Neil Gaiman

ralafferty:

This week the mail brought me the latest, and in many ways the most important, of the Lafferty centennial tributes: the first issue of the new fanzine Feast of Laughter, edited by Kevin Cheek of Yet Another Lafferty Blog, with contributions by many of those who have talked Lafferty online over the past 4 or 5 years, and who now gather at the East of Laughter page on Facebook.

Additionally, the volume reprints Lafferty’s “Six Fingers of Time” and a re-edited version of Michael Bishop’s Lafferty pastiche “Of Crystalline Labyrinths and the New Creation,” as well as a variety of other stories inspired by Ray’s work. There’s poetry, illustrations, an interview with Centipede Press collected Lafferty editor John Pelan, and a call to make a Lafferty documentary.

While you can download the entire zine at the above link, I would recommend getting a print-on-demand physical copy. (And before I say why, I should note that, though I am a contributor, I am not deriving any income from this project, nor would I accept any if it were offered.)

First, the book is very handsome—the cover is not overly glossy or slippery like some POD editions, but rather more pleasant to the touch. Also, the cover art, already quite impressive on the screen, is a knockout on the actual physical product; immediately taking a place among my favorite Lafferty images of all time.

Second, it’s the firstfruits of what we all hope (along with anyone reading this blog, I imagine) will be a widespread Lafferty renaissance—it’s great to see all the centennial attention, but for any revival to stick, it’s going to take dedication not only from the estate, but also from a central core of the fanbase. Feast of Laughter has plans to publish twice a year, and the base of fans has to expand for each one in order for such an endeavor to stay on schedule and succeed. Join that central core! Read and respond and consider submitting material yourself.

Third, even apart from whatever little bit of money accrues from the Amazon sales, it’s important to push the figures themselves up, and show that there is demand both for Lafferty and for writing about Lafferty. That’s what gets industries started. (And it will also make it easier for me to pitch the Lafferty criticism primer I’ve been wanting to pull together, and hope to place somewhere next year once I’m done with my dissertation.)

front cover

back cover

Table of Contents 1

Table of Contents 2

I hit the first link and bought the book.