Not to sound shallow, but honestly, I look for a known name ot two.
everynametaken Send a noteboard - 23/12/2009 04:15:45 AM
Although I am well-aware that fiction anthologies of all stripes are rarely discussed here, I thought perhaps it'd be interesting to hear opinions about what constitutes a good fiction anthology. As my sig line states, I've agreed to work with the Best American Fantasy anthology series (starting with vol. 4, tentative date being mid-2011, with more information forthcoming). Needless to say, how to structure an anthology (in this particular case, a reprint anthology) and make it appealing to a large group of readers has been on my mind recently.
So, for those of you who have read an anthology or who might if persuaded, what do you look for in an anthology (interconnecting stories, particular types of stories told, lots of commentaries by the editor(s), as little commentary from editor(s) and authors as possible, themes, etc.)?
So, for those of you who have read an anthology or who might if persuaded, what do you look for in an anthology (interconnecting stories, particular types of stories told, lots of commentaries by the editor(s), as little commentary from editor(s) and authors as possible, themes, etc.)?
I just think it is human nature to keep reading authors one likes. A well known author has the advantage because, well, he/she is known and likely to attract more lookers in the store. I honestly don't read anthologies because I really don't read that many authors. So, for instance when I had read through about half of the WoT series I saw New Spring in that one anthology and I thought "Heck, RJ - I need to read this. I grabbed it at a library but my point is still the same. If I hadn't noticed RJ I wouldn't have bothered because at the time I wasn't reading anyone else in that particular anthology. I did end up reading one or two more stories in that book but I don't remember them blowing my doors off or anything so I didn't continue with those authors or the rest of the book (plus I had to return it!)
As far as what can be added to make it more interesting? I am honestly not sure I care what an editor thinks of the story. But, I would find a commentary by the author more intriguing. It always helps when reading a story to know what the author was trying to get across or how the author came to develop the story. I never looked at Misery the same again after I read that it was actually a story about Stephen King's cocaine addiction. It didn't diminish my own interpretation but it added to the story and gave me another view of it that I never would have guessed. I like when the author explains something that adds to the background of the tale.
But wine was the great assassin of both tradition and propriety...
-Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
-Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
Anthologies
22/12/2009 11:12:37 PM
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Hey Lars...
22/12/2009 11:27:06 PM
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Thanks for the thoughts, Cat Boy
23/12/2009 12:54:48 AM
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Anthologies are like mix CDs. I don't really like them.
23/12/2009 03:39:12 AM
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I'm curious - do you read many short stories these days?
23/12/2009 08:32:14 AM
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Honestly, not many. But when I do, I prefer for them to be in a single-author collection.
23/12/2009 11:36:02 PM
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But some authors write such widely-ranging narratives that some anthologies are more unified
24/12/2009 02:17:58 AM
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Not to sound shallow, but honestly, I look for a known name ot two.
23/12/2009 04:15:45 AM
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