This is so exciting for me to see Fritz! I have never seen anything other than photopraphs of a man who helped me to leave this boring world for a short, yet exciting, time!!
Fritz is one of the all-time greats. His writing has such incredible savvy and wit. Too bad this interviewer is a bit lacking in those departments, ha ha... he tries hard but has not done his research. I was fortunate to attend Fritz's funeral in SF in 1992... I don't know if I can say exactly where because that info is apparently not public. It was as much a celebration as a remembrance.
I LOVED reading Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books!! It is delightful to see and hear him. I once found a book at the library about him and his equally lovable wife and wish I'd run into it again because it revealed what a fascinating and appealing couple they were and the charming life they enjoyed.
I have two hand written letters from this great writer. He mentioned once that Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser were two halves of an older, greater hero. He told me that the Heros name was The Growler, and that he intended writing about him or including him in a storyline- likely through one of Ningaubles many caves. Sadly he didn't live to do it
+nemo9xiphos I'm pretty sure the Growler got a mention in one of the late stories, probably one of those collected in "The Knight and Knave of Swords".
Wow! I didn't know there was video of him! I corresponded with his son about 20 years ago (a couple of e-mails!) and he recommended the story "Four Ghosts In Hamlet," as having a lot of his Dad in it.
I'm glad to see this. I wish you had mentioned that Fritz was a late correspondent with H. P. Lovecraft, who influenced his early writing. Fritz has written some of the finest tales of Lovecraftian weird fiction, and some of the finest essays concerning Lovecraft as a writer.
This was taped just months after he had his first stroke.He recovered from it rather well. But it scared the hell out of Margo Skinner and me at the time.
Wonderful genius. The questions, of course, were general but brought ought a lot of insight into his personality. I fucking love Fritz. I always identified with his first person protagonists.
What a pleasure to see! Wish it had been even longer! Many thanks to Wilum for point me to it - I doubt I would have found it otherwise and would have missed a real treat!
wish the interviewer were a counterculturalist or otherwise had an education, enough to acknowledge who he was speaking with. of course, how often does that happen..
Were you always a certified ass hole? Fritz couldn't afford nice clothes, because most writers can't live on what they make in selling stories and books. Fritz was forced into using food stamps to buy groceries at times, so pointing his lack of good garb tells me that you Ian Williams are usually full of shit. How do you live with yourself? Does anyone like you? I rather doubt it.
RIP Fritz Leiber. You were a wonderful writer.
This is so exciting for me to see Fritz! I have never seen anything other than photopraphs of a man who helped me to leave this boring world for a short, yet exciting, time!!
Rest in Peace
One of the best authors ever
Man... I'm hanging on to every word Leiber speaks. What a pleasure to see him, even if he's slowed down here, still sharp as an oiled blade.
Wonderful to see and hear Fritz today on his 111 Birthday, December 24, 2021. Thanks for posting this.
You lucky fuck, you got to talk to the man. He was gone but six months later.
this man interacted with H.P. Lovecraft through letters in the 1930s amazing interview thank you
Fritz is one of the all-time greats. His writing has such incredible savvy and wit. Too bad this interviewer is a bit lacking in those departments, ha ha... he tries hard but has not done his research.
I was fortunate to attend Fritz's funeral in SF in 1992... I don't know if I can say exactly where because that info is apparently not public. It was as much a celebration as a remembrance.
I LOVED reading Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books!! It is delightful to see and hear him. I once found a book at the library about him and his equally lovable wife and wish I'd run into it again because it revealed what a fascinating and appealing couple they were and the charming life they enjoyed.
I have two hand written letters from this great writer. He mentioned once that Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser were two halves of an older, greater hero. He told me that the Heros name was The Growler, and that he intended writing about him or including him in a storyline- likely through one of Ningaubles many caves. Sadly he didn't live to do it
+nemo9xiphos I'm pretty sure the Growler got a mention in one of the late stories, probably one of those collected in "The Knight and Knave of Swords".
Wow! I didn't know there was video of him! I corresponded with his son about 20 years ago (a couple of e-mails!) and he recommended the story "Four Ghosts In Hamlet," as having a lot of his Dad in it.
Four Ghost in Hamlet is a great story, I have a book of short ghost stories in which it is included and have always loved it
Amazing to hear him
Good to see interviews like this. I've read a great many of Fritz's publications, and enjoyed them all.
I'm glad to see this. I wish you had mentioned that Fritz was a late correspondent with H. P. Lovecraft, who influenced his early writing. Fritz has written some of the finest tales of Lovecraftian weird fiction, and some of the finest essays concerning Lovecraft as a writer.
This was taped just months after he had his first stroke.He recovered from it rather well. But it scared the hell out of Margo Skinner and me at the time.
His was the first 'really' atmospheric series I ever read. This interview is, quite unique in so many ways...
Man-- wish we could have swapped out the interviewer: still glad to see this.
Thank you for putting up this video. I loved his books and his short stories. His short stories are some of the best.
Wonderful genius. The questions, of course, were general but brought ought a lot of insight into his personality. I fucking love Fritz. I always identified with his first person protagonists.
The man brings up Lovecraft and the interviewer steers the conversation elsewhere. Shame.
What a pleasure to see! Wish it had been even longer! Many thanks to Wilum for point me to it - I doubt I would have found it otherwise and would have missed a real treat!
I agree with Fritz, Lean Times In Lankhmar is a true classic.
The Voice of an enduring fantasy adventure! "Mouser, we must flee!"
It's really great that this even exists! Thanks very much for sharing it.
Woah, what a cool guy.
This is amazing
wish the interviewer were a counterculturalist or otherwise had an education, enough to acknowledge who he was speaking with. of course, how often does that happen..
Ha ha, that poor hapless nerd interviewing a genius and just throwing questions at him from a list.
His clothes don't fit. His trousers are too short as are the sleeves on his jacket. Wonderful man though.
Were you always a certified ass hole? Fritz couldn't afford nice clothes, because most writers can't live on what they make in selling stories and books. Fritz was forced into using food stamps to buy groceries at times, so pointing his lack of good garb tells me that you Ian Williams are usually full of shit. How do you live with yourself? Does anyone like you? I rather doubt it.
Leiber's clothes fit him perfectly. He just put a spell on you, so you think his clothes don't fit. Witchcraft and deviltry, beware!
He was old and in poor health.