Electronic pioneer Wendy Carlos denounces recently published biography as ‘bogus fiction’

“This slim, mean-spirited volume is based on several false premises.”

Wendy Carlos has published a statement rejecting a recently published biography about her life – Wendy Carlos: A Biography. 

Written by Amanda Sewell, the book claims to “cover both her entire musical output and her personal life.”

However, in a statement on Carlos’ website, she has thoroughly rejected the text as “mean-spirited” and “based on several false premises.”

“All of it is speculation taken out of context. The key sources are other people’s write-ups of interviews done for magazine articles. There’s simply no way to know what’s true or not—nothing is first-hand,” she continues.

“The author imputes things she doesn’t understand, misses the real reasons for what was done or not done. She’s in way over her head, outside any areas of expertise, and even defames my dear deceased parents—shame!”

“Have dealt with stereotyping most of my life, a pretty tough hide by now. But aren’t there new, more interesting targets?”

Read Carlos’ statement in full below and head to Carlos’ website for more.

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Please be aware there’s a purported “Biography” on me just released. It belongs on the fiction shelf. No one ever interviewed me, nor anyone I know. There’s zero fact-checking. Don’t recognize myself anywhere in there—weird. Sloppy, dull and dubious, it’s hardly an objective academic study as it pretends to be.
This slim, mean-sprited volume is based on several false premises. All of it is speculation taken out of context. The key sources are other people’s write-ups of interviews done for magazine articles. There’s simply no way to know what’s true or not—nothing is first-hand.

The book is presumptuous. Pathetically, it accepts as “factual” a grab-bag of online urban legends, including anonymous axes to grind. The author imputes things she doesn’t understand, misses the real reasons for what was done or not done. She’s in way over her head, outside any areas of expertise, and even defames my dear deceased parents—shame!

Well, now you know, and have the victim’s honest reactions. Wish there were more one could do about needless personal attacks, but we have to understand how essential freedom of speech is, even when it permits such abuse. Have dealt with stereotyping most of my life, a pretty tough hide by now. But aren’t there new, more interesting targets?

Unless you consider “academic” books a form of contact sport, you really might want to reconsider your time and money.