Archive for the ‘Subterranean Press’ Category
The Weight of Words, short fiction inspired by the artwork of Dave McKean
Posted on: November 28, 2018
The Weight of Words, edited by Dave McKean and William Schafer
published in 2017
where I got it: received ARC from the publisher
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While whining about the books I’ve read recently and not reviewed (dear Andrea: is it OK to read something and not review it right away!), I got thinking about a book I’ve been reading and re-reading, and touching and oohing and aahing over the artwork of. I’ve had this book in my possession for over a year, and it’s become less traditional anthology and more touchstone. The themes of the stories are all over the place – sad, creepy, hopeful, full of release, full of tension, seeking closure. The only thing these stories have in common is the artwork. If you’ve got a friend who loves the intersection of art and storytelling, this would make a great gift.
The Weight of Words, edited by Dave McKean and William Shafer came out around this time last year, but it’s a book I needed months and months to think about. Dave McKean’s multi layered artwork draws you in, and then like a fractal, keeps drawing you in. This surreal artwork is the perfect match for speculative fiction stories that speak of places that never were. These images tell a thousand stories, I almost feel bad for the authors who had to decide on just one plot line and write a short story!
Something incredible happens when artwork and storytelling intersect, something that feels like a chemical reaction. The Weight of Words includes fiction by Joe Hill, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Catherynne Valente, Maria Dahvana Headley, Joe R. Lansdale, Alastair Reynolds, and more.
Here are my thoughts on some of my favorite stories in the collection:
Belladonna Nights by Alastair Reynolds – McKean’s artwork prompt is a strange image of a clocktower, and violins growing out of the tops of the tower. Reynolds took this fantastically surreal image and wrote a far future space opera about a reunion. Campion can continue to protect Shaula, or he can tell her the truth about her past. If he tells her the truth, nothing will ever be the same again, and keeping up the lie is killing him. Just so you know, this story made me cry. I learned after I read the story that this story takes place in Reynold’s “House of Suns” world.
Today I’m squeeing over
Posted on: March 4, 2013
Remember my book haul from the other day? shortly after I posted that, I picked up this beauty:
Why yes, that is Charles Vess artwork on a Subterranean Press limited edition of a new novella by one of my favorite authors! It’s so pretty I almost don’t want to touch it. almost.
And yes, yes there is more:
I want to trace that signature over and over again, learn the shapes and patterns my hands and fingers make, and memorize the order, turn the movements into a mantra.
and then the logical part of my brain starts ticking. . .
number 56? Maybe she got to this one before her hand got tired. Do authors sign all the books all in one day of wrist wrenching carpal tunnel risking signature scrawling? Or do they do a dozen at a time? Do the pop in the extended edition of Star Wars to stave off the boredom? what if the author messes up or the pen runs out?
the Little Red Reviewer 
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