Journal

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

The Nature of Predictive SF...

I've noticed a few times in the last decade that Science Fiction, as a body of literature, has been at its most accurate as a predictive medium in the places that nobody knew or expected or imagined -- often in the places that people weren't even certain at the time were Proper SF. Every now and again I find myself reading the papers and realising that Ballard wrote it already, or Dick. Now someone has pointed out that the current events in New Orleans are straight out of Samuel R Delany's Dhalgren, a book that, when it came out, was accused of not being SF...


Hello oh author type person. My reason for contacting you in this crazy time right before the storm (aka signing tour) is in hopes that you might shed some light on the Thingie auction going on right now on eBay. In the wake of the Katrina tragedy I felt a need to do something to help. I knew I still had two or three of the Thingie shirts left that were specifically created to benefit charities so I decided I'd do a Thingie auction to benefit Katrina victims. Lance "Sqiiddie" Smith brought to my attention that Poppy Z. Brite was a N.O.er and may benefit from some help. Poppy has been known to post on the alt.fan.thingie and we tend to like to take care of our own so the decision was made that the proceeds of this auction will go to helping her, her husband, and her multitude of critters. I rounded up ten Gaimanlicious items (hey it is alt.fan.neil-gaiman after all) and put them up on eBay. I'm sure many of your wonderful journal readers would be tickled to help out Poppy and get their grubby mitts on some rare and interesting Gaiman swag to boot. Here is a link to the list of items being auctioned.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZivoree

So long and thanx for all the fish! Oops!...wrong writer guy...

Ivory tha lil white boi


And indeed, good rare things up for a good cause -- Poppy, Chris and their unofficial travelling cats' home.

...

A bunch more MirrorMask cinemas have been added -- the list as of now at http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/mirrormask/theaters/is...

OPENING 9/30/2005

CALIFORNIA

Edwards University Town Center 6
Irvine, CA

Landmark Act 1 & 2 Cinemas
Berkeley, CA

Landmark Nuart Theatre
Los Angeles, CA

Landmark Aquarius Twin Theatre
Palo Alto, CA

Landmark Ken Cinema
San Diego, CA

Landmark Lumiere 3
San Francisco, CA

Rafael Film Center
San Rafael, CA

COLORADO

Landmark Mayan Theatre
Denver, CO

ILLINOIS

Landmark Century Center Cinemas
Chicago, IL

GEORGIA

Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
Atlanta, GA

MASSACHUSETTS

Landmark Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA

MICHIGAN

Landmark Main Art Theater
Royal Oak, MI

MISSOURI

Landmark Tivoli Theater
St. Louis, MO


NEW YORK

Landmark Sunshine Cinema
New York, NY

TEXAS

Landmark Dobie Theater
Austin, TX

Landmark Magnolia 5 Theatre
Dallas, TX

WASHINGTON D.C.

Landmark E Street Cinema 8
Washington, DC

OPENING 10/07/2005

WASHINGTON

Landmark Varsity Theater
Seattle, WA

MARYLAND

Charles Theater
Baltimore, MD

OPENING 10/14/2005

MINNESOTA

Landmark Lagoon Cinema
Minneapolis, MN



OREGON

Regal Fox Tower 10
Portland, OR

OPENING 10/20/2005

HAWAII

Hawaii International Film Fest
Honolulu, Hi



OPENING 10/21/2005

TEXAS

Fort Worth Modern Museum of Art
Fort Worth, TX



OPENING 12/20/2005

HAWAII

Honolulu Academy of Arts
Honolulu, Hi


Neil,

I've been working furiously on a novel lately, and my day job involves computers also. I ended up with tendon problems from too much typing, despite my careful attention to ergonomics. (Specifically RSI, which is related to overuse and much different from carpal tunnel syndrome.)

Now I have to take a break from the novel to let my tendons heal, and I worry about the interruption in my creative flow. If I continue in longhand, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with the stream of ideas.

I was wondering if you or other authors you know have experienced similar problems, and if so, how it has affected you creatively?

P.S. If this is posted, please consider it a warning to yourself and any creative folk out there!

Chaz Ervin


I went over to writing novels in longhand back in 1994, when I started Stardust, and liked it so much I've been doing it ever since. I don't think that much faster than I handwrite, and it makes me think a little more about each sentence before I write it. Also I enjoy the process of going from first to second draft, typing it in. I don't know that it would work for everyone, but it works well for me.

...

Just wanted to let you know that our site, Your Mom's Basement (www.yourmomsbasement.com) has up a review of Anansi Boys. I don't know if you read all your reviews, but if so, please don't be discouraged by the first line. Thanks. http://www.yourmomsbasement.com/archives/2005/09/review_anansi_b_1.html#more

Oh good, another review that manages to avoid spoilers. I'm very grateful.