Goddammit,

[ellenkushner]

Michael De Larrabeiti died.

I can't remember whether it was Terri Windling or I who bought paperback rights to The Borribles for Ace - I think it was I, right before I moved to Pocket. I do know that it, and the subsequent 2 Borribles books, were a real influence on our Bordertown shared-world series.

MDL, thanks for sharing your world with us.

[ADDED: Obituary; other obits]

* * *

It's going to be like this, isn't it? First, saying farewell to all the grownups I idolized when I was trying to become one . . . then checking out various friends who "really weren't that old" . . . and then, well - my favorite Vietnamese joint is next to the big Jewish funeral home, and there's usually something happening there around noon. Only yesterday it was the Cadillac station wagon with plenty of room for the pine box, sitting on the sidewalk. "Caddie," I thought. "Hmm. Your last ride in a Caddie . . . " and realized it was, indeed, the last ride you will ever take; the last car you will ever ride in, after a lifetime of transit. Interesting. Well, as they say, there's a first time for everything; so why not a last?

(And of course it's Richard Thompson on the speakers right now. I'll never forget the first time I saw him live, outdoors at the Newport Folk Festival - and a rangy teenage boy down front screaming his request: "DO ONE ABOUT DEAAAATH!!!" Which, considering his repetoire, ain't that hard. Love you, Richard!

(Don't die anytime soon, OK?)

Comments

A very strange photo

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

My husband recently took a photo at a flea market that you might appreciate. It's here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artofserendipity/2671023533/in/dateposted/). The juxtaposition of objects reminds me of what you just said here about the Caddie on the sidewalk.

Re: A very strange photo

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Wowza!!!

And what's more, the 3rd element in the photo brings to mind the camp song that begins, "Oh you can't get to heaven/In a Ford V8 . . . "

That's a keeper. Thanks.

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry.

I agree with you; Richard Thompson needs to be immortal. I saw him perform solo last year, and he was just as smart and vibrant as ever. He's still writing great songs. “Dad's Gonna Kill Me” is probably the best Iraq War protest song out there.

All Hail the Healing Power of Richard

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Richard Thompson actually can heal the sick. I know this for a fact 'cause I was sick as a dog a few years back in Boston, went to see him anyway (I believe he sang "My daddy's a mummy") and felt entirely better for about 24 hours before the bugger came back and laid me flat.....

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

Damn.

I live slap bang in the middle of the London he wrote about. The Wandle's confluence with the Thames is just a few minutes walk away...

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

That is horribly sucky news. He was a wonderful writer.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Turns out he died in April. The British press did him proud with some serious obits in May; I just read it in the latest issue of Locus. I like this from the Independent:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-de-larrabeiti-creator-of-the-borribles-827657.html

I'm guessing that even though you live in the same place, it's changed some since he wrote about it. But throw a bad penny into the Wandle for us here . . . .

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry to hear this, and as always, even not knowing the man, knowing people whose lives he touched, makes it more real somehow and more affecting.

Richard Thompson: there's every chance he'll be playing at the Fairport Convention festival in a couple of weeks time ... if so, I'll send a silent thought up to the stage to tell him there are several of us that don't want him to go yet (or ever).

[wild-irises.livejournal.com]

I'm a lover of those books and I'm sorry to hear that he's gone.

At the same time, honestly (Sound & Spirit host, you know this), it's part of how things work. It is going to be that way, and the more we can come to some peace with that, the better.

[gauroth.livejournal.com]

Oh, rats! 'The Borribles' are such wonderful books. I don't know anyone who's read them who hasn't loved them.

RIP, Michael, and thank you!

[bondgwendabond.livejournal.com]

Crap. Love those books sooooo much.

[(Anonymous)]

The reason you can't remember who published the Borribles at Ace is because it was kind of a team effort. I bought them...but only because you recommended them to me. I hadn't known de Larrabeiti's work before you put it in my hands. My favorite book of his, actually, was his story collection Provencal Tales, which we also reprinted at Ace years ago.

[t-windling.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, Ellen, that last comment was from me. I didn't realize that I wasn't logged in. Doh!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Yes! I can still see those books on my shelf there - I think I wanted to buy them, but left before I could do so. Thank you.