Nathan "N.R."’s Comments (group member since Oct 28, 2012)

Nathan "N.R."’s comments from the William T Vollmann Central group.

Eli wrote: " i’m concerned that, were i to write him c/o penguin random house, my letter might not reach him."

Either that or via his agent. I do believe that contact info is also findable on the internet ; not sure exactly.

Steve Donoghue's (short) review of both volumes ::

"'Carbon Ideologies' examines – exhaustively – non-renewable energy"
https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-...

"Carbon Ironies: William T. Vollmann on the hot dark future"
by Wen Stephenson
https://thebaffler.com/latest/carbon-...

In which WTV is taken to task for his supposed climate nihilism.

And I have a little conversation with Stephenson taking him to task for misreading CI (I think writer and reviewer agree overall and the 'criticism' is based on an uncharitable reading)
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

“The True Story of William T. Vollmann’s Research Assistant,” an essay by Jordan A. Rothacker, William T. Vollmann’s Reasearch Assistant for CARBON IDEOLOGIES
https://heavyfeatherreview.org/2018/0...

This one in the category of 'uncollected Vollmann'.

Totally accidentally ran across this via a pun on "Kim Deal" ::

https://books.google.com/books?id=mPK...

SPIN, July '95, page 14. It's about guns and the militia and terrorism and politics.

A feature piece in the LA Times ::

"William T. Vollmann turns his mammoth talents to climate change"
http://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc...

Aiden wrote: "[don't know if he's read Imperial or RURD yet]
he has, he's read everything vollmann has written."

ah. Then the second volume must be really good. Fingers crossed.

Ruben wrote: "This may be of interest: impressions of both volumes of Carbon Ideologies from someone who read through the books twice (starts at 18:36): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5_Uj..."

Steve's good people. (or at least his dogs are). But I'm (not yet) as impressed with this one as he is. [don't know if he's read Imperial or RURD yet]

Ken wrote: "Thanks, Nathan! I've been lurking on Vollmann Central for many months. Such a thrill to find so many smart and well-read fans of his work."

Lurkers most welcome! And thanks for the additional links.

Ken wrote: "I had the honor of talking with Bill Vollmann for KBOO Radio's Between the Covers program. Bill was in Portland (the one in Oregon) to read at Powell's Books. This was my third interview with Bill,..."

Thanks for the interview Ken! And welcome to Vollmann Central!

Do you have links to your previous interviews handy?

Nathan "N.R." wrote: ""The Curious Case of William T. Vollmann"
http://www.sactownmag.com/April-May-2..."

I'm really rather miff'd that this article mentioned a group of bloggers (organizing a Vollmann Completionism) that have been inactive since 2005 ;;.... ..... (wait for it) instead of mentioning this Group wherein is discovered several folks who didn't sweat it a bit reading all of Vollmann's many books.

"The group of bloggers divided up the works, in tacit acknowledgement that it was practically impossible for one person to read them all." utter=utter bullshit.

Jonathan wrote: "I go on brietbart quite a bit, just to keep track on their world-view, so have already spent a little time in the comments section. "

Well now yes at least these gentlemen are articulate. ; )

Another link dump. [i've not read all of these yet either]

"“Are we prepared to endure lives with less comfort?”: William T. Vollmann on climate change."
https://www.vox.com/conversations/201...

"“Could You Do Any Better Than We Did?”
Ted Hamilton interviews William Vollmann
http://bostonreview.net/science-natur...

Radio interview ::
https://kboo.fm/media/65069-carbon-id...

"'I Try Not to Have a Schedule': Talking Writing with William Vollmann"
https://longreads.com/2018/04/20/i-tr...

And apologies for losing the link to that one critical review by the nuclear ideologist who tells you there is nothing to fear but the ideology of fear. You should dig it up and read it. The steaming pile from Brietbart though you can just leave there in the red zone of radiating fascism ; don't need it.

Definitely need a Volume II of Expelled.

Alexander wrote: "Thanks Nathan and Greg! Good to know I don't need to read Forbidden Zone as well :)"

I don't think you need to read it any more than you need to read every Harpers article he publishes. It's the books that count!

Alexander wrote: "I have a question: does Vollmann's Into the Forbidden Zone show up in this Volume?"

I didn't read Into the Forbidden Zone (ebook only is a blight!) : but, "'When the Wind Blows from the South' was first published in different form by Byliner in 2011" (copyright page). Which would be the Forbidden Zone piece.

Alexander wrote: "The Curious Case article says his reporter friends were killed by sniper fire. I believe that is false. I believe they were all killed in a car when it went over a landmine. "

[that one I've not read yet] My memory is taking me both directions. One of us should probably look into it...

Dan wrote: "New fan here. I just wanted to say hello, and ask what you think I should pick up next. Maybe a recommendation on where to start with his non-fiction as well as the Seven Dreams series? I just fini..."

Wish I could help. I started this Group here for my own sake of sorting out what all he's written. There's a great deal of diversity ; all of it with his own trademark of course ;; but aside from 'read it all' it's difficult to narrow anything down to one or several titles. [welcome aboard the Vollmann grainer!]

Next Q :: pub date?

Griffin wrote: "According to Bill about a woman who is cursed to love everyone who loves her without reservation, however all those who love her are not immune from the jealousy of one another. Approximate verbati..."

Thanks for that! I hope that explosion(premise) is limited to the page=count of a Gloria! oh man....