The Issue At Hand
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- Synopsis
- FOR SEVERAL YEARS, hiding under a cloak of anonymity, the most penetrating critic of the field of magazine science fiction was known as "William Atheling, Jr." It soon became a challenge to guess his real identity. And that was no easy game, for Atheling's dissection did not spare even his other ego, the noted science-fiction writer James Blish. Having shed his protective covering, Mr. Blish has assembled many of the Atheling papers and edited them into the present book. It covers principally the science-fiction magazines from 1952 to 1963, and is virtually a text for would-be writers of science fiction. Nor is its value limited to that genre; the rules of good writing are universal, and Atheling's critiques are not restricted to the peculiarities and special interests of science fiction. The essays take the aspiring authors and editors--the Heinleins and Campbells of tomorrow--by the hand and lead them painstakingly through the dense forests of "said-bookism," the treacherous moors of "repetitive phrasing," and other forbidden territories. And even an old hand or three will find cause to wonder and reflect, and perhaps even to re-evaluate professional skills too long taken for granted. No subject is too sacred or taboo for Atheling's shredding typewriter; from sex to God, from religion to satirical poetry. No author, however fragile, is spared the bloody mark of his relentless lash; from Anderson to Heinlein to Zirul... and all stops in between. No editor or publisher, from Campbell to Columbia, is spared his--or its--due share of any responsibility. But most important, The Issue at Hand is not just --or even primarily--a textbook for students of writing. It is a vastly entertaining collection in its own right, affording many hours of pleasant and informative reading and re-reading, urging the reader ahead with the wry comments, unexpected humor, and undeviating attention to standards that were the hallmarks of William Atheling, Jr.
- Copyright:
- 1964
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Excellent
- Book Size:
- 124 Pages
- ISBN-13:
- 9780911682090
- Publisher:
- N/A
- Date of Addition:
- 11/25/03
- Copyrighted By:
- James Blish
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Literature and Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Language Arts
- Submitted By:
- Snehali (Holly) Marimuthu
- Proofread By:
- Snehali (Holly) Marimuthu
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.