Just Three Words

Cover by Ian Whates
With illustrations by Duncan Kay
And introduction by Kona Macphee

V.C. Linde enjoys writing poetry, and she’s good at it. In 2012 Vick entered the New York Times poetry competition and, to her own considerable surprise, won.

For the past several years Vick has been approaching authors and asking them to provide her with three words, from which she has then built a poem. Some are short, some are long, all are touched by wonder.

Just Three Words contains the results of this project: 53 poems, all original to the book, inspired by words from the late great Iain Banks and Tanith Lee (both of whom saw the poems shortly before their passing and were suitably impressed) and the equally great and thankfully still current:

Mark Gatiss, China Miéville, Alan Moore, Ramsey Campbell, Peter F. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Kelley Armstrong, Jeff VanderMeer, Nancy Kress, Guy Gavriel Kay, Trudi Canavan, Sarah Pinborough, Brent Weeks, Pat Cadigan, Joe Abercrombie, Lauren Beukes, Dan Abnett, Stephen Baxter, Paul Cornell, Ian Watson, and many more…  

“I’m floored. Vick is an artiste. Seriously. That is an amazing piece of work.” – Pat Cadigan

“Lord, that’s insidiously disturbing. I’m more than happy to have provided the seed!” –  Ramsey Campbell

“That poem is... extraordinary. Really beautiful and haunting. Wow! I’m not one to gush praise for no reason – really. Rather the opposite. But that is a stunning piece of lyric poetry.” – Adam Roberts 

"Vicks poem is tremendous. Very atmospheric.”  – Tanith Lee 

“I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to read her poetry, it really has opened up some new worlds for me.” – Duncan Kay, illustrator.

The book also features a series of black and white illustrations from artist Duncan Kay, inspired by Vick’s words.

A Faraway War  

Our battle has no guns, no distant enemy    
we are armed with peculiar weapons
and hold an unseen line against no one.

Bravery isn’t rewarded with medals
but with another ordinary tomorrow.
Another fight. Another morning.

Open sunlight cuts, streams straight onto
our tear-sanded eyes, closed in front
of our quiet secret, our slow war.

Words provided by Christopher Fowler:
Sunlight, Peculiar, Bravery

Limited to 50 signed copies