Hatrack River Forum: Alan Moore's smut.

This is topic Alan Moore's smut. in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :

I'm looking at Lost Girls on Amazon. For those who don't know, it's a comic book by the phenomenal Alan Moore. And it's porn, or at least erotica, irredeemably and unabashedly. Moore says his purposes were to show that pornography can be high quality, to protest the coprous waste that actually makes up porn today, and as a response to violent comics--the defense that violence is an essential part of humanity, and therefore graphic violence can be used for deeper artistic purposes should be as applicable to graphic sexuality in art.

It's very very expensive, and it is smut. I'm not sure about ordering it. I'm wondering if anyone on Hatrack has read it, and if it's worth the money. And if it will seriously creep out my roommates when they browse my bookshelves.

Also, discussion question: when they inevitably butcher the feature film, how do you think Moore will respond? [Wink]

Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :

Never read it. Gaiman's review on Amazon makes it sound extremely interesting.

Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :

Yes, but Gaiman (bless his heart) is Alan Moore's monkeyboy go-for, so I can't really trust it.

Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :

As smut goes, it's rather boring. I have a copy, and I pretty much regret having bought it. Always remember: even the best writers, at times, go tragically wrong. I don't object to Moore's goals, I just don't think he pulled it off. The art, I really disliked. I found it pale, and fleshtoned, and flavorless. This is the tapwater of erotica.

If you're a huge fan of Moore, and you want to own his stuff, okay, get a copy. If you're interested in the content, you take your chances. I'd rather I spent the money on another Luis Royo book, personally.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

quote:
Always remember: even the best writers, at times, go tragically wrong.

I think an important lesson is this: if a writer you like has a pet theme, never buy a book that openly and obviously addresses that theme. It will always be self-indulgent.

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

That's a bit absolute isn't it Tom? I think it's possible that sometimes a writer's muse is his pet theme. And there are some self indulgent works that are extremely good. Fred Exley's "A Fan's Notes" comes to mind.