{"product_id":"machine-elves-descending-9798887440972","title":"Machine Elves Descending","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“John King is an adventurous avant-garde novelist. The sheer \nvirtuosity of his language overflows with a richness of invention.” \n—Boyd Tonkin, \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eIndependent\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest known for the social realism of novels such as \u003ci\u003eThe Football Factory\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHuman Punk\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLondon Country\u003c\/i\u003e, John King’s writing also carries speculative strands, with his interest in dystopian fiction clear in several books. \u003ci\u003eThe Liberal Politics of Adolf Hitler\u003c\/i\u003e\n took this further, and the main story in this collection, “Machine \nElves Descending,” drives deep into the worlds of science fiction. As an\n alien spaceship approaches, pod-dweller Stretch scans the flatlands, \nhoping that the invaders will become bored and leave. Once the aliens \nhave landed, Stretch becomes unsure, as new memories close in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Granny’s Letters”\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003etells\n the story of an elderly widow waiting for an under-threat Post Office \nto deliver her mail. Granny Smith isn’t as frail as she appears, though.\n She knows how to dish out some righteous justice. “See No Evil”\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003efinds Jimmy Ramone released from prison and facing temptation, conscious that he must resist if he is to survive the night.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlus\u003c\/i\u003e . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Writing the Canals”: finding inspiration in the local waterways\u003ci\u003e. “\u003c\/i\u003eA Very Corporate Coup”: an article that appeared in the \u003ci\u003eNew Statesman\u003c\/i\u003e\n in the run-up to the EU referendum. “The Shed”: a trip into the famous \nChelsea home end and the author’s youth. “May Day”: introduction to the \nLondon Books edition of John Sommerfield’s 1936 novel of the same name, \nrepublished as part of the London Classics series which John edits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnd featuring\u003c\/i\u003e . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Call\n Me Elvis,” an interview with the surrealist collagist and experimental \nnovelist Allan Kausch. Books, beer, and punk rock . . . Animal rights, \ninternational travel, our spiritual paths . . . The Clash, Bowie, Pete \nJohnson . . . Alan Sillitoe, George Orwell, American fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John King","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48547791962363,"sku":"9798887440972","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/3917\/9771\/files\/CoreSourceHub_f7f78b3b-5d12-426f-8f1c-fd0a513b53bb.jpg?v=1774417458","url":"https:\/\/indiepubs.com\/products\/machine-elves-descending-9798887440972","provider":"IndiePubs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}