I suppose the time for it, a 20th anniversary edition, has kind of passed, but it's nice to think about.

New to Vollman and just got Ice Shirt. At the beginning Ice Text section, some words are cut off on the right margin, was this an artistic choice or a bad printing? Thanks in advance!

Latest info on A Table for Fortune is that New Directions is interested in publishing it in the US, with hope that European publishers pick it up after. No press or info about length/editing quite yet, but progress is being made.

Vollmann also stated that longer versions of his pieces in Harper's (including his visit to the DMZ and upcoming trip to Ukraine) will be included in a non-fiction work tentatively titled 'Home' revolving around the concept of patriotism. Interesting tidbit is that the DMZ piece was originally edited down from about 250 pages for Harper's.

Source: his conversation with True Anon at Grand Star Theatre in San Francisco on 9/23/24.

https://www.ndbooks.com/author/william-vollmann/

I absolutely love the aesthetic of these SPIN magazine article title pages which later became sections of Rising Up and Rising Down - a few of these title pages are included here.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/spin-dna-william-t-vollmann-113000270.html

I bet ya'll haven't read this one. It seems to have fallen off the radar completely.

https://orionmagazine.org/article/a-reflection-of-the-public/

Feels a bit like the end of Royal Family plus the testimonial sections of Carbon Ideologies.

This is a favorite of mine. It's a war journalist's look at Afghanistan, 9/11, the invasion of Iraq, and the insurgency that followed. It shares a lot of what Vollmann does best: mordant humor, on-the-ground accounts of terrible violence (Ground Zero on the day of the attacks, the shelling of Kabul, battle of Baghdad), shocking images that stick to you, and fascinations with how violence in the Middle East has made the region's women invisible. (See: Their Hands on Their Hearts.) It's also just a well-sequenced and entertaining book. Anyone else read this?

Where to find a copy (that isn’t $50USD)? EDIT: Would anyone on this forum be willing to part ways with their copy for a “reasonable” price?

I am almost finished with you bright and risen angels and I've noticed that my copy lists more sections of the book than are actually included- did I somehow end up with an abridged version or is this intentional? My copy is 635 pages and ends with "revolutionaries forever" but there are 7 more sections listed in the table of contents.

Relatively new Vollman fan and just ordered about 3 books, casting a pretty wide net. All of them arrived pretty quickly, but all are clearly print on demand from Ingram. Not great quality at all. Ultimately it doesn't matter, but it's a little frustrating to become so enamored with a writer and then have to make do with subpar printings.

I’m very interested in starting my Vollmann journey. These are the current books I own (The Lucky Star and Atlas are on a different shelf). I also have his Imperial photography book.

I was thinking about starting with Rainbow Stories or Atlas, just to dip my toes, but I’m gladly taking suggestions.

Also— very open to starting with his nonfiction work as well (don’t own any of those).

Thanks!

New article by Vollmann in the current Harper‘s magazine.

https://harpers.org/archive/2024/08/korean-hearts-william-t-vollmann-dmz/

Any Vollmann fan ( even those who haven't read Rising up and Rising Down) knows that Bill is very well read, and references very interesting books that you wouldn't think someone outside of that profession would even be aware of. For example, The Pathology of Homicide by Lester Adelson is for forensic pathologists, not novelists. So anyway, has Vollmann inspired you to read anything that he has read?

Hi, a novice here. I'm looking for online resources that collect or itemize allusions/characters, real and fictional, and their historical significance/factoids, etc. Europe Central is the book I'm starting with because it's the only Vollmann I could find in my local bookstore (I live in Southeast Asia). I'm not particularly looking for in-depth explanatory notes or a comprehensive guide or anything like that. I'm sure they are much more difficult to locate. Pynchonites have their websites, but do we?

Thanks.

Harper's essay on the death of Vollmann's father. Anyone got a PDF?

Hey everyone.

As you may know, documentaries and works of fiction like Fincher's Zodiac have engrained the Zodiac Killer in the pop-cultural public view of San Francisco. Vollmann's (by my metric) really fantastic works (W.F.G., The Lucky Star, The Rainbow Stories, portions of You Bright And Risen Angels) are San Fran focused. Has Vollmann written anything on the callous mythologization of the Zodiac Killer?

!I know there are references to the Night Stalker in Lucky Star, and possibly the Blue Yonder may qualify, !<but I'm talking more direct references. I also just haven't read all he has on offer, including Royal Family.

If anyone has any thoughts, you know the drill.

I'm a novice in regards to Vollmann, and have quite recently gotten intrigued by this man. At first thinking he's some hyper-intellectual nerd, and I do regret that superficial prejudice, as later on as I dig in more about this guy I just got flabbergasted at every turn. Indeed a very interesting man. I'm reading his RURD, and planning to read more. I just read about Francis Tomasic and Bill (or will?) Brinton, a rather heartbreaking tale. I researched and couldn't find much, but as far as my findings go they were killed by a mine, while in a car. I was quite surprised and amazed to later know that Vollmann was actually with them and he somehow fortunately survived. I actually don't know much, it's been about 2 weeks I've known Vollmann, and I don't think I have engaged in his works and researched for more than 2 hours probably. So If someone would elaborate and explain to me in regards to, what was he writing about? Is there a book about that incident? What was going on? Why was he there? His relationship with these 2 martyrs? I would really appreciate it, as I believe it is imperative to acquire that knowledge before I head on to reading RURD.

As title says. Borderline fucking impossible unless I’m willing to pay £20+ per book on eBay.

I got super lucky once and found a copy of Europe Central in a charity shop for £2, but that’s my only Vollmann so far.

Anybody want to sell me some Vollmann?

Why don’t they publish his stuff in the UK :(

I made a Zip file with all the seven volumes and uploaded it on Interent archive. You can download it for free here. Please use it for personal and educational purposes only. Now everyone who wanted to(but couldnt), can read it! Just extract it using an application like Zarchiver, or Winrar. Your thoughts?

It was a fine number of followers and I wear #667 with a snaggle of shame and pride. Anyway, here’s my favorite picture of WTV.

I discovered him about 10 years ago when I stumbled across a well-worn copy of The Ice-Shirt, which blew me away. The only other Seven Dreams novel I’ve read in its entirety is The Dying Grass. Doing a re-read of McCarthy’s works at the moment but I’m planning on diving into Fathers and Crows when I’m finished.

Would I be wrong in feeling daunted by Fathers and Crows? It seems dense in a way The Dying Grass or The Royal Family weren’t, despite their length.

I interviewed Vollmann on Sunday and asked him some of your questions. This is the edited version (most of what's removed are spitty clicks and "um"s; interestingly, I'd say Vollmann uses three or four "um"s per sentence, which makes him sound kinda spacey, but when you clip them out, so that his thoughts roll along unfiltered, you get what sounds like straight prose).

Finally, in response to your questions, he had a particular answer that I think you guys will appreciate. I've kept it out of the general episode, because I think it was mainly for you guys, and I plan to have that version ready in a day or two.

Here's the linktree, for your platform of choice. If you like it, and your platform allows for it, I'd appreciate any reviews!

https://linktr.ee/ThousandMovieProject?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

Also, lemme know if you've got any guest suggestions!

Hey guys,

I host a podcast where I occasionally interview writers, and last week I reached out to William Vollmann, asking if he'd come on and answer some questions about his situation with Table of Fortune, (the CIA novel, the search for a publisher).

He left me a voicemail yesterday saying yes, he'd be happy to come on the podcast and answer any questions.

I mentioned that I was a regular member on the board here (recently deleted my last acct, similar username) and that I'd be fielding some questions from his readers.

Anything you'd like me to ask?

Edit: typo

I am guessing it was the unabridged that was getting the ebook treatment, but honestly I'd love to have either. Any news on what happened to the 2022 release that was spoken of here? Alternatively, does ANYONE have the title in a PDF or other ebook format? I already own the hard copy of the abridged edition, if anyone is concerned about me siphoning from Vollmann's royalties...though I get the feeling he wouldn't give a crap if people circulated it in digital format. (I remember when a decade ago the unabridged set was going for $500!)

Second, I'd love to send him a brief letter especially given his recent trials. I know on that recent podcast they mentioned writing him years ago...would any of you say that's something that he's generally open to or would he not appreciate it?

​

Lastly, to the people talking about him at the Horseman some years ago. I remember the night that went down, and it completely slipped my mind by the time I got off work. I regret to this day not heading over there to meet him.