tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7456818260601216123.post3781598996693029623..comments2013-11-17T17:17:39.923+00:00Comments on Pointless Philosophical Asides: Where is hope and wonder?Patrick Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08483247439912550014noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7456818260601216123.post-22986486387307894632010-06-14T09:57:25.185+01:002010-06-14T09:57:25.185+01:00On reflection, I guess "stylist" refers ...On reflection, I guess "stylist" refers to that sort of writer who aspires to a certain poetical effect in the prose, while "not a sylist" means a writer who tries to communicate their ideas as clearly as possible without fussing too much.<br /><br />In practice, I find it a difficult differentiation, as all writers choose their words with deliberation, and prose style can (and does) inform the ideas of a story just as much as plain speaking. Is one harder to achieve than the other? I don't know, I think it depends what sort of person you are.<br /><br />The article I'm referring to in my OP wasn't concerned about whether PKD was a stylist or not, it simply accused him of being a bit rubbish.Patrick Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08483247439912550014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7456818260601216123.post-65367330039876171722010-06-13T11:54:04.466+01:002010-06-13T11:54:04.466+01:00Hey anonymnous thanks for dropping by. Agree or di...Hey anonymnous thanks for dropping by. Agree or disagree I'm unlikely to hunt you down and maim you, so feel free to disagree. <br /><br />On stylists, I don't really think it's a binary position. All writers aspire to some effect inherent in the prose they use, that's the way words work. If they're just aiming for the Orwellian clear pane of glass (or whatever his phrase was) that's just as much a sylistic decision that has to be worked at as that elevated dialect lots of people associate with "good writing".<br /><br />On controversy: hits are the currency of blogs. It's not even about money, it's about the debased coin of celebrity. In this particular instance surely the editors of the Guardian blogs pay attention of where the hits come: lots of hits = more gigs. Elsewhere, I am surely not the only one who obsessively checks their google analytics several times a day?<br /><br />As for myself, I'm not too good at controversy - my watery opinions are unlikely to outrage anyone.Patrick Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08483247439912550014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7456818260601216123.post-81604863688811233462010-06-11T00:31:15.500+01:002010-06-11T00:31:15.500+01:00I'm afraid I have to disagree here (good thing...I'm afraid I have to disagree here (good thing I'm anonymous!). Dick is not a stylist, whatever his other qualities (also, I doubt this generates enough controversy to make money off it).<br /><br />Now, as to the question of which science-fiction writer qualifies as a stylist, well... <br /> Wolfe? Bradbury?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com