Comments on: The Big Idea: Philip Palmer http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/ WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR HUMILITY Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:27:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Redcoat http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14430 Redcoat Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:27:34 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14430 Maybe I should try writing a bit of present tense myself - see if I can make it work - actually I think I could see using it in snippets or 'interludes' for occasional moments of increased intensity. To my shame I have not entered the Stross Universe yet (although Amazon also pesters me with recommendations for his work - a pattern is forming . . .) Maybe I should try writing a bit of present tense myself – see if I can make it work – actually I think I could see using it in snippets or ‘interludes’ for occasional moments of increased intensity. To my shame I have not entered the Stross Universe yet (although Amazon also pesters me with recommendations for his work – a pattern is forming . . .)

]]> By: Nathaniel http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14429 Nathaniel Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:27:03 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14429 Hah! I just read the original post, said "dude, this thread needs a Stephen Hunt plug", clicked through to the comments to make one, and here's Jan Williams just beat me to it :-). I've only read the book myself, not seen any interviews, but they're not necessary to catch the similarity. Court of the Air is obviously one of those first novels where the author has spent years hungry to get to writing his first novel, but for the same reason has not yet made any contact with the business/market end of publishing and has just done whatever the hell made sense to him. The result is a crazy romp, combining a super-fast plot, a "spot the pulp genre being snuck in *here*" game for the reader, and his own sly and/or brilliant twists. It does burst at the seams a little; it isn't perfect; but it is *awesome*, and in the end, hey, what's more important? So... yeah. I just put Philp Palmer on my "hey maybe check this guy out" list, and if you did the same, you might want to keep an eye out for Stephen Hunt too. Hah! I just read the original post, said “dude, this thread needs a Stephen Hunt plug”, clicked through to the comments to make one, and here’s Jan Williams just beat me to it :-).

I’ve only read the book myself, not seen any interviews, but they’re not necessary to catch the similarity. Court of the Air is obviously one of those first novels where the author has spent years hungry to get to writing his first novel, but for the same reason has not yet made any contact with the business/market end of publishing and has just done whatever the hell made sense to him. The result is a crazy romp, combining a super-fast plot, a “spot the pulp genre being snuck in *here*” game for the reader, and his own sly and/or brilliant twists. It does burst at the seams a little; it isn’t perfect; but it is *awesome*, and in the end, hey, what’s more important?

So… yeah. I just put Philp Palmer on my “hey maybe check this guy out” list, and if you did the same, you might want to keep an eye out for Stephen Hunt too.

]]> By: Jan Williams http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14428 Jan Williams Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:31:08 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14428 I read an interview with the fantasy author Stephen Hunt where he said something almost identical about his first book Court of the Air - that he based his form on NYPD Blue and Hill Street Blues, with as many different plot strands on the boil at once as he could get away with. Is this more-is-more a new .lit genre? Moreist? Moreovian? It needs a good name! I read an interview with the fantasy author Stephen Hunt where he said something almost identical about his first book Court of the Air – that he based his form on NYPD Blue and Hill Street Blues, with as many different plot strands on the boil at once as he could get away with. Is this more-is-more a new .lit genre? Moreist? Moreovian? It needs a good name!

]]> By: GeekDad42 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14427 GeekDad42 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:48:26 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14427 This sounds very intriguing, I will have to check out the novel. Redcoat: On present tense - I really have a problem with this when I pick up a novel in a bookstore and read a few passages, but a good way to get over this to to read any on Charles Stross's recent SF. Most of it seems to be present tense, and it goes down very smoothly. A few pages in and you stop noticing it. Plus, they have all been excellent. My $0.02. This sounds very intriguing, I will have to check out the novel.

Redcoat: On present tense – I really have a problem with this when I pick up a novel in a bookstore and read a few passages, but a good way to get over this to to read any on Charles Stross’s recent SF. Most of it seems to be present tense, and it goes down very smoothly. A few pages in and you stop noticing it. Plus, they have all been excellent. My $0.02.

]]> By: Sergeant E http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14426 Sergeant E Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:21:37 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14426 First person I can take. Present tense I can take. First person, present tense? Gahhh... First person I can take. Present tense I can take. First person, present tense? Gahhh…

]]> By: Tolladay http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14425 Tolladay Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:59:47 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14425 What I got from Philip Palmer's piece was the memory of a distant college english class where we had to deconstruct King Lear. That play has a major theme (or more, it's been a while), and probably a dozen minor themes running through; certainly this should qualify as "more is more" writing. What I got from Philip Palmer’s piece was the memory of a distant college english class where we had to deconstruct King Lear. That play has a major theme (or more, it’s been a while), and probably a dozen minor themes running through; certainly this should qualify as “more is more” writing.

]]> By: John Scalzi http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14424 John Scalzi Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:30:16 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14424 Redcoat: "I have sworn a solemn oath never to read any book written in the present tense - is that just me too?" Yeah. I have no problem with present tense myself -- it can make the amp up the writing if it's done well. Redcoat:

“I have sworn a solemn oath never to read any book written in the present tense – is that just me too?”

Yeah. I have no problem with present tense myself — it can make the amp up the writing if it’s done well.

]]> By: Redcoat http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/02/07/the-big-idea-philip-palmer/#comment-14423 Redcoat Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:07:17 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=351#comment-14423 Hmm. Mr Palmer's piece is cogent and resonant the 'Less/More' dichotomy is indeed key. I have to say that, upon reading the proferred extract, it struck me that we were getting mostly 'more', where a bit 'less' might have helped, but maybe that's just me. Also, I have sworn a solemn oath never to read any book written in the present tense - is that just me too? Please, anybody, break down this irrational prejudice with examples of essential present-tense reading . . . Hmm. Mr Palmer’s piece is cogent and resonant the ‘Less/More’ dichotomy is indeed key.

I have to say that, upon reading the proferred extract, it struck me that we were getting mostly ‘more’, where a bit ‘less’ might have helped, but maybe that’s just me. Also, I have sworn a solemn oath never to read any book written in the present tense – is that just me too? Please, anybody, break down this irrational prejudice with examples of essential present-tense reading . . .

]]>