Russell Hoban: 80! A Celebration - booklet contents

Articles are listed in the order they originally appeared in the print version.
Click on titles to read individual articles or read the whole booklet in a vertical scroll.

Hoban 2005: Ten year special - the 80! booklet online

Convention co-organiser and russellhoban.org webmaster Richard Cooper on the celebration of the celebration.

Welcome to the Russell Hoban Some-Poasyum 2005

Russell Hoban and the founder of the Head of Orpheus, Dave Awl, welcome participants.

Octobering home.

A special vintage for the convention.

How the Some-Poasyum became, and how it got its name

Richard Cooper tells the story of how the 2005 Russell Hoban convention came about, with the help of international forum/fan club The Kraken, and Dr Yvonne Studer explains the significance of the name "Some-Poasyum".

How SA4QE started

Diana Slickman, the S in SA4QE, explains the origins of the annual Russell Hoban fan event.

From the House of Commons

Glenda Jackson MP, who played Naeara in the film of Turtle Diary, writes in support of the convention.

Strengthening wisdom

Braham Murray remembers Russell Hoban's adaptation of Riddley Walker for the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre Company.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

Some-Poasyum organiser and russellhoban.org webmaster kicks off a list of 80 reasons why fans love Russell Hoban, who turned 80 shortly before the 2005 convention.

Unforgettable yellow paper

BBC radio producer Duncan Minshull pays tribute.

Tom, Orpheus and Harry

Sir Harrison Birtwistle on his collaboration with Russell Hoban.

On reading Riddley Walker in Hiroshima

Novelist David Mitchell pays tribute to Russell Hoban and to Riddley Walker, which partly inspired his award-winning novel Cloud Atlas.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

The booklet editor lists his reasons for celebrating.

Happy Birthday, Mr Hoban!

Mark Marcus recalls his introduction to Russell Hoban's work.

The origins and history of the Head of Orpheus website

Dave Awl tells the story of how he came to build the first major Russell Hoban website and found the Kraken discussion forum in the late 1990s.

Encountering Russell Hoban

Screenwriter Andrew Davies recalls meeting Russell Hoban and pays tribute.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

Lindsay Edmunds lists her reasons for celebrating the Some-Poasyum.

Kill Comes Again

Ruth Bosch brings to life a classic Hoban parody from Kleinzeit.

The waiting is over

Booklet editor and author Chris Bell explains the importance of Russell Hoban's books.

The Second Mrs Kong - review

Dr Hugh Bowden reviews a performance of the Harrison Birtwistle opera, for which Russell Hoban wrote the libretto.

Aunty's got the chops for it

Tim Haillay riffs on Kong, a Hoban obsession.

Russell Hoban and the Six Stacks

Russell Hoban's longtime editor and publisher Liz Calder remembers the first time she saw the Riddley Walker manuscript.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

Dr Yvonne Studer gives her reasons.

So good in a deep place

Lindsay Edmunds writes on the importance of turtles.

Towards a definition of "Hobanesque"

Dr Albert Bridge attempts to explain what it means for something to be Hobanic.

"That was Russell Hoban on the phone…"

Linda Whitebread recalls an inspirational phone call.

Bow Fiddle rising from the sea

Marion Stevenson pays tribute to a scene from The Moment under The Moment.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

Booklet illustrator Ruth Bosch gives her reason for celebrating at the Some-Poasyum.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

Russell Hoban's son pays tribute to his father on his 80th birthday.

Unreserved admiration

Russell Hoban's longtime literary agent Bruce Hunter pays a personal tribute.

Aunt Fidget Wonkham-Strong and the Russell Hoban book pile

Longtime Russell Hoban illustrator Sir Quentin Blake contributes a special version of an old favourite.

Why we love Russ

Russell Hoban readers give reasons for their fandom.

With gaps in mind

Roland Clare recalls his first meeting with Russell Hoban.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

Bryan Thalhammer rounds off the 80 reasons why fans are celebrating Russell Hoban's 80th birthday.

80 at 80: 80 reasons why we’re celebrating Russell Hoban’s 80th birthday

The mythical creature of the deeps gives its reason.

Happy birthday from the Mouse and His Child

A postcard designed by Ruth Bosch was a limited-edition booklet freebie featuring the Mouse Father and Child sending their birthday wishes.