G. S. Carnivals
02-11-2009, 04:02 AM
TLO Member Interview: The Silent One
Conducted by Phillip Stecco
1) How did you first encounter the work of Thomas Ligotti?
In one of those 100 horror story compilations edited by Stefan Dziemanowicz. The story was "The Music of the Moon", still a favourite of sorts. Admittedly, I was at first somewhat baffled by the tale (I think that I was ten...), but It grew on me. And so the obsession began...
2) What are some of your favorite works by Mr. Ligotti?
A difficult one to answer. Maybe "Severini", or the poem "I Have a Special Plan for This World", "Vastarien" or "The Bungalow House", "The Prodigy of Dreams" or "The Chymist"... The list goes on. Depends on my mood.
3) What other writers do you enjoy reading?
Many, mainly in that vague territory known as speculative fiction, with some in the realms of satire and non-fiction.
4) Do you have any favorite singers or musicians?
Hmm... Wire, Coil, Sonic Youth, Miles Davis, Angels of Light, Mirror, and generally any bands which I am exploring at the moment, namely Associates and The Virgin Prunes. Kudos, too, to John Coltrane, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Ludus, Swans, Sun Ra, Psychic TV, The Beatles, Sufjan Stevens, Black Flag... Taking notes yet...?
I'm a musician, so this really is not the best or easiest question if you want a short answer!
5) Do you have any favorite artists in the visual media?
Francis Bacon and the Surrealists, especially Yves Tanguy and early Victor Brauner. Many of the early visionaries, like Bosch. Naive architects, like Simon Rodia.
6) What are some of your favorite movies?
More indecisiveness... I'm generally a sucker for independent film.
7) Do you watch television?
Yes. A bit too much. Mostly C-SPAN and news of late...
8) What do you enjoy eating?
Cake; steak, medium rare; sushi, in particular uni, toro and unagi temaki; crème brûlée; challah; and/or hot tea with honey.
9) Do you have any odd hobbies or collecting fetishes?
I pick up stray objects impulsively if not dissuaded, generally for the purpose of sound production. Book- and album-collecting are also hobbies of mine, however restrained by monetary limitations.
10) What recreational activities do you enjoy?
I read. I listen to music. I walk. I sit. I sleep.
11) So many of our lives are filled with the day-to-day anxiety of existence. Have you personally discovered any ways to relieve stress?
Avoid it like the plague. Not the best strategy, but...
12) Life?
Omnipresent.
13) Death?
Simultaneously a source of relief and inexplicable terror.
14) Work?
Depends on the nature of it; potentially satisfying, potentially hideous.
15) Do you have any interesting work anecdotes to relate?
*Pleads the fifth.*
16) What is your earliest childhood memory?
Walking behind my house with a former friend of mine. I was three, I think. There may be some older ones, but I am doubtful.
17) What is your fondest childhood memory?
Most of those from my family's year-long residence in Blacksburg, Virginia. Very nice little town. That or bringing home my dog.
18) Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Probably my parents, to be honest. Otherwise, lots of people.
19) Do you have a special plan for this world?
Perhaps.... Still figuring that one out.
20) What else should we know about you?
I adore snow, forests, beaches, attics of old houses, broken-but-playable instruments, and various living things, in particular large plants and smallish mammals. I am not fond of totalitarianism, tattoos, blood-sucking arthropods, and/or Los Angeles.
Conducted by Phillip Stecco
1) How did you first encounter the work of Thomas Ligotti?
In one of those 100 horror story compilations edited by Stefan Dziemanowicz. The story was "The Music of the Moon", still a favourite of sorts. Admittedly, I was at first somewhat baffled by the tale (I think that I was ten...), but It grew on me. And so the obsession began...
2) What are some of your favorite works by Mr. Ligotti?
A difficult one to answer. Maybe "Severini", or the poem "I Have a Special Plan for This World", "Vastarien" or "The Bungalow House", "The Prodigy of Dreams" or "The Chymist"... The list goes on. Depends on my mood.
3) What other writers do you enjoy reading?
Many, mainly in that vague territory known as speculative fiction, with some in the realms of satire and non-fiction.
4) Do you have any favorite singers or musicians?
Hmm... Wire, Coil, Sonic Youth, Miles Davis, Angels of Light, Mirror, and generally any bands which I am exploring at the moment, namely Associates and The Virgin Prunes. Kudos, too, to John Coltrane, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Ludus, Swans, Sun Ra, Psychic TV, The Beatles, Sufjan Stevens, Black Flag... Taking notes yet...?
I'm a musician, so this really is not the best or easiest question if you want a short answer!
5) Do you have any favorite artists in the visual media?
Francis Bacon and the Surrealists, especially Yves Tanguy and early Victor Brauner. Many of the early visionaries, like Bosch. Naive architects, like Simon Rodia.
6) What are some of your favorite movies?
More indecisiveness... I'm generally a sucker for independent film.
7) Do you watch television?
Yes. A bit too much. Mostly C-SPAN and news of late...
8) What do you enjoy eating?
Cake; steak, medium rare; sushi, in particular uni, toro and unagi temaki; crème brûlée; challah; and/or hot tea with honey.
9) Do you have any odd hobbies or collecting fetishes?
I pick up stray objects impulsively if not dissuaded, generally for the purpose of sound production. Book- and album-collecting are also hobbies of mine, however restrained by monetary limitations.
10) What recreational activities do you enjoy?
I read. I listen to music. I walk. I sit. I sleep.
11) So many of our lives are filled with the day-to-day anxiety of existence. Have you personally discovered any ways to relieve stress?
Avoid it like the plague. Not the best strategy, but...
12) Life?
Omnipresent.
13) Death?
Simultaneously a source of relief and inexplicable terror.
14) Work?
Depends on the nature of it; potentially satisfying, potentially hideous.
15) Do you have any interesting work anecdotes to relate?
*Pleads the fifth.*
16) What is your earliest childhood memory?
Walking behind my house with a former friend of mine. I was three, I think. There may be some older ones, but I am doubtful.
17) What is your fondest childhood memory?
Most of those from my family's year-long residence in Blacksburg, Virginia. Very nice little town. That or bringing home my dog.
18) Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Probably my parents, to be honest. Otherwise, lots of people.
19) Do you have a special plan for this world?
Perhaps.... Still figuring that one out.
20) What else should we know about you?
I adore snow, forests, beaches, attics of old houses, broken-but-playable instruments, and various living things, in particular large plants and smallish mammals. I am not fond of totalitarianism, tattoos, blood-sucking arthropods, and/or Los Angeles.