(urth) chicago event

[James Wynn]

A post from Michael Swanwick about the event:
http://floggingbabel.blogspot.com/2012/03/wolfe-fete.html


On 3/20/2012 11:50 AM, James Wynn wrote:
> Some pictures from the event:
> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3588087063033.2169083.1299000908&type=3 
> <https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3588087063033.2169083.1299000908&type=3> 
>
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/shunn/with/6847530346/
>
> https://www.facebook.com/terramysterium
>
> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292505460818737.67044.123502224385729&type=1 
> <https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292505460818737.67044.123502224385729&type=1> 
>
>
> https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.santoro
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2k_6zclwTs&feature=share 
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2k_6zclwTs&feature=share>
>
>
> Some things I forgot to mention:
>
> * Neil Gaiman's speech included a full reading of "A Solar Labyrinth".
>
> * During Gene's speech he made a point of calling out a few specific 
> people who had come to the event. One of those was Marc Aramini. 
> "Where is Marc? Where is he sitting?" We were all in the balcony and 
> Mantis and I were waving our hands like maniacs to attract his 
> attention to us.
>
>
>
> On 3/19/2012 11:45 AM, James Wynn wrote:
>> Okay. Let's see what I can add to what Marc posted:
>>
>> This initial ceremonies were instituted in a house that --as Wolfe 
>> remarked-- appeared to be the sort of place that you have to use a 
>> password just to enter. The performance hall was built around a giant 
>> Wurlitzer that could be automatically sunk entirely into the stage 
>> floor. The pipes and brass horns surrounded us on all sides. Also it 
>> was filled with amazing giant mechanical player organs for the turn 
>> of the century (the last one). There was a player bango I saw there 
>> too. The house architecture was of the sort that you would expect 
>> someone from each event held there would disappear and forced to 
>> eternally serve as staff.
>>
>> This house was filled with surely every early model of gramophone and 
>> other recorded player ever produced prior to 1920. Also lots of art 
>> deco furniture, figurines, and stained glass. Also
>>
>> Gary K. Wolfe gave the first speech. Gene Wolfe later noted that Gary 
>> usually points out that he and Gene are not brothers or even related 
>> to which Gene always responds "I'm telling Ma!" Michael Swanwick gave 
>> a speech. The Gaiman gave the award, offering a speech that drew a 
>> lot from him Guardian article from Wolfe's birthday last year.
>>
>> Marc's summary of Wolfe's speech is accurate but I'll give more 
>> detail to something he mentioned. He took questions after his speech. 
>> Someone shouted out (humorously) was "Where do you get your ideas!" 
>> This led Wolfe to answer another common question he gets" "Why do you 
>> write?" The answer to this was "So I don't have to explain why I'm 
>> not working." And then he told a story about the sale of "Car 
>> Sinister" (collected in "Book of Days"/"Castle of Days"). He would do 
>> all his writing in the early morning before the distractions of work 
>> and kids. In 1969?, they needed money to buy school clothes for their 
>> four children, but they didn't really have it. Then he sold the story 
>> for $80 (which went a lot further then than it does now). He cashed 
>> the check and gave Rosemary four 20s explaining that it was all the 
>> money he got from the sale of the story and she now had $20 for each 
>> kid. So not long afterwards he's doing so manual repair work around 
>> the house and Rosemary came up to him and said "Shouldn't you be 
>> writing?"
>>
>> Then there was the terrific adaptation of "A Toy Theater" (adapted by 
>> /Larry Santoro/). And I think, having seen it, everyone should now 
>> agree with me that not only is Stromboli a puppet, but so is the 
>> narrator and everyone else. Wolfe is the sole puppeteer. They worked 
>> in "Coin Operated Boy" by Amanda Palmer (Neil Gaiman's wife) of "The 
>> Dresden Dolls". The actors were tremendous singers as well. The play 
>> was accompanied by the Wurlitzer.
>>
>> After the play, we had the Wurlitzer performance, in which he also 
>> did another rendition of "Coin Operated Boy" which leads me to 
>> believe that Wolfe has an especial affection for this song right now, 
>> since I know that the organist had asked his family for a favorite 
>> song of Gene's that he could perform. It was the only song that 
>> appeared to be not part of his usual repertoire.
>>
>> Then we proceeded to the building where we ate. This was essentially 
>> a barn containing more giant music players. Also, a huge turn of the 
>> century circus carrousel. The walls were festooned with vintage movie 
>> posters and side show posters. In another room, they had aisle upon 
>> aisle of early steam engines. The whole thing was a steam punk dream.
>>
>> I sat with Marc and Patrick O'Leary and also Jill Thompson the 
>> illustrator. I wish I had googled her at the table because I 
>> discovered afterwards that I was a huge fan of hers. I have the 
>> entire 80s Elementals series, and the Dead Boy Detective series, and 
>> Black Orchid.  And of course of have the "Fables and Reflections" 
>> Sandman volume (Wolfe wrote the introduction). Instead, of a friendly 
>> conversation with her, I could have had an amazing conversation with 
>> her.
>>
>> Peter Sagal of NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" was the master of 
>> ceremonies. When I heard this was the case, I thought "Eh...big name 
>> and local to Chicago but...." However, it turns out he's a huge SF 
>> literature fan. He's one of us. It was totally appropriate. He 
>> boosted the "John Carter" movie which made Mantis quite happy because 
>> he would ask everyone he met if they saw it and what they thought of 
>> it. Mantis is huge Burroughs fan and he was not looking forward to 
>> this adaption. He was quite happily surprised. However, he had not 
>> noted all the Burroughs references in "The Long Sun/Short Sun" so I 
>> was glad to be the first to point them out to him.
>>
>> Incidentally, Mantis is about to release a Lexicon Urthus-style book 
>> on "The Long Sun" and "The Short Sun."
>>
>> David Hartwell gave a speech in which he described why Wolfe is so 
>> difficult to edit. He would try to do due diligence as an editor and 
>> would say things like "I don't think it's clear why such-and-such." 
>> To which Wolfe responds, "Well, you must have only skimmed the book." 
>> So Hartwell always reads every manuscript twice before making editing 
>> suggestions.
>>
>> This lead Patrick O'Leary to recount how Hartwell has once noted that 
>> Wolfe had used the exact same word to describe the color of separate 
>> women's aureolas. Wolfe's initial response was "But they ARE the same 
>> color." But he then conceded that it was a mistake. And, of course, 
>> if that had got through, I WOULD be convinced that despite all 
>> reason, that WAS the same woman or at least the same breast.
>>
>> By, the way, Hartwell's anthologies are absolutely the best IMO. Not 
>> just "The Years Best" series. I mean the ones where he gets to pick 
>> from all eras to compile stories based on a them. I strongly 
>> recommend the two "Masterpieces" books. But he has others that you 
>> can almost fill a shelf with and that's exactly what you should do.
>>
>> After we ate, we all had to ride the huge vintage carrousel. I was a 
>> little worried that I would get off as child or an (even) old(er) 
>> man. Aside for horses, it also spinner seats (like the tea cups at 
>> Disneyland). And it also had carriages which we assumed was for 
>> grandmothers to be able to ride with their kids---until the ride 
>> started and we discovered that the carriages teeter wildly left and 
>> right through the entire ride. It was probably the most harrowing 
>> choice of all.
>>
>> It was a disappointment that Rosemary couldn't be there this time due 
>> to health reasons. I *think* this is the first event I've been to 
>> with Wolfe in which she wasn't there. She is a really sweet person 
>> who is obviously crazy about Gene.
>>
>> It was great to meet Marc face-to-face after all these years. And 
>> Nick and Jensen. It was great to see Mantis and Gene's daughter Teri 
>> again. I missed all the the people who couldn't make it. By the way, 
>> Teri is now working with Cheeky Frawg books 
>> (http://www.cheekyfrawg.com/about.html) which seems devoted to 
>> bringing under-recognized literature to e-book format. Check it out.
>>
>>
>>
>> J.
>>
>> On 3/18/2012 7:13 AM, Marc Aramini wrote:
>>> I am at the hotel in Chicago now getting everything ready for my 
>>> flight back to Vegas, and I noticed a little computer in the lobby 
>>> (my phone is low tech - for calling) so I figured I would give a 
>>> brief summary of events.  I will expand more later after I arrive home.
>>>
>>> AWESOME event.  Valya and the coordinators did a wonderful job 
>>> getting together a very interesting and entertaining evening.  The 
>>> atmosphere and weather were wonderful, and the estate was amazing, 
>>> with the highlight (of the facility) being an 8000 pipe organ that 
>>> was masterfully played by their organist, from coin operated boy to 
>>> Star Wars.  The Toy Theater story adaptation was perfect for the 
>>> setting, and as James Wynn commented, the estate was a steampunk's 
>>> dream come true, probably the best way to describe it.
>>>
>>> I got to meet James Wynn, Michael Andre-Druissi, Nick Lee and his 
>>> date, and Jensen and his wife from the list (if they don't all post 
>>> actively, they have at least frequented it).  I have probably 
>>> mispelled the even names.  I have to admit that a priori in my mind 
>>> I harbored the idea that we must be somewhat nerdy, but we are 
>>> actually a pretty sharp bunch even when it comes to appearance.  I 
>>> had never gone to a con or anything before, and this was well worth 
>>> it. It was a much more handsome and dignified group than I expected 
>>> from the Urth list, both women and men.  I enjoyed speaking with all 
>>> of them.
>>>
>>> Craig, I didn't see your email before I drove up to Vegas and have 
>>> not had access to a computer until now, I apologize.  The personal 
>>> stories related by Neil Gaiman and Lawrence (was it Sarrantonio?) 
>>> the guy who adapted the Toy Theater were profound and touching.  
>>> Michael Swanwick had some great things to say as well, as did David 
>>> Hartwell.  Patrick O'Leary and his wife were sitting at my dinner 
>>> table with James Wynn, and they were also great.
>>>
>>> I will try to get some photos online Monday; I still have to fly back.
>>>
>>> Gene's acceptance speech was hilarious and touching.  It went into 
>>> the reason for his style (four kids and a wife hollering if he 
>>> wanted bacon while he was trying to write in a small place), his 
>>> reasons for writing (easier than repairing stuff around the house), 
>>> and said he wanted to make sure to personally insult every friend 
>>> who came.  He is a wonderful speaker, and there is a sharpness and 
>>> energy to him that makes the years fade when he starts to talk.
>>>
>>> I will post more later, but it was a truly great evening and one of 
>>> the highlights of my life.  Gene has always been a kind and 
>>> brilliant man, and he still is.  I really enjoyed getting the chance 
>>> to meet everyone there.  I will post more later.  Some pics to come!
>>>
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>>
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