The Howling Fantods

Issue 6 of The Lifted Brow arrived today containing a previously unpublished excerpt from David Foster Wallace's upcoming unfinished novel, The Pale King. It is titled A New Examiner and subtitled The Midwest. I think because the theme for this issue is an atlas and every piece in the collection is linked to a location on our planet).

 

A New Examiner features Lane Dean, Jr. taking a 15 minute break from processing tax returns at his workplace - that's all I'll reveal, I don't want to spoil it. It's not terribly long, but it does help to develop the character of Lane Dean, Jr. we've read in the various excerpts so far.

 

Stylistically it is very similar to the other excerpts - measured pace, careful and matter of fact description, focus on small details of specific things. It is very restrained. Which means I am even more excited for the arrival of The Pale King - I want to know more about Lane Dean, Jr.

 

The quality of the issue of The Lifted Brow is great. 300 pages of fiction, art, and 2 CDs of music. I'm looking forward to picking it up for a closer read later tonight.

First I've heard of this, sounds pretty interesting - I'd be keen to see some of the interpretations.

 

A FAILED ENTERTAINMENT
Selections from the filmography of James O. Incandenza
Exhibition Dates: Jan 29 - Feb 19th
Opening Reception: Friday, Jan 29th, 6-8 pm
Film Screening to take place during opening reception.

 

The LeRoy Neiman Gallery has commissioned artists and filmmakers to re-create seminal works from Incandenza's filmography.

 

(Thanks, Ron)

Scott F. Parker's essay over at Fiction Writers Review is a thoughtful analysis of some of the deeper themes in DFW's Good Old Neon story from Oblivion.

 

The final paragraph, gets to the heart of what a lot of DFW's fiction is about. But be warned, if you have not read Good Old Neon the essay is filled with spoilers.

 

The Real Question

 

 

The second bolano-l group read of 2666 by Roberto Bolaño begins on Jan 25 and (partly because the proposed Infinite Summer read looks dead in the water) you can find out all about it over at Matt Bucher's bolanobolano.com blog. (Matt also maintains bolano-l, wallace-l, and is a good friend. Hi, Matt!)

 

I made it halfway through 2666 during last year's read loving every moment. Unfortunately, life got in the way of finishing the novel, so I am pleased I have a good reason to start over. If you're a wallace-l subscriber there will be plenty of familiar faces participating - join in!

 

LA Times Jacket Copy - Infinite Summer is over, but 2666 Spring calls

The Lifted Brow (previously) just emailed to let me know that the approx 2000 word excerpt from The Pale King in their upcoming issue #6 is titled "A New Examiner" and is about Lane Dean, Jr. The issue will ship in about 3 weeks, having been sent to the printer on Monday. I can't wait for my copy to arrive! (Thanks, R)

 

 

It's entertaining to see DFW's 1998 essay, F/X Porn, being linked to around the web in connection with Avatar discussions. I haven't seen it yet (we've got a new all digital cinema here in Canberra so I guess I'll go see it there in the next couple of weeks) but this line of DFW's from the essay has me wondering just how good it can be...

 

 

Bonus Avatar review by Maria Bustillos over at The Awl, I Hated 'Avatar' With The Fire Of A Thousand Suns. (Check out her great book, Dorkismo: the Macho of the Dork)