The Art of Fiction

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1958, and again in 1969, Ayn Rand gathered a small group of her friends and acquaintances and gave an informal course on writing. At once a fascinating philosophical discourse on the art of creation and an invaluable guide for the aspiring writer, these edited transcripts are a treasure that will challenge, edify, and illuminate the way to more powerful writing.

Ayn Rand discusses how a writer combines abstract ideas with concrete action and description to achieve a unity of theme, plot, characterization, and style, the four essential elements of fiction. Here, too, are Rand's illuminating analyses of passages from famous writers, rewrites of scenes from her own works, and fascinating rules for building dramatic plots and characters with depth.

Also, listen to the companion text, Ayn Rand's The Art of Nonfiction.

©2000 Estate of Ayn Rand (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Ayn Rand is a writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly." (The New York Times Book Review)

Excellent Content Presented as Only Rand Would

Rand's lecture notes. Overall, excellent, and the performance is excellent. I have not found anything off-putting in the language or tone. Quite the opposite. Rand certainly has her opinions, even strongly held, but that's expected.

Rand's perspective is that her listeners are wanting instruction on writing a work of fiction. The instruction is very practical, and a number of examples are given from her writing and that of others.

There is a lot of stuff in here that anybody who has read a few books on fiction writing will find familiar. However, it is generally presented in a rather unique way, using language, criteria, and emphasis that is totally Rand. For example, the presentation of abstraction, concretization, plot-theme, to name but a few.

At the same time there are many new insights to be had here as well. The emphasis on the underlying layers of character motivations, down to the level of philosophies, is quite good. Also, the Naturalistic vs the Romantic school that runs through the lectures is really interesting, and is something I have not found in other "how-to" books.

Of course, Rand's objectivism underlies all her thinking. The listener may want to have access to a Ayn Rand Lexicon (there is a website for that purpose) in a few cases.

I have taken quite a few notes from these lectures and feel that my understanding of the art of fiction has increased.

Recommended.

Very Interesting

Rand was certainly ahead of her time...at least as far as writing craft. She was quite sure of herself, even when her examples were lacking. However, since she taught more than she went astray, I would totally recommend reading it. Just be prepared for some zingers in terms of some of her views .

Classic clarity

Stance on everything . Refreshing and really. Helpful for writers and readers highlighting flaws and weaknesses

Learned a lot about the craft of writing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, specifically to a writer friend. There are a lot of writing techniques provided, things to think about when writing or editing. It might be considered to be the basics of writing, but these are basics that are easily and often missed by writers, skilled and not.

What did you like best about this story?

The tips on writing, how to create the best storylines and descriptions while getting rid of things that detract from what makes writing good.

What does Marguerite Gavin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A straight forwardness about the skills one needs to be a well-rounded, good writer.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How to craft dramatic scenes, how to create the best out of a plot, how to write the best descriptions. A great book to own for future references.

Any additional comments?

I didn't always agree with her absoluteness about some things, but it was mainly near the end, when telling about her personal preferences. These, she expressed as what's the best and what's not good. Being an apparent non-believer, she had strong opinions about what religious fiction writing portrays. I'd say the last half hour of the book was the least helpful. The rest, I got much out of and would listen to again.

Not worth your money or time!!!!!!

I really feel this statement ("Not worth you money or time") may be the biggest understatement of all time - I found this lady very hard to follow. I had one very small aha moment amongst an AVALANCHE OF MIND NUMBINGLY BORING LISTENING. (AND I MUST STRESS IT WAS A VERY SMALL MOMENT) This lady has a very high opinion of her own writing but if any of her long excerts that she reads out as examples are anything to go on then she's really not all that. Its up to you but I would really reccommend saving your money on this one and highly reccomment that you buy and listen to Stein on writing. A FAR SUPERIOR BOOK!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot stress this enough - FAR SUPERIOR!!!!!!!! (With Stein you will get the one small aha moment I got from Rand and many more to boot) PLUS HE WONT BORE THE PANTS OFF YOU!!!!!!

arrogant contempt for the reader

The author of this book has nothing but arrogant contempt for both the reader and her literary peers. In her opinion she has no peers or equal. It is very hard to get anything from this book unless you are true masochist.

overblown style, know-it-all and pompous writing

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Not much could help this book. It is read by a reader in a style that matches the book - a prissy accent and so many "i.e.s" instead of using "for example", that is nearly ridiculous. Ayn Rand compares herself to famous master writers, classics, cutting them down in a derogatory "holier than thou" way I find unbelievable. She also manages to get her own political views ingrained by using those particular excerpts form her writing as "good" examples.Just a terrible read (listen) that I couldn't finish. A waste of my audible credit.

Has The Art of Fiction turned you off from other books in this genre?

no, but it has certainly turned me off anything by Ayn Rand, no matter how well-known.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Marguerite Gavin?

Just about anybody not so irritating to listen to.

Didn't like it

I enjoy Ayn Rand's work, especially on audio. I have listened to Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead many times. Each of these are epic in scope (and volume, A. S. is over 50 hours!) I couldn't even finish this. I don't know if it was the narrator or the the style of the writing, which isn't strictly written as if she spoke it in a series, but from what I understood much was culled from other sources beside study groups. I waited a long time for this as it dropped from Audible for a while. It came back, I got it, and boy, do I ever regret it.

Stupendous

This book is so good for the aspiring fiction author. "Invaluable" is the most articulate word I can use for this. I have listened to this book about five or six times so far and there is no doubt that I will listen many more times.

Massive waste of time

I like Rand so I wasn't coming to this book with that frothing hostility that leftists tend to display but this was such massive waste of time, probably the worst book on writing I've ever read and I've read over 30 at this point. Trying to combine writing advice with general philosophy, it dabbles in both but does not dive deep enough in either. Not technical enough where it should be and too specific when abstraction would suffice. Too long irrelevant quotes as examples when none is needed if the explanation of the technique is sufficient. It feels like a stream of consciousness instead of a systemic presentation of the subject. I was really hoping for more from Rand; maybe her Romantic Manifesto will be better.