That Nice Mister Gaiman.

There have been a few "write that person a drabble from one of their interests" memes since I've been around, so I guess it's possible someone might have noticed this, but I don't have Neil Gaiman listed on my LJ userinfo as one of my interests. I mean, I've got Good Omens and Sandman and American Gods listed, and at about that point I got lazy and added Stuff by Neil Gaiman to cover the fact that I tend to be impressed by most of the creative works he produces. I'm signed to the feed of his blog. I guess it'd be fair to say I'm at least glancingly interested in what he does, but it always struck me as slightly creepy to have an actual *human* you've never met listed as an interest.

I know it's just shorthand for "I will squee when the new book comes out and I welcome you to squee with me," and that's fine, really. It just has weird connotations for me. It's many of the reasons I will never feel quite comfortable with most forms of RPS (not the existence of such, about which I am neutral by dint of rarely thinking on the matter, but with participating myself).

It makes sense to me that tinhat has him as an interest, just as it makes sense to me that people who buy a lot of tabloids might list Tom Cruise. It's my considered opinion that, in most cases, those who list Pam Anderson ought to be more specific.

But, anyway, enough of me laying out my issues. There was supposed to be a graceful segue into me talking about the signing tonight, which I ended up going to. I figured that I'd really kick myself later if I didn't, as who *knows* the next time Neil Gaiman will come to Vancouver.

He read a little from his new book, which I was feeling like a dumbass for leaving behind. It could have had TWO signatures! (I wonder if that ever happens, that someone goes to so many author signings they run out of things to sign and bring stuff again. Probably not to Terry Pratchett, anyway.) There is a paragraph that mentions our fair city within Ananci Boys, and he considered Vancouver the appropriate venue to read it. He also congratulated us on our weather. "I was worried they had scheduled me a rain free tour," he said, although I might not be phrasing exactly. This pleased me, as I was looking at the sun a couple days ago and thinking that it wasn't right. Visiting celebrities would *not* get the genuine Vancouver experience.

I still don't know when Mirrormask will open here, but I am not very comforted that apparently no one else does either.

So, yes, it was lots of fun. He was just as funny and pleasant as one might have gleaned from his blog and/or stories of other signings, and, okay, maybe there were 500 or so people who were in line ahead of me... but there's something about waiting in the midst of other *fans*, you know? I mean, besides the fact that everyone was reading one of the same ten books while they were lounging around the school, like there had been a revolution while no one was looking and Neil Gaiman was the one author approved by the state.

There was a woman who wrote our names on post-it notes for us in case, I suppose, we forgot them, and a white haired gentleman who would occasionally pace the line and count heads with a frightened expression. By the time I got my books signed it was past ten, and everyone involved seemed pretty tired. On the other hand, someone before me had brought nanaimo bars, so I didn't have to totally regret not running out the door when the lining up started. There was also an interesting pile of fanart and my little ponies.

And... in conclusion? I have even more respect for the man, seeing what he puts himself through on a tour. However, I'm still not putting Neil Gaiman, The Man Himself, on my interests (because in English class they teach you to tie your conclusion to your introduction, unless you are the Simpsons). If it had been any other moderate celebrity, I might be saying, "Wow, actually a real person."

But it feels like I already knew that.