Brian Aldiss - Colin Wilson in Cornwall (41/79)

To listen to more of Brian Aldiss’ stories, go to the playlist:    • Brian Aldiss (Writer)  

Writer Brian Aldiss (1925-2017) was best known for his science fiction novels and short stories. 'Non-Stop', his first science fiction novel, was published in 1958. His many award-winning titles include 'Hothouse', 'The Saliva Tree' and 'Helliconia Spring'. [Listener: Christopher Sykes; date recorded: 2014]

TRANSCRIPT: So, Colin seems to have disappeared from human view. But many years later, I was down in the south of Cornwall, and someone told me that Colin Wilson lived there.

And so, I went to see him. And there was Colin Wilson, still writing books and apparently enjoying life and running about on the sand with children. That was very nice, and not only that, but thrusting upon me some of his most recent writing, including his latest book, the title of which, I am afraid, escapes me. And I took it home and tried to read it.

So, there was a man who regarded himself as a writer, and who never gave up. And actually, that book was published by an obscure American publisher. But he was apparently not humbled by it: he wanted to write, he did write, he wanted to be published and he got published – in complete contrast to another writer I knew at the time.