I have always relied on the lameness of fen
So like I said, Neil Gaiman is coming to town, on the 30th. Cody’s, the hosting bookstore, has booked a church for the event. They way they’re handling the tickets is that you get a ticket free with each copy of any of three books you buy, starting today, the 20th: Anansi Boys, his new novel; the MirrorMask screenplay; the Alchemy of Mirrormask (the “making of” book.)
I’d been planning to get our tickets today, but I wasn’t sweating it. It’s not like comics fans or fantasy fans are widely reputed for their rigorous advance preparation (I don’t know about the goths.)
Anyway, Pocahontas and I did make it today. Cody’s had a huge table full of Gaiman and Mirrormask books, mostly Anansi Boys. And as we were picking up our books, a middle-aged woman came in, grabbed one, and went straight to the counter. As we were buying them, two young women came in and picked up a copy each.
It was like a movie scene contrived to depict something selling like hotcakes.
I’m glad I got mine today, and I will never again think I can rely on the lameness of Gaiman fans.
You've seen the lines for the Star Wars sequels. You've seen fans keep the Star Trek franchise alive for long past its sell-by date. You've seen plenty of science fiction authors on the best-seller lists.
I think it's safe to count on fans not passing up something about which they're passionate.
Posted by Jimcat on September 21 2005 13:07
"It’s not like comics fans or fantasy fans are widely reputed for their rigorous advance preparation...."
Pretty variable, I'd say. Sure, plenty are not, but I know plenty who are among the most organized planners-and-executors I know. Of course, there's an extreme selection bias on my part, as most of the people I've known best over my life, though not so much in recent years, have been fans of one variety or another. But, still. I'd especially beware of the planning talents of many con-runners. So I'm rather seconding Jimcat's comment, as well. (It's also not as if there aren't also plenty of fans, of one variety or another, who are major figures in huge, if geeky, corporations, or otherwise people used to dealing with tight schedules, whether they're Paul Allen or Newt Gingrich.)
Posted by Gary Farber on September 30 2005 09:52
Oh, I'm well aware that there are many astonishingly organized, effective, and efficient fans (many con organizers being prominent examples.)
"I have always relied on the lameness of fen" was a lousy title, but I was at a loss for a better one at the moment of posting. Among its problems is the implication that I'm holding myself separate from the mass of fans. I am, most certainly, a comics and fantasy fan, and not widely reputed for my rigorous advance preparation.
Posted by Zed on September 30 2005 10:56