''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' is a science fiction novel written in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

by Tim Armstrong and published by

CLÀR CLÀR is a Scottish Gaelic publisher. Established in 1996, the company is run on a voluntary, independent basis and based in Inverness, Scotland. It was the publisher for the Ùr-sgeul project, specialising in new Gaelic fiction. Publishing Poli ...

in 2013. ''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' is the first hard science-fiction novel in Gaelic written for adults. The story combines elements of space opera, dark

cyberpunk Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a dystopian futuristic setting that tends to focus on a "combination of lowlife and high tech", featuring futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and c ...

, romance and rock-band road-trip adventure. The central conceit of the novel is that in space, everyone speaks Gaelic, allowing the author to create an entirely Gaelic-speaking world for the characters.

Launch

''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' was launched at a series of events in three separate locations: at the Aye Write book festival in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

with Aonghas 'Dubh' MacNeacail presiding; at two punk rock gigs on the same day in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

; and at

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig () (Great Barn of Ostaig) is a public higher education college situated in the Sleat peninsula in the south of the Isle of Skye, with an associate campus at Bowmore on the island of Islay, Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (the ...

on the Isle of Skye at an event also marking the launch of Meg Bateman's new book of poetry, Transparencies. The book was launched in Edinburgh through a collaboration between CLÀR and anarcho-punk band Oi Polloi at two all-Scottish-Gaelic gig events on Saturday 27 April 2013, at Elvis Shakespeare on

Leith Walk Leith Walk is one of the longest streets in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is the main road connecting the centre of the city to Leith. Forming most of the A900 road, it slopes downwards from Picardy Place at the south-western end of the street to th ...

and on The Cruz Boat at the Shore in

Leith Leith (; gd, Lìte) is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith. In 2021, it was ranked by ''Time Out'' as one of the top five neighbourhoods to live in the world. The earliest ...

. The (now legendary amongst the Leith community) Leith Walk gig took place while Hibernian F.C. played out a 3–3 draw against St. Mirren F.C., inadvertently diverting police resources at a crucial time and allowing the anarcho-punk,

Oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was ...

, punk rock, street celebration to continue uninhibited, proving a significant landmark in

Gaelic culture The Gaels ( ; ga, Na Gaeil ; gd, Na Gàidheil ; gv, Ny Gaeil ) are an ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man in the British Isles. They are associated with the Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic languag ...

Reception

The reaction to the novel has been largely positive. Aonghas 'Dubh' MacNeacail has described the novel as a "great step forward on many levels" for Gaelic fiction and Ruairidh MacIlleathain described the novel as a strong story and "a milestone in Gaelic literature". Moray Watson, reviewing in Northwords Now, while critical of some aspects of the plot, was generally positive, calling it an "impressive debut", and Raghnall MacIlleDhuibh (Ronald Black), reviewing in

the Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its pare ...

newspaper, wrote that he would include ''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' "among the best half-dozen Gaelic novels ever published." In 2016, ''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' was selected by Scot Lit Fest as one of the five most important Gaelic novels of all time.

Saltire Society Literary Awards 2013

In October 2013, ''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' was shortlisted for the

Saltire Society The Saltire Society is a membership organisation which aims to promote the understanding of the culture and heritage of Scotland. Founded in 1936, the society was "set up to promote and celebrate the uniqueness of Scottish culture and Scotland’s ...

2013 First Book of the Year Award, along with work from Malcolm MacKay (Mantle), Eunice Buchanan (Kettillonia), Vicky Jarrett (Linen Press) and Kellan MacInnes (Luath Press). ''Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach'' went on to win the award, along with ''As Far as I Can See'' by Eunice Buchanan.

Translation

An Irish-language translation was published by

Leabhar Breac An Leabhar Breac ("The Speckled Book"; Middle Irish: An Lebar Brec), now less commonly Leabhar Mór Dúna Doighre (The Great Book of Dun Doighre") or possibly erroneously, Leabhar Breac Mic Aodhagáin ("The Speckled Book of the MacEgans"), is a ...

in 2020. ''Tinte na Farraige Duibhe'' was translated by Eoin P. Ó Murchú.

Notes

{{Reflist, 30em Scottish Gaelic literature Scottish science fiction novels