Field Intelligence Report
To: New York City Field Office
Subject: Daryl Gregory interrogation
Greetings, comrade:
The following transcript originates from an interrogation with one Daryl Gregory, an author of so-called fantasy and science fiction (see entry EffinNessEff in Dossier #978-0345501172). Gregory is the author of two such novels: Pandemonium and The Devil’s Alphabet.
Although Gregory has been under our surveillance for some time, our field agents made the decision to capture him after learning of his plan to read as part of the Fantastic Fiction at the KGB reading series.
More worrisome than this, comrade, is that our interrogation revealed that Gregory will not be appearing alone: joining him will be Peter Straub, author of A Dark Matter. I need not remind you of this man’s fearsome reputation. Further, our sources tell us that the event will be hosted by suspected dissidents Ellen Datlow and Matthew Kressel.
Based on the information we gained during our brief interrogation, we feel that it is vitally important that all available agents attend this reading.
Here are the coordinates, should you wish to arrange for surveillance.
Peter Straub and Daryl Gregory
Fantastic Fiction at the KGB
February 17, 2010, 7 p.m.
KGB BAR
85 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-3360
[[TRANSCRIPT BEGINS: INTERVIEW, DARYL GREGORY]]
Field Agent 1: State your name for our records.
Daryl Gregory: Daryl, uh, Gregory? No! Wait! Is this a trick?
Field Agent 2: Comrade [name redacted], you’re frightening this man. Have you no culture? Mr. Gregory is an artist. They are sensitive. Now, Mr. Gregory, tell us about this “Devil’s Alphabet.” Is this some sort of code?
Daryl Gregory: It’s my new book. I call it my Hard SF Southern Gothic Murder Mystery. It’s got quantum evolution, family dysfunction, small town politics, and an addictive, hallucinogenic pus that oozes from the blisters in the main character’s father. Something for everyone.
Field Agent 1: Nonsense! All of this is nonsense! Who are you, really?
Daryl Gregory: I don’t know what your informants told you, but I’m just a science fiction writer from Pennsylvania. I have a wife and two kids, and a dog. What’s more normal than that? And why are you looking at me that way?
Field Agent 1: We’ll ask the questions here. What are you hiding?
Daryl Gregory: What, this? It’s my next book. I can’t talk about it. It barely mentions Stalin.
Field Agent 1: You’ll regret that remark, capitalist pig!
Field Agent 2: Mr. Gregory, you risk must by provoking my colleague. He’s a dangerous man. Speaking of dangerous men, I understand that you plan on appearing at KGB Bar with Mr. Peter Straub. Have you read with him there before?
Daryl Gregory: This is my first time at KGB, but not my first time reading with Peter Straub. Last year at ICFA (the International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts) I got to read before him at a shared panel, and I now plan to go on the road and be his opening act in stadiums across America. Next year: Japan.
FIeld Agent 1: Enough of your glib American tongue. Who are you loyal to?
Daryl Gregory: The state! No? How about you? Someone else? Please, please, just stop hitting me!
Field Agent 1: The enhanced interrogation techniques will continue until we get the information we need!
Field Agent 2: You’ve done it now, Mr. Gregory. [Name redacted] has a very poor temper. I suggest you tell us your secrets.
Daryl Gregory: Here goes: My most beloved piece of artwork in my home is a Captain America statue. I like to pretend I don’t like talking about myself, but I keep a blog where I talk about myself all the time. I complain about not having enough time to write, but sometimes when I start writing, all I want to do is read Twitter. Also, I think I killed a man by the side of the road in 1986. Or it was a deer. I was pretty drunk at the time.
Field Agent 2: I have tried to help you here, Mr. Gregory, but even I have my limits.
[[SOUND OF POLICE SIRENS IN DISTANCE]]
Field Agent 2: [Name redacted], they’re getting closer! We must return to the embassy!
Field Agent 1: We are going to release you for now, but don’t try to evade us. Where can we find you if we need to continue this conversation?
Daryl Gregory: You mean again? We’re not done here? I’ll be at www.darylgregory.com if you need me. Now please, could you let me call home?
[[END OF TRANSCRIPT]]
