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| Art by Eduardo Riss |
Apr 26, 2023
Monumental Moore by Eduardo Risso
Apr 24, 2023
David Foster Wallace, genres and... proprioception
You can read the complete piece HERE.
What’s the last great book you read?
Alan Moore: After thinking about this long and hard, the last truly great book I read would have to be “Infinite Jest,” by David Foster Wallace. Yeah, sorry. This was my first exposure to Wallace’s work, only a month or two ago, and I don’t think there’s anything about the novel that doesn’t impress me: its stream of satirical invention, with conventional dating gone in favor of a subsidized calendar and the Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment; its mandarin prose that perfectly conjures the trancelike drift of a modern consciousness overwhelmed by detail; and its breathtaking risks with structure, so that the whole experience seems to pivot upon a climactic resolving chapter — either right at the end of the narrative or right at the beginning — which does not actually exist and which therefore requires the reader to create it herself, from slender inference. I think the moment I probably fell in love with Wallace as a writer was the point where I realized that I was actually meant to be irritated by all of the occasionally crucial footnotes. [...]
What genres do you prefer? And which do you avoid?
To be honest, having worked in genre for so long, I’m happiest when I’m outside it altogether, or perhaps more accurately, when I can conjure multiple genres all at once, in accordance with my theory (now available, I believe, as a greeting card and fridge magnet) that human life as we experience it is a simultaneous multiplicity of genres. I put it much more elegantly on the magnet. With that said, of course, there are considerable pleasures to be found in genre, foremost among which is that of either violating or transcending it, assuming there’s a difference, and using it to talk about something else entirely. Some subversions, paradoxically, can even seem to reinvigorate the stale conventions that they’d set out to subvert or satirize. All genres, given enough ingenuity, can be adapted to this strategy, and the sole genre or subgenre that I personally am pathologically averse to would be that pertaining to the superhero, but apparently that’s just me.
[...]
How do you organize your books?
Huh. Yes, I suppose I could organize my books, couldn’t I? That might actually work a lot better than my current method, which is to tell myself that I know roughly where all my books are according to a kind of literary form of proprioception; a psychic gift which, glaringly, I don’t possess.
[...]
What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a gift?
That would be the second unabridged edition of the Random House Dictionary of the English Language, one of the first of many marvelous gifts from my wife, Melinda. Aleister Crowley once stated that the most important grimoire, or book of magical instruction, that anyone could ever conceivably own would be an etymological dictionary, and in my opinion he was exactly right. I keep it right here by my desk, and just 10 minutes ago it confirmed for me that I had the spelling of “proprioception” right all along, even though my spell-checker had raised a crinkly red eyebrow. Quite seriously, this is the one book in my collection that I’d save in the event of a fire. [...]
The complete interview: HERE.
Apr 21, 2023
Amy Winehouse read... Moore!
This unique lot groups almost 230 books [...] from the library of legendary singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, a collection that offers an intimate narrative of her life and career through her personal reading — from her school days through her rise to fame and career. [...]
The collection includes Moore's Watchmen and V for Vendetta and... much more.
All the details HERE, including the complete list of the books by category.
Apr 20, 2023
Alan Moore presents... Brian Eno!
Alan Moore: Welcome everybody. My name's Alan Moore. I'm a comic writer and warlock, and I'm lucky enough to be interviewing somebody that I've admired for far too long... Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk in May 1948. Pronouncing his own name gave him the breath control that he would later employ to such startling effect upon his 1975 recording Miss Shapiro. Sprung from a long line of postmen, he received a 1960's education, experimenting with a tape recorder as his primary instrument, the young artist moved to London during 1969, before bumping into a former acquaintance named Andy Mackay, somewhere along the Northern Line. Joining Roxy Music, the new band with whom Mackay was currently engaged in playing saxophone, Eno burst upon public awareness as the central pillar of the decadent, inventive, glam rock period of British pop. Setting his stall out as a non-musician, he abruptly parted company with Roxy Music to produce a string of stunning and extremely influential solo albums, casually inventing ambient music, and the trend for sampling along the way, he has worked on pivotal productions with artists who range from Devo, David Bowie, Robert Wyatt and the new wave scene, to Pavarotti and U2. One of our modern fin de siecle most extraordinary minds, his interest gleefully embracing perfume, science, futurology and ladies bottoms. I am delighted to introduce... Brian Eno. [Audience applause]
You can listen the complete audio interview HERE.
Transcript is available HERE.
Apr 16, 2023
Alan Moore by Eduardo Risso
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| Art by Eduardo Risso |
Apr 12, 2023
Encyclopaedia Mooreana
Compiled by Moore's scholar Guillermo Núñez Lara.
Published by Dogitia Editorial.
You can get all the details HERE, in Spanish.
Apr 7, 2023
King Peacock by Zander Cannon
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| Art by Zander Cannon |
Above, a great commission sketch of King Peacock by the amazing Zander Cannon.
King Peacock is one of the many fantastic characters featured in the fantastic Top 10 miniseries.
Grazie mille, Zander!
Apr 6, 2023
Stellar Moore by Dan McDaid
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| Art by Dan McDaid |
Above, a stellar portrait of our beloved Hairy Maestro by British comic book writer and artist Dan McDaid that he shared few days ago on his socials. It's fine liner with watercolours and acrylic.
And, surprise surprise, I confess it's a commission for... my smoky self! :D
McDaid wrote: "This was the most fun I've had drawing in a while." I couldn’t be mo(o)re happy, Dan!
