Malacia
The Urth list — 2 messages, 2 voices, 12 Apr 1999
https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/1517

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Damien Broderick — 12 Apr 1999, 12:01

Nick Gevers suggested:

< what about Brian Aldiss' THE MALACIA TAPESTRY, which was published in
the mid-1970s? >

Jonathan Cape, 1976, but at least some of its parts were earlier, perhaps
in Damon Knight's notable Orbit original sf anthologies.

< hero, whose name is Perian (!) >

Still more (!), in the stories - alas, I've never read them -  I believe
his name was Prian.

< Aldiss told
Charles Platt (in THE DREAM MAKERS) that he was planning a Malacia
sequel; then Wolfe's Book appeared, and Aldiss did THE HELLICONIA
TRILOGY instead, as if TBotNS had pre-empted his Malacia scheme, >

Brian once told me that the book simply didn't sell well enough to justify
the planned sequels.  I wept and tore my garment and swore that it was the
finest book he'd ever written, and urged him to put art above mere filthy
lucre, but the man had a family and mansion to support and had to be
realistic.  The (rather sluggish) coincidence with BOTNS was just that, I
think.

Damien 

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Peter Westlake — 12 Apr 1999, 08:55
  follows, by subject match Damien Broderick

At 12:01 1999-04-12 +0000, you wrote:
...

> < Aldiss told
> Charles Platt (in THE DREAM MAKERS) that he was planning a Malacia
> sequel; then Wolfe's Book appeared, and Aldiss did THE HELLICONIA
> TRILOGY instead, as if TBotNS had pre-empted his Malacia scheme, >
> 
> Brian once told me that the book simply didn't sell well enough to justify
> the planned sequels.  I wept and tore my garment

A reasonable and considered response. I would do the same, but
it ought to wait till I leave the office, and you lose a lot of
the spontaneity that way. But I shall certainly wail and gnash
my teeth. And growl a lot.

> and swore that it was the
> finest book he'd ever written,

By a long way ...

> and urged him to put art above mere filthy
> lucre, but the man had a family and mansion to support and had to be
> realistic.  The (rather sluggish) coincidence with BOTNS was just that, I
> think.

Helliconia and later works ought to have lined the coffers somewhat.
I wonder if there might be room for a spot of art now or in the future?

SBear.

P.S. On the other paw, _The Malacia Tapestry_ is so good, we
wouldn't want him to spoil it.

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