Of David Bowie and Samuel Delaney.
Bowie's Space Oddity came out in 1969, and Samuel Delaney's Driftglass collection of short stories came out in 1971. When I experience one, I feel the other; they are entwined in my heart and mind. The stories and the song spoke well to my experience of this world and the ones I learned about through reading science fiction and fantasy.
I really don't mind that mortality exists. Any story of immortality gained seems to be a nightmare of unforeseen consequences and unbearable being. But oh, Bowie is gone far too soon. Reading various responses to his death, I am especially struck by an overarching recognition. His presence and presentation gave us permission to be more completely ourselves in the various and more truthful ways that can manifest.
Our shared artistic figures give light to their own hearts and minds. If that resonates on any level then there's both an emotional and intellectual echo. It can resound and help sustain our own steps, choices and expressions of self. Even with their imperfections, and maybe because of them; their offerings are still golden.
If you haven't read Driftglass I cannot recommend it enough. Of course I love those stories so much that when I finally met Delaney at Readercon some years back I found myself tearing up amidst goosebumps afterwards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftglass
I really don't mind that mortality exists. Any story of immortality gained seems to be a nightmare of unforeseen consequences and unbearable being. But oh, Bowie is gone far too soon. Reading various responses to his death, I am especially struck by an overarching recognition. His presence and presentation gave us permission to be more completely ourselves in the various and more truthful ways that can manifest.
Our shared artistic figures give light to their own hearts and minds. If that resonates on any level then there's both an emotional and intellectual echo. It can resound and help sustain our own steps, choices and expressions of self. Even with their imperfections, and maybe because of them; their offerings are still golden.
If you haven't read Driftglass I cannot recommend it enough. Of course I love those stories so much that when I finally met Delaney at Readercon some years back I found myself tearing up amidst goosebumps afterwards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftglass