The Howling Fantods

I'm sitting at the airport waiting to board my flight to Sydney. I've got access to wireless broadband over the weekend so expect regular updates.

 

Looks like we're all systems go for a meetup after the Remembering DFW Panel on saturday night. At this point in time it looks like we'll be meeting around 9pm somewhere near Circular Quay. More details tomorrow.

David Hering has asked me to remind readers about the University of Liverpool DFW conference in July, and that the call for papers ends this weekend. Check the fine print if you had something planned but are running late.

 

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Consider David Foster Wallace: A Conference – University Of Liverpool
29/30th July 2009


The passing of the writer David Foster Wallace in September 2008
presents not only a tragic and significant loss to the literary world,
but also an important opportunity to consider the impact and magnitude
of the remarkable body of work he leaves us. From the irreverency and
piercing social commentary of his journalism in A Supposedly Fun Thing
I'll Never Do Again and Consider The Lobster to the monumental,
sprawling majesty of his gargantuan novel Infinite Jest, Wallace's
writing is increasingly considered to be one of the most significant
literary canons of the second half of the twentieth century.

On 29-30th July, The University Of Liverpool is hosting an
international conference devoted to discussion and scholarly appraisal
of Wallace's work. Papers of 20 minutes duration are welcome on any
aspect of Wallace's fiction or non-fiction. Depending on response,
there may also be places available for non-scholars who wish to attend
the conference (although it is likely at this stage that only scholars
will be permitted to give papers).

Confirmed Keynote Speaker:

Greg Carlisle (Morehead State University, Kentucky) – Greg Carlisle is
the author of Elegant Complexity, the most extensive and detailed
published study of Wallace's novel Infinite Jest available.

Abstracts of approx. 250 words and any enquiries about the conference
should be sent to David Hering at the University of Liverpool at the
following email address: D.Hering at liverpool.ac.uk (replace the at with @ - Nick)

by Friday 22nd May 2009. If you feel you cannot make the abstract deadline but

are interested in attending, or if you are a non-scholar, then you should also

contact me ASAP with any enquiries.

I've had numerous emails from readers (thanks everyone) that their copies of the Sonora Review double issue are finally appearing in the mail. It includes a previously uncollected DFW short, Solomon Silverfish, and a special DFW tribute section.

 

I can't wait until my copy arrives, but as always, international post is a little slower.

 

Crude Futures posted some info recently as well.

Fantods reader Anthony alerted me to this 1999 Amherst Magazine interview with DFW I don't think I have seen on the web before: Brief Interview with a Five Draft Man.

 

It's a good one too, candid, and I'm sure the 'by mail' format helped. Interesting to read about Mark Costello (of Signifying Rappers I presume) doing the 'two thesis' thing the year before DFW at Amherst. Does anyone out there recall reading about DFW's injury in '81? (I can't help but think of Hal's ankle in IJ)

 

(Thanks, Anthony!)

I'm on track for the Sydney Writers' Festival Remembering David Foster Wallace Panel. I pretty much know what my little 10 minute presentation will be about and I expect the panel discussion with the other presenters will be great fun.

 

It's a free event this coming Saturday, May 23 2009 in Bangarra Theatre Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay (in Sydney). From 18:00 - 19:30.

 

If there are any Fantods readers in Sydney interested in meeting up later on the Saturday evening email me and we'll see what we can organise. If we get some firm details organised I'll post it here closer to the date.

Esquire.com has made DFW's short story Incarnations of Burned Children available online. This is one of my fave DFW shorts, and since becoming a father it has become exponentially more difficult for me to re-read it. I guess that's a 'tread carefully' warning for any parents about to read this one for the first time.

 

In the days after learning of DFW's death it was this story (along with Forever Overhead) that I read with a couple of my senior high school classes; equal parts remembrance, celebration, and mourning.

 

(via Unlikely Words; see also Jason's link-worthy, write-up /warning at kottke.org)