Something To Consider?

In light of the current economic situation and government panic, please consider this passage from Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged:

“Do you wish to know whether that day is coming? Watch money. Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion – when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing – when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors – when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you – when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice you may know that your society is doomed. Money is so noble a medium that it does not compete with guns and it does not make terms with brutality. It will not permit a country to survive as half-property, half-loot.”

Published in: on October 8, 2008 at 8:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Neal Stephenson Takes The Long Road

Neal Stephenson writes long, very long, books. And that’s how I like them. I’ve read his Baroque Cycle as he calls his three books that begin with Quicksilver, continue with The Confusion, and wind up with The System of the World. Each of these books runs beyond 800 pages, giving the reader plenty of words for the cover price.

What I enjoy about Stephenson’s books is the integration of historical events and characters with the fictional ones. He weaves these two seamlessly, supporting them with facts, so that in the end its one giant story about the world. While not all of it is true, it could have been. I prefer this to science fiction or fantasy books, neither of which have I been able to get through. (Exception: Jules Verne) Furthermore, Stephenson is not afraid to take detours to flesh out the context of the action. Too many books I read today drop the reader in from space without a decent explanation of the setting. The writer expects the reader to know what 1950’s Dublin is all about, or what’s going on in terms of present-day European skullduggery, or how religious practices of some distant tribe create social mores. Sorry, I have quite a diversity and depth of knowledge, but it is your job, dear writer, to create the world of your story for me to read. If that takes a few more pages, please, indulge me. After all, I didn’t pay the cover price to read a magazine article.

Yes, that was criticism in the previous paragraph. Some critics have lambasted Stephenson for not editing or condensing his work. My humble opinion is that he should leave it the way it is or add more. I mentioned his work in an early post about the “brevity cult” (his term). Well, the “brevity cult” is alive and well in this era of attention deficit disorder. However, just because some people can’t stay focused doesn’t mean the rest of us should be short changed. Good characters and enthralling plots don’t bog down in long books; they engage the reader, giving him solid footing to travel along the novel’s journey.

So, Neal Stephenson takes the long road. I’m right there with him.

Published in: on October 2, 2008 at 12:16 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Summing Up

W. Somerset Maugham wrote a great book titled, The Summing Up. It is a biography of sorts in that it’s about himself and his philosophy and experience writing books and plays. Reading this book is like having one long conversation with a person of diverse experience and knowledge. In fact, I recommend a glass of whiskey while you’re enjoying the text, just to properly set the mood.

Maugham started life in odd circumstances, having been raised by an uncle in France but then going to England where he became a physician. This training and his early experiences in poor hospitals provided him with material for Liza of Lambeth. He took up writing full time and became quite a sensation in both the theatre and the world of publishing. At one point he had several plays onstage simultaneously.

What I enjoyed most about Maugham’s reflection on life was the honesty. He takes a hard look at his own desires, how they played out, and how they became something other than he expected. He doesn’t simply make a list of accomplishments or brag about them. He delves into the background, motivation, and even into how some of them were interpreted by the public and critics.

I’m not sure how popular his works are these days. I know that The Painted Veil was made into a movie recently. It was a good attempt but lacked the depth that the book contains. That book contains some of the best character development I’ve read, presenting all the subtleties and contradictions inherent in people. His other works, including Cakes and Ale, will probably seem dated and therefore quaint to today’s readers. But they’re worth a look as the stories tend to be timeless.

Published in: on October 1, 2008 at 7:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Why A Fountain Pen?

Today I was in one of my haunts, doing a bit of writing. Of course I was using a fountain pen. A lady happens by and asks me, “Is that really a fountain pen?” I said that it was. She then asked, “Why would you use one?” Well, in the first place I write upwards of 2500 words per day in one form or another. Do that day after day and the equipment used becomes very important. A fountain pen has much less “drag” across the paper. All this I explained and the lady says, “Why not just use a computer and type it in the first place?”

That last question is much deeper than the first. Everyone has their method of writing. For me, I typically write a story long hand first and then type it into a computer later. This serves two purposes: The first draft can be conducted anywhere, without electricity or a computer. When I type it, it instantly becomes a second draft as I edit on the fly while inputing the text.

But what about that archaic writing instrument, namely the fountain pen? Well, it’s simply cool, for lack of more elegant explanation. Fountain pens require a bit of care and respect. They become heirlooms. They can be messy, but mine have never let me down in that respect. They also take on the character of the writer in terms of the type of pen and ink utilized.

Does it make sense? Not really. It’s one of those quirks that makes us human. Beyond that, I offer no better explanation.

Published in: on September 30, 2008 at 8:18 pm  Comments (3)  
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