Spit in the Ocean, No. 7: All About Ken Kesey

by Ed McClanahan (Editor), Gus Van Sant (Introduction), Larry McMurtry (Contribution by)

Between 1974 and 1981 Ken Kesey self-published six issues of a literary magazine called Spit in the Ocean. After the revolutionary novelist's death in the fall of 2001, one of his closest friends, acclaimed writer Ed McClanahan, decided to carry out Kesey's vision and put together a final issue of Spit as a tribute to Kesey's genius and imperturbable spirit. Featuring contributions from cultural luminaries-including Robert Stone, Paul Krassner, Wendell Berry, Bill Walton, and Grateful Dead lyricists Robert Hunter and John Perry Barlow-as well as "regular folk," and several pieces by Kesey himself, Spit in the Ocean #7 is a loving and fitting homage to the gigantic and unique spirit of the merriest of the Merry Pranksters.

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2003

About the author

Edward Poage McClanahan was born in Brooksville, Kentucky in 1932 to Edward Leroy and Jesse (Poage) McClanahan. He attended school there and later in nearby Maysville, Kentucky where the family relocated in 1948. McClanahan graduated from Miami University with a B.A. in English in 1955 and from the University of Kentucky in 1958 with a M.A. in English. McClanahan taught English at Oregon State University, 1958-1962.

He received a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in 1962 and remained at Stanford University as E. H. Jones Lecturer in Creative Writing until 1972. During his time at Stanford, while also known by his hippie moniker "Captain Kentucky," McClanahan became good friends with author and fellow Stanford attendee Ken Kesey. McClanahan was an active member of Kesey's band of Merry Pranksters.


McClanahan currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky with his third wife, Hilda. He is active in Kentucky literary circles and can occasionally be seen, in full "Captain Kentucky" regalia, guest-lecturing to University of Kentucky creative writing workshops.

Reviews

[Brendan Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful capstone to the career of one of the seminal writers of the 20th Century (full disclosure: my Masters thesis was on Kesey and his Band of Merry Pranksters). As a literary mag, a continuation of Kesey's own Spit in the Ocean series, it's not really earth-shattering, and some of the pieces (particularly the several by Ken Babbs and a few of the poems) make for better "literary" literature than others. However, what really comes through in those others is just how beloved this man really was. He touched people on a person-to-person basis in a way seldom seen by celebrity writers. Compare, for example, the way an aged Kesey, worn down from interferon treatment and dying of cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis B, eschewed a planned nap break between an afternoon classroom visit and an evening speaking engagement to speak with students one-on-one with the cloistered, smug, and self-satisfied artiste life-mystery that is J.D. Salinger. I'm not knocking Salinger for doing his thing, but it speaks to the character of Kesey, the love he had and the love he gave. He always said that he was "too young to be a beatnik, to old to be a hippie," but he definitely had more in common with the love-everybody-ness of the latter than the cool-as-a-cucumber personae of the former. His personality and warmth shine through in this volume, and in terms of getting to know one of the most important American writers in history on a personal basis, this is an invaluable resource.

[Mike Suter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books serves as a sort of wake for Ken Kesey... anecdotes and memories from friends and collaborators, as well as a few excerpts from Kesey's writings and interviews. Being a fan of Kesey and his writing, I found this to be delightful. Ken was a charismatic personality who served as the hub for a large group of colorful characters. If he wasn't such an honest person, he might have become a con man or cult leader. Instead, he served in popular culture as a bridge between the beatnik and the hippie movements. He promoted community, personal interaction, and connection with nature. Sadly, he ultimately saw the 'hippie' movement flounder, commenting that at least the beatniks stayed committed to the end, unlike the hippies who for the most part sold out.

What I most appreciated from this book were the insights into Kesey's philosophy and spirituality. Three examples that struck me:

1986 interview by Kesey: "Melville, man. Moby Dick is the book. It has to do with there is something there that we have to combat all the time... And it isn't necessarily a human being. It takes the form of a human being now and then, but it also may be a whale and may be something inside of you. It is ever present, but it is of evil. It's... this is the thing about Cuckoo's Nest: People think that the big nurse is the villain. She is not the villain. She is a minion of the villain, but she is not the villain. The villain is something else. If you reduce it to her being the villain, it loses its importance. So what's important is finding what the villain is."

Lecture at Eugene Library by Kesey: "I might make it as a classic, but I know I'm not there with Moby Dick yet. You don't need to teach Cukoo's Nest: there's nothing to be said about it. It teaches itself. It's a simple Christ allegory taking place in a nut house."

Kesey quoted by David Stanford on polarization: "The Evil Force doesn't care which side you're on... whether you're for abortion or against abortion. It just wants you to be on either side... don't go for it..... the only thing that will work is love."

[icy mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve thought of everything, know what I mean ?

[Mdye]

It's nice short stories composed by different people that knew Kesesy. Some are really passionate and others are funny. I want this book back, ALEX!

[Stefan Martiyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to hear a slew of perspectives on the Kesey and his endeavors.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was an excellent chance to look at one of my favorite figures through the eyes of his friends.