Michael Swanwick's Blog, page 215
August 12, 2011
Some Pig! (and the chickens are good too)
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I didn't feel like working today, so I swung by Chadds Ford to take in Farm Work , the Jamie Wyeth show of (mostly) his portraits of farm animals at the Brandwine River Museum. There were some marvelous pieces on display, but my favorite is still the heroic portrait of a pig which is part of the permanent collection. The pig is painted side-on, very bright, and is unquestionably charismatic. It's not just a painting of a pig but a portrait of a particular pig.
It's a great show and at ten dollars per adult admission, it's a bargain. I recommend it.
The Brandywine River Museum specializes in three generations of Wyeths -- Jamie, his father Andrew, and his grandfather N.C. I like 'em all, but every visit reminds me that I like N.C. Wyeth best. I love his big illustrative work -- the portrait of Old Pew from Treasure Island is stunning -- but it's a still life that I love best. It shows two old glass bottles on a shelf in a dark barn. The light is rendered perfectly. The glass has a wonderful solidity and the reflections are perfectly rendered. And if you stand and look at them for a while, you realize that N.C. picked the bottles up from somewhere else and placed them on the shelf for the painting -- because you can see his finger-swipes in the dust. You can tell he knew he'd created something special because in the upper right-hand corner, while the paint was still wet, he scratched the date and under that "3 HRS."
I mentioned the painting to an artist friend of mine once and he cried, "Yes! Three hours! The son of a bitch!"
Oh, and speaking of brainless summer movies . . .
I went to see Cowboys and Aliens the other day. Everybody told me it was godawful. So it was pleasant to discover that, expecting the worst, it turned out to be good, brainless fun.
I don't know how enjoyable it would be if you were expecting something decent, though.
Above: Jamie Wyeth went through a period when he was painting chickens in baskets, pots, and boxes. Sometimes they cooperated. When they didn't, he used duct tape. True story.
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I didn't feel like working today, so I swung by Chadds Ford to take in Farm Work , the Jamie Wyeth show of (mostly) his portraits of farm animals at the Brandwine River Museum. There were some marvelous pieces on display, but my favorite is still the heroic portrait of a pig which is part of the permanent collection. The pig is painted side-on, very bright, and is unquestionably charismatic. It's not just a painting of a pig but a portrait of a particular pig.
It's a great show and at ten dollars per adult admission, it's a bargain. I recommend it.
The Brandywine River Museum specializes in three generations of Wyeths -- Jamie, his father Andrew, and his grandfather N.C. I like 'em all, but every visit reminds me that I like N.C. Wyeth best. I love his big illustrative work -- the portrait of Old Pew from Treasure Island is stunning -- but it's a still life that I love best. It shows two old glass bottles on a shelf in a dark barn. The light is rendered perfectly. The glass has a wonderful solidity and the reflections are perfectly rendered. And if you stand and look at them for a while, you realize that N.C. picked the bottles up from somewhere else and placed them on the shelf for the painting -- because you can see his finger-swipes in the dust. You can tell he knew he'd created something special because in the upper right-hand corner, while the paint was still wet, he scratched the date and under that "3 HRS."
I mentioned the painting to an artist friend of mine once and he cried, "Yes! Three hours! The son of a bitch!"
Oh, and speaking of brainless summer movies . . .
I went to see Cowboys and Aliens the other day. Everybody told me it was godawful. So it was pleasant to discover that, expecting the worst, it turned out to be good, brainless fun.
I don't know how enjoyable it would be if you were expecting something decent, though.
Above: Jamie Wyeth went through a period when he was painting chickens in baskets, pots, and boxes. Sometimes they cooperated. When they didn't, he used duct tape. True story.
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Scribbledehobbledehoyden: The Magpie's Eye: Page 157
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Two three-by-fives of papers I meant to look up for one of my stories. Or possibly I was just interested in them. I'm glad there was some scrap of science in this notebook. Usually there's more.
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Two three-by-fives of papers I meant to look up for one of my stories. Or possibly I was just interested in them. I'm glad there was some scrap of science in this notebook. Usually there's more.
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August 11, 2011
Murray Leinster! Murray Leinster!
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Look what just came in the mail: a copy of Murray Leinster: the Life and Works , by his daughters Billee J. Stallings and Jo-an J. Evans. This the first biography ever of Will F. Jenkins, the man who wrote science fiction under the name of Murray Leinster and indeed who invented a great deal of what we call science fiction. In the introduction, James Gunn notes that "He originated more SF concepts than any writer since H.G. Wells." Think about that. More than Heinlein! More than Asimov! More than Clarke!
But what really knocks me out most on a visceral level is the photograph in the book (shown above in an admittedly crude snapshot) of the 13--year-old Will proudly posing with the glider which he built and flew himself.
They built boys spunky back then. And competent.
Those of you who need this book sufficiently to drop forty bucks on a trade paperback (and you know who you are) can buy it directly from McFarland here. Or, if you're feeling virtuous, you can order it through a bookstore.
And speaking of Billee . . .
I've actually met Billee Stallings and think very highly of her. At a recent convention, she gave an hour-long presentation on her father and her book. Marianne video'd it and I put it up in six installments on YouTube.
You can view the first segment here.
The second segment here.
The third segment here.
The fourth segment here.
The fifth segment here.
And the sixth segment here.
There are also rumors that the New York Review of Science Fiction reading series in New York City is going to be doing a special Murray Leinster evening. If and when that happens, I'll let you know.
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Look what just came in the mail: a copy of Murray Leinster: the Life and Works , by his daughters Billee J. Stallings and Jo-an J. Evans. This the first biography ever of Will F. Jenkins, the man who wrote science fiction under the name of Murray Leinster and indeed who invented a great deal of what we call science fiction. In the introduction, James Gunn notes that "He originated more SF concepts than any writer since H.G. Wells." Think about that. More than Heinlein! More than Asimov! More than Clarke!
But what really knocks me out most on a visceral level is the photograph in the book (shown above in an admittedly crude snapshot) of the 13--year-old Will proudly posing with the glider which he built and flew himself.
They built boys spunky back then. And competent.
Those of you who need this book sufficiently to drop forty bucks on a trade paperback (and you know who you are) can buy it directly from McFarland here. Or, if you're feeling virtuous, you can order it through a bookstore.
And speaking of Billee . . .
I've actually met Billee Stallings and think very highly of her. At a recent convention, she gave an hour-long presentation on her father and her book. Marianne video'd it and I put it up in six installments on YouTube.
You can view the first segment here.
The second segment here.
The third segment here.
The fourth segment here.
The fifth segment here.
And the sixth segment here.
There are also rumors that the New York Review of Science Fiction reading series in New York City is going to be doing a special Murray Leinster evening. If and when that happens, I'll let you know.
*
Scribbledehobbledehoyden: The Magpie's Eye: Page 156
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Floating Lights"Any sufficiently developed spiritual device is indistinguishable from fraud." This is Giordano Bruno's first law. The lights.and also
"Let a thousand lights bloom." Chairman Mao said that. Those who believed him, lived to regret it.and also
"The dame did it." That's every second-rate fictional detective's first law. To be immediately followed by a metaphor gaudy enough to choke a horse.
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August 10, 2011
Scribbledehobbledehoyden: The Magpie's Eye: Page 155
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Urban Talisman
Found at Ridge & Leverington Avenues, January 9, 2009
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Urban Talisman
Found at Ridge & Leverington Avenues, January 9, 2009
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August 9, 2011
Winter Is Coming -- Also, Renovation!
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Here's my Worldcon schedule, for anybody who might like to saunter up to me at Renovation and say hello:
And because folks on Facebook have asked . . .
The Liars Club set up a page with info about their benefit party for L.A. Banks. Those who'd like to contribute money to help pay her medical bills will find a donation button there. Click here.
Above: I've formed the habit of photographing my breakfast and posting it on Facebook. This morning: sprite melon. See what you're missing by not having an account?
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Here's my Worldcon schedule, for anybody who might like to saunter up to me at Renovation and say hello:
Thursday
Thu 15:00 -16:00 mass signing for the Asimov's 30th anniversary anthology
Location not yet set. Maybe at the Tachyon Publications table?
Friday
I'll just be wandering around.
Saturday
Sat 11:00 - 12:00, Autographing: Michael Swanwick Sat 11:00 Hall 2 Autographs (RSCC)
Sat 12:00 - 13:00, The Craft of Writing Short Science Fiction and Fantasy
Adam-Troy Castro (M), Jay Lake, Connie Willis, Michael Swanwick, Robert Reed
This panel could be extremely good. We all know tons and tons about the subject. But can we explain it all coherently and in a manner that will cut years off the apprenticeship of all the gonnabe writers in the audience? There's only one way to find out.
Sat 14:00 - 15:00, SF: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Dialog) A11 (RSCC)
Jim Kelly and me.
That's it. That's all the description there is. I wrote to Jim to ask for his ideas, and he wrote back, "Oh, I'm sure we'll have plenty to say. We always have." So this one is either going to be brilliant or else it'll be a total bomb. In a way, this is the kind of panel I like best . . . Up on the high wire with no assurance I know what I'm doing and no safety net.
Sat 17:00 - 18:00, Literary Beer: Michael Swanwick: Sat 17:00, Hall Bar (RSCC)
Michael Swanwick and Jack Skillingstead
Folks get to sign up to sit at a table and chat with Jack and me. If only a few do so, we'll be at the same table. But we'll probably both have a table to ourselves. I always find these things pleasant.
Sunday
Sun 12:00 - 12:30, Reading: Michael Swanwick (Reading), A15 (RSCC)
After the reading, I'll do the usual signing-the-typescript-and-leaving-it-behind thing. And I'll also leave a partial typescript of something I'm still working on.
Sun 13:00 - 14:00, Discussing Best Related Work (Panel), A05 (RSCC)
Farah Mendlesohn (M) Chris Garcia, Amy Thomson, Claire Brialey, Michael Swanwick, Stephen H. Segal
This one was Farah's idea. She thinks the lineup of nonfiction this year is so extraordinary it deserves an extraordinary discussion. It's probably going to be a brilliant panel. There are some brilliant people on it anyway.
Sun 14:01 Marianne will return from the desert, swooping down on the convention like an eagle, and she will pick me up, drop me in a rental car, and drive off into the sunset with me. And I shall be happy.
And because folks on Facebook have asked . . .
The Liars Club set up a page with info about their benefit party for L.A. Banks. Those who'd like to contribute money to help pay her medical bills will find a donation button there. Click here.
Above: I've formed the habit of photographing my breakfast and posting it on Facebook. This morning: sprite melon. See what you're missing by not having an account?
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Scribbledehobbledehoyden: The Magpie's Eye: Page 154
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Nordflesh. Also some clippings from the paper that interested me.
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Nordflesh. Also some clippings from the paper that interested me.
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August 8, 2011
Remembering Leslie Banks
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I went to a benefit Friday for the late Leslie Banks at Smokey Joe's. It was organized by the Liars Club to help pay the medical bills she incurred in the course of dying.
Ms Banks -- I only met her once, so I won't pretend to be on a first-name basis with her -- wrote something like 61 books in a number of genres, including romance, African-American fiction, women's fiction, crime suspense, dark fantasy, and non-fiction. She was probably best known for the twelve-volume Vampire Huntress Legend series, written as L. A. Banks. In her spare time (!), she was active in Philadelphia's literacy programs.
And, oh God, did her fans love her!
As did her friends. Leslie Banks was only 51 when she died and, despite that incredible rate of production, the medical costs incurred in the less than two months between diagnosis and death, ate up everything she had and more. Hence the benefit.
It was actually a very pleasant evening. There was a huge turnout, lotteries, a silent auction, music. Probably the most satisfying moment was when Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter put in an appearance with his wife, Lisa, to read a proclamation in praise of our absent guest of honor. That's a rather murky snapshot of him up above.
Mayor Nutter was, I'm sure, chiefly present because of Leslie Banks' literacy advocacy. But, without shorting her on that account, he was careful to praise her chiefly as a writer.
I don't have to know her personally to know that that would have pleased her.
Above: "Wait!" I hear some of you -- especially the Brits -- say. "Philadelphia has a Nutter for mayor?" Yes, we do. He's a GREAT mayor too. The man walks on water. And he shows up for benefits for fallen writers.
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I went to a benefit Friday for the late Leslie Banks at Smokey Joe's. It was organized by the Liars Club to help pay the medical bills she incurred in the course of dying.
Ms Banks -- I only met her once, so I won't pretend to be on a first-name basis with her -- wrote something like 61 books in a number of genres, including romance, African-American fiction, women's fiction, crime suspense, dark fantasy, and non-fiction. She was probably best known for the twelve-volume Vampire Huntress Legend series, written as L. A. Banks. In her spare time (!), she was active in Philadelphia's literacy programs.
And, oh God, did her fans love her!
As did her friends. Leslie Banks was only 51 when she died and, despite that incredible rate of production, the medical costs incurred in the less than two months between diagnosis and death, ate up everything she had and more. Hence the benefit.
It was actually a very pleasant evening. There was a huge turnout, lotteries, a silent auction, music. Probably the most satisfying moment was when Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter put in an appearance with his wife, Lisa, to read a proclamation in praise of our absent guest of honor. That's a rather murky snapshot of him up above.
Mayor Nutter was, I'm sure, chiefly present because of Leslie Banks' literacy advocacy. But, without shorting her on that account, he was careful to praise her chiefly as a writer.
I don't have to know her personally to know that that would have pleased her.
Above: "Wait!" I hear some of you -- especially the Brits -- say. "Philadelphia has a Nutter for mayor?" Yes, we do. He's a GREAT mayor too. The man walks on water. And he shows up for benefits for fallen writers.
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Scribbledehobbledehoyden: The Magpie's Eye: Page 153
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Every now and then you have to take a steady look at what's going into your mind. I was listening to something on TV and I wrote down the dialog as fast as I could, missing about half of it. The resulting combo of banality and menace sounds a lot like a radio broadcast from Hell, doesn't it?
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My instinct tells me not. What? Okay . . . what did he do? So now we've got a [something] minute of justice. I know it's early, I'm sorry. I'll get more. Is that your sister? Yeah, she went off. I really need to ask your mom some questions about your dad. What about your sister? I have to ask about everything. He hit her. He cried. Touch her in any other way? How should I know stuff like that? Can I take that [something]? Can I use the bathroom? It's down on the right.
These young... Nice smile. Aww, little fella, [something], thank you. Come on. I'm sorry. I'm sure that's some kind of serious antidepressant. I suppose so. One of the women -- yes, alright. I feel there's a market for virgins. Do you recognize any of these faces? You see this man? Couple of times. Keep me out of this. Please, I have a young daughter. Brought the girls in from wherever. You see her? You don't think so? Maybe. A lot of them were foreign. How short? Thirteen. She burned herself to death in front of me.
There was another man. He was evil. I will look after you, I promise. I don't know her.
No one can.
Every now and then you have to take a steady look at what's going into your mind. I was listening to something on TV and I wrote down the dialog as fast as I could, missing about half of it. The resulting combo of banality and menace sounds a lot like a radio broadcast from Hell, doesn't it?
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August 7, 2011
APPEARANCES -- Sunday Update
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I've added another appearance, the Wold Newton Reading Extravaganza in November, of which more as the time approaches. And I've detailed my public appearances at Renovation.
I think I'll annotate my Worldcon schedule sometime later this week.
August 19-21 Renovation (Worldcon) Reno, NV
Sept. 10 The Spiral Bookcase (signing) Manayunk Philadelphia
Sept. 21 KGB Bar (reading) NYC
November 10 Wold Newton Reading Extravaganza (reading)
And in 2012 . . .
Aug. 31- Sept. 2 Chicon 7 Chicago
Above: Miss Helen Hope Mrrrlees says, What are you looking at?
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I've added another appearance, the Wold Newton Reading Extravaganza in November, of which more as the time approaches. And I've detailed my public appearances at Renovation.
I think I'll annotate my Worldcon schedule sometime later this week.
August 19-21 Renovation (Worldcon) Reno, NV
Saturday
Sat 11:00 - 12:00, Autographing: Michael Swanwick Sat 11:00 Hall 2 Autographs (RSCC)
Sat 12:00 - 13:00, The Craft of Writing Short Science Fiction and FantasyA SF or fantasy short story can be a sparkling jewel, making a long-lasting impact on the reader. The story may be serious or comic, a pleasure to read or a tale that won't let you stop reading until it is done with you. How does the writer craft effective short fiction? What techniques help the writer achieve success? We go beyond the "good idea" and discuss the craft of writing.
Adam-Troy Castro (M), Jay Lake, Connie Willis, Michael Swanwick, Robert Reed
Sat 14:00 - 15:00, SF: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Dialog) A11 (RSCC)
Two of SF's most award-winning writers discuss SF (and anything else they feel like touching on).James Patrick Kelly, Michael Swanwick
Sat 17:00 - 18:00, Literary Beer: Michael Swanwick: Sat 17:00, Hall Bar (RSCC)
Michael Swanwick and Jack Skillingstead
Sunday
Sun 12:00 - 12:30, Reading: Michael Swanwick (Reading), A15 (RSCC)
Sun 13:00 - 14:00, Discussing Best Related Work (Panel), A05 (RSCC)
The Best Related Work category for the Hugo Awards can be anything about the field - from a humorous book about science to a biography or autobiography to a giant book about art. The panel discusses this year's nominees. Come and hear why you may want to pay more attention tothis fascinating category.
Farah Mendlesohn (M) Chris Garcia, Amy Thomson, Claire Brialey, Michael Swanwick, Stephen H. Segal
Sept. 10 The Spiral Bookcase (signing) Manayunk Philadelphia
Sept. 21 KGB Bar (reading) NYC
November 10 Wold Newton Reading Extravaganza (reading)
And in 2012 . . .
Aug. 31- Sept. 2 Chicon 7 Chicago
Above: Miss Helen Hope Mrrrlees says, What are you looking at?
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