Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 272 entries, all of them here in full.
April 30, 2009 · 313 words
Miletos Tristesse
The saddest sights we saw in Turkey were the ruins of Miletos. We saw a lot of lost and abandoned cities. Ephesus, Priene, and Kaunos were all once-thriving port cities stranded inland when their harbors silted up. That’s also what happened to Miletos, which is now 10km from the sea. But somehow those other cities [&he
Read entry →April 29, 2009 · 755 words
Elegy for Angels and Dogs
I just signed contracts with a French publisher for my novelet “Elegy for Angels and Dogs.” This will be printed in an edition of Roger Zelazny’s stories. Which is not as strange as it might seem, because the story is a direct sequel to Roger’s “The Graveyard Heart.” The two were originally paired in a […]
Read entry →April 29, 2009 · 125 words
Weird Factoid of the Day
I just found out that while working for Eyre and Spottiswoode— surely my favourite British publisher, just for the name alone— Graham Greene edited the first novel of a man better known as a fantasy illustrator:“Greene scrupulously hammers Mervyn Peake for the facetiousness, prolixity, and overwriting in th
Read entry →April 28, 2009 · 293 words
The News
Notes from the world:The Army has a problem, in that its soldiers keep getting old and unable to function properly— just like the rest of us. Unlike the rest of us, the Army has a plan. They’re going to use Science to keep their soldiers young for, maybe, ever. A soldier rendered forever young – […]
Read entry →April 27, 2009 · 70 words
Moogaloop
A musical jam from New Orleans to Congo to Moscow. A melodic tribute to the power of the internet.I’m not sure how they cope with the time delay as signals are bounced to HEO and back, but they seem to do it well.There are jam sites, or so I’m told. My Inner Rock Star is […]
Read entry →April 27, 2009 · 83 words
Pork!
Maybe it’s an overreaction to spending three weeks in a Muslim country, but I’ve been having quite a love affair with the Unutterable Flesh since I’ve got back.I’ve grilled pork chops. I’ve had carne adovada. I’ve eaten BBQ ribs, and I’ve enjoyed chorizo.Just now I’ve finished Julia’s recipe for Roti de Porc Grand’Mere
Read entry →April 24, 2009 · 339 words
Necropolis
Here are pictures of the tombs I promised you. The bottom picture was taken from our hotel room balcony in Dalyan. These are referred to as “Lycian temple tombs,” though as it happens these particular tombs are in Caria, and are part of the necropolis of Kaunos, a once-great city whose ruins are now accessible [&hellip
Read entry →April 16, 2009 · 239 words
Bath Time
The other night the three of us went to the hamam, or Turkish bath. The order can vary, but generally this involves a long relaxing stretch on a slab of hot marble, a tub of hot water being splashed all over you, a scrub with a scratchy mitten, a sudsy massage, followed by a cleanoff, […]
Read entry →April 14, 2009 · 176 words
The Best Turkish Story Ever!
Still in Turkey, having a great time. Heard this story and needed to share. There are a lot of people here from Down Under. Aussies and Kiwis have a strange affinity for this country— they come for vacation and stay for years, marry the locals, and often end up in the hospitality industry. There was […]
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