(urth) chicago event
James Wynn
crushtv at gmail.com
Tue Mar 20 13:00:44 PDT 2012
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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