Tuirgin

From The Art of Fiction:

In theory it may be proper that teachers ignore thrillers, science fiction, and the comic books. No one wants Coleridge pushed from the curriculum by a duck “trapped in a world he never made!” But when we begin to list the contemporary “serious” writers who fill highschool and literature courses, Howard the Duck can look not all that bad.

I’ve been reading short fiction lately, and for the reasons I mentioned in a previous post I am focusing almost exclusively on Science Fiction and Fantasy. This week I got the idea of seeking out this year’s award winners, and was pleasantly surprised to see how much was available for reading on the web. Free stories are a treat for the unemployed. (continue reading…)

A response to Paul Mathers.

Will I scandalize you if I question the pure virtue of literacy?

What I mean is, reading, in and of itself, has only a pragmatic value. Literacy is a tool. It happens to be an extremely useful tool, but it’s value is in it’s usefulness. Of what value is it if someone can read, but chooses not to, or reads only the back of his cereal box? Or Glenn Beck?

(continue reading…)

I’ve recently made a decision to make an attempt to get back into a habit of writing. Several years back I made a 6 month study of poetry. This time I’m wanting to stretch further into the realm of “I really suck a this” and work on short fiction. I’m looking for suggestions on worthy materials dealing with the mechanics of short fiction, as well as searching out the better examples of actual works.

I’m putting a limitation of sorts on my pursuit, however, because I believe it will help liberate me from some of my worst tendencies. My first steps into this will be restricted to genre fic, and specifically fantasy and sci-fi. (continue reading…)

As I was driving to work one April morning last year, Renée Montagne, host of NPR’s Morning Edition, introduced a story I just couldn’t turn off. Irish author—Man Booker Prize—many literary novels—one of the finest living writers. Okay. She had my attention. He’s turned to writing hard-boiled crime fiction… I’m afraid I may have groaned with a dark, gnawing anticipation. (continue reading…)

:: from an e-mail to a friend on 2002.9.30 ::

J—, I left work today with a headache. But instead of staying at home I went to the library to pick up my reserved copy of Battleship Potemkin and a video series on the Byzantine Empire. I got to the library before they opened and so went to Barnes & Noble for some coffee. I sat and read Anton Chekhov’s “The Lady with the Dog”. (continue reading…)