16 posts tagged “books”

Before I discovered Literature with a capital L at the age of - 15? 16? I don't really remember probably 15- I was reading a lot of science fiction. Most names I already forgot except for Asimov and other big shots, but there were several authors in the sci-fi field I was really fond of around the age 12-14. I didn't read that much of fantasy, though I recall reading, Lord of the Rings naturally, and the Dragon Lance chronicles by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman, and Elric saga by Michael Moorcock (Can't remember the exact name for that series that features Elric the albino prince and Stormbringer, one of the most memorable magical sword ever imagined).

I'm reading this fascinating book called "The Black Swan", written by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. This is one of those books that defy easy categorization, and its charm lies in such 'one of a kind' status.

This novel is more like fictionalized biography of two people connected through blood; a grandmother and her grandson, although they never knew each other.

"There are only two kinds of people in the world; you are either a voyeur or an exhibitionist."

"Turn down the daily noise and at first there is the relief of silence. And then, very quietly, as quiet as light, meaning returns. Words are the part of silence that can be spoken."

"Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not understood."

Usually, I don't like authors who kind of ramble on. I love well-thought out structures and simplicity in choice of words. I also suspect the authors who only write about their own lives may not have the real talent of making up good stories out of thin air (I realize every author takes her own life as material, and their lives will always be a part of their works, but you know what I mean).

So I feel a bit irritated to read Henry Miller (although I think Marguerite Duras is a fantastic writer- she did write a lot about her own life, but she manages to filter it down to create a good fiction). He clearly has a lot of talent, he's funny and describes things in very original way. But overall impression I get is that he probably won't end up on my list of favorite writers (funny as Anais Nin, his muse, mentor, lover and sexual obession, will be on it).
For me, Henry Miller is emotional even when writing rationally about his telegraph company job or whatever; Anais Nin is rational even when writing about the most intimate details of her hyperactive sex life. Her diaries see life, her own and in general, in cold, detached observation. And her style suits me better. I'm not saying Miller is a bad writer, I am enjoying reading him, but I keep finding myself wishing he wrote a bit more like his muse.

I didn't realize this, but apparently there's been this renaissance going on for SF novels in the U.S. and the U.K. New generation space opera and all that. I would have to dig into this, there are several very interesting looking books out there! (^o^)

And playing EVE Online, I noticed certain things that Sci-Fi movies and games (and tv shows like Stargate) kind of "cheat", or I think are inaccurate in terms of science. I could be wrong as I've never been good with physics, math and so on, but for example, there should be no audible sound in space- so all the laser weapon making "Whew" noise when it's fired, won't actually happen in space (when mankind will actually have energy weapons and some adversaries to shoot at, that is). Also, since there's no gravity, mass doesn't count when you think your velocity, right? In that view it's not correct that Millenium Falcon can move faster than Super Star Destroyer just because it's smaller. I had some weird feeling in EVE Online when I saw a big mineral-digging vessel did quick 180 degree turn and warp away, but from that point of view it's probably more accurate than in most movies.

Maybe it's just me, but every time I see different races in universe meeting for the first time but start speaking in the same language the moment they open their mouths (always English), it feels a bit weird unless there's an explanation for that in the setting (in StarTrek, for example, you can imagine that they are actually speaking in the common language of the Federation for the ease of communication; but in Stargate: Atlantis, these Earthnoids are jumping into a different galaxy and meeting people who had absolutely nothing to do with the Earth- shouldn't there be some explanation as to why they can communicate in the same language? How could Wraith speak the language of these off-world people? I understand the production necessity, just give me a good explanation!).

In Japan, it's relatively easy for a new writer to be published, but not easy to make a living out of it.
There are quite a lot of literary contests and such that anyone can participate in, so your chance of getting discovered is not so bad. On the other hand, considering declining number of population and even more steep decline in the number of reading population, the prize money for the literary contest through which you are discovered could be the biggest money you would ever earn. Selling half a million copies will be considered a really big hit. And only a handful of authors are translated into foreign markets (which is not the case with Manga, as you may know. Strangely, the popularity of Manga/Anime is in decline in Japan, although it's getting recognition outside Japan). That's why, they say, many talented writers are switching over to tv drama teleplay and screenplay world.

In English speaking world, it's apparently pretty hard for a new writer to be discovered, although (potential) market is pretty big because, well, whole lot more people speak and read English.
Clearly, first you need to get yourself an agent, the publishing houses wouldn't want to read anything not coming through them. We don't have this agent thing in Japan (although at least one dude is trying to be one), so this phenomenon is pretty curious to me. Judging from what's out there on the Internet, some people blame the existence of literary agents to today's hit-seeking publishing world; but from what I read, Henry James had one and the profession has been there since the latter half of 19th century. (On the other hand, I don't hear much about them existing in continental Europe. Do they?)

Anyway, this means I should try to get me an agent if I want the wide English speaking public to read my thing. Problem is I don't know how I can tell the bad apple (clearly there are a lot of phony ones just trying to rip people off) from the real ones. I don't think they are in Tokyo either. Well I'll keep looking into it.