ðÒÅÄÉÓÌÏ×ÉÅ Ë ÓÂÏÒÎÉËÕ "Unicorn Variations"
Shannar
Пишет Тимофей Корякин ([info]timofeikoryakin) в [info]zelazny_ru
@ 2005-10-14 00:17:00
*Предисловие к сборнику "Unicorn Variations"*
Introduction
Essay Intro To Unicorn Variations Collection
Roger Zelazny
Here is another collection of things written by me, drawn from
various points over the past two decades. Some I recall fondly; others
I had all but forgotten.
In reviewing the stories included here, I was surprised by the
number of tales written to order, i.e., to go behind a magazine's cover
painting (of which more anon) or to qualify for inclusion in a theme
anthology.
I pause to reflect upon the phenomenon of the theme anthology: In
the Old Days (circa forties and fifties) collections of science fiction
stories were just collections of science fiction stories, none of them
necessarily resembling any of the others in major particulars. In
recent years, however, collections of stories possessed of a common
theme have become the rule in the science fiction anthology. I cannot
look upon writing such stories as a bad thing. Some very good work has
appeared in theme anthologies. But such volumes might fairly be viewed
as something of a constraint upon writers.
And thinking back, I began writing for magazines in the days when
they were considered family publications-meaning that one did not use
profanity beyond occasional hells and damns, describe sexual acts, have
one's characters discuss politics in any but the broadest terms or
indulge in religious speculation.
Earlier this year I visited the Soviet Union in the company of some
other people connected with science fiction. We met with a number of
Russian and Ukrainian writers and editors. When we were told that they
preferred to publish stories with happy endings, stories containing a
minimum of violence, our first reaction was a knowing nod. Really.
There are always restrictions. I do not feel any imposed upon me now
in the sense of editorial censorship. But there are restrictions in the
form of my own limitations as a writer, and there are self-imposed
restrictions having to do with story structure and matters of my
temperament and taste. I am free to work within these limits. When I
write the first sentence to any story, though, I surrender a lot more
freedom. I have set a course. I have restricted myself even further.
Freedom of expression must also bow to the necessity for clear
communication, as many of science fiction's failed experiments of the
sixties demonstrate.
Gore Vidal has suggested that a writer has a limited cast of
characters-his own repertory company, so to speak-and that, with
different makeup, they enact all of his tales. I feel he has a point
there, and that this constitutes yet another limitation (though I like
to feel that over the years one can pension off a few, and I do try to
seek out new talent).
All of these things considered, it is not surprising that one can
detect echoes, correspondences and even an eternal return or two within
the work of a single author. The passage of time does bring changes,
yea and alas; but still, I would recognize myself anywhere. In this
sense, any writer's total output might be looked upon as a series of
variations:
All of that to justify a title.
~~oOo~~
I want to thank all of those people who've offered me employment in
hardware stores, but I'd really prefer to keep on writing.
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