| Author | Message | ||
     Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.155.23.31 |
I'm thinking of self-republishing my novella AGRA ASKA - first written in 1984, first published in 1998 by Scorpion Press (long out of print). To see if this would be worthwhile, let me know if you might be interested. http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/agra_aska_scorpion_press_1998.htm | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.253.77 |
Well, I'd certainly buy a copy. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.31.194.128 |
Me, too. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
Agra Aska does have one of the best opening lines of any story ever (actually it's two lines, but they can be treated as one). In fact it's an even better opening than Samuel Beckett's Murphy ("The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.") | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Ooo, I'd buy a copy - definitely!  I have to confess, Des, this is another one of your longer works which I've never read. If it's half as good as Weirdtongue, it'll be a belter. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.204.111.238 |
I'd like to read it, Des. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 88.111.132.33 |
Count me in. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.209.217 |
I have it- indeed, helped publish it- but I'd still buy a copy. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.155.23.31 |
Thanks for encouragement.  | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.155.23.31 |
Agra Aska does have one of the best opening lines of any story ever (actually it's two lines, but they can be treated as one). In fact it's an even better opening than Samuel Beckett's Murphy ("The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.") ============== Thanks, Rhys. I recently came across the quote below from Elizabeth Bowen that - although not as succinct - seems to convey a similar feeling. “In a top front room of one of those grander houses, a young woman woke to find herself standing in the middle of a carpet. She often woke like this, and was not surprised; but she asked herself to what room the carpet belonged this time.” –From ‘I Hear You Say So’ a story by Elizabeth Bowen (1945) | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
Des: your Agra Aska opening employs the two uses of one particular homonym in a two step process in a neat way: the second use refers back to the first use; and the honomym is only written once, so the second meaning is implied rather than stated openly. Technically, it's much superior to your Bowen quote. That opening of yours is one of the few examples of a 'Riemann surface' I've seen used in fiction, although I suspect (forgive me if I'm wrong) that you achieved this without a special interest in complex manifolds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_surface | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Wish I'd paid attention in Maths. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/agra-aska/13382933?productTrackingContext= product_view/more_by_author/right/1 I may be advertising signed copies soon direct from me, if you can wait. Signed on the front cover white disc. des | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Great! I'll wait for a signed copy direct from you, Des. Let us know when you're doing that. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
Hi, Caroline. In fact, I've decided that EVERYONE who posted ABOVE on this thread will receive a free signed copy of the new Agra Aska. As a thank you for the encouragement. This should be posted out in the next few weeks. Please, meanwhile, if you want it, send me your address to dflewis48@hotmail.com des | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Des - you're a real sweetie!  But I feel I ought to send you something for it. I'll email you now ... | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
I'm not really a sweetie. But thanks. Just received the final version of the re-published AGRA ASKA and I'm really pleased with it. Also just published another early work: STROLLERS: http://www.lulu.com/author/content_revise.php?fCID=9588057 | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
Sorry that was the wrong link. This is the right one: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Nemonymous | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
And if you're in UK: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/strollers/13387555?productTrackingContext= author_spotlight_83213552_ | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Interesting! Can I ask, Des, why is The Visitor an "acquired taste"? Basically, do you reckon I'd enjoy it? | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
Caroline, THE VISITOR was written in 1974 and is completely mad. I can guarantee very few, if any, people will enjoy it. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
>>I can guarantee very few, if any, people will enjoy it.<<  I'm sure you're not really meant to say things like that about your own work! Mind you, you've got me hooked now. Since I was also completely mad in 1974 I must just try it! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.239.19 |
Don't waste your money on THE VISITOR, Caroline. By the way, these three books, AGRA ASKA, STROLLERS and THE VISITOR also have a download facility. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.157.25.172 |
Regarding my new book STROLLERS - preview is available of first few pages by clicking 'preview': http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/strollers/13387555 You will not want to miss this one! This is my last advert here. But don't forget to claim your free copies of AGRA ASKA as advertised above - i.e for RCMB members who encouraged me above. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Agra Aska plopped through my letterbox and onto the doormat this morning - many thanks Des! Looking forward to getting my teeth into it (not literally, you understand). It's no good though, I'm going to have to try The Visitor - your pleas not to read it are just making me more and more curious. So I'm off to Lulu to get both The Visitor and Strollers now - cheaper p&p if I get them both together, I suspect. I may be pestering you for more signatures some time, Des - or you might not want to sign The Visitor? In fact, I might not want you to sign it if it's as bad as you'd have us believe! (only kidding) | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.169.221.108 |
AGRA ASKA is now on Amazon | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Mine arrived too, Des - thank you! |