engine to its former glory. The 1911 Petrie engine, located in the visitor centre at the former cotton spinning mill village, had been out of operation since 2018 after the volunteer who maintained it retired. The pandemic further delayed efforts to restore the machine. However, a new fleet of dedicated volunteers, alongside New Lanark heritage staff, have spent months working to return the engine to its former glory. Derrick White has volunteered with the project for six months. He told STV News: “I’ve been volunteering for about six months, and I’ve been supporting the team with things like different events and activities that have been happening. I’m looking forward to getting involved with the maintenance of the steam engine.” While the engine no longer powers the cotton mills that were once the village’s livelihood, it remains an important reminder of New Lanark’s industrial history. The village’s ongoing conservation and rehabilitation process, spanning nearly 50 years, had preserved its appearance to closely resemble the early 19th century when the mill buildings were part of one of the largest industrial groups in the world. New Lanark’s volunteer programme, relaunched six months ago, has brought together people from all backgrounds to help bring local heritage to life. This month, the programme will expand further with students taking on placements. Jimmy Tennant, New Lanark’s head of estates, was taught how to maintain the engine by the retired volunteer and is now passing on that knowledge to new volunteers. “To come here and work with members of the public who’ve got a passion to help us out is really, really good,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong – we learn from them as well because they’ve always got some knowledge of what they want to come in here and do, so it’s always a bit for both of us.” Lydia Housley, New Lanark’s heritage officer, added: “Seeing it switched on, it was just a really exciting moment, and it’s just fab, but it was a lovely team moment as well. “It feels like the work that we’re doing is kind of culminated a little bit in this, so it’s been a lovely moment to bring the team together, but also to hear our history coming to life.” Win HappyPremiumSearch RayoclydelocalnewsMan guilty of Lanark murderStephen Kelly stabbed Christopher McMahon in Braxfield Terrace in October 2023 A man has been convicted of a murder in Lanark in 2023 31-year-old Christopher McMahon died after he was stabbed within a property in Braxfield Terrace around 10pm on Wednesday Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson said: “Christopher’s family have been devastated by his needless death and our thoughts remain with them but we hope this conviction offers some closure in the form of justice “Violence such as this is never acceptable in our communities and we will work tirelessly to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.” Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) To admire the interiors of the deputy head teacher Cheryl Mills’s Lanark home decorated in a sweet shop kaleidoscope of joyous heritage colours it should come as no surprise to learn that her happy place is looking at paint swatches “I’ve already started looking at colours for our next house More or less every wall in five-bedroom Bonnington Manse has been thoughtfully and patiently brightened up by the hand of Mills and her husband over the past 11 years They’ve accumulated so much decorating equipment in the process from brushes and rollers to ladders and scaffolding that she jokes they could “probably supply B&Q” The historic late 19th-century former residence of the minister of Young people from Lanark Primary School have been learning about the diversity of their communities Pupils from the school joined the council’s Chair of Education Resources Councillor Lynsey Hamilton staff from Nil by Mouth and musician and choreographer Carl Smith for a special morning of making music with their bodies and everyday household items The event was part of the school’s programme of activity with Nil by Mouth a charity set up to tackle sectarianism in Scotland Their staff delivered a series of workshops exploring identity and the consequences of prejudice on individuals and communities Cllr Lynsey Hamilton said: “This was a brilliant morning watching the children make music and it underlines the talent of our young people in South Lanarkshire “Carl’s approach helped them get the best out of themselves and work as a team It was also a unique opportunity to find out more about the important work Nil by Mouth carry out in partnership with our schools looking at issues around difference “Understanding our own identity and the identities of others is an important part of growing up and I’m proud our schools provide an environment where important conversations can be held in a thoughtful manner.” Nil by Mouth Director Dave Scott said: “Last year over 1,000 pupils participated in our ‘United Against Division’ programme across the authority and we are proud of our long standing partnership with the council its committed staff and brilliant young people “Our workshops focus on raising awareness of the issues surrounding sectarianism within our society views and experiences while encouraging young people to consider the impact of discriminatory language “We also want to celebrate the things that we have in common including a love of music art and sport and Carl has been a real hit with the children teaching them new skills and helping them work together to make some amazing sounds.”  Headteacher Farah Crook said: “The children have really loved having the opportunity to work with Nil by Mouth Carl’s session really reinforced the point to them that we can achieve great things when we work together as a team and a community.” Formal identification is yet to take place with the death being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. Officers said the family of David Simpson had been made aware after a body was recovered from the river at Crossford The 77-year-old was last seen in the St Leonard Street area of Lanark around 11.30am on September 8 Formal identification is yet to take place with the death being treated as unexplained but not suspicious A Police Scotland statement: “Around 12.10pm on Monday the body of a man was recovered from the River Clyde at Crossford in Lanarkshire “The death is being treated as unexplained but not believed to be suspicious “Formal identification has yet to take place but the family of David Simpson, reported missing from Lanark on Sunday, September 8 has been informed.” A FALLS councillor is warning that illegal and dangerous U-turns at Lanark Way are an accident waiting to happen Sinn Féin Councillor Claire Canavan has called on drivers on Lanark Way to desist from taking U-turns on to the Springfield Road She said local residents have become increasingly concerned that someone could be hurt and seriously injured “I have raised the need for traffic calming measures to be put in place at Lanark Way near the Springfield Road junction on numerous occasions," said Cllr Canavan “I will continue to press the Department for Infrastructure on this issue “I am very concerned that drivers in Lanark Way are using the left lane to turn on to the Springfield Road before making a U-turn at the Colinview Street junction and turning right up the road This is illegal and extremely dangerous and local residents are worried this behaviour is an accident waiting to happen “I am appealing to drivers to desist from this practice before someone is hurt and seriously injured “I have reported the concerns of residents to police who will be keeping an eye on this part of the road during peak times.”  Sign up to the daily Belfastmedia briefing to stay up to date with everything Belfast Donate to BelfastMedia.com today to ensure that this website remains free now Developed and maintained by Soundlining © Copyright 2025 Belfast Media All rights reserved Developed and maintained by Soundlining © Copyright 2025 Belfast Media All rights reserved New Lanark stands as a remarkable testament to the fusion of industrial innovation and social reform shaped by the visionary Robert Owen in the early 19th century This UNESCO World Heritage Site not only showcases pioneering textile production but also embodies a commitment to improving the lives of workers through education and community welfare New Lanark is located in southern central Scotland, near the market town of Lanark This historic village is nestled on the banks of the River Clyde We’re so used to hearing William Blake’s justified condemnation of the weaving industry’s ‘dark Satanic mills’ that it’s easy to forget that there were one or two enlightened individuals who were keen to improve the lot of their workers who built Yorkshire’s Saltaire ‘model village’ (see below) The Welshman purchased New Lanark on the River Clyde near Glasgow It had been founded 14 years earlier and used Richard Arkwright’s revolutionary water-powered spinning frames – a cut above anything seen at that time good sanitation and Britain’s very first infants’ school It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 recognised for its significance as a model industrial community but the village Owen built was saved and now enjoys a second life as a fabulous interactive museum You can step into the shoes of the workers and their families and even learn new skills such as a hoop-and-stick game called ‘gird-and-cleek’.  It’s also possible to stay overnight, since one of the former cotton mills has been converted into a large hotel Alternatively, you could book yourself one of the self-catering Waterhouse Cottages each of which occupies a restored building in the village It’s also worth taking a short stroll along the riverside footpath to the beautiful Falls of Clyde whose waters once powered the mills – without which the factory would never have come into existence This wooded gorge offers delightful wildflowers and waterways – and chance encounters with a host of intriguing creatures  Lanark town centre.(Image: Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)A vital upgrading programme in Lanark got underway last week last Monday with £350,000 being spent on brightening up the town centre It will improve streetscape features in an area adjacent to the historic Tolbooth creating a safe and welcoming multi-use space for the community which was originally conceived and consulted upon by Discover Lanark is the inclusion of items reflecting Lanark’s rich history Business Improvement District manager at Discover Lanark is confident that the project will bring a new dimension to the historic town centre were used on a temporary basis as a focal point anecdotal feedback suggested the community would welcome the idea of these becoming permanent spaces when the opportunity to apply for Place-Based Funding became available the seed of an idea had been sown and we created a project that considered not just this desire for safe formal space but one which reflects the story of our town Public response through a series of consultations was overwhelmingly positive and there is genuine excitement now that the plan is about to come to fruition.” Lanark town centre.(Image: Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)‌Councillor Robert Brown chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources committee which is expected to be complete by the end of April He added: “This is a plan that has been imaginatively and sensitively designed to reflect the existing public realm in Lanark High Street but at the same time it will deliver a new and unique community space "Those who live and work in Lanark as well as those who visit will find a more usable interwoven with bespoke touches reflecting the Royal Burgh’s rich and diverse history and our own Community and Enterprise teams for bringing forward such an exciting project.” There will be no impact on the road network during the works and every effort will be made to keep any disruption to pedestrian walkways to a minimum Access to shops and properties will be maintained at all times although access routes may change as the works develop The NEN – North Edinburgh News The community media resource for north Edinburgh Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email New Lanark is thrilled to announce the official registration and launch of its very own “New Lanark Tartan” it has been custom designed by New Lanark Trust Chairperson James Pow in partnership with the renowned world’s leading manufacturer of tartan Developed by Lochcarron and now in full production at their factory this new tartan celebrates New Lanark’s rich heritage while showcasing a new level of collaboration with one of Scotland’s most respected textile producers The New Lanark Trust Tartan features across a range of high-quality items including scarves now available for purchase in the New Lanark Mill shop New Lanark is also exploring the possibility of incorporating the tartan into staff uniforms and even using it to add a touch of tradition and elegance to the soft furnishings in the New Lanark Hotel’s bedrooms Chairperson of the New Lanark Trust commented “Our partnership with Lochcarron of Scotland is a perfect example of how two iconic Scottish brands can come together to celebrate and promote our shared heritage “The New Lanark Tartan symbolises both our history and the creativity that continues to drive us forward We are incredibly proud to offer visitors the chance to take home a piece of New Lanark in the form of beautifully crafted Lochcarron tartan products.” Managing Director of Lochcarron of Scotland commented: “We are delighted to have collaborated with New Lanark Trust on this unique tartan from design concept to finished product and hope they have much success with the range and development of the pattern through other opportunities within their site.” Lochcarron of Scotland has a well-established presence in the New Lanark Mill Shop as a concession introduced earlier this year a move that has quickly gained popularity among visitors New Lanark commissioned Lochcarron of Scotland to develop their exclusive tartan that represents the unique history and spirit of New Lanark The collaboration has been a resounding success the range of New Lanark Tartan products will be expanded in early 2025 This new tartan collection makes its debut in the New Lanark Mill Shop making it an ideal gift for those who cherish Scotland’s history and craftsmanship This launch symbolises New Lanark’s dedication to preserving heritage while embracing new partnerships that allow Scotland’s storied traditions to thrive in today’s world The New Lanark Tartan is a piece of history that visitors can carry with them for years to come To find out more, visit www.newlanark.org Lanimer Queen elect Maisey Talbot of Lanark Grammar School(Image: Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)Lanark’s Lanimer court for 2025 has been chosen – with Maisey Talbot from Lanark Grammar School being selected as this year’s Queen Fellow pupil Ajay Shearer is the 2025 Lanimer champion and Queen Maisey will be assisted in her duties by chief maids Paris Fletcher and Casey Shaw Selections for the court roles were made this week at schools across the town with court members now looking forward to an exciting period of preparations ahead of Lanimer day on Thursday Also chosen from Lanark Grammar were ladies in waiting Ava Kearney and respective first and second lords Jai Teece and Daryl Faulds Ellis Purdie of Lanark Primary will be the proclamation bearer and fellow pupils Oscar Dickson and Aaron Manchester will be the sceptre and sword bearers respectively while Billy Doak of Robert Owen Memorial Primary is the crown bearer Joining the three ladies in waiting from Lanark Grammar will be Chloe Gardiner Corra Neil and Poppy Ross of Lanark Primary; Elizabeth Hill from New Lanark; Aynslie Hunter Lucy Hunter and Poppy Maule from Robert Owen Memorial; and Niome Doolan and Lily McGarvey from St Mary’s The outriders will be Torin Hare and Noah Towers from Lanark Primary and Daniel Cox and Jude Lindsay of Robert Owen Memorial Primary Robert Owen pupils Jayden Girvan and Matthew MacDonald are this year’s heralds and classmates Leonard Aidoo and Owen Clark will be yeomen of the guard Charles Cunningham and Bobby Reid of St Mary’s Primary will be the pages and Harris Docherty of Stanmore House will be the flower bearer Ajay Shearer is the Lanimer champion for 2025(Image: Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)The selection of the 2025 Lanimer court follows last week’s announcement of Edward Pringle as Lord Cornet for this year’s festivities A spokesperson said: “The Lanimer Committee would like to congratulate all of our vourt on their selection and wish them a happy Lanimers.” By The world is only improved by people who do ordinary jobs and refuse to be bullied Nobody can persuade owners to share with makers when makers won’t shift for themselves.” Alasdair Gray was a key figure of Scottish literature in the late 20th century some of whose murals can still be seen around Glasgow today But while his importance to the landscape of Scottish literary fiction has long been acknowledged he is less frequently acknowledged as one of the great imaginers of the fantastic Some of this is no doubt due to Gray’s magpie approach to genre Within the same text he’ll happily mix elements of biography Gray incorporated his line drawings into his books meticulously designed the layout of the words and images on the page and even insisted on having control of the cover art for his books All this makes Gray’s individual books absorbing works of art in and of themselves as objects—and no doubt causes massive headaches to publishers trying to make his work available in ebook or audiobook format They are uniquely compelling and immersive experiences if occasionally frustrating and opaque.  demonstrates Gray’s skill at crafting Borgesian metafictional puzzles and charming fables in equal measure Together they demonstrate a body of work that engages with the science fictional and the fantastic in innovative and playful ways Until the council sends us the decimal clocks it’s been promising for so long Unthank is virtually part of the intercalendrical zone At present the city is kept going by force of habit Lanark is the book that made Gray’s literary reputation when it was first released and in some respects remains his most important achievement over four books Lanark tells the story of Duncan Thaw a working-class artist growing up in Glasgow after World War II a man with no past who finds himself in the magical city of Unthank where there is no sun the people are subject to bizarre mutating diseases and life is controlled by a Kafkaesque bureaucracy whilst books three and four tell Lanark’s story but they’re placed out of order (as are the Prologue and Epilogue) enveloping the realist depictions of Thaw’s life in Glasgow with Lanark’s life in its fantasy equivalent Unthank But much of the genius of Lanark comes from its sheer disregard of genre boundaries—the novel incorporates semi-autobiographical realism and a metafictional section where Lanark meets Gray himself and only acknowledges boundaries between them in order to poke holes in them Lanark should be mentioned in the same breath as Samuel R John Harrison’s Viriconium stories (1971-84) and Jeff VanderMeer’s City of Saints and Madmen (2001) in terms of great metafictional stories of the urban fantastic Unthank is a place where time doesn’t follow the normal rules where you can be infected by a rash of mouths or start growing dragon skin where the government is in thrall to a malevolent creature but in its own way Gray’s Glasgow is every bit as wondrous This sense is encouraged by Gray’s heightened prose in which the mundane details of Thaw’s life are described with as much vivid hallucinatory intensity as Lanark’s journeys through the underground labyrinths of Unthank The way that Lanark’s story mirrors and refracts Thaw’s life with elements of Unthank clearly echoing elements of Glasgow provides a brilliant commentary on the fantastic’s relationship to reality Unthank is not an allegory for Glasgow anymore than Lanark is an allegory for Thaw Rather they are shadowy extensions of their realist counterparts which through their inhabiting of the imagination show us deeper truths about the real world.  Gray’s big trick is that his “real” world is as much a fabrication as the world of Unthank something acknowledged by the novel’s forays into metafiction Gray and Lanark immediately begin arguing with each other with Gray resenting his own creation and Lanark interrogating his creator’s ethics and competence—he even accuses Gray of writing bad science fiction All this happens alongside “an index of diffuse and imbedded Plagiarisms,” in which Gray points out his influences by explaining where he “plagiarized” elements of the text to create his novel referencing everyone from Carl Jung and Franz Kafka to William Blake and Lewis Carroll Yet even this is complicated by Gray’s inclusion of imaginary texts alongside real ones and his continuing of the index beyond the end of the book—in an imaginative flourish the fates of the surviving characters after the end of the novel can be worked out from Gray’s indices that extend beyond the end of the book but one in which the reader is in danger of becoming lost to my nostrils the book stinks of Victorianism It is as sham-gothic as the Scott Monument Pancras Station and the Houses of Parliament Their useless over-ornamentation was paid out of needlessly high profits: profits squeezed from the stunted lives of children women and men working more than twelve hours a day six days a week in NEEDLESSLY filthy factories; for by the nineteenth century we had the knowledge to make things cleanly The huge profits of the owning classes were too sacred to be questioned To me this book stinks as the interior of a poor woman’s crinoline must have stunk after a cheap railway excursion to the Crystal Palace After a series of less well-received works The novel is the author’s reimagining of Frankenstein The novel purports to be Episodes from the Early Life of a Scottish Public Health Officer by Archibald McCandless a book published by a vanity printing press and rescued from a skip by one of Gray’s historian friends Poor Things is a wonderful gothic comedic romp of a story in which the young doctor McCandless falls in love with Bella Baxter a woman who has been “created” by benevolent mad scientist and McCandless’ friend Godwin Baxter by taking the body of an anonymous drowned woman and bringing it back to life using the brain of the woman’s unborn fetus It’s a thoroughly charming story in which Bella resists being influenced by the cynical male figures who surround her and claims her own agency as a woman and a doctor defying the expectations placed on her gender; eventually this is all immediately contradicted by another note found with the original text or Victoria as she is calling herself by then where she decries the entire story as contemptible nonsense who purports to believe McCandless’ account whilst his historian friend sides with Bella’s rebuttal.  The brilliance of Poor Things lies in how Gray pits these two voices against each other The reader is sucked into McCandless’ story and Gray is clearly having a great time playing with the gothic form allowing her to talk back to all the men who have tried to “create” her directly trying to control her life through traditional patriarchal bonds or by controlling the narrative in which she appears She reminds the reader of the conventions of Victorian and gothic storytelling that shape McCandless’ narrative and the political assumptions they reinforce These contradictory takes on the same history which are then editorialized upon by Gray and his historian friend remind us that all narrators are inherently unreliable that all texts are constructed within a base set of assumptions that storytelling itself is an inherently political act.  “When a lot of folk watch something on a screen they all see the same thing Readers bring books to life by filling the stories with voices A History Maker is set in a 23rd-century Scottish utopia in which the technology of household powerplants that can generate any object desired brings capitalism to an end Wat Dryhope is a hero from the wargames that occupy the men whilst the women of the future run the world Chaffing against his reputation and the expectations foisted upon him by the society in which he lives he becomes embroiled in a plan by a group of radicals to use a global war to reinstate capitalism The main text of the novel tells Wat’s story but it is prefaced and annotated by Wat’s mother who received the text from Wat himself before his disappearance and who is writing these historical notes many years after the failure of the radicals’ plot.  Much has been made of Gray’s influence on other Scottish writers who also straddled the worlds of literary and genre fiction It might be a bit of a stretch to call A History Maker Gray’s attempt at a Culture novel but it does feature a far-future socialist utopia under threat by malevolent forces and the shadowy secret society that fights to defend it the shadowy secret society aren’t Special Circumstances or sentient starships they’re Scottish grannies sitting round a campfire telling stories.  Gray brings his usual inventiveness and playfulness to exploring the science fictional ideas of utopias and post-scarcity society but imagining a society built around traditional Scottish forms of storytelling rather than interstellar travel A History Maker reflects on unreliable narrators—both Wat and his mother are telling their version of the story to achieve very specific political aims and we are reliant on their worldviews to explain to us the reader how this far future society works with all the baggage that their viewpoints come with whether it is us reading the book in the novel’s distant past or the implied future reader reconstructing their own history from Wat’s story and his mother’s annotations we are made aware that the tools we are given to grasp the world of the novel contain their own implicit political biases.  For a moment the wheel of the civilized world was joined to the wheel of heaven The disaster which fell a moment later was an accident nobody could have foreseen or prevented I have been higher than anybody in the world The hand which writes these words has stroked the ice-smooth which these days can all be found in the huge anthology Every Short Story His short fiction frequently engages with the fantastic but still retains his joy at experimenting with form and metafictions they bring to mind the works of Italo Calvino and Jorge Luis Borges albeit with Gray’s trademark Glaswegian wit but much of his best work in the short form so many of his stories are accompanied by his striking line art Into this category falls “The Star,” a charming tale about a boy who finds a fallen star “A Unique Case,” about a friend who suffers a head injury that reveals he has tiny men working in his brain and “The Spread of Ian Nicol,” in which an ordinary riveter grows another version of himself out the back of his head and beautifully manage to root the bizarre and the inexplicable in the everyday using only a few pages and some inventive illustrations.  Other stories are longer and more ambitious “The Comedy of the White Dog” mixes folklore and sexual farce whilst “The Great Bear Cult” is a bonkers alternate history about a cult of bear worship that sweeps Britain in the 1930s told through the format of a script for a faux-documentary It is the five linked stories that make up the final two-thirds of the book that are the real meat of the collection These stories are bookended by “The Start of the Axletree” and “The Fall of the Axletree,” an extended riff on the Tower of Babel in which the ruler of a powerful empire with nowhere left to expand realizes the only way to keep the empire growing is to divert all resources into a grandiose project a tower that will connect the ground with the sky The first story chronicles how the emperor comes across the idea and sets his people into building the Axletree while the last story tells of its inevitable hubristic downfall after it reaches the surface of the sky The stories in between are kind of implied to be set in the same world “Five Letters from an Eastern Empire” is perhaps Gray’s most well-realised short story the tale of a man selected to be a poet in the far Eastern empire—on the other side of the world from the empire building the Axletree—whose illusions about the rightness of the state and the emperor are gradually stripped away as he learns about the horrific costs of empire building “Logopandocy” is the most radical story in the collection another riff on the Tower of Babel and an exploration of the decay of language in which language itself collapses over the course of the story And “Prometheus” is a retelling of the myth of the Titan and bringer of fire embedded in the story of a man trying to retell the story of Prometheus as a play This cycle of stories is as powerful and ambitious as any of Gray’s novels Love to see Gray get some attention on Reactor that his last novel only received American publication from a genre pres One of my favorite writers ever since I picked up 1982 Janine because it looked cool on the remainder table “Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation.” he was one of those authors who produces one definitive work they produce very little else (a handful of short stories So it’s good to know he had a second act That isn’t to say the stories were actively bad he wrote the semi-autobiographical sections in Lanark first The sections dealing with Hell were written and introduced later The Reactor newsletter is the best way to catch up on the world of science fiction “The sky above the port was the color of television For compliance with applicable privacy laws: