3 ms·
Super interesting detail and kind wild and questionable that an authors work would be substantially changed by an editor.
by rand846633 3y ago
Super interesting detail and kind wild and questionable that an authors work would be substantially changed by an editor.
- drewcoo 3y agoThat's what editors are supposed to do. And authors gaining editorial control is why so many books later in a popular author's career are worse and worse - no one able to trim them. As examples I'll pick Neal Stephenson and J.K. Rowling. Even the fans have to notice how their work has gotten bigger and sloppier.
- charles_f 3y agoTrimming the book is one thing, and I agree with you 100% on both examples. Removing the conclusion in a way that completely alters the message is another.
- stonogo 3y agoThis happened with the Heinlein book "Podkayne of Mars" -- the original ending had one character dying and another character changing course because of it. The editor thought it too heavy for a kids' book and directed a rewrite where everyone lived. Years later a new print included both endings and staged an essay contest to decide which is the "right" ending.
- gwbas1c 3y agoHonestly, Neal Stephenson's later writings are awesome. I don't think he's gotten sloppier at all.
- JohnFen 3y agoI don't know if he's gotten sloppier or just more verbose, but do find his later writings to be largely plodding and much less interesting than his earlier works. He pretty much lost me with The Baroque Cycle. Those books were a chore. But I think that has to do with the clear change in his writing style, which has diverged from my personal tastes. So it's not a judgement call on his writing either way -- we've just grown apart.
- gwbas1c 3y ago> He pretty much lost me with The Baroque Cycle. Those books were a chore. I wouldn't call those "later writings," he's written quite a few excellent (and better) books since. Anathem, Seveneves, and Fall; or, Dodge in Hell were excellent. Termination Shock was a quick read. I've since gone back and re-read Cryptonomicon. I don't know know if I'll redo the whole Baroque cycle, (Because it was so long,) but I do have fond memories. I suspect it's the kind of book that's better the 2nd time through. BTW, Fall; or, Dodge in Hell ends the Baroque Cycle. Enoch Root is in that book and we figure out what he really is.
- themadturk 3y agoI could not get through the Baroque Cycle, and hated Fall. The only other Stephenson book I've not made it through is Anathem, which I know is a heretical position to take, but I can't help it.
- FrustratedMonky 3y agoI wouldn't frame it as early versus later works. I think the Baroque Cycle was an outlier. It was long, and boring, and plodded. Early works were good, later works were good. There wasn't a phase change and later works went downhill starting with Baroque. Not everyone can bat a thousand.
- pests 3y agoThere's a quote from the author elsewhere in this thread stating he was broke and needed money and if that meant chopping off a chapter then so be it.