128 Sterling House of Anansi

Graeme Gibson, the Canadian writer and avid ornithologist and conservationist who died this last September at the age of 85, and his partner, author and poet Margaret Atwood, met in 1970 in Toronto, when both were associated with the fledgling Canadian independent publisher, the House of Anansi, founded by poet Dennis Lee and writer David Godfrey in the basement of the latter’s house on Spadina Avenue near Bloor Street. Graeme Gibson’s lauded experimental novel, Five Legs, and Margaret Atwood’s Governor-General’s Award-winning collection of poetry, The Circle Game, were early and surprising bestsellers for a publisher that remains a fundamental pillar of the Canadian literary scene to this day. In “A Literary Love Story” Graeme Gibson and Margaret Atwood remember the beginnings of the House of Anansi and the literary scene in Toronto of the nineteen sixties and seventies. Presented by Noah Richler and produced by Mihira Lakshman and Nick Parker, with sound provided gratis by freesound.org, and dedicated to the memory of Graeme Gibson.

In “Vancouver Biotech Startup Launches World’s First Book Pill,” the eighth and final podcast in the debut series of 128 Sterling, host Noah Richler reveals details of the development and testing of a revolutionary new platform for literature, the edible book pill. He speaks to the writer-scientists behind the book pill’s invention, to Inuit claiming cultural appropriation, to novelists anxious about the unprecedented disruptive bio-technology, and to others keen not to be excluded. With Gary Barwin, Laakkuluk Bathory, Irina Kovalyova, Vincent Lam, Lisa Moore, Russell Smith and others.

Noah Richler talks to Walter Kirn about Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. Clark Rockefeller), imposter and convicted murder, and subject of Walt’s book Blood Will Out. Noah also speaks to Katherena Vermette about the people, places, and stores that make up her Governor General's Literary Awards shortlisted debut novel, The Break. Actress Janet Green (a.k.a. Janet Porter) reads Lynn Crosby’s new poem, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget,” written exclusively for 128 Sterling.

In “School’s In,” host Noah Richler talks to publisher Sarah MacLachlan; Sunday Times columnist Lynn Barber, author of the acclaimed memoir (and movie), An Education; Russian-American graphic illustrator Dasha Tolstikova about her memoir, A Year Without Mom; Newfoundland author Lisa Moore about her first young adult novel, Flannery; and Métis writer Patti Laboucane-Benson about the simmering cauldron that is school.

In this month of the American elections and literary contests, Noah Richler presents an anthology of lost things from fights to old ways and mystery itself, with original contributions by Craig Davidson, Andray Domise, Kevin Patterson, Russell Smith, Kathleen Winter (who also provides the music), Cybèle Young and singer Patricia O’Callaghan.

Authors Guy Vanderhaeghe, David Frum, and Walter Kirn discuss the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election with Noah Richler by examining the two candidates as they relate to Jack London's "The Iron Heel," Robert Penn Warren’s "All the King's Men," and Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here.” Actress Janet Green (a.k.a. Janet Porter) reads Lynn Crosbie’s new poem, “Here Pussy,” written exclusively for 128 Sterling. Alix Ohlin, author of “Inside” and “Signs and Wonders,” reads original prose.