DL/A-Z//ALD/4 - [Correspondence with Brian Aldiss, 2000-2001]

DL/A-Z//ALD/4

Sub-file

[Correspondence with Brian Aldiss, 2000-2001]

11/05/2000-29/10/2001

Aldiss, Brian

[2000]

033 is a letter from Brian Aldiss to Doris Lessing. He mentions a review of a book about Lessing published in the Times Literary Supplement. Mentions Alev Adil and Carol Klein. Mentions gender roles.

034 is a letter from Aldiss to Lessing. He mentions South Africa, Norfolk and Devon. Mentions William Cowper, George Borrow, W.N.P. Barbellion, Saki Leonard Strong and Ursula Kiausch. Describes the writing process. Also refers to the Conference of the Fantastic, to which Aldiss and Lessing were both invited as guest of honour.

035 is a letter from Aldiss to Lessing, responding to her comments about her son Peter Lessing: “It’s understandable that your life can be defined by Peter.” Mentions his 75th birthday party, to which Lessing is unofficially invited. Describes family life. Mentions “mob nastiness in Portsmouth” [riots inspired by paedophile hysteria 03/08/2000]

036 is a letter from Aldiss to Lessing. He suggests a “four-sentence description of our topic” for the benefit of Maggie Fergusson at the Royal Society of Literature, in preparation for a meeting on 11/02/2001: “The antiquity of something resembling science fiction. Its variety and topicality. Closer association with scientific than literary groups. Discussion of some of the most interesting novels and stories.” [The purpose of the meeting is not mentioned]

[2001]

037 is a letter from Maggie Fergusson at the Royal Society of Literature to Lessing asking her to provide a citation for Aldiss, whom they are recommending for a C.B.E. “Needless to say, it is important not to tell anyone – and most particularly Brian – that you are doing this.” A Department for Culture, Media and Sport guidance document is attached (4 leaves, photocopied).

038 is a letter from Aldiss to Lessing, listing his written works [in response to a request from Lessing]. Lists the following long works: Billion Year Spree, Trillion Year Spree, Non-Stop, Hothouse, Frankenstein Unbound, The Malacia Tapestry, the Helliconia trilogy, White Mars Or, The Mind Set Free, The Brightfount Diaries, The Squire Quartet, The Cretan Teat, Jocasta, Twinkling of an Eye, or My Life as an Englishman and When the Feast is Finished. Lists the following short stories: “Who Can Replace a Man”, “All the World’s Tears”, “Sen Her Victorious”, “Old Hundredth” “Man in His Time”, “Girl and Robot with Flowers”, “The Saliva Tree”, “Day of the Doomed King”, “An Appearance of Life”, “North of the Abyss” and “Supertoys Last All Summer Long”, which is to be adapted by Stanley Kubrick and Stephen Spielberg into A.I.

Mentions the SF Blues roadshow. “You were marvellous yesterday – and congratulations on the SECRET!”

039 is a manuscript draft (1 leaf, typed) of Lessing’s citation for Aldiss. Works in the draft not mentioned in 038 include Forgotten Life, Remembrance Day and Somewhere East of Life.

041 is a letter from Aldiss to Lessing. He describes visiting France to visit his publisher, Editions Métailié, run by Anne-Marie Métailié. Mentions smoking. Describes feeling estranged from England following his experience of war in Burma. Mentions the newly declared War on Terror, Tony Blair and George W Bush. Mentions the Vietnam war, Russian literature, and John Nash [most likely from A Beautiful Mind].