Leaver's Post

Surely it's too early in the term for a leaver's post? Sadly, it's not: this week we say goodbye to Mr Staniforth, our Theatre Technical Manager, who has been overseeing Pauline productions with patience and calm good humour for the last fifteen years. Mr Staniforth has also been a regular contributor to the blog, and his memorably eclectic suggestions for our annual Book of the Year posts have steered us well off the beaten path, towards many new, intriguing and excellent books and writers. We are deeply honoured that he took the time to answer the blog's questions before he departs.  

What were you reading when you were a teenager?

As an early teen I was saving pocket money to buy second hand copies of Alistair MacLean and Jack Higgins, action adventure books. These haven’t lasted, although I am not immune to the pleasure of the airport novel. 

I have kept The Way to Dusty Death and The Golden Gate on my shelves as an adult, as well as a signed copy of one of Jack Higgins’s books. I wrote to him to settle an argument I was having with a friend, who insisted that Frederick Forsyth and he were the same author writing under different names. They are not, and I have a signed letter from Mr Higgins (calling me David, curse my handwriting!) confirming such. 

Jack Higgins and Frederick Forsyth. Not the same writer.  

My mother – who is an English teacher – put Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen in my hands, but while I read them, they never really stuck.  

More formatively I will always love Terry Pratchett’s writings. Fantasy is a favourite genre of mine, and I remember when I was twelve being left for an afternoon in the care of a friend of my Mum’s in Glastonbury. She bought me a copy of The Hobbit and left me on the side of Glastonbury Tor until it started to get dark, which was delightful.

The late, great Terry Pratchett

In sixth form I discovered more interesting fodder, though, as well as the pleasure of non-fiction, and plunged into Iain Banks (and Iain M Banks), Jon Courtenay Grimwood, early Steven Pinker, early Richard Dawkins and Ian Stewart. Scientific non-fiction tied in so interestingly with science A-levels and science fiction reading, and some books (Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition, I’m looking at you) cross those boundaries.

What are you currently reading?

I ran into this book in an Oxfam and couldn’t not buy it – Biketopia: Feminist Bicycle Science Fiction Stories in Extreme Futures (Bikes in Space).  The first two stories have been great and I am looking forward to the rest!

I have also been distracted by the Murderbot book series by Martha Wells and am halfway through. Like Ann Leckie (another author everyone should read), "I love Murderbot.”

What/who is your all-time favourite book/writer?

Yeesh. I have a lot of options, depending on time available, mood and who’s listening. I am in awe of Stephen Donaldson, who has, in my opinion, written one of the best fantasy series I have ever encountered, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, as well as one of the best sci-fi series, The Gap Cycle, but they are problematic books, and I have had friends bounce off them hard. I think they are astounding works with deeply damaged and unsympathetic protagonists.

William Gibson, for a living, interesting writer I would love to meet one day. Terry Pratchett and Iain Banks are two authors I thought would be writing until I was an older man, and I remain deeply saddened by their passing. Brandon Sanderson for huge worlds that I enjoy spending time in.

Who’s your favourite fictional character?

Probably Jack Aubrey from the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian. Or potentially Stephen Maturin.  Comfort reading of the highest order.

Do you have a favourite word/favourite line from a book?

I love the ship names from Bank’s Culture novels, and the line, 'a guilty system recognises no innocents.'

If you had to recommend one book that everyone should read, what would it be?

I can’t recommend one book. I probably couldn’t recommend one author.  Can I just recommend reading? It makes you a better, smarter, healthier, less stressed, more focussed, more well-rounded, humane human being. Read widely, read things you don’t think you’d like, read about different people leading different lives because that little bit of insight may change how you think. Read fiction, read non-fiction, read outside your subject area, read hard books, angry books, weird books. Read books that make you think, books that make you uncomfortable, but don’t forget to read for comfort too. Read books that make you happy, read 'cozies', read silly books and kids books. Read as much as possible.

Thanks so much to Mr Staniforth for these excellent suggestions, and especially for his final comments: if that doesn't inspire you to pick up a book, nothing would!