Great essay. Random thoughts: I do think GRR Martin, while not as linguistically savvy, is if not Tolkien’s heir, at least his bastard son. People always contrast them but I think there are more thematic commonalities than differences.
Second, brain-rotted zoomer I am I still think show not tell remains underrated writing advice. I just finished Moby Dick and honestly Melville could have done a little more showing! Everyone says it but nobody does it. And yet somehow so few writers can write a character that says one thing and does another. There’s a lesson in that.
Lastly, did you ever read Cane? I’m sure I told you about it at some point.
I read ASOIAF when I was really into genre fiction in high school and I've just never had a desire to reread, so I assumed in retrospect that it wasn't that interesting. Maybe I'm wrong? Worth revisiting?
Never read Cane. Who's it by? I'll pick it up the next time I see it at a bookstore!
Love the shout-out to Olav Audunnson!
Great essay. Random thoughts: I do think GRR Martin, while not as linguistically savvy, is if not Tolkien’s heir, at least his bastard son. People always contrast them but I think there are more thematic commonalities than differences.
Second, brain-rotted zoomer I am I still think show not tell remains underrated writing advice. I just finished Moby Dick and honestly Melville could have done a little more showing! Everyone says it but nobody does it. And yet somehow so few writers can write a character that says one thing and does another. There’s a lesson in that.
Lastly, did you ever read Cane? I’m sure I told you about it at some point.
I read ASOIAF when I was really into genre fiction in high school and I've just never had a desire to reread, so I assumed in retrospect that it wasn't that interesting. Maybe I'm wrong? Worth revisiting?
Never read Cane. Who's it by? I'll pick it up the next time I see it at a bookstore!