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This was an SF in SF evening I really didn't want to miss: Karen Joy Fowler would be reading from her new book of short stories, What I Didn't See. So I was a little worried about getting there at 6.30 when the doors opened at 6 p.m.
The place was nearly empty. I found it puzzling, knowing both authors to be strong draws for the sci-fi crowd. I browsed Rina's excellent snacks and Borderlands' book table. "Save me a copy of the book," I asked. "I don't want to carry it around all evening." But I thought the request might be unnecessary.
It wasn't. Fifteen minutes later, people were pouring in, Karen among them, and also Z from my writing group. Soon the place was buzzing. Rina Weisman, who organizes SF in SF was telling a funny story of how she'd been asked to book Karen -- and given Karen's full bio, which of course she knew already.
I hadn't read any of Claude Lalumiere's work, so I didn't know what to expect. What he read was a darkly comic post apocalyptic story. The zombies, who now rule the earth, are living suburban life-styles. In the Q&A, he said he structured the story as a sitcom, except that the protagonists are a gay zombie couple who adopt a "fleshie" son; he's something between a kid, a pet, and food. As Terry Bisson (who was moderating) put it, this wasn't "The Kids are All Right, this was The Kids Taste All Right."
Karen's story was a historical fiction about Edwin Booth, lionized Shakespearan actor -- and the elder brother of Lincoln-assassin John Wilkes Booth. "For a comparison, you would have to imagine the President being assassinated by the younger brother of Brad Pitt." Edwin was best-known as America's Hamlet, and this story comes complete with his father's ghost. In Karen's inimitable voice, this was wryly humorous and very moving.
Afterward, I stopped to have my book signed, and chat. Then I started reading the book even before I got home, at the station waiting for my train.
The place was nearly empty. I found it puzzling, knowing both authors to be strong draws for the sci-fi crowd. I browsed Rina's excellent snacks and Borderlands' book table. "Save me a copy of the book," I asked. "I don't want to carry it around all evening." But I thought the request might be unnecessary.
It wasn't. Fifteen minutes later, people were pouring in, Karen among them, and also Z from my writing group. Soon the place was buzzing. Rina Weisman, who organizes SF in SF was telling a funny story of how she'd been asked to book Karen -- and given Karen's full bio, which of course she knew already. I hadn't read any of Claude Lalumiere's work, so I didn't know what to expect. What he read was a darkly comic post apocalyptic story. The zombies, who now rule the earth, are living suburban life-styles. In the Q&A, he said he structured the story as a sitcom, except that the protagonists are a gay zombie couple who adopt a "fleshie" son; he's something between a kid, a pet, and food. As Terry Bisson (who was moderating) put it, this wasn't "The Kids are All Right, this was The Kids Taste All Right."
Karen's story was a historical fiction about Edwin Booth, lionized Shakespearan actor -- and the elder brother of Lincoln-assassin John Wilkes Booth. "For a comparison, you would have to imagine the President being assassinated by the younger brother of Brad Pitt." Edwin was best-known as America's Hamlet, and this story comes complete with his father's ghost. In Karen's inimitable voice, this was wryly humorous and very moving.
Afterward, I stopped to have my book signed, and chat. Then I started reading the book even before I got home, at the station waiting for my train.
