'tis the season...

[adelaidesean]

... for interviews, apparently.

Steve Wilson of Space Archaeology fame has pinned me down on the issues of Geodesica, Saturn Returns and all manner of interesting subjects. His site is fantastic, too, combining as it does two of my personal favourite things (like Haighs dark chocolate almonds). You should check it out while you're there.

And:
While it's always nice to see newer books getting attention, it's wonderful too when old books keep on keeping on. HarperCollins' edition of The Prodigal Sun has just gone into its sixth reprint here in Australia, for which I am extremely grateful.

And and:
Today marks the launch (at which I'll be speaking, briefly) of Adelaide's newest literary festival: the Fringe WORD festival, which will be unleashed upon the world next March, to coincide with the Adelaide Fringe's first year as an annual event. This comes hot on the heels of several other relatively recent gathering points for writers and readers that I've also been involved in, including the Salisbury Writers' Festival, the SA Writers' Festival, and of course the increasingly national Big Book Club/Little Big Book Club events. Perhaps there really is something in the water down here.

(Update: I've now uploaded my speech as a comment to this post.)

Comments

[stevewilson.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the plug, and the interview!

I'll probably ask you for another interview next year when the Amazon.com tramp steamer delivers my copy of Saturn Returns from the US :P

[transcendancing.livejournal.com]

MmmmmMmmmmmMmmm Haighs..... though my favourite is still the dark chocolate with rose, and violet centres.

I just finished your recent cataclysm book - i really love how you brought it all together from what appeared to be such vastly differing threads.

Also, Yay for reprints! *hugs from perth*

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

It would be my pleasure, Steve. Thanks for the great questions.

the WORD speech

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

In the beginning, of course, was the word, and whether it came from God or an early human (or even an alien from outer space). is neither here nor there. It changed the world forever.

The act of communication is one of those fundamental things that make us unique in this world,like art, science, existential anxiety, and cable TV. Without words, we'd still be up in the trees, throwing apples at each other.

Modern humans are very good at coming up with words. We have them, we give them, we spread them, and we eat them.

We have words for drinking lying down, for the sound a meteorite makes as it passes overhead, and for overuse of the letter M. There are even words about words, although I couldn’t find anywhere online a category containing words about words about words (and not for want of looking).

The number of dictionaries out there is testimony to our interest in language: dictionaries containing NetLingo and technical terms, neologisms both serious and entirely unserious, creoles and slangs, obscure or forgotten words, custom license plate or mobile phone text words, words made entirely of vowels or consonants, even words containing nothing more than a single character... They're all out there, vigorously multiplying.

But to focus solely on the printed word is to restrict ourselves to just one colour in language's brilliant rainbow.

Words don't have to be composed of letters. They can be pictograms and hieroglyphs. Before there was any kind of writing, words were sounds given meaning by the people who uttered and heard them. And of course those who can't hear use gestures to express who they are and what makes them tick. Language is malleable and flexible and as varied as the people who employ it.

There's a word for everything--and luckily for science fiction writers, even words for some things that don't exist yet.

If I had to pick one word to describe the festival we're here to launch today, it would be actually be quite difficult, for WORD is "timely", it's "necessary", it's "inclusive" and it's "encouraging". It's all these words, and many, many more.

I urge you all to come along and find out for yourself, to be involved, to spread the word about WORD. Enter the competition; it's as easy as putting your own words on a page and sending them in. You never know: you might just win the very first of many such events.

WORD is here, in other words, and it's to stay.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Yay indeed! Thanks for your kind words about The Devoured Earth. I too was very pleased with how it all turned out. :-)

Remind me, next time I come to Perth, and I'll bring some of those delicious chocolates. That'll give me an excuse to eat one. (Or even two.)

Re: the WORD speech

[arcadiagt5.livejournal.com]

Well said and/or written.

Is there a word for both? :)

[transcendancing.livejournal.com]

MmmmMmmMmm chocolate... when are you next coming to perth? And if you're going to have 1 - 2, it has to be 1 - 2 of each different flavour, which means at least 2 :P today is obviously about 'chocolate wrangling'.

The Cataclysm series was wonderful in its difference to other series extending from an original trilogy/series. You constructed the story threads very unexpectedly, and thus it was delightfully unpredictable, and highly enjoyable to read. Glad you're also in a happy place with it :)

Re: the WORD speech

[transcendancing.livejournal.com]

oh so well said... i hope you don't mind that I'm going to quote you on my own lj, because it also seems to say a lot, or relate a lot, or be parallel to how i see the concept of 'touch'... there are so many different ways and elements, different means of description and identification and placing importance in it... etc.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

How many copies is six print runs???

You doing anything special in November next year?
:-)

Re: the WORD speech

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

I'd be honoured! :-)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

You know, I haven't the foggiest idea how many copies that translates into. I'll look into it. :-)

November? Hmmm. Apart from maybe growing a mo (for Movember (http://www.movember.com/)), returning from World Fantasy (fingers crossed) and writing, I haven't really thought that far ahead. Why do you ask?

Re: the WORD speech

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Ha! I wish!

And thank you. Surprisingly, perhaps, the State Minister assisting the Premier in the Arts, John Hill, was by far the most entertaining speaker of the day. He is a dude.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

No fixed date for Perth at the moment, but I am itching to get back. It's been way too long.

"Chocolate wrangling" is a hilarious phrase. Hee hee! I will use it henceforth.

And thanks again. I am blushing. (Is there an emoticon for that?)

Re: the WORD speech

[stevewilson.livejournal.com]

"Words don't have to be composed of letters. They can be pictograms and hieroglyphs."

That's the difference between logos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos) and logos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logo).

:D

[transcendancing.livejournal.com]

*^_^* <-- blushing emoticon, or :%) maybe?

Chocolate wrangling - officially your phrase of the week?

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

*^_^* ... nice one. That's excellent.

Yesterday I was convinced that my new favourite word was "deluxe", so who knows how long this latest fad will last? Anything with the c-word in it is, however, guaranteed a certain longevity. :-)

[transcendancing.livejournal.com]

Just for your amusement: =^_^= a kitty emoticon :P

deluxe... it has a nice sound to it, not a current favourite, it doesn't seize me today though... however, obliterate... now that has a very nice ring to it. So does oblivion.

Transcendence
Obliterate
Oblivion
Sensualism

4 of my all time favourite words.

Re: the WORD speech

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed. :-) Nice one.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Wonderful on all counts! :-)