SP 2017 General Questions

[Karin]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "Wouldn't anything from India and the Middle East that is listed on the Western Canon also count for non-western?"

Not necessarily."

So, we'd need to ask separately? Okay, what about the Qu'ran and the Bible? Both are on the Western Canon, but both were written in the middle east by people of those countries and are very middle eastern in culture, manners and customs, figures of speech, etc.

I realize now that I'd forgotten about citizenship of the authors, for one thing--a foreigner living in India could still be an author from a western counry.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Karin wrote: " Okay, what about the Qu'ran and the Bible?"

Both have Anonymous authors and do not qualify as nonwestern.

[Karin]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: " Okay, what about the Qu'ran and the Bible?"

Both have Anonymous authors and do not qualify as nonwestern."

Okay, thanks.

[Anika]

I'm just hoping to find some clarity on this question before I go posting it (because I really think I might be overthinking it):

I know we're allowed one rollover book as long as we've read less than half of it before the challenge starts (in this case, I was 45% through Norse Mythology and plan to use that for 20.10).

I had also started St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves before the challenge started, but had only read the first story in the collection.
I'm going to have to re-read that first story again because I don't really remember it and will need to refresh (and finish the rest of the book) before we discuss it at my book club this weekend. Since I'll be reading the entire book after March 1, can I claim it for the challenge even though I technically "started" it before the challenge began?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Anika wrote: "I'm just hoping to find some clarity on this question before I go posting it (because I really think I might be overthinking it):

I know we're allowed one rollover book as long as we've read less ..."

Yes, on the technicality. I'm sure all our members congratulate you on your honesty!

[Karin]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I'm sure all our members congratulate you on your honesty."

I do congratulate you :), because I am already not going to use a book I was 1/3 of the way through since I had started another one I want to use here. I am going to use the one that will help me the most.

[Anika]

Karin wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I'm sure all our members congratulate you on your honesty."

I do congratulate you :), because I am already not going to use a book I was 1/3 of the way through since I h..."

I'm just glad that I was only one story into the collection--that was easy enough to re-read...if I'd been 1/3 of the way through the book, I'd probably have just scrapped it (in terms of the challenge), too! Especially if it was a hefty tome which, if memory serves, is what you're focusing on this year...

[Sam]

I'm looking at a book for the anthology task that was edited by Neil Gaiman but contains a slew of different authors. I'm about 95% sure I've asked this before but I can't remember the answer, but in a case like that does the editor count as primary author or would the volume just not work for combo points at all unless all authors qualified?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sam wrote: "I'm about 95% sure I've asked this before but I can't remember the answer, but in a case like that does the editor count as primary author or would the volume just not work for combo points at all unless all authors qualified? "

From the FAQ:

For author-based tasks, how are books with multiple authors treated?
The primary author (the author listed first on the cover) must qualify for the task for the book to be eligible.

I'm currently reading an anthology of short fiction for one of the tasks. Some of the authors included and some of the stories qualify for some other tasks. Is it OK to claim combo points for those individual stories?
No. Unless stated otherwise, books qualify for tasks and style points on an all-or-nothing basis.


So. If Neil Gaiman is listed first in the GR record - and he should be as editor - the book would qualify for the task and any combos for which he qualifies, but not for any only the included authors qualify.

And thanks for asking, Sam, because this is one I always have trouble remembering exactly, and it's helpful to have to go look it up!

[Sam]

Great, thanks for clarifying! I had checked the FAQs but I couldn't remember if first named author/edition overrode the "all authors must qualify" part or the other way around. :)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sam wrote: "Great, thanks for clarifying! I had checked the FAQs but I couldn't remember if first named author/edition overrode the "all authors must qualify" part or the other way around. :)"

Yeah, they appear to be conflicting. It's that you can't pick and choose among the secondary author(s) to qualify for tasks/styles and bypass the primary author.

[Sam]

Makes sense :) Thanks again!

[Valerie]

I see on 'the canon' list that H G Wells entry is "The Science Fiction novels".

Can I assume The Invisible Man is eligible for canon points then?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Valerie wrote: "I see on 'the canon' list that H G Wells entry is "The Science Fiction novels".

Can I assume The Invisible Man is eligible for canon points then?"

Yes.

[Bea]

Elizabeth, would the same thinking hold true for The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling? His list in the canon does not specifically mention these books but it does say "Collected Stories", which would describe The Jungle Books - a collection of poems and stories.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Bea wrote: "Elizabeth, would the same thinking hold true for The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling? His list in the canon does not specifically mention these books but it does say "Collected Stories", which woul..."

Yes.

[Bea]

Thanks.

[Ed]

Is Arthur Conan Doyle really not on the Western Canon...or am I just missing him somehow?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "Is Arthur Conan Doyle really not on the Western Canon...or am I just missing him somehow?"

Nope. Not there. Bloom says in his Part B

From this list onward, many good writers who are not quite central are omitted....

and he also says at the beginning Part D, which begins at 1900:

"I am not as confident about this list as the first three. Cultural prophecy is always a mug's game. Not all of the works here can prove to be canonical; literary overpopulation is a hazard to many among them. But I have neither excluded nor included on the basis of cultural politics of any kind."

Bloom was interviewed about this list and prefers not to discuss it. There are books both included and omitted over which many have argued. The list is no way perfect as to a true Western Canon of Literature, just the best available.

[Ed]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Is Arthur Conan Doyle really not on the Western Canon...or am I just missing him somehow?"

Nope. Not there. Bloom says in his Part B

From this list onward, many good writers who are n..."

ok...thanks. I was surprised to see that he isn't on the list of English short story writers either.

[Bea]

I am looking at Rudyard Kipling. He was born in India, which is in Asia. However, I am thinking he probably was a British citizen, thus discounting him as a non-western writer. Ruling?

Nevermind...Wikipedia states he was a British citizen by nationality.

[Nick]

Hi Moderators,

I am looking at the point totals as of message 287. I appear to have 5 less points on the point totals list than on my calculations.

In message 194 I claimed 5 "Not a novel" points for Out There. Do these not count for some reason, or have I miscalculated?

Thanks

[Karin]

Elizabeth--I knew that about Earth Star (y/a), but since I wasn't originally planning to finish it in time, totally forgot about that part when I posted it.

Summer was a lot of fun, but I do have to say that I'm not going to miss looking for those long titles with specific centuries, etc, that aren't really long :).
Thanks to our mods for a great season!