The Raw and the Cooked

feeds@yuku.com (Sarnidac the Dwarf) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:04:26 GMT

A great philosopher and anthropologist has passed away. His writings not only inspired fellow anthropologists, but contributed immensely to our understanding of the world we live in, and even inspired contemporary fiction. Thank you, and congratulations for a job well done.

Substantial editing

feeds@yuku.com (Sarnidac the Dwarf) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:15:26 GMT

Yesterday I bought the Gollancz collection of Arthur C. Clarke's Collected Stories. Each of the stories has a short introduction stating the first publication, how the story has stood up against time, and every now and then spicy details about editing. The following example is quite funny :

'Guardian Angel' was originally written in 1946, and rejected by John W. Campbell, editor of Astounding. After several more rejections my agent, Scott...

What after the inevitable?

feeds@yuku.com (Willem) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:23:56 GMT

When I read the post on
"who gets your Vance collection"
I was thinking about another issue.
How does one arrange his/her affairs on Internet after death.
I have no plans and expect to reach 80 minimum. The influence of Vance is still there.
but the serious issue is this :
virtual friends would like to know -i guess.
It's normal to be away for weeks, how to make the move known on time ?
My children wouldn't care except when asked and...

Editing...

feeds@yuku.com (DocGeorge) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:39:48 GMT

My friend Babs sent this to me in an email. I know that there are a couple of editors on this board, and a bunch of close readers. I found this interesting, and you may also.

"Only great minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting!

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid! Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it...

Question about Dutch

feeds@yuku.com (halsey) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:05:26 GMT

...for one of our several Dutch speakers.

I read recently that the English word scow comes from Dutch schouw, "via a mispronounciation."

From my limited knowledge of Dutch, it seems to me that these words might actually be pronounced the same. Are they? If not, what is the pronunciation of schouw?

Thanks!

Eric

Perspectives on fandom

feeds@yuku.com (Jojo Lapin X) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:55:39 GMT

There are people much crazier than Vance fans. Here is some practical advice on how to interest others in your favorite author, from the Robert E Howard Forum (original thread here). It is not a joke:

Do you remember the last time you visited the grocery store? I do as it was just yesterday. The lady on the end aisle was cooking some bacon and...

A Horse, a Door, and Thomas Aquinas

feeds@yuku.com (Sarnidac the Dwarf) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:06:43 GMT

Fans of time travel, pay attention :

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/space/13lhc.html?pagewanted=1&8dpc&_r=2

What is Jojo Lapin X reading?

feeds@yuku.com (Jojo Lapin X) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:47:23 GMT

Gladys Mitchell, WHEN LAST I DIED (1941): The first thing I ever read by Mitchell. For an author who was solidly a part of the Golden Age of Mystery Fiction---she was even a member of the Detection Club---Mitchell is strangely forgotten. She is rarely mentioned in current surveys of Golden Age writers. This particular novel is surprisingly modern and rich in many ways, compared to the contemporaneous output of Christie and Carr, say. It is more literary. This is not necessarily a...

Re: "That's why ___ is my fave female sf writer"

feeds@yuku.com (David Pierce) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:52:26 GMT

Someone recently made a statement to this effect in the last month or so. I meant to research her books, now I can't remember her name, or who made the post, or where the post is. Help.

Brand New Ernest Bramah "Kai Lung" Stories

feeds@yuku.com (Mike Berro) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:14:59 GMT

Well not exactly "new", and I'm not sure what "brand" signifies, but this is exciting news for those of us (including JV) who enjoyed the Kai Lung stories. Just got this:

Dear Mike,

For the past few months I've been in negotiations with the current copyright holders (Punch and William Charlton) to issue a new volume of Kai Lung Stories. I'm pleased to say that we've come to an agreement, and I expect to have the new volume available...

Advance reader copies

feeds@yuku.com (Willem) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:26:44 GMT

Mike do you still have that site on ARCs? cant find it anywhere and sometimes I go back there just to see some nice examples. Had a new one in from my favorite other author which made me look again for the discussion board and site you had regards Willem

What are you reading - II

feeds@yuku.com (David B Williams) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:49:17 GMT

So as not to perpetuate a potentially endless thead, I will produce a section break here.

H. P. Lovecraft, A Biography by L. Sprague de Camp

While rumaging among the accumulated impedimenta of a disorderly life, I discovered my 1976 Ballantine paperback edition of this tome and have reread it with pleasure (and several other sensations). I heartily recommend that every Wankher find a copy of this bio. De Camp has done a spectacular job of making Lovecraft...

What are you reading ?

feeds@yuku.com (Gersen) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:07:25 GMT

I wonder which type of books,authors that other JV fans are reading. So this topic is for posting your current reads. Of course it can be JV work when you are reading him

Ansible editor reveals knowledge of Vance esoterica

feeds@yuku.com (David B Williams) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:43:21 GMT

In the latest (September) issue of Ansible, an sf/f-field newsletter published by Dave Langford in the U.K., Vance gets an insider's plug. Langford habitually includes a comic line in the masthead of each issue regarding what he will accept in trade for his publication. This issue, it's "Available for SAE or full set of Life by Baron Bodissey."

Chun's Corner Revamp

feeds@yuku.com (Infinite Chun) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:40:54 GMT

For those who might be interested, I've revamped my website. It's still basic, still contains much of what it did in its first incarnation, but now there's extra fiction. http://www.chunscorner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

I thank you.

A blooming surprise

feeds@yuku.com (Sarnidac the Dwarf) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:36:25 GMT

Today's Bloomberg features an article about - qui l'eût cru? - two sf movies :

http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aJ9PpmxpusPU

Food for body and mind

feeds@yuku.com (Sarnidac the Dwarf) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:27:03 GMT

Hurrah! An article in today's Los Angeles Times reveals that on the great expedition to Mars no greasy uneatable Big Mac's or zero-gravity-artificial-cheese-pizzas will be taken. It turns out that they cannot be thermostabilized or shrink-wrapped in such a way that they are impervious to moisture and oxygen. On the other hand, freeze-dried shrimp coctails will definitely be part of the menu. Now we still have to lobby a bit to have about 10,000 bottles of fine champagne...

"Last Castle" listed under Silverberg

feeds@yuku.com (David Pierce) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:57:01 GMT

I have noticed that Silverberg employs wry dialogue and sociological settings reminiscent of Vance. But as I searched online the Marmot global catalog for interlinked Colorado libraries, using Silverberg as the input, I discovered that Vance's "The Last Castle" was listed there, under Silverberg's name. How strange! Did Silverberg write an intro or something to Jack's book? What is going on here?

Speaking of the Library of America Dick volumes

feeds@yuku.com (Jojo Lapin X) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:32:44 GMT

I am a bit disturbed to note that the third volume in Library of America's otherwise excellent Philip K Dick series collects VALIS and other late novels that he wrote after he stopped taking his medication. Perhaps I should have anticipated this, as I have been vaguely aware that there is some kind of hardcore Dick fandom where these works are considered his finest, rather than the sad, delusional ravings of a very sick man.

Reality surpasses fantasy

feeds@yuku.com (Sarnidac the Dwarf) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:26:57 GMT

As a life-long reader of fantasy, I'm always amazed how reality manages to surpass fantasy. As in the case below : I wonder what would have happened if Cugel, after crossing the mudflats, had stumbled upon the following scene. No doubt he would have taken quick advantage of the situation.

Naked girls plow fields for rain

Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:35pm EDT

THE BEYOND