Christina Hollis—Radio Gaga?

I've always assumed most readers of Tote Bags 'n' Blogs are American, and probably living in a built-up area, rather than the countryside. As I'm English and live in the middle of a bluebell wood, thinking of what to blog about on here is sometimes tricky.  

Not this month! This weekend, I took a challenge and I'd be interested in your reaction to it. 

When I'm not writing, I've usually got the radio on. This Saturday, I listened to Shadowbahn (a dramatisation of Steve Erickson's 2017 novel) while I had a baking session. With the Twin Towers materialising in Dakota as part of a dystopian vision of the (dis)United States in 2021, the play was part of BBC Radio 4's Dangerous Visions season of science fiction.

I've got wide-ranging tastes, but initially Shadowbahn didn't appeal to me at all. I only listened to it because my instinctive reaction was to wonder how anyone could take the tragedy of the Twin Towers and weave it into science fiction. It felt jaw-droppingly insensitive—but then, the only reason my husband didn't die in 2001 is because 11th September is our wedding anniversary. He rescheduled a business meeting and stayed at home in England, so we could spend the day together. If he hadn't, he'd have been at the heart of what became Ground Zero. 

A Shadow Presley

My first impressions of Shadowbahn were terrible, because of the way I listen to radio. I was popping in and out of the kitchen to fetch fruit or other ingredients, concentrating on scaling up measurements, or calculating cooking times. As a result, I couldn't make head nor tail of the play. In fact, I hated it so much, I decided to give it a second chance. 

This morning, I stuck a "do not disturb" sign on my office door, called up the podcast and settled down to concentrate. After a straight run of 56 minutes with no interruptions (which must be a record in this house) my feelings about this play have changed. First, the good news. This production showcases radio at its best. The use of music and sound effects really does create better "pictures" than staring at a television screen. It encourages listeners to use their imagination. I loved the choice of music, and a world where water is contraband and vigilantes roam the streets is only too believable. 

A Real President

I still didn't care for the story itself, though. It may well be a work of genius, but I don't have enough background knowledge to decide. I've never been to America. Everything I know about the country's popular culture could be written on the back of an Amex card, and still leave room for the Gettysburg Address. I love M*A*S*H, The Big Bang Theory, The Goldbergs and Young Sheldon, but there are always a few references in each of those shows which go straight over my head. 

The problem I had with Shadowbahn is that almost the whole play was beyond my comprehension.  It was like presenting Minnie Mouse with a dissertation on plant pathology. The references to various states, politicians, historical events  and geography meant nothing to me. As a result, I didn't know how much of the story was invention. I really didn't like that. For example, I know next to nothing about Elvis Presley, but I thought he idolised his mother. To think she might have screamed at him in the same way she belittled poor Jesse in Shadowbahn for being the surviving twin disturbed me. 

This is where you come in. Have you read Shadowbahn, or listened to the play? You can try it here. If you live in the US or know the country well, what did you think of it?

Christina Hollis writes contemporary fiction starring complex men and independent women. She has written eighteen contemporary novels, sold nearly three million books, and her books have been translated into twenty different languages. When she isn’t writing, Christina is cooking, walking her dog, or beekeeping.

You can catch up with her at https://christinahollisbooks.online, on Twitter, Facebook, and see a full list of her published books at christinahollis.com

Her current release, Heart Of A Hostage, is published by The Wild Rose Press and available at myBook.to/HeartOfAHostage  worldwide.