20 June 2005
Finished books
I am holding a finished copy of Labyrinth in my hands. It is a German copy, published by Droemer. The title is different. It isn't just Labyrinth, it's Das verlorene Labyrinth. That means 'the lost Labyrinth'. I put it down. I take up another book. It's another finished copy of Labyrinth, this time from my UK publisher Orion.
I suppose, I should feel, in some way, that they are the end of a journey. But of course I don't. Because now they pass into the hands of readers.
I remember hearing David Bowie talking about the ownership of works of art - music, pictures, writing and so on. He said they belonged to the audience, the listener, the reader. And that choice of word intrigued me. 'Belonged ...'
But I think he is right. I think that, in a good book, there is room for the reader to complete the fiction, to fill in the author's intentional gaps. It's almost as if the reader paints in the background with their own imagination, puts the dab of white to highlight ... well, whatever the reader feels deserves a highlight.
Looking back on previous drafts of Labyrinth, I can see where, in the final version, I let the text relax, left room for it to breathe, room for the reader's imagination to play a full role ...
So, although today I can hold finished copies in my hand - and I look forward to many more to come from my other publishers in the US, Canada, Catalonia, France, Greece, Holland, Italy, Portugal and Russia - the journey is only half completed.
Like the pilgrim walking the chemin de Jérusalem - the pavement Labyrinth at Chartres cathedral, winding slowly into the centre, pausing for a moment to reflect, then turning to retrace her steps and wind slowly out again.
In the Labyrinth, the way in and the way out are one and the same ...
... and it ends where it begins.
