**** A FIRST DOZEN INCONVENIENT QUESTIONS FOR EDUARD VACHAGANOVICH ****
*********** GEVORGYAN, MEMBER OF THE JURY OF THE "WANDERER" PRIZE **********
GENTLEMEN EDITORS!
Thank you very much for the first issue of your magazine. With great
I would be happy to become his regular reader, and on occasion
by the author.
As for comments on design and content, there are none.
Arranged within our means. There is no need to talk about the content,
quite a good-quality canister of the Molotoff cocktail, fire and smoke -
tit for a long time. I always suspected that behind the good-natured appearance of Ni-
Kolayev is hiding, if not Cardinal Richelieu, then E.F. Azef (in
in the best sense of the word) absolutely. When will it be established
Prize named after Julio Jurenito, the first title of Great Provoc-
It is he who should receive the torus. So I've already had two bottles.
I have always said that such scandals, showdowns and other minor
such and major shocks are vital for any creative and
near-creative company. Otherwise we will swim in silence and splendor
lard, and in our convolutions there will be white spiders.
However, having released a squadron of genies from all containers, be
ready for your heads to be sprinkled with ashes
and water it with slop. (The correct answer is “Always ready!”).
Now let's move on to the Grand Jury questions. I would like, of course,
but, look at the list of jurors for the challenge of especially odiousfigures, but here I rely on your decency.
WAS THERE A FANDOM?
Question one. I have a clear answer to the question about fandom.
no. At one time I gave a definition of an INTELLECTUAL AS A CULTURED
CONSUMER OF CULTURE. It would be possible to determine from this matrix
FAN AS A FANTASTIC CONSUMER OF FICTION, but this is too much
simple and therefore incorrect. To say that I don't understand anything
The term "fandom" is coquetry. I have long been interested in informal
exclusive, marginal and mid-minor groups of youth (and not
only youth). So, the fandom is not included in any of these groups,
but they seem to cover almost all non-structural
strata. The mystery of fandom must be solved because it
lie that fandom is a club of characters from "The Collector"
Fowles and "Misery" King, means securing one or two
decent phobias.
One can, of course, make an offensive assumption about fandom as
a kind of settling tank for introverted escapists, but then the fuss
The question arises: what are we doing there ourselves? Fandom - like a club?
Boring. Fandom is like a kind of embryo of future sociocultural images.
titles? Too cunning. And fans don't like Carbonari, like that
phantommasons.
Here's where it gets tricky. I could do a lot with
taste to speculate on these topics, but I am not sure that
I will be adequately received. Since I witnessed andparticipant
birth, rise and fall of the fan movement, then I could instructively
with a raised finger to teach life to the young. But I don't want to. I repeat,
there is no guarantee that they will understand correctly. There were precedents. You will write,
bybylych, an article on the semiosis of behavior in locally phased
pseudo-isolates, and then go prove to the clubs that this is not a truck-
tat on the topic “About the bestial essence of a fan”! However, the matter is old and
almost forgotten.
Fandom is as important to me as any good company.
for a normal (I daresay) person. Creatively -
I don't know. Fans are not only readers and, first of all, not
readers. I knew fans who didn’t read anything at all, and fa-
science too. For them, the very fact of the party was important. I am against such people
had nothing, they were even cute in some way (they’re not being smart,
listen to any nonsense with an open mouth, do not judge, and therefore do not
will be judged). However, these either died out or fled across
other parties and, probably, now somewhere in the forests near Verkhne-
Zadrischensk defend their native Hobbit with wooden swords. De-
It’s noble, harmless, everything is better than being a racketeer...
By the way, while I was answering this question, I was visited by a terrible
thought - is there a fandom? Who did I communicate with in Repino - from the publisher -
mi (even thin magazines with hundreds of copies), book re-
alyzers (to put it mildly), a couple of critics, a dozen pre-hosts, a damn lot of writers... And where are the fans, where are the fans?
I'm asking! There was only one there, and only on crutches. Truth, miracle worker
The wind from the dam soon healed him, and he, like a famous character,
famous story, got up and went. However, I’m lying, what the hell
Zavgar fan, he spread either to publishers or bookselling
vtsy. True, it didn’t make it any worse, but there was some lily in the clothes.
lost.
Probably, there was still one fan among us, and, probably, everything happened
walking seemed like a heavy dream to him. But more on this at the very end of the question.
Rosnik (in the sense of respondent).
BULLSHIT AROUND A.M.S
Questions two, three and four. Problems of the specificity of reproduction
fans' outcry could take two or three generations of psycho-
analysts, if, of course, the said psychoanalysts will operate
based on the concepts of good old Freud, Jung and others like them, and not
realities of the Madrid court. You have to come up with something like this - Stolya-
ditch, like Strugatsky’s minion. For some reason, the fact of solidarity of B.N.
myself. perceived in any way, but not as simply being right
SOME theses by A.M. Why would Natanych object if
does the boy speak the truth?
The assumption that A.M.S. in most cases expresses
opinion of B.N. and vice versa (see question No. 3), the essence is bullshit on
due to indigestion. It is enough to listen to their conversations (on
people - I mean a seminar, or in a narrow circle - what was witnessed
tel), then that's itthese speculations crumble to dust. It's been a long time since I
I've met couples where the dissimilarity of thoughts, creative axiomatics and
other objects was so obvious. In the main they are, of course, similar, as
and we all are in the definition of good and evil and other simple things.
Regarding Shchegolev’s attacks and shouts, I will say only one thing.
If you, my beloved darling, do not consider yourself the best, the first
and the only one among all who once took, is taking or will take
pen in hand, then why the hell did they get into literature in the first place?
ness, and in creativity in general? Any self-respecting "producer"
product owner" must be programmed for success, instill in himself with
morning to evening, that it was he and only him... And so on. In pro-
Otherwise, the abomination of everyday life will chew him up and spit him out. What,
in fact, this is exactly what happened to Shchegolev. A bird, of course
It’s a pity, it showed hope, but why shit in your own nest?
As for whether the majority of the fandom shares the views
the aforementioned Shchegolev, then the statistics are unknown to me, and not
I believe in her. Otherwise, you might think it wasn’t written on the banner
fandom "I'm not a provocateur, but I wouldn't stand it." Provocateurs, pro-
Voctors, guys, and don’t be offended, this is me in the best sense of the word
words.
And to close the topic of A.M.S., I’ll say one last thing - if I were
in his place, then for such a competent, accurate and very
I would put effective advertising on everythingdrink fandom for three
or four delirium tremens. No matter how much the carpenters fidget now,
haters - it's done! You provided Andrey Mikhalych with
functional immortality. You have created such an image of a demon that
You'll be licking your fingers. And in our demonic times this
exactly what you can’t do without. Alas, in the shadow of the market booths all
the writing fraternity is forced to go to great lengths just to get a rating
didn't fall. If you leave the genre, then compare A.M.S. maybe with Dali
or with Limonov. Apart from other qualities, these are examples of correctly crafted
nerdy scandal, wave, hype, etc.
What I do not completely agree with A.M.S. The fact is that there is no war
and is not expected. The war is long lost. As it is said in one novel,
"while we fought in blood and snot for every inch of land, losing
friends and enemies, marauders ruled our rear.” We sharpen
swords and rapiers, we cast bullets for muskets, and on our streets
The tanks have been standing for a long time. What should we do - conduct metaphysical
guerrilla? This is probably the only thing we are capable of.
However, it is better to write something separate on these topics and
artistic.
WHAT IS OBJECTIVITY?
Questions five to ten. Here, my sir, you have gone
bends, each steeper than the other. In alphabetical order, therefore,
row! What is it like! Nothing to do, like sleepless nights
reflect on the place, weight and prestige of awards and honors.By
to me - burn with a blue flame, if only the books are published.
Another thing is a reason for meetings, a pleasant conversation in good company.
panic and so on. And, of course, the best prize is the one that
you have been awarded. Based on this, I think the best is "The Great Ring"
(although I still don’t know if there was a year in eighty-three
losovaniye, or Zavgar presented it out of the kindness of his heart on his own behalf).
There is no point in sharing an opinion - it will either be pompous
reasoning or jokes. Just think about carnivalization
culture of the era of the collapse of any empire - and everything will become clear. And,
in fact, in such times there is no difference between the king
on the throne and king of the carnival.
As for “The Wanderer,” as “the most objective reflection of
"and so on... Don't force me to resort to parliament-
Chinese expressions! What kind of prize is this if it is not self-proclaimed?
is she on her own?! This is how it has always been, and it’s not against us
traditions will be broken. What were you waiting for - bows and squats? Oh ignorant
so much has been said about the history of certain works that
There's just nothing to add. Well, no luck, well, there are a lot of geniuses, but bronze
not enough, well, next time it will unfasten... Well, even intrigue!
And if they started to remember specific names and things - but I would have received
"Gravile" its undoubtedly well-deserved awards, if it had hit-
to the finals? And there’s no need to talk about an objective assessment, voxpopuli and other nonsense. Of all the methods of evaluation, democratic
- the worst. I can’t help but remember a conversation in a bar between two pretty
pumped-up participants of "Sidorkon", animatedly discussing issues
grew, did the so-called “El-factor” work in the assessment of “Gravilet”
tsina", or, conversely, the "Gorbachev factor"? In other words, either
supported the offended, or voted in defiance of the hated. What
It's a shame, it has nothing to do with the literary merits of the novel
(and a brilliant novel, I’m not afraid of this word), all these
"kulur", etc. have no relation. But who said that
Did everything that happened have anything to do with literature?
Suffering faces and mournful cries like "I'll never get...
I feel for this stupid figurine" I attribute it to the complexes about which
seemed on questions 2-4. Personally, I believe that Loginov, Ivanov,
Stern, Brider and Chadovich, Vershinin and others have a good chance of
to beam the “Wanderer”, and it was Lev who was the most excited -
Shka Vershinin has more than anyone else. I've been watching him grow for a long time
and I see that he makes very significant jerks. Another thing is
the unpredictability of scoring makes it all somewhat similar
for the lottery. This has its own charm. I foresee reproaches: from some,
they say that there are winning tickets in hand, but others were not even allowed to
participation. But, firstly, this is not so, access to the “body” is free, and
as for the conditions, thenthe organizers of the "lottery" set their
rules. Who doesn't like it - sorry!
Thesis regarding "priority directions", "general
lines" and "suppression of creative freedom" are considered to be the consequences
a bad snack, a bad hangover, and, at best, subtle banter.
Conversations about the creative uniformity of jury members,
aesthetic dogmas - see the previous paragraph. The only principle
ratings - like it, don't like it. And here I can’t go against my temper!
I'd like to see the "enforcer" who encourages people to vote,
based on his “aesthetic principles”! Looking ahead somewhat
red, I will say that hints of the dependence of a number of jury members on the publisher
TF statements indicate moral, not to mention aesthetic,
ethical principles of the authors of these hints. I’ll say right away - long before
"Sidorkona" many members of the jury knew that in the foreseeable millennium
their books will not be published by Mr. Yutanov’s publishing house (due to
us, who are not dependent on Mr. Yutanov).
How to evaluate the motives for invitation to the jury? Guys, I think you
trying to awaken the SS Sturmbannführer in me. Politeness is not
allows you to answer in the spirit of “Oberham-Oberkhamovo” or “go to
kitchen, they will feed you there." The offensiveness of the question, moreover,
Please note, multi-layered offensiveness does not allow
not to answer him in any form. A question from the category of “do you continue
on Fridays you drink the blood of those you killfans?" Then re-
let's move on to the next ones...
WITHOUT TITLE
Question eleven. I guess I'm just going wild from the question
question, but nothing can be done about it. Why don't you do it yourself
ask Bulychev why he didn’t come? Even if I knew
(I know!), I still wouldn’t say it. It's a coincidence that he didn't show up
or non-randomness, decide for yourself. Keeping in mind that one thing
Temporarily, his dacha burned down with everything, a burning trip arose
to London, etc.
UNTITLED-2
Question twelve. Regarding TF I have already said a few
words, but I can add. A publishing house is not an almshouse, but
commercial enterprise. Possession of a bonus is a factor equal to com-
commercial, related to advertising, etc. Exclude yourself from the nomination
tions is tantamount to admitting dementia. Ethics is good at home
and not at the market, sorry, the book market. It’s TF that is suffering
due to excessive ethics, while a number of other publishers
bodies shamelessly raking in money on outright crap, and
I wouldn’t give a penny to conduct Sidorkon. Let them say thank you
that some of them were included at all. However, the picture is familiar.
I can’t help but remember my microplay from twenty years ago.
PROMETHEUS
(drama)
Characters:
Prometheus,
A voice from the crowd.
Act one and only
Prometheus: - People, Ibrought you fire!
Voice from the crowd (gloomily): - Take care of your liver!
Curtain.
But this is so, by the way, it had to be. I think that each of the members
the jury can justify its choice in all respects, if, of course,
wants to do it.
FLEISCHMAN'S DREAM GIVING RESULTS TO FANDOM
But now the time has come to say how it really was
le. In fact, there was no "really". There was no
there was no “Interpresscon”, there were no “Snails”, and so
called Stolyarov was not intended at all. No fan
tasticity does not exist, just as nothing exists except a certain
creatures, one of whose names is Fleishman. Either universal
fluctuations shifted the balance of thought currents, or incomprehensible
and fatal destiny is the reason and reason for this, but this is a dream
essentially Earth, country, people and strange characters among people.
Something happens all the time, all these figures seem to be moving...
appear, appear and disappear. Houses and streets flicker, or rather,
that he dreams of houses and streets, words and sounds, pleasant and different
dragging... Everything melts, flows, disappears. There is a rapid
Barred Sparrow... However, this is from another opera. When Flay wakes up,
scoundrel, and everything will disappear as if it never happened...
I was joking. But in reality everything is much more serious. The point is
that Fleishman, without suspecting it, stepped on a very
sore callus (not to be confusedwith callus of patients). He doesn't know what
is a key figure in some major intergalactic game,
the stake is greater than the life of a million inhabited planets. All
these “science fiction writers”, “fans”, etc. are either well-covered
participants, or decorations that you don’t pay attention to
necessary. The game with Fleishman is subtle, on the edge of reality.
The minimum task is to bring him out of balance. Simply
speaking - to drive you crazy. For this purpose, ingenious conspiracies are drawn up,
large-scale performances are staged - cons, with the participation of the masses
well paid extras. The maximum task is to wake up Flay-
Scoundrel! Fleishman will wake up...
September 16 of the first year before Fleischmann awakened
P.S. We live a boring life, gentlemen...
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