"John Gardner was famous for his generosity to young writers, and (this book) is his . . . gift to them. The Art of Fiction will fascinate anyone interested in how fiction gets put together. For the young writer, it will become a necessary handbook, a stern judge, an encouraging friend."--The New York Times Book Review.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
"The writer who can't distinguish truth from a peanut butter sandwich can never write good fiction.":
This is one of those books that I liked because of its digressions, rather than in spite of them. Gardner has a formidable voice, and the occasionally wandering structure is bound together by the strictness of his tone. As I read, I could imagine him sitting in front of me-- rubbing his hands and paging through his notes as he spoke. I have the distinct feeling that he would not quite have approved of me. Or most people for that matter. Somewhere amidst all the detail about writing, there are some... more info
Target Audience: Literary Writers, But Genre Can Gain Too:
John Gardner let's you know in his preface that he is writing this book for the serious writer (who he defines as the literary writer), so my fellow sci fi and fantasy writers (genre), we are not his target audience. However, that does not mean we can not learn from him. I do not recommend this to the writer who is beginning their journey. By beginning, I mean who has never written a novel-length manuscript (unpublished of course) or at least a novella. I think Gardner presents too much detail and too... more info
Vividness, Psychic Distance, and Word Rhythms:
After finishing this book, I had mixed feelings. I liked how it helped integrate three quality concepts into my writing (mentioned in title), but at the same time, I felt like Gardner's audience was only white male MFA (masters of fine arts) students. I had only read about half the classic literature works used as references, and of those, I hated several (notably the works of Faulkner). Gardner mentions novels a modern editor would be horrified at as 'shining examples.' "The Art of Fiction" succeeds... more info
A Brilliant Teacher:
In my opinion, The Art of Fiction is both a stellar example of good writing and a highly encouraging tome on the art of fiction. Gardner's language usage and word flow is worth the cost of it alone. In reading it, you recognize it is more of a philosophical look at the art of writing than it is a nuts-and-bolts piece on the craft of writing. This book does not delve into as many ABC's or 1-2-3's as other how-to books concerning fiction writing. It aspires more to the abstract process of story within... more info
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