Cone Zero reviewed

[realthog]

D.F. Lewis's anthology Cone Zero, in which I have a story, has been reviewed by David Hebblethwaite (thisplacehere) over on the Serendipity site. His conclusion:

What difference does it make not knowing who wrote which of these stories? Speaking personally, I'm not sure, because I'm unfamiliar with the work of all the listed authors (bar one) anyway. However, the stories in the book are what really count, and... Well, I'm usually wary of saying things like this, but I expect to see Cone Zero on the lists of this year's best anthologies. It will richly deserve any such place.

Comments

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

I narrowed it down to two stories that I thought could be yours, Paul. And, in the story that's my first guess, there is one word (a couple of sentences before the one Jody referred to) that I've never seen another writer use, apart from you.

Coy? Moi?

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Agreed, David. The clues are there. Or else he does indeed have a doppelganger. Ironic, eh?

Did you catch one writer's use of "irregardless"? The story was a good one, but my jaw dropped when I read that particular word, which the author used twice. I do realize, though, that his/her usage was "voice", in first person narrative, which makes me think it was deliberate. How often do we readers encounter "irregardless", except in books such as Strunk & White's, The Elements of Style.

I must admit that I am unfamiliar with the other authors, and that it is Paul's story that I am attempting to ferret-out.

"The point of Oswald Masters" is also very good.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

See my note to Dave!

(Why can't LJ's software cope with the not infrequent wish to address a reply to two people, not just one? Grr!)

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Hey, P, would you feel more comfortable over all this blather about Cone Zero if I deleted some of my comments? Or if you can go in and delete them yourself, the ones you'd rather not have public, go ahead, you won't hurt my feelings. Really. Just let me know. This discussion got to be a sticky situation for you, and I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you crazy (well, at least this time I wasn't actually trying to . . .) or compromise you in any way. :)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"would you feel more comfortable over all this blather about Cone Zero if I deleted some of my comments?"

Oh, dearest J: Thanks for the thoughtfulness, but really I'm quite happy for them to stay the way they are!

Besides, I want you to be able to reread them in a few months' time . . .

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

"Besides, I want you to be able to reread them in a few months' time . . ."


Oh, so now you want me to suffer, do you?

In a few months time I will feel like that lowliest of creatures, the critic, pompous and uninformed. ;)

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

Did you catch one writer's use of "irregardless"?

No, I missed that completely. Generally, I'm hopeless at spotting typos and so on in books -- so, if I do start noticing them, I often start thinking they must be a pronounced problem in that particular text.

Paul is also the only writer in Cone Zero whose work I'm familiar with, so no more author-spotting for me, either.

Agreed on 'Oswald Masters', it's very amusing.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I think this whole conversation should be suspended until after Des announces the facts! Right now I'm in the sticky situation where I can neither confirm nor deny anything, nor -- really -- even comment on your and Dave's speculations. At that point I will quiz you seriously, J, on the matter of the literary transgressions you see in my work while also trying to find out from Dave what the hell is this word that I'm supposedly the only person who uses!

All this unsatisfiable curiosity is driving me nuts, you understand . . .

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

I understand completely our need to suspend this discussion, and will do so immediately.

As for literary transgressions, transgressions they are not, as I read these literary liberties as poetic license, and find them everywhere I go when reading. For example, Patrick McGrath uses comma splices here and there in his wonderful novel, Asylum, to emphasize imagery and concept.

Point of view narrative and voice also lend themselves to greater license, and it is in a writer's use of license, part of which is style, that I also look for clues.

You are a peerless, writer, Paul, among those who know precisely where and how to break the rules effectively and impressively.

I look forward to your quiz. ;)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

You're really quite expert at this flattery business, aren't you, J? Now, if you could only start up a correspondence course to which Pam might subscribe . . .

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

I have mastered the gift of freely expressing my affection for and admiration of those about whom I care -- and those whose company I enjoy.

Of course, unlike Pam, I don't have to live with you. ;P

And anyway, Paul, you are truly a good writer. And I ain't talkin' flattery, dude.

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

I think this whole conversation should be suspended until after Des announces the facts!

Agreed. It is pretty pointless to speculate about something that we know can't be answered for another six months or so.

All this unsatisfiable curiosity is driving me nuts, you understand . . .

And, of course, a different source of curiosity is doing the same to us!