When I started writing Simoqin way back in 2001, I had this Word file called ‘Things to remember.’ There were many things to remember, chief among them excerpts from Michael Moorcock’s essay ‘Epic Pooh’ and several extracts from essays written by and interviews of that guy in the picture. And while Terry Pratchett was clearly the biggest inspiration in terms of worldbuilding, a lot of the things China’s said down the years, about monsters, about races, about stereotypes, about worlds, have all found their way into that ‘Things to Remember’ file and, eventually, into the books. Perdido Street Station and Un Lun Dun are easily two of the best books I’ve ever read, and if you haven’t read them, you really should. Once you’ve done that, you’ll also read all the other books without needing plugs from me.
So I was beyond delighted when Lit Sutra happened, and I got the chance to interview China and ask him many questions while trying to remain dignified and not beg for an autograph in front of everyone. I don’t remember ever being so nervous before an event before – not least because China clearly operates in a higher IQ zone than I do and uses words like ‘ontological’ with the kind of casual ease that I use words like ‘yeah’, but also because I wanted to, you know, learn stuff. But I think it went well.
Living and working as a writer, you often get the chance to meet really interesting writers, sometimes even great writers. But this was the first time I’d met someone who’d been a direct influence on the novels, and from whose work I plan to continue stealing many things (I already announced at the event that I thought the binjas were fair game, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg) and it was wonderful to be able to chat, to tell him he could swear as much as he liked on stage, and to thank him.
Ok. End of fanboying, back to work. Deadlines loom like kraken tentacles.

Update: Here‘s the video

Unrelated, but am reminded of another public event where staying awake and alive was a real problem:  sometime in 2004. An event at Oxford bookstore, where I was supposed to deliver a short speech about something or other as part of the panel of judges for whatever it was we were judging; clearly a writing contest of some sort. I remember Diya Kar Hazra, Jairam Ramesh and other stalwarts were there with me. Now I had a terrible hacking zombie-like cough that had been bothering me for a few days and had rendered me (fortunately, according to some) incapable of speech. To soften, smoothen and otherwise harmonize my vocal chords, I had chugged a fair amount of Benadryl just before leaving the flat; as a result, the entire evening was a blur. I nodded, smiled fixedly and tried to keep from gently swaying from side to side without much success. When it was my turn to speak, I remember the audience blurring and weaving. I felt like Gussie Fink-Nottle.

I think the speech was a huge hit, though. I don’t really remember.

Do come. And bring your friends. There’ll be a short video thingie where I talk about my influences, a quick reading, a discussion with the mighty Nilanjana S. Roy, and drunksdrinks.

Will post about other events when dates and times are confirmed. Calcutta is Jan 22 at Crossword, more details to follow.

Further update: We done. Here are a few of my favourite questions.

Dickiannn All your base are belongs to us

Anamika

Saran how long the IT industry will be there in India?

Stranger why there is always magnet be attracted in North and south pole? Why not in the east and west direction? Why the clock runs in clockwise direction and why not it be in anti-clockwise direction?

oh no aa yes yes haa huuuu aauu Is sanjay dutt rightly punished.

Prem hi samit can you say about biotechnology in india?

fasfasasfa fasfasafa

RONU IT IS TRUE THAT NOVEL WRITEN ON JAMESBOND IN 1850 THE INSTRUMENTS NARRATED IS REAL TODAY.JUST SAY U R FINE, N HOPE EV.THING IS POSSIBLE IN NEAR FUTURE.

Is globalwarming becoming disastrous for world?

What are your views about bioinformatics?

single or not, samit basu?

But there were lots of other questions too, serious questions (not that these arent, but questions I was better able to answer) and I had a lovely time, and would love to do this again. Don’t miss the rest of the series. I believe they have Danish Husain on tomorrow, and he the man, that Dan.

Update: If you’re here, hang on; inevitable tech buggerups are happening, and we will be with you soon, inshallah.

IBNLive.com is doing this interesting thing with me tomorrow – the beginning of this series they’ll be running for the next two weeks. Basically, I turn up at 3 pm tomorrow on their site and if you’re there too, we chat. The topic at present is SF, India and Fantasy – but feel free to discuss none of these. This is the link, will update if it changes.

Also, I note they have (at present, so go look before they change it) Indrajit Hazra’s picture up there at present instead of mine, along with the bum of Clifford the Big Red Dog, from the Superhero launch picture on this page, four posts down. Please note I haven’t asked them to do this. But Indi is better looking than I am, so this is probably a good thing.

I leave you with this picture of author/journalist/rocker Indrajit Hazra thinking ‘Is that Clifford the Big Red Dog behind me, or just a figment of my imagination?’

Actually, I don’t. I’m feeling lazy and will upload it later.

Later:

Further update: More Superhero joy. Read this article to learn about this unique anthropology of children literature, Indi’s claims of tautness, Rimi B’s feministicity and my common wackiness.

And here, more about Indi’s bowel problems and confirmation of what you’ve always suspected: I’m a darling.

The circus travels to Calcutta next weekend. We’re launching Rocket, Flushman, Trixie and other superheroes at Oxford Bookstore, 530 pm Saturday. Everyone’s invited.

A Hymn to New Him
(by Samit Basu, with apologies to Alan Jay Lerner)

What on god’s green earth is metrosexuality,
Do modern men admit to lacking balls?
What could have repressed them?
What could have compressed them?
I cannot understand this thing at all.

Now we’re metrosexuals, that’s all there is to that!
Our heads are full of flowers, style and spice!
We’re nothing now but thinking-feeling, never-stealing,
even-keeling, no-glass-ceiling, single-dealing,
sex-appealing, self-healing nice guys!

(Willing lady) ____________, why can’t a new man be more like a man?

(Hmm?)

Yes…
Why can’t a new man be more like a man?
Men were so simple, so thoroughly square;
Eternally dirty, covered with hair;
Who, when you won, would never give your cheek a kiss.
Well, why can’t a new man be like this?
Why does he have to have expensive hairstyles?
Why must he now learn how to use his head?
Why are mothers teaching their sons their styles?
Why don’t boys grow up- well, like their fathers instead?
Why can’t a new man take after a man?
Men were unpleasant, always ill-at-ease;
When you were with them, you did as you pleased.
Would you be slighted if they watched the television?

(Of course not!)

Would you be livid if they ignored the morning dew?

(Nonsense.)

Would you be offended by the occasional emission?

(Never.)

Well, why can’t a new man be like you?
One man in a million might have cared a bit.
Now and then they knew their own defects;
Some, perhaps, when drunk would go and share a bit.
But by and large we were a marvelous sex!
Why can’t a new man take after like a man?
Men were unfriendly, ill-natured, unkind.
Made sure their blood-flows never reached their minds

If they forgot to kiss your mummy, would you bellow?

(Of course not! )

If they were all unwaxed, would you fuss?

(Nonsense)

Would you cry unless they wore pink, red or yellow?

(Never)

Well, why can’t a new man be like us?

(To nearest metrosexual)
You there, you’re a metrosexual…
Why can’t a new man be more like a man?
Men were so smelly, they’d burp and they’d fart.
They were never ever interested in art.
They’d bite you if you touched them on the bum.
Why can’t a new man be that dumb?
Why is stinking something new men never do?
Why is scratching never even tried?
Working on their abs is all they ever do.
Why don’t they work out the mess that’s inside?
Why can’t a new man behave like a man?
If I was a new man, so much in the news,
Full of sighs, wise thoughts, words and views;
Would I start hogging all the media attention?
And pretend my grandpa never lived in trees?
Would I shave body parts I shouldn’t even mention?
Well, why can’t a new man be like me?