January 30, 2007January 30, 2007 by Edward Champion

BSS #92: Christopher Moore

Condition of Mr. Segundo: Contemplating his vampiristic sensibilities.

Subjects Discussed: WordStar word processors, using the nouns “monkey love” and “guy,” Midwestern vernacular, trying to figure out the ten year interval between Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck, San Francisco topography, George Romero, Bullitt, the 42-Downtown bus loop, invented references vs. real references, Abby Normal’s perspective, Lautréamont’s Maldoror, Goth kids, Near Dark, vampire violence, dialogue vs. description, deadlines, narrative pace, the “book a year” demands of publishers, writing big books vs. little books, research, living up to Lamb, the burdens of having a mass audience, Basket Case vs. Citizen Kane, ambitious narratives, marketing vs. writing, answering email, living up the goals of being a commercial writer, Andrew Weil, “drive-bys,” on achieving balance, oscillation, Moore’s “mistress,” the last time Moore took a vacation, writer’s block, on being clueless, William Gibson, Jack Womack, on being a “piece of crap” vs. being a “master of the universe,” John Steinbeck, avoiding reviews, and boob flashing.

EXCERPT FROM SHOW:

Correspondent: Since you’re a funnyman, that would probably keep the pace going because someone’s pausing to laugh. I don’t know. I’m just wondering why you avoided metaphor — aside from pace.

Moore: Don’t even think about it.

Correspondent: Yeah?

Moore: Yeah. You’re applying way too much analytical — the kind of thing that happens in deconstructive analysis of literature that doesn’t happen when you write a book. I don’t think, “Oh, I’m going to put much less metaphor in this book.” It’s just: you write what occurs to you at the time. I would say probably that if I were to tell you what was the reason? The reason: the first book I didn’t have a deadline; this one, I did.

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January 30, 2007 by Edward Champion

Lawrence Welk Meets Velvet Underground

(via Sarah)

January 29, 2007January 29, 2007 by Edward Champion

Reason #4,582 Why the Internet is Cool

Neighbor receives aggressive notes from crazy neighbor; high school teacher discovers story and has his students read the letters set to music, as well as write respectful letters back to the neighbor as an exercise in reading comprehension. (via MeFi)

January 29, 2007January 29, 2007 by Edward Champion

Roundup

It’s Stephen Graham Jones Week at the LBC. Look for copious discussion, prolific guest posts from the author and a podcast interview conducted by the divine Ms. Kellogg.
Speaking of which, Pinky’s Paperhaus uncovers this remarkable blog, which tells of an MFA student who suffered a stroke in her early thirties and had to drop out. The blog is a fascinating portrayal of someone trying to read and write (in short, operate in this grand realm of literature that many of us take for granted) with short-term memory problems, among other things. Also from Carolyn: this call for entries for Hot Metal Bridge.
The San Francisco Chronicle gets to the AMS news almost a month after everybody else has mulled over it. There isn’t much in the way of new information, but there are quotes from McSweeney’s Eli Horowitz, among other people. (And, no, Ms. DeBare, while you were taking a nap, there were more than rumors circulating through the blogs. Wake up and smell the media convergence.)
Leave it to Jack Shafer to serve up a contrarian eulogy for Ryszard Kapuściński. (via The Millions)
Design Notes for the Richard Ford “Existence Period” Roller Coaster in Haddam, New Jersey. (via Tod Goldberg)
Jeff VanderMeer has just announced another new project. By my count, that makes 43 books published in 2007 which will carry the “Jeff VanderMeer” sobriquet.
M. John Harrison on worldbuilding: “Worldbuilding is dull. Worldbuilding literalises the urge to invent. Worldbuilding gives an unneccessary permission for acts of writing (indeed, for acts of reading). Worldbuilding numbs the reader’s ability to fulfil their part of the bargain, because it believes that it has to do everything around here if anything is going to get done.”
Is Wonder Woman the most boring comic book character?
Filmmakers take note: Jonathan Lethem has initiated The Promiscuous Materials Project. (via East Coast Ed)
Elizabeth Crane reveals the truth about Eric Schaeffer.
Maxine has some sad news for A Clockwork Orange fans.
David Meghan talks with Charity Girl author Michael Lowenthal.
Norma Khouri: victim? Next thing you know, someone will be making the case for James Frey.
The Florida Times-Union is convinced that high-school authors are getting a taste of the literary life. But until these kids do their damnedest to shop for cheap groceries, attempt to persuade their supers that the rent is coming (really!) in a few days, and spend countless hours of their writing time trying to track down a promised royalty check from a deadbeat publisher, I don’t think it can be declared that they are “getting a taste.”
Spring books from the Philly Inquirer.
Tetris vandalism. (via Alan DeNiro)
I don’t understand why the New York Times is astonished to learn that black people listen to indie rock. I don’t see a feature article devoted to all the Caucasians who’ve listened to Jedi Mind Tricks and Blade Icewood. Should one’s race dictate one’s cultural tastes? I guess we’ll all have to register with the appropriate government body before we do something dangerous, like consider a work of art without factoring in the artist’s race or ethnicity.
I’m not sure if Daniel Green is familiar with Smoke, the fighter in Mortal Kombat who was fond of ripping hearts out of his opponents. But this post on Malcolm Jones suggests some familiarity with the phrase “Finish him!”
I don’t know if this violates any conditions of confidentiality, but Mary Ann Gwinn spills the beans on the NBCC Awards process.
When in doubt, Ms. Miller, throw caution to the wind and go. It’s nice to have one’s preconceived notions challenged and even changed.
Auden’s literary executor Edward Mendelson is profiled at Bookforum. (via Jenny D, who shares my desire to visit Iceland one day)
For the love of architecture, identify this man!
RIP Wolfgang Iser. Now that Iser has passed on, please respond to his death in 2,000 words, adopting a uniformist cadence.
The Battlestar Galactica gag reel. (via Fimoculous)
Girl Scout cookies are now free of transfats. Alas, if only they could have spent all this time improving the cookie flavor and texture.
In this week’s New Yorker: a new story from DFW.

January 28, 2007 by Edward Champion

Jonathan Ames Alert

Long-time readers know that I once made a deal with a daemon. An evil eidolen answering to the name of Bee promised that if I continuously reported Jonathan Ames’ activity, I would be given a great salad recipe that would allow me to win friends and influence people. The salad recipe has yet to materialize, but being a man who lives up to his end of the bargain, I would be remiss if I didn’t report that The Jonathan Ames Show is going down at Mo Pitkins on January 30 and January31 at 11:00 PM. Ames will be presenting a number of unusual acts, and Moby will make a surprise appearance on at least one of these nights. Ames also promises to have a pillow fight with audience members and will, in his words, “gently paddle audience members.” It is unknown whether the paddle in question will be one of the ping-pong variety or the English public school type. But this sounds to me like several Friday evenings in my twenties.

Reluctant Habits

a cultural forum in ever-shifting standing

BSS #92: Christopher Moore

Lawrence Welk Meets Velvet Underground

Reason #4,582 Why the Internet is Cool

Roundup

Jonathan Ames Alert