Don’t touch that dial, you’ve landed at Lisa Burton Radio, the show where we bring you the fictional characters you love. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl, and my guest to day is Dr. Samuel West from the Book of Lost Doors Series, by Misha Burnett.
“Welcome to the show, Samuel.”
“Thank you for having me, Lisa.”
“My sheet says you are a pale surgeon. Tell us what that involves.”
“I am a devotee of the Vital Art. Throughout human history art has always been other-directed, which is to say that human race modifies its environment to produce a given aesthetic effect. The Vital Art—still, to be admitted, in its comparative infancy—internalizes the artistic drive.”
“You lost me.”
“My canvas, my clay, as it were, is the human form itself. Utilizing modern surgical techniques and a few specialized refinements—the… cutting edge, as it were—I transform my patients into living works of art.”
“Oh sweet mother of robotics! Are there others out there like you?”
“It is growing artistic movement within what might be termed the subterranean community. For a number of purely practical reasons we eschew publicity. Law invariably lags behind technology as I am sure you’re aware.”
“Tell me about it. Being mechanical is not a crime, people!”
“There are, at present, two main schools within the Pale Surgeon movement. The older and more representational Dead Man’s Shoes Society, and the Ten Teacups, of which I am a member. Without going into the rather… esoteric philosophical differences between the schools, suffice to say that as part of the Ten Teacups I feel that all organic life can and should be used as models in the transformative process, echoing, in fact, the evolutionary process. Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, you know.”
“Let’s back up a second. When you say “transformative” what exactly do you mean? Transforming into what?”
“Into themselves. Some might say ‘more than human’, but I believe that humanity, itself is interpretive. Does one become other than human by having tattoos? Pierced ears or lips or nipples? Does alloplasty negate humanity?”
“No.”
“Of course not. The human race has always embraced body modification as a form of self-expression, from filing teeth and facial scars in the earliest human settlements in Olduvai. We merely expand the limits of the canvas.”
“And Keith Morgan? What did he want to be transformed into?”
“…”
“You still with me, doc?”
“How do you know that name?”
“I’m a journalist, Dr. West. I research things.”
“Yes. I see that you do.”
“So tell me about Keith Morgan.”
“That was a commissioned piece. In today’s world, unfortunately, art must sometimes toil in the vineyards of commerce.”
“You cut off his head and replaced it with a closed circuit TV set.”
“The modifications were considerably more extensive than that. He became, in fact, a full functioned telefactor. Artistically, I will admit it was rather crude—not a portfolio piece at all. Technically, however, there were some unique challenges—particularly since I was operating on a very tight schedule.”
“Operating for Agony Delapour, in fact.”
“I am not in the habit of revealing the names of my patrons.”
“Your long association with Delapour & Associates is a matter of public record, doctor. West Medical Transport, the ambulance service that you own, has a very lucrative contract with Bellona Staffing, which is owned by, who? Delapuour & Associates. I see also that you were listed as personal physician for a number of key D&A personnel, including Agony herself.”
“I won’t deny that I was—at one time—associated with Delapour & Associates. I am no longer.”
“Getting back to Keith Morgan—did he, or did he not consent to the procedure that you performed on him?”
“I did not agree to be on your program to discuss Keith Morgan.”
“No? Then let’s talk about John Cabot.”
“I have no comment.”
“You vivisected the man and used his internal organs to build a coin operated fortune telling machine.”
“I think this interview is over.”
“Like Keith Morgan, you operated on John Cabot without his consent. Also, while working for Delapour & Associates. Under the direct orders of Agony Delapour herself, is that not true?”
“Good day, Miss Burton. Thank you for your time.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easy, doc! The public deserves the truth about Delapour & Associates! Doc? Hello, are you still there?”
“…”
“He hung up on me. What a turd, oops, I mean twit. Thank you for tuning in to Lisa Burton Radio. The story of Dr. Samuel West is a matter of public record. You can read all about it the Book of Lost Doors Series, by Misha Burnett.
“Don’t forget to click the sharing links at the bottom of this post. They help keep the lights on around here, and can help bring Dr. West’s story to the attention of the general public.”
***
Misha can be found at the following places:
Reblogged this on mishaburnett and commented:
Samuel is interviewed by Lisa the Robot Girl.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thanks, Charles.
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You’re welcome.
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Well, that was exciting. 🙂
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Yeah, I don’t think 60 Minutes is going to be stealing her away any time soon.
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Contract issues?
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I don’t think she’s cut out for hard core journalism.
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She does seem rather aggressive, but that can be useful in some situations. Reminds me of the old-timey reporter things.
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We can thank Misha for that. It was fun taking this one a different direction. Many of these are like coffee chats. One of the best parts is seeing how other creative folks operate.
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Well, I wanted to hint at some of the nastier events that Samuel was involved in, and giving Lisa a couple of “gotcha” questions seemed like the way to do it.
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I love it. I’m really expanding my borders by doing these.
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That was one of the best yet. That really went to the grim edge journalistic inquiry!
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Appreciate the support, and glad you liked it.
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Always fun!
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Wow, that one has got to be the most bizarre one I’ve ever encountered here. What an imagination! That Mr Morgan, he’s surely an interesting fella 😉
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I get to collaborate with some very creative folks on these. I think it helps me “up” my game too. The characters are really intriguing, and might make my reading list soon.
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I do realize now that I kind of gave away the end of the first book….
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But we didn’t know that at the time…
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When you have a series, sometimes you have to do that to drive interest. Doesn’t bother me at all. I always know that James Bond will save the day before walking into the theater, but it doesn’t ruin the film.
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Hello,
I have never read any of Misha Burnett’s book but this short interview has wet my appetite to read at least of them. So, now he’s on my TBR list.
I really liked what I read. Lisa did a great job of pulling him out.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
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I’m in the same boat, and will likely add one myself. Thanks for the comment.
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Shalom and thank you. I hope you like them.
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Misha Burnett is pure genius. I’ve read this series and would read more of it if he wrote it. I was honestly expecting Catskinner himself to show up, but the Pale Surgeon has his own brand of intrigue.
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Very good recommendation. Thanks.
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Pale Surgeon? Catskinner? Agony Delapour? Wow, does this sound like a creative and inventive series. I know I’d never want to encounter this doctor, personally, but reading the tales could be very interesting.
Sterling interview!
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You could commission the guy for your very own Mothman.
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I like that idea 🙂
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It’s nice to know I still have one on occasion. My creativity has slipped during all this promotion. Maybe there’s hope of it returning when I need it.
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Thank you. I set out to write a style of urban fantasy that avoided all of the standard tropes–I have no vampires or werewolves or fey or wizards. Instead I based my world on William Burrough’s “Nova Express” with a little Clive Barker and Phillip Dick thrown in.
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I like the idea myself.
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That was one of the best things about the books, every time a new person, place, or thing showed up, you didn’t know if it was just a piece of scenery, or some devastatingly powerful entity — friend or foe.
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I hear you on that, and am feeling much the same way.
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Great interview and way to push the Doc, Lisa.
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Thanks, John. Lisa meets so many interesting people here.
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I wish you could figure out how to have her gravatar answer the WordPress comments. Then there would be more interaction I’m sure.
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Wow, there probably would be, but this isn’t going to be the month to figure it out. You can talk to her on her Facebook page if you like.
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
Lisa Burton goes full-out to get to the bottom of the story with this bare-knuckles, investigative interview of a rather dubious surgeon. Well done, Lisa! She’s my new fav investigative journalist…
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Thanks, PH. Sounds like a pretty creative book to me.
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Very different for sure.
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For the first time in a long time, I’m at a loss for words. *gasps and leaves for awhile* I can’t believe Lisa uncovered all this about that so-called Doc. Thank you, for asking the hard questions, Lisa. The public needs to know the truth.
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Thanks. I kind of want to read this one now.
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This was one of Lisa’s more… feisty interviews. Thanks for shining a light on another story world.
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Thanks, Staci.
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Intriguing premise. Love the covers, too. Thanks to both. I really enjoyed this episode.
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It was an intriguing one. I want to buy one of these, but have no idea when I’ll get to read it.
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