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Feb. 27th, 2009 10:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johnny9fingersPhilip Jose Farmer has died. He was 91. I have many of his pulp sci-fi novels, of which I suppose the Riverworld books were the most memorable. A writer of great imagination and a good deal of technique. Not quite at the top of the pantheon of Sci-Fi greats, but a significant player nevertheless.
I remember how saddened I was as an eleven year old when Tolkien died. It was announced on the telly. I'd read 'The Hobbit' at age seven and followed up with LOTR which was leant me by the librarian at my infants/junior school; and which I re-read constantly until I was about thirteen or so. I think I was lucky that my childhood was shaped by someone who could tell a story and write well, rather than let us say, Ms Rowling who, like Jeffrey Archer, can tell a story to keep children entertained.
But we are leaving the age of reading behind us. Who will need such a recondite art? The residuum of the educated will no doubt be allowed its walled fortresses to keep the proles out, but the masses will look at the pictures and point: not having the attention span to get beyond a headline, an instruction, or a demand.
Force feed 'em all Greek from age three. Beat Latin into them. Force Maths and Physics upon them with the strappado. Else we shall have poor little uneducated thugs, all of whom love their mummy, wouldn't hurt a fly, and think a Friday night's stabbing entertainment of the best kind.
And as for the argument 'But if they're all educated properly who would sweep the streets?' well, if they're all educated properly, I fucking will, and be happy to.
I remember how saddened I was as an eleven year old when Tolkien died. It was announced on the telly. I'd read 'The Hobbit' at age seven and followed up with LOTR which was leant me by the librarian at my infants/junior school; and which I re-read constantly until I was about thirteen or so. I think I was lucky that my childhood was shaped by someone who could tell a story and write well, rather than let us say, Ms Rowling who, like Jeffrey Archer, can tell a story to keep children entertained.
But we are leaving the age of reading behind us. Who will need such a recondite art? The residuum of the educated will no doubt be allowed its walled fortresses to keep the proles out, but the masses will look at the pictures and point: not having the attention span to get beyond a headline, an instruction, or a demand.
Force feed 'em all Greek from age three. Beat Latin into them. Force Maths and Physics upon them with the strappado. Else we shall have poor little uneducated thugs, all of whom love their mummy, wouldn't hurt a fly, and think a Friday night's stabbing entertainment of the best kind.
And as for the argument 'But if they're all educated properly who would sweep the streets?' well, if they're all educated properly, I fucking will, and be happy to.
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Date: 2009-02-27 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-27 01:11 pm (UTC)People only listen to those with bigger sticks, I'm afraid.
Damn damn damn.
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Date: 2009-02-27 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-27 02:10 pm (UTC)But I do wish I could reach more folk sometimes.
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Date: 2009-02-27 02:16 pm (UTC)Journalist then.
Difference between a journalist and a writer ? A journalist gets paid - often for whatever he/she writes.
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Date: 2009-02-27 08:25 pm (UTC)Being exposed to quality writing when young does give one the ability to think so much better.
I do regret Farmer's death, although his books never caught my eye. There are so few good sci-fi writers these days(And even fewer fantasy).