SRD - the writer

[Hearthcoal]

In one of his interviews, SRD says this about his writing:

You have said that when you're writing it's like you are working to a particular goal, do you ever take short cuts?

SRD: No. Why not just sit down one day, write out the ending in two sentences and spare yourself telling the story at all? Because you would lose the experience, and it is the experience that makes the ending make sense, gives it power and emotional resonance, makes it worth it. You need interaction between the process and the goal, and it wouldn't be worth writing or reading if that process were short-circuited in some way. Other writers are different: they have something different to offer. I have many friends who start at page one and discover the story. This is an enjoyable book to read, but it never focuses the way I want my stories to focus: even the best of the writers I know who work this way have other virtues to offer but they don't offer that. I aspire to it. The ideal balance in a book is that absolutely everything is aimed like a laser at the climax of the book. Despite the length of my work, I think of myself as being a very tight writer; there is actually nothing extraneous there. It may take up narrative space but it is not extraneous. That's because I am striving always to make sure that whatever I do is leading us there. I use the analogy of architecture: the structure I am building needs justifying in that particular way: any lintel or cornice or joist or roofing slate that doesn't fit that purpose must be disposed of, which is one reason we got rid of Gilden-Fire. It violated the whole narrative integrity and it wasn't necessary. It added a dimension which if it were necessary it would have been good to have it in: I really like Lord Hyrim, though Lord Shetra was a pretty nice character too and I'm always interested in the Bloodguard. It would have been nice to have that material in. But ultimately it was secondary: it was worth sacrificing in order to achieve the kind of focus I wanted the story to have.

- from an interview done in October 1991, just after the UK publication of Forbidden Knowledge.

SRD says that "the ideal balance in a book is that absolutely everything is aimed like a laser at the climax of the book."

This raises three questions in my mind:

1) Does SRD accomplish that in his writings (not just TCTC, but The Gap Series and Mordant's Need as well, not to mention The Man Who... Mysteries)?

2) Is this true of the best books that you have read? (For instance, is this true of LOTR?)

3) Are there good, even great, books that do not necessarily meet this criterion?

[aliantha]

Well, I'll tell ya, HC.... I've read plenty of writers who, once they got famous, could've used an editor who wasn't also a fan. (Tom Clancy comes immediately to mind....) And I don't think SRD has succumbed to that. One might object to his writing style (using $50 words when a 10-cent word would seem to do the trick), but he says he does that deliberately. And some complain about the voyage in the TOT seeming to be extraneous (tho I think that by the end of the 3d Chrons, the absolute necessity of that whole digression will be obvious). But other than those, I cannot think of another scene in an SRD book that could have been cut down or cut out without hurting the narrative structure. So, yeah, from that perspective, SRD writes tight.

[Nerdanel]

I think The One Tree is extremely deceptive as to the seeming pointlessness of the journey. Actually our heroes learn and acquire several things without which White Gold Wielder wouldn't have had a happy (well, reasonably happy) ending.

1. Fingail. The other half of the new Staff of Law.
2. Nom's name. Critical in defeating the Clave.
3. Meeting with the Merwives. Otherwise the Haruchai couldn't have resisted the Clave.
4. The battle with the guardian of the Isle of the One Tree. Demonstration to Covenant of how not to do with Lord Foul. The guardian most likely would have been powerless to prevent the group if he was left alone. This might have been an important germ in his mind.
5. Vain touching the One Tree. For the Staff of Law.

[Skyweir]

I voted ages ago .. but wanted to post something really thoughtful .. now I just want to post something ..

I absolutely believe that SRD is a very tight creator/author .. I agree that .. as he has claimed himself .. there is nothing within the chrons extraneous to the story .. TOT as mentioned above is the most criticised of the series for being loosely connected in style to the rest. I can only disagree with that for all the reasons Nerdanel outlines above .. TOT was imperative to the wholeness and completeness of the chrons .. and all the more interesting being a quest of the nature it was .. a seaquest .. an epic journey .. and adventure ..

"the ideal balance in a book is that absolutely everything is aimed like a laser at the climax of the book."

I think that would indeed be the ideal balance for any book .. and I am of the opinion that SRD does this .. all is aimed at the climax - the final victory against the Sunbane but particularly Foul .. the antagonist .. the creator of the evil TC is committed to dissolving.

[danlo]

The One Tree is my fav Covenant book--the most beautifully written--the most xpansive--LA, Giants, Vain in action--great, just great--I smile everytime I look @ the book!

[Skyweir]

me too!

[Lord Mhoram]

I personally think the One Tree was the best in the Second Chronicles. My favorite Covenant book period was the Power that Preserves, the One Tree was good,too.

[[Syl]]

My eye was drawn to this post...

I find it interesting that SRD said, "The ideal balance in a book is that absolutely everything is aimed like a laser at the climax of the book." Poe said something very similar about the short story.

Of all writers, I find SRD's writing style most resembles that of Poe.

[Reisheiruhime]

hmm... odd, I feel sad every time I look at TOT. I mean good greif-

Spoiler

Hergrom gets killed, Ceer gets hurt, then killed, Brinn leaves, and then, to top it all off, Seadreamer gets killed .

Still, good writing though.

[Damelon]

In TOT there is Kaseryn, the most interesting "bad guy" in the Chronicles. He's not evil for evil's own sake. He's evil because he wants to live forever, and he sold his soul to do so. He's not associated with Foul, and he wouldn't have given him the ring.