Posted by David Pierce on September 30, 1999 at 13:39:43:
In Reply to: Re: In the Ruins posted by Dean McMillan on September 29, 1999 at 14:53:02:
Dean, I urge you to resubscribe to this board. I have, Willem has, and Dan may have. I don't think it tick's Mike B. off -- I get the feeling he's taking a "wait and see" attitude to the continuation of the bbs, even though at the top it says in official lingo the board is being discontinued. In fact, he publicly stated on one of the bbs' that I was welcome to resubscribe! I'm sure if Mike has a problem with us using it, he'll let us know; meanwhile, it's a great place to hang out!
Regarding the 2-party exchange: that sort of dissolved when it was found that one of the parties is actually a collective! The other bbs is wonderful in its own way, sometimes pirouetting to pinnacles of personal panache, other times showcasing the considerable talents of experts from various fields. Still, I feel more at home on this bbs, so much so that on the other I can only operate through the use of a few assumed identities, which is my own fault but clunky (if amusing to me) in execution.
Your comment about my writing went straight to my ego. But while I may have a certain stylistic facility, plotting is no strong point for me, and I tend to make embarrassing gaffes with logic. What I'd really like to see happen on this old, in-doubt bbs, is a multiple-participant story of indeterminate length; there would be no hard and fast rules for style and procedure, and folks could contribute at their whim, appearing (as themselves or their characters)and disappearing as they please; the only aims would be to have fun and, hopefully, be guided by the spirit of Vance. Dean, have always thought you have a way with words, and I believe I told you this back when you were suggesting a Vance film. Many from both boards write well, and even if some don't, it would still be nice to have their participation. If you or any who might be reading this have an interest in doing a multi-party "story", please drop me a line on this bbs.
: In my latest email reply to David Pierce, I wrote:
: :>"...I blame no one, but--for me--the 2-party exchange has all the appeal of drill-involved dentistry..."
: ------------------------------------------
: Err...by that I meant "2-party SYSTEM," as in the politics of (what amounts to) our Liberal versus Conservative choice of government.
: When somewhat belatedly it dawned on me the statement was ambiguous. Which may be why my clarifying follow-up was bounced by your server. ...Hence, this sincere (if public) remedy.
: Just so you know, I'm flipped by this Last Mage Standing gig you've got going here on the bbs. Keep it coming.
: And do keep working on the novel; I can't imagine how it is I should beat you into print. You are the better writer, David. My own ham handed tries are meager, by comparison.
: Be well,
: --Dean
: ======================================
: : Curious,how loud this place seems now that everyone's gone...my voice comes to me in shouts. But I am the only one to hear it. There about me, ranged like empty houses, are the posts of all who were here: Dean's sound stage, Willem's stone house by the river, Drusilla's dance hall. Vladi's vast apartment. Terry's cupola. Nick's teetering flat. Where is the Creator? Why am I alone? The Creator is gone to the New World, and his children have followed, capering round his heels. The New World: a place in the clouds where the children, properly decked in their signatures and icons like yuppie mountain bikers in the obligatory spandex and mushroom helmets, lean across their personal clouds of repose and spiel to another lengthy name tales, idle musings, puckish rantings, coquettish asides...with nary a mention of the Old One in whose honor the place was created. Here, however, the name of that One is writ large on every wall, gable and chimney, though I am the only one to see it. Unless the zombie vampyres come...fell thought! I must gather all that is good here and bear it to my great library in the hills....