even more weird thinginess

chiles,

Your 3rd blog post is now live. You can find it here:

http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2008/01/09/weird-tales-chiles-samaniego-on-being-left-behind/
Thanks!

Ann

those of you who've still been reading this blog (really? i'm flattered.) will remember this post from here:

http://skinnyblogcladdink2-0.blogspot.com/2007/12/on-being-left-behind-also-brief-thank.html

i hadn't expected Ann would actually put it up since i'd already put it up myself, but, well, there you go.

i doubt any of that will make me the most popular weirdo-with-a-hat around, so why don't i just throw this in for good measure?

http://www.vonnegutweb.com/archives/arc_scifi.html

...there are those who love life in this fulsome drawer, who are alarmed by the thought that they might some day be evicted, might some day be known for what they really are: plain, old, short-story writers and novelists who mention the fruits of engineering and research. They are happy in the drawer because most of the people in it love each other as members of old-fashioned families are supposed to do. They meet often, comfort and praise one another, exchange single-spaced letters of 20 pages and more, booze it up affectionately and one way or another have a million heart-throbs and laughs.

...they are generous and amusing souls, but I must now make a true statement that will put them through the roof: They are joiners. They are a lodge. If they didn't enjoy having a gang of their own so much, there would be no such category as science-fiction.

[my ellipses]

yes, i know everyone's sick of this. which is why this, if i have my way, will be the last time i say anything about it. (riiiiiight...)

(edit to add: i'm not denying that every now and then i write SF as it is currently 'defined', but well, there you go. make of that what you will.)

incidentally, Kurt Vonnegut has got to be my favorite author i've never read. i know that sounds weird and dishonest and disgusting and poserish, but, thanks to Paul, i'm no longer afraid to admit it. as he pointed out, love *is* irrational, ennit?

meanwhile, i just gave Rant a few words over on the other life:

http://onanotherlife.blogspot.com/2008/01/chuck-palahniuks-rant.html

in case it isn't clear, yes, i totally loved it, thank you very much.

Big big Thanks to Ann and Jeff VanderMeer for accommodating my cranky, crack-potty hackery.