The Gradual Interview

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 3:20 am

Hey, what do you know! In SRD's 4/19 answer to Jeff Smith, he mentions John Myers Myers' Silverlock. Very cool book, and the only thing I know of that SRD and I have both read.

(well, LOTR too, but...)

Post by **Mouseglove** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:44 pm

What? He answered my question? YIKES!

*dashes off to the OS*

(Edited to add:)

*scribbles down titles and authors*

Woot! More things to add to the reading list.

-Mg, who is known by the dull moniker "Jeff Smith" in another world.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 2:08 pm

duchess of malfi wrote:As a general rule, nerve tissue doesn't regenerate, whether severely damaged by disease or by injury (breaking your back or neck, for instance). From the sound of it, the disease is cured in that it cannot be passed on to another person, or cause further damage to the victim -- but that doesn't mean any severe damage already done can be undone.

I've heard researchers are working on ways to repair nerve tissues. Christopher Reeves, the actor who played Superman, who was crippled in a horse back riding accident, is a spokesman for such efforts. I'm not sure how far along they are in their efforts...

Firstly, it depends on how much damage to the neurons. If it's axonal damage then chances are the nerve will degrade. If it's more so the endings, nerves can grow back.
Using stem cells can grow new neurons - so spinal moto neurons *could* reinervate the spinal cord. But the spinal cord and brain stem - descending motor control - is so complex that I doubt reinjecting stem cells could do much.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 2:10 pm

Joy wrote:I seem to remember a while back that Reeve took a few steps as a result of that research. Haven't heard recently.

According to most neurologists, Reeve taking a few steps is impossible. I read that it was faked in some way. apparently he offended alot of people with that.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 4:06 pm

Ur-Vile wrote:
Joy wrote:I seem to remember a while back that Reeve took a few steps as a result of that research. Haven't heard recently.
According to most neurologists, Reeve taking a few steps is impossible. I read that it was faked in some way. apparently he offended alot of people with that.

It was faked???

wow! I had heard that he moved his legs, not that he took steps. I wonder if that too was a false statement.

We can only imagine how he must feel. His day to day struggles must be so difficult and painful. Maybe those statements were just his way of clinging unto his hope for a miracle. He's a good soul.

Back to the interview...He's really moving along with answering, it is sooooo cool!! Great questions from everyone!!

Post by **variol son** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 4:05 am

So he likes Sorus Chatelaine? I want to know why!

Sum sui generis
Vs

Post by **Seppi2112** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 4:29 am

He must like her... her gave her the pleasure of

Spoiler

killing Nick

didnt he? Lol[/spoiler]

Post by **[Syl]** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:30 pm

The spinal cord is a tricky beast. They told my mother that she would never be able to walk after her accident, but they were wrong.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:20 am

That's probably because the spinal motor axons were not diffusely damaged. hard to tell with a scan or biopsy. Good to know she walked!

Post by **Dragonlily** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:28 am

SRD wrote:Sadly, I *will* be touring in both the US and the UK to promote "Runes." (I say "sadly" because for me tours are arduous, lonely, and--in the long run--soul-destroying experiences.) But it's *way* too early to tell exactly where I'll be touring. Those decisions (in which I have no say at all) probably won't be finalized until a month before publication--which is currently scheduled for mid-October in the US and early November for the UK. (I say "currently" because they keep changing their minds.)

Some of you people will be able to get signed copies of RUNES.

Post by **Romeo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 3:02 am

If anyone wants to get a signed copy of Runes, I'll see Steve at WFC in Tempe (end of Oct / beginning of Nov). I'd be more than willing to either pick up copies locally and get them signed by him, or (if publishing date permits) you can mail me your copy and I'll get that signed and mail it back. We can coordinate this in more detail when the time gets closer.

Regarding the newest additions to the Gradual Interview, Steve wrote:

If anything, the tradition I was drawing on was Christian (because of my background in fundamentalist Christianity, not because I am in any useful sense a believer): the Trinity, God in Three Persons. Except I obviously wasn't thinking of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. More like Creator, Destroyer, and Holy Ghost (wild magic). Or Creator, Destroyer, and--what shall we call Covenant as the protagonist of the drama?--Acolyte.

Gee - I was thinking "Creator, Destroyer, and ... poor schmuck stuck between the two."

[/quote]

Post by **Romeo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 3:03 am

If anyone wants to get a signed copy of Runes, I'll see Steve at WFC in Tempe (end of Oct / beginning of Nov). I'd be more than willing to either pick up copies locally and get them signed by him, or (if publishing date permits) you can mail me your copy and I'll get that signed and mail it back. We can coordinate this in more detail when the time gets closer.

Regarding the newest additions to the Gradual Interview, Steve wrote:

If anything, the tradition I was drawing on was Christian (because of my background in fundamentalist Christianity, not because I am in any useful sense a believer): the Trinity, God in Three Persons. Except I obviously wasn't thinking of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. More like Creator, Destroyer, and Holy Ghost (wild magic). Or Creator, Destroyer, and--what shall we call Covenant as the protagonist of the drama?--Acolyte.

Gee - I was thinking "Creator, Destroyer, and ... poor schmuck stuck between the two."

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:11 am

We heard you the first time!!

How about Creator, Destroyer, and the Inbetweener. (Anybody? Anybody? Beuler?)

Post by **Romeo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:11 am

Hey - how'd that happen?!

I had a couple extra "quotes" in there, so I edited it and removed them. Can someone remove the second post? Pleeeeeease?

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:08 pm

More great questions and answers!

dlbpharmd: Do you plan to tour to promote Runes?

Sadly, I *will* be touring in both the US and the UK to promote "Runes." (I say "sadly" because for me tours are arduous, lonely, and--in the long run--soul-destroying experiences.) But it's *way* too early to tell exactly where I'll be touring. Those decisions (in which I have no say at all) probably won't be finalized until a month before publication--which is currently scheduled for mid-October in the US and early November for the UK. (I say "currently" because they keep changing their minds.)

While I certainly sympathize with SRD, I'm glad that he will be touring, as I may never get another chance to meet him personally. I plan to drive to the nearest spot for that opportunity.

But what about the guy who thought Berek had a white gold ring?! Talk about getting called out on the carpet. That was hilarious!

Post by **danlo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:25 pm

SRD is, tentatively, listed for another appearance (along with G. R. R. Martin) at Bubonicon in Albq. NM in late August-at the airport hotel only 3 miles from my house. So alas poor me I'll get to see him (hopefully) twice in 3 months-the first time being, of course, Elohimfest.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 3:19 pm

In the Gradual Interview Mark Jeffery wrote:Mark Jeffrey: Mr. D.,

First, thanks for the supreme reading experience of my life -- 20 years later, Covenent reigns unchallenged as my favorite of favorites, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Runes.

There seems to be a lot of themes of 'shared identity' throughout the series -- "You are the white gold"; Foul is Covenant's dark side, the side that despises himself. Foul is also the "brother" of the Creator. So, in a sense, they are all really One. This seems to be a rather gnostic or buddhist viewpoint (though i hate to label it like that) and the idea of these identities being separate is actually an illusion of the material world. Would say this is right, or rather your intent? And were these philosophical traditions the ones you drew on in constructing your mythos?

Mr. Donaldson's response...

If anything, the tradition I was drawing on was Christian (because of my background in fundamentalist Christianity, not because I am in any useful sense a believer): the Trinity, God in Three Persons. Except I obviously wasn't thinking of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. More like Creator, Destroyer, and Holy Ghost (wild magic). Or Creator, Destroyer, and--what shall we call Covenant as the protagonist of the drama?--Acolyte. But you're quite right about the "shared identity" theme. I was explicitly thinking of the Creator, the Despiser, and wild magic as aspects of Covenant himself. And the part of himself which he denies--wild magic, his own personal power to assign meaning to his life and experiences--is the part which must mediate his internal conflicts (the struggle between the creative and destructive sides of his nature). Hence the thematic development from the first to the second "Chronicles." In the first, Covenant opposes his--dare I say it?--Dark Side and wins (an expensive--and temporary--victory). In the second, he surrenders to his Dark Side, and thereby gains the power to contain it (another expensive--and temporary--victory). "The Last Chronicles" will explore this theme further as Covenant's quest to become whole continues. (Linden Avery is also on a quest to become whole, but hers takes an entirely different form.)

My general view of the kind of fantasy I write is that it's a specialized form of psychodrama. Putting the issue as simply as I can: the story is a human mind turned inside out, and all of the internal forces which drive that mind are dramatized *as if* they were external characters, places, and events. This is easier to see in the first "Chronicles" because the story is simpler: the Land and everyone in it is an external manifestation of Covenant's internal journey/struggle. Everything is more complex in "The Second Chronicles" because there are *two* minds being turned inside out. Which means that there are actually three stories at work: Covenant's, Linden's, and the interaction between the two.

<sigh> And if I wanted to say more than *that* on the subject, I would write dissertations instead of novels.

(04/27/2004)

WOW!!! He continues to just blow me away!! What an incredible answer!

I guess all those debates on whether or not the Land is "real" or not have just been dispelled. And all of us who were convinced that it was all a manifestation of Covenant and his inner battle with his disease were right on the money. Altho, it was so difficult for me to concede the Land all a dream in the 2nd Chrons simply because of Linden...

Post by **Believer** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 3:20 pm

For a while I thought Berek had the white gold as well. With all the talk of the halfhand parallel between Berek and Thomas, I also assumed Berek had the white gold.

Then at one point I realized he was never described as having one. But I can definitely see where the thought comes from.

Post by **variol son** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:43 am

Stephen R. Donaldson wrote:Linden Avery is also on a quest to become whole, but hers takes an entirely different form.

Every time he answers one question he raises another!

Now I want him to describe Linden's quest for wholeness.

Sum sui generis
Vs

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 2:12 am

"Dark and Hung"
:LOLS:

I don't know, I've always considered myself fair-skinned, but who am I to argue?

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

The Gradual Interview