I have observed several times that a reader of Poul Anderson needs a dictionary. Thus, we can learn even while enjoying action-adventure fiction - unless the school system has taught us to avoid learning like the plague?
Neil Gaiman addresses exactly this point:
Rose Walker, reading an out-of-print novel: I'm making a list of words to look up when I get home to my dictionary. Sinople. Lusk. Bloater.
Celia Cripps, reading the "lovely" Princess Daisy: That's why I like Judith Krantz, really. You don't have to look up any words with Judith Krantz.
-Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: The Kindly Ones (New York, 1996), 10, p. 22, panels 1 and 7.
Celia does not want to learn and presumably would dislike Poul Anderson intensely.
5 comments:
"Bloater" -- I remembered it was British slang, and for a foodstuff, but couldn't remember offhand if it was sausages or kippers. Then I sort of mentally snapped my fingers and got: "Bloater -- kipper; banger --sausage."
Right.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Yes, I too remember that use of "bloater," probably from reading A. Conan Doyle, Kipling, Dorothy L. Sayers', etc. I know I came across that word somewhere!
And I don't think anyone will care about Judith Krantz's books even fifty years from now if they are that shallow and simplistic!
Ad astra! Sean
My grandmother used both bloater and banger -- she grew up in Lancashire. Her family was upper-middle-class and she spoke Received Pronunciation, but she could do 'broad Lancashire' easily when she wanted to. She told me once you had to be able to, or you couldn't understand what the servants were saying... 8-).
I remember one joke about a Scotsman bargaining with a Lancashire farmer over some livestock, and expressing shock at the price demanded:
Scotsman: "Yer jokin', man!"
Lancashire farmer: "Nay, Jock, nay. Ah nivver jest on brass."
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I actually already knew "brass" was slang for money! (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
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