The Nottingham book – packed full of zombies and local literary figures – has defied all norms and transformed from an online graphic novel to a printed version. We got down to the book launch at Antenna on Beck Street, where our literature editor and Dawn of the Unread creator spoke about our city's history as well as what we need to get heads in pages...
From design conferences to weekly steak nights, Confetti’s Antenna building has made a reputation for itself as one of the best local venues for Nottingham’s culture and arts scene. The start of November, however, saw our turn to hog the limelight, with LeftLion’s own James Walker hosting the launch of his latest graphic novel and – in his own words – shameless reading propaganda Dawn of the Unread.
The book, itself a collection taken from the long-running web-comic of the same name, features stories from several local writers and artists about the unholy resurrection of Nottingham’s best and brightest. Lawrence, Sillitoe, The Cockle Man, Bendigo, and the ever-entertaining Duke of Portland (look him up) all grace the pages of the novel in glorious, gory technicolour.
As with much of James’s work, Dawn has a deep-rooted heart of sturdy Midlands practicality. More often than not, book launches such as these are used as platforms for artists to talk about why they’re the dog’s bollocks for a few hours, but James and his fellow collaborators took this time to explain the importance of the book’s mission: to encourage literacy among children. Many, if not all, of Dawn focuses heavily on the necessity of literary engagement for the development of a healthy, happy mind.
What struck this humble bookworm the most was how all the speakers throughout the evening had their own tales, both personal and impersonal, about the deeply-entrenched history of culture in Nottingham. James began the event with the disagreeable quote “People have come to expect mediocrity from Nottingham”, and then proceeded to shatter this expectation with stories of Gotham fools (no, not that Gotham fool) and mad, labyrinth-dwelling Dukes (seriously, just look him up).
The event also served to showcase some of the interactive, high-tech, impressive sci-fi features of the book. The novel is essentially part of a cluster of related media – of particular interest to young creatives is the series of short videos about the making of Dawn of the Unread, which offers practical advice and tips about the literature and media industry as a whole. Also worth noting is the teeth-grittingly tricky but infinitely addictive game in which you play as Sillitoe’s Arthur Seaton as he roams the streets of Nottingham collecting booze and avoiding the fuzz.
Part history-lecture, part passionate celebration of Nottingham’s literary heritage, and part commemoration of some of the excellent native talent alive and thriving in the Midlands right now, the event and associated book succeeded in their mission of inspiring excitement and engagement in literacy. The result is clear, ladies and gents: it’s time to get bloody reading, youth.
Dawn of the Unread Book Launch took place at Antenna, Beck Street, as part of the Nottingham Festival of Literature, Friday 11 November 2016.
Dawn of the Unread website
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