Michael Chabon: Difference between revisions
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Michael Chabon is an American writer of both [[Lit Fic|literary]] and genre fiction. He has achieved the unprecedented goal of appealing to both literary snobs who despise genre fiction, and genre fiction snobs who despise the literati. Sometimes even at the same time. He has won both a Pulitzer Prize for Literature, and a [[Hugo Award]] for best [[Science Fiction]] Novel of the Year. |
'''Michael Chabon''' is an American writer of both [[Lit Fic|literary]] and genre fiction. He has achieved the unprecedented goal of appealing to both literary snobs who despise genre fiction, and genre fiction snobs who despise the literati. Sometimes even at the same time. He has won both a Pulitzer Prize for Literature, and a [[Hugo Award]] for best [[Science Fiction]] Novel of the Year. |
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Most of his books are, in part, about Judaism or Jewish people. He has written [[Fantasy]], [[Mystery]], and [[Alternate History]] -- and even when he isn't writing genre fiction, he often writes about it. |
Most of his books are, in part, about Judaism or Jewish people. He has written [[Fantasy]], [[Mystery]], and [[Alternate History]] -- and even when he isn't writing genre fiction, he often writes about it. |
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{{bibliography}} |
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=== Works by Michael Chabon include: === |
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* ''[[The Mysteries of Pittsburgh]]'' - A [[Coming of Age]] novel that explored a bisexual [[Love Triangle]]. |
* ''[[The Mysteries of Pittsburgh]]'' - A [[Coming of Age]] novel that explored a bisexual [[Love Triangle]]. |
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* ''[[The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier |
* ''[[The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay]]'' - Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This was not, technically, a genre novel, but it was about [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], about as geeky a subject as one could want. |
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* ''[[Literature/Wonder Boys|Wonder Boys]]'' - Made into a movie starring [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Tobey Maguire]]. The screenplay was nominated for an [[Academy Award]]. |
* ''[[Literature/Wonder Boys|Wonder Boys]]'' - Made into a movie starring [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Tobey Maguire]]. The screenplay was nominated for an [[Academy Award]]. |
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* ''[[Summerland]]'' - Best-selling YA fantasy novel. |
* ''[[Summerland]]'' - Best-selling YA fantasy novel. |
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* ''The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man'' - A children's book about the titular superhero (yes, really). |
* ''The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man'' - A children's book about the titular superhero (yes, really). |
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{{creatortropes}} |
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=== Tropes appearing in his works: === |
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* [[All Jews Are Ashkenazi]] |
* [[All Jews Are Ashkenazi]]: Partially averted in ''[[Gentlemen of the Road]]''. |
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** Partially averted in ''[[Literature/Gentlemen Of The Road|Gentlemen Of The Road]]''. |
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* [[Alternate History]] |
* [[Alternate History]] |
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* [[Author Appeal]]: |
* [[Author Appeal]]: |
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* [[Bi the Way]] |
* [[Bi the Way]] |
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* [[Big Applesauce]] |
* [[Big Applesauce]] |
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* [[Disappeared Dad]] / [[Missing Mom]]: Frequently. Art Bechstein's mom in ''[[The Mysteries of Pittsburgh]]'', Sammy Clay's dad in ''[[The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier |
* [[Disappeared Dad]] / [[Missing Mom]]: Frequently. Art Bechstein's mom in ''[[The Mysteries of Pittsburgh]]'', Sammy Clay's dad in ''[[The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay]]'', Ethan Feld's mom in ''[[Summerland]]'', Meyer Landsman's dad in ''[[The Yiddish Policemen's Union]]'', etc. |
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* [[Fanfic]]: ''The Final Solution'' is essentially this for the [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories |
* [[Fanfic]]: ''The Final Solution'' is essentially this for the [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories |
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* [[No Name Given]]: The protagonist of ''The Final Solution'', deliberately done to conceal the fact that he's really [[Sherlock Holmes]] |
* [[No Name Given]]: The protagonist of ''The Final Solution'', deliberately done to conceal the fact that he's really [[Sherlock Holmes]] |
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* [[Reconstruction]]: He's one of the most respected writers in America, yet many of his books take on subjects usually seen as meaningless pop culture, as if to prove that they ''can'' have literary merit if done right. |
* [[Reconstruction]]: He's one of the most respected writers in America, yet many of his books take on subjects usually seen as meaningless pop culture, as if to prove that they ''can'' have literary merit if done right. |
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** ''[[The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier |
** ''[[The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay]]'' - Reconstructs [[The Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] superhero stories by telling a story from the POV of the men who wrote them, showing how important they are to American culture. |
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** ''[[Summerland]]'' - Reconstructs adolescent [[High Fantasy]] like ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' by giving it a fresh setting -- in this case, a fantasy-world based on American culture and folklore. |
** ''[[Summerland]]'' - Reconstructs adolescent [[High Fantasy]] like ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' by giving it a fresh setting -- in this case, a fantasy-world based on American culture and folklore. |
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** ''Gentlemen Of The Road'' - Reconstructs [[Two-Fisted Tales]] and pulp adventure stories. |
** ''Gentlemen Of The Road'' - Reconstructs [[Two-Fisted Tales]] and pulp adventure stories. |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{Pulitzer Prize for Fiction}} |
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[[Category:Speculative Fiction Creator Index]] |
[[Category:Speculative Fiction Creator Index]] |
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[[Category:Mystery Story Creator Index]] |
[[Category:Mystery Story Creator Index]] |
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[[Category:Authors]] |
[[Category:Authors]] |
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[[Category:Michael Chabon]] |
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[[Category:Creator]] |
[[Category:Creator]] |
Latest revision as of 00:35, 19 February 2022
Michael Chabon is an American writer of both literary and genre fiction. He has achieved the unprecedented goal of appealing to both literary snobs who despise genre fiction, and genre fiction snobs who despise the literati. Sometimes even at the same time. He has won both a Pulitzer Prize for Literature, and a Hugo Award for best Science Fiction Novel of the Year.
Most of his books are, in part, about Judaism or Jewish people. He has written Fantasy, Mystery, and Alternate History -- and even when he isn't writing genre fiction, he often writes about it.
Works written by Michael Chabon include:
- The Mysteries of Pittsburgh - A Coming of Age novel that explored a bisexual Love Triangle.
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This was not, technically, a genre novel, but it was about The Golden Age of Comic Books, about as geeky a subject as one could want.
- Wonder Boys - Made into a movie starring Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire. The screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award.
- Summerland - Best-selling YA fantasy novel.
- The Final Solution - A mystery novella starring an unnamed elderly detective who is probably Sherlock Holmes.
- Spider-Man 2 - Co-wrote the screenplay.
- Gentlemen Of The Road - A more traditional adventure novel. Chabon himself dubbed it "Jews with swords".
- The Yiddish Policemens Union - An Alternate History noir novel set in Alaska. Winner of the Hugo Award.
- Manhood for Amateurs - A collection of autobiographical essays.
- The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man - A children's book about the titular superhero (yes, really).
Michael Chabon provides examples of the following tropes:
- All Jews Are Ashkenazi: Partially averted in Gentlemen of the Road.
- Alternate History
- Author Appeal:
- This is likely the reason he writes so much "low-brow" genre fiction: he likes to write in genres that he genuinely enjoys reading.
- Aside from that, Chabon (who is Jewish) loves Jewish history and culture. It figures prominently in most of his books.
- Bi the Way
- Big Applesauce
- Disappeared Dad / Missing Mom: Frequently. Art Bechstein's mom in The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Sammy Clay's dad in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Ethan Feld's mom in Summerland, Meyer Landsman's dad in The Yiddish Policemen's Union, etc.
- Fanfic: The Final Solution is essentially this for the Sherlock Holmes stories
- No Name Given: The protagonist of The Final Solution, deliberately done to conceal the fact that he's really Sherlock Holmes
- Reconstruction: He's one of the most respected writers in America, yet many of his books take on subjects usually seen as meaningless pop culture, as if to prove that they can have literary merit if done right.
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Reconstructs Golden Age superhero stories by telling a story from the POV of the men who wrote them, showing how important they are to American culture.
- Summerland - Reconstructs adolescent High Fantasy like The Chronicles of Narnia by giving it a fresh setting -- in this case, a fantasy-world based on American culture and folklore.
- Gentlemen Of The Road - Reconstructs Two-Fisted Tales and pulp adventure stories.
- The Yiddish Policemens Union - Reconstructs traditional Film Noir and Hardboiled Detective stories, again, by giving it a fresh setting -- an Alternate History version of America where a thriving Yiddish culture exists on the Alaskan frontier.
- George Lucas Throwback: Frequently does this in literary form (see Reconstruction).
- Purple Prose: Is known for this.
- So My Kids Can Read: Probably the main reason he wrote Awesome Man.
- Shown Their Work: He does lots of research for every novel he writes. And it shows.
- What Could Have Been: According to The Other Wiki, he was involved in pitching story ideas for the X Men and Fantastic Four movies, but all of his ideas were rejected. And he once pitched an original screenplay that he described as a Romantic Comedy "about old Jewish folks on a third-rate cruise ship out of Miami", but the producer that he was working with decided not to take it.
- Yiddish as a Second Language