Comments for Paul Jessup

Comment on Why does most epic fantasy involve war? by jmmcdermott

jmmcdermott — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:10:01 +0000

I don’t know if this is a perfect answer, but we do live in a time when we are over-saturated with wars that don’t make sense, and it is quite comforting to discover wars that do make sense. When I think of most modern epic fantasy, I think of placebos. They are comfort pills, designed to be the sugar that ease our social hypochondria instead of our actual diseases. How comforting to be able to wrap your head around a whole war, see good and evil, and pretend like we can do that, too, when we watch the news.

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by pauljessup

pauljessup — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:55:13 +0000

Oh no, I understand. I’m just reeling from a few people who insisted on a decent sized advance for this…which struck me as strange.

Still, I’m just keeping things on the backburner, until I can throw more of myself at it.

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by Darin Bradley

Darin Bradley — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:49:53 +0000

Sometimes folks will sell a novella without their agents, since the pay is usually so low. Just gotta find the right hotbed of interest. There was a time when I would’ve thrown in my hat, but I’m just so project-exhausted these days, I’m still recovering from ’07-’09.

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by pauljessup

pauljessup — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:44:18 +0000

Trick is for me- most experimental writers I know have agents…which means the cost of doing the books goes up.

My dream idea is for an experimental writer co-op, with each writer pitching in for different projects (some doing the design, the cover art, editing, etc) and then everyone splitting the profits

But so far, no one seems to want to do that…which is understandable

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by Darin Bradley

Darin Bradley — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:38:42 +0000

I’ll buy some when you do

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by pauljessup

pauljessup — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:31:19 +0000

One of these days I’m going to start a publishing house that only publishes short experimental novellas.

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by pauljessup

pauljessup — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:30:13 +0000

right right…but it seems like so many people think that’s all experimental fiction is…sadly

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by Darin Bradley

Darin Bradley — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:29:03 +0000

Oh, yeah–formal constraints are an entirely different beast. While it’s interesting, I find it a whole different form of exploration.

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by pauljessup

pauljessup — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:25:21 +0000

Also, I hate how experimental fiction is equated with Oulipo in most people…even though they wouldn’t know the name if it bit them on the ass. They just assume Experimental Fiction is experiments about leaving out a letter or two or something along those lines. And it’s so much larger than that, so much more interesting.

Comment on Experimental Fiction & realism by pauljessup

pauljessup — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:21:49 +0000

You’re absolutely right…I don’t think it’s impossible to create a larger work of experimental fiction…but I think the end result is a different beast entirely.

Like Dhalgren and Finnegan’s Wake, I think both of these books are not meant to be read from point a to point b. Dhalgren is meant to be read (IMHO) by picking up random places and reading then putting down, picking up later. While FW is meant to be a puzzle, something to philosophize over, a work of existence in itself.

But those are rare beasts.