Present tense

[LizW65]

I was wondering what you all felt about this.  Personally, I go with option 2 - trying to read a novel written in the present tense makes me nervous and jittery, as though I'm wired on too much caffeine.  Plus, there doesn't seem to be any concrete reason for it, except to be "different".
Well, OK, Damon Runyon could pull it off.

[Matrix Refugee (formerly Morraeon)]

Rumer Godden is a master of using different tenses for different threads of a narrative (In "China Court", a family history as well as a history of the house that family lived in, she used the present tense in flashbacks to the past, the past tense for the present and sometimes she'd shift to the future tense when she was describing rooms in the house and the events that took place in them, almost as if it were being described from the POV of the house observing the family activities), but I'll admit, it can take a little getting used to.

[Zygoptera]

Interestingly enough, Hugh Laurie (yes, the guy who plays House) wrote a book a while back and used the present tense. I found it to be enjoyable, though slightly difficult to follow. I think that might have been because he had a huge assemble of characters, though.

[pathele]

I have only attempted a couple of books that were written in present tense and I just couldn't do it. I found it too distracting and artificial. I have not read anything by the authors mentioned above, so I might change my mind.

-paul

[eviladam]

Oh wow what's Laurie's book about? I have to get a copy of that.

I've read present tense stuff and liked it. I've also read novels that switched back and forth. There's a Star Trek novel, who's title escapes me, that prominentlly features Doctor McCoy, and it's set mostlly on a world with genetically enhanced assasins. When the novel switches to an assasin's pov it's present tense. I thought that really helped get you into the assasin's mind frame.

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

Rumer Godden is a master of using different tenses for different threads of a narrative (In "China Court", a family history as well as a history of the house that family lived in, she used the present tense in flashbacks to the past, the past tense for the present and sometimes she'd shift to the future tense when she was describing rooms in the house and the events that took place in them, almost as if it were being described from the POV of the house observing the family activities), but I'll admit, it can take a little getting used to.

Rumer Godden was a genius. (Is ? I have no idea whether she's still alive).

I find novels in the present tense a bit irritating, unless there's a good reason for them to be so, and I don't think it adds to immediacy, really.  I'd never write a whole novel in it, I think, but sometimes a specific viewpoint character wants to be in present.  Angels, for some reason, seem to want that a lot.

[Matrix Refugee (formerly Morraeon)]

Rumer Godden was a genius. (Is ? I have no idea whether she's still alive).

I find novels in the present tense a bit irritating, unless there's a good reason for them to be so, and I don't think it adds to immediacy, really.  I'd never write a whole novel in it, I think, but sometimes a specific viewpoint character wants to be in present.  Angels, for some reason, seem to want that a lot.

Was, actually. She passed away in 1997 or 1998, if I remember correctly.

[Zygoptera]

Oh wow what's Laurie's book about? I have to get a copy of that.

I've read present tense stuff and liked it. I've also read novels that switched back and forth. There's a Star Trek novel, who's title escapes me, that prominentlly features Doctor McCoy, and it's set mostlly on a world with genetically enhanced assasins. When the novel switches to an assasin's pov it's present tense. I thought that really helped get you into the assasin's mind frame.

Called "The Gun Seller" and when I went to look through it again, I realized that it's really more of a weird mix between a story being told in the present tense but using the past tense to tell it. I know, that doesn't make any sense at all. Sorry. Look up the excerpt on amazon to see what I mean. But it's a fun read. I'd recommend it.

[Mickey Finn]

I hate it. Can't read the author of Fight Club because of this, even though it's one of my favourite movies.

Max Barry is the only one where I could stomach it, and I've still put the book down several times.

Note: Short stories or brief segments for narrative purposes...ok.

[eviladam]

  Fight Club! I knew I'd read an entire book in present tense. That said, and I never say this, the movie was actually better.

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

Fight Club! I knew I'd read an entire book in present tense. That said, and I never say this, the movie was actually better.

I think you're OK to say that, given that Chuck Palahniuk has said in public that he agrees with you.

[Cyclone Jack]

I like it, and have used it a few times. It's a bit overbearing in novel form, but can be quite powerful in short work.

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

I had completely forgotten, in my earlier answer, how much of Accelerando is in present tense, and I have read and enjoyed that, definitely. So I need to change my answer a bit.

[Sidara]

It drives me absolutely nuts and I find it unreadable if done for an entire novel.  Short stories or interludes, fine.

[RMatthewWare]

I hate it.  It's difficult to read, and it screws up all the verbs.  It's almost as annoying as a story written in 2nd person.  Almost.

Matt