Emanations: Second Sight: "Introduction"

Emanations: Second Sight

Carter Kaplan

My copy of Emanations: Second Sight arrived three days ago, and I see that illustrating my story were four of Terrance Lindall's works -- they look great! But I'm blogging today to note that a few other words of mine were published in the anthology, words in addition to my story, words requested by the editor, words included in the "Introduction," words on the concept of the avant-garde:

The concept itself originally referred to the advance guard of an army that led a march into battle, so if the genealogy of a term has any bearing on meaning, then the avant-garde is to be understood as battling against an enemy, an adverse force. But what is this adverse and enemy force? The stultifying past, hidebound tradition, one usually thinks. This is odd, for the avant-garde is also pictured as advancing into the future, an image implying that the enemy to be engaged will be found there. Perhaps the avant-garde should be depicted as the best that tradition can offer marching as the vanguard against the worst that the future holds. The military analogy, however, is misleading. The avant-garde in a military maneuver knows where it intends to go. The army plans its trajectory behind the lines, before initiating the attack across them. If we want to keep the military analogy, we must concede that whatever is across the line of battle is invisible: a raid into emptiness. (pages xviii-ix)

So much for the avant-garde, trained to fight what they know not what . . . but for those interested in reading more, go to Amazon and order the entire book!

And spread the word . . .