Non-TG but still worth your attention

[Bryony Marsh]

I reckon we need to learn a lot from the ‘mainstream’ in order to write the best TG fiction that we can, so how about a thread in which we share our favourite non-TG stories.

What has influenced you?

I am endlessly fascinated by the ridiculous, as you will have noticed if you’re following my contributions to our collaborative project, Mystery on MacGuffin Island. I like things that toy with language, and deliver simple punchlines within a single sentence. I have to admit that I’m channelling the late Vivian Stanshall whenever I write something about Drusilla Spankwell and Sir Bernard Manlyman: it’s pure ‘Sir Henry at Rawlinson End’ every time.

For now, though, I wanted to share with you another influence, and that’s Joseph Heller. Author of ‘Catch 22’.

Allow me to whet your appetite with a single sentence?

“Nurse Duckett found Yossarian wonderful and was already trying to change him.”

Has anybody got some other books that they’d like to nominate for the category of “Great literature, despite the fact that no males end up wearing knickers in it”?

[Chrissy]

Derek Robinson's 'Goshawk Squadron' (with which I believe you are familiar, Ms. Marsh)

[Bryony Marsh]

Indeed. It’s been a long time, although I recently read ‘Damned Good Show’ by Derek Robinson... small world!

[Anna]

My reads are mainly Bernard Cornwell for historical stuff, Garth Nix for fantasy and Clive Cussler for adventure. For a good romance I prefer Katie Fforde (as you'd know if you'd read my books.)

[Bryony Marsh]

Ah, yes: Bernard Cornwell. Good choice! Sharpe, or others? I didn’t think much of The Starbuck Chronicles (sounds too much like an episode of Battlestar Galactica, anyway) but some of the Dark Ages stuff is good. I spend a lot of time on airliners, so a good, fat Bernard Cornwell is just about perfect.

[superhellkitten]

Ah well if you like Dark Ages stuff, then hopefully you'll like my novel which has major ties back to the Dark Ages (though it is set in present day).

[Chrissy]

Sept 20, 2017 19:21:49 GMT Bryony Marsh said:

a good, fat Bernard Cornwell is just about perfect.

A good, fat Bernard Manlyman is even better!

[Anna]

Apart from the Starbucks I have most of Cornwell's books, I think Stonehenge is my favourite, either that or Agincourt. I used to like the Last Kingdom books but the BBC have spoiled them

[lizzybennet]

As anyone who's attempted to read my epic-fail Unseen People will know I love a good bit of surrealism mixed in with reality. I'd recommend Neil Gaiman (or Gay-man as Chrissy 'hilariously' calls him) and Haruki Murakami.

My recommends would be American Gods from Gaiman (the TV show is pretty good as well) and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles for Murakami.

I'm sure I'm not the only fan of Terry Pratchett here (Bryony, I'm looking at you). But I loved his, and Douglas Adams's books as a teenager. For anyone who hasn't had the chance, my favs are Small Gods (will cure anyone of organised religion) and Going Postal (best satire of privatisation and the failure of deregulation you'll find)

Enjoy!

[superhellkitten]

Gotta say I love Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman (though I've only read a couple of his so far). I wonder why my writing is described as 'Mad as a Box of Frogs' with those influences?

[Chrissy]

Sept 21, 2017 13:30:57 GMT lizzybennet said:

I'd recommend Neil Gaiman (or Gay-man as Chrissy 'hilariously' calls him)

Typical - you make a (frightfully witty) remark once and you're "always saying it" - I can get that at home, y'know!

...my epic-fail Unseen People...

I firmly believe (and the reviews on FM back me up) that had the author(ess) shown the will to see it through, it would have been quite a success. Just saying...

[jessica]

The best I've read this year is "Mrs. Fletcher" by Tom Perrotta. The two lead characters are a single mom and her son who, as the book starts, is off to college. It's a novel about self-exploration and gender politics (both at home and on campus). He has one the best eyes and ears for characters and dialogue I've ever read. I would say that I've subconsciously tried to imitate him, but I only wish that I could come within shouting distance.

As an aside, three of his books have been made into TV series or movies - "The Leftovers," "Election" and "Little Children."

[Bryony Marsh]

I’m calling dibs on this. It’s got to be worth quoting by a strong female lead who encourages her man into femininity...

“When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out the prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.”

― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

[Chrissy]

"...oh, and here's a pair of frilly knickers to go with them."

[Tanya]

I'm not sure why I've only just found this thread as it's discussing some of my favourite authors.
Anyway, to go back to Bryony's original post, I have to say how disappointed I was with the new TV version of Catch 22. It looks great and seems to be well cast, but I can't help feeling that they've missed Heller's wonderful send up of war and capitalism. Maybe the second episode will be better...

To those of you who enjoy a good fantasy novel may I commend the Broken Earth trilogy by NK Jemisin.

smile.amazon.co.uk/Fifth-Season-Broken-WINNER-Trilogy/dp/0356508196/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+fifth+season&qid=1561635126&s=gateway&sr=8-1

I was bought the box set for a recent birthday. Normally I steer clear of trilogies, probably the last one I read was Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, so I approached this with some cynicism. However, I was gripped and read all three books on the bounce and will probably go back for a second look when I've come down from the ending. She won the Hugo award for each of the books in this series, while that's not a great indicator of whether I will like a book, it is a powerful recommendation for her writing style.
Well worth a look.


Tanya.