Time for a Walker Percy LOA volume or two?
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1Truett
Hey, DCLOYCESMITH: Even though the subject has been broached, before -- in the Will LOA Ever Publish topic, maybe? -- it seems well past time to ask the question more directly: are Those In Charge at LOA considering Walker Percy for a book or two?
Praises have already been sung -- by Elenchus and a few others --for books like THE MOVIEGOER and THE LAST GENTLEMAN, and even THE THANATOS SYNDROME (his last novel) -- but check out this excerpt from LOVE IN THE RUINS: The Adventures of a Bad Catholic From a Time Near the End of the World:
"Over time, the U.S. has become progressively more fragmented between left and right, black and white, as social trends of the 1960s run to their logical extremes. Society begins to come apart at the seams, and no one except Dr. Thomas More seems to notice; and no one, including him, seems to particularly care. So Dr. Thomas More -- a lapsed Catholic, alcoholic, womanizer, and descendant of Sir Thomas More -- invents a device that he names the Ontological Lapsometer, which can diagnose and treat the harmful mental states at the root of society's slow disintegration. However, in the wrong hands, the device can also exacerbate the problems. A government representative, intent on getting More a Nobel Prize, seeks to put it to his own uses -- while More attempts to prevent a disaster."
Seems like a VERY timely read to me. :)
And the fact that Percy only published six novels in all should make it easy to decide on one or two collections.
The nonfiction -- if deemed worthy -- might make things a bit tougher, when deciding which to include in any particular volume. I believe he actually had a pretty fair success with his first nonfiction book, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. Personally, I dig the hard-to-pigeon-hole LOST IN THE COSMOS, because it comes across as a sort of "fictional" parody of non-fictional writing (specifically, self-help books) if that makes sense. It's almost as if Vonnegut has set up camp in his brain, for a spell. (Maybe the publishers were confused by a fictional bit of scatological playfulness, and accidentally published it in the wrong category! LOL).
Praises have already been sung -- by Elenchus and a few others --for books like THE MOVIEGOER and THE LAST GENTLEMAN, and even THE THANATOS SYNDROME (his last novel) -- but check out this excerpt from LOVE IN THE RUINS: The Adventures of a Bad Catholic From a Time Near the End of the World:
"Over time, the U.S. has become progressively more fragmented between left and right, black and white, as social trends of the 1960s run to their logical extremes. Society begins to come apart at the seams, and no one except Dr. Thomas More seems to notice; and no one, including him, seems to particularly care. So Dr. Thomas More -- a lapsed Catholic, alcoholic, womanizer, and descendant of Sir Thomas More -- invents a device that he names the Ontological Lapsometer, which can diagnose and treat the harmful mental states at the root of society's slow disintegration. However, in the wrong hands, the device can also exacerbate the problems. A government representative, intent on getting More a Nobel Prize, seeks to put it to his own uses -- while More attempts to prevent a disaster."
Seems like a VERY timely read to me. :)
And the fact that Percy only published six novels in all should make it easy to decide on one or two collections.
The nonfiction -- if deemed worthy -- might make things a bit tougher, when deciding which to include in any particular volume. I believe he actually had a pretty fair success with his first nonfiction book, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. Personally, I dig the hard-to-pigeon-hole LOST IN THE COSMOS, because it comes across as a sort of "fictional" parody of non-fictional writing (specifically, self-help books) if that makes sense. It's almost as if Vonnegut has set up camp in his brain, for a spell. (Maybe the publishers were confused by a fictional bit of scatological playfulness, and accidentally published it in the wrong category! LOL).
2Truett
Bump (since I got a wild hair and inserted a note in and old post): I want David to notice this one and (perhaps), respond.
:)
:)
3elenchus
A Percy volume or two would immediately go on my subscription list, and be high among my priorities.
I rate the non-fiction as high as the novels, as well. It would be disappointing if LOA included only the fiction.
I rate the non-fiction as high as the novels, as well. It would be disappointing if LOA included only the fiction.
4DCloyceSmith
We have hoped to do a Percy edition for several years now, but we were stymied by rights issues. Things on that front have recently changed a bit (The Moviegoer was recently moved from Knopf/Vintage to FSG), so we just might have news on that front in the next couple of years.
--David
--David
5elenchus
While rights issues are frustrating (and I note you hint that not all works are treated the same, only making it more complicated), it's welcome news to me that Percy's work is on LOA's radar and believed worthy of pursuit. Really appreciate the update, David.
6Truett
Thank you, DCLOYCESMITH! As always, you come through in an expeditious and professional and friendly fashion.
The news about possible news of a forthcoming Walker Percy LOA tome or two is, of course, more than welcome. Hope your weekend goes well, and that the recently rocky road of publishing is starting to smooth out somewhat. (Also: if you get a chance, hip Mr. Gary K. Wolfe to my suggestions, for a possible 1970s sci-fi novel collection, below -- I'm tellin' ya, with Geo. RR Martin's name on the spine -- not to mention Butler and Haldeman and Disch and Silverberg and Wilhelm, etc., all in the same collection -- the LOA will have it's biggest seller in that category, if not of all time). :) Cheers!
The news about possible news of a forthcoming Walker Percy LOA tome or two is, of course, more than welcome. Hope your weekend goes well, and that the recently rocky road of publishing is starting to smooth out somewhat. (Also: if you get a chance, hip Mr. Gary K. Wolfe to my suggestions, for a possible 1970s sci-fi novel collection, below -- I'm tellin' ya, with Geo. RR Martin's name on the spine -- not to mention Butler and Haldeman and Disch and Silverberg and Wilhelm, etc., all in the same collection -- the LOA will have it's biggest seller in that category, if not of all time). :) Cheers!
