From: Michael Andre-Driussi <mantis@siriusfiction.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Tolkien essay, pre-publication history
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 20:07:14 -0800

Andy Robertson wrote:
>Gene Wolfe wrote to me, when questioned on this very point:
>
>
><quote>
>I would say "rejected."  If you prefer "refused" or "withdrawn" I will not
>object.
></quote>
>
>Me, I think Haber understood the political implications of Wolfe's essay and
>wanted to squelch it.


Touche'!  Well that certainly trumps =mine=! (Teach me to open my mouth <g>).

So Big Cheers for "Interzone" for daring to Publish that which was
Squelched! And the land of Tolkien and Chesterton (the essay makes me think
of THE NAPOLEON OF NOTTING HILL)!

To Nutria, thanks for the support, especially since we've just been trumped.

But with regard to publishers, before we get off into another tangent, no,
(as I understand it) in this day and age it really is  quite ordinary in
the US for publishers to put the burden on the authors in cases like this
(which can be rationalized as being because the publisher will have to pay
if it goes to court).  The essay is greatly enriched by all the quotes, but
if getting permission is too great a burden, then the author can always
paraphrase, describe ("poem x by author y, lines z to a"), etc.

Which obviously would water-down the essay.  Or make it look like it had
been through a prison-grade censor.

=mantis=


Sirius Fiction
booklets on Gene Wolfe, John Crowley
http://www.siriusfiction.com/