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/lit/ - Literature

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17663528 No.17663528 [Reply] [Original]

#17 GENTLEMEN OF TASTE Edition

>We discuss science fiction, fantasy, adventure, historical, horror fiction.

Former issue: >>17654390

- What are some works of speculative fiction that shows literary merit as compared to others in the genre?

- Any academic appreciations of such works? Post links, articles, etc.

>> No.17663601

I noticed the previous threads had very few replies. is /lit/ completely disinterested in the genre?

As to your questions: I suppose the classic Verne books qualify, I guess.

>> No.17663618

>>17663601
everyone got trapped in the /sffg/ honeypot

>> No.17663655

>>17663601
c/lit/s prefer petty arguments than discussions, as far as I can understand. and lately it has turned into bakker/sanderson fangirling.

I got better sci-fi and fantasy recommendations on /tg/ than here this week, it's sad.

>> No.17663778

>>17663655
I would recommend Arthur C Clark's The City and the stars. The novel is definitely ahead of it's time when it comes to sci fi concepts.

>> No.17664025

>>17663528
Obviously Tolkien towers over the rest, but there's been a lot of appreciation for quite a few authors if you think about it, like Pratchett, Le Guin, Dick, Carroll, Stoker, Shelley, Asimov, Lem like you mentioned etc. I haven't read much literary criticism on fantasy works but when I read Clark Ashton Smith's stories frequently I also took a look here http://www.eldritchdark.com/articles/criticism/ .
Generally I believe that there's merit in those genres as a whole, and in a lot of authors' works in particular. A lot of important or interesting themes have been explored in different worlds or in a fictional place, for various reasons. A lot of works are penned in a more careful, more well-written manner and a lot of children books are very important. I understand why pulp and other fiction gets underrated as a whole, and I also understand that a lot of works are derivative or lack imagination, aren't lyrical or original, or are simply badly written however this happens with everything, and not just in literature.

>> No.17664030 [SPOILER] 
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17664030

>>17663528
I can't recommend Watership Down enough.
For it me, its ultimate proof that children's literature has more merit than YA.

>> No.17664050

>>17664025
Check out Ada Palmer, she’s going to be the next addition to the pantheon

>> No.17664632

>>17664050
Thank you, looks like she's written 3 books and her 4th is to be released this year, which concludes a series? Sounds like a good time to check Too Like The Lightning out.

>> No.17664696

>>17664050
Thanks anon, never heard of her.

>> No.17664702
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17664702

>> No.17664726

>>17664702
This looks nuts

>> No.17665474

>>17664726
Not that anon but I read it last month as part of an omnibus, it was really good. Surprisingly sad and gets you thinking, Silverberg usually digs deep into the psychology of his characters - great writer.

As far as literary merit goes, beyond the big hitters (Peake, Wolfe, etc) I always liked both Crowley and McKillip for their prose.

>> No.17665801

>>17665474
Nice, that's good. The premise of the book looks super interesting but it could really end up below expectations, good to see he can explore the characters' psych well.
McKillip is a good call, I don't see her mentioned often but she is a good writer.

>> No.17666835

>>17664702
Will read

>> No.17667035

>>17664702
Sounds based thanks anon