[ExI] Transrealism (was Re: J. Stanton)

[J. Stanton]

Damien Broderick wrote:
> J, I see some comments on the method used in writing your book THE GNOLL
> CREDO:
>
> <http://www.gnolls.org/477/on-writing-making-a-point-vs-telling-a-story/>
>
> You might be interested in the theory and practice of transrealism,
> which you seem to have independently discovered. I'd recommend my book
> TRANSREALIST FICTION except that it absurdly costs $arm&leg. Google on
> Rudy Rucker and transrealism.

(Oh, you're *that* Damien Broderick.  Excellent!)

My approach of allowing plot to flow from characterization is definitely 
shared with the Transrealists.  However, I believe there are also 
important differences between The Gnoll Credo and fiction I understand 
to be transreal: the narrator is not based on my own experience, and 
neither reality nor the perception of it is nearly as plastic as, say, 
Rudy Rucker's.

This is, in my opinion, what gives The Gnoll Credo such impact: instead 
of the transreal approach of "the world is a much stranger place than 
you think" (a valid approach, with great impact when done well), I go 
the opposite direction: "a world you originally understood to be 
fantastic is much more real than you think."  You probably already saw 
this essay, which summarizes my thoughts on that subject:
http://www.gnolls.org/97/the-difference-between-me-and-chuck-palahniuk-is-that-i-dont-pull-my-punches/

You (and Darren, who left a comment on my site) have prompted an 
interesting discussion, and I'll most likely write a full-length essay 
exploring this topic.

JS
http://www.gnolls.org

PS: One final question, which we can take off-list if it's too 
tangential: how do you consider James Tiptree, Jr. to be transrealist? 
She's one of my favorite authors, but I have a hard time lumping her in 
with Rucker and J. G. Ballard.