MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - The Importance of Being Ernest (or even someone else)

montsnmags · 03-08-2009, 09:05 PM

I have no problems with pseudonyms, especially if they help an author experiment beyond the confines of expectations from previous works. Whether this is transparent or not...no, it still doesn't bother me, unless I am a significant fan of a writer and would like to know, simply from a desire for completeness on my "read everything by..." list. I like how Iain Banks very slightly alters his name on his books, dependant on content, as it helps with expectations (and I like his work both without and without the "M.").

For me, I'd possibly use a pseudonym if only to avoid the possibility of being confused for either a well-known bookie/sports handicapper, or someone responsible for a few appalling movies, in the latter case, likely to the of annoyance of both his fans and detractors.

Cheers,
Marc

03-08-2009, 09:05 PM	#7
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I have no problems with pseudonyms, especially if they help an author experiment beyond the confines of expectations from previous works. Whether this is transparent or not...no, it still doesn't bother me, unless I am a significant fan of a writer and would like to know, simply from a desire for completeness on my "read everything by..." list. I like how Iain Banks very slightly alters his name on his books, dependant on content, as it helps with expectations (and I like his work both without and without the "M."). For me, I'd possibly use a pseudonym if only to avoid the possibility of being confused for either a well-known bookie/sports handicapper, or someone responsible for a few appalling movies, in the latter case, likely to the of annoyance of both his fans and detractors. Cheers, Marc