Realism and Other Illusions: Essays on the Craft of Fiction

by Thomas E. Kennedy

A collection of essays on the craft of fiction for both experienced and aspiring writers. This book is #25 in the Wordcraft Speculative Writers Series. Beautiful full-color cover designed by Eric Lyman.

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Thomas E. Kennedy is an author of novels, short stories, and essays. He has been a journalist for World Medical Journal and the Danish Medical Association and a translator and editor for Copenhagen's Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims and now teaches at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He lives in Copenhagen with his wife, a physician.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[William Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a writer, this is an eye-opening must-have book on the craft.

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a required text for a creative writing course, this book proved a bit disappointing. The author does have some applicable witticisms for young/aspiring/experienced writers, but seems to go off on huge rants that don't relate often. I do not regret reading the book; I found it interesting to 'listen' to another writer discuss craft, but there are definitely better books for that out there.

I had to remind myself that it's the message that matters, not the language - I'd expect an accomplished and passionate writer to at least copy-edit his work (or pay someone competent to do so) before publication. He spells Dostoevsky three different ways, for example, through the course of the book... and other such annoying things.