The Best 10 Fictional Works

[Jack Stafurik]

Hold on, y'all!

If we are looking for the "10 Best", we must start (if we are to claim any
semblance to a "scientific/technical" approach) with an agreed set of
evaluation criteria, and objective metrics to measure each. Then, we need to
develop a set of candidate literary works (where did I put my Library of
Congress?), and assess each work against each criteria. Finally, we need to
develop a relative weighting or some other approach to combine these "apples
and oranges" into a single Figure of Merit, that will determine the relative
rank. This is the pseudo-scientific approach needed for such an important
task.

To start this millennial long effort, I suggest some criteria we can add to
and flesh out:

1) Impact on our society (The Bible would likely win this one, but the Koran
would be a close second!)
2) Clarity of writing (Goodbye, Brothers K)
3) Introduction of new insights into human nature, society, etc. (Welcome
SciFi)
4) Introduction of accurate insights into human nature, etc. (Since there is
a lot of BS, ideology, and wishful thinking out there)
5) Ability to hold interest
6) Stylistic excellence (Good luck defining this)
7) Importance of ideas
8) Effectiveness in communicating ideas

I recognize there is substantial multi-collinearity (i.e., overlap) in
these; it would be good to evolve them into a more orthogonal set. So feel
free to have at it!

Jack



From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf
Of Robert J. Cordingley
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 1:45 PM
To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
Subject: [FRIAM] The Best 10 Fictional Works

  Ok, so I've decided my literary education is somewhat lacking and would
like to know this group's recommendations for the "10 Best Literary Works" I
should read.  They have to be works of fiction and available in English and
not just say of 2009 but of all time.  Google searches tend to list the best
of a year or be listed by one particular
publisher.   This is a good group to poll since you all (most) have at
least some kind of scientific/technical bent.  So I know the suggestions
will be good ones for me!

Once I have a list of all suggestions maybe I'll ask you all to vote on
them.

My list currently starts with Frank's recommendation today:

     "Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West" by Cormac McCarthy

Thanks!
Robert C.



============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

[Steve Smith]

  Trying to reduce a high-dimensional and subjective data set to a
one-dimensional well-ordered set is a fools errand.

I love hearing other's favorites and opinions of what makes a work of
fiction literature and what makes one work better than another.

I think Jack's criteria here are somewhat on mark, but I don't think
they can be objective nor can they be weighted against each other.

But I do encourage more submissions and discussions and apologize for my
harsh review of Blood Meridian...  I have to give it some good marks,
but only hold it (and Cormac) to task for getting a little too much free
mileage out of it's shock value.  (it is so bad it must be good?).

I also appreciate Pamela's distinction of loving a book and admiring it.

Carry on,
- Steve

> Hold on, y'all!
>
> If we are looking for the "10 Best", we must start (if we are to claim any
> semblance to a "scientific/technical" approach) with an agreed set of
> evaluation criteria, and objective metrics to measure each. Then, we need to
> develop a set of candidate literary works (where did I put my Library of
> Congress?), and assess each work against each criteria. Finally, we need to
> develop a relative weighting or some other approach to combine these "apples
> and oranges" into a single Figure of Merit, that will determine the relative
> rank. This is the pseudo-scientific approach needed for such an important
> task.
>
> To start this millennial long effort, I suggest some criteria we can add to
> and flesh out:
>
> 1) Impact on our society (The Bible would likely win this one, but the Koran
> would be a close second!)
> 2) Clarity of writing (Goodbye, Brothers K)
> 3) Introduction of new insights into human nature, society, etc. (Welcome
> SciFi)
> 4) Introduction of accurate insights into human nature, etc. (Since there is
> a lot of BS, ideology, and wishful thinking out there)
> 5) Ability to hold interest
> 6) Stylistic excellence (Good luck defining this)
> 7) Importance of ideas
> 8) Effectiveness in communicating ideas
>
> I recognize there is substantial multi-collinearity (i.e., overlap) in
> these; it would be good to evolve them into a more orthogonal set. So feel
> free to have at it!
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf
> Of Robert J. Cordingley
> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 1:45 PM
> To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
> Subject: [FRIAM] The Best 10 Fictional Works
>
>    Ok, so I've decided my literary education is somewhat lacking and would
> like to know this group's recommendations for the "10 Best Literary Works" I
> should read.  They have to be works of fiction and available in English and
> not just say of 2009 but of all time.  Google searches tend to list the best
> of a year or be listed by one particular
> publisher.   This is a good group to poll since you all (most) have at
> least some kind of scientific/technical bent.  So I know the suggestions
> will be good ones for me!
>
> Once I have a list of all suggestions maybe I'll ask you all to vote on
> them.
>
> My list currently starts with Frank's recommendation today:
>
>       "Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West" by Cormac McCarthy
>
> Thanks!
> Robert C.
>
>
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org