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Sunday, 28 December 2008
I got back from the big research trip about 10 days ago. If
you’re at all interested in history, visiting
Jerusalem
is an absolute must. Quite a few people have asked me
whether it was safe – I certainly found it to be. I wandered all
over the Old City
on my own, both day and night, and never had a problem.
There’s just so much to see in
Jerusalem, it’s
hard to know where to begin. Visiting the Holy Sepulchre was a
highlight, particularly given how that church features in my
current novel. Travelling underground through Hezekiah’s tunnel
from the Gihon Spring is fascinating, although it proved
frustrating as my torch batteries died just before we set off.
The first view of the Citadel (Tower
of David)
and Jaffa Gate literally stopped me in my tracks. And travelling
parallel to the western wall of the
Temple
Mount, but underneath the
Moslem quarter, is astounding. Lots of Herodian stonework and
crumbling Roman colonnades visible - potent material for the
imagination.
France
also had some gems to offer. The gothic cathedral at Chartres (the one with the labyrinth pattern
in the nave floor) is both amazing and humbling. (View from the
north tower is stupendous too, although unnervingly windy on the
day I visited.) The Abbey of Fontenay is stunning yet eerily
empty. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like at night
with some smoky torches. In comparison, the Commanderie at
Coulommiers is a little disappointing, but highly evocative
nonetheless. And the medieval remains of
Troyes
are quite charming.
While I was away I learned that my short story “Black &
Bitter, Thanks” was short-listed for best science fiction
story in the annual
Aurealis
Awards. The AAs were created to “recognise the
achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror
writers”, so congratulations to all who made the short-lists
in novel & short story categories. If you’re interested in
reading “Black & Bitter, Thanks”, it can be found on the
Free
Fiction page of this website, along with another story
published in 2008. If you like these samples, please consider
purchasing the magazines they were published in.
Finally, best wishes for 2009 to everyone who has visited this
year.
Cheers, Nathan.
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