Delaney, Aye, and Gomorrah

( Basically nattering, I feel as if I should write something about this book while I have it in front of me, before I return it to the library )

And now the library is closing, so I'll finish up by saying there are eight more stories in this collection, including one about Vondramach and Gilda (published 10 years before Stars in My Pocket).

Generally, value is created by bringing disparate things together and comparing them. Or using contrast: between a not-too-bright older white ex-con worker and a brilliant suicidal six year old black telepath, for instance. Or between homogenizing engineers and resistant flying motorcycle enthusiasts. Or structurally, like when a concrete story about a guy looking for sex in NYC restrooms is intercut with an abstract story about space blobs.

And then there's the work on race, gender, and sexuality, which is pretty much in line with a lot of online activism. Sabina said it was like Samuel Delaney was on livejournal (well, he was pretty active in sci fi fandom).

And... post! More to come tomorrow maybe. I have a new temporary job where I move heavy textbooks from boxes to bookshelves all day, so if it seems like I've been scarce lately, that's why.