Id like to take a minute here to appreciate John Clute, a special person to both Christopher and me, as well as many others. I mentioned meeting the wonderful, magical Graham Joyce when I was a GOH at MexiCon in 1993, as well as the crazy 8-hour car trip from Heathrow to Scarborough (no, I didnt drive jet-lagged, honest; Ill tell that story in full another time). But that was also the time I met John and the wonderful, magical Judith Clute for the first time. And it happened because the wonderful, magical Ellen Datlow decided to go to MexiCon with me, and then turned an excursion to a convention into a two-week adventure with a side-trip to Paris (which is another story for another time). Ellen talked me into it–not that it was hard–and she said, While were in England, we can stay with The Clutes. I had never met The Clutes. It so happened that the timing of our flights had me arriving several hours before her. So I had to find my way to The Clutes flat in Camden Town, and then introduce myself to people I had never even seen before. Hi, Im Pat Cadigan and Ill be staying with you for the next two weeks, except for the times when Im in Scarborough or Paris. John answered the door and I think I said pretty much the above. He dragged my bags upstairs for me...and there I was, in that wonderful, magical Camden Town flat. I immediately wanted to move in with them. John probably made some coffee–I dont really remember now. All I remember is sitting at the table in the kitchen and chatting. It was *great.* I loved talking to him and I loved listening to him. And deep down, I felt as if I had reached an important moment in my life. Maybe it was just the fact that it was only the third time Id ever been off the North American continent and only my second trip to England. I was already buzzed about being a co-GOH with the wonderful, magical Norman Spinrad at a British convention. Me, with one of my idols! I was excited anyway but this was something above and beyond even that. Eventually Ellen arrived and then it was a party. Judith came back from her studio and I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. And it was a wonderful, magical two weeks. I met Graham and Peter Hamilton, and Storm Constantine in person for the first time (Id written her Super-Fan-Girl letters about the Wraeththu books and Im still a Super-Fan-Girl for Storms work). I had an incredible dinner with John Jarrold, Iain Banks, and his then-wife Annie, where we had the best red wine in the world and they had to practically carry me back to the convention so Paul Kincaid-critic could do the GOH interview with me. That still stands as one of the best interviews anyone has ever done with me and its a shame that no one recorded it. (Protip: if Paul Kincaid wants to interview you, say yes immediately and get it all on tape.) And I also met Chris in person for the first time. He came to interview both me and Ellen. Then he came back with a professional photographer to take our pictures. Ive posted my favourite photo of him, me, and Ellen from that time but there are others, of me and Ellen, and of us and The Clutes in their living room. 1993. Twenty-one years ago. It doesnt seem anywhere nearly that long in some ways; in others, it seems like Ive always lived the life I have now. Theres more to the story–how I mistook Chris for Chris Fowler when he wrote asking to do an interview with me while I was in London; my failure to comprehend British understatement that led to the eight-hour car trip where I went around a roundabout in the wrong direction; how I had to beg for help at a petrol station to find the reverse gear on a Mondeo; how I later drafted Jo Fletcher and her then-boyfriend Peter to help me get rid of the car so we wouldnt have to drive back to London; the trip to the Louvre where we only saw the gift shop and the boat-ride on the Seine where I got the idea for Paris In June. Ellen and I packed a lot into two weeks. Ellen was really the one who put the trip together and planned everything (except some of the wilder details)–I had hardly been anywhere and if she hadnt decided to come along, it would have been a very different and far less wonderful trip. But it all really kicked off while I was sitting at the table in the Camden Town flat. Happy Birthday, John–you have no idea how glad I am that I know you.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 06:38:12 +0000