Please post (or repost) your remembrances of Phil to the Philip José Farmer forum, and help celebrate this great writer's--and great man's--life and influence.
Novelist | Editor | Essayist | Short Fiction Author
Saturday, February 28, 2009
pic o' the day - a week of Philip José Farmer
Please post (or repost) your remembrances of Phil to the Philip José Farmer forum, and help celebrate this great writer's--and great man's--life and influence.
Friday, February 27, 2009
pic o' the day - a week of Philip José Farmer
Please post (or repost) your remembrances of Phil to the Philip José Farmer forum, and help celebrate this great writer's--and great man's--life and influence.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
pic o' the day - a week of Philip José Farmer
Please post (or repost) your remembrances of Phil to the Philip José Farmer forum, and help celebrate this great writer's--and great man's--life and influence.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Philip José Farmer RIP, 1918--2009
So, it's taken me over twelve hours to sit down for this, because...that's what happens when you lose someone to whom you're close.
I started as a fan, waaay back when I was 8 years old and had my first taste of Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life. Then Tarzan Alive, and The Other Log of Phileas Fogg, and The Grand Adventure, and Peerless Peer. Time's Last Gift— time traveling Jungle Lord, holy cow!
Then, over 10 years ago, the Wold Newton Universe website, and several more years of fandom, followed by a book (thank you, Chris Roberson), and... an invitation to meet the man himself.
I had a sleepover at Phil Farmer's house.
And I set off the burglar alarm at 2 am.
Since then I've visited Phil and Bette once or twice a year. The great thing about Phil is how many friendships he created, by bringing together so many people who otherwise never would have met.
Well, that, and his mind-blowing imagination and captivating prose.
Phil, you are responsible for this overflowing library (my wife also thanks you for that), for my varied reading tastes (hard boiled detective to adventure pulp to sf to...Pride and Prejudice?? Seriously?
Yes, seriously. Because that's the kind of well-rounded guy Phil was. And he passed it on.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Because of you, and that book when I was 8, and your generosity 30 years after that, I am a writer.
I've gotten so many notes today that read something like, "I didn't know him as well as you, but this still hit me hard..." or "I never had the chance to meet Phil in person, but he helped shape me as a writer..."
The thing about a writer like Phil, whose work spoke to so many people in so many different ways, is that you didn't need to know him personally to be hit hard by this. His books have been a part of our lives for so long, his ideas and curiosity have permeated our beings, and his envelope-pushing—or breaking—imagery is seared indelibly into our brains.
That's what counts.
I last saw Phil Farmer one month ago today, on January 25. His 91st birthday fell on a Monday, and we had come in the preceding weekend to celebrate with him and Bette. "The boys" (Bette's affectionate term for us Farmerphiles) were there: Mike Croteau, Chris Carey, Paul Spiteri, and Dennis Power. Phil and Bette's family came in and out at various times. Their close friends were there. Sandwiches and cake and laughter and great conversation ensued.
I showed Phil the Doc Savage Coat of Arms drawn up by Keith Howell for Farmerphile and for the chapbook for The Evil in Pemberley House, from Phil's description and notes. He loved it; he didn't say much, but he got the biggest grin. And although he didn't talk much that weekend, he'd smile and give a little wave to let us know he was listening in and enjoying it all.
When it came time to leave, I said my goodbyes, I waved at Phil and smiled. He waved back, smiled, and thanked us for coming. Him thanking us, our hero, thanking us. Because that's how he was.
We hugged Bette and left, and I knew I wouldn't see Phil again. Just knew it. And at the airport, by myself, I cried.
And again today, more tears.
Exit Phil Farmer, smiling.
I started as a fan, waaay back when I was 8 years old and had my first taste of Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life. Then Tarzan Alive, and The Other Log of Phileas Fogg, and The Grand Adventure, and Peerless Peer. Time's Last Gift— time traveling Jungle Lord, holy cow!
Then, over 10 years ago, the Wold Newton Universe website, and several more years of fandom, followed by a book (thank you, Chris Roberson), and... an invitation to meet the man himself.
I had a sleepover at Phil Farmer's house.
And I set off the burglar alarm at 2 am.
Since then I've visited Phil and Bette once or twice a year. The great thing about Phil is how many friendships he created, by bringing together so many people who otherwise never would have met.
Well, that, and his mind-blowing imagination and captivating prose.
Phil, you are responsible for this overflowing library (my wife also thanks you for that), for my varied reading tastes (hard boiled detective to adventure pulp to sf to...Pride and Prejudice?? Seriously?
Yes, seriously. Because that's the kind of well-rounded guy Phil was. And he passed it on.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Because of you, and that book when I was 8, and your generosity 30 years after that, I am a writer.
I've gotten so many notes today that read something like, "I didn't know him as well as you, but this still hit me hard..." or "I never had the chance to meet Phil in person, but he helped shape me as a writer..."
The thing about a writer like Phil, whose work spoke to so many people in so many different ways, is that you didn't need to know him personally to be hit hard by this. His books have been a part of our lives for so long, his ideas and curiosity have permeated our beings, and his envelope-pushing—or breaking—imagery is seared indelibly into our brains.
That's what counts.
I last saw Phil Farmer one month ago today, on January 25. His 91st birthday fell on a Monday, and we had come in the preceding weekend to celebrate with him and Bette. "The boys" (Bette's affectionate term for us Farmerphiles) were there: Mike Croteau, Chris Carey, Paul Spiteri, and Dennis Power. Phil and Bette's family came in and out at various times. Their close friends were there. Sandwiches and cake and laughter and great conversation ensued.
I showed Phil the Doc Savage Coat of Arms drawn up by Keith Howell for Farmerphile and for the chapbook for The Evil in Pemberley House, from Phil's description and notes. He loved it; he didn't say much, but he got the biggest grin. And although he didn't talk much that weekend, he'd smile and give a little wave to let us know he was listening in and enjoying it all.
When it came time to leave, I said my goodbyes, I waved at Phil and smiled. He waved back, smiled, and thanked us for coming. Him thanking us, our hero, thanking us. Because that's how he was.
We hugged Bette and left, and I knew I wouldn't see Phil again. Just knew it. And at the airport, by myself, I cried.
And again today, more tears.
Exit Phil Farmer, smiling.
Philip José Farmer
February 25th:
Philip José Farmer passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning.
He will be missed greatly by his wife Bette, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and countless fans around the world.
January 26, 1918 - February 25, 2009. R.I.P.
I am not pulled together well enough to say anything else right now, except...
We love you Phil.
Philip José Farmer passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning.
He will be missed greatly by his wife Bette, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and countless fans around the world.
January 26, 1918 - February 25, 2009. R.I.P.
I am not pulled together well enough to say anything else right now, except...
We love you Phil.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
More Tales of Zorro -- and the company I keep
Moonstone's More Tales of Zorro, edited by Richard Dean Starr, has been announced: here and here.(Note: the cover to the right by the fabulous Douglas Klauba is apparently not the final art.)
I'm thrilled to be contributing to one of the original masked pulp heroes--and humbled to be in the company of these other writers.
And in more Amazon weirdness, the US site lists only one author, while the Canadian site lists everyone. Maybe just get it from B&N? :-)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
P.J. Farmer's THE OTHER IN THE MIRROR: Interview with editor Christopher Paul Carey
Christopher Paul Carey, the editor of Philip José Farmer's forthcoming collection, The Other in the Mirror, has just been interviewed about the book by Rias Nuninga over at the Philip José Farmer--International Bibliography page. Check it out!
This arrived today....
Yes, this novel is collected in Farmer's The Other in the Mirror, which should arrive next month from Subterranean Press. But I wanted a copy of the original, too. :-)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
This arrived today....
Limited edition hardcover with dust jacket by Douglas Klauba. Beautiful! Extra story by Max McCoy and a few other bonus materials.
And the first time I've been featured in a hardcover. :-)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Locus Poll: Philip José Farmer's Venus on the Half-Shell and Others
Wold Newton expert Christopher Paul Carey , the editor of the collection Venus on the Half-Shell and Others (with plenty of Wold-Newtony goodness by Philip José Farmer , including the classic Sherlock Holmes/Tarzan crossover novel, The Adventure of the Peerless Peer), reminds us that the 2009 Locus Poll and Survey is now open:"Rias Nuninga of the Philip José Farmer International Bibliography kindly points out that Venus on the Half-Shell and Others, Philip José Farmer's collection of fictional-author stories which I edited for Subterranean Press, is eligible to be written in under the category of Best Single-Author Collection on the 2009 Locus Poll and Survey. The Locus Poll closes on April 15, 2009. Here's the description of Venus from the publisher's Web site if you haven't yet read it but think you might like to pick up this fun, tongue-in-cheek book:
Venus on the Half-Shell and Others collects for the first time the best of the best from Philip José Farmer's scintillating "fictional-author period."If you enjoyed Venus, Peerless Peer, etc., and if you're so inclined, please take some time 0ut to support Phil Farmer, Chris Carey, and this fantastic collection!
In the mid-1970s a fever-pitched furor was created when an actual novel purported to be by Kilgore Trout -- the sadsack science fiction writer who appears as a character in the works of Kurt Vonnegut -- materialized on the bookracks, complete with a mysterious back cover photo of the author looking like a bearded vagabond sage. Debate raged as to who had truly written Venus on the Half-Shell. Was it Vonnegut himself, or perhaps Theodore Sturgeon, rumored to have been the inspiration for Trout? Or did Kilgore Trout really exist? Just as one respected newspaper published an article "proving" that Vonnegut had written the book, the Hugo Award-winning science fiction author Philip José Farmer announced he was the true author.
The controversial Kilgore Trout episode was neither the first nor the last time Farmer would impishly slip out of his own skin and assume the persona of another author. In Venus on the Half-Shell and Others, Philip José Farmer transforms himself into fictional personalities as compelling as they are diverse: Cordwainer Bird, Paul Chapin, Rod Keen, Harry "Bunny" Manders, Leo Queequeg Tincrowdor, John H. Watson, M.D. and even the real-life author William S. Burroughs (writing his own version of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Jungle Lord!). Also included is the original version of Farmer's classic Sherlock Holmes/Lord Greystoke pastiche The Adventure of the Peerless Peer, back in print for the first time in over thirty years.
A unique collection, Venus on the Half-Shell and Others showcases the grand imagination of one of science fiction's most resourceful and creative minds."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Farmerphile no. 15 now available
From publisher Mike Croteau:Three and a half years and fifteen issues in, we suffered our first major printing problem with the final issue of Farmerphile; the good news is, it's our second straight 60 page issue and it is full of material about Phil's most popular series...Riverworld!
We start the issue with an excerpt from the soon to be completed Western novel, Cougar by the Tail by Philip José Farmer and Tracy Knight. This is followed by an interview with Tracy about his process of working with the material Phil started. Next we have "The Time Distorter" by Paul Spiteri. A shorter version of this story appeared in the Farmercon 90 Convention Program but this expanded version goes beyond Phil gaining access to a time machine before he sets off on his first journey. This story features a full page illustration by Charles Berlin. Buddha Contemplates His Novel shows what a treat it is when we get to print one of Phil's speeches. Contrary to the humorous title Phil does tackle an interesting philosophical question about the omnipotence of God. Win Scott Eckert's Creative Mythography column is one of his most ambitious. He searches Phil's family tree for proof that Phil himself is in a fact a member of the Wold Newton Family! First time contributor David Lars Chamberlain takes on the Bibliophile duty this issue with a look at The Unreasoning Mask. Inspired to read this book by comments made by Gary K. Wolfe, David did a very thorough job of studying one of Phil's deeper novels.
In terms of Riverworld, we have yet another wonderful cover by Keith Howell; this is in fact our first wrap-around cover. We decided to mine the two shared-world anthologies, TALES OF RIVERWORLD and QUEST TO RIVERWORLD for writers to contribute to this issue and easily got three (our first three choices, in fact) to pen articles for us. On the River with Philip José Farmer by author and superfan Robert Weinberg tells, not just about his stories, but also the behind-the-scenes story of the genesis of these two anthologies. Ed Gorman's article, My Time on the River is also a history lesson, one that goes back way before any Riverworld stories saw print. Allen Steele gives us a detailed account of his contribution, from invitation to inspiration to the writing of his story in Writing "Graceland." Together, all three articles combine to shine more light on this topic than we dared hope for.
Also on the Riverworld theme we have The River not Taken by Dennis E. Power. This article clarifies and puts into context a long letter by Phil to Fred Pohl (included) outlining a Riverworld storyline that Phil abandoned. Next we have Tom Mix Resurected by Danny Adams. This article illustrates the lengths that Phil went to while researching a historical figure to include in one his stories. The article includes letters to Daryl Ponicsan (author of the novel, TOM MIX DIED FOR YOUR SINS) and to Phil's good friend Robert Bloch. The highlight of the Riverworld material however is the Unpolished Pearl, Riverworld Dawn by Philip José Farmer. This is an outline (and some notes) for a "sidestream" Riverworld novel Phil wanted to write. He did eventually use part of the idea, but not as originally planned.
The issue finishes up with two more Unpolished Pearls. The first, Myadzian Journal is the oldest material published in Farmerphile and will most likely be considered by many to be the most exciting. It is four handwritten pages of notes (along with a typed transcription) from the late 1930s where Phil first described Kickaha and the World of Tiers. However this Kickaha is very different from the human trickster character we all know and love. And last but not least is a page of typed notes titled Time has its Mirages. This is brainstorm of ideas, the last line of which is "Buddha writes his novel
Copies can be ordered direct from Philip José Farmer's website.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Pulp: Still Not Dead
A little over a half a year ago, some friends and I experimented with a group blog. While it didn't take off as we'd hoped, I did manage a few posts covering the current state of what's available pulp-wise and what was on my reading list:
- A pulp geek's reading list
- More of the pulp geek's reading list
- No one reads that old stuff anymore
- Quick hits
- Moonstone Books has acquired the rights to do a series of prose anthologies featuring The Green Hornet and Kato, with illustrations and art direction by Ruben Procopio. Heh. :-)
- The first in a series of Gabriel Hunt books comes out in May.
- The Casebook of Sexton Blake comes out in March, edited by David Stuart Davies with stories selected by and introduced by Blakiana's Mark Hodder. This new anthology contains seven stories, all republished for the first time:
- The Slave Market by Cecil Hayter
- A Football Mystery by W. J. Lomax
- The Man From Scotland Yard by Michael Storm
- The Law of the Sea by William Murray Graydon
- The Brotherhood of the Yellow Beetle by G. H. Teed
- A Case of Arson by Robert Murray Graydon
- The Black Eagle by G. H. Teed
- Anthony Tollin's Sanctum Books has parted ways with Nostalgia Ventures, but the Doc Savage and Shadow reprints will continue uninterrupted. In fact, Tollin is adding The Avenger and The Whisperer to the lineup of reprints. Full details at Bill Thom's Coming Attractions site.
- Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson: Their Strangest Cases (newspaper strips) is now available from Transfuzion and Amazon. Cafe Press merchandise.
Also from Transfuzion and writer Mark Ellis: The Miskatonic Project: H.P. Lovecraft's The Whisperer in the Darkness; Amazon. And coming soon, The Miskatonic Project: Bride of Dagon, along with Cafe Press merchandise.- Two of Earl Derr Biggers' Charlie Chan books are back in print, with more to come. Omnibus editions from Amazon.uk.
- Also at Amazon.uk, Bulldog Drummond and Dr. Nikola.
- Black Coat Press continues its generous pulp output with Sherlock Holmes vs. Fantomas, The Shadow of Frankenstein, Tales of the Shadowmen vol. 5: Vampires of Paris, and perhaps most exiting of all, the first new authorized Fu Manchu novel in 20 years, William Patrick Maynard's The Terror of Fu Manchu.
- Paizo Planet Stories continues to impress. Of note, Manly Wade Wellman's Who Fears the Devil--The Complete Silver John is due in July.
- Joe R. Lansdale and Keith Lansdale's Son of Retro Pulp Tales is coming from Subterranean Press.
- This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface... check Bill Thom's Coming Attractions site every week for the latest news!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Saturday, February 07, 2009
The Evil in Pemberley House - Now available for Pre-Order direct from Subterranean Press!
The Evil in Pemberley House now has its own page on the Subterranean Press website, with both the regular Trade and Limited Edition (with Chapbook) listed for Pre-Order.
The Chapbook includes Phil Farmer's original outline for the novel, the Wildman (Savage) Coat of Arms, an expanded Wold Newton Family tree chart, and other goodies.
The regular Trade also features a Wold Newton Family tree chart.
The regular Trade is listed for $40, while the Limited Edition with Chapbook is $60.
And... the cover is by the amazing Glen Orbik (who does Hard Case Crime covers as well as the covers to the forthcoming Gabriel Hunt pulp novels)! I can't wait to see what he comes up with.
The Chapbook includes Phil Farmer's original outline for the novel, the Wildman (Savage) Coat of Arms, an expanded Wold Newton Family tree chart, and other goodies.
The regular Trade also features a Wold Newton Family tree chart.
The regular Trade is listed for $40, while the Limited Edition with Chapbook is $60.
And... the cover is by the amazing Glen Orbik (who does Hard Case Crime covers as well as the covers to the forthcoming Gabriel Hunt pulp novels)! I can't wait to see what he comes up with.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Evil in Pemberley House - ARCs are in!
The Advance Reader Copies for The Evil in Pemberley House are in. According to Subterranean Press, if you run a high traffic blog, or review for a prominent website, please feel free to drop them an email requesting a copy.
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