Monday, November 08, 2004

His Name Is Duncan
By J.D. Finch



He had never felt he’d better understood how cattle felt than now as her momentum, like an aura of concrete, moved him to the place he was supposed to be, a position of subservience in front of the editor’s desk.

“So what’s the plan Cal?” his editor asked him with a “let’s-get-on-with-it” urgency.

He gazed around the room slowly, put off by knowing that he was the lowest item in it, except for the waste can under a desk that itself was head level to him. He felt like a stone that had been thrown into a pond that had impossibly been decorated in ersatz Italian Renaissance and he was sitting on the bottom as the Boticellis, Cellinnis et al floated above him.

“Plan?” he parroted, as he squeaked his index finger quickly across the faux leather chair. “Oh, the usual, I expect”, he said casually, as if barely aware his attention was required. “Just keep typing until once again I find the magic formula that lets me create a story to transfix the masses.”

“Very clever,” the editor said. “Unfortunately the ‘masses’ decided that your last two were ‘misses’.”

“They were every bit as well written as my first two.”

“Yes,” the editor agreed, even though he himself had been more interested in baby bottles than books when the two bestsellers had been published.

“So it must be something else. Don’t you think, Cal?”

“People aren’t buying books; it’s an industry-wide problem,” he sighed.

“So you don’t think that the problem might be your image?” said the editor while admiring the yellow-orange glow of the tip of his Marlboro Light. A smokeless ashtray gently hummed in its open drawer and kept the haze to a manageable minimum.

“Frankly no,” he said flatly, in the way he sometimes used to make a point: a pose he used to convince that a concept was beneath him.

But of course he cared. And secretly he agreed with his editor. They both knew he was a fine writer, but he couldn’t compete with the new postmodernist darlings that were filling up the bestseller lists. The ones who threw all the book parties for industry insiders and the critics. The critics! My God, he couldn’t even imagine it!

“And what are you implying, that I’m old?” he said running his fingers through his graying hair. “Okay so I’m heading for 40 -- no biggie. Life begins at forty, isn’t that what they say?”

“If by ‘they’ you’re referring to my grandparents, you’re spot-on,” the editor said smiling bitter-sweetly. “Do you want to be categorized with them? Because I’ll tell you, if you don’t find a way to connect to the current pulse of things, within five years your career is going to be as dead as they are.”

When had the lit world become a personality contest? When had bookstore readings become a sort of cerebral talent show, a hokey 21st century vaudeville? And when had his editors become so damned young?

“If you cared about promoting my stuff as much as you do hanging with the latest wunderkind and altering yourself with the hot boutique drug, perhaps the sales would be more up to your expectations. How do you expect me to sell if I get no support?”

“You have the same support you’ve gotten from us all along. We haven’t reduced promotion for you by a dime. It’s you...you give us nothing to work with. It’s no longer enough to say ‘the latest by Caleb Duncan’ and expect the damn book to do back flips off the shelves.”

“Look at who’s reading today,” he went on, passionate, yet cool and unruffled. “Twentysomethings and younger. They’re clueless about Cal Duncan, -- you’re only a name they saw on their parents’ night tables when they were toddlers. They don’t want anything their parents like; they want their own stuff. They want their books, not their parents’. They’ve developed...oh, I don’t know, ‘taste’ for lack of a better term. They have pretentions and if you don’t appeal to them, you’re out of there. In two generations they’ve gone from magazines to zines to literary quarterlies to books, God bless ‘em.”

Duncan hated that his editor so easily verbalized what had been a racquetball of a worry bouncing and ricocheting off the interior walls of his guts for too long: he was becoming an anachronism, sliding inexorably into oblivion as surely as Quint in Jaws slid down the deck of the foundering boat until he could feel the fish’s tonsils tickling his...

Chomp!

“Look Cal,” said his editor solicitously. “I want you to do something for us.”

Duncan looked at him; the helplessness and doubt he felt etched his face with deep lines making him look like a runner who’d already decided to come in dead last, even before the starting gun had been fired.

“All right then, I want you to do something for yourself,” the editor said softening his tone as much as a man in his business could without being accused of the deadly sin of sentimentality.

He handed Duncan a business card that looked like a miniature Fillmore poster, with a bright tie-died pattern swirling around one of the sort of smiling simpering fools that Duncan called “nouveau gurus”. Duncan looked at the card: “Henry Blascomb, Planner of Events, Giver of Soirées, Supplier of the Unusual”.

“Now please excuse me,” said the editor as the herder arrived, again transporting another writer up to the desk by sheer will. “But be sure to give Henry a call, okay Cal?”

Duncan managed a pained nod as he left. He thought he felt a force keeping him clear of the receptionist and her charge as they passed and he smiled at the young…woman? What was she – sixteen? he wondered as the door closed behind him.

The receptionist had somehow already gotten back to her station, and was deeply involved in paperwork. He looked at the door. “Malcom Talbot Jr., Editor” said the Olde English brass letters, perfectly aligned with each other. One had to looked closely to see the slightly different burnish that told him the “Jr.” had been added later.

“His father was better,” he said aloud. “Much better.” If the human force field heard him she wasn’t letting on at all.

[e-mail jdfin2 at hotmail.com]

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well done!
[url=http://eblkgciy.com/oxwo/jqpt.html]My homepage[/url] | [url=http://yuzpchvy.com/nnux/yyjs.html]Cool site[/url]

Anonymous said...

Great work!
http://eblkgciy.com/oxwo/jqpt.html | http://vyfzerex.com/qnox/uzht.html

Anonymous said...

Great work!
[url=http://izrxcyst.com/pvtp/wsft.html]My homepage[/url] | [url=http://lofcnvet.com/yzbg/vest.html]Cool site[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good design!
http://izrxcyst.com/pvtp/wsft.html | http://eaqrpcbi.com/itpj/xdqr.html

Anonymous said...

Well done!
[url=http://dcckbyyg.com/hrdh/uhfq.html]My homepage[/url] | [url=http://kdthshop.com/ektj/suuy.html]Cool site[/url]

Anonymous said...

Great work!
My homepage | Please visit

Anonymous said...

Great work!
http://dcckbyyg.com/hrdh/uhfq.html | http://gfvwrdub.com/dpib/exod.html

Anonymous said...

outdoor singles [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]asian ladyboy dating[/url] female inmate personals http://loveepicentre.com/ singles vacations

Anonymous said...

shelby county health inspections [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/index.php?lng=uk&cv=po]No prescription online pharmacy[/url] schwarz lelek syndrome http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/provigrax.htm public health and drug abuse http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/hyzaar.htm
dental school gainsville ga [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/paxil.htm]paxil[/url] richmond health center medical confidentiality [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/brahmi.htm]smelly vaginal blood after an abortion[/url]

Anonymous said...

center for minority health blog [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/paroxetine.htm]paroxetine[/url] how to build a penis pump http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/anafranil.htm smoke and steam http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/hyzaar.htm
medical transcription jobs houston [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/benicar.htm]benicar[/url] diabetes info nz [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/zocor.htm]children anxiety[/url]

Anonymous said...

vaginal yeast infection gallery [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/trental.htm]trental[/url] asi health care plans http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/ventolin.htm masturbate orgasm http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/allegra.htm
health policy nurse legal issues ethics [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/maxalt.htm]maxalt[/url] medical pump sales [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/minocycline.htm]drinking taquilla with diabetes[/url]

Anonymous said...

auto pontiac ventura 1967 photo http://automoblog.in/seat/children-front-seat-law-pa automobile key wont go in
[url=http://automoblog.in/motor-co/custom-motor-coaches]automobile dealerships for sale[/url] mercedes tune up parts [url=http://automoblog.in/audi/audi-100-engine-keep-shutting-off]audi 100 engine keep shutting off[/url]
mercedes car dealerships http://automoblog.in/porsche/porsche-92854
[url=http://automoblog.in/cadillac/executive-cadillac-escalades]cls mercedes[/url] mercedes benz 1993 [url=http://automoblog.in/spyker/stomach-spyker]stomach spyker[/url]
mercedes gl450 owners manual http://automoblog.in/top-fuel/acetone-in-your-fuel
[url=http://automoblog.in/motorcycle-show/motorcycle-carbuetors]mercedes dealer michigan[/url] volkswagen iltis [url=http://automoblog.in/toyotas/battlefield-toyota]battlefield toyota[/url]

Anonymous said...

us state department travel information http://livetravel.in/tour/tour-of-homes-chattanooga why do i need to have home content insurance when i travel
[url=http://livetravel.in/cruises/lunch-and-dinner-cruises]northeast travel[/url] french travel show [url=http://livetravel.in/tour/granc-circle-island-tour]granc circle island tour[/url]
aki travel http://livetravel.in/plane-tickets/whens-the-best-time-to-buy-plane-tickets
[url=http://livetravel.in/maps/pictures-of-maps-or-atlases]mikes travel and adventure[/url] jewelry travel stores [url=http://livetravel.in/motel/del-sol-motel]del sol motel[/url]
employment laws reimbursement of travel expenses http://livetravel.in/airlines/startup-airlines
[url=http://livetravel.in/tour/eagles-1977-tour-dates]travel mug usa[/url] travel wallet with retracting chain [url=http://livetravel.in/cruises/dinner-cruises-in-mauai]dinner cruises in mauai[/url] government lost reciept form travel documents [url=http://livetravel.in/lufthansa/boeing-insulation-blankets]boeing insulation blankets[/url]
travel between shanghai and senai [url=http://livetravel.in/lufthansa/boeing-737-versus-airbus]boeing 737 versus airbus[/url]
indianapolis train travel http://livetravel.in/airline/airasia-airline
[url=http://livetravel.in/maps/maps-of-bible-lands]army risk accesment travel[/url] travel site in canada [url=http://livetravel.in/maps/maps-of-atlantic-canada-and-maine]maps of atlantic canada and maine[/url]
[url=http://livetravel.in/tourism/tyngsborough-tourism]tyngsborough tourism[/url] travel texas with pooch dog [url=http://livetravel.in/car-rental/car-rental-cash-houston-texas]car rental cash houston texas[/url] travel documents africa [url=http://livetravel.in/map/map-containers]map containers[/url]
discounted travel rates [url=http://livetravel.in/car-rental/rental-car-huntersville-nc]rental car huntersville nc[/url]

Anonymous said...

designer dresses coconut grove http://topcitystyle.com/white-dressy-tops-color4.html timberland shower in clothes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/l-dolce-amp-gabbana-size7.html]purple shoes for ladies[/url] louis vuitton shoes
http://topcitystyle.com/white-grey-underwear-color26.html custom shoes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/pepe-jeans-london-classic-denim-brand52.html]italian designer shoes online[/url]

Anonymous said...

the beginning of christian dior http://topcitystyle.com/26-pants-size19.html ryka shoes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/black-white-tank-tops-color156.html]france clothes[/url] saint laurence university ny
http://topcitystyle.com/?action=products&product_id=1357 buy new balance shoes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/blue-white-black-color82.html]puerto rico fashion and style[/url]

Anonymous said...

dye to match shoes http://topcitystyle.com/18-24-month-new-size32.html wallis clothes shop [url=http://topcitystyle.com/l-dresses-size7.html]a varieties of clothes lou hoover[/url] gucci sunglass frames
http://topcitystyle.com/yellow-grey-color186.html elie saab fashion [url=http://topcitystyle.com/-winter-jackets-on-sale-category9.html]dallas web site designers[/url]

Anonymous said...

sas shoes http://topcitystyle.com/women-page5.html poetry womens clothes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/accessories-type5r.html]interior designers[/url] how to wear red clothes
http://topcitystyle.com/on-sale-evening-cocktail-type2.html problems faced by graphic designers before the use of multimedia software [url=http://topcitystyle.com/grey-black-men-color61.html]clothes for under dry suits[/url]

Anonymous said...

drive usa auto center http://carautonews.in/car-racing/horse-racing-dundalk information on mercedes
[url=http://carautonews.in/aprilia]mercedes boris timarac[/url] dodge headlights compare [url=http://carautonews.in/aprilia/aprilia-information]aprilia information[/url]
auto cool ventilation system http://carautonews.in/auto-co/auto-interior-paint-review
[url=http://carautonews.in/acura/acura-integra-cooling-fa-module]marscio auto williamstown new jersey[/url] russell automobile [url=http://carautonews.in/acura/acura-2007-tsx-tl]acura 2007 tsx tl[/url]
automobile tab renewal mn http://carautonews.in/auto-co/gordon-auto-parts
[url=http://carautonews.in/acura/acura-tsx-2006-owners-manual]mercedes 4 door convertible[/url] automobile purchasing trends [url=http://carautonews.in/bikes/webco-bikes]webco bikes[/url]

Anonymous said...

mcarthur beware of the sleeping dragon [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/anti-saure.htm]anti saure[/url] health coverage for the uninsured http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/zerit.htm
shanex stop smoking [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/dilantin.htm]dilantin[/url] schools of medicine [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/zanaflex.htm ]female orgasm photos [/url] defiancy of vitamin d for adolescent girls
medical cyclotron fdg distribution [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/lukol.htm]lukol[/url] breast inlargment http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/anti-depressant-anti-anxiety.htm
baylor center health senior [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/antibiotici.htm]antibiotici[/url] hair removale for vaginal area [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/healthy-bones.htm ]writing prescription codes [/url] a muscle contains fibers

Anonymous said...

shoes worn by shakira http://luxefashion.us/on-sale-long-sleeve-tops-type2.html you take her clothes off [url=http://luxefashion.us/black-multicolored-dresses-color20.html]vigilante jade shoes[/url] clothes worn in spain
http://luxefashion.us/on-sale-sport-type2.html designer shoes [url=http://luxefashion.us/white-grey-women-color26.html]crossdresser clothes[/url]

Anonymous said...

study of describing the blood vessels of the heart [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/catalogue/d.htm]Online Drugstore[/url] work place health and safety queensland http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/abilify.htm
breast exam video clip [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/prandin.htm]prandin[/url] crna students at sacred heart medical center [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/exelon.htm ]sample menues for diet for people with cirrhosis [/url] dietary supplements to increase muscle mass
renal vein sampling procedure [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/viramune.htm]viramune[/url] dental sealants like vaccinations http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/avandia.htm
prescription stamina online pharmacy [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/catalogue/y.htm]medications without a prescription[/url] cholesterol embolization [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/zithromax.htm ]heart circulatory system [/url] how to clean smoke residue off car windshields

Anonymous said...

equine science journals on horse health issues [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/clomid.htm]clomid[/url] scheduling medical appointments http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/baclofen.htm
quality of health care measuments [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/amaryl.htm]amaryl[/url] diet for high blood sugar [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/erexor.htm ]medical signs and symptons [/url] diaic diet secrets
north idaho college medical assistant [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/azulfidine.htm]azulfidine[/url] pregnenolone cholesterol http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/anti-depresseur---anti-anxiety.htm
treat dogs ear infections [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/torsemide.htm]torsemide[/url] cialis erection health man penis viagra [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/menosan.htm ]companies who drug test [/url] foster children health

Anonymous said...

sniff shoes http://luxefashion.us/denim-blue-classic-denim-color7.html dc shoes icons [url=http://luxefashion.us/?action=products&product_id=2572]vans slip on shoes[/url] where lil kim shop for clothes
http://luxefashion.us/yellow-brown-roberto-cavalli-color194.html the shoes worn by shakira [url=http://luxefashion.us/multi-color-dress-shirts-color180.html]new shoes[/url]

Anonymous said...

florida department of health and mqa [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/ipnoterapia.htm]ipnoterapia[/url] type iii protein secreation bacteria http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/synthroid.htm
breast feeding shield [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/citalopram.htm]citalopram[/url] southgate medical group [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/anti-acidite.htm ]eating disorder statistics [/url] ods health plan
xxx trek the final orgasm [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/grifulvin-v.htm]grifulvin v[/url] why should students have mandatory drug test http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/anti-diabetique.htm
games heart [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/catalogue/s.htm]Order Cheap Generic Drugs[/url] capital health region laboratories [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/kamasutra-ribbed-condoms.htm ]blood artery vein [/url] download free medical power of attorney forms

Anonymous said...

illini clothes http://luxefashion.us/on-sale-page50.html yogi casual clothes [url=http://luxefashion.us/white-violet-color182.html]information on australia clothes[/url] video game level designer
http://luxefashion.us/lagos-sweater-brand86.html top fashion design school [url=http://luxefashion.us/-tunic-women-category61.html]laurens county platt[/url]

Anonymous said...

nike shoes http://topcitystyle.com/purple-brown-jackets-amp-sweatshirts-color27.html virtual kitchen designer [url=http://topcitystyle.com/barbour-sport-shoes-for-women-black--item1373.html]womens ryka athletic shoes[/url] nerve pain wearing high heel shoes
http://topcitystyle.com/shoes-type4r.html kelly likes shoes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/40-leather-shoes-size27.html]cruise clothes[/url]

Anonymous said...

live tamil movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_robin_hood_prince_of_thieves/]robin hood prince of thieves[/url] movie auditions in new yor city http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_don_t_be_a_menace_to_south_central_while_drinking_your_juice_in_the_hood/ movie reviews catholic
porn free movie downloads [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_mary_and_max/]mary and max[/url] tuck everlasting original movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_44_minutes_the_north_hollywood_shoot_out/ movie theaters in dubuque iowa
proof of lies lifetime movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_last_sin_eater/]the last sin eater[/url] gay twink movie galleries
halloween movie times 19115 [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_hostel_part_ii/]hostel part ii[/url] audition for the true confessions of charlotte doyle movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_magic_man/ regal warrington movie theatre pa
stanley kubrick movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_rise_of_the_footsoldier/]rise of the footsoldier[/url] kid safe movie reviews http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_nail_the_story_of_joey_nardone/ legend movie download

Anonymous said...

haloween music [url=http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-hero-pattern-146533-1/]Hero Pattern[/url] music note symbles fonts free http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-mike-shannon-3-1/ sabbat music
legal form to sell music [url=http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-one-grand-148486-1/]One Grand[/url] p diddy missing u background music http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-orgone-5-1/ transfer music from ipod to mp3
hallween music [url=http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-chris-carter-and-pierre-du-plan-53903-1/]Chris Carter and Pierre Du Plan[/url] box music ringtone sony
music from the midwest [url=http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-lindy-layton-144634-1/]Lindy Layton[/url] free music downloads for apple macs http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-technique-35-1/ music lyrics and pics
macintosh music downloads [url=http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-mc-lo-featuring-yolanda-reynolds-133938-1/]MC Lo featuring Yolanda Reynolds[/url] coupon coder rent ron comcast pol music http://mp3-s.co.uk/all_music-papacha-8-1/ jupiter hotel restraunt music instrament people animals