Scalpel - my side of things

I have just posted to Scalpel, ending my association with the magazine.

This has been going on for a little while now and this is actually going to be my third post this week about the magazine's shut down.  This might very well give Scalpel Magazine's ending a touch of the theatrical "dying swan" but I thought that making each step public was the responsible and just thing to do.  As a writer, I have often waited and watched as magazines went through internal turbulence while I regretted not pitching my piece elsewhere.  Ultimately, no publication is bigger than the people writing for it and I wanted to make sure that Scalpel's writers were treated as justly as possible and full disclosure was part of that policy.

So I'm going to make public my experiences with Scalpel on a site I control in the hope that someone out there might learn something from my mistakes.

The idea for Scalpel was mine.  I first encountered Gabe Chouinard through the usual blog links and bulk emails and as he was someone who took an interest in thinking about SF criticism as well as doing it, we kind of hit it off and I was soon posting on his forums along with a number of other people.  I forget the exact circumstances but one thing lead to another and I suggested that the only way to make online SF criticism better was to lead from the front and I suggest we set up our own website.  At this point, I did not know Gabe's history.

One of the first responses I got regarding the project was from someone who claimed that Gabe had essentially promised to do work for him but Gabe had cashed the cheques but done nothing in the way of work to earn them.  At this point, my suspicions were raised and I started googling.  Going on what I knew of Gabe from my experience of him (he talked a lot about criticism but never actually produced any and claimed his website received thousands of hits a day when it manifestly doesn't) and what I learned from the net I cobbled together a mental image of the man I was dealing with.

Here was someone who was completely shameless in asking people to do stuff for him (even well known authors) and skilled at getting people to talk about him but with a tendency to "spin" facts about himself and a marked tendency to move on when he gets bored.  I saw in this image a compliment to my skills.  I am terrible at charming people online and far too British to ask people to do stuff for me out of the blue.  I imagined that Gabe would help me get Scalpel set up and generate lots of hype while I did a lot of the actual editing work and provided a lot of the content.  Initially I was pleasantly surprised as Gabe did edit a number of the pieces properly and managed to get people to vastly improve their own pieces largely by encouraging them.  When we launched Gabe and I talked pretty much every day and I saw no reason for concern.

By the time the first update went live, we had enough material for more than one update and had a load of different pieces in the pipeline.  Then Gabe suggested that we re-do the site.  Gabe's design aspirations and tendency to fiddle with his own blog meant that such tinkering was unavoidable and I welcomed it.  However, when the second update went up it didn't stay up and I awoke to find the site stripped of posts.  Gabe explained to me that his host had rejected the Wordpress software update but he'd get round to fixing it soon.  Then came the wait.

I was agitated with worry as every second you're down you're pissing people off, especially when you've gone to some lengths to make people talk and think about you.  However, Gabe was evasive and was online a lot less than he used to be.  After a week he promised me that he'd redo the site over the weekend claiming it was a "day and a half's work" but by the time monday had rolled around there was nothing and Gabe informed me that he'd gone to a cabin with his family for the weekend.  Originally he had been planning to stay at home but his family had begged him to go as he was looking ill.  At this point, Gabe disappeared completely only sending me an email telling me that they'd decided to move (no move had been mentioned prior to this).  After a week's silence Gabe got in contact again and informed me of marital and financial difficulties and told me he was now living with his father who did not have access to the internet.  Which takes us up to this post.

My issue is not with Gabe's personal life.  I'm sure what he's going through is difficult.  Sometimes the world conspires to prevent us from doing what we really want to do.  My issue is with the way that Gabe Chouinard has handled me as well as the writers and readers of Scalpel.  At every step from server crash to our last contact, I offered to take over administering and uploading to the site.  In fact, one of my last emails to Gabe suggested that I take over the running of Scalpel and publish it on a site and under a domain I own until he felt in a position to rejoin the team.  At every step I was rejected and Gabe again and again informed me that he'd get round to it.  The final straw was when Gabe failed to do an update this week but did manage to take material he had pledged to Scalpel and have it published by another website without telling me (I only learned about it when this popped up in my feed reader).  Whether this was a move designed to prompt me into being the "bad guy" who shut down Scalpel I cannot say but it did leave me in a completely untenable situation.

My first move was to contact the writers of Scalpel and inform them that Gabe was removing his content from the site and suggest that we probably should too.  I waited before making any official moves in the hope that Gabe would re-appear and update me on what was going on.

I have tried at every step to behave in as professional a manner as possible.  My first concern has always been for the writers because when I decided to start editing my main concern was to treat my writers the way I hoped to be treated when I was writing for other people.  I think that I have done the right thing in ending the speculation and making the whole sordid story public.

My main mistake was assuming that because Gabe's more negative personality traits were "known quantities" I could factor these into my dealings with Gabe and therefore trust "Gabe to be Gabe".  This was a mistake.  It was also a mistake to accept that Gabe be the only person to have control over both the domain name and the site's host as otherwise I could have run the website alone.

I can only apologise to the people who were caught up in the wake of this and hope that my mistakes are not repeated by others.

EDIT : As of a couple of days ago, the Scalpel site as well as Gabe's Urban Drift pages have been off line.  It transpires that this was not due to lack of bill payment as I initially thought (when I last chatted to Gabe he claimed to be down to his last 6 dollars) but part of a systematic desire to pick up all of his balls and go home, completely disengaging from the online SF community.

Obviously, I can't blame Gabe for wanting to leave the SF community as his name is effectively mud at this point but in deciding to shut down places like Frameshift (which he was evidently still hosting) and the Urban Drift forums without even offering anyone from those communities the chance to keep them going, Gabe has let us all down again.

Comments

[A.R.Yngve]

Sorry to hear about the trouble with Scalpel Magazine.... but at least we'll have SF Diplomat.
:-/

[Chris Billett]

Jonathan, I'm sorry this ended in such a bad way for you. I seem to remember meeting you at a dinner with Hal Duncan and some others a couple of months ago? At the time, I was working on a project for Gary Wassner via Gabe, and it was in the middle of going sour. Had it been even a couple of weeks further down the line, I expect I would have been more vehement in my criticism of Gabe.

I know there is some discussion as to how much responsability Gabe has for 'being Gabe' - I know extremely respectable people like Matt Stover (who I know won't mind me paraphrasing him) as well as others (who might) have suggested that it is people's fault they trust Gabe to be anything other than what he has been in the past - but I don't agree. Some people just want to think the best, and to achieve something, and to believe that someone's word means something.

I hope something good comes out of this for you, anyhow. I'm sure a lot of people are being linked here and ergo will have a look at some of your work unassociated with Gabe, so that's something.

[Ellen Datlow]

I'm so sorry to hear this outcome to what sounded like a wonderful new zine. May whatever you do next be more fruitful.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

Hi Chris :-)

No, we've never met. I've never met anyone from the scene in person so it wasn't me at that dinner.

I'm aware that Gabe has his detractors. The hooting and glee over on Mamatas' blog was pretty extreme. I've not been mentioned there but as long as I'm at worst a "trusting chump" rather than a "irresponsible idiot" then I'm happy :-)

Essentially I was not on the scene when Gabe's previous projects went tits up. My impressions of Gabe were based on my observations of him (self-mythologising etc), the warnings I did receive (don't trust him with money and how he gets quickly bored) and what I was able to piece together from blogs.

In defence of my naivete, my trust of Gabe extended to my trusting him to be himself. I trusted Gabe to talk about himself a lot and fiddle with a website... and that's it.

I fully expected him to get bored and wander off, leaving me holding the baby but I wasn't prepared for how quickly this happened or for the fact that he steadfastly refused to tell me that he didn't want to do it anymore.

I suspect that these personal issues he currently has have made him even more Gabe than he has been in the past but given his Walter Mitty tendencies, it's impossible to tell.

At the moment my main concern is making sure that Scalpel winds down okay and that the writers, particularly the more junior ones, not get too disheartened. I'm also hoping that when Gabe resurfaces and tries to re-invent himself again as a leading genre light people will find this post and bear it in mind.

Personally though, I enjoyed my time with Scalpel and it really brought home to me how much I enjoy editing, so I'm not ruling out any involvement in future Gabe-less projects.

Thanks for the kind words though.

[Jason Erik Lundberg]

Jonathan,

I appreciate your professionalism in all this. It was a thrill getting to be a part of something so ambitious and cool, and I was hoping that Gabe would just quit fiddling with things and let the site be what it was, but I guess I was just kidding myself. He's indeed had a lot of personal problems in his life, but it seemed like he finally had things together enough to stick with things. Ah well.

I'm glad that my review made it in the one and only issue (even if it's no longer online; I'll try re-selling it elsewhere), and I wish you luck in whatever you try next.

[Nick Mamatas]

I'm aware that Gabe has his detractors. The hooting and glee over on Mamatas' blog was pretty extreme. I've not been mentioned there but as long as I'm at worst a "trusting chump" rather than a "irresponsible idiot" then I'm happy :-)

Not extreme enough, if this is a surprise! Though honestly, I was surprised at how fast it unraveled. Yes, "trusting chump" is fine. Even Gabe's not an irresponsible idiot — if the US had nationalized healthcare, we could get him on Lithium or something and he could have a productive life of stapling together fanzines or something.

Hoot hoot!

[Tempest]

I still think that the idea behind Scalpel was an extremely good one. The only thing that kept me from reading and possibly contributing was Gabe's involvement. If you decide to reopen or open something similar but different, I'll be happy to see it. I'm sure other folks will, too.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

Thanks for the messages of support guys, I am cautiously thinking about a future editing gig but we'll see how that goes. I definitely still think Scalpel's aims were worthwhile though.

Nick - Feel free to hoot as much as you want :-) In fact, if this happens again (and I hope it doesn't hence this post) I shall come and hoot in agreement.

[Jeff VanderMeer]

This is par for the course for Gabe. I have zero sympathy for him and would advise no one who values their time or money to go into business with him.

JeffV

[Chris Billett]

It wasn't you at the dinner? Ah, well. I was pretty sauced by that point, if not quite as catatonic as I got by the end of that long evening! It was definitely someone from Urban Drift, because they recognised me by name despite my only having posted there once or twice. Which I was surprised by.

Hopefully this, as well as Gary Wassner and I's experiences with the man, will help people steer clear of disaster in the future.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

Niall or Paul? Paul looks like a Cannibal Corpse roadie and Niall so completely doesn't. They're both active scenesters.

I look like a The Comic Strip-era Robbie Coltrane and unless you've seen me glowering my way round Forbidden Planet chances are you've not met me. I've certainly not attended any glamorous dinners recently :-)

[Paul Riddell]

I'm honestly very sorry to hear about all of this, although not sorry to hear that Gabe is building up a reputation for flakiness that'll make him an immortal in the genre alongside the editors of New Pathways or Science Fiction Eye. There, I'm just disgusted, and quite glad that his sycophancy didn't get me to work for Fantastic Metropolis before I came to my senses and quit writing.

In my case, I'm not one to talk about personal issues getting in the way of an intended project: Jeff VanderMeer took a good time to swat me in the head for a project I started in 1995 but couldn't get finished due to financial issues. However, I also took responsibility and sent everything back, and let people know that the project was dead. Gabe's problem, besides becoming the slipstream equivalent of Darrell Schweitzer in believing his own hype, is that he gets awfully ticked off when people make honest suggestions to improve the situation. In that case, informing him that he has his head so far up his ass that he's become a walking Klein bottle can only do good.

Anyway, sorry to hear about the whole situation: if you want to try this again with yourself in charge, make sure to let us know when you start, okay?

[Jonathan McCalmont]

Thanks for dropping by Paul :-)

If I do decide to chance my arm I will let people know, don't you worry.

[Patrick St-Denis]

I'm sorry that it's come to this, Jonathan.

But I hope that you and the writers who believed in this endeavor will come up with something similar, if only to see just where you might take that project!:-)

Best of luck to you!

[Rob B]

Jonathan,

It sounds like you handled things very professionally. Looking forward to the lemonade you can make out of this lemon.

Best

Rob

[Serdar]

What I saw of Scalpel was intriguing enough that I wanted to see more, especially considering you would be contributing to it. Then I started reading about the "trouble" Gabe was having, and I instantly felt the same sixth sense of impending doom that's dawned on me before, many times, in parallel circumstances.

I once had the misfortune (or bad taste, it could be either one, really) to be friends with a man of similar mien: he was bright and terribly charismatic, and had all kinds of great ideas that he couldn't stay focused on for more than a little bit at a time. He had the same sort of knack for talking other people into doing things he wanted to have done, and then would take credit for them on the grounds that without his brilliant suggestions they would never have happened. I was dumb enough to try and start a writing project with this man. It took about a year of struggling and getting nowhere before I finally wised up and ended my friendship with him. From what I understand of him now, he hasn't changed a bit.

Even if all you have is this blog I'll still read it with enthusiasm.

[MattD]

Jonathan, it's funny, I went through much the same mental calculus in determining whether to contribute to Scalpel. I have very much appreciated your editorial comments on my reviews in the forum, and -- much as I was excited just by the idea of being part of a (much-needed) vibrant new source for reviews and criticism -- it was your disposition to offer helpful critique and suggestions that was really the deciding factor for me. As it is, I'm glad the book allocated to me never got sent, but if you had elected to continue Scalpel I would have tried to contribute in some way, and I'll keep an eye out for what projects you may be involved with in the future. As well, of course, as continuing to watch you practice your brand of SF diplomacy here! Thanks for letting us know what's been going on, and best wishes.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

Thanks for the kind words guys, most appreciated and really rather flattering :-)

[Paul Raven]

Ah, well. Life's a learning curve, I guess. In that respect, we all come out of this a little richer. The sheer vehemence of the derision of others should have been a dead give-away, in hindsight - the internet is full of vitriol, and I put it down to that, but I should have remembered that most genre bloggers are linguistically competent enough to not have to use the fire and brimstone snark unless it's really deserved. *shrug*

Well, there'll be other venues soon enough. The execution may have gone a bit tits-up, but I still believe in most of the substantive stuff we discussed about reviews and crit ... even more so in light of the course I've just been on. We can still make a difference somehow. Keep in touch, and keep blogging.

PS Cannibal Corpse roadie? How dare you! Rob Zombie, perhaps, but not Cannibal Corpse ... ;)

[Jonathan McCalmont]

I'm not going anywhere, don't you worry :-) If anything, I'm feeling quite productive at the moment.

I should stop with the wizard/roadie/black metal gags, I'm starting to feel like Mark Lamarr on Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Doubly so because I'm in no position to make jokes about how people look as I spend most of my life looking like Cracker undercover at a Texas is the Reason gig. And yes, that probably does date me musically speaking.

[sara]

I tried to post this on Gabe's blog, but my comment doesn't go though so I thought this would be the best place besides posting on the Scalpel site itself.

Gabe and his cousin were involved in a car accident on Wednesday afternoon. For now Gabe is in the hospital with several broken ribs, a pierced lung, a broken femur and cuts and bruises and other normal car accident injuries. I've talked to his dad (I'm one of his friends outside of the internet) and he is recovering and will be fine.

Given the cuts and anger he's taking here, I take it none of you knew about the accident. That is too bad.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

If Gabe has been in an accident then I wish him all the best for a swift recovery.

[Brian Malone]

I feel bad, really bad, that I did not try to warn you off. You might have wondered why I suddenly dropped out of posting and did not contribute anything. Well, I heard about the problems that Gabe had caused for a friend, I got a glimpse of what was coming, but I had no personal experience with it so I didn't feel like I should undermine the Scalpel project with what was essentially hearsay.

Sorry. I guess I should have said something. The good news, Jonathan, is that no one could blame you for what happened.

I'm also sorry that Gabe suffered an accident. I hope he recovers well. This does not explain, however, his apparently long-standing inability to meet his commitments, or lack of the good sense not to promise things he cannot deliver.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

Don't feel bad Brian. I *was* warned quite explicitly about Gabe's reliability. The problem was that I didn't foresee this thing happening so quickly or for him to suddenly go off radar.

Based on the warnings and what I had read online I expected him to lose interest with Scalpel after a couple of months and then I'd take it over. However, it turns out that a lot of Gabe's previous projects weren't so much "handed over" as "saved" by people who stepped up when Gabe disappeared.

The problem is that I wasn't prepared for Gabe to "be Gabe" so quickly and for him to be so evasive about his failure to update the site.

As I've said, I've just been left with some clearing up to do. Others have been left without homes for their pieces and other people (not related to Scalpel) have apparently been left with projects not done and money owing.

Having said that, thank you Brian and everyone else for your kind words and warm thoughts. They've been most encouraging.

[The Stealth Geek]

Gabe was in a very serious car accident on June 20th, riding as the passenger in his cousin's car. (Yes, he was wearing a seatbelt.) His cousin lost control of the car when her tire blew out.

He was hospitalized, in the hsopital from June 20th through yesterday, Monday the 25th, with a punctured lung and multiple fractures.

Just to clarify things for everyone.

Sometimes bad shit just happens to people.