The Burning Man festival ended tonight (the Temple probably just finished burning as I type this; the Man burned the night before), and I’m a bit surprised to find myself missing it this year. Not that I don’t think it’s an amazing event — I definitely do, though interestingly I haven’t blogged much about its impact on me. It’s just that I found myself indifferent about going the last few years, and given the expense and level of commitment involved with the event, “yeah, maybe I’ll go” definitely isn’t the attitude to have. Ya gotta really wanna go.
I honestly think there is profundity to be found there. But I don’t want to make a habit of profundity (I know, I know: not a problem, Steve). As I said once about major hallucinogenics, you talk to God once and it changes your life. You talk to him every weekend and it’s not long before you’re both going, So what’s new? Ehh. Yeah, same here.
Given the scale of the event and the magnitude of its impact — individually and, I believe (with what some will probably regard as surprising idealism), societally — it’s weird to think of it going on as I type this. I get the feeling I should go next year. And that I should spend a bit of time here talking about why Burning Man was important and a bit transformative for me. (And no, it’s not cuz I did drugs out there. I didn’t. That seems kind of … redundant.)
Okay, so in future posts I’ll talk about why Burning Man was important for me. Meantime, enjoy this picture I took of the Temple burn from my first year (2007), from my Picasa web album.
(OFF TOPIC, I know): I finished reading “Ariel” (for the third time) this morning. A decade between readings has changed my perspective on it each time. The first time, I was in boy Scouts, hiking 50 miles across the Gila Wilderness, eating freeze-dried food wondering what it would be like if the Change happened while we were 20 miles from the nearest road. I guess that’s why this book had such an appeal to me, back in ’84. This last time, the ending was foretold all throughout the book. I never saw it before. While personally feeling badly for Ariel, the debt was repaid; it had to end the way it did. Thank you again for your talent and efforts.
Regarding e-books: As a true Boyett fan, I require a tangible copy to prominently display on my bookshelf. (How does one get their Kindull autographed?) I want to support the author’s efforts by keeping the written tradition alive. Whatever is in print, I will gladly buy. I support the effort it takes, as my only novel sits alone on my hard drive waiting to be transformed into a tangible form. Until then, it is a meaningless collection of data locked away next to a saved game of Spider Solitaire…
In Books We Trust, Inc.,
Casey
BM 2009 was my first, and so far, my only. Bumping into you in that art hut on the playa was one of those super-serendipity moments that really marked my first time there. I haven’t been back since, but I too have been feeling the lack of it. I know for certain that I’m going back for 2012, it feels like it’s time, and a lot of other things are falling nicely into place for it. I hope you come out for it, it’d be great to see you out there again!
Ryan– I hope you make it to the Playa next year. I’ll be posting here & on the DJ site & newsletter if I go. BM always happens around the time of any major book PR because of Worldcon, DragonCon, etc. Choosing between those or BM is a no-brainer, but sometimes ya gotta do bizness.