by Ernest Hogan
<static . . . electronic squeal>
Mission Control, Mission Control, do you read? Dos Space Vatos (Scott Russell Duncan and Ernest Hogan, so people get the wrong idea from their gringo names) have successfully landed at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore in Phoenix, Arizona. People showed up for their reading from Duncan’s Old California Strikes Back and Hogan’s Guerrilla Mural of a Siren’s Song: 15 Gonzo Science Fiction Stories. Copies of both books were bought and signed. Copies were also bought by the store and are now on sale there. Scott brought flyers and some prints of El Indio © 1985’s art. The eminent publication of Xicanxfuturism: Gritos for Tomorrow was announced. Mission accomplished!
<electroinic squeal . . . static>
Is this thing on? Okay . . .
Not only that, I’m happy to report that Palabras Bilingual Bookstore (which is not affiliated with Palabras del Pueblo Writing Workshop) is a wonderful place. Located in Phoenix’s downtown Arts District, it is an oasis of La Cultura in a usually overwhelmingly Anglo (if arty) area. Along with a room for events, there are two rooms, one for books in English, the other for Spanish. There’s also an art gallery, a tienda that sells “awesome shit,” and an open space for rent in case anybody else has a business that would fit in.
A woman comes and sells Mexican food out front, and sometimes there's a whole food truck. Like I’ve said, when I smell tacos, I know I’m near civilization.
There’s also a garden and art—just seeing it lowers my blood pressure.
And Nacho, the bilingual bookstore cat will say miau and meow.
Looks like we’ve got some Xicanxfuturism going on here.
I’ll be going back. Next time, I’ll make sure I have cash to spare.
Ernest Hogan is the Father of Chicano Science Fiction, as well as a space vato, and Xicanxfuturist since he saw Forbidden Planet at the Floral Drive-In in East L.A. back in the 1950s. Sign up for his online “Gonzo Science Ficion, Chicano Style” class now!
No comments:
Post a Comment