I’ve been
thinking a lot about how I engage with authors lately.
From the
1980s through the mid-2000s, I knew a lot of local mystery writers. I belonged
to the Mystery Writers of America (associate member) and went to all the
monthly meetings, and met people like Sara Paretsky, Barbara D’Amato, Sam
Reaves, and others—people who’d published novels and were happy to hang out
with wannabes like me.
And of
course I bought and read their books, and got them autographed. Part of the
reason—to be a little cynical about it—so they might feel obligated to buy my
books if I ever got published. But mostly because I genuinely liked their
writing and valued their friendship.
But I was
always aware that I was friends with their authors. I would picture them in key
roles, hear their voices narrating, and think about how they approached this
scene or that character. Which made for a somewhat different experience than
reading something by Robert Parker or Nevada Barr.
All of this
was before the Internet, of course. Now that I’m reading mostly science
fiction, I engage with authors by obsessively reading their blogs. It’s similar
in some ways, except that they don’t know who I am. I might occasionally post a
comment, but generally I lurk and wait for entertaining flame wars to break out.
(“You’re an idiot!” “No, YOU’RE an idiot!” “You’re a bigger idiot!”)
But still,
it’s a connection to the author. I worry that if I’m ever at a convention and
John Scalzi walks into an elevator, I’ll casually say something like, “Hey,
John, how are Krissy and Athena?” forgetting that he’ll have no idea who this
guy and why I’m asking about his family like a stalker. And then he’ll call
security.
At Windycon
last fall, Jim C. Hines, a fantasy author who was Guest of Honor, was walking
down the hall, and I was THIS CLOSE to saying “Hi, Jim, good to see you!” But I
didn’t. I should have, because I’m sure he would have been gracious; he seems
very nice on his blog and in person. But I realized he wouldn’t have the
slightest idea who I was, and that might be awkward for both of us. Plus, I’m a
coward. But I did go to a reading he gave and got a book of his autographed
later, and he was indeed very nice.
(I will
mention that I did force myself to ask George R.R. Martin if I could take his
picture at WorldCon two years ago. He agreed, but seemed irritated. Fortunately
the picture was fine, because there was NO WAY I would have had the nerve to
ask for a do-over.)
Anyway, I
think about this because I’m frequently doing the same thing now that I did in
my MWA days—choosing the books I read because of my “relationship” with the
author. I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but I read Jim C. Hines’ books because I
like him and his blog. I’d read Scalzi anyway, because he mostly writes the
sort of space opera SF I like, but my enjoyment also has an element of personal
support for him, especially since his political opinions and mine mesh pretty
closely.
I do make a
point of looking for new authors as much as I can, so I hope it all balances
out. And I try to be open-minded about books by authors I know I disagree with,
or who just seem to be jerks online. In my MWA days, I didn’t love every member
I met, but I did try to read at least one of their books or stories in the
interest of fairness.
I do my best
not to read a book with my mind on whether the writer is liberal, conservative,
nice to animals, or awful to panhandlers in the street. I’d probably be less
annoyed with an author promoting a left-wing agenda than one who clobbers me
with visions of a libertarian utopia, but in the end I’m likely to be irritated
either way.
I’m not
leading up to any grand point here. Just trying to remind myself to keep an
open mindabout what I read. Because everyone should.
I've found myself back in SF reading mode also John. I've been re-reading classics and catching up on future classics while seeking out new authors. Just finished Hard Luck Hank and found it an amusing read.
ReplyDelete