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Very short stories to read at the bus stop.
Posted by Laszlo Q. V. St-J. Xalieri
Okay. So it's not literature.
But it was fun to write. :)
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taniwha says:
like the punchline here again.
Your writing reminds me of Robert Sheckley's work.
Wow. Damn, that's high praise.
Also, I'd kill a whole shoebox full of cute furry things for the chance to collaborate with Roger Zelazny, although I'd probably have to up the sacrifice ante in order to bring him back from the grave.
Anyway. Thanks again!
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Dhamaka says:
this is why I know I can sell you
(re Zelazny me too - also for Kurt Vonnegurt Jr who wrote one of two stories I've tried to emulate all my life)
If you keep trying, I'm willing. :)
It's embarrassing how much Zelazny had an impact on me. I really can't think of much of what I think in the way of religious or political philosophy that doesn't have roots in his novel Lord of Light. I think I've reread it more times than I've bought copies for other people, but just barely.
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Dhamaka says:
I'm sorry - had I not been ill I'm sure we'd have seen some progress by now.
I liked Lord of Light but read so much as a child and teenager that I selected what I want from all of them. The only single influence I could say that maybe I got it from a book is the indiscriminate love and caring exemplified by some of the characters in Heinlein's novels (can't reread any of them now because his writing's so misogynistic). But KV Jr wrote a short story of an old lady describing her dead husband to another. Packaging his memory so it would never die. I've written 5 homages/ of my own versions, all different but all inspired by his one piece (I also still hope for a love as he described although I'd rather not realise it after my partner's death) and Murukami wrote a story of the perfect love that was never realised. I've written 8 of my own versions/ homages of/to that and have ideas for several more.
jc1000000 says:
Like a seed rattling around in an old box, I've been wracking my brain trying to work out what i was reminded of when reading this... And after reading the barbie doll one, i had my eureka moment, the talking cats in murakami's 'Kafka on the Shore'.
Probably way off - but not come across that kinda writing before - so is that what Zelazny's stuff is like? What would you recommend?
Have always wanted to try a surreal style. In drawing it comes easily for me but not in words.
I hope you aren't reading any kind of accusation into my words, Dhamaka. I'm eager, and not so good at making publishing connections myself, but there's nothing like a deadline or an obligation here. In fact, the longer it takes the more I get to practice. :) Your life certainly comes first, regardless.
I'd love to see more hints of what you're working on.
Hmm. Talking animals, detective story ... yeah, could be an unconscious Murakami influence. I'm a huge Murakami fan, too. :)
How best to characterize Zelazny? He mostly writes about what people will be like (what people ARE like) when they get their hands on power. Stylewise, think Bradbury, maybe, but bring the characters much more into the foreground. Plotwise, thing Gaiman. Big, mythic stories. But faster paced, slick and easy reading.
Also pick up a copy of Lord of Light. It won a Hugo in '67 for a reason. It is still, even more so in my opinion, hugely politically and socially relevant.
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