In Which a Morlock Chides Me

A reader with the somewhat dark name of Schwartz takes me to task:

(Quoting me): ” I think it sad that Mr Stross has decided, not for the first time, to insult me publicly, when I have never said a harsh word against him, nor treated him with anything but respect, nor am I likely to change that policy.”

When you are on the public record decrying large portions of the world as “Morlocks”, you do not then get to claim that “you’ve never said a harsh word against” someone who feels he fits in with the people you decry.

I ask you, in your own conscience, do you honestly believe you wrote three of the five best novellas published this year? If so, I am stunned by your arrogance. If not, I ask you to pick one, and decline the other two nominations; let other deserving candidates appear on the ballot.

Because all you are doing is proving that yes, yelling loud and organizing can overwhelm people trying to make individual decisions; and that is a point far too often proven in our history as human beings.

My reply:

Logic. If I call those who act like Morlocks ‘Morlocks’ but do not say ‘And Mr Stross is one such’ nor imply it, nor direct any contumely against him, then, no, sir, I do indeed get to claim what I have claimed, for the simple reason that it is the simple truth.

But for you to use this as an excuse to justify Mr Stross’ bad manners? I complain about the world in general terms, and he calls me a lobotomy victim, and say he loathes my company. You somehow make that out as okay, or merited, or deserved.

For shame, sir. For shame.

Mr Damien Walter of the Guardian newspaper in England I called a Morlock, for so he is, and I registered no objection when he attempted, in his weak and girlish way, to insult me. Turn about is fair play, after all. But Mr Walter, even with the assistance of the Queen’s money, could not write a book to save his life, nor coin a truly ripping insult. He is a nobody, a nothing. Mr Stross is not nothing; he is a writer of solid credentials, widely admired in the field, and deservedly so. He knows how to land a blow when he insults a man. I but chide him for hitting below the belt, because it makes him look weak.

And you claim your shrill little clique of social justice freaklings is a large portion of the world? Indeed? (Ah, the happy kitten fluffs her warlike fur to make herself large!) Well, the nomination results seem not to agree with you.

As to my own opinion of my own work, I am disqualified to answer, since no author can assess his own work — which is not what the award measures.

It measures the view of the voters. They have spoken.

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Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.