File, Digital Video

S.R. Delany
4-11-08
Reading
Edited Master

Digital video taken from a MiniDV tape containing edited footage of Samuel R. Delany's presentation for the Annual Bauder Contemporary American Authors Lecture at Marygrove College on April 11, 2008.

After an opening title sequence, the recording begins with the event's host Dr. Donald Levin, the Chair of the Department of English and Modern Language, thanking those who made the event possible and making other introductory remarks. Marygrove College President Dr. David Fike addresses the audience next. Dr. Levin then returns to the podium to introduce Samuel R. Delany.

In his presentation, Samuel Delany reads excerpts from his recent novel "Dark Reflections." He then talks about the writings of Baruch Spinoza, and relates some of his concepts to the value of fiction. Delany then asks the audience for questions. These deal with his inspiration for "Dark Reflections," bad writing, the structure of "Dark Reflections," whether he made a conscious decision to move away from science fiction, writing descriptions, and the relationship between the internet and literature. He wraps up with a reading of two excepts from his autobiography, "The Motion of Light in Water." As he finishes, background music swells and the credits roll.