| Author | Message | ||
     Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.195.84.181 |
Pretty sure that everyone here must have heard the awful news by now, but it seems not to commemorate Graham here. I think we're all still reeling from this one, especially coming so soon after Joel. An incredible writer, and a remarkable man. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 85.255.235.107 |
Reeling is right, Simon.  It was Weber broke the news to me by text and he was very upset as the man was one of his all time favourite authors. I was only introduced to Joyce's writing recently by the powerful short story "Under The Pylon" (1993) in 'Best New Horror : Volume 4' and found it a haunting and intensely moving evocation of childhood that chimed uncannily with my own vividly remembered experiences of coming of age and learning about one's own mortality. I promised myself then to read every other word the man had written, knowing I had discovered another of those rare voices that speaks directly to the reader's own conscience and sense of self in a beautiful but frightening universe. I believe I compared him to Graham Greene at the time. We have lost far too many Good writers over the last couple of years and I am reminded of a story I read somewhere back in the 80s - can't remember the author. A man finds himself mourning a number of the great figures who inspired his life over a shockingly short space of time and he becomes psychotically obsessed with the idea that all the Good souls are being taken by a certain date so that the rest of us can be consigned to an eternity of undying torment. Unsure of his own worth he decides to throw himself under a train. He regains consciousness to find himself in darkness and terrible agony, only to hear the words, "We were able to save his life but he lost both arms and both legs and his internal injuries mean he will never be able to leave the life support machine. I can only hope the poor soul can't feel anything but as we can never communicate with him that lies in the hands of God." I wonder what Graham and Joel are talking about up there? | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.156.5.201 |
Very sad. I met Graham first when we appeared together in the Small Press mags of the 1990s. RIP. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 180.176.200.20 |
Very sorry to hear this. I only knew Graham Joyce through his stories and novels. I knew he wasn't well through following his posts on Facebook, and was always impressed by the strength and humour he showed in confronting his illness. It doesn't seem right that people like him and Joel are gone. At least their writing remains. |