RealityStudio
Memories of a Beat Photographer
| Author | Charles Rotmil |
| Date | 2 April 2013 – Updated |
| Subject | Charles Rotmil recalls Jack Kerouac, the Living Theatre, a trip to Big Sur that climaxed in a meeting with Henry Miller, and going “on the road” in Mexico. |
| Link 1 | The Slot Machine |
| Link 2 | The Living Theatre |
| Link 3 | Finding the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch and Henry Miller |
| Link 4 | No Tenemos Ni Aviones, Ni Tanques, Ni Canones |
1984 Interview with William S. Burroughs
| Author | William Weiss |
| Date | 13 Mar 2013 |
| Subject | William Weiss offers an uncollected 1984 interview with William S. Burroughs on The Place of Dead Roads |
| Link | 1984 Interview with William S. Burroughs |
Riding the Nova Express
| Author | William Weiss |
| Date | 13 Mar 2013 |
| Subject | William Burroughs’ Nova Express, writes, William Weiss, “is a cage that rattles itself…” |
| Link | Riding the Nova Express |
This Beautiful Corrosion — William S. Burroughs at the ZKM
| Author | Ian MacFadyen |
| Date | 27 Feb 2013 |
| Subject | Ian MacFadyen offers a review of the name is BURROUGHS — Expanded Media, the large exhibit of artwork by William Burroughs and the many other artists inspired by him. |
| Link | This Beautiful Corrosion — William S. Burroughs at the ZKM |
Ah Pook Is Here
| Author | Jan Herman / Jed Birmingham |
| Date | 23 Dec 2012 |
| Subject | Jan Herman reviews Malcolm Mc Neill’s newly published memoir, Observed While Falling: Bill Burroughs, Ah Pook, and Me and Jed takes a fresh look at Ah Pook Is Here. |
| Link 1 | Review of Malcom Mc Neill’s Memoir of William S. Burroughs |
| Link 2 | William Burroughs’ Cyborg Manifesto |
DIY Beat Criticism
| Author | Jed Birmingham |
| Date | 5 Dec 2012 |
| Subject | Jed pleas for the rejuvenation of Beat Criticism, suggesting that the way forward may be in Doing It Yourself. And to empower DIYers, Jed offers scans of the complete run of Yugen. |
| Link 1 | DIY Beat Criticism |
| Link 2 | Yugen Archive |
William Burroughs Art Exhibitions
| Author | Barry Miles |
| Date | 31 Oct 2012 |
| Subject | As an update to Jed’s piece “Collecting William S. Burroughs and the Arts,” Barry Miles offers a checklist of William Burroughs art exhibitions. |
| Link | William Burroughs Art Exhibitions |
Collecting William S. Burroughs and the Arts
| Author | Jed Birmingham |
| Date | 17 Oct 2012 |
| Subject | Envisioning a collection that explores William Burroughs’ intersections with the art world, Jed offers scans of some key Burroughs-related items including catalogues of exhibits by Takis, Guy Harloff, David Budd, and others. |
| Link | Collecting William S. Burroughs and the Arts |
Scientology in the Novels of William S. Burroughs
| Author | David S. Wills |
| Date | 30 Sept 2012 |
| Subject | David S. Wills, author of the forthcoming book “Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the ‘Weird Cult,’” provides an overview of the influential role that Scientology played in Burroughs’ cut-up and late novels. |
| Link | Scientology in the Novels of William S. Burroughs |
Interview with Sylvère Lotringer on the Nova Convention
| Author | Marcus D. Niski |
| Date | 14 Sept 2012 |
| Subject | Marcus Niski speaks to Sylvère Lotringer about the 1978 Nova Convention celebrating William Burroughs and his work. |
| Link | Interview with Sylvère Lotringer on the Nova Convention |
Carl Weissner Updates
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 22 June 2012 |
| Subject | RealityStudio continues to honor Carl Weissner with three updates: a translation (courtesy of Matthias Penzel) of “The Anti-Environment of the Cut-Up Authors,” Weissner’s introduction to a 1969 anthology of cut-up texts; a complete scan of Weissner’s first book, The Braille Film, available in PDF format; a memorial print edition of Weissner’s Death in Paris (with afterwords by RealityStudio and Jan Herman and design by George Mattingly Design). |
| Link 1 | Carl Weissner, “The Anti-Environment of the Cut-Up Authors“ |
| Link 2 | Carl Weissner, The Braille Film (34 mb pdf) |
| Link 3 | Carl Weissner, Death in Paris (memorial print edition) |
Nova Broadcasts – Available for Download
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 31 May 2012 |
| Subject | All six Nova Broadcasts from Jan Herman’s Nova Broadcast Press are now available for free download. Each Broadcast has been scanned in its entirety and compiled in PDF format. The Broadcasts include works by Ray Bremser, Wolf Vostell, Dick Higgins, Liam O’Gallagher, Norman Ogue Mustill, and of course William Burroughs. |
| Link | Nova Broadcasts – Available for Download |
William S. Burroughs and J.G. Ballard
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 7 March 2012 |
| Subject | RealityStudio offers an in-depth look at the relationship of William S. Burroughs and J.G. Ballard. The text draws on interviews, correspondence, and unpublished documents to provide a detailed account of the interactions between the two writers. |
| Link | William S. Burroughs and J.G. Ballard |
Mimeo Mimeo 5
| Author | Jed Birmingham |
| Date | 19 Sept 2011 |
| Subject | Mimeo Mimeo 5, edited by Jed Birmingham and Kyle Schlesinger, is now available. Mimeo Mimeo is a forum for critical and cultural perspectives on artists’ books, typography, and the mimeograph revolution. Issue 5 features Larry Fagin, Lyn Hejinian, Charles Bukowski, Robert Creeley, Vamp & Tramp, The Gallery Upstairs, Alice Notely’s CHICAGO and cover art by Buzz Spector. Available now from the Mimeo Mimeo website. |
Pry Yourself Loose and Listen
| Author | Jed Birmingham |
| Date | 19 Sept 2011 |
| Subject | Jed presents scans of a rare offprint featuring four texts by Burroughs previously published in Ira Cohen’s Gnaoua. |
| Link | Pry Yourself Loose and Listen |
In Cold Blood: William Burroughs’ Curse on Truman Capote
| Author | Thom Robinson |
| Date | 11 July 2011 |
| Subject | Thom Robinson explains how, in an unpublished “Open Letter to Truman Capote,” William Burroughs placed a curse on the author of In Cold Blood. |
| Link | In Cold Blood: William Burroughs’ Curse on Truman Capote |
A Word Is a Word Is a Collage (1965)
| Author | Bill Butler |
| Date | 28 June 2011 |
| Subject | The American poet and bookseller Bill Butler interviewed William Burroughs in 1965 for this previously uncollected profile, which first appeared in the Guardian newspaper. |
| Link | A Word Is a Word Is a Collage (1965) |
William S. Burroughs, Jacques Stern, and The Fluke
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 4 April 2011 |
| Subject | RealityStudio is thrilled to offer an incredible archive of materials by and about Jacques Stern, whom William Burroughs once called “the greatest writer of our time.” The archive includes the complete text of the legendary novel The Fluke; a previously unpublished foreword by Burroughs; a biographical and critical essay about Stern; Stewart Meyer’s memoir of his first meeting with Stern; mp3 audio of Stern and Burroughs reading from cut-ups; and more. |
| Link | William S. Burroughs, Jacques Stern, and The Fluke |
Confusion’s Masterpiece: Re-Editing William S. Burroughs’ First Trilogy
| Author | Oliver Harris |
| Date | 10 October 2010 |
| Subject | In the text of his recent talk at Columbia University, Oliver Harris describes the confused history behind the writing and publishing of William S. Burroughs’ Junkie, Queer, and Yage Letters. Professor Harris also responds to a few interview questions about his work on the new edition of Queer. |
| Link | Confusion’s Masterpiece: Re-Editing William S. Burroughs’ First Trilogy |
William S. Burroughs, Charles Gatewood, and Sidetripping
| Author | Charles Gatewood |
| Date | 22 Sept 2010 |
| Subject | In an excerpt from his nearly completed memoir Dirty Old Man, photographer Charles Gatewood describes meeting William Burroughs, photographing him for Rolling Stone, and asking him to write an introduction for his book Sidetripping. |
| Link | William S. Burroughs, Charles Gatewood, and Sidetripping |
The Poetry of William S. Burroughs
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 5 August 2010 |
| Subject | Although his work defied genres and most readers consider him a novelist, William S. Burroughs also wrote poetry. With a small compilation that includes cut-ups and permutations, RealityStudio is beginning what will be an ongoing attempt to collect Burroughs’ poetry. This compilation also includes an insightful essay by scholar Oliver Harris titled “‘Burroughs Is a Poet Too, Really’: The Poetics of Minutes to Go.” |
| Link | The Poetry of William S. Burroughs |
Interview with Victor Bockris on William Burroughs
| Author | Dave Teeuwen |
| Date | 27 May 2010 |
| Subject | Victor Bockris talks Burroughs, Warhol, Punk, selling out, dope, glamor, and the difficult art of biography. |
| Link | Interview with Victor Bockris on William Burroughs |
A Visit to William S. Burroughs at the Beat Hotel in Summer, 1958
| Author | Gael Turnbull |
| Date | 19 May 2010 [1958] |
| Subject | Vacationing in Paris in the summer of 1958, the Scottish poet Gael Turnbull kept a journal documenting his visits to William Burroughs and Gregory Corso at the Beat Hotel. |
| Link | A Visit to William S. Burroughs at the Beat Hotel in Summer, 1958 |
The Frisco Kid He Never Returns: Naked Lunch and San Francisco
| Author | Oliver Harris |
| Date | 21 November 2009 |
| Subject | Oliver Harris looks at the relationship — or non-relationship? — between Naked Lunch and San Francisco in a transcript to the talk given at the San Francisco Art Institute during the NL@50 homage. |
| Link | The Frisco Kid He Never Returns: Naked Lunch and San Francisco |
From Dr Mabuse to Doc Benway: The Myths and Manuscripts of Naked Lunch
| Author | Oliver Harris |
| Date | 26 October 2009 |
| Subject | Oliver Harris dissects the myths behind the creation of Naked Lunch in a transcript to the talk given recently at Columbia University during the NL@50 homage. |
| Link | From Dr Mabuse to Doc Benway: The Myths and Manuscripts of Naked Lunch |
RealityStudio Highlights
Archives and Scans
| Author | Jed Birmingham |
| Subject | RealityStudio has a vast archive of incredible Burroughs and small-press rarities that includes complete scans of William S. Burroughs’ Time and APO-33, as well as a number of little mags. |
| Link 1 | William S. Burroughs’ Time |
| Link 2 | William S. Burroughs’ APO-33 |
| Link 3 | Complete My Own Mag Archive |
| Link 4 | Fuck You Press Archive |
| Link 5 | Kulchur Archive |
| Link 6 | Floating Bear Archive |
| Link 7 | Rhinozeros Archive |
| Link 8 | Locus Solus Archive |
| Link 9 | Evergreen Review Archive |
| Link 10 | Burroughs in Men’s Mags Archive |
| Link 11 | The Word (Naked Lunch Outtake) in Swank |
| Link 12 | Bulletin from Nothing Archive |
| Link 13 | Burroughs Text in January 1960 Mademoiselle |
| Link 14 | Black Mountain Review Archive |
Death in Paris by Carl Weissner
| Author | Carl Weissner |
| Date | 24 July 2009 |
| Subject | RealityStudio is very proud to present a previously unpublished text by Carl Weissner, along with an archive of materials celebrating his achievements in the avant-garde press |
| Link | Death in Paris by Carl Weissner |
Hikuta!: Burroughs and His Guns
| Author | Tom Peschio |
| Date | 12 March 2009 |
| Subject | Tom Peschio provides an insider’s glimpse of a “dangerous guy” and his guns. |
| Link | Hikuta!: Burroughs and His Guns |
William S. Burroughs and Joy Division
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 29 May 2008 |
| Subject | Literary references are frequent in the work of seminal post-punk band Joy Division, and singer Ian Curtis greatly admired William Burroughs in particular. Both the band and the author appeared at a 1979 performance, after which Curtis introduced himself to the famous author. Was the meeting, as legend has it, a disappointment? RealityStudio pieces together the story with recollections from those who were there… |
| Link | William S. Burroughs and Joy Division |
David Britton and Michael Butterworth on William S. Burroughs
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 24 March 2008 |
| Subject | To mark the publication of Horror Panegyric, an essay by Supervert (creator of RealityStudio) on their Lord Horror novels, David Britton and Michael Butterworth — writers both and founders of Savoy Books — expand on their thoughts about William S. Burroughs. |
| Link | David Britton and Michael Butterworth on William S. Burroughs |
Everything Lost, The Latin American Notebook of William S. Burroughs: The Inside Story
| Author | Oliver Harris |
| Date | 17 Dec 2007 |
| Subject | Everything Lost, The Latin American Notebook of William S. Burroughs is due to be released on 17 December 2007. In honor of the occasion, Volume Editor Oliver Harris offers the inside story — how the notebook was discovered, deciphered, transcribed, and prepared for publication. (And be sure to order your copy of Everything Lost at Amazon.) |
| Link | Everything Lost, The Latin American Notebook of William S. Burroughs: The Inside Story |
Henry Miller and William Burroughs
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 18 July 2007 |
| Subject | Astonishingly, the relationship between Henry Miller and William Burroughs has gone largely unmapped in literary scholarship. Seeking to rectify this omission, RealityStudio surveys the relationship of the two writers in an overview and Ian MacFadyen adds further insights in a response. |
| Link 1 | Henry Miller and William Burroughs: An Overview |
| Link 2 | Henry Miller and William Burroughs: A Letter |
Cutting up the Archive: William Burroughs and the Composite Text
| Author | Oliver Harris |
| Date | 11 Jun 2007 |
| Subject | RealityStudio is proud to present the text of a talk recently given by Burroughs scholar Oliver Harris, author of William Burroughs and the Secret of Fascination, editor of Burroughs’ letters, Junky: The Definitive Text of “Junk”, and most recently Yage Redux. |
| Link | Cutting up the Archive: William Burroughs and the Composite Text |
A William S. Burroughs Bibliography
| Author | Eric C. Shoaf |
| Date | April 2007 |
| Subject | Eric C. Shoaf, author of Collecting William S. Burroughs in Print: A Checklist, has very kindly contributed his bibliography of books and broadside prints to RealityStudio.Alongside the Maynard & Miles bibliography published in 1978, the Shoaf checklist has long been the most definitive listing of Burroughs publications available. In addition to books and broadsides, the printed checklist also itemizes Burroughs contributions to other books and periodicals, criticism, and miscellanea. This online edition, prefaced and updated by Mr. Shoaf, will no doubt be a tremendous asset to the community of Burroughs scholars and enthusiasts. |
| Link | A William S. Burroughs Bibliography |
Jan Herman’s Burroughs / Balch Video
| Author | Jan Herman |
| Date | Sept 2006 |
| Subject | Jan Herman has worked all summer with RealityStudio to recover a video experiment he created in 1971 with William S. Burroughs and Antony Balch. Never before seen by anyone but the participants, the video is presented here to the public for the first time. |
| Link | Burroughs / Balch Video Experiment |
Transitional Period vs Gongs of Violence
| Author | RealityStudio |
| Date | 15 August 2006 |
| Subject | RealityStudio provides a side-by-side comparison of a 1961 Burroughs cut-up and a later version of the (same?) text from The Soft Machine. |
| Link | Transitional Period vs Gongs of Violence |
The Mouth Inside: The Voices of Naked Lunch
| Author | Ian MacFadyen |
| Date | 7 Dec 2009 |
| Subject | Ian MacFadyen offers a brilliant meditation on the role of the voice and the mouth in William Burroughs’ magnum opus. Accompanying the text are paintings from Phil Wood’s “Postcards from Purgatory.” |
| Link | The Mouth Inside: The Voices of Naked Lunch |