conform! (punctuationwise)
critics are so conformist that the least unusuality
even of mere
(yes i know youve heard all about conformity madisonavenue & indi-
the critics know not how to stop those mad fools who
hidden off in
youd think 30 years after ulysses they could stand for dashes used in an "experimental" flavor which requires such things as dashesat 1st an innovation is absurd unnecessary, used just to show off if it takes root its "experimental" if its growing, claim the noveltys worn off, its passe if it takes over, languish for the good old days. purpose of the barricade: to keep english usage exactly as it is until it withers distinguished sciencefiction hack & reviewer simak says: To compound the entire situation, the author does not believe innot true! theres not one para in the recognitions where its not clear whats dialog & what isnt the dash is looser less efficient than quotemarks cause theres no closing dash & contentdevices must be used to separate conversation from narrative that follows it in the same para but writings not engineering & the most efficient techni- cal device isnt always the best one dealing with the "unnecessary" formal problem of talk-narrative border enriches the book (since it can be dealt with, & more than dealt with, in so many ways)
the recognitions also menaces linguistic stagnation by use of a great lapses into insulting half-finished sentences (north)or psychosomaticly: endless portentous gasping conversations which read as thoughthe dialogs not like that at all north snorts, swados chokes because the characters dont always get neatly to the end of their sentences like in most novels, nor do the sentences necessarily end as the char- acters planned
the same panic & reactive anger underlie highet's more selfcontrolled he makes several of his chief personages so incoherent that theirvery funny! to smash the "experimental" without exposing fear & rage, if Authority has no access to impersonal punitive action they try humor: Is "The Recognitions" supposed to be an honest novel because ithighets "incoherent" is wrong wyatt has more dots than anyone & is the most coherent character in the book he always has some- thing definite he must say & he says it niggling about dots doesnt change that fact
after reading section ii of the recognitions try the earlier draft printed |