"Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand" really messed me up as a young lad, I had no business reading that at that age. As an adult I went back and read most of his stuff, it aged really well, Star Pit and Einstein Intersection are two favorites of mine. His work really had no contemporaries in that era. At least not that I ever read.
I dunno, Philip K. Dick, Stanislaw Lem, Ursula LeGuin and Harlan Ellison were certainly on par with Delaney in the soft/mind-bending category. In my opinion, they have aged better; much of the more overtly experimental sci-fi of the late 1960s and early 1970s feels a bit dated today. J. G. Ballard comes to mind (his non-sci-fi novels are much better).
On the other hand, there is some brilliant stuff (like R. A. Lafferty, and William Borroughs's sci-fi stuff) that is undeservedly forgotten.
When you're reading it, consider that the author is a supreme being, and can make the world do whatever he wants, including things that are not possible, because he's a supreme being (and that's what an author is).
The best 879 pages of urgent meaninglessness and near-constant déjà vu ever written.
I found picking different starting points on later re-reads rather interesting. For anyone who hasn't read it, Dhalgren is circular, but there are a handful of places where it could start that make about as much sense as starting on page 1.
Definitely worth a read, but you'll never figure out how to make that discord on a harmonica.
I lived about 3 blocks away from him and was friends with his daughter when we were about preschool/kindergarten age. Back then I said I would marry her someday (I grew up and eventually married someone else in the end).
Chip was an interesting guy, he always was a jolly santalike figure and seemed really involved with his daughter's life (She split time between him and his ex-wife). I didnt know then about his sex life (would be weird if I did) but knowing about him now I can admire the way he candidly wrote about himself.
But he was a great author and I remember once interviewing him for a class when I needed some book report insights.
Fun fact. In some essay-book he wrote about a time his daughter Iva beat me and some other boys in a peeing contest. Maybe that s why I never made the cut to marrying her.
I didn't to either. After a quick googling I see some pro-nambla weirdnesses with him. Don't see anything looking like victims coming forward so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. I think...
But I only had good experiences with his daughter and him. Doubt I have any repressed memories there - would have repressed other worse shit in my life too :).
But I might Google more later. At a starbucks so I don't feel like googling for the word "pedophilia".
Interesting article and a cautionary tale for moral relativists.
Still hold to my initial impressions of him. That he was a big hearted fellow, a brilliant author, a doting father, and in his books/interviews very open about his sexuality.
His opinions on kids are odd, granted. It seems like a lot of people like him who get molested at a young age (thinking of Milo) rewrite their lives to be hypersexual.
When I was six, I was friends with a boy called Luke.
I visited his house dozens of times, knew all the family, shared toys, they belonged to the same religion as my parents you see.
25 years later I discovered Luke's father had been buggering his son the whole time. Still in prison, I think. I remember nothing strange or sexual happening despite visiting so frequently.
Same thing with that Carl guy on Reddit who was giving programming classes. It's always hard to believe, it was a shock for the community.
Point is, don't take normalcy for normal.
I don't think people, even pedophiles, are evil just for having their thoughts (because a hunt for thought criminals is something that spirals out of control so easily), but Jesus Christ they should keep those thoughts and reality very separated or it'll cause a lot of suffering for everybody.
If there are people reading this who have those urges, I suggest thinking going to the doctor, there exist drugs which deplete sexual desire. Taking a step like that shows strength, not a weakness.
I agree with everything you said. Not sure exactly where to place someone like him in these categories.
I still doubt he was an actual molester, but I will say that support of nambla is a bit odd. That said I always give the benefit of the doubt until accusers come forward. Like I feel Milo was mostly just trolling.
Course I'm a little naive too. I initially thought subway Jared couldn't be a molester because he just looked too much like a molester.
Contradictions like being a popular icon while at the same time supporting child abuse if I remember right.
Checked it again, and yup:
“I read the NAMBLA [Bulletin] fairly regularly and I think it is one of the most intelligent discussions of sexuality I’ve ever found. I think before you start judging what NAMBLA is about, expose yourself to it and see what it is really about. What the issues they are really talking about, and deal with what’s really there rather than this demonized notion of guys running about trying to screw little boys. I would have been so much happier as an adolescent if NAMBLA had been around when I was 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.” — Samuel R. Delany, June 25, 1994.
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 22.1 ms ] threadHe laments the loss of the 1970s New York Times Square "temporary autonomous zone".
(see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_Autonomous_Zone )
On the other hand, there is some brilliant stuff (like R. A. Lafferty, and William Borroughs's sci-fi stuff) that is undeservedly forgotten.
I've been spoiled ever since. I grew up assuming all SF was that creative, literate, and fascinatingly weird. Sadly that turned out not to be true.
I won't claim it's a great work of English literature, because that's not what my training is in.
But it sure as hell makes my Top 5 "Books I finished a different man than I started."
Disclaimer: I recommend reading it while traveling in a country where you don't speak the native language for full effect.
When you're reading it, consider that the author is a supreme being, and can make the world do whatever he wants, including things that are not possible, because he's a supreme being (and that's what an author is).
I found picking different starting points on later re-reads rather interesting. For anyone who hasn't read it, Dhalgren is circular, but there are a handful of places where it could start that make about as much sense as starting on page 1.
Definitely worth a read, but you'll never figure out how to make that discord on a harmonica.
Chip was an interesting guy, he always was a jolly santalike figure and seemed really involved with his daughter's life (She split time between him and his ex-wife). I didnt know then about his sex life (would be weird if I did) but knowing about him now I can admire the way he candidly wrote about himself.
But he was a great author and I remember once interviewing him for a class when I needed some book report insights.
Fun fact. In some essay-book he wrote about a time his daughter Iva beat me and some other boys in a peeing contest. Maybe that s why I never made the cut to marrying her.
Did you know he was a pedophile? Did you read "in the valley of the spiders"?
Because in that context your entire post makes me ill.
But I only had good experiences with his daughter and him. Doubt I have any repressed memories there - would have repressed other worse shit in my life too :).
But I might Google more later. At a starbucks so I don't feel like googling for the word "pedophilia".
Still hold to my initial impressions of him. That he was a big hearted fellow, a brilliant author, a doting father, and in his books/interviews very open about his sexuality.
His opinions on kids are odd, granted. It seems like a lot of people like him who get molested at a young age (thinking of Milo) rewrite their lives to be hypersexual.
I visited his house dozens of times, knew all the family, shared toys, they belonged to the same religion as my parents you see.
25 years later I discovered Luke's father had been buggering his son the whole time. Still in prison, I think. I remember nothing strange or sexual happening despite visiting so frequently.
Same thing with that Carl guy on Reddit who was giving programming classes. It's always hard to believe, it was a shock for the community.
Point is, don't take normalcy for normal.
I don't think people, even pedophiles, are evil just for having their thoughts (because a hunt for thought criminals is something that spirals out of control so easily), but Jesus Christ they should keep those thoughts and reality very separated or it'll cause a lot of suffering for everybody.
If there are people reading this who have those urges, I suggest thinking going to the doctor, there exist drugs which deplete sexual desire. Taking a step like that shows strength, not a weakness.
I still doubt he was an actual molester, but I will say that support of nambla is a bit odd. That said I always give the benefit of the doubt until accusers come forward. Like I feel Milo was mostly just trolling.
Course I'm a little naive too. I initially thought subway Jared couldn't be a molester because he just looked too much like a molester.
Checked it again, and yup:
“I read the NAMBLA [Bulletin] fairly regularly and I think it is one of the most intelligent discussions of sexuality I’ve ever found. I think before you start judging what NAMBLA is about, expose yourself to it and see what it is really about. What the issues they are really talking about, and deal with what’s really there rather than this demonized notion of guys running about trying to screw little boys. I would have been so much happier as an adolescent if NAMBLA had been around when I was 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.” — Samuel R. Delany, June 25, 1994.