Comments on: Shortest Finch Review Ever: “Go Read It Now.”

By: Let’s Face It, I Suck At Titles :Blue Ink Alchemy

Let’s Face It, I Suck At Titles :Blue Ink Alchemy — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:31:21 +0000

[...] If you think fantasy is a theme and not a setting, go over here and get that idea out of your brainpan. Seriously. Chuck will chase it out with bullets or flying [...]

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:42:40 +0000

@Geoffrey –

No doubt, no doubt. Publishing is surely a big part of it, though I have to wonder: since the fantasy market is saturated with Tolkienism, surely all those books can’t be selling *that* well…?

But you’re right. A lot of companies aren’t always comfortable with risk.

– c.

By: Geoffrey Stokker

Geoffrey Stokker — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:40:16 +0000

I think the reason why Fantasy seems to be so limited and is so close to Tolkien is because of two factors:
1. While being ‘out there’ the fantasy authors also want some form of safety net where they know what is expected.
2. Publishing is a business. Agents and Publishers know that a novel along the same lines as Tolkien, CS Lewis, etc. will definitely sell where a fantasy which is so different to everything else is a huge risk because the market’s desire for that kind of story hasn’t been gauged yet.

Just a thought…

By: Will Hindmarch

Will Hindmarch — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:17:35 +0000

VanderMeer edited a great anthology called “New Weird,” too. He’s a major player in that movement (if we can call it a movement).

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:05:33 +0000

@Rob, @Fred — Manual of Detection — noted!

Awesome. Thanks, gents!

@Elissa –

Yeah, the comparison to China Mieville is apt. I will say that I think I liked Finch more than the New Crobuzon novels — which, again, I liked quite a bit. Well, the first two. Third, not so much. I feel that Finch has more control over the story, where something like Perdido Street Station is *so deeply* about setting it sometimes forgets about the story. Again, I really liked that book, so don’t think I’m trying to slap it down or anything.

- c.

By: Rob Donoghue

Rob Donoghue — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:42:04 +0000

I’m psyched you finished but of course you post when my only access is phone. I shake a fist and will talk more later.

But if Manual of Detection’s hardcover is still just ten bucks on Amazon, get it. It’s not AS good as Finch, but it’s a winner all the same.

-Rob D

By: Elissa Carey

Elissa Carey — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:04:58 +0000

I’m glad you mentioned China Mieville, because as I was reading your review, I was mentally saying, “This sounds SO MUCH like what C.M. did for New Crobuzon in his novels.”

Unsurprisingly, both he and Jeff VanderMeer are cited in Wikipedia as part of a literary movement called “New Weird”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Weird

By: Fred Hicks

Fred Hicks — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:33:34 +0000

I am reminded strongly of The Manual of Detection. You check that out yet? It might not rock you as hard as Finch, but I think it’d still tickle your bits.

http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Detection-Jedediah-Berry/dp/B002BWQ5JA/iagonet

By: Kyle Maxwell

Kyle Maxwell — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:29:24 +0000

Also: discussion of transmedia “novels”? YES PLEASE. Though I’m not sure that’s the right noun, to be honest, as that word has all sorts of connotations and attached meanings.

By: Kyle Maxwell

Kyle Maxwell — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:15:51 +0000

The best way to tell that Twendig loves this book is how, once the review gets rolling, he totally drops all pretense of profanity, as if he went beyond the f-bombs in his admiration for the novel.

I’m sold.