Paul Finch (Sarob)

wrote in message

 > I need some advice before I drop $45 on DARKER AGES.
 > The description in the new Dreamhaven cat. sounds great but I was
 > wondering...
 >
 > Are the two novellas about equal in length to a novel? Is the point of
 > view standard (not first person present-I hate that).
 > Is the style accessible or is it art damaged?
 > Sorry for silly questions, but hey, $45 is alot of money if a book
 > turns out to be unreadable.

I went straight to the horse's mouth, as it were, and asked Paul about the
book (which I haven't seen; I'm only familiar with it through the write-up
on the Sarob page). He replied:

"DARKER AGES is, in total, 209 pages. 'The Blood Month' is 94 pages (33,092
words) and 'Twilight in the Orm-Garth' is 114 pages (39,435 words). IN terms
of style, both stories are written in the past tense, i.e. 'he stood' rather
than 'he stands'. But I feel it's only fair to warn the questioner that both
stories are deliberately written in a slightly archaic idiom, to try to get
an authentic feel for the period. As to whether that works or not, all the
feedback I've had so far has been positive."

All I can add is that everything I've read of Paul's (admittedly only works
in the supernatural/horror field) have been very good indeed.

Hope this helps!

Barbara
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kurzman.DeleteThis@earthlink.net wrote:
 > ...is the point of view standard (not first person present-I hate
 > that).

Interesting point, this. Don't you like ANY work of fiction narrated
in the first person present? You've got me thinking now - are there
any *good* examples of work done in that particular style which I could
adduce? Anybody else care to nominate one?

 > Is the style accessible or is it art damaged?

Whoa, hang on. "Art damaged"?! Yeah, let's not have any ART getting
in the way there, fer Chrissakes! You know where THAT leads!

Seriously, though, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about
with the Finch book. I've always found Paul's style clear and to the
point, and I doubt even the most stringent reviewer would throw that
"art damaged" accusation his way.

"Art damaged". Heh-heh-heh. Must remember that one.


Steve
Damaged by art (and proud of it)
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prince_lazy_i.RemoveThis@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

 > Interesting point, this. Don't you like ANY work of fiction narrated
 > in the first person present? You've got me thinking now - are there
 > any *good* examples of work done in that particular style which I
could
 > adduce? Anybody else care to nominate one?


I just yesterday read Steven Millhauser's novella "Revenge," which I
believe fills the bill.


RPN
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prince_lazy_i DeleteThis @yahoo.co.uk wrote:

 >
  >>...is the point of view standard (not first person present-I hate
  >>that).
 >
 > Interesting point, this. Don't you like ANY work of fiction narrated
 > in the first person present? You've got me thinking now - are there
 > any *good* examples of work done in that particular style which I could
 > adduce? Anybody else care to nominate one?

Don't have it with me, but I believe Caitlin Kiernan's _Threshold_ is
1st/present. I thought it quite good in spite of not especially liking
present tense.

  >>Is the style accessible or is it art damaged?
 >
 > Whoa, hang on. "Art damaged"?! Yeah, let's not have any ART getting
 > in the way there, fer Chrissakes! You know where THAT leads!
 >
 > Seriously, though, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about
 > with the Finch book. I've always found Paul's style clear and to the
 > point, and I doubt even the most stringent reviewer would throw that
 > "art damaged" accusation his way.
 >
 > "Art damaged". Heh-heh-heh. Must remember that one.

I liked the phrase, too, but there's something wrong in equating 'art'
and 'pretentious' (or maybe, 'portentious,' or maybe, 'ponderous').

 > Steve
 > Damaged by art (and proud of it)

As should we all be.


Randy M.
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On 2005-02-08 10:58:03 -0500, "RPN" said:

 >

 >
  >> Interesting point, this. Don't you like ANY work of fiction narrated
  >> in the first person present? You've got me thinking now - are there
  >> any *good* examples of work done in that particular style which I
 > could
  >> adduce? Anybody else care to nominate one?
 >
 >
 > I just yesterday read Steven Millhauser's novella "Revenge," which I
 > believe fills the bill.
 >
 >
 > RPN

I think there's a lot of Millhauser that this applies to. I think he's
even pulled off 2nd person present, on occasion.
--
nomis

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nomis wrote:
 > I think there's a lot of Millhauser that this applies to. I think
he's
 > even pulled off 2nd person present, on occasion.

Ouch. My hat off to Mr Millhauser if he's cracked that one. Was it
over novel length? That WOULD be impressive!

S
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On 2005-02-09 06:27:25 -0500, prince_lazy_i RemoveThis @yahoo.co.uk said:

 >
 > nomis wrote:
  >> I think there's a lot of Millhauser that this applies to. I think
 > he's
  >> even pulled off 2nd person present, on occasion.
 >
 > Ouch. My hat off to Mr Millhauser if he's cracked that one. Was it
 > over novel length? That WOULD be impressive!
 >
 > S

If my first reply appears, pardon this one, but I don't think it will.
Which is too bad, because I wrote more. Ah well...

On further inspection, a cursorarry glace at my Millhauser's reveals I
was mistaken. I can't find a single case of second person present. I
suspect my memories just muddled some first person plural present
stories (We are going here, we are doing that... etc.).

But this allowed me to discover that most of my favourite Millhauser
stories are in THE KNIFE THROWER. A great collection!
--
nomis

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