Appearances
Here’s where I’ll be in 2011:
BookFest PA: (Saturday, July 16): I’ll be speaking at 3pm in the Hintz Family Alumni Center, and signing books in the book tent after.
San Diego Comic-Con (July 21-24): I don’t know what all I’ll be doing there, but you can find me in the bar.
New York Comic-Con (October 13-16): See above.
World Fantasy Convention (October 27-30): We’ll be launching my short story collection Unpossible and Other Stories.
daryl gregory’s blog
Dear Daryl,
Just want to tell you that Second Person, Present Tense is one of the best stories I’ve ever read in any genre, I just totally love it. Now that i see what else you have written i’ll read the other things you’ve done as well.
There’s a little-known anthology called Strange Ecstasies that had stories about drugs in them that was also quite good, there’s a Fritz Leiber story in it called The Secret Songs I’m sure you’d like too.
I just want to thank you for getting it published, because the whole framework of the story helped me so much.
Good wishes for continued success,
Betty
Thanks, Betty! I hadn’t heard of Strange Ecstasies, but it sounds right up my alley. So does that Fritz Leiber story.
I appreciate you taking the time to let me know that you liked “Second Person.” I hope you enjoy the other stories.
Hi, Daryl,
I just began reading “Second Person, Present Tense” — I can’t say how much I like it yet, but I must tell you this: When I got to the line about stuffing the two hemispheres of her brain into a lace bra, I had to stop and fall on the floor, laughing. That is the single best line of science fiction I have read, ever! (and I have read *prodigiously*) I laugh because, that is so me! Not the protagonist or the doctor, exactly; more like someone who actually would respond to a brain in a lace bra, except I’m a girl. Or else I AM a brain in frou-frou, I don’t know.
Rock on.
Pamela! Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me that. Made my day. I’ve had several women tell me they liked that line. Evidently, smart women often feel this way.
And by the way– YOU rock on.
Dear Mr. Gregory,
Not one author has impressed and amazed me as much as you have. God bless The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction for publishing your engaging novelet “Damascus.” I was so floored by that story that I subscribed to that magazine immediately and hurried to the library to read your first book. Now I own all three and am currently reading (and absolutely enjoying) “Raising Stony Mayhall.” I was late in reading “The Devil’s Alphabet.” I bought and read it two months ago. It is my favorite book I’ve read this year… among a list that includes “Ender’s Game,” “The Forever War,” “The Island of Dr. Moreau” and a few more. I thought that book was beautiful, frightening, and at times very disgusting (I assure you I mean that, somehow, in a good way). I love your recurring themes of family, moral and religious dillemas, and flatout strangeness. I’m super psyched for your short work. The only shorties I’ve read of yours were “Damascus” and “Unpossible,” and I loved both.
If I could pick one aspect about your work that interests me the most, it’s your religious themes. Being a religous man myself, I enjoy being challenged by the themes of faith and God in your stories. I even begin to wonder your own views on the subject. Describing “Damascus” to a fundamentalist friend of mine, I was met with absolute disgust (he said, “You shouldn’t be polluting your mind with such things”). This kind of response pretty much made me love the story even more (it’s been a couple months since I’ve talked to him, but I can’t wait to get his reaction to “The Devil’s Alphabet.” The name alone should set him off!).
I’m very excited about your new collection and will be the first person in Indiana to buy it. Thanks for your continued creativity and incredible stories.
-Nick Varnau
Nick, thanks for such a kind note. Much appreciated on a day like today. (Which is not THAT bad a day, just one of those mixed bag days where I could stand to hear a little good news.)
I like your story about the fundamentalist friend. I was raised Southern Baptist, and I’m pretty sure a lot of the people I grew up with would be appalled by that story.
When you read the other short stories, you’ll be seeing the themes you identified crop up over and over. I just can’t help myself. In the story notes for the collection (which I just finished writing this week), I connect some of the dots between the stories.
Mr. Gregory,
Thanks for the reply! I’m glad you liked my friend’s reaction.
I just yesterday finished “Raising Stony Mayhall,” and before I go on I must warn other readers of the spoilers within this letter/note/comment. So, consider them warned.
Now then… I really enjoyed the book. It may be your best. With the character of Stony Mayhall you take a similar approach to the leads in your previous two books, tying in curses that end up blessings and blessings that end up curses. For example, Stony is constantly put into positions where his extra abilities help him, but hurt others. He is able to stop the driver of the car running away from the congress, but in doing so is responsible for his capture and bloody demise. Stony doesn’t want his abilities any more than he wants to be a messiah. I find this similar to Pax’s wish to be abnormal in “The Devil’s Alphabet” and Del’s struggle to come to terms with his identity in “Pandemonium.” These are excellent angles to explore, as many people often wonder why they are what they are.
As I mentioned earlier, your religious and theological themes have always been a big part in my enjoyment of your work. This remains true in “Raising Stony Mayhall.” Stony’s reaction to his messianic status is seen through frustrated eyes. Stony’s abilities and legend are often misconstrued. I liked how believers in him would refuse to accept that he did not want the Big Bite to happen. I liked how this conflict and his status are used against him by Calhoun, who takes advantage of both his and Stony’s celebrity and uses it to move the apocalyptic climax forward.
In describing this book to friends, the subject of comparison between your book and Romero’s film series has popped up. This comparison is unnecessary, as Romero’s work is more akin to horror, and “Raising Stony Mayhall” works more like science-fiction with a little bit of action thrown in. The book shocks at points, (admit it, you love to shock) but things like physical deformities are presented as natural consequences instead of gross-out gimmicks. There is gore in this book, but it’s underplayed. A smart move. This approach makes it easier to accept the characters instead of being repelled from them.
I hope I have not butchered any intentions with this book. I hope my insights are either correct or close. It is an excellent book, and I’m glad to have read it.
Thanks!
Nick Varnau
Today I was reminded by a sci-fi story I was reading of a different, past sci-fi story I read and liked tremendously. Only, as usual, I couldn’t remember the title, the author or the year of publication — just the plot. Undeterred, I decided to search for it this evening and vowed that if the Universe smiled on me and led me to its identity, I would go so far as to actually make a note of the author’s name. I Googled “sci-fi story drug overdose rebuild personality” or something like that and voila here I am, now possessed of the knowledge — however temporarily — that the title is “Second Person, Present Tense.” I have written down “Daryl Gregory” on a sheet of paper, thus fulfilling my end of the deal. I don’t know what will become of the paper though. So, in addition to writing down your name I will ask for your recommendation as to which of your works to buy. Then I’ll really have your name on a piece of paper (attached to lots of other pieces of paper); the chances of losing it will markedly diminish;and no one will be able to claim I haven’t fulfilled the vow. I will appreciate any specific recommendation you may have.
And, thanks for the great story.
Lee, thanks for the kind words on that story, and my apologies in taking so long to get back to you.
As for what to buy, my mother suggests that you purchase everything I’ve ever written. But that’s what mom’s do.
If you liked “Second Person, Present Tense”, you might like my collection of short stories — Unpossible and Other Stories. “Second Person” is in there, as well as other tales of neurological strangeness. Then if you want to keep going, the novels are out there.
I do like tales of neurological strangeness. Some of them are even non-fiction. You might be way ahead of me on this but I ran across the following while doing research for a philosophy paper:
Wegner, Daniel M. “The Mind’s Best Trick” TRENDS in Cognitive Sciences February 2003. Web. http://web.gc.cuny.edu/cogsci/private/wegner-trick.pdf
I have yet to read it thoroughly but that didn’t stop me from using it as a reference.
Being a Mom myself, I understand perfectly why yours takes the position she does. But I think the author’s suggestion should trump and I will hie me off to some suitable web site forthwith.
I am looking forward to reading the collection.
Lee, thanks for that link! Now that the madness of Xmas is over, I had a chance to read it. Great stuff. I’ve read a lot of Wenger, but that one article says more in a few pages than some books I’ve read.
By the way, the Kindle edition of UNPOSSIBLE are now out, if you’re an ebook kinda woman, and the Nook version is coming: http://tinyurl.com/unpossible-amazon
Yes — reading something that elegant always restores my faith in humanity:)
I haven’t tried e-reading yet, but my daughter has a Kindle she no longer needs, and I have arranged to take it from her and try it out. What better way to boldly go where I have never gone before than with sci-fi! I’ll make Unpossible my first attempt.
Another link for you — though you probably are familiar with these guys too:
http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/penrose-hameroff/quantumcomputation.html