And the truth is made to be buried alive

[sovay]

The Global Network of Discovery's Literature Map passed across my friendlist, so I threw my name into it to see where it located me in its archipelago of scraped data: "The closer two writers are, the more likely someone will like both of them." It didn't seem to think I was very close to anyone, which was somewhat dismaying in its implications, but the closest were Kenneth Patchen, Li Po, and Catullus. The next closest was William Hazlitt. Somewhat farther out, we reached contemporary writers I interact with. I suspect algorithmic nonsense, but it's introduced me to Patchen's poetry.

Comments

[sholio]

I naturally plugged in Zoe Chant immediately, which only got me a couple of authors; clicking on those led to a more pleasing paranormal romance swarm. (This also strikes me as a potentially useful tool for finding comps, if one needed them.)

[sovay]

a couple of authors; clicking on those led to a more pleasing paranormal romance swarm.

Nice!

I followed Rikki Ducornet, who was the closest author in my constellation who wasn't dead (fun fact: I do not know Ducornet personally, but once I started reading her novels, I discovered my mother had known her in college), and am now part of a larger formation containing Greer Gilman, Tanith Lee, Angela Carter, Patricia McKillip, Kathe Koja, Jeff VanderMeer, John Crowley, and Mary Gentle, which makes more sense.

(This also strikes me as a potentially useful tool for finding comps, if one needed them.)

I am clearly going to have to read some Hazlitt.

[pameladean]

This is curiously compelling! I like clicking on a writer's name and watching all the other names move around; they look like people heading for their friends at a party.

You and I are near one another at Elizabeth Bear's party, but not present together at many others. At least we're here.

P.

[sovay]

I like clicking on a writer's name and watching all the other names move around; they look like people heading for their friends at a party.

I like that interpretation!

You and I are near one another at Elizabeth Bear's party, but not present together at many others. At least we're here.

We are. I am not convinced of the completeness of the data set. I can see some fine parties happening from here.

[dramaticirony]

The literature map is super cool, thanks for sharing.

[sovay]

The literature map is super cool, thanks for sharing.

You're welcome!

[selkie]

I am not, alas, on the map, but I suppose there's time.

[sovay]

I am not, alas, on the map, but I suppose there's time.

There is time and I would not consider the map definitive in the meantime.