Poe or Dickens today?

Question

I couldn't help wondering what kinds of stories they would write if they were alive today in my country. Just a thought. Perhaps some of you might make a suggestion. Like for example, could Poe write a horror story based on the Internet? How would Dickens write about an aspiring rap artist? Etc.

Answer 1

First of all, what country are your writing from ("in my country")?

Second, poverty and unusual behavior is a characteristic of every country, yet is hidden in most of them, just as it was during Dickens' time. He could and would still be writing about the poor, the down-trodden, and he would still be using endless pages of description.

Poe, on the other hand, would be trying to capture the greatest fears of humanity, that isn't too much unlike what he did then and would do now as well. The basic conflicts in man are internal, not external. His entire thrust was about what was going on inside of a person's head. Look at "Tell-tale Heart". It's not about the setting of where and when, it's all about what's happening inside the person's mind and thoughts. The same is true of "The Raven", "The Cask of Amontillado" and his others.

Answer 2

Poe is alive and writing today, but he assumed a pen name (and, actually, a second pen name when the first became world famous.) He just edited The Best American Short Stories 2007 (see link below.)

Dickens shot himself when the world stopped reading anything longer than two pages, unless it had pictures or was a rehashing of the bildungsroman/Arthur plot line, dressed up with flying brooms instead of swords; a made-up game involving said brooms, instead of jousting; and a school for wizardry in place of Camelot. It was very tragic (Dickens's suicide and the aforementioned series.) Didn't even make the news in America (the suicide, that is.)

Answer 3

Well, since I'm feeling poely today, you little dickens, I'll answer your question this way. Dickens would write more concisely because publishers no longer pay by the word and Poe would write for the blogosphere, because he believed no author should write a piece that couldn't be consumed in one sitting.

Answer 4

I kinda feel these guys were so talented they could write about anything and be insightful. As to what they would write, its real hard to get into the head of a genius - its challenging but I'm usually way, way off base.

Still there is plenty of poverty and interesting people around (for Dickens), and plenty of bars (for Poe) so I'm sure they'd have ample material to work with.

Answer 5

Have you ever seen a modern day version of A Christmas Carol (like Scrooge starring Bill Murray)? There's Dickens for you.

Poe would be Steven King's rival if he were writing today. I imagine his books would sell millions of copies, however, he would probably be thought of mostly as a pop fiction writer since horror/sci fi/macabre are all lumped together under that category.

Answer 6

Dickens would look towards people around him for inspiration.He walked for many miles alone in the night, observing people.I think he would find the things that we try and turn our backs on and ignore, like the homeless to write about if he were alive today.Politicians, celebrities, Royalty, all would become characters in his wonderful tales.
As for Poe, I think he'd be taking the latest drugs, having weird dreams and nightmares because of them.That would become the base for his story lines.
That's what I think anyway.........I'm off for a mug of cocoa now.........you want one?