Most Influential Novelist...

Liam Jackson · Jul 14, 2006

A slight departure from the "Who is your favorite author" question.

Nominate the most influential novelist of the past fifty years. Let's broadly define "influential" as having inspired readers to read and writers to write.

Inkdaub · Jul 14, 2006

JRR Tolkien. Half the books you find in the fantasy section wouldn't be there if not for Tolkien. LotR inspired many a reader as well. His work has been studied pretty consistently...if to a varying degree...from around the seventies I would guess to college courses on him today. I can't think of anyone with a wider sweep of influence than Tolkien's.

danielmc · Jul 14, 2006

Damn, one of those questions that seems black and white, straightforward, but is really a big grey elephant.

Influential in terms of numbers, of getting people to read and keep reading, would have to be King, Grisham, Rowling and yeah, Tolkien.

Influential in terms of 'literary' (that dreaded term I know, sorry, can't help it), Martin Amis, Philip Roth, Kurt Vonnegut, Brett Easton Ellis. But thats just me ;-)

alleycat · Jul 14, 2006

Liam Jackson said:
Let's broadly define "influential" as having inspired readers to read and writers to write.

Using that criteria, I would have to vote for King as well. Either him, or Dr. Suess. Kind of a toss-up.

kristie911 · Jul 14, 2006

I have to throw Hemingway in the ring too. But a lot of people don't care for his work. I love it, I think he was brillant from a literary point of view. But as danielmc pointed out, in terms of readership King, Rowling, Grisham are among the greats. Whether you like their writing or not, they make people read.

Bryan Reardon · Jul 14, 2006

JD Salinger and Tolkien and King would be my votes.

Andre_Laurent · Jul 14, 2006

King gets my vote.

maestrowork · Jul 14, 2006

JK Rowling inspired a whole new generation of readers.

emeraldcite · Jul 14, 2006

I'll also have to say Stephen King. I think he's been one of the most influential writers in the past fifty. He's a true rags to riches story.

AprilBoo · Jul 14, 2006

Somebody already mentioned Philip Roth - I'm going to throw in John Updike too. Very prolific in both novels and short stories, very far reach.

PeeDee · Jul 14, 2006

Inspiring new writers? Tolkien, Rowling, King.

Inspiring new readers? Tolkien, Rowling, King.

My personal list goes on much longer, and tends to change every hour or so...

CaroGirl · Jul 14, 2006

AprilBoo said:
Somebody already mentioned Philip Roth - I'm going to throw in John Updike too. Very prolific in both novels and short stories, very far reach.

I'll call on John Updike and raise you a John Irving.

brianm · Jul 14, 2006

Grisham and Wouk, who make me strive to find the voice of the storyteller within me.

Benchley, because I read that bloomin' book Jaws on the beach when I was 17 and on holiday with my parents. I was unable to enjoy the ocean that summer and to this day still have problems swimming in it...

HeyBooBoo · Jul 14, 2006

George Orwell, Flannery O'Connor, and Ken Kesey inspired me to write.

I grew up on Aesop, Dr. Seuss, and Jean De Brunhoff.

I think readers are inspired to read whatever Stephen King, Nora Roberts, or JK Rowling write.

Homer · Jul 14, 2006

Ernest Hemingway. He wasn't necessarily one of the greatest authors of all time in my opinion; in that sense he may be overrated. But his style and method were original, and his influence has been enormous. Particularly men who write about warfare and star crossed lovers amid a beautiful landscape in far off, dangerous places can't help but hearing echos of Hemingway as they write. Two examples that come to mind are Cormac McCarthy and Mark Helprin. There are many others.

Another: Kafka, who practically invented magical realism.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 14, 2006

Writer

I think Hemingway was the most influential of the twentieth century, but he's been dead almost fifty years.

And if you're talking pure numbers, then, yeah, King, Tolkien, and Rowling.

PeeDee · Jul 14, 2006

What drives me nuts about these sort of threads is, I go down the posts and go "Oh, yeah, him, yeah, her, damn, forgot about them, arg! them too!" and then go away before I get irked.

There's just too many, and I haven't the brain capacity to calculate it all.

Sassenach · Jul 14, 2006

Based on Liam's definition, definitely King and Rowling.

blackbird · Jul 14, 2006

It really depends on the criteria by which "influential" is measured.

Stephen King and Anne Rice have been influential to me in proving that writers CAN be successful, and that one CAN have a rewarding career at this.

Sherman Alexie has been influential to me in proving that, as a Native American, we CAN be successful writers and make a difference in the way we are perceived by the world at large, through the written word (though in all fairness, he is primarily a short story writer, rather than a novelist).

Margaret Mitchell was influential to me as a child, when I realized it is possible to write a very big book that people will actually read.

maestrowork · Jul 14, 2006

King, Rowling, Tolkien... isn't it curious that they all write/wrote fantasies?

What about mainstream? Literary? Do they not have influence? What about Morrison? Hemingway (which inspired a whole new way of writing)? Capote?

Homer · Jul 14, 2006

maestrowork said:
King, Rowling, Tolkien... isn't it curious that they all write/wrote fantasies?

What about mainstream? Literary? Do they not have influence? What about Morrison? Hemingway (which inspired a whole new way of writing)? Capote?

Didn't Capote invent a genre, the non-fiction novel?

Homer · Jul 14, 2006

maestrowork said:
King, Rowling, Tolkien... isn't it curious that they all write/wrote fantasies?

What about mainstream? Literary? Do they not have influence? What about Morrison? Hemingway (which inspired a whole new way of writing)? Capote?

Salinger of course has been imitated thousands of times. The latest appears to be that novel about the kid walking around New York after his father is killed in 9/11.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 14, 2006

maestrowork said:
King, Rowling, Tolkien... isn't it curious that they all write/wrote fantasies?

What about mainstream? Literary? Do they not have influence? What about Morrison? Hemingway (which inspired a whole new way of writing)? Capote?

I think mainstream and literary writers have a lot of influence. I don't like Morrison at all, but she's certainly influences many. And during his time, no writer influenced more readers and writers than Hemingway. But if it's strictly a numbers game, and if it's the last fifty years, I have to go with King, Rowling and Tolkien. Though I don't think King writes fantasies.

Old Hack · Jul 14, 2006

I'm not sure who is the most influential writer of our time, but the writer who has influenced me the most is Doris Lessing. I bought The Golden Notebook when I was about 15 and it made me want to write. And now I do.

For those of you who like Hemingway, have you ever read any Morley Callaghan? He was in Spain with Hemingway, and was the only person ever to knock Hemingway out in a boxing match. He wrote wonderful short stories. And his son Barry used to run a fabulous small press in Toronto, Exile Editions, which he funded by being a professional gambler. Don't know if he still does... anyone?

Jamesaritchie · Jul 14, 2006

Old Hack said:
I'm not sure who is the most influential writer of our time, but the writer who has influenced me the most is Doris Lessing. I bought The Golden Notebook when I was about 15 and it made me want to write. And now I do.

For those of you who like Hemingway, have you ever read any Morley Callaghan? He was in Spain with Hemingway, and was the only person ever to knock Hemingway out in a boxing match. He wrote wonderful short stories. And his son Barry used to run a fabulous small press in Toronto, Exile Editions, which he funded by being a professional gambler. Don't know if he still does... anyone?

I've read him, but he didn't knock Hemingway out. He merely knocked him down four minutes into a three minute round, and no harm was done. Heminway was actually winning the round, but let up because Fitzgerald, who was supposed to be keeping time, let the round go on longer than it was supposed to. When Hemingway let up and got punched, he went down, but came right back up. But the moment Hemingway went down, Fitzgerald cried "Oh my God, he knocked out Hemingway!"

Then Fitzgerald said, "Oh my God, I let the round go four minutes.

Hemingway was mad, more than hurt, and told Fitzgerald[SIZE=-0] "All right, Scott, If you want to see me getting the s**t knocked out of me, just say so. Only don't say you made a mistake..." [/SIZE]

Most Influential Novelist...

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

Inkdaub

wrapped in plastic

danielmc

alleycat

Still around

kristie911

Happy to be here

Bryan Reardon

Andre_Laurent

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

emeraldcite

Art is Resistance

AprilBoo

Good to be back

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

CaroGirl

Living the dream

brianm

Brian Boru

HeyBooBoo

Homer

Jamesaritchie

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

blackbird

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Homer

Homer

Jamesaritchie

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Jamesaritchie