VanderMeer, Finch & Fungus
15. Oct, 2009 
8 Comments
Underland Press just sent me along an advance copy of Jeff VanderMeer’s latest Ambergris novel – Finch.
Jeff has been billed as a fantasy author though (one of the best) and with limited budget, limited time and a publicly acknowledged preference for science fiction, he has not been high on my acquisition list. Definitely in the must read in order to know what I’m talking about category, but not yet in the must read now or my head will explode column.
Thanks to Underland’s largesse, I no longer have to play the budget game. All I need do now is play the force myself to read fantasy game.
Though I suspect that a lot of you who are more familiar with Jeff’s work do have heads that are exploding right about now as you struggle not to yell at the computer screen – “but he doesn’t really write fantasy!” “That’s just marketing BS!” “What, are you a moron? No need to take any time thinking up an answer.”
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading Jeff’s blog (sent him an image to use with one of his posts here) but have yet to read any of his fiction. Which of course is now a lie since I’m already four chapters into Finch.
But I won’t talk about Finch yet, other than to say that whatever yahoo (read that with a long A) labeled Jeff as a fantasy author has a little explaining to do. To me. And I’m bringing my hammer. (The red one, if I can get it away from the evil monkey.)
My first thoughts are – very Delany, in a Dhalgren kind of way. (And again I hear the faint chorus of “well duh” from those who have already been Vandermeerized. Remember, my spores are just taking route here).
Jeff may turn out to be the author who helps me bridge that gap between literary and non-literary genre fiction (at least it looks like it on the strength of four rather short chapters. Of course anything could happen between chapter 5 and the end, but I suspect things are going to get more interesting between now and then).
What has also impressed me is the full bore and very creative marketing tools being used to promote this book. A reading tour by Jeff, a CD of music to accompany the book (Murder by Death soundtrack*; anyone who names their band after a Woody Allen film I have got to listen to!) and not one but TWO special limited editions of the book from Underland Press (I’ll have to settle for asking Jeff to sign my ARC).
And more no doubt, considering that Jeff mentions both Eric Orchard and Matt Staggs in his thank yous.
I’ll finish off this pre-review by mentioning that Jeff is the only other person I’ve ever met (online or otherwise) who has an abiding interest in fungus.
Here then, is my own personal “pet” slime mold. Sadly, I had to leave it behind when I moved from Florida.
*the band’s name is Murder by Death. The CD of music for the book has been named a soundtrack. This initially confused me (why would Underland stick a comedy soundtrack in with this book?) and might confuse the search engines (who I’d like to think are a little less intelligent and discriminating than I am – hope springs eternal). Victoria, you liked my suggestion for what to call your wovels. How about referring to music to read by as the Booktrack?
Aside from both being from NYC and Jewish, Neil Simon and Woody Allen both worked in the writer’s room for Sid Caesar’s _Caesar’s Hour_. It’s not crazy to associate the work of one with the work of the other.
Neil Simon is from the Bronx, and Woody Allen (Allen Stewart Konigsberg) is from Brooklyn (specifically, Avenue K off East 12th St., two short blocks from where I grew up on East 10th between J and K, where we both went to P.S. 99 and Midwood H.S., and had a couple of teachers in common, albeit him 23 years before I did), so that makes a huge difference, of course.
Victoria,
I’ll take that job…
I like booktrack better than soundtrack. You should be on Underland payroll–our resident word smashup artist. Jeff did a similar booktrack project with The Church, and it turned out really well. I’d never thought along these lines before, but Jeff convinced me, and I’m glad he did.
Four chapters in when you posted, probably eight chapters in by now. I found the book addictive when I read it in manuscript form. It was/is one of the best books in any genre I’ve read these last few years, and I’m not saying that just because I published it, I swear. Truth is, I’m a huge fan.
Thanks for the post. Glad you’re liking the book.
Sorry Eric, I conflated the acknowledgments with the ‘about the author’ – but your work with Jeff is highlighted on the about page.
yes, Allen confused with Simon. Still a comedy…still a strange choice for a band…
I think Woody Allen was “Love and Death”.
“Definitely in the must read in order to know what I’m talking about category, but not yet in the must read now or my head will explode column.”
I’ll have to tell you a story about the first part of that sentence in connection with Mr. Vandermeer someday…
He thanks who??? Are you sure?
Not to be a pain, but Murder By Death wasn’t Woody Allen. It was a Neil Simon movie.