Kevin's Watch

I've just discovered THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FANTASY, with an article more than a page long on SRD: "US writer of central significance as an author of demanding and exploratory fantasy novels..."

The whole ENCYCLOPEDIA contains 33 references to SRD. I know this because Amazon told me so. I did a search using Amazon.com's new search function, which will search the entire texts of their books for the phrase you request.

There are 3983 results to a search for "Stephen R. Donaldson". I'm only on reference #45. I have two pieces to write this weekend, so I'm going to have to go at the Amazon results gradually. If anyone has more time, it will be interesting to hear what you find.

Incidentally, there is a prison reform advocate named Stephen Donaldson. Internal evidence suggests that Donaldson graduated from the prison system -- obviously a different person.

Cool, thanks Joy! I believe there is an ancient thread on the old discussion board that dealt with the differentiation of the 2 SDs--the advocate passed about 6 years ago, or so...

I have an encyclopedia of fantasy which states that 'the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is odd and pretentiously written.' Okay, at least he can write; I've lost count of how many fantasy books I've found that are poorly written.

Define odd in the Fantasy genre. Non-formula? Isn't that rather the idea?

Ur-Vile, as Captain Kirk once said, "There's no accounting for taste.".

SRD's work was probably too demanding for that person.

I'm with Joy, the word "odd" is an odd word to use when critiquing fantasy fiction. Isn't it the point for it to be "out there", "odd", "surreal", "FANTASTIC"??

I resent most critics anyway, it's like they are always looking for something to be wrong with anything and everything they critique. They put down other people's work because they resent the fact that they didn't come up with it themselves. Not all are like that, I realize that last statement may have come out predjudicial, but the majority of critics I have heard or read, be it movies, books, tv, music, etc, really have nothing good to say about anything. In fact, if the critics say something is really terrible, I'm the first in line to see that movie, or read that book. Heh

Damelon wrote:Ur-Vile, as Captain Kirk once said, "There's no accounting for taste.".

SRD's work was probably too demanding for that person.

You speak truth, Damelon.

I also speak the truth, several times a day.

Furls Fire wrote: In fact, if the critics say something is really terrible, I'm the first in line to see that movie, or read that book. Heh

I'm with you there Furls!! I usually love the movies most critics hate!