{ "export": { "source": "https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/4475", "note": "Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright in each message remains with the person who wrote it. Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact.", "addresses": "obscured as 'user at host'" }, "archive": "urth", "thread": { "id": 4475, "subject": "Lexicon Urthus", "messages": 8, "voices": 5, "first": "2005-07-21T21:11:18+00:00", "last": "2005-07-22T20:40:18+00:00" }, "messages": [ { "message_id": "", "from": { "name": "Maru Dubshinki", "address": "marudubshinki at gmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-21T21:11:18+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": null, "reply_link": null, "blocks": [ { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "What is the status of Michael \"mantis\" Andre-Driussi's ''Lexicon Urthus''? \n\nDoes anyone know? Sirius Fiction has it listed as AWOL- no copies\nleft, no fixed or second editions planned, and no second printing ever\nplanned. Ebay hosts one copy (for a absolute minimum of a cool 105\nUS$) , Abebooks demanding 150 $US, and Amazon (as many of us know) has\none reseller offering it at an exorbitant price. In short, ''Lexicon\nUrthus'', with its narrow, deep focus, aimed at a narrow audience\n(itself selected out of a narrow audience!) appears as dead as a\ndoorknob commercially, and Andre-Driussi appears to have moved on; in\nessence abandonware, or somewhat like an orphaned work:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_works\n\nNow, what interests me here is not that I won't be able to get a copy\n(unless someone has tired of theirs), but rather the long-discussed\nFAQ for this list. Seems to me that LU could be a pretty good basis\nfor it- would dispose of the entire genre of vocab -based questions at\na shot (once corrected, that is). But there is the problem of\ncopyright. (Drat! You knew there was a catch!).\n\nI was not active on this list when mantis was, nor have my occasional\ntrawls through the archive (is it just me, or are the archive digests\nbroken? http://www.urth.net/urth/archives/v212.shtml gives me a 404.)\nreally revealed much of mants' personality to me.\nIs it within the realm of possibility that he might release LU under\nthe GNU Free Documentation License:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License\nhttp://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html\n\nor possibly a Creative Commons\nhttp://creativecommons.org/\n\nlicense such as this one:\n\nhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/\n(non-commercial, share-alike, generic jurisdiction)\n\nor this one:\n\nhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/\n(Allow commercial, share, generic jurisdiction)\n\nOr, god willing, public domain?\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain\n\n\nSo what do y'all think? Is this worth pursuing?\n\n~Maru" } ] }, { "message_id": "", "from": { "name": "mournings glory", "address": "mourningsglory at hotmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-21T22:27:56+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "", "reply_link": "header", "blocks": [ { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "What is the status of Michael \"mantis\" Andre-Driussi's ''Lexicon Urthus''?" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "Does anyone know?" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "From " }, { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "http://lists.urth.net/htdig.cgi/urth-urth.net/2004-December/000159.html:\n\n\"Michael Andre-Driussi confirms LEXICON URTHUS will probably appear as a \nPrint On Demand title\nin the next 'year or three'.\"\n\n(Nick Gevers was the poster.)\n\nmsg" } ] }, { "message_id": "", "from": { "name": "Maru Dubshinki", "address": "marudubshinki at gmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-22T09:50:03+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "", "reply_link": "header", "blocks": [ { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "On 7/22/05, mournings glory wrote:\nWhat is the status of Michael \"mantis\" Andre-Driussi's ''Lexicon Urthus''?" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "Does anyone know?" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "From\nhttp://lists.urth.net/htdig.cgi/urth-urth.net/2004-December/000159.html:" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "\"Michael Andre-Driussi confirms LEXICON URTHUS will probably appear as a\nPrint On Demand title\nin the next 'year or three'.\"\n\n(Nick Gevers was the poster.)\n\nmsg" }, { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "Well, that's not perfect, but still not a fatal error; 'year or\nthree', sounds, as you emphasize, like he doesn't really care and is\nin no particular hurry.\nBesides, one could make an argument that online copies would not\ncannibalize a print-on-demand edition. At least for me, physical text\nis superior to bits, and worth paying for.\n\n~Maru" } ] }, { "message_id": "", "from": { "name": "mournings glory", "address": "mourningsglory at hotmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-22T10:26:19+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "", "reply_link": "header", "blocks": [ { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "Adding yet another paragraph to the following sequence:" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "\"Michael Andre-Driussi confirms LEXICON URTHUS will probably appear as a \nPrint On Demand title in the next 'year or three'.\"" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "Well, that's not perfect, but still not a fatal error; 'year or\nthree', sounds, as you emphasize, like he doesn't really care and is\nin no particular hurry." }, { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "I'm assuming one of the publishing arms of John Gregory Betancourt's Cosmos \nBooks will be doing the POD of _Lexicon Urthus_ (they did the Crowley \ncritbook edited by Mr. Andre-Driussi and Ms. Turner) and that any delay in \nit being scheduled is more likely due to their workload than any alleged \nindifference of the sorely-missed mantis.\n\n(On a Crowley note, anyone read _Lord Byron's Novel_ yet? It's next on my \nlist. But when-oh-when is _Endless Things_ coming out?)\n\nmsg" } ] }, { "message_id": "<002401c58ee5$113a1000$513dc6d8@rclackey.stic.net>", "from": { "name": "Roy C. Lackey", "address": "rclackey at stic.net" }, "date": "2005-07-22T10:44:54+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "", "reply_link": "subject", "blocks": [ { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "I passed along the recent queries about LEXICON URTHUS to the author. Here\nis what he had to say:\n***************************************************" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "What to tell the List:\n\nThe lexicographer is working on the Lexicon.\n\nAll the corrections (and most of the additions) of AE& series and\nNS-1 are going into it.\n\nIn addition, all the named characters.\n\nIt will most likely be a print on demand book.\n\nNo release date as yet. Probably a year or two away.\n\nIn the meantime, for those who need the information and cannot wait,\nsigned and numbered photocopies (spiral bound ) of the Lexicon are\navailable for $24 plus shipping (in US $3 media mail, $6 Priority\nMail).\n\nThank you for your interest in Sirius Fiction.\n\n=Michael=" }, { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "****************************************************\n\n-Roy" } ] }, { "message_id": "<2124d6b1050722110754e81b58@mail.gmail.com>", "from": { "name": "pthwndxrclzp", "address": "aquastor at gmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-22T11:08:01+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "<002401c58ee5$113a1000$513dc6d8@rclackey.stic.net>", "reply_link": "header", "blocks": [ { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "Woo-hoo! That is *excellent*, both short-term and long! \n\nHey, Civet -- are you reading this? " }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "On 7/22/05, Roy C. Lackey wrote:\nI passed along the recent queries about LEXICON URTHUS to the author. Here\nis what he had to say:\n***************************************************\nWhat to tell the List:" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "The lexicographer is working on the Lexicon.\n\nAll the corrections (and most of the additions) of AE& series and\nNS-1 are going into it.\n\nIn addition, all the named characters.\n\nIt will most likely be a print on demand book.\n\nNo release date as yet. Probably a year or two away.\n\nIn the meantime, for those who need the information and cannot wait,\nsigned and numbered photocopies (spiral bound ) of the Lexicon are\navailable for $24 plus shipping (in US $3 media mail, $6 Priority\nMail).\n\nThank you for your interest in Sirius Fiction.\n\n=Michael=\n****************************************************" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "-Roy\n\n_______________________________________________" } ] }, { "message_id": "", "from": { "name": "Chris", "address": "rasputin_ at hotmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-22T18:37:36+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "<2124d6b1050722110754e81b58@mail.gmail.com>", "reply_link": "header", "blocks": [ { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "This is indeed good news, although I am more interested in the long term \n(expanded, corrected version) than in the short term (I am not *quite* \nfanatical enough to spend $30 on spiralbound photocopies just to have it \nright this second).\n\nSomeone mentioned Doctorow, and there's certainly something to be said for \nthat kind of publishing in principle, but to throw in my two cents: just \nbecause it works for one person (and in one genre) doesn't mean it will for \nanother. Doctorow's expected audience is not the same as that of LU, even if \nthere is some overlap. One has to respect the author's knowledge of his \nfield and his audience; if he doesn't want to distribute on the same model \nas Doctorow it is because his *professional* opinion that it isn't for the \nbest.\n\nThat said, I think the *availability* of an electronic format opens up \nenticing possibilities when it comes to Wolfe's work and the related \nmaterials. The ability to make citations and to look up vaguely-remembered \ncounterpoints makes a huge difference in the kind of arguments we have here.\n\nActually even though I love paper books and insist on having physical copies \nof the books I love, a serious argument could be made that the lasting \n*value* I'd get out of an electronic version would be at least as much, or \nmore, than I'd get out of the paper version." }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "Woo-hoo! That is *excellent*, both short-term and long!\n\nHey, Civet -- are you reading this? \n\nOn 7/22/05, Roy C. Lackey wrote:" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "I passed along the recent queries about LEXICON URTHUS to the author. " }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "Here\nis what he had to say:" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "***************************************************\nWhat to tell the List:" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 3, "text": "The lexicographer is working on the Lexicon.\n\nAll the corrections (and most of the additions) of AE& series and\nNS-1 are going into it.\n\nIn addition, all the named characters.\n\nIt will most likely be a print on demand book.\n\nNo release date as yet. Probably a year or two away.\n\nIn the meantime, for those who need the information and cannot wait,\nsigned and numbered photocopies (spiral bound ) of the Lexicon are\navailable for $24 plus shipping (in US $3 media mail, $6 Priority\nMail).\n\nThank you for your interest in Sirius Fiction.\n\n=Michael=\n****************************************************" }, { "kind": "quote", "depth": 2, "text": "-Roy\n\n_______________________________________________" } ] }, { "message_id": "", "from": { "name": "Maru Dubshinki", "address": "marudubshinki at gmail.com" }, "date": "2005-07-22T20:40:18+00:00", "subject": "(urth) Lexicon Urthus", "in_reply_to": "", "reply_link": "header", "blocks": [ { "kind": "quote", "depth": 1, "text": "On 7/22/05, Chris wrote:\nThis is indeed good news, although I am more interested in the long term\n(expanded, corrected version) than in the short term (I am not *quite*\nfanatical enough to spend $30 on spiralbound photocopies just to have it\nright this second).\n\nSomeone mentioned Doctorow, and there's certainly something to be said for\nthat kind of publishing in principle, but to throw in my two cents: just\nbecause it works for one person (and in one genre) doesn't mean it will for\nanother. Doctorow's expected audience is not the same as that of LU, even if\nthere is some overlap. One has to respect the author's knowledge of his\nfield and his audience; if he doesn't want to distribute on the same model\nas Doctorow it is because his *professional* opinion that it isn't for the\nbest.\n\nThat said, I think the *availability* of an electronic format opens up\nenticing possibilities when it comes to Wolfe's work and the related\nmaterials. The ability to make citations and to look up vaguely-remembered\ncounterpoints makes a huge difference in the kind of arguments we have here.\n\nActually even though I love paper books and insist on having physical copies\nof the books I love, a serious argument could be made that the lasting\n*value* I'd get out of an electronic version would be at least as much, or\nmore, than I'd get out of the paper version." }, { "kind": "text", "depth": 0, "text": "Amen! This is the sort of thing I was trying to say, but I was afraid\nwould come out sounding all wrong. But Doctorow shows that it works\nsometimes; we don't know for sure whether a reference would work- but\nhas anyone tried? Nor can I say for sure that making LU electronic\nwould boost sales (Wikipedia is an obvious reference example, but it\nis explicitly nonprofit, so not useful. But it certainly illustrates\nthat communities can grow up around reference works, and that\nvolunteers will give their time to improving a common reference.), but\nI can definitely assert that a LU online would be far superior to any\nPOD edition, just on the amount of people who would be able to access\nit, to say nothing of further improvements such as being able to link\nentries, it being much more current, error fixes a lot faster, and if\nin a wiki, community-improvable.\n\n~Maru" } ] } ] }