Kevin's Watch

I found these forums while looking for a way to send an email to Stephen Donaldson. Which proved to be impossible following the links, unless I ingored the admonitions not to send emails to certain addresses. Being the good citizen I am, I followed instructions and didn't try to send an email.

Then I started thinking, it is probably a blessing that I couldn't send Mr Donaldson an email, because, really what could I say?

How to address an icon, which is what he had, without my realising it, become to me over the years? Even more, how on earth would my 16 year old self be able to offer my 37 year old self the vocabulary to convey the feelings of wonder and joy I had while reading the Thomas Covenant books for the first time. How to put into words what I felt a lifetime ago without sounding sad or pretentious?

It's enough that the Runes of the Earth brought back so many of those memories. My 16 year old self would be horrified by my acceptance, but I don't have to write to Mr Donaldson and tell him in breathless tones how much his books affected me then, and how the memory of that affects me now. I think he already has a good idea of what his books meant to me, and I am sure many others.

Still, it's nice to say those things on this site anyway.

Regards


A

Hail Albaus Be welcome and true to the Watch.

If you want to send SRD a personal note or question, you can always do it thru the Gradual Interview on his official website.

www.stephenrdonaldson.com

click on "From the Author" and then click on The Gradual Interview. But, before you go to ask a question, it would probably be a good idea to read thru it all first...he's answered sooooo many questions. Alot of people just send him comments thru there as well, myself included. He has been gracious enough to email me back personally on several occasions. So he may just do the same for you.

Albaus writes,

How to address an icon, which is what he had, without my realising it, become to me over the years? Even more, how on earth would my 16 year old self be able to offer my 37 year old self the vocabulary to convey the feelings of wonder and joy I had while reading the Thomas Covenant books for the first time. How to put into words what I felt a lifetime ago without sounding sad or pretentious?

heh! had the same problem when i met James Taylor. (the guys sooo tall!! he's larger than life!)
ended up saying something goofey and feeling like a colossal diplosauraus rex!!! can TOTALLY relate to your dilemma, Albaus!
when i met Robert Englund on the street in front of Saks in Union Square getting ready to cross the street i was a bit better. at least i didn't shout out "oh my god it's freddy kruger!!!" hahahaha!!!!!
just shook his hand and told him how much i enjoyed his work! it went well i thought and i didn't gawk and freak like i did when i met JT!!!
i've been to a lot of book signings and refined my technique over the years a bit!! hahaha! [/quote][/b]

Hello, Albaus. Welcome to The Watch!

How do you approach an icon? In SRD's case, Bugs Bunny's famed "Take a left turn at Albuquerque" is amazingly relevant!!!

It's no accident that SRD's initial title for the 2nd book of the Last Chrons was Fatal Rabbit, but the author and Bugs talked it over dinner and decided the story was complex enough without having TC or Linden deal with a smart-alecky bunny and his Earthpowered carrot.

(ducks rotten tomatoes)

usually my wife talks to the famous person while i smile.

it has become a running joke really. when we saw Brad in concert we met Shawn Smith (vox/keys) and Mike Berg (bass/guitar/keys) and then Julie grabs the drummer, Regan Hagar and tells him that we are waiting for Jeremy Toback (bass/vox) and would he go get him? Jeremy comes out and apologizes! i was most impressed.

Matrixman wrote:It's no accident that SRD's initial title for the 2nd book of the Last Chrons was Fatal Rabbit, but the author and Bugs talked it over dinner and decided the story was complex enough without having TC or Linden deal with a smart-alecky bunny and his Earthpowered carrot.

Please, Joy, don't encourage him.

Don't fawn over them.

I was lucky enough to spend about an hour with Tom Selleck and Tom Clancy about 10 years ago at my part time job. I worked in a gun store, and the owner asked a few of us if we could stay late. I said, "no problem". Well, about 15 minutes after we closed, there was a knock at the door, and these two come strolling in.

At this point I should mention that I'm a HUGE Magnum P.I. fan.

So after I pick my jaw up off the floor, I tell myself to be cool, and I introduced myself. Clancy was shopping for a new shotgun (he ended up spending about $20,000 that night), Selleck was along for the ride (they're friends, Clancy lives on the Eastern Shore, Selleck owned a house here in Pasadena for quite a while).

So Selleck's just browsing around, and I figure I'll strike up a conversation with him. I tell him what a big fan of his show I was, and he asked me why.

So I told him. Excellent writing, first show to really deal with Vietnam, first show to really deal with men's friendships. He was impressed. We talked about specific episodes, he gave me a ton of insight into the character and how he felt about playing him.

Clancy had to tug on his shirt to get him to leave.

Anyway, the point is that these guys put their pants on one leg at a time, and they get sick and tired of people gushing, "you're soooooo cool" all the time. Treat them like anyone else, and they'll respect you for that.

Albaus wrote: How to address an icon, which is what he had, without my realising it, become to me over the years?

Treat them like they're not an icon; and don't be afraid to look foolish...it worked for me (but maybe that's because being foolish is one of my endearing qualities!).

and pick people to admire who have qualities that make them people to admire. I have not had a bad moment with any celebrity I have met, because they aren't the ytpe of folks who would be asses.

Anyway, the point is that these guys put their pants on one leg at a time

Cail, I beg to differ.
I was working at a pet store when David Hasselhoff entered in.
He was filming something in the area during the peak of the Baywatch era.
First let me say that Mr. Hasselhoff is 17 feet tall.
And I'm just talking about his teeth!

At this point I should mention that I'm a HUGE Baywatch fan.
I understand that Mr Hasselhoff and other men are in the show but personally I've never seen them.

I think he bought a dog collar or something but I was too busy covering my eyes to block the glow coming from his godly "aura".

Who knows how he puts his pants on though.
But I bet he does it in a fantastic way unlike you or me.

Ted Kennedy doesn't wear pants.