New book in my bag to read

[pegkerr]

I am starting to read (for the very first time) Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, thanks to kijjohnson, who lent me the first two books so that I could see whether I liked enough to buy it myself.

Why can't I write like this? *sulks*



Peg

Comments

[bookshop.livejournal.com]

You know, without having a single idea who he is or what he writes, I've probably seen Neil Gaiman's name around livejournal more often than any other writer than, oh, say, Peg Kerr, especially recently. What genre is he and does he write about?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Here's his website. His novel American Gods just won the Hugo for best novel of the year. Famous particularly for the Sandman graphic novel series, but he has other novels, and has collaborated with others, including Terry Prachett. His fan base is almost frightening . . . he mentioned that he gets about 10,000 hits a month on his on-line journal.

(and, apropos of nothing, he is also my secret pick to play Sirius Black in the next movie). Click here to see a photo and you'll see what I mean. Lovely English accent, drives a motor cycle, usually wears sunglasses, always dressed in black. Perfect.) Very charming and thoughtful man--I was on a panel with him at World Fantasy and have seen him around at various events in Minneapolis.

My favorite story about him was one that Lyda Morehouse tells. Lyda was interviewing him for Science Fiction Chronicle. At one point in the interview, he took off his sunglasses and looked her straight in the eye, and she was so flummoxed by his charisma that she could barely complete the interview. "That's when I understood," she said, "why he was wearing those sunglasses. He was wearing those sunglasses for my protection."

(and I don't think she would mind my telling you that what makes this story particularly funny is that Lyda is gay.)

Peg

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

*falls over laughing*

It's not just me, then!

I was feeling very fangirly for sitting in the back row with tinne during one of his panels at WFC and saying, "ya know... he's hot." And 3/4 of the hotness is that amazing intelligence. Anyone who can give an animated discussion centered on the Albigensian Heresies is just... oooh. :)

Definitely. Cuaron must cast him as Sirius. PLEEEEZE.

[gallowglass.livejournal.com]

Why can't I write like this? *sulks*

I've asked myself the same question and the best thing I can come up with in answer is that if everyone who wanted to write like he does could do so, then it wouldn't be nearly as remarkable a writing style and we'd probably all enjoy it a lot less. So perhaps the upside to not being able to write like Neil Gaiman is that we're free to appreciate the words written by the man himself.

It's coming up on 14 years since I read the first monthly issue of Sandman and though I envy you the freshness of that first time reading, the series still works for me whenever I read it again.

[pameladean]

Neil Gaiman can't write like you, either, Peg.

P.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Thanks for a belly-laugh, Pamela.

It probably doesn't keep him up at night, I suppose.

Cheers,
P.

[pameladean]

I wouldn't bet on it. That is, I don't know if he's familiar with your work in particular, but I do know that he frets about his own and about whether he can do it right, just like anybody else with any sense; and if he's paying attention, some of what he can't do is some of what you can. So there.

P.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Because you write like Peg Kerr. And that's a good thing.