Thursday, November 15, 2012

Craig Miller

 
It's been far too long since I last put up a post here but, sadly, I return with some terrible news.

Craig Miller passed away on November 7, 2012.  From what I understand he died peacefully, in his sleep.  But the news was certainly unexpected.  And devastating.

Between October 1992 and September 2005, Craig and I produced 75 issues of Wrapped In Plastic Magazine.  I estimate that together we wrote over one million words about Twin Peaks and about the works of David Lynch, Mark Frost and others associated with the show.

Working with Craig was one of the highlights of my life.  Craig was the perfect co-editor.  He was smart, committed, and thorough.  The look, feel, and longevity of the magazine were due to Craig's tireless effort.  Because of Craig's diligence a new issue of Wrapped In Plastic was published every two months for over ten years.

Craig loved television, film, comics and science fiction.  I shared his passion.  He and I would talk endlessly of these things we loved.  Phone calls between us would last hours as we dissected a scene in Twin Peaks, or analyzed an issue of Cerebus, or examined the themes of Blade Runner, or pored over the writing of David Foster Wallace.  I'd end these conversations feeling exhausted -- and invigorated. 

Craig is gone and all his vast knowledge and insight is gone too.  In describing the death of her father, Laurie Anderson said, "It was like a library had burned down."  That is what Craig's death is like.  That huge mind--that endless curiosity--is no more.

Good-bye, Craig.  The world is a smaller place now.

9 comments:

  1. Well, this is absolutely shocking news. I can't believe he's gone.

    Your work on Wrapped in Plastic will be remembered as long as Twin Peaks is. A resource for the ages.

    He posted most recently on Facebook about voting and getting the posthumous David Foster Wallace book. Sigh.

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  2. www.cstoredistributors.com

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  3. I was looking for Craig's website tonight and was astonished to discover this notice (and several others offering the same sad news). I adored the work you both did on WRAPPED IN PLASTIC and SPECTRUM and Craig wrote me a lovely e-mail when I lamented the passing of the former in a weekly column I used to write for CINESCAPE. I'm sorry for your loss, but thank you for marking his passing for those who admired him. I worked with Sandra Miller for a year or two in the late 1990s; please pass along my condolences if you're in contact with her.

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  4. Hi, John,

    I am shocked and saddened by the news of Craig's death. I was a huge fan of Wrapped in Plastic (and a contributor). I had the privilege of meeting you at a Twin Peaks Fan Festival and visiting a used bookstore in the Seattle area with you. Tomorrow, I will attend a screening of Fire: Walk With Me at the University of Southern California. Bob Engels, Sherilyn Fenn, Phoebe Augustine, Ray Wise, and Ian Buchanan will be in attendance to answer questions after the screening. I will think about Craig and dedicate the event to him in my mind. Rest in peace, Craig.

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  5. P.S.: Sheryl Lee and Jennifer Lynch will also be at tomorrow's event. More information can be found at https://cinema.usc.edu/events/event.cfm?id=13431

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  7. I was crushed to hear this. :( I wsa so excited over David Lynch coming back to Twin Peaks that I wanted to see if New Issues of Wrapped in Plastic would be coming out. I have been a reader since issue 1. It was even more heartbreaking that we wont have Craig's thougts on the new episodes. :( Though I am hopeful he gets to see them wherever he is. May he rest in Peace.

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  8. I learned about Craig's passing from your interview with the Red Room Podcast (I think it was last year?). Very sorry to hear it. I was obsessed with Twin Peaks in high school and college and had my comic book store special order Wrapped in Plastic. Read and re-read every article so many times. Found David Lavery's collection of essays in WIP, and carried that around like a Bible, too :) Thanks for the memories, and bon voyage to Craig.

    - Claire

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  9. Just stumbled on to this today. I wonder if anyone will revive WRAPPED IN PLASTIC now that TP is being revived...

    --John J.Pierce (pierce07446@hotmail.com)

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