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[personal profile] rozk
Sometimes things happen that are so cool they warm your heart in the constant retelling of them.

I got an e-mail today, from John Crowley, asking if I would mind his reprinting my review of 'Little Big' as an afterword to the silver anniversary edition. I mean, what do you say to that? I would crawl on broken glass up a mountain to have that happen, actually, and he is asking me like I am doing him the most colossal favour.

What a nice man. What a genius. What impeccable taste in critics.

I mean, this is a man whose work Harold Bloom admires, and he asks me for an old review.

( I reread it today and it reminded me of how smart I used to be when my brain worked properly. Alas, the fleeting years...)

And then this evening, I made a complete mess of getting to a friend's gig by leaving the map at home when I went on other errands. Even more frustratingly, I got within a few yards of the place and then made the huge mistake of asking directions from a minicab office who told me that I was miles from where I needed to be, presumably hoping to sell me a ride round and round back streets. But instead I walked back, and wandered around hopelessly lost. It did not help that directory enquiries were at their crappest - I was asking for St Paul's Art Centre in E3 and they failed to suggest St. Paul's Gallery in E3 until I went to Yellow Pages.

I got there just as it ended, but that was sort of OK, because I made apologies and went for dinner with my new friend Errollyn Wallen, who just got a prize for being a brilliant young composer. She writes contemporary classical music, especially songs, that draw on minimalism and ambient jazz and pop, and are really personal and moving.

It is always scary when you meet someone and realize they may be a genius - the people that other people say 'yes, but what are they like?' about. I may not be especially talented, but I am quite good at being a reliable friend to smart folks.

Which is a consolation of a sort.

Also, I ate the most delicious confit of goose leg in the restaurant, with cassoulet and spinach. Life could be better, but not much. And I get to see King Kong in the next few days.

Date: 2005-12-16 12:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] secritcrush.livejournal.com
I got an e-mail today, from John Crowley, asking if I would mind his reprinting my review of 'Little Big' as an afterword to the silver anniversary edition.

eeeeeeeeeeee!

Date: 2005-12-16 12:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jonquil.livejournal.com
Oh, lovely. What a wonderful compliment.

Date: 2005-12-16 12:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ratmmjess.livejournal.com
My wife worships Crowley's work with a fervor that comes close to frightening me. That he's such a nice man won't surprise her, but she'll still be pleased to hear it.

Date: 2005-12-16 12:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] d-aulnoy.livejournal.com
Oh, me, oh, MY! Congratulations on the well-deserved happiness!

Date: 2005-12-16 12:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eleanor.livejournal.com
Ohmygosh, that is so cool and I actually know you and everything!

Date: 2005-12-16 12:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chrismm.livejournal.com
Little Big! Now there's an amazing book I haven't re-read in awhile. *goes to scour my sadly un-alphabetized bookcases* I know it's here somewhere...

Date: 2005-12-16 12:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] benpeek.livejournal.com
that's cool on crowely.

Date: 2005-12-16 01:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caprine.livejournal.com
How splendid! Congratulations!

Date: 2005-12-16 01:52 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Adding to the congrats; and could you post the review?

oli

Date: 2005-12-16 02:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kiplet.livejournal.com
I so rarely squee. So, deep breath:

Squeeeee!

Date: 2005-12-16 02:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] debg.livejournal.com
Well, DAMN it all, woman, that San Francisco Chronicle review on the cover of the paperback of "Aegypt"?

I wrote that. Half-page in the Sunday paper.

But does he ping ME and ask me? Noooooooo....

(sulking)

Seriously, that's brilliant. Isn't he amazing?

Date: 2005-12-16 03:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] guest-informant.livejournal.com
Wow.
Here is our Little, Big cover, by the way:

Image

Date: 2005-12-16 06:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fjm.livejournal.com
Could you post the review here?

Date: 2005-12-16 10:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rozk.livejournal.com
I don't have it digitally, because it is too long ago. And it does not seem to be up on the web.

I'll try and get it scanned.

Date: 2005-12-16 07:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com
Lovely. Best I can do with my books is quote the nutter who thought he was buying a serious Princess Di book when he bought the Diana: Warrior Princess RPG and says I got the conspiracy theory part right. But I think Crowley attracts a much better class of reviewer...

Congratulations!

Date: 2005-12-16 08:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineweaving.livejournal.com
O my.

I genuflect.

Nine

Date: 2005-12-16 08:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineweaving.livejournal.com
And another request for the marvelous review.

Nine

Date: 2005-12-16 10:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ianmcdonald.livejournal.com
wondrous... you know, I was wondering what to read over Christmas this year, and you've just reminded me (the mauve Metheun edition that loooks the way Delius sounds).

Did Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's goose leg confit last year and it was glorious...

Well done, Roz!

Date: 2005-12-16 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hunkymouse.livejournal.com
With luck, I'll be able to mention it to the pigs. And Alice sends her best. She's keen to get in touch, but doesn't have a PC, so I guess I'll have to mail you her details...

Guy dot kewney at gmail dot com

Oh. My. Goodness.

Date: 2005-12-17 11:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] murphys-lawyer.livejournal.com
Respect. Deep respect.

(Oh, and I think you're going to enjoy Jackson's "Kong").

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