Great writing! I’ve read only a little of McCaffrey’s Pern books, and that was a long time ago, but this video makes me want to return at some point. Another mark of great writing is that when you encounter it, you want more.
Oh I hope you do! I've read all of the Pern books she wrote alone and a couple her son Todd co-wrote with her, before falling off (I'm not as big a fan of the direction Todd went in), and they're among my most often re-read stories. The Harper Hall trilogy in particular is wonderful... in fact I must remember to recommend them to Johanna 🤔
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy what is your sense of how 'accessible ' they are now? I fear that many younger readers would struggle, but I could be doing them a disservice.
@@ACriticalDragon Unfortunately, I have to agree with your observation at the end of the video. As a generalization, the perception of prose that will “sell” means simpler prose these days. Fortunately, there are exceptions.
Seems you didn't put that link to the publishers preview chapters that you said you would. That was very interesting break down, and those two paragraphs make me want to keep reading!
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/110310/the-dragonriders-of-pern-by-anne-mccaffrey/9780345340245/excerpt#:~:text=Rise%20the%20dragonmen%20of%20Pern,the%20wingmen%20came%20into%20sight. I will add it into the notes.
That is fascinating! I read these as a young man many turns ago. I remember enjoying them quite a bit and always had a high regard for McCaffrey's writing ability. Thanks for reminding me of these books and how good they are!
What the heck A.P.? I re-read Dragonflight only last month! As you were talking about the changes in reading accessibility though, I thought about the fact that my *first* read happened when I was eleven or twelve years old (I remember the library I borrowed it from) and being utterly enthralled by it. The idea that a series of books that I *still* consider 'beginner' fantasy accessible, being INaccessible is horrifying to me. Having read it so recently, I agree wholeheartedly that Anne McCaffrey can pack a sentence to bursting. I've even noted in my reading journal (hooray for therapists!) "I can feel the grit of sand in the air" in relation to how well sensory information is given. Then, as you were reading about the watch-wher I was reminded of the times I've taken a dog for a walk, and the strain on the lead when they pull forward so far they're choking, trying to discover the source of a scent. Wonderful as always, now I'm going to go and be sad about the notion that eleven year old girls could find these books daunting 😔.
Derri, I could be wrong about how accessible they are. I could be underestimating readers. I am, after all, a deeply cynical misanthrope. I hope that I am wrong because the Pern books are special.
The information about a Turn is provided later. The point is you can't know it after two paragraphs, but you get a sense that it is a measurement of time and refine the definition as you read more.
To add to “ten full Turns ago”… I interpreted that as turns of the planet/world. For me, “full” was added to show that it was a long time ago, vs “ten Turns ago” which could be a lot shorter. It also flagged to me that something important happened 10 Turns ago. In answer to your question of younger/newer readers, I have recently seen a post where someone was reading this book and they were complaining about what a bad writer McCaffrey was and how she used vocabulary in the wrong context as if she didn’t know what the words truely meant. Redolent was one of the words. Plenty of people commented in agreement and a small handful explained the older definition of the word. I first read McCaffrey as a teenager in the early-mid 90s. It’s sad to know that only 30 years on, many teenagers (or even people in their 20s and 30s) are struggling with what I considered easy text at the time
I read this in high school many moons ago. They were marketed as YA before that was a thing. But the vocabulary used also seems more advanced. I often did have to look up words in the dictionary.
How we define categories like YA can be strange. Is it the level of the prose? The age of the protagonist? The complexity of the story? What is being depicted? A combination of all or some of these things?
Great video AP! Regarding the last question, I would would like to point out that ebook readers are very common nowadays and they have a very quick access to the dictionary without needing to put down the device. Now, paperback readers would have a more difficult approach to that. Should writers lower the diction levels based on accessability? And what about other resources like metaphors or analogies? I am not sure what would be best.
And the dictionary function breaks up the flow of reading. Also, part of the point I was making that because of the dictionary function, people no longer practice the skill of contextual understanding as they are too used to simply clicking and getting the answer. So a combination of both those things changes the approach to and fluidity of reading.
@@ACriticalDragon as a non native speaker of english I hadn't considered that, but it makes sense. Which is the benefit of contextual understanding? I can understand that from a position of learning a new language. But when I come across a new word in my native language I tend to look it up in the dictionary, although I admit not immediately sometimes.
Plenty of 'new words' crop up in situations in which looking up the term is not possible (business meetings, conversation, lectures). Plus, the more practiced you are the less often you have to look things up because you can grasp the meaning.
This was a great video. I always wonder how people will categorize this series. Some think of it as Science Fiction, some as Fantasy and others as Science Fantasy. Either one is fine. It is a great series.
Great writing! I’ve read only a little of McCaffrey’s Pern books, and that was a long time ago, but this video makes me want to return at some point. Another mark of great writing is that when you encounter it, you want more.
Oh I hope you do! I've read all of the Pern books she wrote alone and a couple her son Todd co-wrote with her, before falling off (I'm not as big a fan of the direction Todd went in), and they're among my most often re-read stories. The Harper Hall trilogy in particular is wonderful... in fact I must remember to recommend them to Johanna 🤔
@@derrisreaditbefore I bet Johanna would enjoy them, Derri! By the way, I’m finishing Realm of the Elderlings at the beginning of January!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy That is exciting news! ... I'll be in touch. 😜
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy what is your sense of how 'accessible ' they are now?
I fear that many younger readers would struggle, but I could be doing them a disservice.
@@ACriticalDragon Unfortunately, I have to agree with your observation at the end of the video. As a generalization, the perception of prose that will “sell” means simpler prose these days. Fortunately, there are exceptions.
Haven't read her works in years and she still has magical words.
Seems you didn't put that link to the publishers preview chapters that you said you would. That was very interesting break down, and those two paragraphs make me want to keep reading!
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/110310/the-dragonriders-of-pern-by-anne-mccaffrey/9780345340245/excerpt#:~:text=Rise%20the%20dragonmen%20of%20Pern,the%20wingmen%20came%20into%20sight.
I will add it into the notes.
I love your breakdowns, and I feel like they are helping me so much in my own work and personal reading!
Less is more and you can hide more in the "less". Taking these lessons with me. Many thanks
I hope it was useful and gave you some more ideas.
That is fascinating! I read these as a young man many turns ago. I remember enjoying them quite a bit and always had a high regard for McCaffrey's writing ability. Thanks for reminding me of these books and how good they are!
The story contents may be off-putting to some, but I don't think people could reasonably argue that they aren't well written.
What the heck A.P.? I re-read Dragonflight only last month! As you were talking about the changes in reading accessibility though, I thought about the fact that my *first* read happened when I was eleven or twelve years old (I remember the library I borrowed it from) and being utterly enthralled by it. The idea that a series of books that I *still* consider 'beginner' fantasy accessible, being INaccessible is horrifying to me.
Having read it so recently, I agree wholeheartedly that Anne McCaffrey can pack a sentence to bursting. I've even noted in my reading journal (hooray for therapists!) "I can feel the grit of sand in the air" in relation to how well sensory information is given.
Then, as you were reading about the watch-wher I was reminded of the times I've taken a dog for a walk, and the strain on the lead when they pull forward so far they're choking, trying to discover the source of a scent.
Wonderful as always, now I'm going to go and be sad about the notion that eleven year old girls could find these books daunting 😔.
Derri, I could be wrong about how accessible they are. I could be underestimating readers. I am, after all, a deeply cynical misanthrope.
I hope that I am wrong because the Pern books are special.
Unhappily, not just 11 year olds. I’ve seen recent older teens and 20s-30s struggling.
Haven't read her works in years and she still has magical words.
On a side note a turn is one revolution basically one year, so 10 years ago.
The information about a Turn is provided later. The point is you can't know it after two paragraphs, but you get a sense that it is a measurement of time and refine the definition as you read more.
To add to “ten full Turns ago”…
I interpreted that as turns of the planet/world. For me, “full” was added to show that it was a long time ago, vs “ten Turns ago” which could be a lot shorter. It also flagged to me that something important happened 10 Turns ago.
In answer to your question of younger/newer readers, I have recently seen a post where someone was reading this book and they were complaining about what a bad writer McCaffrey was and how she used vocabulary in the wrong context as if she didn’t know what the words truely meant. Redolent was one of the words. Plenty of people commented in agreement and a small handful explained the older definition of the word.
I first read McCaffrey as a teenager in the early-mid 90s. It’s sad to know that only 30 years on, many teenagers (or even people in their 20s and 30s) are struggling with what I considered easy text at the time
I read this in high school many moons ago. They were marketed as YA before that was a thing. But the vocabulary used also seems more advanced. I often did have to look up words in the dictionary.
How we define categories like YA can be strange. Is it the level of the prose? The age of the protagonist? The complexity of the story? What is being depicted? A combination of all or some of these things?
Great video AP!
Regarding the last question, I would would like to point out that ebook readers are very common nowadays and they have a very quick access to the dictionary without needing to put down the device. Now, paperback readers would have a more difficult approach to that.
Should writers lower the diction levels based on accessability? And what about other resources like metaphors or analogies? I am not sure what would be best.
And the dictionary function breaks up the flow of reading.
Also, part of the point I was making that because of the dictionary function, people no longer practice the skill of contextual understanding as they are too used to simply clicking and getting the answer.
So a combination of both those things changes the approach to and fluidity of reading.
@@ACriticalDragon as a non native speaker of english I hadn't considered that, but it makes sense. Which is the benefit of contextual understanding? I can understand that from a position of learning a new language. But when I come across a new word in my native language I tend to look it up in the dictionary, although I admit not immediately sometimes.
Plenty of 'new words' crop up in situations in which looking up the term is not possible (business meetings, conversation, lectures).
Plus, the more practiced you are the less often you have to look things up because you can grasp the meaning.
alfred hitchcock the power of suggestion
This was a great video. I always wonder how people will categorize this series. Some think of it as Science Fiction, some as Fantasy and others as Science Fantasy. Either one is fine. It is a great series.
People get very worked up about genre labels, and labels in general, perhaps to an unhelpful degree. Then again, academics are even worse...