Why Had I Become A Writer In

Civilization Is The Distance Man Has Placed Between Himself And His Excreta.

The Feat Represents Immense Achievement For The Neotenic Ape, Species Homo Sapiens. But Behind This Lie Twooldattributesoftheapetribalismandinquisitiveness.

Most Of My Poetry Lies Beyond The Sf Field, Yet Here I Am Corralled Into 'sf Poetry' As Part Of This Poetry Weekend. Of Course, Some Might Say, 'you've Made Your Own Bed - Now You Must Lie In It!' But, While Fully Accepting That Dictum, I'm Not Yet Quite Prepared To Lie Down.

The Fatal Error Of Much Science Fiction Has Been To Subscribe To An Optimism Based On The Idea That Revolution, Or A New Gimmick, Or A Bunch Of Strong Men, Or An Invasion Of Aliens, Or The Conquest Of Other Planets, Or The Annihilation Of Half The World--in Short, Pretty Nearly Anything But The Facing Up To The Integral And Irredeemable Nature Of Mankind--can Bring About Utopian Situations. It Is The Old Error Of The Externalization Of Evil.

I Am A Writer And Always Was; Being A Writer Is An Integral Part Of My Identity. Being Published, Being Well Regarded, Is A Component Of That Identity.