I want to be the next Gore Vidal......

or at least a cheap rundown version. You know, like Will Pitt. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one :))

But, serious, I'm taking a semester off of school and I'm going to write a book about why a meaningful democracy will not occur in Iraq. However, if I feel my essay ends up not being long enough for a short book, then, I'm going to toss in several other smaller political oriented essays. Been hashing out a few here and there lately. Just had a paper on PNAC published. Plus, I've had fiction and other types of essays published, worked as a columnist and written some short films.

My newest project which I may include in my book is I am researching the similarities between the PNAC ambition to reform and modernize Islam and manifest destiny. I'm very interested in correlating American Indian - I am an enrolled Blackfeet - and Arabic peoples issues. It's all fascinating to me.

I've always wanted to do something like that. But I'm not motivated enough.
Hope everything goes well for ya.

Do you have a favorite book by him?
I love both his "fiction" (probably more instructive of
history than the "history" books), and his non-fiction.

"Burr" for example, is fantastic.
As is "Dreaming War."
And his plays, e.g., "An evening with Nixon."

We need more Gore Vidals. One isn't nearly enough.

I came late to him, but have read lots of his essays here and there.

I so want to read "Burr." I bet that is an intrigueing work.

It is a quick must read.

for fans of Vidal's essays.

oh, and good luck! seriously BIG shoes to fill there!

It hasn't shown up at my local used book store and I'm
a cheapass. Looks like people who bought it are hanging onto it.
Classic good news bad news.
I may have to break down and order it online.

I wish there were "best seller" lists for used book stores.

if i'm any example, people are passing it on!!

i think my copy has gone thru at least 10 people by now... it may NEVER get back to my bookcases (which is fine considering I ran out of space more than a year ago! basically, i LIVE in a used/not-yet-read bookshop!

read the first chapter of his upcoming book

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/books/review/14WOODLT.html

thanks

There are plenty of quotes from him on the subject.
For example:

"I am grateful to your employee for so beautifully demonstrating in a single sentence so many of the reasons why The New York Times is a perennially bad newspaper."

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/8447

So the NY Times is gonna slam him every chance it gets.

Vidal has always been among my favorite authors, both his fiction and political works. I certainly wouldn't mind a new and fresh version coming up.