A Fistful Of Dollars, the Clint Eastwood Western. I must have seen it over a dozen times. 'How sad is that?' as the kids would say. I just thought it was such a wonderful evocation of place and Morricone's elemental music really brought out the raw e
motions of the film. Greed, betrayal and lust; it's all here and in a way it's almost like a Greek tragedy. I first saw it when it came out but I'll still watch it now if it's ever on.
The piece of music which means the most to you? At the moment I'd have to say String Quintet In G Minor by Mozart. Mozart has got this amazing capacity to be incredibly easy with nothing much there, almost as transparent as the clearest water, but you'll never touch the bottom. His music has got a profound entertainment depth, especially this piece.
The best performance you have ever been to? Readings from either the late Norman MacCaig or Edwin Morgan. I really enjoy theatre, but the intimacy of a great poet reading his own work is better. These guys were world class.
The book you've read more than once? The books I've re-read would have to be Dickens, I've read most of his works several times each. Dickens is brilliant at portraying the darkness which is in the human spirit, it's all there, as much as it is in Shakespeare. But the great thing about him is that he's also got the humour and energy. I read his work and find it entertaining and deeply moving. I love thrillers and read masses of them, but rarely more than once. A good thriller has no fat on it, it cuts to the bone and doesn't waste a single word because they all count. I especially like James Lee Burke.
The fictional character whose life you'd like to lead? Now I've got an obscure one, this is for the geeks. I'm going to say Trurl. He's a character in The Cyberiad, which is a book by Stanislaw Lem, who is best known for Solaris. I discovered the book in the 1980s and it's the most wonderful fiction. Trurl is a constructor and his job is to make a machine to fix human problems. Trurl is this perfect combination of happy-go-lucky and profoundly determined.
Your idea of classic TV? The Simpsons. I don't watch much TV but I watch this regularly. Even if I've seen an episode before, I'll sit and watch it because it's endlessly inventive and I'm constantly astounded by it. There is something universal about the Simpsons as a family, because whilst they are so dysfunctional they still love each other and stick together. I also like Law & Order for the opposite reason: because it's formulaic down to the last letter. I can start watching it halfway through and still pick up on what's happening, but it still works very well.
Your favourite work of art? Beatrice McCallum, a French sculptress who I know well, gave me a piece which I love. The sculpture is of an entwined couple just gliding together. It's cut from the same piece of material and it's a brilliant work. I've been urging her to give things names but this one doesn't have one yet.
Prediction for star of the future? Regi Claire, my wife. I really do believe she is one of the best prose writers around, particularly her short stories. She's just completed a collection of tales called Fighting It.
The entertainment gadget you can't live without? It's not an electronic gadget but I have a little plastic Santa I was once given, and whenever I'm stressed I wind him up and watch him lumbering across the desk. It's very soothing in a strange sort of way. I could probably live without most gadgets.
What's your favourite website? Google for the obscurities in life. Whenever I need to locate anything or look anything up I always use Google rather than the bookshelf. It's just so easy to use and it'll find you absolutely anything.
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The theatre production of Butlin's The Sound Of My Voice is at the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow (0141-429 0022) May 20-June 7 •
www.citz.co.ukThe full article contains 719 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
