Ellen Datlow's Blog, page 78

I get soooo tired of these diatribes by the "literary" against all genre literature as not being worthy. I'm going to link to Cheryl Morgan's response, a little farther down, which is right on the money.

The original diatribe--and Kelman's defenders and critics--miss the point, which is that writing within a specific genre does not necessarily limit the imagination, or quality/beauty of the writing--only the skill of the writer does. There's plenty of crap "literary" writing out there. Interesti

I finally went to see it today down at the Sunshine on Houston Street and it's as good (and intense) as I've heard (thank you Lucius). I'm still sorry I didn't see it as a double feature last weekend with Julie and Julia afterward. That would surely have cheered me up. A great, tense, upsetting, fast-moving, well-edited and acted war film. Thank you Kathryn Bigelow. Now can we PLEASE get out of Iraq, leaving the inhabitants alone and bringing our own citizens home safely?

And I had a delicious ch

Not much, which is why I haven't posted anything this week. Last weekend I watched Hud. I might have seen it on tv once years ago but it was likely cut and if I did see it, I was too young to appreciate it. Newman's an effing hunk. Hud himself is an effing monster. Patricia Neal is beautiful and she and Melvyn Douglas deservedly won supporting actor Oscars for their performances. I remember at least one review referring to her character as a "slattern" and always wondered what was meant by that?

Love loved loved. Charming, utterly perfect movie. Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci fantastic--she absolutely channeling Julia Child (as little as I'm familiar with her). Amy Adams also very good.
Doesn't make me want to cook more but does make me long for a live in cook :-)

Kaaron Warren and Robert Freeman Wexler reading at KGB Bar August 19th

I saw it the other day and enjoyed it. It's not on the level of the few great sf movies I've seen (Bladerunner, Alien, and a few others) but it's very good. I particularly liked the first third (Rick Bowes hated the whole documentary style and preferred the shoot-em ups in the last half hour)and slowly began to care for Wikus as he rediscovered his own humanity (while still remaining true to his essential human-and-self-centeredness throughout most of the movie).

Good show. As I mentioned before

And I will be giving a eulogy to the great man on Sunday October 11th. Information: Edgar Allan Poe and here BALTIMORE'S EDGAR ALLAN POE FUNERAL EVENTS

The following people are confirmed as speakers at Poe's Funeral:



The Reverend Rufus Griswold (literary acquaintance)

Sarah Helen Whitman (former fiancée)

George Lippard (devoted friend from Philadelphia)

George Rex Graham (editor, Burton's Gentlemen's Magazine)

Nathanial Parker Willis (loyal friend)

Dr. John Moran (Poe physician at the time of his

The money shot is: "I'd be very surprised if this isn't one of the very best young adult fantasy books published this year."

Here's the whole review by Don D'Ammassa at Fantasy Review

..not to mention, about to do errands. After unpacking I discovered that the luggage I use --a big garment bag--has zipper problems so I need to buy a new one before my next trip (which isn't for awhile).

Had a great time with (very) old friends and now busily back to reading for Best Horror and Tails of Wonder and the Imagination. Bought some more stories yesterday evening and am awaiting responses on some others I want to buy. The most recent reprint acquisitions are by Graham Joyce, Elizabeth

Well, not literally, but I will be joining some very old neighborhood friends from Yonkers out of town for the weekend for a mini-reunion. I will not be online at all until Sunday late afternoon. So don't call, don't write--till I get back :-)