Author Archives: Robert Pritchard
Begging the Question
We call a story good because of what is written, not who wrote it. But sometimes people invert the relationship—i.e., we believe a story must be good because a particular name is attached to it. In “A Legend in His Own Mind” (The New Yorker, Dec. 22 & 29, 1997, pp. 54-65), John Walsh reports … Continue reading
Annals of Superhuman Persistence, Vol IV: Veronica Roth
On March 31, 2010, 21-year-old Veronica Roth wrote a blog post titled “You + $$$ = ?” Two weeks later, Roth sold her first book, a dystopian YA novel about a society segregated by moral virtues and a girl who doesn’t fit in. “I was in Psych learning about exposure therapy,” she recalls. She started … Continue reading
Annals of Superhuman Persistence, Vol. III: Samantha Shannon
21-Year-Old Novelist Samantha Shannon on Her Debut, The Bone Season Samantha Shannon’s “inspiration for The Bone Season, the ambitious first novel in a projected seven-part series to be published by Bloomsbury, came from an internship with literary agent David Godwin the summer after her first year at Oxford.
Trailer
Fade in on an office building at sunset. Mournful music plays. Cut to interior of the building as the white collar workers leave. One turns back on the threshold and calls, “See you in the morning, John.” Cut to John, late twenties, All-American looks, clean-shaven but with a lock of hair falling over his forehead, … Continue reading
Conceptual Art Thief
Today, I can confidently state that I am the greatest conceptual art thief in the world. I have perpetrated dozens of elaborate heists, stealing many of the most valuable works of 20th century art, and not only have I never been caught, but nobody has ever even found out my crimes had ever taken place. … Continue reading
Andre’s Law
ANDRE: “You see, I think that people today are so deeply asleep that unless, you know, you’re putting on those sort of superficial plays that just help your audience to sleep more comfortably, it’s very hard to know what to do in the theater. ‘Cause, you see, I think that if you put on serious … Continue reading
Pritchard’s Law (Updated Feb. 2, 2015 w/ Proof)
Pritchard’s Law says, in one (narrow) application, there will be an inverse relationship between the amount of plot per page in a novel and the quality of its prose. The more plot, the worse prose. Below are passages from various novels quoted by James Wood in The New Yorker. He specifically singled out these passages … Continue reading
Annals of Superhuman Persistence: Vol. II: Hugh Howey
Four years ago, he decided to give writing a shot. He and his wife were living in a 750-square foot house in Boone, N.C. He was unemployed; his wife was working as a psychologist. He had an idea for a story about a young spaceship pilot who travels across the galaxy in search of her … Continue reading
Objet Trouvé: Diminished Nerve House with a Assuredness Pool
Big Rock is an attribute of 140 acres two hours drive from Sydney. This has been set up next to Edward Szewczyk, an Australian designer Polska comply. That is, underestimated complicated complicated, knives home is the goal of any owner and their acquaintances rocking the city.
Annals of Superhuman Persistence: Vol. I: Barry Malzberg
from Down Here in the Dream Quarter, Doubleday, New York, 1976 pp. xvi-xxi My first piece, written in 12/65 My second written three months later My third SF piece, written in September My fourth was written in 11/66. Campbell told my agent