Novels are dying - again!

Maxinquaye · Dec 5, 2009

I don't know what it is with the Guardian. They certainly obsess a lot on the theme that NOVELS ARE DYING!

Last time it was about Novels being supplanted by Essays. Now it's Kindles that will do in not just novels, but writing itself.

For the time being the Kindles and the rest are standalone devices, but it will surely not be long before they and the thousands of books they contain are bundled up with all the other must-have applications into a single computer which will mediate our lives: more undifferentiated text to match our own mood. "Technologies," Sherry Turkle points out, "are never just tools, they are evocative objects. They cause us to see ourselves, and our world, differently." Will anyone who is "always on" have the concentration to read the great social novels – those ultimate "interactions" with the world – on a screen? Will anyone be able to see far enough beyond themselves to write one?

I wish they'd make up their minds. Or am I reading them wrong? Maybe the future is belonging to Zadie Smith's essays, on kindles? I, for one, am not sure I welcome our Kindle-based essay overlords.

Sigh.

JamieFord · Dec 5, 2009

Novels aren't going anywhere.

There's a renaissance in YA going on right now that is beautiful to behold. And not just J.K. Rowling and the vampire books, but writers like Suzanne Collins, Sara Dessen, Scott Westerfeld, Laurie Halse Anderson, the list goes on...

When I was on tour, media folks kept gushing about the amazing influx of touring YA authors, huge crowds, adult readers of YA, etc.

I'm an optimist. I see an incredible generation of new readers heading to bookstores (online or otherwise) for a very long time.

Albannach · Dec 5, 2009

Best solution is never to read The Guardian. That solves that problem since even they often have NO clue what they mean--not to mention that I despise their political agenda so that may influence me. LOL

swvaughn · Dec 5, 2009

That's right. Every modern author, just like Don DeLillo, must use a typewriter in order to pen great literary works. None of us have actually evolved to using a computer, or are personally interested in having our books released in ebook format, or know anything at all about modern technology.

Myself, I write on stone tablets with a hammer and chisel.

jennontheisland · Dec 5, 2009

Doom, gloom, blah, blah, blah.

Next.

James D. Macdonald · Dec 5, 2009

sonya bateman said:
Myself, I write on stone tablets with a hammer and chisel.

Hammer and chisel! You kids don't know how easy you have it! When I was growing up we had to write on stone tablets with a hammer and codfish! Do you have any idea how hard it is to carve stone with a codfish? I would have sold my granny for a chisel! We used codfish and we were happy to have 'em!

Deleted member 42 · Dec 5, 2009

James D. Macdonald said:
We used codfish and we were happy to have 'em!

'Course, back then, novels were organic. Not like this modern stuff.

blacbird · Dec 5, 2009

All the novels I've written have died. Short stories too, for that matter. What's newsworthy about this article?

caw

colealpaugh · Dec 5, 2009

James D. Macdonald said:
When I was growing up we had to write on stone tablets with a hammer and codfish!

Whilst wearing codpiece?

Albannach · Dec 5, 2009

You might want to be careful carrying codfish. I understand they are the weapon of choice of Icelandic terrorists. Probably get you arrested in the UK.

Maxinquaye · Dec 5, 2009

colealpaugh said:
Whilst wearing codpiece?

Uncle Jim is from Iceland?

scarletpeaches · Dec 5, 2009

Medievalist said:
'Course, back then, novels were organic. Not like this modern stuff.

Mine are totally orga-

Oh, wait. Organic? Sorry, I'm in the wrong forum again.

colealpaugh · Dec 5, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
Uncle Jim is from Iceland?

France. Duh. See the beard?

Wayne K · Dec 5, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Mine are totally orga-

Oh, wait. Organic? Sorry, I'm in the wrong forum again.

One in every crowd.

Wayne K · Dec 5, 2009

colealpaugh said:
France. Duh. See the beard?

Where's his cone head then?

maxmordon · Dec 5, 2009

What about Frankenstein? Um?

colealpaugh · Dec 5, 2009

Wayne K said:
Where's his cone head then?

Dammit.

Deleted member 42 · Dec 5, 2009

Wayne K said:
One in every crowd.

Not for women; ours are in multiples.

scarletpeaches · Dec 5, 2009

Medievalist said:
Not for women; ours are in multiples.

Ba-doom TISH!

Thank you very much; you've been a wonderful audience. Medi and SP - we're here all week.

Try the veal!

colealpaugh · Dec 5, 2009

"Will anyone who is "always on" have the concentration to read the great social novels – those ultimate "interactions" with the world – on a screen? Will anyone be able to see far enough beyond themselves to write one?"

By that logic, will anyone have the concentration to study theoretical physics and Gray's Anatomy? We're headed to a future with no space travel and untreated sores.

Caitlin Black · Dec 5, 2009

"We're headed to a future with no space travel and untreated sores."

No, all we have to do is invent a way of sustaining life indefinitely so that the people who existed before the Kindle can keep us on track. Then we can all bitch about the new generations who don't know a tree from goose liver, who have a USB port in their temple, and who will one day invent the Matrix.

Bookewyrme · Dec 5, 2009

colealpaugh said:
"Will anyone who is "always on" have the concentration to read the great social novels – those ultimate "interactions" with the world – on a screen? Will anyone be able to see far enough beyond themselves to write one?"

By that logic, will anyone have the concentration to study theoretical physics and Gray's Anatomy? We're headed to a future with no space travel and untreated sores.

But the important thing is the NOVELS, man! I mean, untreated sores are one thing, but no novels are a total catastrophy! And of course, in the future, all the old books will be burned to make way for new technology.

*sigh*

Kweei · Dec 5, 2009

Wow, novels sure do die a lot it seems.

Does that mean we can get zombie novels?

Wayne K · Dec 5, 2009

Undead books?

swvaughn · Dec 5, 2009

James D. Macdonald said:
Hammer and chisel! You kids don't know how easy you have it! When I was growing up we had to write on stone tablets with a hammer and codfish! Do you have any idea how hard it is to carve stone with a codfish? I would have sold my granny for a chisel! We used codfish and we were happy to have 'em!

I'll trade you my chisel for your granny...

You can keep the codfish, though. I've got sardines.

Novels are dying - again!

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Deleted member 42

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