Writing and Obsessions
Posted on August 27, 2007
Filed Under Japan 2007, travels, writing |
Reading scififanatic’s blog, I came across an interesting post about writing and obsessions, actually linking back to velourmane’s post on the subject. (You can find the link there.)
I personally am obsessed with all kinds of things, and also develop minor obsessions all the time, just long enough to really get into something and research it like crazy so I can write about it. (Like my obsession with Soviet Russia, which is about to commence; I have tons of books waiting now.)
The obsessions that come up time and time again in my writing, as far as I can tell, are these:
- memory, and the kinds of holes and distortions that exist as part of it, as well as the fact that, imperfect as it is, it’s what we have to work with
- the technology-fueled changeability of genome and our phenotype, and the unchangeability of human nature (if we change it enough, we’re no longer human, is all)
- how history could have turned out differently, especially in dramatic and surprising reversals
- the idea of people sometime in the future looking back on us the way we look back on our predecessors — judging, scratching their heads, giggling, feeling rage or amusement, and so on
- relationships across culture — especially love relationships
- exploded forms of religion, where human organizations are shown up for what they are, often by divine agents or beings
- the idea of justice or revenge, and whether/when revenge can be justified or justifiable
- creativity of some kind: I almost never write about writers, but the creative process — especially when applied to areas we don’t usually think of it being applied to — fascinates me, and when new technologies, from musical instruments to whole new interfaces with the world, come into the mix it just gets more interesting
- “foreign things”: it’s been noted I often mention foreign things, or use foreign words or concepts, and not just Korean ones
- life on the periphery, and resistance to the uses of power concentrated away from it
- ghosts are one of the few non-SFnal things I write about a lot
That’s all I can think of. Now my feet have had a break, after TONS of walking in Tokyo, so I think I’ll go soak them. They REALLY hurt. One toe is even a little numb.
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My Stories Online
- "Lester Young and the Jupiter's Moons' Blues." Asimov's SF, July 2008. (Fictionwise eMagazine edition available here.)- "Pahwakhe" -- Fantasy magazine, 21 January 2008.
Or listen to the Podcastle Podcast here (from 2 May 2008)!- "The Egan Thief" -- Flurb #4, Fall/Winter 2007.
- "Junk" -- Nature, Vol 448: 2 August, 2007. (PDF also available.)
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Grab Some Music
Korean indie rock with lost saxophone in tow:
- Product by Dabang Band (2004)
- Pig Over Seoul by Dabang Band (2002)Live acoustic/electronic ambient chillout:
- Live 1998 by ApocryphaCrusty, weird modern classical student compositions: - an assortment of compositions I wrote as an undergrad from 1995-1996.
If you're one of those people who is into owning the physical CD, Dabang Band's 2nd album, Product:
... is still available via YesAsia. I won't see a cent either way, but it's a pretty nice, ahem, product.
