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Looking for gorgeous Canadian fiction:

Rogue

New Member
I'm looking for some maginficent/ impressive/ dazzling fiction (/horror) by Canadian authors. I'm especially interested in books whose plot is based in Vancouver or whose author lives in Vancouver.

The only Canadian author I know is Margaret Atwood. I'v read "Oryx and Crake" (brilliant) and "The Handmaid's Tale" (serious plot, but just nice).

Furthermore do any of you know a database who is searchabel for the location of the plot?

Thx a lot.
 
I don't know much about canadian literature, but you might want to try The Giller Prize. There's also a yahoo group (if you're a yahoo member) dedicated to Canadian Literature. They focus on Giller Prize books and the Canada Reads program.
 
Does your local library have access to NoveList, a fiction database? Some libraries allow patrons to access databases from home through the library's website.

Some book finder sites allow search by subject.
In isbn.com, I clicked on the tab 'subject' at the top of the page, typed Canada in the search field and retrieved a list of different results, including Canada--Fiction.
Biblio.com has a browse tab with a category of "States and Provinces".
 
Off the top of my head:

Wayson Choy
- The Jade Peony and Paper Shadows
- Both are set in Vancouver

Alice Munro
- writes short story collections, but some of them are set in Vancouver.

Carol Shields
- The Stone Diaries and Unless are probably her best known
- Lived in Victoria, BC which is just across the strait (actually the provincial capital)

Douglas Coupland
- Lives in Vancouver. I've never read his books, so don't know their setting.

William Gibson
- Lives in Vancouver. His books (the ones I've read) are not set in Vancouver.

Evelyn Lau
- Lived in Vancouver. Not sure if she does any more. Writes gritty stuff, much of it based on her experience as a Vancouver street kid and prostitute.

There are some more, but can't think of them at the moment. Will think on it and get back.

ell
 
Well here are the Canadian authors that I consider impressive:

Farley Mowat
Rohinton Mistry
Yann Martel
Ann Marie Macdonald
Robertson Davies
Mordecai Richler
Douglas Coupland
Frank Parker Day
Leonard Cohen
Margaret Laurence
Saul Bellow
Timothy Findley
William Gibson
Michael Ondaatje
Alice Munro
Pierre Burton (Not really fiction but a great storyteller indeed.)
Beatrice Culleton Mosionier
And of course Atwood.

There is also Michener's Journey which takes place in Canada during the Alaskan/Yukon goldrush.

Canadian authors aren't particularly known for horror.
 
Stewart said:
Kathy Reichs is Canadian but I wouldn't call her impressive or dazzling.
She's actually a native of Chicago. She only works part of the time in Quebec as a forensic anthorpologist.

A couple more Vancouver-based authors: George Bowering (who is now the poet laureate for Canada) and Spider Robinson who writes science fiction.
 
I didn't know Saul Bellow was Canadian, ions.

As you can see from the above, Canada has a strong literary tradition. I would also add Alistair Macleod and Mavis Gallant, though both are strongly in the literary vein and not remotely genre-based. If you just want to read horror, then what does it matter where it comes from?
 
Saul Bellow was Canadian born, but moved to the US at a young age. He was essentially raised and educated in the US, so claiming him as a Canadian is a bit disingenous.
 
Martel was born in Spain, Mistry was born in Bombay (Mumbai) and Michael Ondaatje born in Sri Lanka but as far as I know they consider themselves Canadian as does Canada.
 
ions, I wasn't trying to be argumentative about Bellows. :confused:

Just that I don't think too many would consider him Canadian given that he spent so little time here. The others you mention (Mistry, et al) have chosen to become Canadians and live in Canada, a different situation. William Gibson is another non-Canadian born authror (from the US) but has chosen to make Vancouver his home.

ell :)
 
I really like Alistair McLeod, although he's an east coast writer, particularly Cape Breton. I believe some of his work goes further afield, though. 'The Lost Salt Gift of Blood' was a really nice collection of short stories.

ions said:
Pierre Burton (Not really fiction but a great storyteller indeed.)
I read his book 'The Joy of Writing', and it was really interesting. I did get the impression that his head was a little larger than most, but it was inspirational indeed. He is a man who adores his research, that is for sure, and I admired his organised mind.
 
Guy Gavriel Kay is Canadian as well. He writes fantasy, and is, uhm, often mentioned in the fantasy forum. His notable works include the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, Tigana, Lions of Al-Rassan and was hand-picked by the Tolkien estate to finish the late professor's Silmarillion.


ds
 
direstraits said:
Guy Gavriel Kay is Canadian as well. He writes fantasy, and is, uhm, often mentioned in the fantasy forum. His notable works include the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, Tigana, Lions of Al-Rassan and was hand-picked by the Tolkien estate to finish the late professor's Silmarillion.
I was wondering where you were! I intentionally left that one wide open for you :D.
 
Thanks, and yeah, I was a little suspicious when you didn't mention him. I was beginning to think I didn't do such a good job brainwashing you...

And I've been around! I'm where I'm usually found, hidden behind in a little corner of TBF, making noises like a carrot to attract rabbits. Oh, and I've written up something on Fionavar in the Fionavar thread... check it out.

Since I'm here, I'll offer up two other authors: Charles De Lint, considered by many as one of the most prominent fantasy writer; Dave Duncan, our resident fantasy grandmaster Sell Sword's favourite writer, and Kelley Armstrong, horror writer of fares such as Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic (haven't read them, but the covers are ugly here).

ds
 
Anne-Marie McDonald is excellent. If you are going for Coupland, I would recommend only his earlier ones. His latest book was imho terrible. I enjoyed Microserfs a lot, and Girlfriend in a Coma is pretty good too (and set in Vancouver). Wayson Choy only has the one novel, I think, but he is excellent. Other authors not mentioned:

Nino Ricci (I took a class with his wife for a few months)
Robert J. Sawyer (sci-fi)
Tanya Huff (sci-fi)
Richard Wright
David Adams Richards
 
direstraits said:
Charles De Lint, considered by many as one of the most prominent fantasy writer
Oh yes! I forgot about him!! Are any of his books set in Canada?

I also really liked Kathy Reich's 'Death du Jour', alternatively titled by a friend, 'Why not to visit Canada in January'.
 
Ell said:
ions, I wasn't trying to be argumentative about Bellows. :confused:

Just that I don't think too many would consider him Canadian given that he spent so little time here. The others you mention (Mistry, et al) have chosen to become Canadians and live in Canada, a different situation. William Gibson is another non-Canadian born authror (from the US) but has chosen to make Vancouver his home.

ell :)

I wasn't trying to be argumentative either. I can see how you could feel I were though. :eek: I guess we could get into some obtuse discussion about what makes a Canadian writer a Canadian writer.

I had come to this thread to mention GGK but I can see I am late to the party on that one.
 
Rogue, I was browsing through a bookstore yesterday and came across Vancouver Stories.

It's a collection of stories set in Vancouver by Canadian and Vancouver-based authors. Some of the contributing authors are those already mentioned: Alice Munro, Douglas Coupland, Wayson Choy, William Gibson as well as others I've not read. There are fifteen stories in all. It looks very good and I plan to buy it when my budget allows.

This might be a great way for you to get a feel for Vancouver as seen by different Canadian authors all at the same time.

ions said:
I wasn't trying to be argumentative either. I can see how you could feel I were though. :eek:
Okay. :)
 
I just got Runaway by Alice Munro. Supposed to be great. I'll let you know when I get to it. I'm in Cormac McCarthy country right now.
 
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