JOHN PELAN MESSAGE BOARD

John Pelan is the co-author (with Edward Lee) of GOON and SHIFTERS. He is also acclaimed editor of the anthologies DARKSIDE and THE LAST CONTINENT.

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136 Mon July 07 2003 - 19:41:06
Fullname: Freddy C.
Email:
Comments: John:

Another SF writer to keep an eye on is Robert Reed, who for my money is even better than Chiang and much more prolific. Try MARROW, BEYOND THE VEIL OF STARS, and AN EXHALTATION OF LARKS if nothing else. His short fiction is collected in a beautiful Golden Gryphon signed edition called THE DRAGONS OF SPRINGPLACE.

I understand that you've just finished putting together the third Dark Side anthology. Any chance you can give us a TOC and a taste of what's ahead?

Fred



137 Sun July 06 2003 - 19:54:32
Fullname: John Pelan
Email: jpelan@cnw.com
Comments: Hi Don:



Great to see you here! I should probably put the url for this board in my sig file... Thanks for the kind words on my work, I just wish I were a bit more prolific. Though I do feel better when I realize that the best SF writer working today (Ted Chiang) is even less prolific than I am. This ranges a bit off-topic, but I pretty much abandoned reading SF (except for Jack Vance's new books and the old masters) some years ago as the majority of what was being published seemed to be either badly-written theorems disguised as fiction or tiresome military SF with lots of shit getting blown up. Ted Chiang and Christopher Hinz have restored my faith in the genre. CHeck 'em out if you get a chance...



Cheers,




John


138 Sun July 06 2003 - 19:00:31
Fullname: Don Koish
Email:
Comments: Hey John,


I never realized you had a message board here. Just dropping a quick line to say hello. Keep up the great editing and writing as well. You are an acclaimed writer in my mind. Some of the best short stories out there and you never write a bad one. That is something most authors today can't say.


All the best,


Don Koish



139 Sun July 06 2003 - 07:26:37
Fullname: John Pelan
Email: jpelan@cnw.com
Comments: "Boris" wrote



Comments: It's pretty embarrassing to have someone chase for you a debt on your own discussion site, isn't it?

Not at all. I check the site frequently and it's as easy as sending me an e-mail.

>I notice that you've included your own work in a book you're editing.

I'm delighted you noticed. You may have noticed that my work was included in the last several anthologies I've edited, including the one that just won the Stoker Award. Generally speaking, the editor of a book is in the best position to know what the book might require. An anthology (at least mine) isn't just a random gaggle of stories thrown together, there should be a pacing, an ebb and flow that make the book as whole equal to or greater than the sum of the parts. If I feel I can bring something to the table, I do.

>Does that mean that you believe you work is as good as better writers?

Doesn't matter what I think, what matters is what the 40,000 people that bought the last book think... However, I'd have to say that judging from the number of times my stories get cited on "Year's Best" lists, I musn't be too terribly awful. ;-)




>And what selection process do you put yourself through?



Everything I write goes through a severe editorial review from another professional whom I trust. That, and I'd think after nearly two decades as a professional editor, I might have a fairly good idea of what's what.



>When you say that you are an "acclaimed" writer, did that "acclaim" come from someone you did not known, or was it acclaim bestowed by a colleague with mutual interest?

I don't recall that I've ever said I'm acclaimed. I don't write my own blurbs, you know...



>Finally, this message board is a bit like a ghost town, isn't it? A bit of a damp squib.


br> I do knwo a lot of folk don't much care for the interface on this site. I spend a good deal more time hanging out in a Yahoo Group, Horrabin Hall.



I hope that you take these questions in the spirit they are intended. I thought that if your friend who you owed monet too could ask a cheeky but valid question, you wouldn't mind answering mine. Cheers, Boris

Well, pardon me if I become suspicious of a first time poster asking cheeky questions, but I think I've answered them without being too snarky.



Cheers,



John





140 Thu July 03 2003 - 21:25:47
Fullname: Boris
Email: brichards@hotmail.com
Comments: It's pretty embarrassing to have someone chase for you a debt on your own discussion site, isn't it?

I notice that you've included your own work in a book you're editing. Does that mean that you believe you work is as good as better writers? And what selection process do you put yourself through?

When you say that you are an "acclaimed" writer, did that "acclaim" come from someone you did not known, or was it acclaim bestowed by a colleague with mutual interest?

Finally, this message board is a bit like a ghost town, isn't it? A bit of a damp squib.

I hope that you take these questions in the spirit they are intended. I thought that if your friend who you owed monet too could ask a cheeky but valid question, you wouldn't mind answering mine. Cheers, Boris


141 Sat June 28 2003 - 18:28:22
Fullname: John Pelan
Email: jpelan@cnw.com
Comments: Hi Barry:



Resolved as per our e-mails. Do stop by again, we actually do get some interesting chats going now and then. While I'm on that subject, for general discussion of Horror Literature with an emphasis on the "Cool Old Stuff" please check out:



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/horrabin_hall/



Cheers,



John


142 Tue June 24 2003 - 23:07:53
Fullname: Barry N. Malzbe
Email: conmoto2@aol.com
Comments: John, I think you've owed me $250 (on publication of the Wyndham collection) for a couple of months now, no?

Regards,

Barry N. Malzberg


143 Tue June 17 2003 - 06:18:17
Fullname: Chris K
Email: Chrisk8@charter.net
Comments: After many fits and starts (and numerous full moons), I finally finished Vampires Overhead. Now I can imagine why our good friends at the GSS took so long to release it. There must have been a few arguments in the house over whether or not to go with this one as they are sticklers for high quality. Sadly, IMHO VO is the worst of the Wagner recommendations (I have read all but four - I believe -- of his selections).

Starts out great, but the vampire threat gradually tapers off with little to no explanation. Then story turns into a sort of slightly bent English version of a turn-of-the century American manners novel (ala Frank Stockton). Even worse, every time something interesting is about to happen either the narrator or the chapter title telegraphs the outcome of the upcoming conflict. Not the stuff of "great . . . pulp fiction."

I imagine Wagner must have read this when he was a kid, held it dear in memory, and never reviewed it before he selected it for his list.

Anyway, what do you know of LIFE COMES TO SEATHORPE by Neil Bell and HARVEST IN POLAND by Geoffrey Dennis? I hear these might be good reads.

The "Lost Stories" Anthology sounds like a good idea. The Man Eating Tree is a gem.

Echo of a Curse was fabulous and, of course, the new Birkin book is a treasure. Thanks for the great work.

Best,

Ck



144 Thu June 12 2003 - 22:34:38
Fullname: Steve Savile
Email:
Comments: "CultTVgirl

Comments: i'd like to nominate THE SONG MY SISTER SANG by Stephen Laws. I couldnt find a copyright date in MIDNIGHT MAN but Google reckons it was 1998."


Hi, just thought I'd chime in here. THE SONG MY SISTER SANG was written for REDBRICK EDEN, the anthology I edited for Tanjen in the UK back in 1998. Cracking story, went on to mark Steve Laws' first and so far only win in the British Fantasy Awards. A fine selection. Hope this helps,

Steve

Oh, and hi John... been a while.



145 Mon June 09 2003 - 02:42:08
Fullname: Kealan Patrick Burke
Email: elderlemon2003@aol.com
Comments:



Indeed, congratulations John. As they say in Norway: "'bout frickin time."




Well done!




Kealan


146 Sun June 08 2003 - 17:24:25
Fullname: Harry Shannon
Email:
Comments: Congratulations on the Stoker, John. Well deserved.


147 Fri June 06 2003 - 11:53:28
Fullname: Jim Rockhill
Email: jrock@locallink.net
Comments: Yes, Bob Leman is still with us. I will be phoning him this weekend.

Jim


148 Sat May 31 2003 - 02:46:51
Fullname: Marc Bartolucci
Email: mbartolucc@sympatico.ca
Comments: Hi-I came across your web page while doing a search for the author R R Ryan.I recently came across one of her books-Devil's Shelter (Herbert Jenkins) 1937,1st impression.Nothing of hers is for sale on ABE and thought you might be able to give me an approximate idea on value.Any info on her would be appreciated
thanks
marc


149 Sat May 31 2003 - 00:01:52
Fullname: Harry Shannon
Email:
Comments: Hey, John. Good luck in NYC and see you at Horrorfind, I hope... :)


150 Thu May 29 2003 - 20:28:33
Fullname: john B. Barron
Email: jbbarronportola@netscape.net
Comments: Hello---

Is Bob Leman still "with us"?

Best,

John


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