Comments on: Greetings and "Political" Fiction http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/ the noun that verbs your world, http://www.fringemagazine.org Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:53:06 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Lizzie http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-11 Lizzie Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:22:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-11 On the one hand, I agree about Ayn Rand, but on the other I don't. Yes, her fiction is often political and the politics are hidden in her plots and characters. On the other hand, she often uses ham-handed dogmatic tactics, like having one of her characters give a hundred page radio address that is really a philosophical treatise (which happens in Atlas Shrugged).<br/><br/>I like the former technique, but feel that the latter gives "political" fiction a bad name. If I want to read a political tract, I'll read one -- I think it breaks the faith between reader and writer to slip one into a novel. On the one hand, I agree about Ayn Rand, but on the other I don’t. Yes, her fiction is often political and the politics are hidden in her plots and characters. On the other hand, she often uses ham-handed dogmatic tactics, like having one of her characters give a hundred page radio address that is really a philosophical treatise (which happens in Atlas Shrugged).

I like the former technique, but feel that the latter gives “political” fiction a bad name. If I want to read a political tract, I’ll read one — I think it breaks the faith between reader and writer to slip one into a novel.

]]> By: Alex http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-8 Alex Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:39:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-8 Marquez' "Hundred Years of Solitude" and Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell" tolls cropped up, thanks to an excellent English prof's influence in high school. Tolstoy. Alice Walker. Certainly Toni Morrison. I'm most familiar with the sci-fi canon, however, even if some "serious" literary critics sniff at it (yes, I too am a <a HREF="http://thenounthatverbsyourworld.blogspot.com/2007/04/geek-dweeb-dork-nerd.html" REL="nofollow">geek</a>!) , and when you start looking at that body of work, polical fiction abounds from Heinlein, Asimov, Verne, Bear, Bova, and even Tolkein, though he resisted that assertion throughout his lifetime. <br/><br/>Overtly political work? The diccussion really isn't even close to complete without at least noting Ayn Rand, whose objectivist fiction seems to infect every curious 20-something at some point. <br/><br/>Great question -- good luck with this blog! Marquez’ “Hundred Years of Solitude” and Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell” tolls cropped up, thanks to an excellent English prof’s influence in high school. Tolstoy. Alice Walker. Certainly Toni Morrison. I’m most familiar with the sci-fi canon, however, even if some “serious” literary critics sniff at it (yes, I too am a geek!) , and when you start looking at that body of work, polical fiction abounds from Heinlein, Asimov, Verne, Bear, Bova, and even Tolkein, though he resisted that assertion throughout his lifetime.

Overtly political work? The diccussion really isn’t even close to complete without at least noting Ayn Rand, whose objectivist fiction seems to infect every curious 20-something at some point.

Great question — good luck with this blog!

]]> By: Lizzie http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-4 Lizzie Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:05:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-4 Hmmm...Nadine Gordimer is an example of an author whose books made an impact -- she was part of the movement to end apartheid in South Africa... Hmmm…Nadine Gordimer is an example of an author whose books made an impact — she was part of the movement to end apartheid in South Africa…

]]> By: Lizzie http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-3 Lizzie Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:41:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-3 Sadly, no, but I'm out there looking for these writers -- I think they are often hidden by the prevailing attitudes of hostility toward political work. Sadly, no, but I’m out there looking for these writers — I think they are often hidden by the prevailing attitudes of hostility toward political work.

]]> By: Beth http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-2 Beth Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:11:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/greetings-and-political-fiction/#comment-2 Great point, Lizzie. Coming from the nonfiction side of things-- I guess political writing is a lot more obvious to spot. I have to say some of my favorites are still classic writers like Thoreau and Emerson who fully embodied their political "agendas." Perhaps part of the problem is that political work often isn't appreciated until after the movement has had its effect on society? Do you have any current fiction writers in mind that you think might have a great effect once the world is ready to handle them? Great point, Lizzie. Coming from the nonfiction side of things– I guess political writing is a lot more obvious to spot. I have to say some of my favorites are still classic writers like Thoreau and Emerson who fully embodied their political “agendas.” Perhaps part of the problem is that political work often isn’t appreciated until after the movement has had its effect on society? Do you have any current fiction writers in mind that you think might have a great effect once the world is ready to handle them?

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