A Glob of Multicolored Chiming Vibrational Bubble Gum
An Interview with Steve Aylett
Steve Aylett has been called an “outrageous literary wit” and a “complete one-off—a resounding voice.” His works have been referred to as “conceptually brilliant and satirically walloping.” Discussing Aylett’s stories is like holding water in your hands. The thought stays with you for a mere moment before it runs out of your grasp. You remember the experience vividly, but are unable accurately to explain the sensation. The ephemeral Aylett is the author of twelve books, innumerable short stories, and several comics. He’s also a musician, artist, and critic. Recent works include the novel Karloff’s Circus, Tao Te Jinx (an odd collection of Aylett quotes, art, and other stuff), and the script of Tom Strong #27. His new novel LINT is due out this summer.
Rick Klaw: When I am asked about your works, I find them almost impossible to define. How do you define your work? What do you tell people when they ask what you write?
Steve Aylett: There’s various stuff there, but the heart of it is satire. Satire. It’ll be nested amid poetics and goofing-off, and occasionally I’ll do a book that’s only poetics and goofing off (The Inflatable Volunteer), but the heart is satire. I can reverse and turn inside-out anything you give me and if there’s a hole in your argument I can see it visually before even thinking about it. Even when I’m not in great shape. There’s no power in this—seeing the truth isn’t the same as enforcing it—but there it is. It can even be a weakness.
Rick Klaw: Is there a genre or type of story you feel needs Steve Aylett? One that could benefit and be greatly improved by your style and insights?
Steve Aylett: The satirical one.
Rick Klaw: Your work is steeped in pop culture. Is there one aspect of popular culture that intrigues you over another?
Steve Aylett: The term pop culture is a bit dodgy—I’m not sure where that ends and where the rest begins. I suppose I know what pop music is but that’s all. I like some movies, is that pop? Are they all pop? To me something’s either interesting or it isn’t. I really don’t know or care what’s pop and what isn’t.
Rick Klaw: Does pop culture inspire you or do you inspire pop culture?
Steve Aylett: I haven’t made a huge impact on culture at large, pop or otherwise.
