Going where no band has gone before
Set the controls for Floydian space
Needless
to say, when we planned to have an issue dedicated to the topic of war (previous
issue, number 9, summer 2001) we had no idea how suddenly relevant that topic
would become. We typically plan themes for each issue of Spare Bricks
about 4-5 months prior to the issue going online. The war theme was originally
discussed and planned late in 2000.
To me, the war topic seemed like a natural topic to cover at some point, and I thought a summer issue with the theme would be good timing, coinciding with the Fourth of July festivities here in the States (out of consideration for the rest of the planet, I try to stay away from country-specific decisions like that; this one struck me as too good to avoid however.)
The war theme now looks eerily well-timed. It is my fervent hope that it becomes just as suddenly irrelevant.
One other theme that I wanted to present this year was "Floyds in space." Given that it's 2001, it seemed like a perfectly timed theme, another topic that is just as "Floydian" as war. However, given the events that have transpired in the last few months, I found myself increasingly reluctant to bother with the next issue (and let's not mention that those events had thrown my entire professional life into complete chaos.)
By comparison, a space issue suddenly seemed a lot less relevant, less urgent. Leaving the war issue up seemed totally appropriate to me. So I did.
The effect is that we have skipped an entire issue: fall of 2001. This issue, as you may have noticed is correctly identified as the winter 2001-2002 issue.
In this issue, we don our space suits and set the controls to explore the depths of Floydian space. The topic of outer space has been a persistent theme in the careers of Pink Floyd and Roger Waters, from the earliest cosmic meanderings of Syd Barrett to the curious aliens in Amused to Death, the band has always been eager to go where no band has gone before.
Here are a few highlights:
 "Take us to your editor." |
A quick note: this is to be my final issue as editor of Spare Bricks. I wish I had the time to personally thank everyone who has written to me or signed the guestbook. All those words of encouragement mean so much. If you've written (and likely not received a response--sorry) know that every word has meant a great deal to me and that I have appreciated every bit of feedback. It's good to hear from readers.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my gratitude to all those who have contributed over the last few years, for contributed skills, ideas, articles, images, enthusiasm and inspiration. A lot of people have actually come and gone already. I am notoriously forgetful at thanking people for contributions, and I certainly hope I haven't overlooked anyone. Contributing to an online publication can be more difficult that it looks, and I have read everything from start to finish (sometimes more than once!) and have enjoyed every last word of it. I've always been proud of the level of quality contributors to Spare Bricks maintain.
The current group of contributors, by the way, will be carrying on with Spare Bricks. I expect to recede gracefully into the position of regular contributor and hope for the best--for both the zine and the world--especially as we head into the new year.
...goodbye.
Rick Karhu is the soon-to-be-ex-editor of Spare Bricks