Writing News – “From Wayfield, From Malagasy”

Heya Bob, what’s been up with you?

Yay, you! I am so pleased. You’re turning into an Analog regular.

Big fat congrats to you!

Go, Bob! I’ll grab that issue of Analog this weekend. Serious congrats.

Congrats, Bob!

(I guess this means I have to leave the house and get to a bookstore, huh?)

Excellent — congratulations! And the good news is that the weather has become reasonable enough that I can take a ride around the neighborhood and see who carries it here. How have you been?

Hey Arian—just work, work and more work, I’m afraid. That’s why I’ve been on LJ so infrequently.

Yay me—thanks! I’m glad there’s something regular about me.

And big fat thanks to you!

Thanks, Mark. Stan Schmidt and I appreciate your support!

Thanks, John.

(That’s what you get for not having a houseboy to do your bidding.)

Thank you, thank you.

And the good news is that the weather has become reasonable enough that I can take a ride around the neighborhood and see who carries it here.

I read this three times and kept saying to myself, “The weather? Who carries the weather? I don’t get it.” Finally dawned on me you mean the October issue. I’m a little slow. The heat.

I’ll make sure and pick up that ish when I find it. 🙂

FROM THE FILES OF THE TIME RANGERS

That god damn bowes thing isn’t a novel. It’s just a bunch of stories strung together in a haphazard way.

Book Lover

Re: FROM THE FILES OF THE TIME RANGERS

The post in which “Anonymous” outs himself as Rick because he is the last person in North America to spell “god damn” as two words.

All excellent news!

On a writer’s salary?

Oh, I don’t think you have to pay him a writer’s salary: a bag of rice and a gin-soaked rag once a week ought to do it.

Yeah, it’s been a good week for out little corner of the SF-sphere.

Have I really not commented on this yet? That’s marvelous, Bob! Your name is on the cover, and you are called a “notable” on the web site in the same breath with Ben Bova. Bravo!

My Nebula recommendation is in. I’ve said it before, but I think this story is outstanding, and your best work yet.

I don’t know quite how to feel about the “notable” thing. If you’d asked me, I would have said that the only way I’d be mentioned in the same sentence with someone like Bova is if I assaulted him in a public place.

Stan Schmidt’s blurb and my name on the cover certainly tickles my vanity. I walked up to a woman on the subway yesterday and said, “I’m notable! Stan Schmidt said so.” She took off her tinfoil hat and handed it to me. “Here,” she said, “you need this more than I do.”

Thank you, though, for the kind words. As I’ve said to you privately, I’m not a good judge of my own work—mostly all I see are the flaws. I’m pleased that you think highly of the story.

Feel pleased!

Nice Biolog too! And somehow in black-and-white your arms look the size of oil barrels. (Yes, I found your Analog this morning at B&N on the way in.)

A story and a Biolog: Rock’n’Roll, my friend! Yay and I can’t wait to read it.

Best,
Chris

Hey! How are you? Thanks for the kind words—I’m pretty pleased about it. It’s the first time my name’s been on the cover of anything (subpoenas aside).

Re: Feel pleased!

Dude, are you trying to say I don’t have arms like oil barrels in real life? That’s harsh.

subway

“I walked up to a woman on the subway yesterday…”

You’re still riding the subway! You haven’t lost that common touch that humanizes the greatest of us.

Rick

Re: subway

Yes, I’m often told I have the common touch. Not once has it seemed from the context that it was meant as a compliment.

good story

I’m a new subscriber to analog and I enjoyed your story and will seek out more of your work. Thank you for the entertainment. Best wishes Don Y.

Re: good story

Dear Don,

Thanks very much for the kind words, and for taking the trouble to look up my website/blog. I’m pleased you liked “From Wayfield, From Malagasy,” and I hope you’ll find other work of mine as entertaining.

Best, Bob

WorldCon

You’ll be glad to know that this was the issue of ANALOG handed out in the SFWA suite at the magazine’s party — so you were being used as a coaster by some of the best writers in the business!

But seriously … your story may end up getting more attention than you expected as a result of that.

Scott Edelman

I read “From Wayfield, From Malagasy” this afternoon and I enjoyed it a lot. I was most impressed with the unique alien culture you created and the complex moral issues. It was convincing, engaging, and moving. I hope to see you at KGB again soon!

cheers,
Eugene

Thanks, Eugene, for your very kind words. I appreciate you taking the time to post about the story.

I’ve had a crazy work schedule, but I do plan to get out to more of the KGB and NYRSF readings—I’m sure I’ll see you there.