Barny Juno lives in Accomplice, where he works in the post office sorting room, and runs a shelter for lions, tigers and alligators - but not donkeys. His circle of friends includes Gregor, Edgy, and Golden Sid.

You are on record as wanting "to care for the winged and stepping animals of the Earth." How did you become interested in wildlife preservation?

I met a dog that impressed me, which stared now and now and now, honoured me with his attention. There was no going back. That dog spoke of love. Later I got a fantastic job called an "exterminator" - they said it was my job to clean the bugs from people's houses. I had a great time wiping the gunk out of flies' eyes and polishing the shells of beetles, but I was fired and I don't know why. Now I harbour hundreds of creatures in my house, which Gregor calls a "dangerous, hellish sty".

Why do you let Golden Sid work for you, caring for the deadly predators, when he's so obviously frightened of... deadly predators?

Golden Sid is one of the good ones. I know he wonders sometimes. Screaming is just his way. Those glasses of his are used to help him see.

Your recent adventures seem to have antagonised some devils and demons - like Dietrich Hammerwire, Hell's Emperor 'Bigboy' Sweeney and the skittering Kermit. How do you feel about being the target of such evil forces?

I welcome all. That Skittermite had more elbows than he knew what to do with didn't he. There are names for fellows like him. But my friend Beltane Carom says I should beware. I suppose so. I'm scared when they appear at the window.

Can you tell us about your troll habit? What is it with you and trolls, anyway, Barny? Is it just an anti-Tolkien thing?

Small trolls with chubby limbs and a belly full of dark blue blood - yes, I bite them. They come to me. When I feel bad I eat them alive. I don't know why, and I am ashamed.

What do you honestly think of Mayor 'Puffing Billy' Rudloe? Is he really an "absolute bastard"?

Mayor Rudloe is a fat, funny man. I saw him on his balcony, shrugging with only one shoulder to save money. Turn me in the other direction and, eventually, I'll turn back to view him. Edgy terms him a "triple insanity sandwich". Edgy understands politics much better than me.

Do you have a favourite wise quote from the shrewd philosophy of legendary brain-saver Bingo Violaine?

I like, "Always pick up a fish by the ears", it's funny. Gregor likes "A good leg will know when to kick, know when to run, and handle the transition quickly." Edgy's favourite is "Government is like domestic abuse - it manages to make the victim feel guilty."

Will you, or can you, choose between Accomplice girlfriends Madge and Chloe?

I love all of Chloe.

Have you ever been to the city of Beerlight?

I've never been anywhere but Accomplice. Is there anything outside it?

Barny Juno is the protagonist of Steve Aylett's Accomplice books: Only An Alligator, The Velocity Gospel, Dummyland and Karloff's Circus (from Gollancz).

IDIOT DROPS PANTS AT FUNERAL
a front page from The Blank Stare.
Rod Jayrod's reference to Barny Juno as a 'seacow' should probably read 'mooncow'.

For more info look at:
Accomplice or Steve Aylett.
Read an interview with
Steve Aylett at: The ZONE