tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post6876626040467180579..comments2023-12-26T23:07:08.005-08:00Comments on TOMORROWVILLE: On EphemeralityDavid Isaakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-83599863835416687832010-07-06T10:17:11.221-07:002010-07-06T10:17:11.221-07:00Hi, Tim--
Yes, it seems like it might have a long...Hi, Tim--<br /><br />Yes, it seems like it might have a long and interesting answer!David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-91328867240987612132010-07-06T01:15:36.018-07:002010-07-06T01:15:36.018-07:00David, that's an ineresting enough question th...David, that's an ineresting enough question that it probably warrants its own blog post--if I can drag myself away from twatting about biscuits...Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-72171041761268688512010-07-05T14:59:07.444-07:002010-07-05T14:59:07.444-07:00Hi, Tim--
Well, Vance was so protean that it'...Hi, Tim--<br /><br />Well, Vance was so protean that it's hard for me to imagine anyone following Vance in all particulars. But it seems to me that there are two relatively strong and frequent (though not invariable) Vancean characteristics in his fantasy that you don't seem to follow:<br /><br />1) Overripe prose. Deliciously overripe in many case, and I quite enjoy it. But I've never seen you spread it on with a trowel, which he occasionally delighted in doing.<br /><br />2) Magic, usually with varying lengths of tongue thrust into cheek. Your world tends to be fantasy in the genre sense, but less in the sense of 'contrary to our own reality.'<br /><br />I'd be interested in hearing how you'd trace his influence in your own work. I'd guess that it's probably more subtle on the page than in your consciousness--which seems all to the good.<br /><br />I think I've been strongly influenced by all manner of writers who don't show up on the page, though, so I guess this isn't surprising.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-49288666109187868332010-07-05T14:25:30.884-07:002010-07-05T14:25:30.884-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-84302178279458509482010-07-05T12:18:12.988-07:002010-07-05T12:18:12.988-07:00"Imitation" may be overstating it, but t..."Imitation" may be overstating it, but there would be those who felt the influence was not entirely positive.<br /><br />There are many good things in Vance's fiction which have not become part of the SFF mainstream. It would be nice to think I'd tried to reintroduce some of those.<br /><br />Vegemite is a Marmite clone. Yummy!Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-68237848328567904832010-07-05T09:44:10.657-07:002010-07-05T09:44:10.657-07:00Hi, Frances--
I'm guessing, however, that you...Hi, Frances--<br /><br />I'm guessing, however, that you're not a fan of Tolkein-derivative fantasy, either, though. Those folks are the ones who baffle me.<br /><br />As to Marmite--no, I don't think we have it. Is it anything like the Australian concoction Vegemite--a dark, yeasty thing that is spread on toast, but had best be spread rather thin? Pamela's a big Vegemite fan. I think it's so-so.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-14821231826890826232010-07-05T09:39:32.523-07:002010-07-05T09:39:32.523-07:00Hi, Tim--
There are people who dislike Tolkein fo...Hi, Tim--<br /><br />There are people who dislike Tolkein for his worldview in a political sense, and those who simply think that his work permanently mucked up fantasy fiction. I can see both points of view and have no problem with them. But the people who love the whole 'orcs and elves' world but don't think Tolkein did it very well are a puzzle to me.<br /><br />I know you admire Vance, and I'm sure he can't help but have been an influence, but do you in fact think that your work imitates him?David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-68559595775583463292010-07-05T01:15:23.638-07:002010-07-05T01:15:23.638-07:00I'm going off at a tangent here, but the world...I'm going off at a tangent here, but the world seems to be divided into those who love Tolkien, and those who loathe him. A Marmite* thing. I love Marmite, but find Tokien deeply boring. Oh dear. Even though I know I'm not alone, it's a bit like admitting I microwave live kittens.<br /><br />* David - just in case Marmite hasn't crossed the pond, it's something you spread on bread/toast etc, not a writer.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-82696406046247563412010-07-04T23:53:39.145-07:002010-07-04T23:53:39.145-07:00Lord of the Rings is a particularly good example, ...Lord of the Rings is a particularly good example, because the legions of imitators have copied the furniture---orcs, elves, dark lords etc---without understanding the architecture of the house.<br /><br />I have more sympathy with writers like China Mieville who have just honestly loathed Tolkien's worldview and reacted against it than I have with half-witted imitators. (Says the person who has half-wittedly imitated Jack Vance...)Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.com