Comments on: A Toast to Tristan Egolf

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:24:14 +0000

I am soo glad Tristan left to his selfishness abandoned his daughter. Might she land herself with a better life. He is not a hero as you all choose to believe. Good thing there are others for you to follow.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:23:32 +0000

“The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive and more constructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person.”
Dr. Frank Barron

By: de Jesus

de Jesus — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:22:58 +0000

THE ABOVE MENTIONED TRISTAN THING IS NOW HERE:
http://www.easysubculture.com/RPOTS11.htm
sorry.
~eric

By: Theo

Theo — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:22:19 +0000

Tristan Egolf is dead? Damn it, and I just bought Kornwolf because I thought it looked like a great idea and one I could maybe relate to – having grown up in Bedford County, PA, out there with all the Amish. He’s dead? That sucks.

By: Eric Soyke

Eric Soyke — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:21:18 +0000

I was kicked solid in the chest last week when I heard Tristan Egolf was dead. By his own hand, no less. It would seem the comparisons to John Kennedy Toole were even more apt than many had guessed, unfortunately. After being blown away by Barnyard shortly after its publishing, I made a point to see what he had put out every year or so. I was glad to see he had released his third, then horribly saddened to see it was his last. I am savoring Kornwolf as deliberately as one would 25 year old scotch.

From what I’ve learned of him in his writing and the writing of his friends, I can think of no one more alive, even in death. Godspeed, old boy.

P.S. I added an entry to Wikipedia for Smoketown Six. Anyone with more knowledge please feel free to fill it in, as my info is based on pure Google.

By: daVies

daVies — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:19:57 +0000

By some measure of spirituality, I always seem to find the books I want at the time I want (need) them. From Beckett to Miller, Cendrars, Celine, these works of profound importance have always come to my assistence by simply scanning the shelves of any local bookstore.
This week, one week before the new year, I have come across Kornwolf stacked amid a sea of books on the new release section. I now have it in my clutches, I’m only halfway through and christ! What a magical treat of elegant prose. Thank you Mr Egolf for tapping out this book when so much fiction today is pure rot! My sincerest condolences to both family and friends.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:18:24 +0000

Tristan was an exceptionally talented writer. As much as it sucks he is no longer with us, let’s honor his memory by celebrating the work he left behind.

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:17:42 +0000

I want to say have been avoiding to read KORNWOLF. It’s something I want to treasure a bit longer. Those who have posted here have said extremely kind things. Just be glad that his life and work has touched you and that you in turn have touched someone else’s by sharing with them Tristian Egolf.
damn.

By: de Jesus

de Jesus — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:16:52 +0000

http://www.easysubculture.8m.com/RPOTS11.htm
sorry, i forgot to post that URL.
if anyone wants a reprint of the issue with tristan’s interview let me know.
~eric

By: de Jesus

de Jesus — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:16:07 +0000

here are old photos of tristan from a fanzine i used to do. the interview i did with him was fucking great. we talked about his book ideas, which were first laid out as lyrics for KITSCHCHAO (“peter stumpe” = kornwolf, etc).
this was in 1994.
we hung out a lot in philly.
its 8PM on november 5th, I just returned from his memorial service in Lancs.
man, i’m feeling pretty sad…

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:14:47 +0000

Michael,

Thank you for ending this rediculous and emotionally damaging string of selfish articles, interviews, etc. It has been hard enough dealing with the way things happened, and now with all distractions aside, we who were distracted by you and your know-it-all rants can join the rest in the healing process. I speak for many of Tristan’s friends in this statement.

By: greg

greg — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:12:34 +0000

I found Lord of the Barnyard at the public library in Chambersburg, PA. I was working at a warehouse after a summer of working on a vegetable farm, and I was enduring a lonely winter. I had never heard of him, I just stumbled across it. I just now finished Skirt&Fiddle, having special ordered it, something I have never done before. I had never been that motivated and interested by fiction. It made me feel actually excited about art. Art that somehow enlivened my life. Now I find out he killed himself, and I’m dumbfounded. I actually just came close to tears for some guy I’ve never met. And I had made fun of people for caring when Hunter Thompson killed himself. I know I understand, but I want to say I just don’t get it. God damn it. There’s so few interesting creative people in the world. Did it not matter to him what he had accomplished? I don’t get it. I do, but damn it. I almost felt like he was writing for me. Now there’s just one less. I don’t know why I care-

By: Stephen Dufrechou

Stephen Dufrechou — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:10:12 +0000

Years ago, when “Lord of the Barnyard” was published, Tristain and I e-mailed each other occasionally. I was friends with one of his creating writing teachers and she passed along his contact information. “Lord of the Barnyard” was and is one of the best novels I have ever read. I was amazed that this brilliant book’s author was such a down-to earth guy. He was very kind to me and offered encoraging words for my own work. Although we lost touch a few years ago, I will never forget the too few e-mails we shared.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:08:43 +0000

Thank you guys for comments etc. on Tristan. I never knew him but I feel as though I did. I’ll never in my life forget reading Lord of the Barnyard and I’ll never forget what it meant to me. The book blew my doors off in every way shape and form and I realized then and now that he was one of the most talented writers alive or possibly ever. He was pure art. I’m paging through Barnyard as I type this and haven’t been this sad in years. A lord at rest…

By: Dan Bloom

Dan Bloom — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:07:11 +0000

Very nice piece, Michael.

By: Rica

Rica — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:06:36 +0000

Thank you Michael. I have been searching the net late at night for such phrases as “i miss tristan egolf” or “old friend tristan egolf” and such, looking for some personal recollections. It was great to read what you wrote. I knew Tristan only briefly and many years ago, but he made an indelible impression on me. Everything you said about his ability to really touch people is true. He was one of the most genuine people i’ve ever met. He will never be forgotten.

By: guildenstern

guildenstern — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:04:31 +0000

ciao tristan, che cazzo però.