posted
I was reading a review the other day of an upcoming SF novel. The first or second line of the review was, more or less, "[The writer] is the son of [naming two very famous people]"---and I don't know why, but that usually cheeses me off no end.
I'm afraid that every time I see a book, watch a movie or TV show, listen to music, or find some kind of artistic endeavor, and see or hear or read those fatal words, "...son of..." (or daughter, or mother, or wife, or relation), I'm forced to wonder how and why it's here now commanding my attention. I've seen tons of books by these relations. Some good stuff, some bad stuff...but are they any better than those by Joe Nobody from Peoria? Or, for that matter, anything I've written? Could I have gotten a foot in the door if I'd been the child of somebody prominent in my (and / or their) chosen field.
(Sometimes I think that writing is a closed shop and nobody without connections need apply.)
As for the book...the (short) review praised it to the skies, but the description of the plot---zombies rising from the dead and trying to eat and infect the remainder of humanity---just doesn't seem that big a deal after hundreds or even thousands of books and movies with that very theme. A new take on it? Certainly it's in how the story is told, not the idea itself. But there's nothing to suggest originality in the review...
posted
I would think it is with writing as with most other occupations. Children are often influenced by their parents and what they do, and many times end up doing something in the same field as one or both parents.
Posts: 11 | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I must be a mutation, then. As far as I know, nobody in the family but me ever tried their hand at trying to write for publication. Even their reading is somewhat limited---and not on the scale I attempt to cover.
(Also, the "son of..."s parents I mentioned aren't noted in publishing circles---though certainly their work involves writing.)
posted
I feel that the arts (movies, books, and the like) have become our royalty. they get away with stuff I would never dream of (i.e: micheal Jackson.) so, maybe that is whats going on. maybe were still in the "dark ages" only this time technology and movie stars have replaced the church and kings. just a thought there. might not mean anything.
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posted
I was reading a book that, in passing, argued that the status of showbiz people took a serious jump to respectability at some point in the 1920s---up till then, being an actor was on a par with being, say, a pickpocket.
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posted
Yeah, I dislike that sort of stuff on a book cover too. It is supposed to entice you to buy but, rather, prejudices the reader.
I have trouble not looking for problems in situations like that.
It's a bit like saying "this guy is like a cross between Charles Dickens and William Gibson..." or 'comparable to Tolkien at his best."
That last one was on the Thomas Covenant books by Stephen Donaldson. They were nothing like Tolkien's books, and were good but when I read that I thought 'Uhoh, we got another Sword of Shannara series.
I tend to prefer less referential stories.
[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited September 11, 2006).]
posted
I wonder how I'd react to that on my books (assuming I get that far someday). I mean, I can't even figure out what my stuff resembles. I've been influenced by hundreds of writers.
I thought Donaldson was influenced by Tolkien, though my memories of it are hazy. (I remember the leper scenes at the beginning better than the fantasy parts). But more recently, from one of Tom Shippey's excellent commentary on Tolkien, I got a list of several uncommon English words Donaldson used that he had to have read in Tolkien, notably eyot and dour-handed.
anyway, why are we having this discussion? the only possible reason is because those (insert long diatribe of rude language and vulgar hand gestures here) are "muscling in on our market"?
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