World Enough and Time

Good quote! Though I would argue that the denial of emotions also brings forth monsters, and it's important to keep both sets of monsters at bay.

If pushed to choose, however, I would be more likely to trust someone with no emotions than someone with no reason. As I've said before, I think the Id is overprivileged these days.

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wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com

I searched for books about Templars and I accidentally found a book about "men cirkles" (Männerbunde) in Germany. It seemed that the tradition of these was very deep there (with a declared love to the leader etc.).The author tried to proof that the SS was only the continuation of that and the rejection of the homosexual element had a political reason. but I didn't read the book exactly, so I can't say more about it.

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If pushed to choose, however, I would be more likely to trust someone with no emotions than someone with no reason.

There are no people without emotions. If they claim to be so, they're lying.

I've certainly met a lot of people with little or no reason, and I don't like them in the least! Run, run and hide.

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Huh. History is full of the strangest (interesting) things.

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As a reader, I find the genre full of cliches; but that being said, there are also some superb writers who manage to overcome all the pitfalls and produce excellent novels. This is another example of what I'd call honest or dishonest writing. Honest writing stands on its own. Dishonest writing accept formulas.

There's an interesting book of essays by romance writers about the genre, ed. by Krentz, Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women. Some of it was interesting, some of it alarming. For me, it's like peering into an alien world: I don't buy into the heterosexual, monogamous underpinnings, and I can't believe that characters who start off hating each other can form lasting relationships anyway. The historical ones... Well, talk about abuse of history and anachronistic characters - modern soap-opera types in fancy dress! The so-called 'Scottish romances' (aka Kilt Porn) are particularly risible to anyone who actually lives here and knows anything about history... And the industry pundits, as you say, encourage this state of affairs!

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rosiespark.livejournal.com

Overemotional art is sloppy. Overrational art is cold.

That's the way I feel about writing. Restraint, but not too much, is the key. You're right, it's a balancing act!

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And if only it were easy!

But that's the whole point. If it were easy, it wouldn't be worth it. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

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They don't just encourage it, they mandate it - they necessitate it. No wonder the romance industry, while it may be flourishing economically, is decaying in terms of quality. Building on itself too much, with too narrow margins.

Excepting the few talents who rise above the others, usually by being successful enough to flout the cliches and dictate to their publishers to some extent.

I like the idea of kilt porn but I've never found a book of the type that I enjoyed. Pity.

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wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com

Studying is never wrong; wrong could be only what you lern from that.

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wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com

I also don't like Wagner, he is boring like hell.

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I do indeed. I think when people (like me) work alone on fics and such they do reveal a bit of themselves... even unwillingly.

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I like the idea of kilt porn but I've never found a book of the type that I enjoyed. Pity.

No. Believe me. Horrible. Patronising/racist 'noble savage' clichés. Highlanders bizarrely speaking Lowland Scots. No understanding of the society, history, culture...
Braveheart in paperback.

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Actors and singers are a different category: as performers, of course they are seen and heard.

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I read a quote somewhere to the effect that to be a writer is to be exposed - and it's true. To write, you have to put aside inhibitions and self-consciousness and know that you're going to be showing parts of your psyche to the whole world - or whatever (unpredicatable) part of it cares to read. With no guarantee they'll be gentle with it.

But it doesn't matter, the work is the important thing.

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Braveheart in paperback

Eeeep! Whimper. You are scaring me.

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Yes, and I am generalizing about all types of art, all types of creativity, including performance. For the writer, the book (or novel or poem or whatever) is the public face, the part of the individual that gets to strut around in public and enjoy the limelight. So writers have a different buffer between themselves and their public.

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I have grave reservations about grafting fantasy on to real history.

As do I. I have less of a problem with grafting real history onto fantasy - using words and images evocative or real historical eras to enhance the fiction - which is what Tolkien did. I can't think of anyone else who has done it successfully - George R.R. Martin, maybe. Most fantasists don't have a clue and don't try.

which Guy Gavriel Kay has dealt with well, I think, here

I greatly admire Guy Kay's writing and consider him a friend. That being said, I wish he would write straight history, and leave out the fantasy - even though I think his fantasy is superb. But here's another case of 'honest' writing: even though he's writing fantasy, he doesn't use that as an excuse to go lightly on the historical eras he is basing his works on. His research is careful and deep.

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Exactly. I have had some scathing remarks that HURT.... and yet I kept going... still do.

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monsieureden.livejournal.com

You buy for your community, personal tastes aside, since they are your funders. Now diversity in collections is always good, so depending on how much funding you get you can balance it out with other types of literature. It really depends on the size of your collection, your community, and your funding.

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Of course. "Keeping going" is the proper response. The best reply is continued creative success.

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Yeah... but I know what an OUCH is.

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Balance is good. So is diversity. It probably explains why libraries don't get the books I really most want to read all that often.

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Don't we all.

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