| Name: | Memmott, David |
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| Education: | B.A. English, B.A. General Studies, 1977 |
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| Bio: | David Memmott was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1948. He came to writing and poetry mostly through music. Dave played first trumpet in the band at North Eugene High School and was co-director of the first halftime show ever done at North Eugene in 1966. He took up guitar and started writing songs at Clatsop Community College in Astoria where he majored in music his freshman year. Writing lyrics naturally led Dave to a study of poetry. Eventually, he became involved with the literary magazine, "Expression" and was published in a number of newspapers and magazines. He went into the Air Force in 1970 and after training school was assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Later he applied for Conscientious Objector status, steering clear of the G.I. Underground actively working in Mountain Home through a coffeehouse named The Covered Wagon.
While studying at Eastern, Dave started out as a Language Arts major in Secondary Education, intending to teach high school. But once he studied creative writing with George Venn, English seemed to be his calling. Dave credits George with instilling in him an attitude of professionalism and helping him acquire the necessary self-editing skills to develop as a writer and editor. Dave graduated in 1977 with over 300 credit hours, and with minors in Creative Writing, Art and Theatre. (from http://www.oregontrail.net/~wordcraft/dave.htm) |
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Books By David Memmott
| Pub. Year |
Title |
Abstract |
| 1978 |
Homestead in Union |
This publication features poetry printed in dark brown and red on brown paper. It was originally issued as part of a portfolio by 20 participants at a 1978 Port Townsend Poetry Symposium. |
| 1992 |
House on Fire |
This book features poems and collages, and includes "The Aging Cryonicist..." which won the Rhysling Award for long poem in 1990. The reviewer, Ignatz Mees of "Science Fiction Eye" says, "each poem weaves a language-pattern correspondent to a soul in crisis; here, intersecting and brilliantly colored planes of discourse slide past one another in a (speculatively conceived) carnival of existential doubt." |
| 1996 |
The Larger Earth: Descending Notes of a Grounded Astronaut |
This book is illustrated and has a collage by Freddie Baer. It features a cycle of poems. Brian Evenson writes in the review magazine, "Rain Taxi": "Memmott's critique of culture is a strong one, more effective for never coming across as political. [He] has negotiated a place between literature and science fiction, a philosophical space from which begins to resonate a lyrical original poetry." |
| 1998 |
Within the Wall of Jericho |
In this poetry collection, Memmott explores the boundary between speculative themes and more regional experience. |
| 1999 |
Shadow Bones |
This book includes stories, including Worldwide Writers, Inc. award-winning story, "Warrior, Falling Awake." Paul Di Filippo of "Science Fiction Magazine," said "Like his fellow poet-fictionist Bruce Boston, David Memmott turns out short, meticulously assembled stories informed by a poet's precision and clarity of image. "Shadow Bones," his first collection, contains charming Dunsanian fables ('Warrior, Falling Awake,' and 'Moonhunter') as well as tales ranging from the cyberpunkish ('The Bohr Breakthrough') to Bradburyian ('Closing Ceremonies'). |
| 2004 |
Watermarked |
This volume features poems, many relating to coming-of-age at the mouth of the Columbia River in the 1960s. Four poems were nominated for the Puschcart Prize. This book was published in an edition of 250 copies. |
Corrections and additions are welcome. Please contact Leslie Mitts at mittsl@eou.edu or (541) 962-6157.
