h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Your mental and emotional gymnastics in regard to the great 'art versus deadlines' issue, and the ambivalent sense of obligations by the artist in an atmosphere of fandom to 'supply' the demand, are not unknown to this writer. I feel much empathy and admiration for your honesty and applaud your decision to be ultimately faithful only to your art.

Fans, critics, editors, publishers... these exist outside, beyond and certainly only 'after' the fact of artistic creation and should never be put before the horse.

So onward and upward then to a world where the audience doesn't dilute the performance and the artist is free to speak the truth in advertising.


~jwf~ (still trying to plug a leaky hyperbole)

And the 'Dickens' reference did not elude me either. I have been following Eustace and saw you on the brink of making damn sure that the modern world doesn't forget that there are still serious social, emotional and familial problems in our world that only a Dickens could enlighten. Your insights into that child's great expectations in a bleak house of cards were sometimes painfully close to the bone.
As Yogi Bera said, "It ain't Oliver til it's Oliver and the fat lady sings."

~jwf~

Yeah... what ~jwf~ said.
Understand all too well - I know I should do it more often myself.

See you at the trifle.

Thank you both. It's good, on this occasion at least, to know that I'm understood. The slight pang of regret I feel is hugely outstripped by the sense of liberation, like an icy blast up the trouser leg of despond. And Eustace will return in new glory.

Oo I can't wait.