Financial Times Review

"The style as a whole posesses an often eerie earthiness... This is a novel that stands firmly on its own feet." To read Philip Womack's full review for the Financial Times, please click here.

The Golden Mean on YouTube

Edinburgh International Book Festival

I'm so pleased to be taking part in three events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: on Tuesday, August 17 at 5:30PM I'll be reading from the work of Afghan writer Nadia Anjuman as part of the "Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers Series: Violence Against Women"; on Thursday, August 19 at 10:00AM I'll be reading in the "Ten at Ten" event; and later that day, at 6:45PM, I'll be doing a joint event with historical novelist SJ Parris. I'm also immensely honoured to be nominated for the inaugural Edinburgh International Book Festival Readers' First Book Award. For more information, please click here.

Tyee Interview

"Though the novel is based firmly in history, Lyon makes departures that bring Aristotle's life into focus for modern readers. Her thoughtful, flowing prose links facts and carefully constructed fiction, and brings to life the corporeal, intellectual, and intangible aspects of life in the ancient world. The result is a novel that begs to be discussed."

To read Shannon Smart's full article for The Tyee, please click here.

Times Profile

"On the day that I am to interview Lyon, an e-mail slips into my inbox from none other than the Booker prizewinner Hilary Mantel. It is full of praise for The Golden Mean, calling it a “quietly ambitious and beautifully achieved novel” that is “one of the most convincing historical novels I have ever read”."

To read Jake Wallis Simons' entire article for The Times, please click here.

Hello Again, Sechelt!

On Saturday, August 14 at 7:00PM I'll be speaking at the Sunshine Coast Festival for the Written Arts. For more information, please click here.

Word of the Day

I'm often asked about my use of profanity in The Golden Mean, especially the word "fuck". Now (say sceptics, hands on their hips, smiling doubtfully), the ancients didn't really speak that way, did they? Did they? Surely my use of that term is anachronistic at best, terminally vulgar at worst?

"Bineo" responded the ancient Greek linguistics specialist whom I consulted about the ancient use of profanity, vulgarity, and basically every word your mother didn't raise you to use, young lady, thank you very much. That's the ancient Greek equivalent of "fuck", with all its modern connotations. For those who remain sceptical, I recommend Jeffrey Henderson's The Maculate Muse: Obscene Language in Attic Comedy. Thorough, serious, and scholarly, this book also features one of the most eye-popping academic indices you will ever enjoy. Entries include Crepitation, sound effects for; Exhibitionism in Iambic Poetry; Horsemanship as metaphor; Nautical metaphors; Perversion; Piercing; Satyr-drama; Scatology in Sicilian comedy; Scatophagy; Urination as theme; and my personal favourite: Obscenity, scholarly neglect of.

The Golden Mean on NPR

'Golden Mean': Everyday Liveliness in Ancient Greece': to hear Alan Cheuse's review for NPR's All Things Considered, please click here.

Welcome, UK Readers!

The Golden Mean is now available in the United Kingdom from Atlantic Books. Welcome, British readers! Please check back from time to time for information on my upcoming readings (including the Edinburgh Festival) as well as information on the writing of the novel, research tidbits, and more.

The Golden Mean - Audio Book

The Golden Mean is now available as an audio book. For more information, please click here.

CAA Literary Awards Shortlist

I'm so pleased that The Golden Mean is on the Canadian Authors Association Literary Awards shortlist. It's in stellar company, alongside Michael Crummey's Galore and Ian Weir's Daniel O'Thunder. The winner will be announced on June 26, 2010 at the CAA Literary Awards banquet, held at the Harbour Towers Hotel in Victoria, BC. For more information, please click here.

Aristotle and...football?

See a Canlit novel get quoted by a sports commentator! This made my day:

"Talented, ambitious and good looking, [Jose Mourinho] has all the intangibles that persuaded the world to bow at Alexander's feet. But he also has an appreciation for balance, and an open ear. And when he addressed a throng of reporters in the run-up to today's Champions League final, he might just as easily have been reciting one of Aristotle's lessons.

To read Jerrad Peter's article for the Winnipeg Free Press, please click here.

Hello, Yellowknife!

I'm so pleased to be taking part in the Northwords Writers Festival, June 3-6, 2010 in Yellowknife, NWT, alongside Sharon Butala, Ivan E. Coyote, Cathleen With, Richard Van Camp, and others. To see the program, please click here.

Toro Interview

"And that’s the genius of Lyon’s book – every minute detail is celebrated with the same fluid prose as a sweaty sexual experience."

To read the full interview with Stephen Smysnuik, please click here.

Just Because...

Taxi!

I'm so pleased to be taking part in an evening of readings and performances celebrating the 35th anniversary of the publication of Helen Potrebenko's great Vancouver novel Taxi! Organized by the inimitable Anakana Schofield, this free event will take place on Thursday, April 29th at 7:30PM at the Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch. For more information, please click here.

Hello, New Brunswick!

From April 22-24 I'll be in Moncton, New Brunswick for the Frye Festival. A roundtable discussion; an evening of CanLit with Linden MacIntyre, Noah Richler, and Nino Ricci; Brunch and Books; the Frye Jam.... It should be a lot of fun. For more information, please click here.

Hello! Canada Women of the Year

I'm so honoured to be one of Hello! Canada's 2009 Women of the Year (alongside Olympic figure skater Joannie Rochette, astronaut Julie Payette, and Betty Fox). Check out the 26 April 2010 issue (with Shania Twain on the cover) to see the full list, plus Toronto photographer George (The Genius) Whiteside's lovely photo.

North Shore Writers Festival

On Monday, April 19 at 7:30PM, I'll be reading at the West Vancouver Memorial Library as part of the North Shore Writers Festival. The event is free but seating is limited. For more information, please click here.

Darwin's Bastards Launch

How do you follow up a novel about ancient Greece? With a short story about an alien, of course: rocket ship, robes, exoskeleton and all. I'm so pleased to have my short story "Remote Control" (first published in Geist magazine in 2000) in the brand new collection Darwin's Bastards: Astounding Tales from Tomorrow, published by Douglas and MacIntyre. The launch will be on Friday, April 16 at the Wise Hall and will feature readings / performances by Laura Trunkey, Anosh Irani, Jay Brown, Paul Carlucci, Oliver Kellhammer, Lee Henderson, Adam Lewis Schroeder, Timothy Taylor, Zsuzsi Gartner (mistress of ceremonies), and me. Costumes encouraged (not by me, particularly; I'm just repeating what I'm told). For more information about the launch, please click here. See you there!

UBC Bookstore Videos

Bobbi Macdonald and Treena Chambers discuss The Golden Mean.

I think the one on the right stole my hair.

Hello, Sechelt!

I'm so pleased to be reading at the Sechelt Arts Centre on Saturday, April 10 at 8:00PM. The reading is sponsored in part by the Sunshine Coast Arts Council. For more information, please click here.

BC Book Prizes Soiree

Come one, come all to the BC Book Prizes Soiree on Wednesday, April 7 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Listel Hotel. Door prizes, book signing, a silent auction, light refreshments...free!

CBA Libris Awards Shortlist

The Golden Mean has been shortlisted for the Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Fiction Book of the Year. The other nominees are Linden MacIntyre for The Bishop's Man and Michael Crummey for Galore. Good company! Also, I'm tremendously honoured to be nominated for Author of the Year, alongside Linden MacIntyre and Alice Munro. And, best of all, my marvellous editor at Random House, Anne Collins, has been nominated for Editor of the Year. Winners will be announced May 29, 2010.

For more information, please click here.