4 ms·
I think you are right, and I've at times struggled to explain why I enjoy his books as much as I do. I think ultimately he leans regularly on a facet of SF that
by gbhn 10y ago
I think you are right, and I've at times struggled to explain why I enjoy his books as much as I do. I think ultimately he leans regularly on a facet of SF that in that genre, ideas and abstractions can be the equal subjects of character development. Cleverly developing an idea (e.g. mind virii) and circling back on those ideas, exploring how different facets connect in different ways, is the kind of thing one does with a human character, but can also do with an "idea character" in SF.
Obviously the craft and virtue of that kind of thing is in the relationships of the concept to other elements of the tale, both human and non-human. This I think Stephenson does very well, but I can appreciate that for someone who doesn't extend subjectivity largesse to abstractions, it can be tedious to read wikipedia-like explositions, no matter how well done. :-)
- qwertyuiop924 10y agoJust so you know, I love Stephenson. I've heard his critics complain about this, amd I'm not sure they realize it's what makes him popular.
- throwanem 10y agoJust a heads up - if you're looking for a concise way to convey this idea in future, the phrase 'high concept' captures it neatly.
- qwertyuiop924 10y agoWell, that's always nice to know. Although I don't know how many people know what it means, and I don't think it encompasses all of what makes Stephenson Stephenson, anymore than "satirical fantasy" comes close to encompassing Pratchett's Discworld's writing style.
- throwanem 10y agoCertainly not! And I hope I haven't given insult. If so, it was entirely unintentional on my part, and I apologize for my carelessness in so doing. I'll put more thought into my words next time. Don't get me wrong - I don't mean to say that all of Stephenson can be encompassed in those two words. Were that the case, he wouldn't have had to spend time writing books. I mean only that, if you're looking for a handy way to convey a primacy of idea over character in what an author chooses to explore, "high concept" is an adjectival phrase commonly understood to carry that meaning. Might save you some time, is all. (And, on the Internet of 2016, a dictionary is never far away...)
- 1propionyl 10y agoAh but you see my adjectives are better...
- qwertyuiop924 10y agoNo insult given. Your suggestion of high concept is entirely reasonable.
- Animats 10y agoDon't say that. It's the kiss of death in Hollywood.
- throwanem 10y agoHappily, this is not a problem I have.
- wtracy 10y ago>explositions I'm not sure if that was intended or not, but it seems appropriate.