Been introduced to Lafferty recently and my first thought was to Flann comparisons, my UA-cam search took me straight to this video. Very good content, looking forward to checking out your back catalogue.
Lafferty is such a rewarding read. So many great short stories, like Boomer Flats and Old Halloweens On The Guna Slopes, but also great novels like Archipelgo, Fourth Mansions and Past Master. You will do yourself a great favor by picking him up. And yes, I agree with you Scott, that the Centipede Press books are fine editions. Definitely a tall tale writer and great comparison to Flann O'Brien.
Also, I believe if you discuss Lafferty more you will find yourself a sort of hub for which people have been searching. I'll have to also check out your non-Lafferty reviews. Thanks for sharing.
Great to see a Lafferty presence on You Tube! He's been my favorite author for twenty years. I've been the first Amazon reviewer of the first four Centipede Press books, and unless someone beats me to it, will have my review of #5 out soon. I'm not sure if Space Chantey was his first novel, or if Past Master came out first. I also agree that Flann O'Brien is the only other writer comparable to Lafferty, but the breadth and depth of Lafferty eclipses Flann.
@@ronginzler6600 Great! I just turned in an intro to the next complete fiction of Lafferty to Centipede. Let me know what you think when it comes out. Stay safe.
@@Scottmbradfield Thanks Scott, I'll be looking for it. But I never stay safe. I'm out on the edge of this precarious universe, the event horizon where fact meets fiction.
I have loved Lafferty since Public Education Among the Cameroi appeared in a Judith Merrill anthology. I bought every paperback I could find over the years. He also wrote The Fall of Rome, mostly history. And Okla Hannali, a combination of fantasy and grim history about the Choctaw. His literary executors are moving much too slowly. How can you convert new readers with lovely but expensive editions? Yes, some look down on Kindle editions but I have visual issues and my disintegrating paperbacks have such small print. Also, he published some works on small presses. Rare even when new and impossible now. Many of his works published in Galaxy are out of copyright and free or cheap. His other works are trickling back into print. Some in affordable editions.... Sone o
Thanks, K. I guess you know the complete Lafferty stories are being pubbed by Centipede Press, but they bare limited expensive editions. And there has been reissuing of his work through Library of America (!) and Gollancz and many Kindle-ready publishers, which might be easy to adjust for your eyes? Thanks for writing. We're big fans of Lafferty and Davidson in the bathtub! s
@@Scottmbradfield Amazon UK had Lafferty Kindle editions long ago. Besides the copyright free Galaxy stories, Lafferty is coming out at a glacial rate in the US. Most short stories are missing, no Fourth Mansions yet. No Arrive at Easterwine. Avram Davidson was another obscure gem, encountered by me at the same time. But his literary executors cared about making his work available. A few lovely anthologies, trade paperbacks and some obscurities made available. Plus Kindle editions. Those famous Lafferty fans make speeches and write blurbs but are happy to be exclusive.
I too read Space Chantey at, probably, fourteen. I was seduced by the Vaughn Bode illustrations, which are some of his best. Since then I've come across a scattering of his short stories in magazines, most recently "Rainbird" in an old copy of Galaxy. Delightful!
Thanks, Flecto. I like your name. It sounds like a Lafferty character-or a character out of Jack Vance. Give me your location and we can put you on the IBA map!
Cool. I took the liberty of placing you on the map of International Bathers at: drive.google.com/open?id=1Tc7RT3iL24ErPt8HJgjXj4m5Pey1HnSi&usp=sharing And announcing on our Facebook page at: facebook.com/groups/702202229874384/ Great to have you in the bathtub!
And yes, we spoke a bit about Vance here: ua-cam.com/video/xY2mr0cee8E/v-deo.html But I discuss him a bit more in a review of 60s sf on The New Republic web-version later this week! Keep bathing!
There is a new Library of America edition of Past Master coming out in late September. There is an introduction to the novel by Lafferty scholar Andrew Ferguson who is due to publish a biography in the not too distant future. I see that Gene Wolfe and Neil Gaiman are Lafferty fans.
Loving the videos Scott - P.s.I read Black Robe on the strength of one of these and glad I did. Powerful, funny (in places, harrowing in others) and very compelling. May give old Lafferty a whirl. Best, Tom
I should add that each year there is a Lafferty Conference in the summer. As soon as I can I'll send you information on LaffCon 4 for those who might be interested.
Great idea, Solo! Post info on this site or on my semi-related Facebook page at Ultimate Beginners and I will pass the word! I am assuming there's no alcohol allowed at LaffCon? (Joke. Ish.). S. Oh and give me a location for you and I will put you on our map!
Here is the info regarding LaffCon 4: www.laffcon.org/2019/04/return-of-gene-wolfe-literary-podcast.html?fbclid=IwAR2qHMM53CkWKkAadqJrq65ujxFEReYq_brQLWiFcJGljDtqkVqlxUV1JaU
Thanks, Solo! Did you send a link? And is the Mercer County where you live, or where the Laffcon will be held? These replies aren't easy to find, but you can always post notices on my related Facebook page at Ultimate Beginners, or send me bv email and I will post: scott.bradfield@gmail.com
@@Scottmbradfield Hahaha! Darn, I thought I had a great business model for you, no pun intended: Books n Babes...think about it. Anyway, I enjoyed your introduction of RA Lafferty to me -- hadn't really heard of him. There wasn't much on/or about him on UA-cam except for his short story, Sodom & Gamora, Texas, that someone read. It was quite good...seemed a lot like a Twightlight Zone episode. Thanks again, keep up the good work!
There will be a biography of Lafferty soon, written by Andrew Ferguson.
Cool. Do you know the publisher? s
@@Scottmbradfield I'm not 100% sure, but I think University of Iowa Press. but don't quote me, i may be wrong.
@@larrylagarto Cool! Keep the bathtub informed! s
Please discuss more Lafferty! A pleasure to hear you chat about this. Thanks.
We will! Where should I put you on the map?
Big fan of Fourth Mansions! Would recommend
Me too! Fourth Mansions! Stay safe! S
Been introduced to Lafferty recently and my first thought was to Flann comparisons, my UA-cam search took me straight to this video. Very good content, looking forward to checking out your back catalogue.
Great to have you in the bathtub, Null Set. Yeah there is a lot of Lafferty in O'Brien and versa-vice-uh. Stay safe and keep laughing! Scott
Lafferty is such a rewarding read. So many great short stories, like Boomer Flats and Old Halloweens On The Guna Slopes, but also great novels like Archipelgo, Fourth Mansions and Past Master. You will do yourself a great favor by picking him up. And yes, I agree with you Scott, that the Centipede Press books are fine editions. Definitely a tall tale writer and great comparison to Flann O'Brien.
Also, I believe if you discuss Lafferty more you will find yourself a sort of hub for which people have been searching. I'll have to also check out your non-Lafferty reviews. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Solo. Yes, more Lafferty coming soon! S
Great to see a Lafferty presence on You Tube! He's been my favorite author for twenty years. I've been the first Amazon reviewer of the first four Centipede Press books, and unless someone beats me to it, will have my review of #5 out soon. I'm not sure if Space Chantey was his first novel, or if Past Master came out first. I also agree that Flann O'Brien is the only other writer comparable to Lafferty, but the breadth and depth of Lafferty eclipses Flann.
Hey Ron. Sorry I never saw this until just now. That's cool you're reviewing the Centipede editions. Good going! s
@@Scottmbradfield Thanks and may the Laff be with you. I have a story out in Feast of Laughter 5.
@@ronginzler6600 Great! I just turned in an intro to the next complete fiction of Lafferty to Centipede. Let me know what you think when it comes out. Stay safe.
@@Scottmbradfield Thanks Scott, I'll be looking for it. But I never stay safe. I'm out on the edge of this precarious universe, the event horizon where fact meets fiction.
@@ronginzler6600 Well then just stay, you know, whatever! Just don't fall off! s
I have loved Lafferty since Public Education Among the Cameroi appeared in a Judith Merrill anthology. I bought every paperback I could find over the years.
He also wrote The Fall of Rome, mostly history. And Okla Hannali, a combination of fantasy and grim history about the Choctaw.
His literary executors are moving much too slowly. How can you convert new readers with lovely but expensive editions? Yes, some look down on Kindle editions but I have visual issues and my disintegrating paperbacks have such small print.
Also, he published some works on small presses. Rare even when new and impossible now.
Many of his works published in Galaxy are out of copyright and free or cheap. His other works are trickling back into print. Some in affordable editions....
Sone o
Thanks, K. I guess you know the complete Lafferty stories are being pubbed by Centipede Press, but they bare limited expensive editions. And there has been reissuing of his work through Library of America (!) and Gollancz and many Kindle-ready publishers, which might be easy to adjust for your eyes? Thanks for writing. We're big fans of Lafferty and Davidson in the bathtub! s
@@Scottmbradfield Amazon UK had Lafferty Kindle editions long ago. Besides the copyright free Galaxy stories, Lafferty is coming out at a glacial rate in the US. Most short stories are missing, no Fourth Mansions yet. No Arrive at Easterwine.
Avram Davidson was another obscure gem, encountered by me at the same time. But his literary executors cared about making his work available. A few lovely anthologies, trade paperbacks and some obscurities made available. Plus Kindle editions.
Those famous Lafferty fans make speeches and write blurbs but are happy to be exclusive.
For both style and narrative originality, I think of R. A Lafferty as the William Faulkner of Science Fiction.
I too read Space Chantey at, probably, fourteen. I was seduced by the Vaughn Bode illustrations, which are some of his best. Since then I've come across a scattering of his short stories in magazines, most recently "Rainbird" in an old copy of Galaxy. Delightful!
Thanks, Flecto. I like your name. It sounds like a Lafferty character-or a character out of Jack Vance. Give me your location and we can put you on the IBA map!
@@Scottmbradfield Have you done any reviews of Jack Vance? And where might I view this IBA map? I am currently in Alachua County FL
Cool. I took the liberty of placing you on the map of International Bathers at:
drive.google.com/open?id=1Tc7RT3iL24ErPt8HJgjXj4m5Pey1HnSi&usp=sharing
And announcing on our Facebook page at:
facebook.com/groups/702202229874384/
Great to have you in the bathtub!
And yes, we spoke a bit about Vance here:
ua-cam.com/video/xY2mr0cee8E/v-deo.html
But I discuss him a bit more in a review of 60s sf on The New Republic web-version later this week! Keep bathing!
There is a new Library of America edition of Past Master coming out in late September. There is an introduction to the novel by Lafferty scholar Andrew Ferguson who is due to publish a biography in the not too distant future.
I see that Gene Wolfe and Neil Gaiman are Lafferty fans.
Yeah Lafferty is one his way out and wide.
Also, I noticed we have the same version of Space Chanty.
Loving the videos Scott - P.s.I read Black Robe on the strength of one of these and glad I did. Powerful, funny (in places, harrowing in others) and very compelling. May give old Lafferty a whirl. Best, Tom
Thanks, Tom. There's a great movie version of Black Robe as well, though "Dances with Wolves" it ain't! S
I should add that each year there is a Lafferty Conference in the summer. As soon as I can I'll send you information on LaffCon 4 for those who might be interested.
Great idea, Solo! Post info on this site or on my semi-related Facebook page at Ultimate Beginners and I will pass the word! I am assuming there's no alcohol allowed at LaffCon? (Joke. Ish.). S. Oh and give me a location for you and I will put you on our map!
Here is the info regarding LaffCon 4:
www.laffcon.org/2019/04/return-of-gene-wolfe-literary-podcast.html?fbclid=IwAR2qHMM53CkWKkAadqJrq65ujxFEReYq_brQLWiFcJGljDtqkVqlxUV1JaU
The actual location is the Lawrence Branch of Mercer County Library system. Sorry I didn't see it mentioned on the link I sent.
Thanks, Solo! Did you send a link? And is the Mercer County where you live, or where the Laffcon will be held? These replies aren't easy to find, but you can always post notices on my related Facebook page at Ultimate Beginners, or send me bv email and I will post: scott.bradfield@gmail.com
@@Scottmbradfield The Laffcons are held in Mercer County New Jersey, but I don't know whether there will be more of them.
How come you're not in the bathtub? Make your vid more compelling.
Hot bikini models in hot tubs talking about books would be even better.
Not if the hot bikini model in the hot tub is me!
@@Scottmbradfield Hahaha! Darn, I thought I had a great business model for you, no pun intended: Books n Babes...think about it.
Anyway, I enjoyed your introduction of RA Lafferty to me -- hadn't really heard of him. There wasn't much on/or about him on UA-cam except for his short story, Sodom & Gamora, Texas, that someone read. It was quite good...seemed a lot like a Twightlight Zone episode.
Thanks again, keep up the good work!
Yeah, sorry, I'm the only babe in this bathtub. More Lafferty AND O'Brien eventually! Keep reading!