----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 1:15 AM Subject: Re: [rehfans] Is this REH group still working?? ...
> Im not sure that it is necessary to capture Howards prose style to write a > good Conan novel. So long as one gets the facts straight from Howards > writings and one is not incongruous to his published works, it seems to me > that it is just as if another person had seen Conan in his wanderings and > told the story in their own way. I see the difference, i just dont mind much > that they are in another writers style unless i feel from the story something > such as "Conan would never say that! This is incongrous with Howards > character!" So far they are still an enjoyable read for the most part unless > thay just screw up all the time. A writer should be true to his own style. De Camp is really the one who tried to capture Howard's verve. However, you hit the nail, INCONGRUOUS! These pastiches, even those of de Camp and Carter, let alone Jordan et al., are completely incongruous with the Hyborian world REH created. That is what is so obvious. Forget the basic tale, whether good or bad and the writing style, just look at the descriptions and names and actions of the characters. It just ain't Howard, not that anyone should really expect it. De Camp went to great lengths to study and dissect Howard and imitate his style but he was not capable of writing like Howard, no matter how much he understood the structure. Scotty Henderson
