Regular reader of this blog Emil Rojas asks:
Question “I'm wondering why you don't allow responses on a per article basis on your blog like most blogs? Your blog is definitely more interesting then most, and it would be cool to see what people are thinking in response to the great stuff you are putting out. I think you would attract more readers if they could respond, after all most people just want to hear themselves talk :-)”
Answer I had the responses turned on for awhile, but there were very few of them, and it was bumming me out to look for them and find none. I kind of like just posting the blog and then forgetting about it, as opposed to hovering over it to see if there's any reaction.
In such situations I always remember the pigs at the Rutgers Agricultural School Farm that Sylvia and I would go look at when we were in grad school there. The pigs' food was placed into a little metal box with a slanting roof that they'd push up with their snout. So all day long the pigs are checking to see if there's food, and you're hearing this lonely clank of the all-too-empty food box. I think of those pigs when I check for physical mail in my metal mailbox, also when I check for non-existent email, or for comments — and there aren't any.
But, what the heck, I can turn the comments on for awhile, and just not worry about them. What a concept. Comments are now ACTIVATED!
[The Rutgers Ag Farm pigs in 1968]
Emil also asks:
Question “I'm also curious how big your readership is, and the number of responses would give some idea.”
Answer Thanks to the excellent support system of Monkeybrains, I know that in January, 2005, the site www.rudyrucker.com averaged some 6,000 hits per day, coming from about 400 vistors a day. (Each visitor produces some 15 hits as various images and style sheets are downloaded to build the visible pages.)
My most popular page is the blog, the second most popular is the notes on how I wrote my book As Above, So Below: A Novel of Peter Bruegel, and third most popular is the page describing my forthcoming nonfiction book, The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul.
[Rudy at Rutgers in 1968.]
February 1st, 2005 at 10:26 am
Hey Rudy, great blog. I check it every day.
Thanks for posting such interesting entries!
–Alan
February 1st, 2005 at 12:14 pm
Hey, Rudy —
Your blog is great. I’ve been reading your work sort of on-and-off for about 16 years. Back in the 80s, I read a lot of your cyberpunk fiction, and really enjoyed it. Recently, I read “The Fourth Dimension,” which was incredibly fun and accessible. So I’m definitely looking forward to “Lifebox.” You’re an interesting and talented guy.
February 1st, 2005 at 12:20 pm
Posthuman Blues
Rudy,
I sympathize with you on the comments issue!
I’m currently reading “Frek” and loving it. It’s my favorite since the two concluding (?) “Ware” novels. I especially like your use of language; I dig “cartoon” words like “cowloon” and “kritter,” so I’m pausing to laugh every ten pages or so.
Your blog is the perfect mix of text and pictures — *good* pictures, too. I’ve found most blogs are too heavy on one or the other. Keep at it!
–Mac
February 1st, 2005 at 1:02 pm
See, the other good thing about having comments activated is that people who correspondended with you like two decades ago can get back in touch with you now. I may have missed you at Rutgers by about 10 years (I went from ’75-79) but you might remember me better as Audrey Farber… no, maybe it was Susan UnderHill… oh heck, everyone knew me as Nancy…
February 1st, 2005 at 1:26 pm
The clang of an empty box….
Actually my favourite blog. I think it is the pictures! And the California lifestyle. Combined of course with the “Eqivalents” of a computer whirlygig thinking about the world as he meets it. Your blog makes me optimistic in the cold of a Scandinavian winter. And being one of 400 makes me part of a selective company in the global neighbourhood…. I would have thought we were more…
Myrff Myrff…
The sound of a happy pig.
February 1st, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Rudy, I check your site most days and love reading your blog entries. Your photos are always great. The entries about California make me want to move out there, something I’ve never had much desire to do but may well have to soon. I really appreciate all you do!
February 1st, 2005 at 3:06 pm
See they love you.
February 1st, 2005 at 3:50 pm
Yes I agree, it is a great blog and keep the comments feature.
I’m a big fan of your work. Read just about all the books (even the non-fiction ones) and I am really looking forward to the Lifebox book.
thanks!
Alex
February 1st, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Great blog so the questioneer will know we are out here you have my comment. BTW, nice pic of you back when we were young.
February 1st, 2005 at 8:13 pm
I’ve been reading your blog on and off for a couple of months since I found a link to it from BoingBoing, and I just wanted to say that I’ve enjoyed the hell out of it. I love getting a glimpse of the lives and thoughts my favorite authors.
In truth, it was the God without God you wrote on December 28th that got me completely hooked. I’d never thought of cellular autonoma in that way before.
Thank you
Chris Glenn
September 8th, 2011 at 7:51 am
Dear Sir,
I ve just finished reading your ware series. Thank you so very much. The part where you recalled reading your draft to you artist friend is wonderful. Again thank you.
from malaysia,
Daniel