Author Archives: Damien Walter

Storytelling vs The Human Condition

There’s an age old conflict in the writing world. High art vs. low art. Popular culture vs. Cultural elites. Bestseller status vs. Critical acclaim. What’s the difference? Why does it matter, if it does matter? At the heart of one side of that argument is the simple idea of story. When I teach, I askContinue reading “Storytelling vs The Human Condition”

The only thing you need to do to fix the Hugos

Nothing. I’ve already noted here that the motives of those people block voting on the Hugo awards have very little to do with those awards, and everything to do with pimping up the organiser’s profile in the eyes of their reactionary, right wing audience. The Hugo block vote is an act of immense selfishness. ButContinue reading “The only thing you need to do to fix the Hugos”

What do the Moribund Mammals actually want? It’s not what you think

I imagine it is a buzz being Brad Torgersen at the moment. In a short space of time he has gone from being one among thousands of vaguely successful sci-fi writers – some stories in a few magazines, an award nomination for something or other – to the notorious leader of Sad Puppies 3 :Continue reading “What do the Moribund Mammals actually want? It’s not what you think”

Game of Thrones and Wolf Hall: fantasy and history converge

George RR Martin and Hilary Mantel’s stories come from different genres to address the same questions. The cosmetic similarities between Game of Thrones and Wolf Hall are not hard to list. Both occupy a similar period in history, soon after the fall of the Plantagenet kings (recast as the Targaryens in GoT) and the earlyContinue reading “Game of Thrones and Wolf Hall: fantasy and history converge”

But who will read Holly Lisle’s books?

Sci-fi author Holly Lisle resigns from the Science Fiction Writers of America over the *shocking* idea that the organisation might start winning funds to pay grants to writers. Because of course an additional funding stream for sci-fi writers is the Worst Imaginable Crime Ever. “Giving” grants taken from tax dollars is nothing less than theftContinue reading “But who will read Holly Lisle’s books?”

What style do you write?

Style is a little easier to observe in music than in literature. Great musicians occupy a very clear musical style. Blues. Country. Pop. Rock. Classical. Reggae. Ska. That doesn’t mean that Bob Marley never cranked out a heavy metal riff or that Slash can’t do a Reggae rhythm. But there’s something a little forced andContinue reading “What style do you write?”

Grimdark, what is it? Joe Abercrombie in discussion with Ahimsa Kerp.

Joe Abercrombie needs little introduction. He’s one of the most successful fantasy authors working today and the face of “grimdark” both for the sub-genres fans and its detractors. In this forthright interview Abercrombie attacks the concept of grimdark head on, questions fantasy fictions habit of re-writing Tolkien, and shares his thoughts on writing for youngContinue reading “Grimdark, what is it? Joe Abercrombie in discussion with Ahimsa Kerp.”

Does user generated fiction spell the end of the professional writer?

In popular genres such as sci-fi and fantasy, fan fiction based on the Wattpad model could easily disrupt the publishing industry. * For a few years in the mid 2000s, I was the young librarian who got sent to schools to convince kids they really did want to read books. The truth of my experienceContinue reading “Does user generated fiction spell the end of the professional writer?”

Frank Herbert’s Dune at 50 has life in it yet

Confusing sequels, terrible prequels and poor adaptations aside, Frank Herbert’s masterpiece still stands up as the one of the truly great sci-fi novels. I first discovered Dune through David Lynch’s 1984 film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s SF masterpiece. The “Lynchian” style, that novelist David Foster Wallace would later define as “a particular kind of ironyContinue reading “Frank Herbert’s Dune at 50 has life in it yet”

How Hollywood deleted the political message of Godzilla

An excellent guest post today from Jared Hill, a blogger living in Chicago who reads science fiction avidly, and who is also keen on sports and film.  Godzilla is among the most iconic film characters of the last century. But the big lizard’s meaning was radically altered by his move from Tokyo to Hollywood. InContinue reading “How Hollywood deleted the political message of Godzilla”